John the Baptist

Yesterday we learned about Jesus Christ in Luke 1:57-80, and today we will learn about John the Baptist.  Zechariah after months of not being able to speak, had his mouth opened and what came out of it was powerful and truthful.  Here is what he said about his own son, John the Baptist.  John was a prophet of the Most High God called to prepare the way of the Lord.  John would give people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.  He would tell of the tender mercies of God and show them the way of the Lord.  John would help people see in the darkness and guide the feet of those near death.  John was a child full of the Spirit of God.  Your promises today are:  Num 6:26, Isaiah 9:6-7, Matt 5:9, Luke 2:14, John 14:27, Rom 8:6, Eph 2:14 and Phil 4:7.  Your Insightful Sayings are:  Seek God always leads to His blessing second.  Never follow the crowd it rarely knows where it is going and how to get there.

Psalm 87 - Psalms of Steel by Robert Dean Steel

Psalm 87 - Psalms of Steel

Lord, why does the heart of the wicked fail to receive your message?

The wicked hear the message, they listen with their ears.

Yet they fail to put into practice the word of truth. 

The religious express devotion with their lips,

Yet their hearts lust after greed and money.

The wicked have hard hearts and are hard ground.

The message does not penetrate so they remain untouched.

The wise allow the message to change them.

To conform them to the image of God.

The fool fails to see the real from the fraud.

The fool has a shallow heart, they receive the message gladly,

But they do not understand what has been presented to them.

The wise knows that every gift given by the Father,

Is good, perfect and complete for full salvation.

It completes the righteous in all things.

The wicked and foolish fail to grasp truth.

That which is obvious eludes them.

The wise know that even simple truth liberates and frees.

They allow truth to penetrate their hearts.

To be truly liberated and set free.

The wicked and the fool are like the man,

Who looks at themselves in a mirror.

Then they walk away and forget what they look like.

So is their ability to grasp the truth.

They are hearers with a short memory.

Be wise and hear the truth.

Understand God's message of forgiveness and salvation.

See His goodness, mercy, love and grace.

Except this truth, be wise and live.

May the Lord be praised forever.

Who Jesus is!

In Luke 1:57-80, we will look at who Jesus is.  In this event John was being named and his father Zechariah who had been mute since his encounter with the angel, has his mouth opened because he agrees with Elizabeth that the child's name is John.  Zechariah tells the audience there all about Jesus Christ.  Jesus has come to redeem His people and He has raised His horn of salvation.  He was fore told by the prophets of old.  He is going to bring salvation even to His enemies.  He remembers their fathers and His covenant.  Jesus came to rescue people from the hands of the enemy and that people can serve the Lord without fear in holiness and righteousness.  Jesus is the greatest person to ever grace this planet.  He is God with a face  and the perfect mixture of the human and the divine, 100% God and man.  Jesus was the perfect unon of the natural and the supernatural.  Your promises today are:  John 3:16, 2 Cor 5:17, 1 John 4:7-8 and Rev 12:11.  Your Insightful Sayings are:  Forgiving another always releases a soul from bondage.  A generous person will never lack resources or friends.

Insightful Thoughts or Proverbs of Steel by Robert Dean Steel

Insightful Thoughts or the Proverbs of Steel

121. The school of hard knocks is created when we choose to leave the school of wisdom.
122. Remember when you are facing adversity, your attitude at the beginning helps determine the outcome at the end.
123. Waiting is providential discipline for those that have been given a great task.
124. Courage is not measured in the size of the bicep or chest size. It is measured on our willingness to stand up for others and do what is right.
125. Worry takes you away from the joy of life. So stop worrying and enjoy life.
126. Believe for the best in people but never be surprised by the worst. It comes with the territory.
127. A great attitude will keep you when all the circumstances are against you.
128. The greatest fool in life is the one that refuses to take responsibility for their own actions.
129. Age is a funny thing. When you are old enough to understand life. Much of it has already passed you by.
130. It has been said that wisdom is crowned with gray hair. So why are so many people using hair dye?

