WHAT WERE YOU SAYING

Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

 

Wow!  Some verses in the Bible just jump out at you and kind of slap you upside the head.  I know a lot of people who seem to just open their mouth enough to change feet.  They are worse than those who say whatever is on their mind.  They say things without them ever going through their mind.  Not only do I know people like that sometimes I see one in the mirror because we can all be like that at times.

 

Thankfully as I have aged I have learned a little better to think before I speak.  I have learned that I don't have to say everything I think. Even now my mouth sometimes gets me in trouble but I am getting better at keeping it under control.

 

Someone once said that trying to un-say something is like trying to un-shoot a gun.  It just can't be done.  We can apologize and be truly sorry when we say hurtful things but we can never erase the pain that we cause.

 

If someone spreads a damaging false rumor it can do it's damage and destroy someone's reputation. No matter how sorry you might be for starting it you can not undo all the damage.

 

The tongue is mentioned frequently in the scriptures and of all the parts of our body  it seems that it can be the hardest to control and do the most damage.  Remember though, it is not just the ones who hear it that are damaged.  The one letting his tongue go wild will not escape unscathed either.

 

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

Lukewarm

Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

 

"You really have a warm and friendly church." What would you think if someone said that to you about your church.  Even though I am sure it would be meant as a compliment and it is probably true about many churches it is in reality an insult.  Being warm is so bad that Jesus said He would spew the Laodicean church out of his mouth.

 

The problem with most of us in church is that we are comfortable with being warm.  At least we are not cold.  I have visited churches that were almost frigid and after a visit or two at the most I knew that I would not want to go back.  I have visited the warm and friendly churches where to be honest, I was comfortable, at least until the preacher made a great point and I said, "Amen!".

Almost half the church turned around to look at me and I felt a little uncomfortable.

We should not be "warm and friendly".  The friendly is fine but we should be on fire for the Lord. 

 

We should be like Jeremiah who said,

Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning FIRE shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

 

He had made up his mind to keep his mouth shut but the Word of God lit a fire in him.  Maybe if we would allow God's word to consume us we would be on fire for Him.

 

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FIRST LOVE

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

 

The church at Ephesus seemed to be doing everything right. They were doctrinally sound, they were ministry minded and they were thriving. What more could they do.

 

They needed to remember why they were doing those things. Much of the work being done in the churches today seems to be people oriented instead of purpose oriented.  What is our purpose?  We are created to gloriy God. How do we glorify God?  The best I can understand is that we glorify God by showing the world our love for Jesus and His love for us.

 

My wife and I have been married for 42 years and I cannot imagine life without her.  My son just turned 40 and I love him more each day.  My baby girl has a 13 year old son and she will always be my baby girl.  You don't even want to me to get started on how much I love my grandkids.  With all these people in my life and all the love I have for them, my first love should always be Jesus.

 

Churches should love their Senior Citizens.  They should love their Youth Ministries.  It is a wonderful thing to be missions minded.  Every member of the church should be loved and ministered to.  That doesn't change the fact that the main motivation for the church should be because they love Jesus.  When we focus on Him all the other things will be blessed.

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.
Email us at
shilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

GIVE AN ACCOUNT

Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 

This was written to the Christians at Rome and it is referring to the Judgment Seat of Christ.  While we will not face the judgment of the damned at the White Throne Judgment we will be called into account for our works and our service as Christians.

 

The faithful will receive rewards for things they did out of love for Jesus and then they will be able to lay them at His feet in tribute.

 

The Bible teaches us that all our carnal works will be burnt up and all that will last are the works that are motivated out of love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus.  Many will stand before Jesus, saved but empty handed.

 

I have been taking a personal inventory this morning and I'm not sure that I want to give an account.  How do I account for the time I have wasted?  Can I justify the many times I could have witnessed and didn't.  Have I spent more time trying to acquire material things than I have making deposits in my spiritual account?

 

I am so thankful for Jesus and my salvation.  It is a blessing to be assured that my name is written in the Lambs Book of Life and I will miss the terrible judgment of the lost.  I don't have to do anything about that, Jesus paid it all.

 

We need to pray for each other that we will start "Laying up treasures in Heaven" because one day we will have to give an account for that.

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FOUND WANTING

Daniel 5:27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

 

This was part of the message to Belshazzar in the handwriting on the wall.  I'm not really sure why I think of certain scriptures as I go about my daily routine unless it is God's way of speaking to my heart.

 

I woke up this morning at my usual time around 5:00 am and proceeded with my regular routine. I made coffee, checked my email and thought about my plans for the day. The rest of the details are unimportant but basically I began my day in a casual manor without first spending time with God.

