Psalm 119:9, 11, 18″Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  18, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”

Today we find ourselves poised at the end of yet another year that has gone by at an extremely fast pace.  As I sit here and look back over the year 2010 I contemplate what I have accomplished for God.  What I see bothers me because it is far less than I wanted to accomplish.

One thing I did make a priority is reading my Bible.  I cannot say that I did read it every day of the year.  Sometimes I read more than one day at a sitting.  Please forgive me.  However, the Word of God is still precious to me.  I hope it is precious to you.  It is God’s love letter to His people.  Imagine that.  God who created everything sent you and I a love letter from His loving hand.

The Bible is an amazing Book which is above all other books.  They cannot even be compared because it is like comparing apples and oranges together.  As God’s children we need to have a high reverence for His Word.  We need to read His Word.  We need to request the Holy Spirit to teach us from His Word.

Many people have sought to change the Word of God by coming out with so-called versions.  They are no more than unregenerate man’s attempt to bring God and His Word to man’s level.  God forbid.  No matter how man seeks to change God’s Word it is to no avail.  God’s word is sure.  Look at  Psalm 119:89, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”  Praise God for the Sure Word of God!

So, how are you doing?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 119; Proverbs 31

Psalm 30:5, “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” {his anger…: Heb. there is but a moment in his anger} {for a night: Heb. in the evening} {joy: Heb. singing}

So many people today have a false view of God.  They think He is some genie in a bottle waiting on us hand and foot.  This could not be farther from the truth.  God is the Creator of the world.  He is the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Another misconception is that God is a fluffy, lovey-dovey being who would never send anyone to hell.  This could not be farther from the truth either.  In  the Scriptures we find a much different view of God.  Look at the words of Psalm 7:11, “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.”  Now, I do not want to paint an unbalanced portrait of God.  He is loving and He is very Love.  On the other hand He is angry with righteous anger.  The writer of Psalm 7 tells us He is angry with the wicked every day.  Wow!  This is a different picture than what a lot of people believe.

If you want to escape the anger and wrath of God then you must trust Him as your Saviour.  This is the only way to avoid it.  Turn to Him for salvation and you will not regret it.

So, how are you doing?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 30, 60, 90, 120, 150; Proverbs 30

Psalm 29:3-5, “The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.  The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.   The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.”

I remember growing up and living across the street from the local baseball diamond.  One year that property flooded so bad it was like a lake.  I remember Mom giving me specific instructions to stay away from the water.

It was not long and I found myself using an old piece of wood as a surf board.  This did not work too well.  I still to this day remember seeing my mother come across the street and stand there calling my name.  She knew where I was and what I was doing.  I was in deep trouble and water.

There was a difference when Mom called you for dinner and when she called for you to come because you were in trouble.  You could know by the sound of her voice.  It is the same way with the Lord.  If you are His child then you know His voice.  You know if it is your loving Father speaking to you or if He has to use His “Daddy” voice.

We are like sheep and know the Shepherd’s voice.  Maybe you do not hear His voice.  You need to establish a relationship with Him first.  Have you done that?  Once you have done that you can hear His voice as the loving Father.

So, how are you doing?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 29, 59, 89, 149; Proverbs 29

Psalm 118:24, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

What was the first thing you thought about when you opened your eyes from sleep?  I often think about the schedule for the day.  I think how angry I am with myself for oversleeping.  I think about the things I have ahead of me for the day also.

I think we need to consider the truth of our passage of Scripture for today.  “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  God in His abundant love for you and I has created each new day for us.  It is another opportunity to serve Him more.  It is another opportunity to share the gospel with someone else.  It is this day.  Not a future day coming up; but, today.  We need to be mindful that right now is all that God has promised us.  He has not promised us tomorrow.  He could return at any moment and there would be no tomorrow.  It would vaporize and become eternity.

What have you been putting off until tomorrow?  I hope you will cease to procrastinate.  God has given you and I today as a gift and we need to treasure one.  Are you happy that you have one more day?  I know some who are not.  I know some who want to take their own life because they see no hope of tomorrow.  How sad and how wrong they are!  So long as Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords there will be hope for tomorrow and today both.  Since He will never cease to exist then there is always hope!  Glory to God in the highest.

