What Does the Lord Require? - YouVersion.com

Deuteronomy 10:12, 13 NLT

""And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good."

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Deut10.12.NLT

Blessings & Peace

~Robert

robt.wallace@gmail.com

Sent from my iPhone

Stay Awake - YouVersion.com

Luke 21:34-36 ESV

"But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

See it at YouVersion.com: http://bible.us/Luke21.34.ESV

Blessings & Peace

~Robert

robt.wallace@gmail.com

Sent from my iPhone

Renewal - YouVersion Reading Plan

I've been reading the Experiencing God's Renewal Reading Plan at YouVersion.com. You might enjoy it, or one of the many other plans that are available. Check it out.

"1 Corinthians 6:19-20 gives us a friendly reminder about the importance of not only renewing what's on the inside, but also what's on the outside. Think about it for a moment. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and should be treated as such. Would you let your church building look run down or distressed? Of course not! If repairs were needed to your church, you would renovate your church so that it stands as a shining beacon of Christ's love in your community. Therefore, shouldn't we treat our bodies the same way and continually renew them so that they are able to carry out God's purpose for our lives? In what ways do you need to renew your body? Renewal can look different for everyone. For some it might be the need for a little more exercise or a better diet. It could be the need for physical healing. For others, it may be allowing God to renew you from a past sexual sin. Find where you need renewal for your body and allow God to work His healing in your life."

Blessings & Peace

Robert

robt.wallace@gmail.com

Sent from my iPhone

Check out this YouVersion Reading Plan

I've been reading the Life Application Study Bible ® Devotion Reading Plan at YouVersion.com. You might enjoy it, or one of the many other plans that are available. Check it out.

"Although Abram had been demonstrating his faith through his actions, it was his belief in the Lord, not his actions, that made Abram right with God. We, too, can have a right relationship with God by trusting him. Our outward actions-church attendance, prayer, good deeds-will not by themselves make us right with God. A right relationship is based on faith--the heartfelt inner confidence that God is who he says he is and does what he says he will do. Right actions will follow naturally as by-products."

Blessings & Peace

Robert

robt.wallace@gmail.com

Sent from my iPhone

Rejoice

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" ~Philippians 4:4

Sometimes it's very difficult to rejoice.  In today's world with all the different pressures and obstacles we face, this might seem all but impossible.  Yet, we are directed to "Rejoice in the Lord always."  Praising our Father means we have to put aside the personal stuff and focus on HIM.  Even as His children, saved by Christ, we still struggle with self.

Christ tells us, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." ~Matthew 16:24  Until we deny our self, rejoicing in the Lord will seems like an impossible task.  In our journey we must learn to discipline our body, heart and minds.  In doing so we will be well on our way to fulfilling this command.

Remember, as we journey along, that with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27).  In and through Him we learn that we are able to "Rejoice in the Lord always."  We also need to remember how to react to the trials and tribulations just around the corner.  They wait in part to test us in this act of rejoicing.

James helps us put this in context and directs us to "consider it pure joy."  The "it" here are the trials and tribulations in life.  James 1:2-4, "Count it all joy, my brothers,^[a] when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Our Father's will is that we become like Jesus and in His work we face many obstacles and trials.  Without these, we miss out on the greatness of our Lord and Savior.  When we take stock of everything going on in our life from day to day and add in these perspectives, life shows a new focus.  We still have work to do on our part as God performs His work in us.


In the end, this journey leads to an eternity with our Father and our Lord.  We need these experiences as we grow in grace. Our Father is always about His business within each of us.  We should embrace these times and lean on Christ always, as He will provide us with all we need to succeed.  We have everything before us and on our side in this journey.  Our Father who has no limitations; a Savior who provided us with the perfect example of how to live this life; and let's not forget the "great cloud of witnesses" cheering us on.


Blessings & Peace
~Robert

"Put your hope in God" - George Mueller

From my hard copy of "Streams in the Desert" by L.B. Cowman for today.

Starting with Psalm 43:5; "Why are you downcast, O my soul?"  When we consider who we are in Christ and our salvation, should we ever be downcast?  Just this Sunday our pastor related part of a conversation, "how are you?"  I was part of that conversation, he asked me and my response was....okay.  Really?  When we consider our destiny and where this journey will bring us to in the end, okay is a slap in our Savior's face.  This is just my opinion, but is it anything less?

The devotion goes on next to point out that we have but to bring everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving to God.  I think that most of my trouble, maybe yours too, is that I forget in the middle of life that I'm the child of the MOST HIGH GOD.  The troubles of this life are meant to help me.  Help me grow in grace.  Help me by strengthening my faith.  Help me to remember that only through Christ alone will I overcome in the victory of Jesus.  Apart from Christ we have no hope and the future is in question and doubt.  In CHRIST however, we are able to live in victory in all things!

By placing our hope in God, all things are indeed possible.  Nothing is impossible with God, ever!  Remembering Job and how he lost everything, children, livestock and crops.  Yet after the testing was finished, God restored him and all he'd lost.  God didn't just restore what was lost, but increased it all double.  He had children and lived to see his children's children through four generations.

I'm not saying that God will bless us in this fashion, I am saying that with God all things are possible and this alone should keep us smiling or at the very least in peace.  God alone should be the place for our hope.  In Christ alone will we grow to understand this undeniable truth.

Blessings & Peace

~Robert