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With my Whole Heart – Psalm 119 KJV 2 Minute Devotional

Never has temptation and sin been so near as in this internet age. It’s only a click away! After the first click, another click, and another, and another. Sin makes us feel dirty. So how do we get clean?

Psalm 119 gives us some answers. The KJV says, “By taking heed according to your word.” By letting the Word of God begin to guide our lives. It can cleanse us, just like the pure clean water flowing in the image on the left.

Begin to seek God with your whole heart. But you might say: “That’s impossible, it’s too difficult!” Indeed it is, but you’re not alone – the Lord can help you if you ask him. The Psalmist prays: “Oh, let me not wander from your commandments!”

The other thing I noticed about this passage is praise: “Blessed art thou, O Lord!” As we ask God to help us, we should praise him. Consider the many blessing you already have, and praise God for them.

I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 119 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes KJV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

My Exceeding Joy – Psalm 43 ESV 2 Minute Devotional

In this beautiful photograph you can see the effect of the sunlight as it lights up the sky. Beautiful shapes and colors emerge, where before there was nothing but blackness.

We need God’s light to guide us, and we also need His truth. The Psalmist asks that they guide him to God’s dwelling. We cannot get there except that God guides us.

Where do God’s light and truth come from? They come from God’s Word, the Bible. As we grow in faith, by reading the Bible, God’s light and truth become more clear. As we fellowship with other believers and hear the preaching of God’s Word, our relationship to God continues to grow.

This journey leads us to the alter of God, and “exceeding joy.” Imagine the end of a long, hard trip. It felt good to arrive at the destination, and be welcomed by friends and family. Now imagine being welcomed by God as you approach His alter.

Darkness and lies give no guidance. They give no comfort. Only God’s light and truth can ever satisfy, and when we realize this, joy will come, and our response is to praise God.

Dear Lord, Please forgive me for hiding in darkness and lies. Let your light and truth lead me now, that I may approach your alter with joy and praise. Amen.

I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 43 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

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Spurgeon on Spurgeon on “Affliction, Grace and Strength” ~ 2 Minute Devotional

Affliction is a relative thing. For some believers it means giving up their lives under severe persecutions. For others, they may loose all their possessions or be thrown in jail. For me, it may be a more trivial affliction, such as a temporary financial problem, relationship difficulty, or health problem.

Whether the affliction is great or small, whether the faith is little or great, God grants “sufficient grace” to carry us through. The result is we find new strength to endure, and a growing faith.

One thing to realize is that this growing strength isn’t like lifting weights, it’s not the result of our own work. Our sin-stained efforts are only effective because of the work of the Holy Spirit in us. It makes grace all the more precious and gives us more reason to praise God for his mercy.

I am always drawn to he cross of Christ as an example. Here was the most extreme affliction of physical suffering a human could be subjected to. In addition to the physical affliction, Christ bore my sins as well. If Jesus did that for me, then he understands my afflictions, and can bring me aid.

Dear Lord, When I am afflicted, help me to understand that you provide sufficient grace to help increase my strength. No matter the circumstance, there is always reason to praise you. Amen

I hope you have been blessed by this quote and the accompanying image taken from the Spurgeon Daily Quotes iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

The Lord is my Refuge – Psalm 14 NIV 2 Minute Devotional

As you read the Psalms, it becomes clear that God defends and protects the poor. Psalm 14 indicates that restoration and better days are ahead. In fact, if you are responsible for oppressing the poor, God takes note of it, and is not pleased.

Poor in terms of possessions is not the only thing that the Lord is concerned with. In Matthew 5:3 Jesus says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

I am truly poor however, if I do not follow Christ. If I serve a king, I am rich because the king is rich. I am protected because the king is protected.  If I turn my back on the king’s calling I will remain poor and unprotected.

The Bible is where we can learn about God’s salvation and calling. Read the Gospel of John and ask the Lord to become your king.

Dear Lord, I am poor and needy. Become my refuge and salvation. Reveal yourself to me through your Son Jesus. Amen.

I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 14 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes NIV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or  Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

EXTRA!

Below is an extra treat! The Sons of Korah have put Psalm 14 to music. Listen to a sample below and purchase your own copy at the iTunes store by clicking on the button.

Psalm 14b – Rain Album

Will Rogers on Holding Back Relief

Who knows what our economic condition is these days – Depression, recession, economic malaise? Whatever it is, a committee has been formed to investigate it. I’m sure their report will tell us what we already know, and will be issued when it is politically convenient.

Are you as amazed as I am that Rogers saw the same problems in 1933 as we face today? Not only is congress holding back relief, as Rogers says, but they caused the financial crisis to begin with!

Perhaps the relief we need is from politicians that care more about themselves than the country.

The picture is from Rogers’ 1921 silent movie, An Unwilling Hero. He plays Whistling Dick, a hobo who loves everything but work. He travels south to New Orleans for the winter and is befriended by Nadine, the daughter of a plantation owner. Dick finds out about a robbery plan and warns Nadine’s father. Out of gratitude he is offered work on the plantation, which inspires him to leave at his earliest convenience.

I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

Will Rogers on “Losing Sleep & Taxes”

Will RogersFinancial uncertainty is unsettling not only for financial markets, but for taxpayers as well. Tension seems to be highest whenever congress is in session because it seems you never know what they are going to do. Actually, we do know one thing, whatever they do will be bad for the taxpayer!

The same bunch that can’t control their own spending, wants to control our spending by taking more of our money in taxes. The same brilliant minds that mandated banks lend to people that couldn’t pay back the loans think they should be able to regulate any industry they want. I could go on…

How can congress sleep at night knowing all the pain and suffering they have unleashed on the country? Easy! They had good intentions.