My wife and I usually have prayer together each day to begin our day.  Since I get up before she does most of the time I usually just fill in the time until she gets up.  This morning this scripture came to my mind and I decided to sit down and write because it made me think of what message God might have for me and maybe for some who read these devotionals.

 

While I would like to think that God would say something like "You are a good and faithful servant", I am afraid that might not be the case. He might say "You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting."

 

I am thankful that even though my actions can never merit my entrance into heaven that I have Jesus to tip the scales in my favor.  My works won't weight enough.  My service is severely lacking.  I am not really as good a person as I should be and am probably not as good a person as most people think I am. (Now that is kind of scary.)  My devotion to God could certainly use some help and my ministry to my fellow man is not all it could be.  The scales are not balanced at all.

 

I am so thankful that God's wonderful grace outweighs my sin and all my shortcoming.  When I am weighed in the balance my faith in Jesus Christ keeps me from being "found wanting".

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

WE NEVER KNOW

1 Samuel 20:3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

 

Sometimes we forget how sudden and unexpected death can be. Earlier today(this post was written last Monday) a mass killer went into a secure Navy facility and killed at least 13 people. While I was shocked and saddened it didn't dawn on me to use this as a wake up call for those who are not ready until I read the post of a fine Christian friend on Facebook encouraging all to be ready at all times.

 

I am ready to go whenever the Lord calls me home and because of severe heart trouble I am well aware as David was that "there is but a step between me and death".  Sadly this is true of everyone and so many are not ready.

 

None of those people who went to work today were expecting it to be their last day of life.  They were going about their business as usual never expecting a mad killer to take their lives. We hear more and more of these kinds of tragedies but sadly these are not the only instances where death comes suddenly. Sadly many do not realize this and are not prepared.

 

Death is not so frightening to those of us who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It should be very scary to those who do not.

 

It doesn't take a serial killer or a terrorist to bring sudden death.  It came come from disease, from an automible or any other kind of accident. It can come from a storm or flood or even a falling limb from a tree.  The fact is thaat there is but a step between all of us and death.

 

It is my hope that if you have never trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior that you will confess your sins and ask Him to come into your heart and save you.  You can never be saved too early but you can wait too late.

 

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

FOOD FOR THE SOUL

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

Many become spiritually weak and sick because they don't truly nourish their spirit by feeding on the Word of God.  The Bible is the way that we incorporate God into our life.  When we neglect to spend time in the Bible we are neglecting our spiritual growth.

 

This verse is to spiritual babes who have not become mature Christians.  Those are the ones who have not come to a point to where they can feed themselves from God's Word.

 

If all you ever get is what you hear from the preacher or the Sunday School teacher you are still on the milk of the Word

. 

As you mature as a Christian you should be able to pray, study the Bible and allow God to teach you and work in your life.

 

The Bible is very important to all Christians:
It tells of God's love.
It warns of God's Judgement.
It shows us the way of salvation.
It guides us and helps us to grow spiritually.

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

THE BIBLE IS THE BOOK OF THE AGES

Psalms 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

 

Forever is a long time.  Customs and society might change, and the changes I am seeing are not for the best, but God's Word doesn't change.

 

We might change our attitudes toward sin, toward God, and toward His Word but His Word is settled in Heaven and it is not going to change. I am getting tired of being considered backward and closed minded because I still believe that the Bible means what the Bible says.

 

Sadly the criticism of the Bible doesn't all come from those who completely deny God.  There are many churches and groups calling themselves Christian today who want to discount some parts of the Bible as being outdated and old fashioned.

 

The Bible is even more current than today's Newspaper because it can tell us what is going to happen.  The Bible is stronger than the laws of any government because God is the Supreme lawgiver of all.  No president, dictator, or prime minister can discount the Bible because it is the story of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

 

If the Bible says it, that settles it, whether you believe it or not.

 

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

Living Word 1

2 Timothy 3:16 All [scripture] given by [inspiration] of God, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 

God has much to say concerning His Word. It is given to us so that we might learn His truth. It is inspired or God breathed.

 

Many people claim that the Bible is just another book written by men.  While it is true that God used men to record His Word, He inspired them or directed them in writing it.

 

One of the problems men have with the Bible is the reproof part.  It does point out our sins and our failures but it also tells us how we can correct those failures.  We are given instruction in righteousness.

