From the Heart by B.Demaere

  So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit.  Don't just pretend to be good!  Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing.  You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of salvation.  Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness. Malicious behavior is an action to want to do harm to someone, so relax if it is at the level of your thoughts and desires deal with it and repent, because it could become an action.  We must not just pretend to be good.  We must be done with hypocrisy and jealousy.  Those are heavy words, Peter.  Hypocrisy, this is not just good for Sunday people, but all those who try to look good the rest of the week and swear in their car at other drivers while driving.  No, but this is certainly for church people too.  Take it seriously folks! This is the Word of God.  So much anger behind closed doors, Chris...

Promises to Keep Devotional by B.Demaere: Stay Focused! (1 Peter 1:14-16) :   So think clearly and exercise self-control.  Look forward to the   special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ. ...

  So think clearly and exercise self-control.  Look forward to the   special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ.    Obey God because you are his children.  Don't slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn't know any better then.  But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God---who chose you to be his children---is holy.  For he himself has said, You must be holy because I am holy." Simple as that, obey God! Why? Because you are his children.  What will give you the tenacity to never give up?  You are his son, you are his daughter.  You have a good example to follow.  Our Father!  He is holy. We are associated to that example in our daily lives.  People we meet hopefully see that example reflected in us.  It is in everything we do. Now, what keeps us motivated to do all that is the looking forward of what is coming ahead.  The return of our Lord Jesus Chr...

This salvation was something the prophets wanted to know more about.  They prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you, even though they had many questions as to what it all could mean.  They wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward.  They wondered when and to whom all this would happen.  They were told that these things would not happen during their lifetime, but many years later, during yours.  And now this Good News has been announced by those who preached to you in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.  It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.   How exciting it is to see that this Apostle of Hope, Peter is the one who was used to launch the Church into Pentecost and now through his writings is the one to usher us into this salvation that is still to come.  The salvation ...

Promises to Keep Devotional by B.Demaere: Trials Ahead (1 Peter 1:7-9) :   These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure.  It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold---and yo...

  These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure.  It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold---and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.  So if your faith remains strong after  being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.    You love him even though you have never seen him.  Though you do not see him, you trust him; now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy.  Your reward for trusting him will be the salvation of you souls. Trials Ahead : Now this sign comes up on the road, what do you do? Panic? Lose control of the vehicle? No, you look at it and decide who should be driving! Well Jesus, your turn to take the wheels.  You look at it with the right perspective.  He is bigger than any of those trials coming up.  You can no longer view trials through the eyes of fear, but the ...

Promises to Keep Devotional by B.Demaere: Road Signs Ahead (1 Peter 1:3-6) : All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his  boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being bor...

All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his  boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again.  Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead.  For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children.  It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.  And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him.  It will be revealed on the last day for all to see.  So be truly glad!  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trial for a while.  As I see Peter's epistle right now, I imagine myself as being on a road with this sign saying 'Wonderful Joy Ahead'.  This is basically what Peter I think and the Holy Spirit wants us to focus on.  Sometimes I see myself and others have gloomy faces as they carry their...

Promises to Keep Devotional by B.Demaere: Lord, help! (Psalm 107:4-28) :   Some wandered in the desert, lost and homeless.  Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died, "Lord, help!" they cried in their trouble...

Promises to Keep Devotional by B.Demaere: Lord, help! (Psalm 107:4-28) :   Some wandered in the desert, lost and homeless.  Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died, "Lord, help!" they cried in their trouble...

  Some wandered in the desert, lost and homeless.  Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died, "Lord, help!" they cried in their trouble and he rescued them from their distress.... Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, miserable prisoners in chains.  They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High.  That is why he broke them with hard labor; they fell, and no one helped them rise again. "Lord, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. Some were fools in their rebellion; they suffered for their sins.  Their appetites were gone, and death was near. "Lord, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.  He spoke, and they were healed---snatched from the door of death. Some went off in ships, plying the trade routes of the world.  They, too, observed the Lord's power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas.  He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the ...