Well folks, it looks like the only way a person can get a good nights sleep is to get elected to congress.

Image Information: The lovely young lady in the picture is Lucille Mulhall. Her father ran the Mulhall Cowboy Carnival and Will worked for him for several years. There’s no indication that Will’s relationship with Lucille was serious, and a few years later, in 1908, Will married Betty Blake.

Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.

I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will RogersiPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

Will Rogers

Spurgeon on “Daily Strength” ~ 2 Minute Devotional

When I was working on my masters degree at the University of Illinois I built instrumentation for their Aeronomy program. We made rocket payloads that would gather data from the upper atmosphere which would allow us to look at the nature of energetic particles that stream down the earth’s magnetic fields.

I love science and I remember the thrill of looking at data from a rocket launch. Before my eyes was a glimpse of a tiny piece of God’s creation in motion. Scientists would puzzle over the interpretation of the data and debate its meaning.

In Spurgeon’s wonderful way, he describes God’s control and care of the heavenly bodies. Men of science spend a lifetime trying to explain how the sun operates. Each new scientific discovery brings more questions, yet God cares for it all, and places each planet in its place.

Not only does God care for the planets and their vast scale of operation, he also cares for each of us individually. The God who “feeds the burning furnace of the sun” has power enough to supply us with the daily strength we need!

I hope you have been blessed by this quote and the accompanying image taken from the Spurgeon Daily Quotes iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

Will Rogers on Basic Economics

Will RogersWhat in the world did the Supreme Court have to do with nickel rides on the subway in 1929? In general, what does any branch of government have to do with the price of anything? When the government touches the price of goods and services, subway riders can’t get the seats they need, drivers can’t get the gas they need (remember gas lines in the 70s?), companies go bankrupt, and jobs are lost.

Why is it that brilliant government economists still don’t understand supply and demand? Even hog callers on the farm understand that when demand is high, you have to raise the price, and when demand is low, you drop the price. But when the government locks the price, you run out of hogs and go out of business.

I guess those government bureaucrats never had to call a hog, turn a wrench or meet a payroll. It ought to be a requirement that anyone, especially economists and office holders, ought to be required to work in the real world for a while. Let them work on a farm and call the hogs. Sooooooooweeeeeee, here pig, pig, pig, pig!

Image Info: Will Rogers took his typewriter with him everywhere. Each day he would type out his “Daily Telegram” syndicated column and deliver the copy to the local telegraph office for transmission to New York for publication. Will Rogers’ column was arguably the most popular daily column of the day. Even today the most famous bloggers would envy Will Rogers humor, wit, common sense, and ability to communicate with his readers.

The image was taken directly from pictures at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum archive. I apologize for the quality of the image, but this is exactly what the 1920s photo looked like when I scanned it. In the hundreds of images contained in this iPhone application, I wanted to share as many different Will Rogers photos as possible from as wide a variety of times and situations – movies, cowboy, vaudeville, with famous people, and family scenes.

Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.

I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

Will Rogers

Will Rogers on “Worried or Confused?”

Will RogersIn this quote from April 23, 1933 Rogers indicates people are worried about inflation. Recently the Fed expressed its concern about inflation. With the current economy, and all the brilliant economic minds saying different things, I’m not sure what to think.

I think I’m actually both confused and worried according to Rogers. I’m worried that the current administration doesn’t appear to know what they are doing. They promise hope, but change seems to be going in the wrong direction. I’m confused about why they don’t appear to care.

Image Information: The image of Rogers is from his 1921 silent film Guile of Women. Rogers plays a Swede named Yal who travels with a friend to America to seek his fortune. After misfortunes in love and business, his girlfriend finally arrives from Sweden.

I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

Will Rogers

Will Rogers on “Hollywood Marriages”

Will RogersAccording to this Will Rogers quote, things sure haven’t changed in Hollywood since 1931, have they? I don’t even have to mention names – all you have to do is look at the tabloid covers at the grocery store to find out about Hollywood marriages.

The tabloids feature all the dirt on breakups, and all the gossip on matchups. Then there are rumors on things that might happen and who was seen with who last week.

One thing that is different from 1931 is Botox. Actually, today they can keep you looking young! The  women seem to stay looking young longer than the men, however.

Interestingly, Will Rogers marriage was one of the rare Hollywood marriages that did last. For all his travels, movies and Hollywood friends, Will Rogers was faithful to his beloved wife Betty, with never a hint of scandal.

Image Information: Will Rogers was a strong proponent of commercial aviation. He was friends with many famous aviators including Charles Lindbergh, seen in the picture above.

Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.

I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

Will Rogers

Will Rogers on Government Aid

The image shows Will Rogers doing one his trademark rope tricks – the big crinoline. Rogers plays out the lasso into a huge loop, not only encircling his horse, but the entire baseball team as well.

The quote: “Things in our country run in spite of government. Not by the aid of it.” still rings true today. In many cases the unintended consequences of legislation make the problem worse, not better.

I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

Behold Wondrous Things – Psalm 119 ESV 2 Minute Devotional

I was talking to my wife the other day, lamenting the fact that our flower beds are pretty much finished for the year. I remember, however, the beautiful flowers from seasons gone by. Things of beauty seem to imprint themselves on our memory.

This passage in Psalm 119 directs us to the beautiful and wondrous things in scripture. It asks God to open my eyes, and to not hide His commandments from me. Let that be my prayer as well.

The image of this beautiful flower is a delight to our eyes. I hope that I can also delight in God’s word. That it’s beauty can be imprinted on my memory, and be my counselor in times of need.

I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 119 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.