(May 31, 2000 6:01 AM CDT)
"What we are aiming at in this warning
God warns us.
is the love that springs from a pure heart,
a good conscience, and sincere faith."
1 Timothy 1:5
He tells us to have a pure heart.
He says to love.
He wants us to love him above everything else.
He wants us to be informed about right and wrong.
You should know what offends the Lord Jesus.
He asks for sincerity.
Be serious about your faith.
Mean what you say.
Live what you say.
All this springs from Christ living inside you.
Aim for the heavens (not the dirt).
(May 30, 2000 5:58 AM CDT)
It was raining overnight, so we thank the Lord.
"Teach me to do your will,
The Lord has many things to teach us.
The Lord is good to us.
for you are my God.
May your good spirit guide me
on level ground."
Psalms 143:10-11
We need to learn about his love and grace.
He teaches us about forgiveness and patience.
His Holy Spirit is there to guide us.
These are dangerous times.
Last night someone was driving
on the wrong side of the road,
as I headed home.
I slowed to see what they were up to,
and they pulled into a driveway of a business quickly.
They obviously were confused (about safe driving)
and in the wrong.
It was dangerous.
They could have hit someone.
Pull aside.
Check your directions.
You can get hurt and you could hurt others.
Get on the right side.
Do the will of God.
Pray for the person who was driving that car.
They need help.
Maybe it is you.
I will pray for you.
(May 29, 2000 7:22 AM CDT)
Happy Birthday Josephine!
Jesus told the people this parable,
Yesterday I was out for a drive in the countryside
God bless you today.
(She is 89 today.)
"A man planted a vineyard,
leased it to tenant farmers,
and went away for a long time."
Luke 20:9
north of Omaha on Highway K-45.
The farmers here in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa
have planted the seeds of corn.
You can see the row after row of green plants in the fields.
It is coming up already,
but they warn we are in a drought.
We are hoping and praying for sufficient rain.
Will you pray for sufficient rain for them?
Thanks.
Our lives are dependent on "rain" from God.
Lord, rain on us.
Pour out your gifts on us.
Teach us to have expectant faith.
We depend on you.
We will dry up without you.
Rain on us.
(May 28, 2000 7:18 AM CDT)
I really like this new song by
Nicole C. Mullen
.
"After the reading of the law and of the prophets,
Yes, please speak up!
It is titled "Redeemer".
Take a listen to it on this link.
the leading men of the synagogue
sent this message to them:
'Brothers, if you have any exhortation
to address to the people, please speak up.'"
Acts 13:15
Tell people about the Redeemer of the world.
My Redeemer lives.
He is alive.
He is full of power.
He overcomes death and evil.
He brings new life.
He sweetens life.
He lives.
Do you have anything to say?
Speak up.
(May 27, 2000 7:45 AM CDT)
Jesus said,
Hold on.
"Because of the increase of evil,
the love of most will grow cold.
The man (or woman) who holds out to the end,
however, is the one who will see salvation."
Matthew 24:12-13
Hold on to your faith.
If you grow cold, watch out.
If you turn away from God, all is lost.
Beware of evil.
It will destroy you.
Yes, there are temptations, but fight them.
Stay with the Lord.
Be strong in the Lord.
Hold on one more day.
Hold on to the end.
Do not let your love grow cold.
Jesus said it, so ask him for help.
One day you will see salvation.
(May 26, 2000 5:57 AM CDT)
"The fruit of the spirit is
Well, pick one.
love,
joy,
peace,
patient endurance,
kindness,
generosity,
faith,
mildness and
chastity."
Galatians 5:22-23
Are you joyful?
Are you kind?
Are you faithful?
You should be led by the Holy Spirit.
Yes, there should be joy in your life.
You should have peace.
Reflect today on the life of the Spirit.
Are you with the Spirit?
(Note: I also wrote about these Bible verses
back on
February 4, 1999
and
October 11, 1999
.
I must like these verses.)
(May 25, 2000 5:59 AM CDT)
Jesus said,
Christ gives and gives and gives.
"The Father loves me for this:
that I lay down my life to take it up again.
No one takes it from me;
I lay it down freely.
I have power to lay it down,
I have power to take it up again."
John 10:17-18
He gives his life for you.
He offers up everything for you.
You must be very important.
Of all the billions of planets he came to earth.
He visited us.
He set up a tent among us.
He lived right here on this world.
He still lives.
He still gives.
Call on the power of Christ.
Lay down your life for him.
Give all that you are to him.
