Can words from the same mouth come blessing and cursing?
James is noticeably clear (as is Jesus) about the kind of language that should come out of my mouth. I …
Tag Archives: Praise
How much of our time is mere busywork?
I am interested in how much of my time is “mere busywork”. Now stuff has to get done; there is …
“I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” ~God
How often do I dwell in the past? Remember the time …. Ah, the good old days! I know I …
“Yahweh takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.” ~King David
We have amazing news. This is not trivial. This is beyond good. This is great. God is in a good …
“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” ~Apostle Paul
God has a plan. Stop and think about that. God has a plan. That is stunning but what may feel …
Has God abandoned us?
David has just spent 20 verses talking about how he feels abandoned by God. Seriously, he goes on and on about …
“Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.” ~King David
Is Jesus happy or sad with my prayers? I think Jesus may be sad sometimes. I pray and cry out …
“What you have learned, received, and heard and seen in me — practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” ~Apostle Paul
How would Paul summarize things? Well, he would suggest that I fill my mind on some things that are …
What is the great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide?
The big deal: When it was time to give birth to Jesus, no one had room for Him. So Mary …
Are we ecstatic in our worship of God? Why is God worthy of our praise?
I must find the place of worship. I must open my eyes. In His generous love, I can really live. …
“My soul exalts the Master.” ~Mary (Mother of Jesus)
I must give God a big shout out! God is beautiful. God is stunning. God is awesome! Now here is …
Can we magnify God through our praise?
I must give God a big shout out! God is beautiful. God is stunning. God is awesome! Now here is …
“In all things God may be glorified through Jesus the Messiah, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.” ~Apostle Peter
God’s glory is to be my highest motive. God wants me to know that He sees what no one else …
“And if anyone misses God’s goal, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus the Messiah the righteous.” ~Apostle John
Special praise goes to Jesus for vindicating the penitent and the needy who have no human champions. Ultimately, all God’s …
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of the Messiah.” ~Apostle Paul
I really don’t have an excuse for not having more faith. I have heard Jesus clearly. That is the first …
“I live and breathe God; if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy: join me in spreading the news; together let’s get the word out.” ~King David
King David knows what it is like to be in some tough places. He spent much of his life in …
“And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of the beauty of God (glory).” ~Apostle Peter
Peter knows about Jesus and goes over the top in love for him. Jesus stood by him after Peter abandoned …
“You’re not yet taking God seriously!” ~Jesus
How am I doing with my faith and belief in God and Jesus? Am I taking God seriously? Confidence in …
“Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; He directs it to whatever ends He chooses.” ~King Solomon
God is God. God is in control. I don’t get that some days. What about that jerk that is …
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” ~Jesus
Jesus challenges me to do the tough thing. There is a narrow way to life. Will I choose it or …
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great.” ~Jesus
Jesus wants me to love. Jesus wants me to do good. Jesus wants me to not expect anything in return …
“Praise Him” – Bishop Clarence McClendon
Love this by Bishop Clarence McClendon. We need to shout out the praise of King Jesus. Psalm 150 The Message (MSG) Hallelujah! …
Church — What is God’s purpose for the called out assembly of disciples?
I’m concerned about the use of the word church. I think to believers and unbelievers it either connotes a building …
Hypocrisy — What happens when my deeds do not match my words?
Jesus is clear. Jesus detests hypocrites. Jesus calls it out all the time. My contempt allows me to ignore its …
Motive — Is God’s glory my highest motive?
Because the human heart is very deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), I can easily fool myself about my own motives. I can …
Justice — It is Declared in Jesus the Messiah
Justice is a term used for what is right or “as it should be.” Justice is one of God’s attributes …
Faith — God is the Object of our Faith
There is much to be said about faith. So … I start with God. God is the object of my …
It is time to shout out in great joy! Try this every day or even several times a day. Seriously … it will make a difference.
This is a stunning story in Luke 19. Here is the challenge after you read this scripture. Try this with …
Ecstasy — It can be in Response to Jesus the Messiah
We seem a little reluctant to talk about the ecstatic experience. Is that for mystics and weirdo’s? Maybe it’s not …
“For we are slaves; yet in our bondage our God has not forsaken us, but has extended lovingkindness to us.” ~Ezra
I want the quality of compassion and generosity in my life. I need to learn how God loves the weak and poor. It is …
Denial of Jesus — The Jewish People Rejected Jesus
Denial is the making of a conscious, informed decision not to accept Jesus as the Messiah or his claims and …
“Jesus came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near.” ~Apostle Paul
Prophecies of peace are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus the Messiah. Peace is real. Jesus wants me to experience peace. …
“Be very careful. Keep a sharp eye out for the contaminating yeast of the Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Lutherans or the Catholics. Also the yeast of Biden, Cruz, Sanders, Clinton or Trump.” ~Jesus
This is a special message for our current toxic political and religious environment. Jesus has something to say about all …
“Keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.” ~Apostle Peter
The Holy Spirit brings joy to believers, giving us an inner contentment and happiness which is not dependent upon external …
Hell — The reality of hell should affect the way people live. — The importance of making the right choice.
