Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. Psalm 104:1-2 NKJV
 
This Psalm is a meditation on the majesty and providence of God.
 
The Word of God is unlike anything else. It is God’s revelation to mankind. It tells us who God is. It tells us who God created us to be. The bible is an instruction manual for right living. Obeying the Word of God leads to blessing. Disobedience leads to death.
 
Hebrews 4:12 reads; For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
 
True faith requires obedience to the Word of God!
 
You do not have to be a Pastor Priest or theologian to serve God. You can serve and bless the Lord regardless of who you are or what you have done. You can bless the Lord by choosing to bless Him. You can bless the Lord by obeying the Word of God!
 
Declare in the quietness of your own thoughts the God of the bible is the Lord of heaven and earth. Let the truth of God’s unequaled greatness sink deep down into your soul. Meditate on the providence of God until it becomes part of your DNA.
 
Before I get out of bed or open my eyes I thank Jesus for being my Savior, my Lord, my God, my Protector, my Provider, the Lover of my Soul, my Friend, my Brother, my Advocate, my Redeemer and anything else I can think of!
 
One morning the Lord said, “Thank you for worshiping Me!”
 
Is God thankful for our worship? Was I dreaming? Did I just imagine God was speaking to me? Does it really matter? Our worship blesses God!
 
The honor and majesty of God surrounds Him like a brilliant robe. His magnificence trails behind Him like a train inlaid with honor and majesty and glory and power. The truth of God flashes forth from His throne room. The light of God’s love illuminates creation!
 
NASA recently discovered previously unknown planets. God stretched out the heavens like a curtain. Those planets were not unknown to Jesus. The Lord hung them exactly where they are today!
 
The universe would be incomplete without you. You are God’s greatest creation.
 
God’s love for you is as great and strong as He is majestic and powerful. Bless Jesus with your love. Show the Lord how much you love Him by obeying the Word of God!
 
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Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me; bless His holy name! Psalm 103 NKJV
 
This psalm begins and ends with the same words, bless the Lord, O my soul!
 
David wrote this hymn to praise God for His mercy. I love reading the things David wrote. They are a great balance of emotion and truth, trust and action, the sovereignty of God and personal responsibility.
 
David expresses his love for God in beautiful music and poetry. He shares the truth of God without fear. David’s faith in God made him a man of action. God’s sovereignty did not hinder David in accepting responsibility for his sin failures and mistakes.
 
David chose to bless the Lord with every fiber of his being, will you? When his emotions contradicted his faith David forced them into submission by taking his thoughts captive to the obedience of God’s will, do you?
 
For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. Vs 14
 
God knows that we are swayed by feelings and emotions. He knows we need truth to keep us balanced. The Lord knows we will sin and fail. That is not an excuse. It is a reason to get back up and follow Jesus when we miss the mark!
 
The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all. Vs 19
 
Jesus forgives sin. He heals us. He keeps us from destruction. He blesses us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He executes righteousness and justice for the oppressed. God taught Moses his ways. He performed miracles for the children of Israel.
 
The Lord is merciful and gracious, Sow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not discipline us forever. He will not be angry forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins. He has not punished us according to our iniquities, why? God loves us!
 
For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him: As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Vs 11-12
 
Jesus made a lot of promises to people who love and fear Him. He can keep everyone of them. Familiarize yourself with them. Do not forget them. Hold on to them when you need them. They are life to people who believe them and trust Jesus to keep them!
 
You can turn the page on the sins failures and mistakes you made in 2018. You can bless the Lord with every fiber of your being in 2019, how?
 
Remember the Lord. Keep your eyes on Jesus. God never loses sight of you. You are always on His mind!
 
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The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His Kingdom rules over all. Psalm 103:19 NKJV
 
People who do not believe in the God of the bible say many of the same things. Some ask, “If God loves us why is there so much evil and suffering in the world?” 
 
How can we give an answer to a mother who asks why her child is taken? How can we explain the plan of God that allows people to die of hunger and disease?
 
I do not have the words that can bring healing to a grieving soul. I do not have an argument that can bring an unbelieving person to Christ.
 
God did not create us to be little gods. Jesus does not intend for us to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. 
 
Children need to know their parents exercise authority in a responsible way. When a child has too much freedom and not enough discipline they become insecure and fearful. They worry about things they have no business worrying about.
 
God is our Heavenly Father. He is in total control of all things. That does not mean everything that happens is His will. It means God will have his way in all things. God gave us the power to make our own decision. He holds us accountable for them.
 
God’s perfect plan will unfold for all things just as He has foreordained it. Our Heavenly Father wants us to trust Him in every area of our lives. God wants us to live as if He is watching over us and caring for us as only a Loving Heavenly Father can, because He is!
 
