From the Heart by B.Demaere

Promises to Keep Devotional by B.Demaere: King Jehoiachin: The King who would not repent (Ez... :   (Introduction to the book of Ezekiel)   This happened during the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity.  The Lord gave a message t...

  (Introduction to the book of Ezekiel)   This happened during the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity.  The Lord gave a message to me, Ezekiel son of Buzi, a priest, there beside the Kedar River in the land of the Babylonians, and I felt the hand of the Lord take hold of me. This is definitely not the book I would have chosen, but rather the book to the Romans.  But the Lord insisted and won and persuaded me to go through the book of Ezekiel with you.  The excuse I gave him was that it was too hard, but here we go, the book of Ezekiel.  He simply told me to tell you what I see. King Jeoiachin, a troubled king by what I see.  He had been placed on the throne at quite a young age.  He became rebellious and all his life would not repent.  Here we see him in the fifth year of his thirty-seven years captivity in Babylonia.  His grandfather had been King Josiah, a reputable king who knew God and even brought a religious reform. Why would King Jehoiachin  had not repented after  se

Promises to Keep Devotional by B.Demaere: Humility in Service (1Peter 5:1-7) 1Peter 5:12) :  And now, a word to you elders in the churches.  I, too, am an elder, and a witness to the sufferings of Christ.  And I, too, will share his...

 And now, a word to you elders in the churches.  I, too, am an elder, and a witness to the sufferings of Christ.  And I, too, will share his glory and his honor when he returns.  As a fellow elder, this is my appeal to you: Care for the flock of God entrusted to you.  Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly---not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.  Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by example.  And when the head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor.  You younger men, accept the authority of the elders. And all of you serve each other in humility, for                               "God sets himself against the proud                                  but he shows favor to the humble." So humble yourselves, under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you.  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you. (Now he

  So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer too.  For if you are willing to suffer for Christ , you have decided to stop sinning.  And you won't spend the rest of your life chasing after evil desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.  You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy---their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. I have really enjoyed this epistle written that the Apostle Peter wrote for us.  Even more so now,  he gives us in these preceding verses, I think the key to holy living.  The important words are underlined: no where he says that we will suffer as to scare us, but that we must be willing and ready to suffer.  Some of us suffer, but we are not willing or ready.  I mean here, insults from anyone we come in contact with.  When we are finally willing and ready it plunges

Promises to Keep Devotional by B.Demaere: Broaden your Vision: Use your gifts(1 Peter 4:10-11) :   God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts.  Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow thro...

  God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts.  Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you.  Are you called to be a speaker?  Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you.  Are you called to help others?  Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies.  Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ.  All glory and power belong to him forever and ever.  Amen. All of us and each of us have at least one gift, but I think most of us have more than one gift because God is very generous.  Using those gifts is good for our well-being as well as each other and for his glory.  Shouldn't we as well be generous in using the gifts God has given us?  I think so! Our gifts are being used all the time, whether we are in the local church or not.  The Church is no longer limited to four walls.  Now the Church is truly global.  We operate differently over the borders and online.  We live in a totally d