So, how are you doing?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 28, 58, 88, 112, 142; Proverbs 28

Proverbs 27:1, “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

Yesterday I had the privilege of preaching at Crossroads Baptist Church in Brazil, IN.  It was a cold day; but, the people were very warm and the fellowship was sweet.  I taught Sunday School and then preached the morning worship service.  We enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship for lunch at our favorite fast food place.  Then one of the members opened his house to us and we stayed there for the afternoon.  What a blessing.  It was a full day; but, it was a great day.  It was funny that my wife commented that we would sleep in today and have nothing planned for today.

At 2 o’clock in the morning my wife awakened me.  I was not impressed.  She enlightened me that our house smelled like smoke.  This is not unusual as our stove caught on fire a few months ago.  We determined that it was coming from the furnace.  With outside temperatures at a balmy 19′, shut off the furnace.  Shortly the smell of smoke went away.  Bingo!  A couple hours later the inside temperature was a whole 60′.  Needless to say we were cold!  I called the repair man at 7:30 am and he was at our house at 9 am.  After he collected all of MY Christmas money he was on the road to the next service call.

The reason for my running on and on today?  It is simple.  We had planned for things to run much differently this morning.  You never know what my happen.  You cannot plan for every little thing that might happen either.  How you react to things is vitally important.  People are watching you and they are taking note of how you act and react to things.  If you put your life and all it consists of into the hands of God then you do not have to worry because then it is His problem and He can handle it.  Glory to God!

So, how are you doing?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 27, 57, 87, 117, 147; Proverbs 27

Psalm 26:8, “LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.”

In the early 1990’s we had the pleasure of attending the First Baptist Church of Lizton, IN.  Our Pastor Mike Thurmond was a great Bible teacher and Preacher.  While we were there we met and come to love Nathan and Barbara Mullinax.  Brother Nate was a big guy with a loud voice and a love for God bigger than Texas.

The one thing I remember about Brother Nate was that every Saturday morning he would lead the men’s prayer time just before visitation.  Brother Nate would travel from the south side of Indianapolis to Lizton every week without fail even when his health was not very good.  There were times he made it out there and I did not even make it the six (6) miles it took for me to get there.

I remember how he would point with his right hand and his pointer finger had been broken at the first joint.  When he would point out straight at 12 noon, his finger tip was pointing at about 2 o’clock.  I remember his messages too.  He never failed to give God the glory what he had accomplished in Nathan’s life.

Brother Nathan Mullinax loved the House of God.  He loved to just be there.  He loved to serve there.  In my mind I still hear him singing some songs like, “I Love You Lord”.  The one thing I remember most is that each week while he would exhort us about the importance of prayer, he would always say, “No prayer, no purity.  No purity, no power.  No power, no possibility.”  I would not wish him back to this vale of tears; but, I would love to hear him once again proclaim the goodness of God and the importance of prayer.

Now, when I think of Brother Nathan Mullinax I am reminded of the truth of Psalm 116:15, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”  We need more men and women that are dedicated to the Lord and His house like Brother Nate.  May God help me to do just that.  May He help me to be a man of prayer like Brother Nathan Mullinax.  May we all remember his words, “No prayer, no purity.  No purity, no power.  No power, no possibility.”

So, how are you doing?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 26, 56, 86, 116, 146; Proverbs 26

Psalm 145:1-2, “I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.  Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.”

Let me start off by wishing you a blessed and merry Christmas.  I noticed that the beginning of our Scripture for today started off with the title, “David’s Psalm of praise”.  With this being Christmas day I was drawn to the thought of praise.  We should praise God for the gift of Jesus and not just the presents we receive under the tree.  For the one who has trusted Christ as their Saviour, I believe that, every day should be Christmas day.

In our verses today the word “extol” means to be high actively, to rise or raise.  As we consider the events that we commemorate today of Jesus becoming like us that we might become like Him we should be brought to a spontaneous outpouring of praise.  We should lift up Jesus in praise.  To worship means to ascribe worth to someone or something.  We need to be ascribing worth to Jesus Christ as He humbled himself and became a human, a man, so that we could one day be like Him. He came to die a cruel death on the cross so that you and I could be saved.

When you look at the gift of Christ all the presents seem to pale in insignificance, don’t they?  I sure hope they do to you.  If you put more worth on the things of this world than the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross then you have misplaced values.  You need to redirect your priorities and your loyalties.  Maybe, just maybe, you need to be saved.  Could this be?  What a gift.  Eternal life through Jesus Christ is the greatest gift that anyone could give or receive.