Jesus is not calling us to transform the world. He is not calling us to bring healing and restoration to the lost and brokenhearted. The Lord is not asking us to save anyone.
 
Jesus wants us to be available to Him as He brings transformation, restoration, and healing to the lost and brokenhearted. The Lord wants us to make ourselves available to Him so He can save people. 
 
Jesus wants us to incline our hearts towards Him. He wants to lavish His love upon us so His love can impact the people around us. The Lord is calling us to love Him and be available for Him so He can live out the life of Christ in us and through us! 
 
If you step out in faith and serve Jesus He will be pleased. If you are growing in faith and the grace of God your Heavenly Father is pleased. If you have stumbled and fallen in your walk of faith and desire to get back up through faith Jesus God will restore you.
 
God is pleased when we turn to Him in all things and for all things. Turn to Jesus with all of your heart soul and strength today!
 
The Lord has established His throne in heaven. His kingdom rules over all people places and things!
 
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For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 2 Corinthians 10:3 NKJV
 
It is the day after Christmas. I am reminded that Christmas is not about gifts. It is about remembering the greatest gift, Jesus. It is about remembering what Jesus did for us.
 
I do enjoy giving and receiving gifts. One year I bought my wife a nice robe. She bought me a Christian t-shirt some chocolate and a small vial of anointing oil. I wore the t-shirt to church the first Sunday after Christmas. The chocolate didn’t last that long.
 
That night I had a dream. In my dream I was surrounded by vampires. I began to wage war against them by pouring the oil over them.
 
I was moved to step out in faith and wage war against the spiritual forces of darkness. I prayed before I got out of bed. I prayed as I drove down the freeway. I went to work in a prison to help men turn from bondage to sin.
 
I did not step out in faith by hunting down demons and evil spirits. I stepped out in faith by trusting God to lead me and guide me as I went to work.
 
God is not calling us to wage war against the forces of darkness on our own. He is calling us to make ourselves available to Him so He can bring all things under submission to Jesus Christ!
 
I was excited as I went to work that morning. I was reminded that Jesus is with us when we submit to Him. Jesus can do great and mighty works in us and through us if we live for Him.
 
Jesus sent me into a dark place to represent Him. I knew the Lord would be at that prison when I arrived for work. I am excited because I know He is working in those men’s lives today!
 
We are all called to serve God for His glory. We are called to partner with Jesus as He restores broken hearts lives and families one soul at a time.
 
Even though we live in the flesh we do not wage war in the flesh. We wage war through faith in Jesus Christ. We are useful weapons in the hands of a mighty God. Jesus can never be defeated!
 
Jesus does not need our help. Jesus does command us to join Him in prayer. He commands us to join Him in faith. Jesus wants us to partner with Him by learning to walk in His ways!
 
Serve God by bringing every thought captive to His will for your life! Trust Jesus to lead you and guide as you journey through the life you live in the flesh!
 
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“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NKJV
 
Merry Christmas!
 
There are many holidays celebrated throughout the year. Only one is set aside to honor the birth of our Savior!
 
Jesus was born over 2,000 years ago. He existed before time began. Through Him the universe and all it contains was created. Jesus’ birth is the most important event in human history.
 
If Jesus Christ is Lord of your life it no longer belongs to you. If you live by faith in the Son of God Jesus lives in you and through you. The God who loves you and gave Himself for you wants you to give yourself completely to Him!
 
I hear people talk about the commercialization and pagan roots of our traditions. Some say we should not put up Christmas trees, give presents or celebrate.
 
My wife has been in the kitchen making cookies. Today she will prepare a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. It blesses her to express her love and devotion to us by making cookies and cooking Christmas dinner for us.
 
There are presents for our children grandchildren and each other under our Christmas tree. Giving gifts to the people we love is a blessing!
 
Christmas is not about traditions. It is not about cookies candy or delicious food. It is not about the gifts we give and receive. It is about remembering and celebrating the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ our Savior!
 
Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
 
We were created to live in loving relationships. God created us to be loved by Him and to return His love. He created us to share His love with each other. He gave us the great joy of living in loving relationships with Him and each other!
 
If you find it difficult to express love remember; You have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer you who live, but Christ who lives in you. The life you now live in the flesh must be lived by faith in the Son of God.
 
Jesus loves you and gave Himself for you so you could love Him and other people. You have the freedom to give and receive love because of Jesus’ love for you.
 
Celebrate Jesus’ love for you by loving Him and His people in every season of life!
 
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And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the Highest, And on Earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:9-14 NKJV
 
An angel appeared before shepherds. The angel was not a sign to them. A multitude of the heavenly host appeared giving praise to God and a blessing to mankind. This was not a sign to them.
 
