From the Heart by B.Demaere

  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

Promises to Keep Devotional by B.Demaere: Keeping a Clean Conscience (1 Peter 3:18-22) :   Christ also suffered when he died for our sins once for all time.  He never sinned, but he died for sinners that he might bring us safely ...

  Christ also suffered when he died for our sins once for all time.  He never sinned, but he died for sinners that he might bring us safely home to God.  He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.  So he went and preached to the spirits in prison---those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat.  Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.  And this is a picture of baptism which now saves you by the power of Jesus Christ's resurrection.  Baptism is not the removal of dirt from your body; it is an appeal to God from a clean conscience. Now Christ has gone to heaven.  He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers are bowing before him. If you guessed that the solution to the quiz was Psalm 112, you are absolutely right.  I made it more difficult by not including the 3 first words: "Praise the Lord" which would have give it away as a p

 Happy are those who fear the Lord.  Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he command.  Their children will be successful everywhere; and entire generation of godly people will be blessed.  They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will never be forgotten.  When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in.  They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. All goes well for those who are generous, who lend freely and conduct their business fairly.  Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances.  Those who are righteous will be long remembered.  They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.  They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.  They give generously to those in need.  Their good deeds will never be forgotten.  They will have influence and honor.  The wicked will be infuriated when they see this.  They will grind their teeth in anger, they will slink away, their hopes thwarted. Let&

Promises to Keep Devotional by B.Demaere: All Authority Accepted Within Boundaries (1 Peter... :   2:13/ For the Lord's sake, accept all authority---the king as head of the state,  2:14/and the officials he has appointed.  For the ki...