Psalm 86 - Psalms of Steel by Robert Dean Steel

Psalm 86 - Psalms of Steel

I sat and pondered and meditated on the love of God.

I asked the question, "What was it that held Christ to the cross?"

What was the thing that kept Jesus there when He did not have to stay?

Then in a moment, in a flash of time, it came.

The Holy Spirit spoke and I was enlightened.

Jesus was not friendless as He hung on the cross.

All of heaven was ready to be dispatched.

Millions of angels were ready to do the Father's will.

In a moment to come and release the Son of God.

It was not because of human weakness,

Jesus was the perfect union of man and God.

He was God with a face.  God in flesh.

The perfect sacrifice for sin.

The Holy Spirit spoke.  It was our sins that kept Him there.

He knew we could not save ourselves.

Our righteousness is as filthy rags and dismal clothes.

 We need a redeemer and Savior for our forgiveness.

The love He had for mankind kept Him there.

For God so loved us that He gave His only Son.

While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

His love for each of us kept Him on the cross.

In the garden Jesus resigned Himself to the cross.

It was the will of the Father to afflict Him for the good of all.

Man needed a Savior and redeemer.

The broken body and shed blood of the Son secured our salvation.

The last cord that held our Savior to the cross,

Was obedience and loyalty to an eternal purpose.

The eternal man was needed to be the eternal sacrifice,

To deal once and for all with eternal death.

The cross is the vehicle and avenue to salvation.

The Son is the way, truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Him.

The cross was God's answer to sin, death, hell and the grave.

Praise the Lord for salvation from sin.

Oh gives thanks to the Lord for the Savior's love.

Declare the goodness of God and the Son's loyalty to the Father's will.

the Lord is good, He was obedient to the Father's will.  Amen,

Mary's Song of Praise

In Luke 1:26-56, this portion is known as the Magnificat.  It is Mary's Song of Praise.  The Holy Spirit comes upon Mary and here she reveals some of the characteristics of God and Jesus Christ.  God is mindful of man and Holy is the Lord's name.  His mercy extends to those who fear Him from generation to generation.  He has performed mighty deeds with His holy arm.  He will scatter the proud in their innermost thoughts.  He brings down rulers from their thrones and He lifts up the humble.  He fills the hungry with good things and will send the rich away empty.  He remembers Israel and is merciful.  Your promises today are:  Psalm 42:5, Rom 4:18, 8:23-25, 15:3, 1 Cor 13:13, Eph 2:12 and Col 1:27.  Your Insightful Sayings are:  Forgiveness is free.  Trust must be earned.  Love so well that you will never lack friends.

Seek God

Matt 6:22 is one of the greatest portions of scripture in the New Testament.  Jesus calls people to Himself and tells how a person can succeed in life.  Jesus says that seeking the Kingdom of God is the first key to becoming the person God wants us to be.  The writer of Hebrew says that God will never turn aside a sincere seeker of God.  In fact He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.  Jesus then says when we seek the Kingdom of God, all things will be added unto us.  Paul reminds us in Rom 14:17 that the Kingdom of God has three components to it.  There is righteousness which is having a right standing with God.  You want right thinking, words and actions.  Next there is peace.  Peace of course is that absence of personal conflict with God and yourself.  Then lastly, joy, which is deep deated contentment.  You know God has everything under control no matter what you face.  When you put Jesus first everything is added to you.  Whatever you need the Lord will give it to you.  Being a Christian is so wonderful.  You have the Lord in your corner and on your side.  Divine aid and intervention are yours and it is only a prayer away.  Today walk in this knowledge and victory.  Your promises today are, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 23:4, 34:10, 46:1, 71:1, John 8:36, Rom 8:32, 2 Cor 3:17, Phil 4:7 and 4:19.  Your Insightful Sayings are:  Live so well that even the town gossip would vouch for you.  Alcohol is an interesting substance.  It can heal a hurt when applied externally or it can destroy when applied internally.  It just depends on the application.