Good Morning,
It is sadly reported that amputees often experience the sensation that the limb is still there. In the subconscious, or somewhere in their brain, a memory of that nonexistent hand or leg is still there. At times they may even think they can grasp things with a hand that they no longer have, stand on a nonexistent leg, or feel pain in toes that have been removed. Too many times, this same type of phenomenon can accrue with the redeemed of the Lord. He promised to "cast our sins into the sea of forgetfulness to be remembered against us no more." Memory of some sin committed years ago, if it never leaves us, can cripple our ministry or devotional life with our Lord today, and our relationship to others. Do you continue to carry a heavy guilt of sin around with you? Do you live in fear that someone will discover your past? Some of us work overtime trying to prove to God that we are truly repentant. In so doing we are erecting barriers against the enveloping, loving grace of God. It's free and it's full, trust Him! "And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before Him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater that our hearts, and He knows everything." 1 John 3:19-20 "Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul, Thank You, Lord,for making me whole. Thank You, Lord, for giving to me, Thy great salvation, so rich and free." "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15 Remember that you are loved today!!! Henry
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Hello,
We have read different studies conducted on fish in aquariums. One that interest me is of the shark. If a small shark is placed in a small aquarium, he will stay small. He grows in proportion to his aquarium. Sharks can be 6 inches long, yet fully mature. But if turned loose in the ocean, they grow to their normal length of eight feet. That also happens to some Christians. Have you seen some very cute 6 inch Christians who swim around in a little puddle. But if they are put out into the world, then they begin to grow to the potential that God has planned for them. Jesus commanded all believers to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything (He has) commanded" Matthew 28:19-20 There is very limited room to grow inside the walls of the Sunday School classroom, or even the sanctuary. Let's get involved in a work and witness team, a missionary group, locally or world wide. Begin a prayer group to support the Gospel in our local church, and world wide. Let's get out of the puddle we have been swimming in, and take our faith to a larger arena, as the Savior commanded. "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 May the Redeemer bless you today, and remember that you are loved!!! Henry Hello,
If you are like myself, one of us who is growing older, who is becoming more acutely aware of how fleeting life is, one who see that which we thought was steadfast beginning to shake and crumble and fall – how much more intently do you want to stay in the Word of God. It is eternal! "Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven" (Psa. 119:89). This spring, the forsythias were very full, but they are gone, the redbud and dogwood were unusually beautiful this year, but that are gone. Peonies are in full bloom right now, but in a few weeks..... "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the Word of our God shall stand for ever" (Isa. 40:8). heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away" (Matt. 24:35). And more, "Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17). "Thy Word is pure" (Psalm 119:140). "Thy Word is… a light unto our pathway" (Psa. 119:105). God’s Word is a "a faithful Word" (Titus 1:9). It is a "Word of life" (1 John 1:1). Truly it is to be highly honored and esteemed! "What if we treated our Bible like our cell phones, carried it around in our purse or pocket, flipped through it several times a day,turned back to get it if we forgot it, used it to receive messages from the text, treated it like we couldn't live without it, used it when we travelled and in case of an emergency? We don't... have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because JESUS already paid the bill." God bless you, have a great day, and remember you are loved!!! Henry Hi,
When I turn on the computer I'm not connected. When I click on the Internet, it will say connected, but that only gives me access to information. If I want to get involved in doing anything, like writing this devotional and sending it, I must sign on to Hotmail. Can we relate our church life to this? Am I only connected to church. Do I just claim to be a part of the fellowship, that is, connected, not engaged or signed on, in what the fellowship endeavors to do, Do I function independently on the fringes of the fellowship, by just gathering information only. If this is where I am, then sadly I'm missing the sweetest part of the Christian experience. I'm miss the real purpose of the unity. I just need to sign on! Jesus is the source of our unity. We worship Him, the Head, by coming together at His feet. We share our experiences with Him, by testifying to one another of His goodness in our lives. We share our victories and our burdens. We come together to give our resources to financially support His kingdom. We become His hands and feet, by working together to meet the needs of others, as we give of our time and energy. We are signed on. "There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called-one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:4-6 Be blessed today as you sign on, and stay signed on, to that fellowship with Jesus, and your Christian family. Remember that you are loved!!! Henry Greetings,
We need family. We need each other. While I'm typing this, I've been watching a baby cardinal in a shrub, just outside my window. The baby is not in a nest now, but perched on a limb. Earlier I noticed the mother flying into the shrub to check on the baby, and now it has been sometime since I have seen her. But I've also noticed that from time to time, the big beautiful male cardinal flies in, hopping from branch to branch, he then positions himself above the baby, and leans down with food for his offspring. Then immediately flies away to find more. I'm made to believe, that this is God's design for the physical and spiritual family. At times I've felt like I am that helpless one, perched on a limb, not knowing where to go next or where to find help. He's provided for that one in need, and He will provide for you. Trust Him! "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31 May our Creator bless you today, as you let Him provide for you through Himself directly, and by one of His servants. Remember that you are loved!!! Henry Greeting,
