Archives: Watchword

WATCHWORD:

¹ Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
² Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
⁴ praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 150 Continue reading

WATCHWORD:

Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy, dwell on these things. Whatever you have learned, or heard, or seen in me, put into practice, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-7

Meditation:

Theology

Theology: The study of the nature of God and religious belief. Chances are, your pastor, or one of those on television, have a masters degree or a PhD in theology. It sounds very scholarly, maybe just a bit stodgy. It is a discipline and, as such, a study which can aid in the understanding of Biblical truths.

If I would ask you, what is your theology? How would you answer?  Maybe you would say, ‘Christian’. And I would say, ‘That’s just a label’. Tell me in eight words or less what your theology is, in practice.

Maybe you respond with ‘I just try to be a good person.’  And I say: “Are you?”  And your answer is: ‘I believe so.’  I say, “prove it.”  Now you are getting a bit testy and you tell me about the born-again experience that you had transformed your life. I dig a bit deeper and ask: “When was that?”  You tell me it was years ago, but it still had meaning. I again respond with, “How does that affect your life now, today, even this minute?”

Here’s the thing about theology, if we believe, then, in fact, we have theology.  The question is, is it a living theology? A living theology is something you practice every minute of every day. Your theology must work itself out, exhibiting itself in your most common every day relationships and activities. It’s a theology you live.

You may be the most scholarly person ever to study the Bible, and you may have an answer for every theological question, except, possibly the one about practicing your theology. How would you measure up to the standards of Jesus Christ and him crucified, as Paul has told us? Every detail of our lives is tested against the physical, moral and spiritual standard set by our Lord.

It seems pretty intimidating, but the truth of our faith is that, while the standards are immutable, we are God’s child and as such, he has equipped us through Him, to accomplish all things. Try this: I live out my theology through Jesus Christ (eight words). May it be so with each of us.  Amen.

A Statement of Theology from Jude 1:

²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²² And have mercy on those who doubt; ²³ save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Closing Prayer:

Thank You for your good graces that you have given me. May my thoughts and behaviors reflect your truth and nothing else. When I have a negative thought, I pray for your help to quickly recognize it and that You would empower me to focus on what is true, pure, and lovely. Thank You Lord.

WATCHWORD:

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Mark 9:9

 ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.¹⁹ On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were meeting behind locked doors, in fear of the Jewish leaders, suddenly Jesus was standing there among them, and said, “Peace be with you!”  And how wonderful was their joy as they saw their Lord!  John 20:15-20 Continue reading

WATCHWORD:

 ²⁷ As he was climbing out of the boat a man from the city of Gadara came to meet him, a man who had been demon-possessed for a long time. Homeless and naked, he lived in a cemetery among the tombs. ²⁸ As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell to the ground before him, screaming, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of God Most High? Please, I beg you, oh, don’t torment me!” ²⁹ For Jesus was already commanding the demon to leave him. This demon had often taken control of the man so that even when shackled with chains he simply broke them and rushed out into the desert, completely under the demon’s power. ³⁰ “What is your name?” Jesus asked the demon. “Legion,” they replied—for the man was filled with thousands of them! ³¹ They kept begging Jesus not to order them into the Bottomless Pit. ³² A herd of pigs was feeding on the mountainside nearby, and the demons pled with him to let them enter into the pigs. And Jesus said they could. ³³ So they left the man and went into the pigs, and immediately the whole herd rushed down the mountainside and fell over a cliff into the lake below, where they drowned. Luke 8:27-33

¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand safe against all strategies and tricks of Satan. ¹² For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world. Ephesians 6:11-12 Continue reading

WATCHWORD:

 ⁷ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. ⁸ Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. ⁹ “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Haggai 1:7-

²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²² And have mercy on those who doubt; ²³ save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment^[a] stained by the flesh.  ²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time^[b] and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:20-25

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WATCHWORD:

You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. Deuteronomy13:4

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 Continue reading

WATCHWORD:

²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”  John 20:26-28

 When they finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John do you love me more than these?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” A third time he said, “Simon son of John do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” Peter said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!” He said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” John 21:25-17 Continue reading

WATCHWORD:

Psalm 51:6-15

We are repeatedly instructed to meditate on God’s Word day and night (Psalm 1:1), and throughout the Bible there are choice passages that lend themselves to reverent times of prayer and meditation. Sometimes the passage leads us deep into worship and prayer, sometimes it opens our hearts to understand the enormity of God’s graces and produces in us a strong sense of gratitude and love for the Almighty. Sometimes the passage simply calms us, and cause the difficulties of our lives to fade into the background of a life of loyalty to the Creator.