Can I choose not to go to hell? The punishment of the wicked in hell is as never ending as the …
“You have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness.” ~Jesus
How is God’s justice declared? Justice is a term used for what is right or “as it should be.” Justice is …
“The fear of the Master is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” ~King Solomon
Proverbs 1:7 declares, “The fear of the Master is the beginning of knowledge.” Until I understand who God is and develop …
“Woe to you … ” ~Jesus
Jesus is upset. Jesus is upset with the elite religious leaders of the day. Jesus hasn’t gotten over it. I …
“It is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” ~Jesus
According to the Bible, though, hell is just as real as heaven. The Bible clearly and explicitly teaches that hell …
Goodness — Good Works will be Rewarded
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit”. “Fruit,” here, means “beneficial results,” the good things that come …
Glory — It Existed in Jesus the Messiah Before His Incarnation
Jesus the Messiah’s beauty, radiance and splendor reflects the glory of the Father. It is both revealed to and reflected …
“Jesus rejoiced, exuberant in the Holy Spirit!” ~Luke
Jesus rejoiced. Jesus is exuberant in the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to usher in the Kingdom of God in the …
“And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” ~Author of Hebrews
I want to please God, my heavenly Father. That is my heart’s desire. It takes sacrifice on my part. It …
Patience — God is our Model for Patience
Who is my model for patience? God is patient, and His Spirit produces the fruit of patience in me. When I …
Sanctification — It is the Work of the Holy Spirit
I avoid some things because they sound very geeky and smack of theology. Jesus talks about sanctification. Maybe I need …
“Blessed be God — He heard me praying.” ~King David
I need to see how much God cares. It is just who He is. I don’t need to look around. …
Hope — It Can be Placed in God in the Face of Difficulty or Trial
I need to find more hope. God is good and in a good mood. Justice, while lacking here some days, will be done. …
Kindness — God shows it to His people
I want the quality of compassion and generosity in my life. I need to learn how God loves the weak …
Peace — These Prophecies of Peace are Fulfilled in the Coming of Jesus the Messiah
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there …
Joy — Disciples Have it Even in the Face of Opposition
Do disciples have joy even in the face of opposition? Absolutely we do. Jesus is kind and thoughtful. I know …
Justice — Is justice declared through God the Father?
Is God fair? Yes. God’s justice is without any partiality. I can trust God completely. Being just Himself, God calls …
“No one is going to eat fruit from you again—ever!” ~Jesus
Why in the world would Jesus curse the fig tree? What was He up to? This happened during the week …
Hell — Temptations to Miss God’s Goal (aka sin) Must be Dealt with Drastically
Do you believe in hell? It is interesting that a much higher percentage of people believe in the existence of …
Joy — The Holy Spirit gives Joy to Jesus the Messiah and to Those who were Anticipating His Birth
The Holy Spirit brings joy to believers, giving them an inner contentment and happiness which is not dependent upon external …
Hypocrisy — Its Expression through Insincere Motives
Hypocrisy is an outward pretense masking an inner reality. Jesus condemns hypocrisy, especially in matters of faith. As a follower …
“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.” ~Jesus
I am thinking this part of the Jesus Manifesto has been ripped out of most Evangelical and Protestant bibles. I …
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” ~Jesus
Did God abandon Jesus? It is a stunning question. From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around midafternoon …
Goodness — God is pleased with the good works of his people
How am I doing with being selfless on behalf of others? It is a pretty telling question if I answer it …
Is God’s justice impartial?
Justice is a term used for what is right or “as it should be.” Justice is one of God’s attributes …
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” ~Jesus
Jesus continues His Manifesto (aka The Sermon on the Mount). Jesus is getting close to wrapping it up. Jesus doesn’t …
Miracles of Jesus — Raising the dead!
