Hello my dear friends! Allow me to pose this question: Do you own your Bible and does it own you? An odd question, perhaps, but hear me out on this one.
No doubt, many of us own more than one copy of the Bible, probably in a variety of different translations, in various formats (computer, smart phone, study Bible, hard back, leather back, paper back, etc.). It has been said that there has never been a time in history where the Word of God has been made so available to so many people. And yet, our culture continues to race towards a secularized world view, where in many cases, the Western Church blends in, becoming just like the fallen world Christ came to rescue.
We are living in a time of great biblical famine. How can this be? Perhaps, we have failed to allow the Bible to own us: doing what it says and how it says we, as disciples of Jesus, should live.
Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a reminder of the great qualities the Word of God possesses: His Word is true, powerful, and eternal. May we live our lives like we really believe it is true.
Learning how to live it out with you,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #13
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 4 For the word of the LORD is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness.
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. Psalm 33:4, 6, 11
Core Value: Bible Study
For the disciple of Jesus Christ, the Bible is to be the ultimate authority for living the Christian life. Some have called the Bible “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” Others have called it the “Manufacturer’s Handbook.” Whatever one chooses to call it, we must pledge our allegiance to the God of the Scriptures. We live in a day and time where God’s authority not only is being openly questioned, but aggressively challenged by those who refuse to submit to absolute truth. And please note: we are not saying we are to read and then submit to the teachings of Scripture only. We are to prayerfully read the Scriptures in the audience of the One who perfectly inspired every jot (letter) and tittle (stroke) [Matthew 5:18], every word and thought, every theme and principle. Authentic Bible reading and study must be done in relationship with Jesus. Meaningful Bible study is always founded upon our love for the Lord.
Consequently, spiritual transformation comes as we believe, obey and apply God’s Word to our heart.
Principle #13 & Personal Application: The quality disciple has a high regard for the authority of, the power of, and the eternal nature of the Word of God.
• The Word of God is true: We can trust it completely (vs. 4).
• The Word of God is powerful: We are in awe of it entirely (vs. 6).
• The Word of God is eternal. We can count on it forever (vs. 11).
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
When I read and study my Bible, do I trust it completely; especially when it instructs me to do something that makes me very uncomfortable in doing (like turning the other cheek; like forgiving those who hurt me; like giving grace to those who do not deserve it)?
What is the last thing that God has spoken to me from His Word that caused me to grow closer to Him?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Your Word is true. I can trust it completely. Your Word is powerful. May I always be in awe of its message to my heart. Your word is eternal. While the writings of famous men come and go, Your Word will last forever. May I forever be touched and drawn closer to You by its eternal message.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Psalms of Discipleship--Principle # 12--April 2, 2011--Prayer
Hello my dear friends! Have you ever been on a journey and found the map you had was useless? Perhaps you had a state map, but you were trying to navigate in a large city where only the main roads were listed, leaving you to guess where the next turn would take you. Would it not be better to have someone with you who knew every turn, every street, every place you needed to go? This is what the Good Shepherd desires to do for you. He is our Guide, our Protector, our Instructor, our Counselor. This is the great lesson of Psalm 32: Jesus is all we need to navigate the challenges of this life.
Learning to trust Him,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #12
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Psalm 32:6-8
Core Value: Prayer
Perhaps you are familiar with the phrase, “Don’t get the cart before the horse.” Even as believers, it is an easy thing to do. When we find ourselves in a jam, in a really challenging circumstance, it is tempting to return to our default setting and place the weight of trust upon our limited ability to rescue ourselves. Yes, we do need rescuing. But, ironically, sometimes, we ignore the answer: the power of the Gospel. Is there a practical solution that will address the challenges of life for the believer?
I believe the solution is a proper understanding of “Provision and Obligation.” It means that for every obligation that God requires of His children, there is ALWAYS a provision from Him that allows us to do our part. For example, in this Psalm we see our “obligation” is to “pray to You” (vs. 6). We are to pray. That’s all. There is nothing there about us fixing our problems, of trying to deliver ourselves in our own strength.
On the other hand, notice what God has promised to provide: “He will be found . . . He protects us from the flood . . . He provides for us a hiding place . . . He preserves us from trouble . . . He surrounds us with songs of deliverance . . . He will instruct us and teach us in the way we should go . . . He will counsel us with His eye upon us.” Is it clear yet? His provision (grace) allows us to do our part (obedience: we believe and approach Him in faith). He always does His part. Will we do ours?
Principle #12 & Personal Application: The quality disciple finds refuge, instruction, and counsel in the Lord during life’s difficult challenges.
There are many great nuggets of truth that we can observe:
• The blessing: He will be found. The godly disciple of Jesus Christ is called to pray to the Lord.
• The blessing: He will be found, even during times of danger.
• The blessing: Our prayer is turned into praise for what He will do. He is our hiding place; He preserves us from trouble; He surrounds us with songs of deliverance; He will instruct us and teach us in the way we should go; He will counsel us with His eye upon us.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
There is a relationship between prayer and what God does because of it. When am I most prone to pray—during times of crisis or when everything is calm around me?
When I am praying, do I sense His protection and presence?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, what a blessing it is to me that You want me to be godly and come pray to You. I thank You that You can be found as You invite me to come into Your presence, using Your Name. Your promises of protection, refuge, and utter joy gives great comfort to me. Your promise to teach me, guide me, and counsel me are priceless.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Learning to trust Him,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #12
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Psalm 32:6-8
Core Value: Prayer
Perhaps you are familiar with the phrase, “Don’t get the cart before the horse.” Even as believers, it is an easy thing to do. When we find ourselves in a jam, in a really challenging circumstance, it is tempting to return to our default setting and place the weight of trust upon our limited ability to rescue ourselves. Yes, we do need rescuing. But, ironically, sometimes, we ignore the answer: the power of the Gospel. Is there a practical solution that will address the challenges of life for the believer?
