11-27-05 Isaiah 25:1

Isaiah 25:1 (KJ21)
O LORD, Thou art my God. I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name, for Thou hast done wonderful things; Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Isaiah 25:1 (NAS)
O LORD, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will give thanks to Thy name; For Thou hast worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

Isaiah 25:1(NIVUS)
O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.

Isaiah 25:1 (NLT)
O LORD, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.

It is good for you to exalt Jehovah, the One True God; for He is high and lofty. When you magnify Him, seeing Him as He is, then you will know that nothing is impossible for Him. Laud and praise His name.

When you raise your hands in worship to the Almighty, He sees it as a sign and monument of your faith. Your life is evidence of the Lord's reputation, fame, and glory. Call out and proclaim what He has done for you; for the Lord your God has extended and directed His compassion to you. He has transformed your life, making it full and abundant.

Adonai, the Most High God, has fashioned marvelous and wonderful things for you. Even if you do not understand it, God brings you justice and redemption. Everything that He does is beyond your power; all that He does is extraordinary and difficult for men.

It is important for you to seek the plans and purposes that God has for you. If you consult together with Him, He will give you wise counsel and advice. Even those who stand far off from the Lord know that He is faithful. Like you, they have seen His firmness and steadfastness. You know you can trust Him to support you. As you commit yourself to Him, He will establish your life, making it sure and lasting. He is true and reliable, so stand firm in your belief. He will not fail you.

11-26-05 Isaiah 35:3 4

Isaiah 35:3, 4 (KJ21)
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; He will come and save you.

Isaiah 35:3, 4 (NAS)
Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, "Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you."

Isaiah 35:3, 4 (NIVUS)
Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."

Isaiah 35:3, 4 (NLT)
With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those who are afraid, "Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you."

We all have times when we need strength and encouragement, but often during those times the help we look for should come from an outside source.

If you see someone who needs courage, you should try to do what you can to bring them strength. You can help them grow firm and resolute once again. Until they are completely repaired, you can supply the sustenance and support they need. As they begin to feel secure once more, they will become bold and will prevail against their enemies. Their hands that had grown slack and weak will no longer hang down, but they will be able to grasp and wield the sword of faith again. You will see them become alert and determined. They will no longer stumble, stagger, or totter. No longer will their knees give out from fear, but because they are strong once more, they will kneel before the Lord in worship.

When you see someone who is anxious and is making impetuous and hasty decisions, speak words of comfort and peace to them; so that their emotions and thoughts can settle down in rest. What you say can calm their fears and bring them courage to go forward. You can speak faith filled words that will turn their hearts back to Adonai, the Almighty God.

As they turn back to Jehovah the Lord in faith, He will come to their aid. He will exert His vengeance against their enemies. These formerly weak ones will discover that they do not have to avenge themselves, but they should simply wait on God. He will give them recompense and repay them for their trials. He will deal bountifully with them and give them many benefits which will cause their fruit to ripen. They will see the salvation and deliverance of the Lord. These precious souls, who were once weak and fearful, will become strong and victorious.

11-25-05 Jeremiah 30:19

Jeremiah 30:19 (KJ21)
And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry; and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.

Jeremiah 30:19 (NAS)
And from them shall proceed thanksgiving And the voice of those who make merry; And I will multiply them, and they shall not be diminished; I will also honor them, and they shall not be insignificant.

Jeremiah 30:19 (NIVUS)
From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained.

Jeremiah 30:19 (NLT)
There will be joy and songs of thanksgiving, and I will multiply my people and make of them a great and honored nation.

You know you have been blessed of the Lord your God and you do have a thankful heart. It is important not to just keep that thankfulness inside. Confess aloud your praise and thanks to Adonai. Sing songs of worship and hymns of praise to Jehovah the Lord. Let these expressions continually come forth from your lips. As you fill your mouth with praise, the Lord will fill you with His abundance and you will be satisfied. Instead of the heavy weight that many carry, you will have lightness and frivolity. Your voice will be filled with laughter and playfulness.

When God hears your praise, He will want to do more for you. Although others may be diminished and become small, you will become great. The Lord will increase and enlarge your borders; He will multiply your assets. You will be someone of weight and substance. You will never grow small or insignificant; for God will give you honor and glory.

11-24-05 Psalms 50:14

Psalms 50:14 (KJ21)
Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the Most High,

Psalms 50:14 (NAS)
Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High;

Psalms 50:14 (NIVUS)
Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,

Psalms 50:14 (NLT)
What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High.