 

If one spends enough time prayerfully studying the Bible he will know that it is the Living Word of God.  God reveals mans sinfulness, His own Holiness,  His Righeousness, and then He shows His Grace to man by sending His Son Jesus to redeem them.

 

When people fall in love with God's Word, it draws them closer to God, it changes them so that they conform more to what God would have them to be.

 

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

Pity Party

Psalm 42:11 Why art thou CAST DOWN, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God

 

Every once in a while we all have a little pity party for one reason or another.  I always say that it is not so bad as long as you don't invite too many people and the party doesn't last too long.

 

When our health is failing, we fail at other ventures or sometimes when we just don't get our way we can tend to feel sorry for ourselves.  I have always found the best way to end such a party is to look around and count our blessings.

 

If we really think about it we are truly blessed and we should have thankful hearts.  Once we have established the fact that we are blessed then we can focus on the One who is responsible for our blessings.

 

How can I be cast down when I have Jesus to lift me up.  How can I be discouraged when I know that I have victory in Jesus.  It is almost impossible to feel defeated when you know that you have victory in Jesus.

 

I guess sometimes we start looking at ourselves instead of looking to a great and mighty God.

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

TRUE WEALTH 4

Proverbs 8:11 For wisdom is BETTER than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the BEGINNING OF WISDOM: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Don't you just feel sorry for poor rich people? I mean people who have all sorts of worldly possessions and never find peace or joy in life.

 

True wealth comes from knowing God and receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  Knowing you have eternal life that God loves you enough to care about every detail of your life.

 

We can all get a little sidetracked and feel a little envious of those who seem to have great wealth and we think how great it would be to be like them and never have to have a second thought about money.  Sadly all the money in the world can't buy your way into heaven.  It can't buy peace or the promise of eternal life.

 

Only a knowledge of God and His Word can bring us that kind of security. 

 

Isn't it great to be a child of the King?  Joint heirs with the Son of God.  How much richer than that can you get?

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. 

TRUE WEALTH 3

Proverbs 16:8 BETTER is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

 

I am not a big fan of celebrities of any sort. I do admire those who have become famous and are not ashamed to show their Christian faith.  I sometimes believe it might be harder for them to be a great witness than it is for those who have much less. 

 

I don't read the trashy tabloids that report every detail and every scandal of the rich and famous because I am not that interested in their lives.  Sadly, even if you don't follow and keep up with them you still hear reports of their escapades on the news.

 

When I see someone who seems to have had every opportunity to be successful only making a spectacle of themselves I can't help but feel a little sorry for them.  No matter how much success they might feel that they have achieved, in my mind they are still failures at life because they haven't learned one basic truth, "No matter what else we do, we must learn to do right".

 

Doing the right thing has it's own rewards and we are richer for it.

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. 

TRUE WEALTH 2

Proverbs 15:17 BETTER is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

 

Sometimes I have to admit that I don't fully understand some of the proverbs but I never claimed to be as wise as Solomon.  The message I get from this proverb is that it is better to have meals of simple vegetables with a loving family than to sit down to steak with a family filled with bitterness and strife.

 

God has placed us in the world for a purpose and He has allowed us to be a part of our family for a purpose.  One of the greatest lessons that I have ever learned was that I can't make anyone love me.  I am not responsible to make anyone love me.  It is my responsibility to love those in my family and in my circle of friends.

 

Sadly sometimes I forget that but thankfully God usually reminds me.  The great lesson that I have learned is that the more I love other people, the more love is returned to me.

 

Some of the truest wealth we will ever experience in our lifetime is the love we give and receive in our families and among our friends.

 

Sometimes we are even allowed to sit and eat steak with the people we love.

 

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.

TRUE WEALTH 1

Proverbs 3:13-14 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
(14) For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

 

My wife and I were discussing the fact that we were almost debt free this week.  I made the remark that when we become debt free we will be better off than a big proportion of the people in our country.  We might not live in a great mansion but we love our home and are thankful to God for it.  Our newest vehicle is 8 years old but it runs good and gets us where we want to go.

Unlike many people with large houses and new vehicles, if we had to settle up at the end of the day we would still have all of our stuff left.

 

One of the things that makes us truly rich is knowing that none of it belongs to us completely but the Lord has provided it for us to use.

 

It is sad that so many people think that they can find happiness with a credit card or peace with a charge account.  The understanding that all the material things in this world are temporary and that our true riches are laid up for us in Heaven can cause us to be happy and content with what God has blessed us with.

 

FREE .PDF E-BOOK
We have compiled an E-book of our devotionals in .pdf format. We will send them to you attached to an email.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com \
We welcome questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.