(May 24, 2000 5:54 AM CDT)
"Love the Lord, all you his faithful ones!
Number 1 for you is: love the Lord.
The Lord keeps those who are constant,
but more than requites those who act proudly.
Take courage and be stouthearted,
all you who hope in the Lord."
Psalms 31:24-25
That is your top priority.
Keep the Lord Jesus first in your life.
Praise him often.
Honor him.
Think about him.
Have hope in the Lord.
He keeps you firm in your beliefs.
He gives you courage for another day.
Have a brave heart.
Be bold in your faith.
Be brave.
(May 23, 2000 5:57 AM CDT)
"God has not called us to immorality
Do you know God's instructions?
but to holiness;
hence, whoever rejects these instructions
rejects not man, but God
who sends his Holy Spirit upon you."
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
Do you follow his instructions?
Love God.
Worship God.
Pray.
Love your neighbor.
Love your enemy.
Pray for the Holy Spirit.
Pray for wisdom to be holy.
Read the instruction book (The Bible).
(May 22, 2000 6:00 AM CDT)
"The wages of sin is death,
Sin brings death.
but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23
If there were no sin,
it would be heaven on earth.
Sin is very depressing.
(Just read the front page of yesterday's newspaper
about the
16 year-old girl that was murdered
.
How sad.
Pray for Casey's family and friends.)
God gives us a gift.
It is the gift of new life in him.
It is there for the asking.
Ask Jesus to forgive your sins.
Ask him to free you from death and depression.
Ask for new life that never ends.
(May 21, 2000 7:16 AM CDT)
"Just at that point,
Form a circle of prayer.
some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived
and won the people over.
They stoned Paul and
dragged him out of the town,
leaving him there for dead.
His disciples quickly formed a circle about him,
and before long he got up and
went back into the town."
Acts 14:19-20
Pray for others in need.
Surround the hurt with prayer.
Do you do this?
Do you go to the hospital and pray for the sick?
Pray to God.
Win over the people to God.
The greatest healing is spiritual.
Do not drag your feet.
Do not leave the work to others.
Kick the stones out of the way.
Pray for the sick.
Be healed in the name of Jesus Christ.
(Note: I wrote about these same Bible verses
back on
September 15, 1999
.)
(May 20, 2000 7:50 AM CDT)
"The Lord is king, in splendor robed;
Christ is the king.
robed is the Lord and girt about with strength;
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old
from everlasting your are, O Lord."
Psalms 93:1-2
He is the ruler of all.
He is glorious to behold.
Do you acknowledge him?
Is he ruler of your life?
Do you surrender to him?
His rule will last forever.
He is strength for all ages.
He stands firm forever.
Stand with him.
(May 19, 2000 6:04 AM CDT)
"He called you
Over and over the Lord calls you.
through our preaching of the good news
so that you might achieve
the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Thessalonians 2:14
Do you respond?
Do you listen?
He calls you to achieve wonderful things.
Read the words of God in the Bible.
Follow his call to holiness.
Give glory to God.
Respond to the call.
Achieve glory.
(May 18, 2000 5:56 AM CDT)
"We pray for you always
He calls you.
that our God may make you worthy of his call,
and fulfill by his power
every honest intention and work of faith.
In this way the name of our Lord Jesus
may be glorified in you and you in him,
in accord with the gracious gift of our God
and of the Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
He says to come close.
Be near him.
Be worthy.
Fulfill your calling.
Be honest with your intentions.
Make heaven your goal.
Keep the faith given to you.
Glorify the name of Jesus.
Take the gift.
(May 17, 2000 5:55 AM CDT)
"Jesus summoned the crowd and said to them:
First of all Jesus summons you.
'Give ear and try to understand.
It is not what goes into a man's (or woman's) mouth
that makes him (or her) impure;
it is what comes out of his (or her) mouth.'"
Matthew 15:10-11
He wants to talk to you.
He has many things to tell you.
He says to speak words of blessing to others.
Build them up.
Do not cut them down.
Speak words that are pure.
Do not tell dirty jokes or spread gossip.
Use your mouth to praise God.
Bless the Lord.
Praise him.
Honor him with your words.
Your words give you away.
(May 16, 2000 6:06 AM CDT)
Have you been watching the program "Jesus"?
"John gave this testimony:
Jesus was baptized by John in the River Jordan.
It continues on
CBS
tomorrow night.
Most of it is right out of the Bible.
'I saw the Spirit descend
like a dove from the sky,
and it came to rest on him.'"