I believe the solution is a proper understanding of “Provision and Obligation.” It means that for every obligation that God requires of His children, there is ALWAYS a provision from Him that allows us to do our part. For example, in this Psalm we see our “obligation” is to “pray to You” (vs. 6). We are to pray. That’s all. There is nothing there about us fixing our problems, of trying to deliver ourselves in our own strength.
On the other hand, notice what God has promised to provide: “He will be found . . . He protects us from the flood . . . He provides for us a hiding place . . . He preserves us from trouble . . . He surrounds us with songs of deliverance . . . He will instruct us and teach us in the way we should go . . . He will counsel us with His eye upon us.” Is it clear yet? His provision (grace) allows us to do our part (obedience: we believe and approach Him in faith). He always does His part. Will we do ours?
Principle #12 & Personal Application: The quality disciple finds refuge, instruction, and counsel in the Lord during life’s difficult challenges.
There are many great nuggets of truth that we can observe:
• The blessing: He will be found. The godly disciple of Jesus Christ is called to pray to the Lord.
• The blessing: He will be found, even during times of danger.
• The blessing: Our prayer is turned into praise for what He will do. He is our hiding place; He preserves us from trouble; He surrounds us with songs of deliverance; He will instruct us and teach us in the way we should go; He will counsel us with His eye upon us.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
There is a relationship between prayer and what God does because of it. When am I most prone to pray—during times of crisis or when everything is calm around me?
When I am praying, do I sense His protection and presence?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, what a blessing it is to me that You want me to be godly and come pray to You. I thank You that You can be found as You invite me to come into Your presence, using Your Name. Your promises of protection, refuge, and utter joy gives great comfort to me. Your promise to teach me, guide me, and counsel me are priceless.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Psalms of Discipleship--Special Edition--March 26, 2011
Hello my dear friends,
This week's Psalms of Discipleship will be a little bit different. Well, a whole lot different. I know many of you face to face and some of you through facebook. Today I'd like to give you a picture inside my heart, a personal testimony, that I hope blesses you. This morning my wife and I had to do something very difficult; an act that brought great sadness to us: to put our family dog of 15 years to sleep. If you are an animal lover, I hope this encourages you. Even to those who do not have pets, I hope the story causes you to think about God's great love for you and for those you love.
Lord willing, I'll be sending you the next devotion from the Psalms soon. Thank you so much for joining me in this wonderful journey with the Great Shepherd. If this devotional group has been a blessing to you, please invite your facebook friends to join us.
Experiencing the mercy and grace of God,
Denny
He’s Only A Dog . . . Right?
A Tribute to Shadow, March 26, 2011
I first met Shadow at the animal shelter in January of 1997. He was the runt of the litter, forced to the back of the kennel as the other puppies fought over first dibs of the day’s meal. Instead of having her attention focused upon the stronger ones, my daughter chose the least of these. She rescued Shadow from a place of being forgotten about and shoved to the side, to a house of love where he was adopted into our family. But he’s only a dog . . . right?
Shadow earned his name right from the beginning. He was a member of our pack and was always a shadow around us. Seldom would he leave our presence. It has been said that there are few friends more faithful than a man and his dog. I can attest that to be true. In 1998 I had a heart attack and after thirteen days of being in the hospital and returning home, my friend was there, waiting to warmly greet me. He had not forgotten me. Shadow became one of my faithful care-givers as I began the healing process; Always at my feet, by my chair, by my bed. But he’s only a dog, right?
The stories of Shadow are numerous. He loved to play ball and he really loved to play keep-a-way with the ball. He understood the rules of fetch far better than I did, so it seemed. Being an indoor dog, he was given rights to the entire home. We tried to make him feel welcome, and he sure was. Over the course of almost 15 years, Shadow was an important part of our family. But he’s only a dog . . . right?
His personality was sweet. Being a puppy, who was a mixed breed, he had no official papers to prove his worth to the world. The only papers that really mattered to Shadow was early on as we began our institute of house training. Though I never was able to teach him how to use the indoor toilet (put the lid down when you are finished), the plants and grass in our backyard will never be the same again. Once he learned the secret of doing one’s business in the right places (you bark to go out and when you get back you get a treat), we were off to a wonderful relationship. Thousands upon thousands of treats later, those indoor “accidents” were a rarity. But he’s only a dog . . . right?
Shadow was not a loner and he loved people. He never met a stranger, unless it was the UPS driver who always back peddled away from the glass door after making his delivery, hoping the scary looking black dog would not attack. After awhile they grew into this uneasy truce. As Shadow got older and his hearing and eyesight began to weaken, he put more of his time into sleeping than barking at delivery men; dreaming about the good old days when cats and squirrels were fair game when the legs and heart were younger. But he’s only a dog . . . right?
It is painful, very painful to watch a friend begin to slip and deteriorate. Betrayed by arthritis in his joints, getting up and down became a daily challenge. Just when you thought that Shadow could move no more, suddenly a rebirth occurred and he would bark to play, chase the ball down the hall and then . . . become distracted, become tired, become aged, very aged and lay back down. There is a sadness in realizing that the past is in the past and it will be no more. But he’s only a dog . . . right?
The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a season for everything. It is normal. It is to be expected. And yet, it still pains the heart to tell a dear friend goodbye. Last night, Shadow’s joint failed to do what his Creator had designed it to do. It was simply worn out. He could not stand for long; he could not walk; and he could not offer his friendship to us any longer. My wife and I slept on couches (no, we laid down on them) in the living room and spent the night with Shadow, wishing we were only navigating through a bad dream and wake up realizing all was well. Our last act of devotion and love for him was to comfort him during his final night on earth. It was the least we could do for our friend. But he’s only a dog . . . right?
