TheologyWeb News - The Altar

  • The Altar RSS Feed

    Glory Seed Devotional 05/17/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on May 17th 2013 08:38 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Jesus, Gyroscopes, and You

    D.L. Moody in his book “Thoughts for the Quiet Hour” writes, “We need have only one care, that we put the first thing first—faithfulness to God. Then all else we need for both worlds will be supplied. God will never fail us: but we forget, sometimes, in our rejoicing over such an assurance, that we must fulfill our part if we would claim the divine promise. It will not always be easy. To-morrow it may mean a distasteful task, a disagreeable duty, a costly sacrifice for one who does not seem worthy. Life is full of sore testings of our willingness to follow the Good Shepherd. We have not the slightest right to claim this assurance unless we have taken Christ ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 05/16/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on May 16th 2013 08:27 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Jesus wants to be the only life between God and you!

    When the going gets tough the tough instead of depending on their own abilities surrender their toughness to an unbeatable God who according to Jeremiah (chapter 29) promises us an unbeatable plan for their lives, and according to the writer of Hebrews “God can’t break his word.”

    “When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's an unbreakable spiritual ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 05/15/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on May 15th 2013 08:29 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Living the Christian Life

    There are times when living the Christian Life doesn’t make any sense to me. Yesterday I quoted, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV) Yet this morning I find myself embattled by the struggles of living a Christian Life in a Me-Me world.

    One of my favorite verses I fall back on in order to make sense of living in this Me-Me world is, “I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 05/14/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on May 14th 2013 08:14 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    The Rat Race, God, you, and the rats

    The rats are still winning the Rat Race!

    Several times I’ve considered dropping out and there have been brief periods of time when I have gone on vacation but the gravitational pull of the race always snags me and brings me back. I really thought once I retired I could graciously resign but no I was mistaken and as the rats continued to race past me I could hear them snickering. One time I did have a chance to talk to one and I asked him what the Rat Race was all about in response to my question he said to me, “Oh, you think we’re in it to win but that’s not our goal, our goal is to beat you into submission. See later loser,” and ...
    Read More Read More

    Glory Seed Devotional 05/13/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on May 13th 2013 08:10 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    The Gift of Today

    In the scheme of world history today is just a speck; in fact you might even say it is as small as an atom. Yet as small as it is, today is by far the most powerful day there has ever been!

    Our minds reflect on our yesterday’s – our bodies experience our today’s – our spirits reach out to experience our tomorrow’s!

    Today is the junction where yesterday and tomorrow meet – where yesterday ends and tomorrow begins. Yesterday is my gift to today – tomorrow is God's gift to today!

    God created us with eyes in the front of our head so we can see what lies ahead of us. As important as what God has done for us yesterday what ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 05/10/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on May 10th 2013 08:48 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Pray, pray, pray, and pray on

    D.L. Moody in his book Prevailing Prayer writes, “Those who have left the deepest impression on this sin cursed earth have been men and women of prayer. You will find that Prayer has been the mighty power that has moved not only God, but man.”

    Most of us have a foundational concept of prayer. And ALL of us prayer not just once a day but many times in a day, we even pray without thinking about praying. One of my favorite hymns is Sweet Hour of Prayer written by William W. Walford somewhere around 1845 and whenever we sing it in church or I hear it, or even attempt to sing it when I am by myself brings “relief” to my troubled life. ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 05/09/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on May 9th 2013 07:49 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Reflections and anticipation of Divine Love

    It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off. If the old message delivered by the angels was valid and nobody got away with anything, do you think we can risk neglecting this latest message, this magnificent salvation? First of all, it was delivered in person by the Master, then accurately passed on to us by those who heard it from him. All the while God was validating it with gifts through the Holy Spirit, all sorts of signs and miracles, as he saw fit. (Hebrews 2:1-4 MSG)

    The message of today’s scripture reading is LOUD and CLEAR…

    GOD LOVES YOU!
    JESUS LOVES ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 05/08/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on May 8th 2013 08:55 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and tuning your SRD

    “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power…” (Hebrews 1:1-3 ESV)

    “…but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…” I realize that “has spoken” is past tense and with all due respect to the writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews I cannot believe in a God or in a Jesus who has spoken! Instead I choose ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 05/07/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on May 7th 2013 07:12 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    You are God’s Greatest Creation – You are Loved Ultimately!