There are a number of examples of this stunning miracle in the Bible. Notably, 3 are attributed to Jesus. This …
Meekness — Examples in the life of Jesus
Jesus is clear that I will be more than happy if I am meek and gentle. I will in fact …
“And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” ~Luke
Am I happy? Do you see my joy? Or am I just a grumpy old man most days? In …
Goodness — God’s people are called on to do good works
How am I doing with being selfless on behalf of others? It is a pretty telling question if I answer …
“Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.” ~King David
Who is the King of Glory? King David is a warrior King. He spent much of his life fighting to …
“I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” ~Jesus to the religious leaders
Some of the religious leaders [Pharisees] in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I …
“God has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around.” ~King David
“Here’s the story I’ll tell my friends when they come to worship, and punctuate it with Hallelujahs: God has never let you …
Miracles of Jesus – How they reveal and confirm his Messianic credentials and the coming of God’s Kingdom
There are so many stunning, amazing and supernatural acts of Jesus. They reveal and confirm his Messianic credentials. They announce …
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites.” ~Jesus
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues …
Hypocrisy – What it is, why it is evil and hated by Jesus
Hypocrisy is an outward pretense masking an inner reality. Jesus condemns hypocrisy, especially in matters of faith. Followers of Jesus …
Everything Jesus had to say about the homeless, wealth, prosperity, poverty, riches, the poor, the needy and giving
Jesus had a lot to say about the homeless, wealth, prosperity, poverty, riches, the poor, the needy and giving. Here …
“When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others.” ~Jesus
“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and …
“And haven’t you read in God’s Word, ‘From the mouths of children and babies I’ll furnish a place of praise’?” ~Jesus
When the religious leaders saw the outrageous things he was doing, and heard all the children running and shouting through …
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” ~Jesus
How much of what I do “for Jesus” is done to be seen by others? Probably too much. Jesus is …
“What’s this I hear about you? You’re fired.” ~Jesus
Jesus tells the story of the unethical manager. He gets fired for his misdeeds. He is a schemer and figures …
“I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!” ~Jesus
Jesus is clear. There will be a day of judgement. We may prefer to believe it isn’t true but it …
Who is going to set up the chairs for the Bible study?
Somebody has to set up the chairs. In God’s world, it is not about who gets credit and gets to …
“Know that the LORD is God.” ~King David
God is so good. He is in a good mood all the time. Jesus, God’s son, loves and never stops …
“They loved praise from men more than praise from God.” ~Apostle John
Fill in the blank. But because of __________ I would not confess my faith for fear I will be kicked …
“What we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up.” ~Apostle Paul
How often do I keep quiet when I should say what I believe? Too often I think. If I believe …
"Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home." ~~Jesus to the paraplegic
The man believed Jesus could heal him. His friends believed it so much that when they couldn’t get in the …
“Why are you so skeptical?” ~Jesus
Jesus has this way of baffling the religious community. The reaction is “He can’t talk that way” or “He can’t …
“Think of yourselves the way the Messiah Jesus thought of himself.” ~Apostle Paul
The birth of Jesus has special meaning. We must see it from the eyes of Jesus, our Messiah. We should …
If the recipe calls for a little, give more. Jesus is not stingy at all.
Our heavenly Father has decided to show us mercy and love, not judgement. Now let us stop right there for …
“If I love to be loved more than to love, then I know nothing of Calvary Love.” ~Amy Carmichael
From writer Amy Carmichael… If the praise of man elates me and his blame depresses me… If I can not …
“Enter with the password: “Thank you!” ~King David
The password is simple. It is easily remembered. We shouldn’t forget it. The key to having a relationship with God, …
“Give thanks to God—he is good, and his love never quits.” ~Ezra
Jesus cares about us in a way we can’t understand. His love is the “gold standard” for how to love. …
Will I tell everyone the good news of Jesus and how he has freed us from prison?
Telling everyone about the good news of God was the mission of Jesus. It was why He came to our …
“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” ~James
James is very clear (as is Jesus) about the kind of language that should come out of my mouth. I …
“Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness.” ~Apostle Paul
I am interested in how much of my time is “mere busywork”. Now stuff has to get done; there is …
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” ~God
How often do I dwell in the past? Remember the time …. Ah, the good old days!! God is doing …
“God delights in his people!” ~King David
We have amazing news. This is not trivial. This is beyond good. This is great. God is in a good …
"Why are you so skeptical?" ~Jesus
Jesus had said to a paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.” This infuriated the religious elites. They whispered “He can’t …
“Hold out your hand.” ~Jesus
What will Jesus do? One day Jesus went church where he found a man with a crippled hand. The religious leaders …
“It was God who kept us focused on him, uncompromised.” ~Apostle Paul
I like to think I can focus and sometimes I get close. I try hard. I want to be courageous. “I think I can.” It doesn’t work. …
Can Jesus heal my soul?
I am broken and in need of help. I miss God’s goal for my life. What do I do? Jesus …
“May you be content knowing you are a child of God.” ~St. Theresa
This is a great prayer. Simple but focused on God. Peace can be ours. It is ours by knowing who …
“I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best.” ~Apostle Paul
When I have changed my mind (repented), I need to fill my mind with the right things. What should I …
“So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well.” ~Apostle Paul
Love is not all about the emotion of it and our feelings. It is not sentimental gush. Over time, we …
“By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us we have it all together with God.” ~Apostle Paul
What gets us into the game and off the bench? It is faith in Jesus the Master, our Messiah. Faith …
Jesus Quotes and God Thoughts 