God Calls Joseph

No doubt  Joseph was looking forward to the day when Mary and he married. Then like a cruel slap in the face came the news that shattered  his hope. Mary is pregnant and he’s not the father. To save face, He considered marrying and then divorcing her.

Matthew 1:20-21  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

God places a call on Joseph’s life to be the earthly caretaker for His Son, the long awaited Messiah. He will  raise this blessed child as if He were his own.

God took this poor, humble carpenter and used him to carry out an important heavenly mission. To believe the impossible and do the incredible, Joseph did what the Lord called him to do, even in poverty conditions. What a testimony!

God is still looking for people He can use to carry out His will. We may not like it if the Lord shatters our dreams, but when everything is said and done, we will see that His plan is the best plan of all. Let God use you.

The Armor Of God

Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Christ has already conquered Satan, and He gives us a spiritual armor with weapons to be victorious in our battle with him. The day is evil, and the enemy is evil, but if God be for us, who can be against us (Rom. 8:31)?

The Belt of Truth: Obedience to God’s Word.

The Breastplate Of Righteousness: Born again, living righteous through Christ Jesus.

The Boots Of Peace:  Peace with God and each other.

The Shield Of Faith;  A living faith in the promises and power of God.

The Helmet Of Salvation: Assurance of our salvation.

The Sword of the Spirit: Memorize God’s Word to use against Satan.

The Lord's Prayer

We need time spent with The Lord in prayer, because it’s God Who answers prayer, changes circumstances and touches lives. That’s why people say things like, “Would you mention my name when you pray.” “Pray for me.”  That’s why my church has a prayer list.

Matthew 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

I’m glad Jesus left us “The Lord’s Prayer”, lest I forget His Name is Hallowed or to pray for God’s will in my petitions.

I may forget to thank Him for clothes, food, shelter, and blessings that overflow my Joy Cup to the saucer.

Better to remember to forgive those indebted to you, regardless of what they’ve said or done. You may need forgiveness later.

The Lord will keep me on the straight and narrow if I ask.

There's no better way to end a prayer than to praise The Lord for all He is—His kingdom, His power and His glory.

Bless The Lord, O My Soul

Psalm 103:1-2 Bless the Lord , O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord,  O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

How could the soul forget the tender touch of the Great Physician. When I think of the healing I have received, what can I say but, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name."

He crowns me with lovingkindness and tender mercies. When I think of His grace and His goodness towards me, I just have to say, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name."

When I think of how I was once a slave to sin but now I am free from sin's bondage, sin's curse and sin's penalty, I just have to say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

When I think of how The Lord has repeatedly lifted me from the jagged rocks of affliction and pain and restored to me spiritual strength and victory, I just have to say, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name."

The Beauty Of Jesus

Isaiah talks about  the coming ministry of the Messiah. He paints a portrait of Jesus that is unlike that of most artists.

Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

Jesus appeared as a normal, run of the mill man. It wasn’t what they saw, but what they didn’t  see that made Him extra-ordinary. His real beauty was in what He did for you and me.

He will take His Redeemed to Heaven one day. Throughout eternity, we will look upon Him who loved us and died for us, and we’ll see the evidence of that love constantly staring back at us.

 I am certain that this will be the grounds for much of Heaven's rejoicing. You want to see the real beauty of Jesus? Look at the holes in His hands and feet. Look at the wounds on His back and side. Look at the punctures in His head where He wore a thorny crown for you and me. There is His real beauty.  There is our salvation.

That Special Place

It’s wonderful to be saved by the grace of God. Some believers wander around aimlessly, living far below the place God saved them to be. They are saved, but there is little power, little  glory and little victory in their lives.

God wants to lead you to a place of blessing and glory and victory in your life--- a place where you don’t have to depend on the blessings of yesterday, a place where you can enjoy the priceless riches of what He has given you in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

You need to find that place now. Actually, that place is a place of intimacy with the Lord, a glorious place you find in prayer, in praise, in Bible Study, in surrendering to His will. Now that’s a place of blessing, a place of peace and joy. It’s special.

Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

God Is Worthy Of Your Praise

Psalm 146:2 While I live will I praise the Lord : I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

God is worthy of your love.  He is worthy of your devotion.  He is worthy of your obedience.  He is worthy of everything you can offer to Him, but most of all He is worthy of your praise.

We can always praise the Lord for His greatness..  He is the God of creation!  He is the God Who said “Let there be…” and there was, Psa. 19; Isa. 40:12.  His power is awesome and it’s limitless.

Isaiah 40:12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

It’s this power that He extends to us in salvation and in our support day by day!  When you are overwhelmed by life, remember Who your God is and what He has done.  Then remember that He is still “able”, Eph. 3:20 and that He is still the “I Am.”, Ex. 3:14.  When you trust Him, His power becomes your power!