By His Spirit - Advent & Lenten Journey

His Great Faithfulness

nospam@example.com (Rev. Roslyn Hamblin) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 14:00:42 -0700

His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. Psalm 91:4

Jeremiah said, in Lamentations, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lam.3:22-23) Here the Psalmist echoes this thought of God’s great faithfulness. He says he is a shield or buckler. These implements protect the body from unwarranted attack from any missile. These all speak of God being merciful, caring and protective. Jeremiah suggested that God honours his commitment in great measure. Indeed, God forever honours his commitment. Elsewhere the Psalmist declares that in his old age he can affirm that God has never forsaken the righteous (Psalm 37:25). Paul confirmed, “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”.

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Jeremiah 31:13

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 03:28:00 -0700

I will turn their mourning into joy. Jeremiah 31:13

The book of Jeremiah urges God’s people to turn from their sins and look to God. Jeremiah was appointed by God to be a prophet to Judah where he confronted the leaders and people with their sins; he prophesied their captivity in Babylon and their return from exile. On his journey as a prophet Jeremiah suffered greatly and was more than once inclined to resign from God’s task (Jeremiah 15:10,17-18; 20:7-9). Despite this and despite being forcefully taken to Egypt he remained faithful and years of obedience made him strong and courageous.

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1 Samuel 1:27

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:13:00 -0700

The Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. 1 Samuel 1:27

Hannah spoke these words after she had given birth to her son and was actually taking him to serve God In the temple. She had requested of God a child, and he had granted her request. Thus she spoke with joy and rejoicing.

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Jeremiah 20:9

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 01:36:16 -0700

Jeremiah said, “If I say, ‘I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’ then within me there is something like a burning fire.” Jeremiah 20:9

Jeremiah has reasons not to mention the name of the Lord anymore and to give back to the Lord his ministry as a prophet. He was struck and put in the stocks (Jeremiah 20:1ff). He was in derision; everyone mocked him (Jeremiah 20:7). His fellowmen devised plans against him (Jeremiah 18:18); they sought to kill him; they had dug a pit for his life (Jeremiah 11:18-21 and 18:20). All this he suffered, and he had not asked to become a prophet – the opposite! (Jeremiah 1:6).

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Proverbs 20:12

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 23:44:00 -0700

The hearing ear and the seeing eye — the Lord has made them both. Proverbs 20:12

The Wise Man seems to make two suggestions here in this Proverb. The first point relates strongly to God and the second point relates strongly to us as human beings. They both show responsibility.

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Isaiah 6:5

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:33:47 -0700

Isaiah said, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and live among a people of unclean lips.” Isaiah 6:5

After seeing the Lord and listening to the praise of the angels, Isaiah realized that he was sinful before God, with no hope of measuring up to God's standard of holiness. Isaiah's lips were touched with a live burning coal; his sins were forgiven. It was not the coal that cleansed him, but God. In response, Isaiah submitted himself entirely to God's service. The painful cleansing process was necessary before Isaiah could fulfill the task to which God was calling him.

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Leviticus 19:34

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:16:00 -0700

The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you. Leviticus 19:34

Within the law given to the children of Israel were instructions pertaining to strangers. Here they were specifically told to treat strangers as if they were citizens. The significance of this instruction could be two-fold.

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Proverbs 1:7

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:13:45 -0700

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 1:7

The Lord has made all things and the Lord is all-knowing. His knowledge is superior. It therefore stands to reason that any knowledge we may try to acquire would be more beneficial if it were to commence at him.

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Isaiah 45:23-24

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 18:06:00 -0700

Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, “In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.” Isaiah 45:23-24 (NIV)

We stand today at the beginning of a new year, having experienced God’s direction and his blessing in the past year. Even against the background of the challenges which we may have experienced we can say that we have been ‘brought safely thither by his hand’. Isaiah has therefore spoken for all of us – “In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength”. His strength brought us through.

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Psalm119:82

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 13:13:14 -0700

My eyes fail with watching for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?” Psalm119:82

In life, it seems as if there is always some sort of struggle or challenge; as if what we need or want is just out of reach. It doesn’t matter what it is – a new car, a job, a raise – it always feels like God is taking too long to send it. We forget that in his word God has promised to provide for us (Matthew 6:26) and we become impatient, forgetting to thank God for what he has provided. Instead we question when our present ‘suffering’ will end. We forget that it is through our experiences that we gain strength and we forget the very basic lessons we try to instill in our children. If we receive everything that we ask for when we ask for it, we will become spoilt, ungrateful and selfish.

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Proverbs 3:27

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 20:06:57 -0700

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Proverbs 3:27

Harriet was about to go to bed. She had worked hard all day cleaning the back yard and mowing the lawn – getting ready for her Christmas guests. She was weary and her back ached from the bending and lifting. She longed for a good (and hopefully long) night’s rest, especially considering that she had to set out early on a long journey the next morning. The door bell rang and reluctantly she went to the door. Her neighbor stood there looking distraught and said she needed a ride to the hospital with her asthmatic daughter.
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Exodus 20:16

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 19:58:00 -0700

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. Exodus 20:16

“Do no sinful action,
Speak no angry Word;
Ye belong to Jesus
Children of the Lord.”

Words should never be spoken lightly. The soothing word gives encouragement, unlike the unkind word which pierces the heart.

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Isaiah 64:9

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 20:24:22 -0700

Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity for ever. Now consider we are all your people. Isaiah 64:9

‘Forgive and forget’. A common phrase used to soothe angered spirits in order to make amends. For most, this is easier said than done.

To release our feelings of anger — to no longer remember the reason behind our anger — is not a simple task for most. We may, at some point, forgive; however, it is not automatic to simply forget. The reasons behind our anger remain etched in our memories. Depending on the intensity of the anger, some memories remain with us for a lifetime.

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Exodus 14:13

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 15:16:33 -0700

Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today. Exodus 14:13

Exodus Chapter 14 verse 13 reads "And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will work for you today, for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today ye shall see again no more for ever."(American Standard version).

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Isaiah 33:24

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 18:07:00 -0700

No resident will say, “I am sick”; the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity. Isaiah 33:24

Christmas Day.
Today we say Merry Christmas! Or Happy Christmas!
Today is a day of celebration: good food, family and friends, cards and gifts.
We celebrate the birth of the Saviour.
Today the things of the world come for a moment to a pause.
Today is a day of love and peace and joy.
Today we hear good tidings of great joy:

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