John 1:32
The Holy Spirit descended on him.
The people witnessed this.
Jesus is the Son of God.
They saw the miracles he performed.
They listened to his teachings.
Some believed in him and others did not.
Do you believe in Jesus?
Do you believe he is God?
(May 15, 2000 6:06 AM CDT)
Yesterday I visited Elk Horn, Iowa.
"Suddenly from up in the sky
Feel the wind.
It is exit 54 on Interstate 80.
You see all these signs along the highway about the windmill.
We stopped to see the windmill.
They brought over the
windmill
from Norre Snede, Denmark in 1975
and it works, but you need a 20 mph wind.
It was originally built in 1848.
Yesterday was not a windy day.
So on a windy day go see it.
They also have a
Danish Immigrant Museum
just west of town.
there came a noise like a strong, driving wind
which was heard all through the house
where they were seated.
Tongues as of fire appeared,
which parted and come to rest on each of them.
All were filled with the Holy Spirit.
They began to express themselves in foreign tongues
and make bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted them."
Acts 2:2-4
Look for a windy day.
Welcome (Velkommen) the Spirit.
Pray to the Spirit.
Proclaim the greatness of God.
(May 14, 2000 8:07 AM CDT)
Happy Mothers Day to you.
"At a certain point the wine ran out,
The author John is writing on two levels here.
God bless all the mothers.
The Lord be with you and your family.
and Jesus' mother told him,
'They have no more wine.'"
John 2:3
Yes, the wine ran out,
but on another level something else is missing.
The joy is gone.
It is the end of one period and the start of another.
A chapter is ending and you turn the page.
Jesus is something new.
He comes on the scene.
He is different.
He is new hope.
It is a new day.
Jesus renews life.
Are you missing out on life?
(May 13, 2000 8:11 AM CDT)
"There are different gifts but the same Spirit;
Each of us plays a part in the plan.
there are different ministries but the same Lord;
there are different works but the same God
accomplishes all of them in everyone.
To each person the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for the common good."
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
God gave you gifts.
God gave me different gifts.
All the gifts should work together
to build the kingdom of God.
We are all different.
We are all unique.
We should celebrate our differences.
Play your part.
Be led by the Holy Spirit.
(May 12, 2000 6:01 AM CDT)
"May the Lord rule your hearts
Where is your heart?
in the love of God
and the constancy of Christ."
2 Thessalonians 3:5
Is your heart in it?
Who rules your heart?
Is your heart with Christ?
The Lord consistently says to you
that he loves you.
He gives his heart to you.
Do you love the Lord?
Are you consistent?
The love of God is there.
Receive it into your heart.
Live the consistent life of love.
(May 11, 2000 5:54 AM CDT)
Yesterday I was reading about
Sweden
.
Jesus prayed,
Jesus prayed to God the Father.
It is a very beautiful country.
Stockholm is built on 14 islands.
God bless all the people there.
"Abba (O Father),
you have the power to do all things.
Take this cup away from me.
But let it be as you would have it, not as I."
Mark 14:36
He was God.
He was to suffer for the kingdom.
He prayed that he would not have to suffer,
but he did for you and me.
God knew what the plan was/is.
He wanted to save us from our sins.
He wanted to save us from death.
By the death of Christ we have access to life.
We thank the Lord Jesus today.
We thank Abba Father for his love.
We thank the Holy Spirit for guiding us to life.
We see the beauty of the plan.
(May 10, 2000 6:41 AM CDT)
What do you call
a group of larks
?
"O Lord, our Lord,
We exalt the name of the Lord.
Who makes these names up?
What is their origin?
Do you believe "A crash of rhinoceros"?
These definitions are not in my
dictionary
.
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
You have exalted your majesty above the heavens."
Psalms 8:1-2
We lift up the name of Jesus.
We sing songs of exaltation.
We leap for joy.
We are happy (as a lark).
We sing your praise.
We praise God.
Praise the Lord!
"Exaltation" is our/the answer.
(May 9, 2000 6:12 AM CDT)
It is election day here in Nebraska today.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
God is all goodness.
First pray for how to vote.
God knows what is best for our community.
Then vote.
for his mercy endures forever."
Psalms 136:1
There is no evil in him.
He is pure.
He is holy.
He is full of mercy.
We have fallen and need the Lord Jesus.
We look to the Lord.
He draws us to his goodness.
He endures for all time.
He is there.
Call on the Lord today.
Lord, have mercy on my soul.