Today at the vet Trish and I were talking after Shadow went to sleep and slipped off into eternity. We have been married 25 years and Shadow was a part of our family for 15 years. It really put it into some perspective. We had a relationship with Shadow and he had one with us. Some would say he is not a human being with a soul (and I would agree). But the question that every young child asks (and some adults I know) when a pet dog is lost is “will dogs go to heaven?” Allow me to quote from Randy Alcorn’s classic work called “Heaven.” He writes,
“Humorist Will Rogers said, ‘If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.’ This statement was, of course, based on sentiment, not theology. However, it reflects something biblical: a God-given affection for animals. . . . the question of whether pets will be in Heaven is not, as some assume, stupid. Animals aren’t nearly as valuable as people, but God is their Maker and has touched many people’s lives through them. It would be simple for him to re-create a pet in Heaven if he wants to. He’s the giver of all good gifts, not the taker of them. If it would please us to have a pet restored to the New Earth, that may be sufficient reason. Consider parents who’ve acquired a pet because of their child’s request. God is better than we are at giving good gifts to his children (Matthew 7:9-11). And if we object that animals won’t make us happy in Heaven, we betray our Christoplatonism again—for by finding happiness in God’s creation, we will find happiness in him.” (Pg. 385-386)
Alcorn continues: “We know animals will be on the New Earth, which is a redeemed and renewed old Earth, in which animals had a prominent role. People will be resurrected to inhabit this world. As we saw, Romans 8:21-23 assumes animals as part of a suffering creation eagerly awaiting deliverance through humanity’s resurrection. This seems to require that some animals who lived, suffered, and died on the Old Earth must be made whole on the New Earth. Wouldn’t some of those likely be our pets?” (Pg. 386)
Finally, Alcorn quotes three people of note and offers their interesting thoughts. John Wesley said, “Something better remains after death for these poor creatures . . . that these, likewise, shall one day be delivered from this bondage of corruption, and shall then receive an ample amends for all their present sufferings.” C. S. Lewis commented, “ It seems to me possible that certain animals may have an immortality, not in themselves, but in the immortality of their masters. . . . Very few animals indeed, in their wild state, attain to a ‘self’ or ego. But if any do, and if it is agreeable to the goodness of God that they should live again, their immortality would also be related to man—not, this time, to individual masters, but to humanity.” (Pg. 386) One last perspective by Joni Eareckson Tada: “If God brings our pets back to life, it wouldn’t surprise me. It would be just like Him. It would be totally in keeping with His generous character. . . . Exorbitant. Excessive. Extravagant in grace after grace. Of all the dazzling discoveries and ecstatic pleasures heaven will hold for us, the potential of seeing Scrappy would be pure whimsy—utterly, joyfully, surprisingly superfluous. . . . Heaven is going to be a place that will refract and reflect in as many ways as possible the goodness and joy of our great God, who delights in lavishing love on His children.” (Pg. 386-387) Note: for further study I suggest you also read Alcorn’s entire chapter, “Will Animals, Including Our Pets, Live Again?” (Pages 383-390).
Shadow, he’s only a dog, right? Well, he was a dog we rescued and adopted him as a full-fledged member of our family. He was a dog who was a treasured source of an abundance of happy memories. Shadow was a dog who was faithful to his family to the very end. He was a dog who lived hard and played hard, and let us join him in his unique world of joy. Shadow was worth all of the vet bills, the pain pills, the yearly Christmas bones and toys, and the constant vacuuming of shedding hair on the carpet. He was a dog who licked a whole lot more people than he bit. Shadow is a reminder of how the Fall of man impacts those we love the most. He was a dog that loved us as much as we loved him. He was a member of our family and we will miss him for a long, long time. But he’s only a dog, right?
With great love and devotion to Shadow, my faithful friend,
Denny
The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel. Proverbs 12:10 (NLT)
A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel. (NASB95)
A righteous man cares about his animal’s health, but [even] the merciful acts of the wicked are cruel. (HCSB)
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
This week's Psalms of Discipleship will be a little bit different. Well, a whole lot different. I know many of you face to face and some of you through facebook. Today I'd like to give you a picture inside my heart, a personal testimony, that I hope blesses you. This morning my wife and I had to do something very difficult; an act that brought great sadness to us: to put our family dog of 15 years to sleep. If you are an animal lover, I hope this encourages you. Even to those who do not have pets, I hope the story causes you to think about God's great love for you and for those you love.
Lord willing, I'll be sending you the next devotion from the Psalms soon. Thank you so much for joining me in this wonderful journey with the Great Shepherd. If this devotional group has been a blessing to you, please invite your facebook friends to join us.
Experiencing the mercy and grace of God,
Denny
He’s Only A Dog . . . Right?
A Tribute to Shadow, March 26, 2011
I first met Shadow at the animal shelter in January of 1997. He was the runt of the litter, forced to the back of the kennel as the other puppies fought over first dibs of the day’s meal. Instead of having her attention focused upon the stronger ones, my daughter chose the least of these. She rescued Shadow from a place of being forgotten about and shoved to the side, to a house of love where he was adopted into our family. But he’s only a dog . . . right?
Shadow earned his name right from the beginning. He was a member of our pack and was always a shadow around us. Seldom would he leave our presence. It has been said that there are few friends more faithful than a man and his dog. I can attest that to be true. In 1998 I had a heart attack and after thirteen days of being in the hospital and returning home, my friend was there, waiting to warmly greet me. He had not forgotten me. Shadow became one of my faithful care-givers as I began the healing process; Always at my feet, by my chair, by my bed. But he’s only a dog, right?
The stories of Shadow are numerous. He loved to play ball and he really loved to play keep-a-way with the ball. He understood the rules of fetch far better than I did, so it seemed. Being an indoor dog, he was given rights to the entire home. We tried to make him feel welcome, and he sure was. Over the course of almost 15 years, Shadow was an important part of our family. But he’s only a dog . . . right?