The sign was a helpless baby wrapped in rags and sleeping in a place intended for animals. The Lord came to the meek and humble as one of them!
 
Mary was too young to get married today. The shepherds lived like migrant field workers. As the animals ate up the grass they moved on to greener pastures. They worked into the night protecting their livelihood. It was a stark and humble existence.
 
God chose a young girl to mother His Son. He announced the birth of our Savior to the lowliest of working class people, why? God does not look at status or position. He looks deep into hearts for the secret the things hidden in them.
 
The Father saw in Mary and the shepherds people of humility and character. He saw people who knew this world had nothing to offer them. He saw people who longed for things only God could give them!
 
God is looking deep into our hearts for things only He can see today. He is looking for people of humility and character. He is looking for people who know this world has nothing to offer us. He is looking for people who long for things only Jesus can give us! 
 
Has the Lord ever given you a sign? In 1993 I asked the Lord to bless my marriage. I felt a tingling sensation throughout my body. The Lord gave me a sign He would bless my marriage. He has blessed us. He gave us the son we longed for.
 
Are you looking for more than this world offers? Do you long for things only God can give you? Humble yourself before the Lord. Surrender your heart to Jesus. The virgin birth, sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a sign of His great love for you!
 
Jesus came into the world as the Son we needed. He was much more than a sign. He was and will always be the redeemer of a lost world. He sent servants to announce His birth. Jesus is calling servants to make Him known today. Will you answer that call?
 
God sends you good tidings of great joy today. Give glory to God. There will be peace on the earth when the Prince of Peace returns for us!
 
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And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30 NKJV
 
There is a song by Bryan Duncan called I love you with my life. If you are familiar with it you know why I enjoy it so much. I am moved by the music and words of the song. I am reminded in a personal way that Jesus loves me with His life!
 
The bible is the complete Word of God. Everything God intended to reveal to us has been. God did not leave out anything we need to live a life of Godliness and faith in Jesus Christ.
 
We are not told very much about the childhood of Jesus. 
 
An artist must first imagine a work of art in his mind before he can actually begin the work. Before Jesus created us we existed in His mind. He could see us as we are before we were. We are the centerpiece of God’s creation. We are His greatest masterpiece!
 
After Jesus created all things He stepped out of His perfect existence into the body of a baby. He chose to be nurtured and loved by one of His created beings. He chose to have his physical needs met by a devoted mother who was created to be loved by Him.
 
Jesus experienced the love of a mother for her child and the love of a boy for His mother.
 
Jesus experienced hunger and weariness. He experienced anger and sadness. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said, “My soul is sorrowful even unto death.” Jesus is God. He is also fully human. 
 
Jesus chose to live in poverty among the meek and humble. It was not poverty of hopelessness and despair. It was poverty of simplicity and beauty. It caused a man to toil in hard labor. It did not allow for lavish distraction and excess. It offered restful worry free sleep for those who lived it.
 
Our Lord chose to live in the obscurity of poverty and simplicity among His beloved people!
 
Jesus the God Man does not walk among us in human form today. He does choose to live among us by His Spirit. He is at the right hand of the Father ever living to intercede for us.
 
Jesus loves us with His life today! Will you choose to love Jesus with your life?
 
Will you love Jesus with your life by allowing Him to form His heart in you? Will you allow Jesus to love the people He brings into your life through you?
 
Christmas is more than a season. It is more than a day. It is a sign of God’s love for us!
 
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Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:51-52 NKJV
 
When Jesus was twelve years old He went to be with the teachers in the temple. They were awe struck. Jesus was wise beyond His years. He understood the scriptures even though He was untrained and uneducated. He spoke with boldness and authority.
 
When His parents tracked Him down and asked why Jesus would do such a thing His answer could have been interpreted as defiance. Joseph could have taken it as a reminder He was not Jesus’ biological father. 
 
I grew up in a home with a stepfather. It was like living in a cold war. My step father did not consider me his son. I did not consider him my father. We only spoke to each other when it was absolutely necessary.
 
I did not submit to his authority. He did not accept more responsibility for me than necessary. It left me emotionally scared. My life was dominated by sin until I was thirty- two years old. 
 
When Joseph and Mary saw Jesus in the temple they were amazed. When He said He was on His Father’s business they did not understand. Mary pondered the things taking place and stored them up in her heart. What was going on in Joseph’s heart? 
 
When Jesus walked the earth He demonstrated one aspect of His character more than any other. He modeled the humility He looks for in people. After reminding His mother and step father He was the Son of God He submitted to their authority over Him.
 
