“Only be thou strong and very courageous….”
…from Joshua 1:7 KJV
These words bolster in meeting the day…
activating strength and courage after we pray.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:7
Photo by Porch of the Lord,
Bequia Island
Let “Ask, and it will be given to you,” and “Seek, and you will find,”
and “Knock, and the door will be opened to you,” often come to mind.
God has so many possibilities, when we are thinking there are none–
The disciples were distraught at Jesus’ death ’til they beheld the risen Son.
When hope seems to have ended, remember your mighty God’s deeds.
He’s a “beyond all that we ask or think” God, who supplies beyond our needs.
So, be blessed to be a blessing to others as God pours out His love.
Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights above.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen”.
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17KJV
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him? Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:7-12 NKJV
“Then my enemies will be turned back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.” Psalm 56:9
In any situation that you may be in,
these words remind that God wants you to win.
This I know, that God is for me…
lifts you above the things that are “stormy.”
P. A. Oltrogge
Jesus loves me, this I know,
for the Bible tells me so.
Yes, Jesus loves me…
Caribbean Photo by Porch of the Lord
I once saw a film clip about a shepherd of today…
It showed an imposter calling the sheep to come his way.
But the sheep went on grazing, just as if they couldn’t hear.
Then their true shepherd called… His voice, to them, was clear.
It was amazing to watch them immediately flock to his side.
Likewise, we flock to our true Shepherd, protector, and guide.
At times, a voice that is dangerous will come to us in disguise.
But the voice of our Shepherd, Jesus, and His truths make us wise.
P. A. Oltrogge
“And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:4-5 NKJV
“I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and I am known by my own.” John 10:14 NKJV
“The wise in heart will receive commands….”. Proverbs 10:8 NKJV
“The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.” Proverbs 13:14 NKJV
“But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” from one of the parables in Matthew 25 (verse 4)
Excellent series at http://www.moorelife.org on
“My Sheep Hear My Voice” by Keith Moore
“…keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
from Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
In peace or in a storm, picture the Lord…
If “walking on water,” keep your eyes toward
the Master who is out there, encouraging you to “Come.”
He’s the author of our faith–where it is from.
He’s the perfector or finisher of our faith, too.
If you feel your faith falter, He will yet see you through.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out for fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’
And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’
So He said, “Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid, and began to sink. He cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.'”
Matthew 14:22-33 NKJV
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3 KJV
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 NKJV
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 NKJV
“…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith….”
from Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV
Though Peter’s faith had faltered and his Lord he’d denied,
he ultimately came to the place where all doubt was defied.
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 NKJV
A pause from the poetic for some prose…
by J. Vetter
Only a year ago, a tornado swept through our town, and trees became missiles of destruction. They slammed against houses, fences and vehicles with an angry vengeance.
This morning I took the time to investigate the new walking trail that was built in our area. Joy crowded into my heart and it overflowed with gratitude as I recognized that the pathway had been created with the remains of those fallen trees. Then, at the end of the trail, the joy that I felt gave birth to overwhelming revelation of new life! There, amidst the trees, an outdoor chapel had been built. There was a simple wooden cross, a pulpit, and there were six wooden benches.
Even though no one was standing behind the pulpit, I heard a message spoken loudly and clearly into my spirit. It was “Never give up! Never…
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“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe and therefore speak.” 2 Corinthians 4:13 KJV
If you were training a new driver who was going wrongly in reverse,
you wouldn’t wait until you saw things get worse.
You’d shout out, “Stop, put it in forward gear!”
Likewise, using words of faith in life is the right way to steer–
Not only that, it helps us to “drive away” from fear!
P. A. Oltrogge
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will…
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On His way to Galilee, Jesus went through Samaria to a city called Sychar, near land given by Jacob to Joseph, his son. Jacob’s well was there, and being wearied from His journey, Jesus sat down by the well before His traveling would be done.
While His disciples went away into the city to get food, Jesus asked a woman of Samaria there to give Him a drink that day. How He, a Jew, could ask a Samaritan woman for a drink was her immediate question, and she wondered what He would say.
“If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,'” He said, “you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She noted that He had nothing to draw up water with and the well was deep, so where could He have gotten such…
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Photo by Porch of the Lord
“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
And He saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets and followed him.
And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee, their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.” Matthew 4:17-22 KJV
……………………………………………..
We’re serving in the Lord’s harvest fields while it’s still the day,
for in sharing the good news of His Gospel, we all have a part to play.
By direction of the Holy Spirit, God’s worldwide missions abound;
and through Christian teamwork, we’re notably gaining ground.
The night is coming up when no further work will be able to be done.
God desires that we find our place of service to Jesus Christ, His Son.
You call ordinary people today, Lord, as you called ordinary fishermen back then. We’re blessed as we go about sharing your love while being “fishers of men.”
P. A. Oltrogge
“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then will come the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored, others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” John 4:34-40 NKJV
Jesus said…
“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9;4-5 NKJV
“Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:38 NKJV
“A faithful man will abound with blessings….”. Proverbs 28:20 NKJV
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3 NKJV
“I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.”
Ezekiel 34:26 NKJV
Some great Christian teamwork
anyone can be a part of at:
http://www.bvovn.com
Photo by Jarrett Campbell
Remember your growing-up years and the good old swimming days?
You used an inner tube or floated amidst the water sprays.
Jesus can help you through rough waters–think of floating your cares on Him;
He’s your heavenly life preserver–you’ll not sink but peacefully swim.
Don’t let go of Him or panic if the “waters” look too deep–
If you truly cast your cares on Him, you’ll find He gives you blessed sleep.
P. A. Oltrogge
“…casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” words of Jesus in Matthew 28-30
“In…
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