His personality was sweet. Being a puppy, who was a mixed breed, he had no official papers to prove his worth to the world. The only papers that really mattered to Shadow was early on as we began our institute of house training. Though I never was able to teach him how to use the indoor toilet (put the lid down when you are finished), the plants and grass in our backyard will never be the same again. Once he learned the secret of doing one’s business in the right places (you bark to go out and when you get back you get a treat), we were off to a wonderful relationship. Thousands upon thousands of treats later, those indoor “accidents” were a rarity. But he’s only a dog . . . right?
Shadow was not a loner and he loved people. He never met a stranger, unless it was the UPS driver who always back peddled away from the glass door after making his delivery, hoping the scary looking black dog would not attack. After awhile they grew into this uneasy truce. As Shadow got older and his hearing and eyesight began to weaken, he put more of his time into sleeping than barking at delivery men; dreaming about the good old days when cats and squirrels were fair game when the legs and heart were younger. But he’s only a dog . . . right?
It is painful, very painful to watch a friend begin to slip and deteriorate. Betrayed by arthritis in his joints, getting up and down became a daily challenge. Just when you thought that Shadow could move no more, suddenly a rebirth occurred and he would bark to play, chase the ball down the hall and then . . . become distracted, become tired, become aged, very aged and lay back down. There is a sadness in realizing that the past is in the past and it will be no more. But he’s only a dog . . . right?
The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a season for everything. It is normal. It is to be expected. And yet, it still pains the heart to tell a dear friend goodbye. Last night, Shadow’s joint failed to do what his Creator had designed it to do. It was simply worn out. He could not stand for long; he could not walk; and he could not offer his friendship to us any longer. My wife and I slept on couches (no, we laid down on them) in the living room and spent the night with Shadow, wishing we were only navigating through a bad dream and wake up realizing all was well. Our last act of devotion and love for him was to comfort him during his final night on earth. It was the least we could do for our friend. But he’s only a dog . . . right?
Today at the vet Trish and I were talking after Shadow went to sleep and slipped off into eternity. We have been married 25 years and Shadow was a part of our family for 15 years. It really put it into some perspective. We had a relationship with Shadow and he had one with us. Some would say he is not a human being with a soul (and I would agree). But the question that every young child asks (and some adults I know) when a pet dog is lost is “will dogs go to heaven?” Allow me to quote from Randy Alcorn’s classic work called “Heaven.” He writes,
“Humorist Will Rogers said, ‘If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.’ This statement was, of course, based on sentiment, not theology. However, it reflects something biblical: a God-given affection for animals. . . . the question of whether pets will be in Heaven is not, as some assume, stupid. Animals aren’t nearly as valuable as people, but God is their Maker and has touched many people’s lives through them. It would be simple for him to re-create a pet in Heaven if he wants to. He’s the giver of all good gifts, not the taker of them. If it would please us to have a pet restored to the New Earth, that may be sufficient reason. Consider parents who’ve acquired a pet because of their child’s request. God is better than we are at giving good gifts to his children (Matthew 7:9-11). And if we object that animals won’t make us happy in Heaven, we betray our Christoplatonism again—for by finding happiness in God’s creation, we will find happiness in him.” (Pg. 385-386)
Alcorn continues: “We know animals will be on the New Earth, which is a redeemed and renewed old Earth, in which animals had a prominent role. People will be resurrected to inhabit this world. As we saw, Romans 8:21-23 assumes animals as part of a suffering creation eagerly awaiting deliverance through humanity’s resurrection. This seems to require that some animals who lived, suffered, and died on the Old Earth must be made whole on the New Earth. Wouldn’t some of those likely be our pets?” (Pg. 386)
Finally, Alcorn quotes three people of note and offers their interesting thoughts. John Wesley said, “Something better remains after death for these poor creatures . . . that these, likewise, shall one day be delivered from this bondage of corruption, and shall then receive an ample amends for all their present sufferings.” C. S. Lewis commented, “ It seems to me possible that certain animals may have an immortality, not in themselves, but in the immortality of their masters. . . . Very few animals indeed, in their wild state, attain to a ‘self’ or ego. But if any do, and if it is agreeable to the goodness of God that they should live again, their immortality would also be related to man—not, this time, to individual masters, but to humanity.” (Pg. 386) One last perspective by Joni Eareckson Tada: “If God brings our pets back to life, it wouldn’t surprise me. It would be just like Him. It would be totally in keeping with His generous character. . . . Exorbitant. Excessive. Extravagant in grace after grace. Of all the dazzling discoveries and ecstatic pleasures heaven will hold for us, the potential of seeing Scrappy would be pure whimsy—utterly, joyfully, surprisingly superfluous. . . . Heaven is going to be a place that will refract and reflect in as many ways as possible the goodness and joy of our great God, who delights in lavishing love on His children.” (Pg. 386-387) Note: for further study I suggest you also read Alcorn’s entire chapter, “Will Animals, Including Our Pets, Live Again?” (Pages 383-390).
Shadow, he’s only a dog, right? Well, he was a dog we rescued and adopted him as a full-fledged member of our family. He was a dog who was a treasured source of an abundance of happy memories. Shadow was a dog who was faithful to his family to the very end. He was a dog who lived hard and played hard, and let us join him in his unique world of joy. Shadow was worth all of the vet bills, the pain pills, the yearly Christmas bones and toys, and the constant vacuuming of shedding hair on the carpet. He was a dog who licked a whole lot more people than he bit. Shadow is a reminder of how the Fall of man impacts those we love the most. He was a dog that loved us as much as we loved him. He was a member of our family and we will miss him for a long, long time. But he’s only a dog, right?
With great love and devotion to Shadow, my faithful friend,
Denny
The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel. Proverbs 12:10 (NLT)
A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel. (NASB95)
A righteous man cares about his animal’s health, but [even] the merciful acts of the wicked are cruel. (HCSB)
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Psalms of Discipleship--Principle # 11--March 19, 2011--Worship
Hello my dear friends! Today's Psalms of Discipleship is going to challenge each of us with a fresh perspective of worship . . . and false worship (or idolatry). It is a lesson that has struck me in the heart and caused me to think in a dimension where I seldom want to go: my motives. Do I worship God for Who He is or is my worship about manipulating Him to do my will? Do I share His glory with others, stealing from Him that which only belongs to Him?