When I married my wife we had a daughter I had never met. She had two sons. I had two sons. I experienced the difficulties of being a father in every sense except biology. My sons rebelled against my authority.
 
We sinned against the Lord and each other. The God who hung the stars in the night sky and calls them all by name is calling me to humble myself. He is showing me why He chose Joseph to father His Son.
 
I do not know if you have experienced trial and hardship in your home. I do know the Lord is calling you to walk in humility.
 
The Lord wants His daughters to have a heart like Mary. She lived a quiet life of obedience to God. She served her Savior in unconditional love.
 
The Lord wants His sons to be like Joseph. He accepted his role as a servant leader. He lived in humility and obedience God.
 
Be subject to the authority in your life. Store up the Word of God in your heart like precious jewels. Walk in the favor of God through faith in His Son, Jesus!
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Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.
Matthew 2:1-2 NKJV
 
Wise men came from the East to worship Jesus. Some say they were astrologers. Others say they were Magi influenced by Daniel in Babylon. They may have been Persian priests. Who were these wise men? What was so special about them?
 
Who are we that we should be called the children of God? Are we wise men and women? What is so special about us?
 
The wise men knew Christ would be born in Jerusalem. They knew a star would lead them to Him. They knew He was worthy of worship. They also knew they should not align themselves with evil forces seeking to destroy Jesus.
 
The wise men are not described as god fearing but they believed the Lord was using a star to lead them. They were the elite of society but fell down to worship a baby in a humble home.
 
When the wise men caught up with the star they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  When they entered the home where Jesus was they fell to the ground and worshiped the Christ Child. They opened up the treasuries they brought and gave Him expensive gifts. 
 
Will you bow down and worship the Lord of Heaven and Earth today? What will you give to the Son of God?
 
The wise men were educated men of influence. They had the resources and time to travel. They were intellectuals and men of science. They looked at creation through eyes of faith. They chose to obey God rather than conform to the world.
 
The Word of God tells us it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. Who then can be saved? With God all things are possible!
 
We live in a world that has gone mad with arrogant scientific exploration and idolatrous self-indulgence. Who can be saved today? Who can serve the Son of God today?
 
With God all things are possible. Your unsaved friends and relatives can be saved. The Lord of Heaven and Earth can use you to reveal the truth to them. What is truth?
 
God is calling us to humble ourselves before Him today. He wants us to look at creation through eyes of faith. God does not want us to conform to the world. He wants us to follow the Bright and Morning Star as Jesus leads us home one heart and soul at a time!
 
Wisdom is calling out in the streets. Wise men and women still seek Jesus. Worship the Savior of the world. Offer your heart to Christ Jesus today!
 
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Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:9 NKJV
 
Adam and Eve lived in paradise. Sin and death were unknown to them. They tended the Garden of Eden in perfect peace. The Lord came down to walk with them in the cool of the day. They had intimate fellowship with the Ancient of Ages.
 
The devil deceived Adam and Eve into questioning the goodness of God. They saw that the fruit of the forbidden tree was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise. Adam and Eve sinned.
 
God called out to Adam saying, “Where are you?” Adam answered, “We hid because we are naked”. God asked them if they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree.
 
Adam and Eve were not hidden from God. He knew exactly where they were. He knew what they had done. Why did God ask those questions if He already knew the answers?
 
The Lord sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden. He assigned an angel to guard against their return. God did not want them to eat the fruit of the tree of life. If they had the evil in men’s hearts would have been unleashed upon the earth forever!
 
And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Genesis 5:24 NKJV
 
Six generations after the sin of Adam and Eve Enoch walked with God. Enoch did not taste death. The Lord took him, why? What does it mean that Enoch walked with God?
 
Maybe Enoch pleased God so much the Lord wanted to have an even closer intimate relationship with him. Maybe God had such a special plan and purpose for Enoch he was taken directly into God’s presence for instruction and preparation. 
 
When God asked Adam, “Where are you” He wanted Adam to realize what he lost. God wanted Adam to know the intimacy they had was severed irreparably.
 
God wanted Adam to take responsibility for what he did. Adam did not. He blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. If there was someone the serpent could blame he would have.
 
This Christmas season the Lord wants to ask us the same questions He asked Adam. “Where are you?” “Have you partaken of forbidden fruit?” Will you walk with Me?
 
God does not want to condemn us. He does not want to punish us. He wants us to know what is at stake. If we are not where we need to be we can put one foot in front of the other and walk back to the Lord in faith. If we have sinned we can repent!
 
Jesus is not a baby anymore. He will always be a man. He has always been God. He made a way for us to live in paradise forever.
 
Jesus made a way for you to walk with God today!
 
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