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THE WORD FOR TODAY
BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Exodus 16-18 Exodus 16:2 2 Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. Complaining doesn’t become believers. Little Johnny was in the back seat of the car as his dad drove the family home from church. He heard mom ask, “Did you see what Bessie wore in that choir? It was just awful.” His dad answered, “Yeah I know it looked worse than that awful suit the preacher wore. His suit looked better than his sermon.” On and on they complained. Johnny piped up, “Well it wasn’t a bad show for a nickel.” One of Moses’ greatest challenges was COMPLAINING PEOPLE. It didn’t take long for the people to begin their complaining. The journey was just beginning but it was wearing thin on the people. They were hungry. Their first response was not to trust…but to COMPLAIN. I once heard of a man who would complain about nothing. His food in a restaurant would be awful…he wouldn’t complain. He would be waiting in long lines…he wouldn’t complain. He could be in the worse traffic jam…no complaining. I ain’t that man!!! Did you know that somebody always hears our complaining? I am saddened that part of my testimony is that I have left a trail of complaining. It doesn’t become me as a man…a Christian…as a husband and father…or as a believer. Did you know that complaining is a choice? We can choose not to complain. We can choose to intentionally see the positive in even the worse situation. Believe me it can always get worse! Did you know that complaining doesn’t glorify God? It doesn’t. It glorifies the complainer. It points to my selfishness and self-centeredness. It doesn’t honor God. It doesn’t honor others. It only paints the complainer in a terrible light. Complaining doesn’t become believers. Father, set a guard over my mouth…my thoughts…over my feelings…may the words from my mouth and my life bring honor and glory to YOU…no matter the circumstances…In Jesus Name…AMEN!!! BLESSINGS BROTHER WILLIAM
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THE WORD FOR TODAY
BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Exodus 13-15 Exodus 13:21-22 21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. God’s people need His guidance everyday of their life. I am really glad for these new fangled things called a GPS. I have an app for my phone that finds the address and then gives me voice and visual guidance to my destination. It is awesome. God knew something about GPS long before TomTom was invented. He guided HIS people with pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. Those two incredible sights lived with the people of God every step of their journey. We can’t go wrong when we seek the guidance of God in our life. The Psalmist said, “The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord.” Psalm 37:23 God knows the direction we need to follow in life. He knows the direction we are going and He knows the direction He wants us to follow. He is really good at changing our route to get up back on course in our walk with HIM. Trust HIS guidance…it will never lead you astray! Follow HIS guidance…there will never be any regret! Seek HIS guidance…you will never be disappointed! God’s people need HIS guidance everyday of their life. Lord, You are my guide…I need YOU every second of everyday of my life…In Jesus Name...AMEN!!! BLESSINGS BROTHER WILLIAM THE WORD FOR TODAY
BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Exodus 10-12 Exodus 10:2 2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.” Do you remember the stories your grandparents and parent used to tell you? You may remember many of their stories about the good old days. You might even recall those great stories of faith. Oh how important it is to pass on that great stories of faith and trust and confidence in God. One of the great lessons in all the plagues that affected Egypt is the might work of God. God told the people, “That you tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son that mighty things I have done in Egypt...” Israel would do that for generations to come. They would verbally pass on manyxf of the great stories of God’s deliverance and redemption for them. What are we telling our children and our children’s children about the mighty things HE has done in our life? What kind of faith are we modeling for them? Is our worship of God exciting and meaningful? Is our worship of HIM genuine and consistent? Does our talk match our walk and do both HONOR God? Let’s pass on a life of faith, trust and confidence in a great God to those we love…let’s do it NOW! Lord, You do so much for us and may we never be found silent about the great things YOU are doing…In Jesus Name...AMEN!!! BLESSINGS BROTHER WILLIAM THE WORD FOR TODAY
BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Exodus 7-9 Exodus 9:35 35 So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the LORD had spoken by Moses. Beware of a hardened heart. Much is written about the threat to our well being because of “hardening of the arteries”. When the arteries of our heart harden the blood cannot flow through the body as designed by our Creator. We meet people who are afflicted with a “spiritual hardened heart”. No matter the evidence. No matter the testimony. No matter the authority they will not believe in nor will they trust God. Our scripture records the continuing hardening of Pharaoh’s heart toward God and God’s people. His people had already endured more hardship than was necessary but HE still refused to let the people leave the land. We must beware of the hindrance caused by hardened hearts. A hardened heart brings about a serious hindrance to the work of God in a person’s life. We must beware of the hazard created by a hardened heart. The most serious hazard is a life spent in complete disobedience to God. The hazard is lost joy. The hazard is lost peace. The hazard is wasted opportunities. The hazard is an eternity separated from God because of a hardened heart. We must beware of the hurt brought about by a hardened heart. Pharaoh lost sight of the pain caused by his hardened heart. His people suffered. His land suffered. Yet he didn’t seem to care. Beware of a hardened heart! Lord, protect my heart from any and all hardness…help me to always listen and obey YOUR Word and YOUR Way for my life…In Jesus Name…AMEN!!! BLESSINGS BROTHER WILLIAM THE WORD FOR TODAY
BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Exodus 4-6 Exodus 5:2 2 And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.” The world asks, “Who is the LORD?” Have you heard the latest allegations against a VA cemetery? Allegedly the Houston VA is censuring religious speech during a funeral. People can’t use God or Jesus or even say, “God bless you.” Rejecting God is as old as Biblical days. Pharaoh’s first answer to Moses request to let God’s people go was, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go?” When you read further he would discover exactly who the LORD is. We should not be surprised at the hostility toward God. It should not be news that those in power will do what they can to silence Believers. How should we respond to hostility toward the LORD? First…we must be Christ focused in every encounter with hostility. Hostility begats hostility. Don’t forget that Jesus said, “Love your enemies….” Second…we must be faithful to our LORD. HIS call upon my life is higher and greater than any requirement the government may place upon me. No government restriction should even dim our faithfulness to HIM!!! Third…we must be courageously informed. Every person affect by the Houston VA must know their rights and then have the Godly courage to stand up for HIM…now matter the cost!!! Lord, give us courage and strength to stand up for Jesus no matter the opposition…give us wisdom and discernment to always do what is right…In Jesus Name...AMEN!!! BLESSINGS BROTHER WILLIAM THE WORD FOR TODAY
October 15, 2007 BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Exodus 1-3 Exodus 3:7-8 “And the Lord said, ‘I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.’” Does God care about our suffering? That question is in the heart of every person who has endured a time of prolonged agonizing pain. Losing a loved one early in life is beyond our comprehension. Watching a vibrant outgoing man fall to the ravages of Alzheimer’s is an agonizing experience. Hearing of the hunger of untold millions brings pain to our heart. Does God care about our suffering? Read Exodus 3:7-8 very carefully and I must say very gratefully. And the Lord said, ‘I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.” Notice the four verbs that show God cares about the sufferings of His people. “I have surely seen.”, “and have heard”, “So I have come to deliver them” and “and to bring them up”. Seen, heard, deliver and bring up…all of this shows me that God cares about the suffering of His people. It has been on the other side of suffering that in looking back I see God’s hand guiding and helping me. I remember teaching my children to ride a bike. I put my hands on the seat and would run behind them until I felt comfortable that they wouldn’t fall. And then when they would fall I would run to them and help them up. After that fall they would often look back to make sure my hand was there…until they got comfortable. We must never get too comfortable with the world around us. Let’s always look for HIS guiding hand. God cares about our suffering. Peter told us, “Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you.” Father, see our pain, hear our cry, deliver us and plant us on solid ground. Guide us by your powerful hands…In Jesus Name…AMEN!!! Blessings Bro. William THE WORD FOR TODAY
BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Genesis 46-50 Genesis 47:15 15 So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.” “In God We Trust” That statement is an incredible source of comfort and strength to many. To other’s it is offensive because it bears the name, “God”. If we learn anything from this text we learn that we must trust God in these growing days of uncertainty. At this writing unemployment is reaching double digits. The stock market is up and down driving investors crazy with a mixture of hope and a fear of failure. There was a time in the land of Egypt when their money failed. The Egyptians came to Joseph asking for “bread”. Doesn’t that tell us what’s important? It’s not the amount of money or stocks or wealth…but it is the sustenance that comes from God. We shouldn’t be having a debate about “In God We Trust” but rather in these days of a devaluing dollar and an economy that is struggling our trust in God’s provision should be greater than ever before. Who knows one day we may be yearning for the “manna” from heaven to sustain us just for that day. Only God can provide that “manna”. Money is failing…but God never fails…so…”In God We Trust”. Perhaps the words of Jesus Himself, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” So…”IN GOD WE TRUST”! Lord, we trust YOU Lord…In Jesus Name...AMEN!!! BLESSINGS BROTHER WILLIAM THE WORD FOR TODAY
BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Genesis 43-45 Genesis 45:3 3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. I watched a reality show the other day…and like ALL reality shows it had the big reveal at the end. Viewers sit on the edge of their seat anticipating the big move…and then it is revealed. Joseph’s brothers had no idea they were in a reality show…”Brother’s sold into slavery reunited.” Unaware of Joseph’s identity and perhaps even have forgotten their sin of selling him into slavery they come face to face with their brother and with their sin. Do you feel the emotion as scripture records, “I am Joseph; does my father still live? But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.” No a fun moment…their jealousy…their sin…met them face to face. Fear and dismay froze them in place for they had NO answer. There is a simple truth that runs through this passage. It’s not good to treat your brother badly. And yet so often we hurt each other with words and actions that do not honor God and certainly doesn’t show love for the very people we say we love. It is no accident that the Bible consistently teaches us to honor each other. We shouldn’t do anything to someone that would cause us “hurt” when that reunion moment happens…and happen it will. When we “DO” right by each other we will not have that day of dismay! Lord, may we do right by each other and honor YOU in all our relationships…guide us by Your power…In Jesus Name...AMEN!!! BLESSINGS BROTHER WILLIAM THE WORD FOR TODAY
BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Genesis 40-42 Genesis 41:52 52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” James 1:2 says, “Count all joy when you fall into various trials…” Count it all joy when troubles befall you…really? One translation renders it this way, “Consider it pure joy when you fall into various trials.” I am not sure about you but one of the last things on my “to do” list is to praise God when affliction strikes and yet it is through affliction that I discover God’s wonderful grace and amazing power to provide for us. Joseph’s life had been hard…no doubt about it. In fact according to the self help guru’s of today Joseph should have been nothing but dysfunctional with all the hurt brought into his life. Sold into slavery, separated from his father, falsely accused and thrown into prison, forgotten by someone you help…these are the afflictions of Joseph. Yet through it all and by it all Joseph’s character and integrity remained intact. After rising to power in Egypt he was given a wife and she bore him two sons…one was named Ephraim, “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” The meaning Ephraim’s name reflected the blessings of God through his troubles. Joseph saw God at work in the afflictions that befell him. Through every hurt, disappointment and problem he never wavered in his commitment to God. When the normal man would have folded in a corner and cried Joseph kept his faith in God. And God responded with a level of blessing that is hard to fathom. Can you and I be found faithful in our affliction? Will we be found fruitful in a time of trouble? Will we keep our faith strong when the winds of adversity whip through our life? Lord, may we be found faithful through every circumstance and every challenge…In Jesus Name...AMEN!!! BLESSINGS BROTHER WILLIAM THE WORD FOR TODAY
BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Genesis 37-39 Genesis 37:4 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him. Jealousy is a bitter pill that stains the waters of families. Far too often families struggle under the burden of jealousy…sibling jealousy…jealousy between mom and dad…jealousy with cousins and so much more. No family is immune to the bitterness caused by jealousy. Joseph was loved by his father. In fact the Bible records that he was loved more than any of his brothers and they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him. By the way, this jealousy was a precursor to a terrible act of violence against Joseph. How do we drive jealousy away? That is the 64 dollar question. Allow me to share some specific ways we can battle against jealousy in our families… First, let’s honor each other in love. The Bible declares, “Love covers a multitude of sins.” Pure, selfless love has a way of driving away those negative emotions that can plague families and friends. Secondly, we can battle jealousy by rejoicing in the success of those we love. Wouldn’t it have been a different story had Joseph’s brothers had a party to celebrate Jacob’s love for Joseph? When we genuinely rejoice over the success of a brother or sister we reap the joys of family love. Finally, we drive jealousy away when we protect those we love from our negative emotions. I remember fighting with my brother once because I felt he was getting something from my mom that I deserved. I didn’t protect him from my anger…I didn’t protect him from my rage…I injured and bruised his spirit with the effects of my jealousy. Let’s guard against jealousy in our homes and relationships and allow God’s Spirit to help us LOVE each other with a great love. Lord, protect the homes of every person reading this devotion with Your power and Your peace. May they rejoice in the joys and success of those they love and protect them from the bite of jealousy and its effect…In Jesus Name...AMEN!!! BLESSINGS BROTHER WILLIAM |
AuthorPastor William Milam takes you through the Word of God with this Daily devotional Archives
April 2018
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