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith wihich you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake." Philemon 1:3-6 Continue to pray for each other, fellow churches, and for our country. Be blessed by Christ today, and remember that you are loved!!! Henry Greetings on this National Day of Prayer,
Hope all can find a place to pray today. The following reasons, bring me to realize how much I need to pray: 1. It pleases God: "....But the prayer of the upright is His delight." Proverbs 15:8b 2. It allows us to participate in God's work: "....the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5:16b 3. It calls God to action: "....then will I hear for heaven, will forgive their sins and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14b 4. It is commanded (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Colossians 4:2, Ephesians 6:18, Romans 12:12). 5. It is modeled by Jesus (Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12, Luke 11:1-4). One of our most favorite writers on prayer, E.M. Bounds said: "Prayer honors God, acknowledges His being, exalts His power, adores His providence, secures His aid." As you lift up to the throne of God today, our nation, our churches, our governments, and our people, be blessed and remember that you are loved!!! Henry GREETINGS IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS,
Our founders themselves cannot help us today. We can only learn from them, as we see how they depended on God in their individual lives, and as they depended on Him to frame our government. Sometimes to understand the positive positions on an issue, we must deal with the negative. We have all heard that if a lie is told often enough, and long enough it will be believed. For years I have heard that Thomas Jefferson was a deist. That President Lincoln was a deist. Now to the shock of us all, they say that George Washington was a deist. How desperate some are to destroy the foundation. A prayer from George Washington: I beseech thee, my sins, remove them from thy presence, as far as the east is from the west, and accept of me for the merits of thy SON, JESUS CHRIST, that when I come into thy temple, and compass thine altar, my prayers may come before thee as incense; and as thou wouldst hear me calling upon thee in my prayers, so give me grace to hear thee calling on me in thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of the soul in the day of the LORD JESUS. Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me, Gracious God, the good work for which thou has sent it. A prayer from Thomas Jefferson: Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endow with Thy Spirit wisdom those whom in Thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, amen. A statement from Abraham Lincoln about his Christianity: "When I left Springfield I asked the people to pray for me, I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ." As I am praying for our country this week, I refer to this short prayer of George Washington: "Bless, O Lord, all the people of this land, from the highest to the lowest, particularly those whom thou has appointed to rule over us in church and state." His blessings on you, yours, and your country, and never forget that you are loved!!! Henry Greetings in the Name of Jesus,
We sent this devotional out a short time back, but it seems so fitting for this week. We have felt so self-sufficient in America for so long, but like Israel, we must come to the realization that we cannot defeat this enemy on our own. We must have God's help, and that is where real prayer begins. Our spiritual enemy has tried in many ways, from without and within, to bring down this nation, America. Pray! "O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can withstand You. O our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in Your presence before this temple that bears Your Name and will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’ "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory You would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession You gave us as an inheritance. O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You" (2 Chron. 20:5-12). Our hope is in you Lord! May he bless you, yours, and your nation as you go with Him today, remembering that you are loved!!! Henry Good Morning,
As we all face a new week, I trust that you had a great Sunday worshiping the Lord. At Dogwood Community Church we had a wonderful day of praising Him, through communion mediation, songs, and the preaching of His word. I'm made to believe that this fellowship in worship is so important before we face this world week after week. "....neglect not the assembling of yourselves together...." Last evening we gathered to have a special prayer for one of our own, who has been hospitalized for several weeks now from an auto accident. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Now as we face this new week, let's begin to focus on prayer for our nation, looking forward to Thursday, our 51st year for "The National Day Of Prayer". He's able to help. "Our fathers trusted in Thee: they trusted, and Thou didst deliver them." Psalm 22:4 "Thy love divine hath led us in the past, In this free land by Thee our lot is cast; Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay, Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way." God bless you, yours and your country, as you walk with Him, and remember that you are loved!!! Henry |
Henry DeatonHenry D. is from Southern Indiana and writes these wonderful daily devotionals to encourage those at the Dogwood Community Church located in Paoli, Indiana. Henry has graciously agreed to share these wonderful devotionals here at Without Excuse Ministries to encourage you our valued guest! Archives
January 2013
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