Let me stop here. Each day we are given the choice: to put our trust and worship in idols or to give our trust and worship to God. May we all choose to worship Him and Him alone.
Learning to worship Jesus with the right motives,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #11
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: I hate those who regard vain idols, But I trust in the LORD. Psalm 31:6
Core Value: Worship
Glory is a precious commodity. Jesus loves His glory and He never wants to share it with anyone else; including us. Years ago a news photographer captured an image of four men holding a statue of Buddha during a torrential rain. In the midst of a typhoon, this was the caption assigned to the picture: “Saving Buddha.” Ironic isn’t it? Their god needed saving. In most Western minds the idea of worshipping idols is relegated to some kind of man-made statue where worship is ascribed. Its much safer this way, knowing that for most of us, we would never stoop to the indignity of offering our worship to some lifeless statue. But before we pile on too quickly and cast our self-righteous stones at these idolaters, we need to honestly and thoughtfully ponder these questions:
• Is there anyone in my life who is more important to me than Jesus?
• Is there any possession I have that possesses me more than I possess it?
• Have I ever given praise and glory that belonged to the Lord to someone else?
Lets illustrate with some real-life possibilities: We are blessed with certain friendships, certain relationships, we deem as very special and important to us. There is nothing wrong with these . . . unless they become more important to us than our relationship with Jesus. If we have placed these special relationships under the Lordship of Jesus, they become even richer for us. If not, we are worshipping idols. Another illustration: Many of us have been blessed with a home we own and possessions that fill it, making our home a very special place to live. There is nothing wrong with owning a home and having nice furnishings. The wrong takes place when our material possessions begin to possess us to the point that they become more important to us than Jesus. If this occurs, we are worshipping idols. Finally, one other illustration: Some of us attend wonderful churches where God’s Word is preached and the musicians and choir rock! This is a good thing . . . unless . . . we put more attention on the man (or woman) standing in the pulpit, elevating him or her to Rock Star status, where the messenger becomes more important than the Message. Sometimes during a “worship” service we may even be moved to give a rousing applause to the soloist who gave us goose bumps and made us feel good inside. If our applause was directed to the Lord, it is worship. If our applause is given as “appreciation” for a song well done, we have redirected the glory that is due to the Lord and given it to someone who does not deserve it. We are worshipping idols. Make no mistake about it: there are times and places given to appreciate the gifts and talents of others. Surely, appreciation can be given later. It is my conviction that it is not during a gathering where Jesus must be the focal point of the worship service.
Please understand that many Christians who take the downward spiral towards false worship and idolatry rarely intend to wind up in this place. But it does happen. There is a slippery slope that will take us from worshippers of God to worshippers of idols. What can the disciple of Jesus do? We need to be rescued from ourselves and cry out for His grace to help us keep our worship fixed upon Him and Him alone. We must come to the point that idolatry is repulsive and makes us sick to our stomach. We must put our trust in the Lord. As the Psalmist cried out, “I hate those who regard vain idols, But I trust in the LORD.”
Principle #11 & Personal Application: The quality disciple hates the gross deception of idols and only desires to trust and worship the Lord.
Exactly, then, what is an idol?
• An idol is anything or anyone who gets more attention than we give to the Lord. The disciple needs to renew their trust in the Lord.
• An idol is the cheap version of a counterfeit god. Misguided worship occurs when we place more value on the temporal instead of the Eternal.
• An idol is the very thing that will keep us from fully trusting in the Lord. Worship of the One True God is the very thing that will keep us from falling into the snares of idolatry.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
Are there any subtle idols that have crept into my life?
How can my worship of God protect me from falling into idolatry?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there are many things and people who compete for my heart. Forgive me for the times when I prefer to exalt anyone or anything over You and give them worship. May my worship be given to You and to You only.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Note: Looking for a way to enhance your devotional life in 2011? Allow me to suggest purchasing a copy of Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. You can order your copy for only $15.99 (a $4 savings!). If you would like to have a devotional book that also serves as a spiritual life journal as well as a unique 21 point Bible study and personal assessment on grace, follow this link to my website where you can download a FREE SAMPLE at,
http://www.dennybates.com/Home/PODGIG.html
Let me stop here. Each day we are given the choice: to put our trust and worship in idols or to give our trust and worship to God. May we all choose to worship Him and Him alone.
Learning to worship Jesus with the right motives,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #11
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: I hate those who regard vain idols, But I trust in the LORD. Psalm 31:6
Core Value: Worship
Glory is a precious commodity. Jesus loves His glory and He never wants to share it with anyone else; including us. Years ago a news photographer captured an image of four men holding a statue of Buddha during a torrential rain. In the midst of a typhoon, this was the caption assigned to the picture: “Saving Buddha.” Ironic isn’t it? Their god needed saving. In most Western minds the idea of worshipping idols is relegated to some kind of man-made statue where worship is ascribed. Its much safer this way, knowing that for most of us, we would never stoop to the indignity of offering our worship to some lifeless statue. But before we pile on too quickly and cast our self-righteous stones at these idolaters, we need to honestly and thoughtfully ponder these questions:
• Is there anyone in my life who is more important to me than Jesus?
• Is there any possession I have that possesses me more than I possess it?
• Have I ever given praise and glory that belonged to the Lord to someone else?