    “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalms 8:3–8:9 ESV) ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 05/06/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on May 6th 2013 07:47 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Hope begets Hope…

    There are times when it seems as if all we have is hope. Hope that our upside down situation will right itself. Hope that the rays of sunshine will awaken us from our financial nightmare. Hope that the day will come when our aches and pains will be an un-fond memory. Hope that our broken relationship will somehow find the superglue to mend it. Hope that when the health and wellbeing of our loved ones begins to fail we will have the wisdom and the strength to not only care for them but care for ourselves as well. Hope that day will come when we will once again be able to love ourselves. Hope the day will come when we will be able to smile and laugh again. Hope that ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 05/03/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on May 3rd 2013 08:10 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    “But what you think you are.”

    David Jeremiah of Turning Point Ministries writes, “You are not who you think you are – but what you think you are.” Ever since I heard that phrase on his Sunday morning television program it continues to play itself out in my mind reminding me two specific scriptures that continues to play themselves out not just in my mind but in my faith way with Jesus. I know you will be familiar with them as well.

    “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 ESV)

    “If then you have been ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 05/02/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on May 2nd 2013 08:06 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Spiritual Connectedness

    The following scripture is one often used in funerals and expresses the fact the one who has passed away while no longer with us physically remains with us spiritually. However, its implications should not be limited only to those who have passed away and those who remain.

    For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. (Colossians 2:5 ESV)

    It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit that connects us as Paul teaches, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 05/01/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on May 1st 2013 08:31 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Let… Let… Let…

    As important as our dependency on the scriptures are for our spiritual wellbeing our dependency on our relationship with Jesus is more important. “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (John 5:39-40 ESV)

    I believe the same can be said of our search for peace.We search the Scriptures for peace but as important as the peace is we discover in the scriptures the peace of Jesus described in John 14:27 is unparalleled in importance, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 04/30/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on April 30th 2013 07:54 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Got a Mission Statement?

    Whether we believe it or not everyone has a Mission Statement. For example a Mission Statement may go something like this: I want to accumulate all the money I can and it doesn’t matter how I go about getting it. Or it can be similar to mine I will do all I can to make Jesus as real as he is to me to as many people as I can. I believe Mission Statements are the ultimate hopes and dreams of what we want to accomplish with our lives. Simply stated they say, “This is what I hope to do with my life.” While Mission Statements are personal to individuals and groups of individuals if and when acted on they will make a difference in the lives of others.
    ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 04/29/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on April 29th 2013 07:53 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Time for a reminder…

    There are times in our lives when God’s plan and Life’s plan take us in different directions.

    There is Life’s plan…

    Does it seem as if your life is one storm after another? Has your best laid plans for your life gone the way of yesterday? Does tomorrow and the relief and freedom it will bring seem like a million days away? When you look into a mirror do you wonder whatever happened to the real you? Have the 4D brothers (Disillusionment, Discouragement, Depression, and Disconnectedness) been more intimate with you than ever before?

    And there is God’s plan…

    “‘For I know the plans I have for you’ — this ...
    Read More Read More

    Glory Seed Devotional 04/26/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on April 26th 2013 06:55 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Hymns that come to life…

    Hymn: Blessed Assurance
    Words written by: Fanny J. Crosby

    Verse One…

    Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
    O what a foretaste of glory divine!
    Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
    Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

    In a world that is overflowing with uncertainty the only things that are absolutes are things that can be attributed to God. The sun will absolutely come up tomorrow. Fall will turn into winter, winter will turn into spring, spring will turn into summer, and summer will turn into fall. Our solar system, our galaxy will move through space at a constant speed. God is dependable! ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 04/25/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on April 25th 2013 07:50 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    [B]The power of “old age and gray hairs”/B]

    At 66 years old with two artificial hips, Pulmonary Fibrosis, borderline Diabetic I cannot do the things I used to. As I watch the men on our softball team practice I find myself wanting to join them to chase fly balls, to get a few hits, to catch pop-ups, to throw someone out at first base but alas the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. HOWEVER, just because the flesh weakens with age does not mean the spirit weakens as well! In fact according to the Psalmist when the flesh weakens the spirit is becoming stronger and stronger.