Have you received that free gift?  If you have not please contact me and I would love to show you how to receive the greatest Christmas gift you could ever be given.  The gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord.

So, how are you dong?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 25, 55, 85, 115, 145; Proverbs 25

Psalm 24:9-10, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.  Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.”

As we are just two days away from Christmas my thoughts have been all about it.  I am running through my mind how we will have our gift exchange with the three of us on Christmas Eve.  I am thinking about whether to read Matthew 2 or Luke 2.  I am thinking of the Sunday services at the Church where I will fill in preaching the morning and evening services.  My mind is splattering right now.  Am I worried?  Not in the least.  I know that when it is all said and done that people will not remember anything about it in fifty (50) years.

My biggest concern is that the truth of our Scripture for today be trumpeted through our lives and our lips through all of this.  Unfortunately, our son is pretty sick and unless God miraculously intervenes he and his mother will be staying home.  This means I will have no piano player and no special music for the services.  God help us!

As we approach Christmas on Saturday will you approach it as “the baby in the manger”?  I hope not.  You see, Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  He is alive and is ruling and reigning.  We have so much to be thankful for this Christmas.

The most important gift you can receive is the free gift of salvation.  If you will repent, or turn from your sin and admit your sinfulness to God and ask Him to save you He will.  It is so simple to say a prayer and mean it with all of your heart and God will save you.  We have His Word on it.

As you wake up on Christmas morning let me remind you to be thankful for what God has given to you.  Be thankful for your family that loves and cares for you.  We have so much to be thankful for this year even in the midst of such perilous times.  Give thanks for the presents under the tree if you have them.  If you do not then lift up your head and be thankful for what you do have.

So, how are you doing?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 24, 54, 84, 114, 144; Proverbs 24

Psalm 23:1, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

As I was reading this I thought how just the last phrase “I shall not want” could be a subject of many days of study.  The same is true of the first phrase “The LORD is my shepherd”.  You cannot flippantly run over this passage of Scripture and get everything out of it unless you dedicate yourself to a long, deep study of it.  Some day I hope to do just that.

If God is my Shepherd; and He is, why would I have any kind of want?  It seems that if we are wanting anything that it might be a sin.  That is a strong statement, I know.  However, this passage of Scripture says that when the Lord is my Shepherd, “I shall not want”.  That is pretty straight to the point.

Our nation is in a crisis of many types.  On crisis we face is that of obesity.  So many of us are grossly overweight.  I know because I fit right in this.  Part of the problem is the fast paced lifestyle we live and the amount of food we consume that is bad for us.  We need to think about our lifestyle and what we eat.  Look at Proverbs 23:1-3, “When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:  And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.  Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.”  We need to remember that we are to be good stewards of our bodies and part of that is watching what we eat.  This is the season for all those homemade goodies and we love them; but, we need to back off them a lot.

We need to be aware of the damaging effects of alcohol too.  It is sad to see a day that even so-called Christians think it is okay to have a social drink.  I pray that everyone that is a true born-again believer that partakes of alcohol will have such a foul taste in their mouth and sickness in their stomach that they will not want to drink it again.  Look at the negative effects of alcohol in Proverbs 23:35, “They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.”  The main thing is to whom do I yield to.  If we are yielded to God then we will not want to over indulge or partake in sinful habits this season and everyday.

So, how are you doing my friend?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 23, 53, 83, 113, 143; Proverbs 23

Proverbs 22:28, “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.”

As I was reading this passage of Scripture I remembered growing up and how I used to love to wander in the woods and different places.  I remember one winter; like now, it was cold and I went with a friend to check his traps in the local creek.  It was very cold and I ended up falling through the ice and getting wet even though I had on tall rubber boots.  I was miserable.  I was in a place that I was not familiar with and I had no idea where we were going.  My friend was quite the practical joker and he told me we were in some imaginary county like we had walked miles upon miles.

As we walked he would look certain things he had put by his traps so that he could find them again.  We did not find anything in the traps that day, and I was very glad that we did not.  We followed that creek for about a mile and a half as I look back on it as an adult.  Suddenly we came to a bridge and went up to the top of it and there was one of the main roads near our homes.  I was so glad to see that road.  It gave me hope that I could get home if I needed to get there.

God has given us landmarks to follow and we need to pay close attention to them.  This will keep us on the right road in our life.

So, how are you doing?

Today’s reading:  Psalm 22, 52, 82, 112, 142; Proverbs 22