There are times in our lives as mortals, when the noise of those difficulties overwhelms us and we struggle until the whispers of the Holy Spirit within gets our attention and we return to the everlasting arms of the Great I AM with the plea to Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51 is one of those passages that can touch us in so many different ways. Three versions of this passage are offered here. Read each version and consider that you are David, offering up our life and soul in the acknowledgment that we are sinners in ways that we may not even understand. God Bless your journeys this morning. Amen.

King James Version:

⁶ Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. ⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

⁸ Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. ⁹ Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

¹² Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

¹³ Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

¹⁴ Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. ¹⁵ O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. Psalm 51:6-15

The Living Bible:

⁶ You deserve honesty from the heart; yes, utter sincerity and truthfulness. Oh, give me this wisdom.

⁷ Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

⁸ And after you have punished me, give me back my joy again. ⁹ Don’t keep looking at my sins—erase them from your sight.

¹⁰ Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires. ¹¹ Don’t toss me aside, banished forever from your presence. Don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

¹² Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

¹³ Then I will teach your ways to other sinners, and they—guilty like me—will repent and return to you.

^14-15 Don’t sentence me to death. O my God, you alone can rescue me. Then I will sing of your forgiveness, for my lips will be unsealed—oh, how I will praise you.  Psalm 51:6-15

Praying the Voice Version of Psalm 51:

Heavenly Father, You long to enthrone truth throughout my being; in unseen places deep within me, You show me wisdom. Cleanse me of my wickedness with hyssop, and I will be clean. If You wash me, I will be whiter than snow.

Help me hear joy and happiness as my accompaniment, so my bones, which You have broken, will dance in delight instead.

Cover Your face so You will not see my sins, and erase my guilt from the record. Create in me a clean heart, O God; restore within me a sense of being brand new.

Do not throw me far away from Your presence, and do not remove Your Holy Spirit from me.
Give back to me the deep delight of being saved by You; let Your willing Spirit sustain me. If You do, I promise to teach rebels Your ways and help sinners find their way back to You.

Free me from the guilt of my most lamentable sins, the shedding of trust and my betraying of solemn promises given. O God who saves me.

Now my tongue, which was used to destroy, will be used to sing with deep delight of how right and just You are. O Lord, pry open my lips that this mouth will sing joyfully of Your greatness. These words, this prayer, O Lord, I offer in the name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord.  Amen.

WATCHWORD:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

Your Word is a lamp to my feet, And a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 Continue reading

WATCHWORD:

²⁹ Don’t use bad language. Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing. ³⁰ Don’t cause the Holy Spirit sorrow by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who marks you to be present on that day when salvation from sin will be complete. ³¹ Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ. Ephesians 4:29-32

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WATCHWORD:

¹¹ And he said, Go, forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: ¹² And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. ¹³ And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 1 Kings 19:11-13

¹It is God himself, in his mercy, who has given us this wonderful work of telling his Good News to others, and so we never give up. ² We do not try to trick people into believing—we are not interested in fooling anyone. We never try to get anyone to believe that the Bible teaches what it doesn’t. All such shameful methods we forego. We stand in the presence of God as we speak and so we tell the truth, as all who know us will agree. ³ If the Good News we preach is hidden to anyone, it is hidden from the one who is on the road to eternal death. ⁴ Satan, who is the god of this evil world, has made him blind, unable to see the glorious light of the Gospel that is shining upon him or to understand the amazing message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is God. 2 Corinthians 4:1-4  Continue reading