Lets illustrate with some real-life possibilities: We are blessed with certain friendships, certain relationships, we deem as very special and important to us. There is nothing wrong with these . . . unless they become more important to us than our relationship with Jesus. If we have placed these special relationships under the Lordship of Jesus, they become even richer for us. If not, we are worshipping idols. Another illustration: Many of us have been blessed with a home we own and possessions that fill it, making our home a very special place to live. There is nothing wrong with owning a home and having nice furnishings. The wrong takes place when our material possessions begin to possess us to the point that they become more important to us than Jesus. If this occurs, we are worshipping idols. Finally, one other illustration: Some of us attend wonderful churches where God’s Word is preached and the musicians and choir rock! This is a good thing . . . unless . . . we put more attention on the man (or woman) standing in the pulpit, elevating him or her to Rock Star status, where the messenger becomes more important than the Message. Sometimes during a “worship” service we may even be moved to give a rousing applause to the soloist who gave us goose bumps and made us feel good inside. If our applause was directed to the Lord, it is worship. If our applause is given as “appreciation” for a song well done, we have redirected the glory that is due to the Lord and given it to someone who does not deserve it. We are worshipping idols. Make no mistake about it: there are times and places given to appreciate the gifts and talents of others. Surely, appreciation can be given later. It is my conviction that it is not during a gathering where Jesus must be the focal point of the worship service.
Please understand that many Christians who take the downward spiral towards false worship and idolatry rarely intend to wind up in this place. But it does happen. There is a slippery slope that will take us from worshippers of God to worshippers of idols. What can the disciple of Jesus do? We need to be rescued from ourselves and cry out for His grace to help us keep our worship fixed upon Him and Him alone. We must come to the point that idolatry is repulsive and makes us sick to our stomach. We must put our trust in the Lord. As the Psalmist cried out, “I hate those who regard vain idols, But I trust in the LORD.”
Principle #11 & Personal Application: The quality disciple hates the gross deception of idols and only desires to trust and worship the Lord.
Exactly, then, what is an idol?
• An idol is anything or anyone who gets more attention than we give to the Lord. The disciple needs to renew their trust in the Lord.
• An idol is the cheap version of a counterfeit god. Misguided worship occurs when we place more value on the temporal instead of the Eternal.
• An idol is the very thing that will keep us from fully trusting in the Lord. Worship of the One True God is the very thing that will keep us from falling into the snares of idolatry.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
Are there any subtle idols that have crept into my life?
How can my worship of God protect me from falling into idolatry?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there are many things and people who compete for my heart. Forgive me for the times when I prefer to exalt anyone or anything over You and give them worship. May my worship be given to You and to You only.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Note: Looking for a way to enhance your devotional life in 2011? Allow me to suggest purchasing a copy of Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. You can order your copy for only $15.99 (a $4 savings!). If you would like to have a devotional book that also serves as a spiritual life journal as well as a unique 21 point Bible study and personal assessment on grace, follow this link to my website where you can download a FREE SAMPLE at,
http://www.dennybates.com/Home/PODGIG.html
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Psalms of Discipleship--Principle # 10--March 5, 2011--Prayer
Hello my dear friends! As I write to you today I am reminded of how difficult life is for so many people. There are many "wars and rumors of war" taking place all over the world. Many of these wars are causing great suffering to those who are innocent. In many cases, it seems that they have no hope at all. Would you pray with me, especially for the Church in the middle east, that in spite of the conflict, God would comfort His dear children and the Church of Jesus Christ would grow.
Many of us are far removed from the kind of war that uses bombs and guns. In our case, we have our own kind of war going on that is just as lethal: the war that goes on in our mind. Today's Psalms of Discipleship offers us a wonderful and effective tool for the disciple who goes into battle: finding our refuge in the Lord.
The battle is the Lord's.
Praying for you. Thanks for praying for me.
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #10
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 1 In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness deliver me. 2 Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be to me a rock of strength, A stronghold to save me. 3 For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me. Psalm 31:1-3
Core Value: Prayer
Is it ever a good decision to retreat during the heat of battle? It depends. Do you have the advantage or are you outnumbered and out-flanked? There are many who foolishly fight their own battles on their own, depending upon their human wit, wisdom, and will. They mistake an “open door” as a sign that signals an easy victory is on the way. Trusting in themselves, they become exposed to the fatal dangers of being overly self-confident.
We can find ourselves in a variety of conflicts. There are those unrelenting temptations that never seem to go away. We appear to always be fighting a battle that has no end in sight. There is also the battlefield of spiritual warfare where we find ourselves in the middle of a cosmic conflict where our carnal weapons have no power. Then, there is probably the most difficult conflict of them all. It is true when the comic strip character Pogo says, “We have met the enemy . . . and he is us.” In the heat of this battle (and the others), we need to retreat and seek immediate refuge in the Lord. To put it another way, we need to find our strength to fight today’s battles in the strength of the Lord. When we are tired of fighting and are weary of life, what are we to do? The prophet Isaiah offers this wonderful perspective:
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. | He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. | Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, | Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB95)
Principle #10 & Personal Application: The quality disciple retreats to the safest place in the world by taking refuge in the Lord.
When we take refuge in the Lord:
• We will never be ashamed
• We will be delivered by His righteousness
• We will be rescued by Him
• We will discover that He is a rock of strength and a stronghold to save
• We will experience the Lord as a rock and fortress
• We will have the comfort of knowing that He will lead and guide (for His name’s sake)
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
How do I take the practical steps that will lead me to take refuge in the Lord?
How do these wonderful promises help me cope with the difficulties that I face?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in You, I take refuge. Let me never be ashamed. In Your righteousness, deliver me. Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; be to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me. For You are my Rock and my Fortress; for Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Note: Looking for a way to enhance your devotional life in 2011? Allow me to suggest purchasing a copy of Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. You can order your copy for only $15.99 (a $4 savings!). If you would like to have a devotional book that also serves as a spiritual life journal as well as a unique 21 point Bible study and personal assessment on grace, follow this link to my website where you can download a FREE SAMPLE at,
http://www.dennybates.com/Home/PODGIG.html
Many of us are far removed from the kind of war that uses bombs and guns. In our case, we have our own kind of war going on that is just as lethal: the war that goes on in our mind. Today's Psalms of Discipleship offers us a wonderful and effective tool for the disciple who goes into battle: finding our refuge in the Lord.
