A Devotional Study of the Living Word of God

Take Note #60

Psalm 119:40 Sometimes the soul hungers and thirsts for God and we find our voice crying out. The longing of the soul to rest in the precepts of God is much like a homesick teen who has wandered from the warmth and tender care of parents.

Good Morning

Many of us struggle with jobs that pay to little, families that require to much and the stress of making both ends meet when the rope that binds these things together seems to be to short. There are other factors that interfere with making those ends meet. Financial and Family management are the root cause of all marriage problems and sin develops when the arguments over these develop into a loss of faith between the husband and wife. This loss of faith leads to a critical absence of communication, a lapse in sexual desire and then a breakdown in common interests. Secular marriage counseling could care less to patch up a broken family, or the bond of marriage. Secular counseling is only interested in the profit and loss statement of the business of counsel. This is only added conflict to an already strained budget and at the very best, secular counsel is only a temporary fix to a deep rooted problem. In the past I have had opportunity to counsel men who struggle with the loss of family. Most were inmates in the prisons of Connecticut, in nearly every case, budgeting and management of the family caused these men to react in foolish measures, causing their incarceration. (Proverbs 2:1-22)

Acts 12

Acts 12:10-12 Becoming aware that God is moving you to advance His kingdom can be a slow burn, but when we come to our senses, it does not take long to get moving. Like Peter we know that God has provided angelic safety and a path of deliverance. At this very moment of awareness, our faith becomes a shield of defense and nothing can alter our course. The chains of fear fall away, doors that were once closed are now open and swiftly we are moved to the freedom to glorify our LORD.

Acts 12:13-16 The Activity of God the Holy Spirit in the quest of people for God to take action is always an awesome experience. I personally would like to think that Rhoda closed the door and and confusion developed in the home of Mary, John Marks mother was due, not to a lack of faith. But a failure to execute biblically to the immediate response to their prayer. Biblical faith has two parts, 'trust' which is active participation and 'rest' which is passive anticipation. Both of these attributes of faith failed as the emotion of the moment took over.

Acts 12:17-19 This was no small or unnoticed event. The guards were put to death, Herod was furious and the military might that maintained the so called security in the city had failed. No one, no power and no dynasty can stand and survive against the plan of God to glorify His name among the nations and if a nation has a soul, then deep down the nation is aware of the awesome power of God, yet the battle still rages and the devil still tries to gain a victory. Thanks to God, the victory is already won. God created a hill just outside Jerusalem, created a tree, a thorny bush and cattle. From these creations man made a site for execution, a cross and a thorny crown. God gave up His Son, but He did this to gain the final victory over sin, Satan and death. Jesus lives, praise God, JESUS LIVES!

Now if you do not have your bible with you, the following is a link you can go to and find the verses of scripture I have referenced herein. Bible Gateway at: www.biblegateway.com/