Change me.
Fill me with your goodness and love.
I am your child.
I thank you, Lord.
Thank you for mercy.
(May 8, 2000 6:03 AM CDT)
"You put to death the Author of life.
You know the author.
But God raised him from the dead,
and we are his witnesses."
Acts 3:15
He is life.
He is everything.
He is the creator.
He is Jesus.
The Bible is all about him.
It shows the wisdom and power of God.
Many people witnessed this power.
They knew the author.
They met him and spoke to him.
You have seen the power of God.
You have met him.
You were dead and you found life.
Continue the work of the author.
Be a witness.
(May 7, 2000 7:54 AM CDT)
"They investigated the times and the circumstances
Examine the life of Christ.
which the Spirit of Christ within them
was pointing to,
for he predicted the sufferings destined for Christ
and the glories that would follow."
1 Peter 1:11
See what he did.
Read what he said.
See for yourself that he is God.
All creation points to him.
He is the central point.
He suffered for you.
He died for you.
He arose from the dead.
All glory is his.
All praise is his.
Give him the honor that he is due.
Investigate.
(May 6, 2000 8:17 AM CDT)
"Peter and the apostles replied:
If someone tells you not to speak about Jesus,
'Better for us to obey God than men!
The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus
whom you put to death, hanging him on a tree.'"
Acts 5:29-30
what are you going to do?
Will you keep quiet?
Can they silence you?
Speak up anyway.
Tell them about Jesus.
He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Many will try to silence the truth,
but you can't let them.
The truth must be known.
Jesus is the Savior of the World.
(Like right now, I'm getting a connect error 10061,
but I will not let it stop me from writing about Jesus.
I'm using Notepad and FTP to get this to you, instead of Telnet.)
The truth must be proclaimed.
Make every effort.
Do not give up.
(May 5, 2000 6:01 AM CDT)
Jesus said,
Yes, there is joy in heaven, if you repent.
"I tell you,
there will likewise be
more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner
than over 99 righteous people
who have no need to repent."
Luke 15:7
There is joy in your heart.
You find peace in our soul.
Repent means to turn around.
You are going away from God and
you change directions to go toward him.
Find joy in his arms.
There is no joy in sin.
A life of sin is empty and depressing.
Turn from evil and
ask the Lord Jesus to forgive your sins.
Start in a new direction.
(May 4, 2000 7:01 AM CDT)
Today is the
National Day of Prayer
.
"Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer
We call out today to you, Lord.
Take a few minutes to pray for your country
and leaders.
May there be peace on earth.
May every child be fed.
May all people know the love of God.
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
In the day of my distress I call upon you,
for you will answer me."
Psalms 86:6-7
Hear our cries of help.
We need you, Lord.
Come and save us.
Come and rescue us.
Change our hearts and minds.
Teach us how to love.
Give our leaders wisdom and understanding.
Show us the road to true peace.
Show us how to share.
We call on your name, Jesus.
Bless our country.
(May 3, 2000 6:07 AM CDT)
A friend of mine, Sam, died on Saturday.
"What we utter is God's wisdom:
True wisdom comes from above.
He truly was a servant of God.
He lived a life of service here in Omaha.
a mysterious, a hidden wisdom.
God planned it before all ages for our glory."
1 Corinthians 2:7
We need God's insights.
We need his perspective.
He sees the big picture.
He knows what is happening.
Seek the Lord.
Seek his wisdom and knowledge.
It is wisdom as old as time itself.
Know the plan.
Live the plan.
(May 2, 2000 6:08 AM CDT)
"Anna was constantly in the temple,
Can that be said of you?
worshiping day and night
in fasting and prayer."
Luke 2:37
Do you fast?
Do you pray?
Spend some time with the Lord.
Talk to him.
Try not eating between meals.
It takes an effort to give up eating
for even a few hours.
Give up a favorite food for a week or two.
With that extra time read the Bible.
Think about what God has done for you.
(May 1, 2000 6:06 AM CDT)
I bought a new 48X CD-ROM drive for my PC on Saturday.
"He asked life of you;
Do you have a life?
The old one was broke.
I guess I wore it out.
I installed it myself.
All that you needed was a Phillips screwdriver.
you gave him length of days forever and ever."
Psalms 21:5
Is your life satisfying?
The one who gives meaning to life is Christ.
He also gives you length of days (eternal life).
Maybe you are worn out.
You need something new.
Christ is new life each day.
It lasts a lifetime (and more).
What more could you ask for?