The battle is the Lord's.
Praying for you. Thanks for praying for me.
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #10
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 1 In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness deliver me. 2 Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be to me a rock of strength, A stronghold to save me. 3 For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me. Psalm 31:1-3
Core Value: Prayer
Is it ever a good decision to retreat during the heat of battle? It depends. Do you have the advantage or are you outnumbered and out-flanked? There are many who foolishly fight their own battles on their own, depending upon their human wit, wisdom, and will. They mistake an “open door” as a sign that signals an easy victory is on the way. Trusting in themselves, they become exposed to the fatal dangers of being overly self-confident.
We can find ourselves in a variety of conflicts. There are those unrelenting temptations that never seem to go away. We appear to always be fighting a battle that has no end in sight. There is also the battlefield of spiritual warfare where we find ourselves in the middle of a cosmic conflict where our carnal weapons have no power. Then, there is probably the most difficult conflict of them all. It is true when the comic strip character Pogo says, “We have met the enemy . . . and he is us.” In the heat of this battle (and the others), we need to retreat and seek immediate refuge in the Lord. To put it another way, we need to find our strength to fight today’s battles in the strength of the Lord. When we are tired of fighting and are weary of life, what are we to do? The prophet Isaiah offers this wonderful perspective:
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. | He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. | Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, | Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB95)
Principle #10 & Personal Application: The quality disciple retreats to the safest place in the world by taking refuge in the Lord.
When we take refuge in the Lord:
• We will never be ashamed
• We will be delivered by His righteousness
• We will be rescued by Him
• We will discover that He is a rock of strength and a stronghold to save
• We will experience the Lord as a rock and fortress
• We will have the comfort of knowing that He will lead and guide (for His name’s sake)
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
How do I take the practical steps that will lead me to take refuge in the Lord?
How do these wonderful promises help me cope with the difficulties that I face?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in You, I take refuge. Let me never be ashamed. In Your righteousness, deliver me. Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; be to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me. For You are my Rock and my Fortress; for Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Note: Looking for a way to enhance your devotional life in 2011? Allow me to suggest purchasing a copy of Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. You can order your copy for only $15.99 (a $4 savings!). If you would like to have a devotional book that also serves as a spiritual life journal as well as a unique 21 point Bible study and personal assessment on grace, follow this link to my website where you can download a FREE SAMPLE at,
http://www.dennybates.com/Home/PODGIG.html
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Psalms of Discipleship--Principle # 9--March 5, 2011--Worship & Prayer
Hello my dear friends! Abundant grace and peace to you this day. I hope that in your journey of faith, you are experiencing His joy along the way. One of the greatest challenges the disciple of Jesus faces is how to embrace the difficult challenges that come our way; be it a tense relationship, an impossible assignment at work, or a temptation that is wearing us down.
This week's Psalms of Discipleship offers us a great reminder of how much God loves us. We can seize the day as we choose to worship Him and pray to Him.
Carpe Diem!
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #9
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 10 "Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be my helper." 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, 12 That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:10-12
Core Value: Worship and Prayer
It is much easier to place our trust in God when life is running smoothly with very few glitches along the way. Isn’t this the template of the hedonistic view (its all about pleasure) of American Christianity? If we are good and do good we can expect only good (i.e., easy) things to come our way. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, it is not true. There are times in the life of the disciple of Jesus that the events of one’s life can appear to be unfair and not good, at least from the perspective of good meaning less pain and suffering. Here therein lies the question: when given the opportunity to trust God (who is good), to offer our worship to Him and pray to Him, what will we do? Leonard Ravenhill offers this nugget of truth:
“The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity.”
God is good and because He is good we can trust Him to do what is good for us. Carpe Diem, seize the day!
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NASB95)
Principle #9 & Personal Application: The quality disciple lives with an earnest expectation that God must be worshiped, thanked, and praised knowing He always brings good out of the most difficult of circumstances.
• Quality disciples will pray to God when life is proving to be unbearable: “Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be my helper.”
• Quality disciples will worship and experience an indescribable joy when God takes our mourning and turns it into dancing.
• Quality disciples will have a soul that will sing praise to God and give Him thanks forever.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
Can I think of a time in my life where God did bring good to me out of a very difficult circumstance?
What role does my worship of God and prayer to Him have upon my attitude when I am discouraged?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, hear O Lord and be gracious to me and be my helper. I believe that You will turn my mourning into dancing and set me free to praise You and thank You forever.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Note: Looking for a way to enhance your devotional life in 2011? Allow me to suggest purchasing a copy of Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. You can order your copy for only $15.99 (a $4 savings!). If you would like to have a devotional book that also serves as a spiritual life journal as well as a unique 21 point Bible study and personal assessment on grace, follow this link to my website where you can download a FREE SAMPLE at,
http://www.dennybates.com/Home/PODGIG.html
This week's Psalms of Discipleship offers us a great reminder of how much God loves us. We can seize the day as we choose to worship Him and pray to Him.
Carpe Diem!
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #9
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 10 "Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be my helper." 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, 12 That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:10-12
Core Value: Worship and Prayer
It is much easier to place our trust in God when life is running smoothly with very few glitches along the way. Isn’t this the template of the hedonistic view (its all about pleasure) of American Christianity? If we are good and do good we can expect only good (i.e., easy) things to come our way. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, it is not true. There are times in the life of the disciple of Jesus that the events of one’s life can appear to be unfair and not good, at least from the perspective of good meaning less pain and suffering. Here therein lies the question: when given the opportunity to trust God (who is good), to offer our worship to Him and pray to Him, what will we do? Leonard Ravenhill offers this nugget of truth:
“The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity.”
God is good and because He is good we can trust Him to do what is good for us. Carpe Diem, seize the day!