    “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 04/24/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on April 24th 2013 08:13 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Life – PEACE - Struggles…

    The way of the Living Sanctuary of Jesus’ Life is one of PEACE – true PEACE not just the absence of conflict yet the way takes us into the presence of “…evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 NLT)

    Paul is telling us that the as we walk the way of the Living Sanctuary of Jesus’ Life there are spiritual dangers coming at us and those dangers are real filled with the potential to take us hostage and isolate us from each other and from Jesus. In The Message Translation Eugene Peterson renders Ephesians 6:13, “Be prepared. You're ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 04/23/3013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on April 23rd 2013 08:13 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    The Apostle Paul prays for US…

    One of the greatest blessings we can be is to pray for people. I will probably never know how fully my life has been affected by those who prayed for me over the 66 years of my life. Prayer is life carrying means whereby the Holy Spirit not only breathes the life of Christ into us but also the means whereby we can help breathe the breath of Christ in others as well.

    In addition to the bible being the word of God it is also a book of prayers for people of all ages including us. One such prayer is found in chapter 3 of Paul’s book to the Ephesians. Please take a few seconds to read it carefully and thoughtfully and allow the words to move ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 04/22/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on April 22nd 2013 07:35 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    The Breath of the Christ…

    “Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." Then he showed them his hands and side. The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: "Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you." Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. "Receive the Holy Spirit," he said.” (John 20:19-22 MSG)

    Their world was crushed! Their hopes and dreams lie in a stone cold tomb! They cowered behind locked doors out of fear not just of death ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 04/19/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on April 19th 2013 07:36 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    The Journey of Light…

    The journey I am about to take you on is not a scientific one nor is it a theological journey it is simply a walk through the world of Light as I see it. The Journey of Light is one of the strangest, mysterious journeys you will ever witness. Light is of God, it is powerful, it is fragile, it is deadly, it can be stopped, it’s direction can be changed, it is important, and it is illuminating. The journey of Light is something you cannot see because Light is invisible. Light travels from its source illuminating all that it touches but you never see the Light itself. The journey of Light in another mysterious way is similar to the journey of the Holy Spirit ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 04/18/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on April 18th 2013 08:18 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Put Jesus first and you’ll come in first…

    “Beside the pool was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw the man and realized that he had been crippled for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to be healed?" The man answered, "Lord, I don't have anyone to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up. I try to get in, but someone else always gets there first." Jesus told him, "Pick up your mat and walk!" Right then the man was healed. He picked up his mat and started walking around. The day on which this happened was a Sabbath.” (John 5:5-9 CEV)

    Those who live their lives in the Living Sanctuary of Jesus’ Life ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 04/17/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on April 17th 2013 10:01 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Heavy burdens and light Yokes…

    “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 CEV)

    This morning I am wondering if this scripture is a “once-and-for-all-time” scripture or if it is a daily or even an hourly scripture. Let me go on record as saying Matthew 11:28-30 is the essence of living in the Living Sanctuary of Jesus’ Life. It is Jesus’ invitation to come and live with him and along with his invitation comes the promise of the Spiritual Yoke ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 04/16/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on April 16th 2013 08:40 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Open-Open-Read-Prayer-Heed…

    “I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God. My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God's people. I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven.” (Ephesians 1:17-20 CEV)

    There are times when reading ...
    Read More Read More

    NSM Evotional 04/15/2013 

    by
    GPiper
    Published on April 15th 2013 08:05 AM
    Article Preview



    A Glory Seed Devotional
    Jesus is the first, the last, and everything in between…

    You’ve read this from me before and you’ll read it again and again – THE most important relationship in your life is your relationship with Jesus. Your life with Jesus brings peace in the storms, light in the darkness, wholeness in your brokenness, hope in your hopelessness, life in your death.

    “Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God's own adopted children. God was very kind to us because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God. Christ sacrificed his ...
    Read More Read More
    Page 1 of 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7