A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Friday,
September 14, 2018
Daily
prayer: Father, we praise You
from whom all blessings flow. Your
blessings are abundant and continuous.
When tempted by the things of this world
may we recall your blessings and also
remember the most certain consequences
of sin. Help us to give You praise
continually, for every good gift comes
from above. For the gifts of
family, friends, food, health, material
provisions, and above all the gift of
salvation we give You heartfelt thanks.
Amen.
While living in Massachusetts Ester's
adopted granny, Marita Murphy (above),
worked as a bagger at Shaws Supermarket.
Marita gave her a Shaw's apron and Ester enjoyed pretending to be
a bagger. Who knew that she would become a
bagger many years later at Darrenkamps
which is now closing all four of their
stores.
Windshield
view
"Consider
Blessings, Resist Temptations"
Message
summary:
Keep your focus on God and
His blessings today!
Note: Due to heavy schedule and weariness we did not prepare a podcast for this message.
"And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more" (2 Samuel 12:8).
Have you noticed that the devil tempts us with only the seemingly positive outcomes from forbidden momentary pleasure. The devil does not disclose the long term consequences that we'll deal with as result of giving into sinful desires.
Note: Due to heavy schedule and weariness we did not prepare a podcast for this message.
"And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more" (2 Samuel 12:8).
Have you noticed that the devil tempts us with only the seemingly positive outcomes from forbidden momentary pleasure. The devil does not disclose the long term consequences that we'll deal with as result of giving into sinful desires.
- Have you ever seen a tobacco ad that shows someone wasting away in the late stages of lung cancer?
- Have you seen an alcohol ad that shows the aftermath of a DUI accident or an abusive father?
- What about a gambling ad that shows the desperation of a chronic gambler?
God,
in His love and concern for our
future, reveals the long term
consequences if we seek Him in the
midst of our luring temptation.
David was a man after God's own heart but one night he got his eyes off the Lord and onto temporary pleasure which led to a succession of serious events; lust, adultery, murder, cover-up, deception and more.
When it was over David thought he had all his bases covered. He thought he was getting away with it. He thought he could avoid the consequences. David thought to himself, "I'm OK". But he wasn't OK. God was watching. God is always watching. Chapter eleven of 2 Samuel ends with these words: "But the thing David had done displeased the LORD" (11:27).
The words in our daily verse were a part of the prophetic rebuke that David received from the courageous and godly prophet Nathan. They were presented as a result of David's immoral dalliance with Bathsheba and all the accompanying sins. Nathan proclaimed a message of judgment and serious lasting consequences. That's not a popular message today, but one very much needed.
Let's consider the daily Scripture portion: "And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more." This is the Lord speaking to David through Nathan. Its first focus was to David and all the blessings he had received from the Lord. Nathan reminded him of how the blessings of God had been so abundant in his life. David had sought the Lord from his earliest days and surely knew all this.
In a broader application consider the abundance of God's blessings in your life. Indeed we proclaim, "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!" The eternal God speaks to each of us today. Listen to His voice, "And if all this had been too little". Our response should be, "It's not too little, God, it's more than enough. It's infinitely more than I ever deserve." It was true for David and it's no less true for each one of us.
But God says, "I would have given you even more". That's powerful. God is ever ready to give us more and keep on giving. That's His nature.
Consider God's marvelous provision in our lives today. Let this brief selection of verses feed your spirit:
David was a man after God's own heart but one night he got his eyes off the Lord and onto temporary pleasure which led to a succession of serious events; lust, adultery, murder, cover-up, deception and more.
When it was over David thought he had all his bases covered. He thought he was getting away with it. He thought he could avoid the consequences. David thought to himself, "I'm OK". But he wasn't OK. God was watching. God is always watching. Chapter eleven of 2 Samuel ends with these words: "But the thing David had done displeased the LORD" (11:27).
The words in our daily verse were a part of the prophetic rebuke that David received from the courageous and godly prophet Nathan. They were presented as a result of David's immoral dalliance with Bathsheba and all the accompanying sins. Nathan proclaimed a message of judgment and serious lasting consequences. That's not a popular message today, but one very much needed.
Let's consider the daily Scripture portion: "And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more." This is the Lord speaking to David through Nathan. Its first focus was to David and all the blessings he had received from the Lord. Nathan reminded him of how the blessings of God had been so abundant in his life. David had sought the Lord from his earliest days and surely knew all this.
In a broader application consider the abundance of God's blessings in your life. Indeed we proclaim, "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!" The eternal God speaks to each of us today. Listen to His voice, "And if all this had been too little". Our response should be, "It's not too little, God, it's more than enough. It's infinitely more than I ever deserve." It was true for David and it's no less true for each one of us.
But God says, "I would have given you even more". That's powerful. God is ever ready to give us more and keep on giving. That's His nature.
Consider God's marvelous provision in our lives today. Let this brief selection of verses feed your spirit:
- Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
- Paul wrote about "Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20).
- Paul writes to the Ephesians, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (1:3).
- To the Corinthians he writes, "For in Him you have been enriched in every way" (1 Corinthians 1:5). He reminded Timothy of "God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Timothy 5:17).
- Peter writes, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3).
- And finally the classic statement in Romans "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).
Praise
God, from whom all blessings
flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, we praise You
from whom all blessings flow. Your
blessings are abundant and continuous.
When tempted by the things of this world
may we recall your blessings and also
remember the most certain consequences
of sin. Help us to give You praise
continually, for every good gift comes
from above. For the gifts of
family, friends, food, health, material
provisions, and above all the gift of
salvation we give You heartfelt thanks.
Amen.
While living in Massachusetts Ester's
adopted granny, Marita Murphy (above),
worked as a bagger at Shaws Supermarket.
Marita gave her a Shaw's apron and Ester enjoyed pretending to be
a bagger. Who knew that she would become a
bagger many years later at Darrenkamps
which is now closing all four of their
stores.Marita
went to be with the Lord about a week ago
and Ester wrote a tribute on her Facebook
page that we will share here:
What
can I say about my “Granny” Marita Murphy.
Well, first thing I can honestly tell you
is that she loved the Lord with all of her
heart & wasn’t afraid to admit it. She
had a compassion about other people and
always had them on her prayer list. The
fondest memories were sleeping over at her
apartment for the weekend. The only
problem was when it was time for bed I
wouldn’t shut up. So she created a game
for us to play to shut me up at night. It
was the “quiet game”. So in other words
you were not allowed to talk until
morning. Eating eggs with rye bread &
fudgsicles, going for bike rides, walking
to the park, spending the day with her at
work, helping her bag groceries at Shaw’s
and of course listening to Dan & Louie
on cassette tapes. She always managed to
have one in her car so we could listen to
it. She was the kindest most caring
thoughtful lady I knew and when she smiled
she could light up the whole room. She
also loved playing her saxophone whenever
she got a chance to. As I got older we
would spend an hour or two on the phone
talking about what was going in my life
& how my friends were doing. She’d
would always ask me how the people in the
church were doing & ask if I have
spoken to anyone from there lately. She’d
also ask me about any fun trips we’ve
taken lately. Asked how mom & dad were
and of course the pets would be included
in the conversations. I would write her
now and then with a pic of me for her to
keep. She also told me from the time I was
4 yrs old that reading your Bible would
help to you understand it & what God
wants you to do. At the end of the phone
calls, after I moved away, we would pray
for each other & say I love you to
each other. Granny was the most
influential person in my life ever and I
will miss her so very much. I can’t wait
to see you again someday Granny.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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