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NASB95)
Principle #9 & Personal Application: The quality disciple lives with an earnest expectation that God must be worshiped, thanked, and praised knowing He always brings good out of the most difficult of circumstances.
• Quality disciples will pray to God when life is proving to be unbearable: “Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be my helper.”
• Quality disciples will worship and experience an indescribable joy when God takes our mourning and turns it into dancing.
• Quality disciples will have a soul that will sing praise to God and give Him thanks forever.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
Can I think of a time in my life where God did bring good to me out of a very difficult circumstance?
What role does my worship of God and prayer to Him have upon my attitude when I am discouraged?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, hear O Lord and be gracious to me and be my helper. I believe that You will turn my mourning into dancing and set me free to praise You and thank You forever.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Note: Looking for a way to enhance your devotional life in 2011? Allow me to suggest purchasing a copy of Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. You can order your copy for only $15.99 (a $4 savings!). If you would like to have a devotional book that also serves as a spiritual life journal as well as a unique 21 point Bible study and personal assessment on grace, follow this link to my website where you can download a FREE SAMPLE at,
http://www.dennybates.com/Home/PODGIG.html
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Psalms of Discipleship--Principle # 8--February 26, 2011--Prayer
Hello my dear friends! As I write today, Spring is in the air (though where I live, the return of winter is only a random cold front away). As I gaze out my window I see my neighbor working in her flower bed and a few of the plants are beginning to suggest new buds are on the way. The season of deadness (winter) is giving way to a new season of life. The writer of Ecclesiastes was right when he said "for everything there is a season."
In a sense, we have all experienced a season that one writer called "the dark night of the soul", when we were hurting and God seemed to be so far away. Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a wonderful reminder that God does care for us. He is only a prayer away to help the one who is in desperate need of rescue.
Looking to the King who will rescue me,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #8
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. Psalm 30:2 (NASB)
God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together. Psalm 30:2 (MSG)
Core Value: Prayer
When we were younger we were told the story about “Humpty Dumpty.” Though it was a silly rhyme, there lies within it a powerful truth: brokenness is a common theme for all of us, even those who love the Lord. If we have lived enough life, we have been touched by the brokenness of a difficult circumstance that, even today, may still provoke strong emotions within us. The memories of a personal crisis can be haunting, especially when they are triggered by a new crisis. When we “fall off the wall” we are reminded of how fragile we really are. We have been touched by the brokenness of our sin. We, as Paul, still do the things we do not want to do and struggle with attempting to do the things we want to do (Romans 7). We, even as disciples of Jesus, are broken. The children's rhyme reminds us “all of the king’s horses and all of the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty back together again.” Pretty sad. Pretty depressing. We need to be rescued. Fortunately for us, we do have a King who rescues us from brokenness and restores us and heals us. This is the power of the Gospel. This is Good News.
Principle #8 & Personal Application: The quality disciple makes an intimate and desperate appeal to the only One who can help, heal and put us together.
Although the implication of this passage of Scripture is that God actually brought physical healing to David, we know that God also heals in other ways too. When we pray . . .
• We can pray that God will heal our memories that have been seared by painful events.
• We can pray that God will heal our emotions that have been shattered; leaving us fragile and weak.
• We can pray that God will heal our sick soul that has been wounded by sin.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Luke 4:18 (NKJV)
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What kind of brokenness does Jesus need to touch in my life today?
In what ways have I experienced the Lord’s healing touch in my life?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank You that I can cry out to You for help and know that You will respond to my need for healing. You, and only You, can touch me and put me together. You, and only You, can heal me.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Note: Looking for a way to enhance your devotional life in 2011? Allow me to suggest purchasing a copy of Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. You can order your copy for only $15.99 (a $4 savings!). If you would like to have a devotional book that also serves as a spiritual life journal as well as a unique 21 point Bible study and personal assessment on grace, follow this link to my website where you can download a FREE SAMPLE at,
http://www.dennybates.com/Home/PODGIG.html
In a sense, we have all experienced a season that one writer called "the dark night of the soul", when we were hurting and God seemed to be so far away. Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a wonderful reminder that God does care for us. He is only a prayer away to help the one who is in desperate need of rescue.
Looking to the King who will rescue me,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #8
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. Psalm 30:2 (NASB)
God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together. Psalm 30:2 (MSG)
Core Value: Prayer
When we were younger we were told the story about “Humpty Dumpty.” Though it was a silly rhyme, there lies within it a powerful truth: brokenness is a common theme for all of us, even those who love the Lord. If we have lived enough life, we have been touched by the brokenness of a difficult circumstance that, even today, may still provoke strong emotions within us. The memories of a personal crisis can be haunting, especially when they are triggered by a new crisis. When we “fall off the wall” we are reminded of how fragile we really are. We have been touched by the brokenness of our sin. We, as Paul, still do the things we do not want to do and struggle with attempting to do the things we want to do (Romans 7). We, even as disciples of Jesus, are broken. The children's rhyme reminds us “all of the king’s horses and all of the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty back together again.” Pretty sad. Pretty depressing. We need to be rescued. Fortunately for us, we do have a King who rescues us from brokenness and restores us and heals us. This is the power of the Gospel. This is Good News.
Principle #8 & Personal Application: The quality disciple makes an intimate and desperate appeal to the only One who can help, heal and put us together.
Although the implication of this passage of Scripture is that God actually brought physical healing to David, we know that God also heals in other ways too. When we pray . . .
• We can pray that God will heal our memories that have been seared by painful events.
• We can pray that God will heal our emotions that have been shattered; leaving us fragile and weak.
• We can pray that God will heal our sick soul that has been wounded by sin.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Luke 4:18 (NKJV)
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What kind of brokenness does Jesus need to touch in my life today?
In what ways have I experienced the Lord’s healing touch in my life?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank You that I can cry out to You for help and know that You will respond to my need for healing. You, and only You, can touch me and put me together. You, and only You, can heal me.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
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http://www.dennybates.com/Home/PODGIG.html
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