When you read the Old Testament of the Bible, you see that God's people were expected to bring animals to sacrifice in worship unto Adonai, the Most High God. They could not bring animals that were sick or deformed. What they offered to the Lord had to be without blemish and it had to be the best they had according to their income level, whether it was a dove, a lamb, or an ox.

When you come before the Lord, you should also bring a sacrifice to offer in worship. Today you are not expected to bring an animal sacrifice, but you should willingly offer the best that you have from your resources. And you should always come with thanksgiving and adoration in your heart to God. Let praises and confessions of thanks always be on your lips. Let others see your thanks as you raise your hands in reverence to Adonai, your Lord.

If you make a promise or a vow to God, you should know that God does not take that lightly. He expects you to make good on your promises and to pay your vows. He is the Supreme Being, the Most High God, and you need to fear and honor Him. When you do what you tell God that you will do, you will be safe and secure. Determine to complete all of your vows and as you do, you will have peace and reward from the Lord. You will find that your way becomes more prosperous with each promise you keep.

Cranberries, Jukeboxes, and America

We all know that tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we in America have much to be thankful for. Even though we have seen rising gas prices and many natural disasters in our country, we have also seen the generous hearts of Americans. Today is "What I Love About America!" day.

One thing right now that weighs on my heart is the demonstrations and outbursts against the war in Iraq. I am thankful for our freedom to speak out and I hope we never lose that freedom. However, sometimes that freedom is carried to an extreme that demoralizes the national spirit of America. When our troops were fighting in Vietnam, we saw the same kinds of protests and demonstrations. Those soldiers came home to jeers and cold shoulders. That made a rip in the fabric of America, that still has not healed.

America has a reputation of going to the rescue of the underdogs, those people who are oppressed and enslaved. That was true in Vietnam and that is true in Iraq today. I love America for that stand and I am proud of America for those actions! WE are blessed to be Americans!

A unified front is a strong front. The Bible speaks about how blessed people are when they dwell together in unity. This Thanksgiving I pray that we will strive to regain that unity, so that our country can remain a blessed one! Let us give thanks for our military personnel who are sacrificing their freedom, so that the rest of us can freely speak our minds.

On a lighter note, it is also Eat a Cranberry Day and National Jukebox Day! Sample your cranberries today to make sure that they will be good for tomorrow. And while you are nibbling at those cranberries, listen to "Proud To Be An American" on a jukebox!

11-23-05 Psalms 142:7

Psalms 142:7 (KJ21)
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy name; the righteous shall compass me about, for Thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Psalms 142:7 (NAS)
Bring my soul out of prison, So that I may give thanks to Thy name; The righteous will surround me, For Thou wilt deal bountifully with me.

Psalms 142:7 (NIVUS)
Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.

Psalms 142:7 (NLT)
Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The godly will crowd around me, for you treat me kindly.

You know that you were condemned; for you failed to obey the commandments of Adonai, the Almighty God. However, as a vital, living, breathing human being, made in the image of God, you desired to be free. You wanted to break out of the prison and the shackles that had you bound. The enemy of your soul intended to fasten you and shut you up in his darkness. He wanted to stop you from following after the Lord, but Jehovah, your God, has brought you out of the darkness into His marvelous light. He has provided the way for your escape, so that you can grow and spread out.

Now that your hands are not held the enemy's manacles, you are free to extend them in praise and worship unto the Lord Most High. You revere and honor His name, His character, and His authority; for the Lord your God is lofty and higher than any other.

No longer are you enclosed behind prison walls, but God had surrounded you with His righteousness. He has crowned you with justice. Blessings now come at you from every direction on the compass; for the Lord treats you well and loads you with benefits. He causes your fruit to ripen and provides you with a bountiful yield. Because you serve the Lord God, He rewards you and is good to you.

11-22-05 Ecclesiastes 11:6

Ecclesiastes 11:6 (KJ21)
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether either this or that shall prosper, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NAS)
Sow your seed in the morning, and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NIVUS)
Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NLT)
Be sure to stay busy and plant a variety of crops, for you never know which will grow—perhaps they all will.

In the natural realm, a farmer or a gardener generally sows and plants during the day. As the farmer, it is important that you also plant seeds in the morning. You should plow and break new ground early, as you seek the Lord and His favor. After you have inspected and considered your new "field", you should go before the Lord asking for His blessing on the seed you have set out; for He is the only One who can cause it to bear fruit.

However, unlike the farmer, you have also been given the evening time in which to sow. In fact, Adonai, the Almighty God, encourages you to make deposits at any time. He wants you to open your hand and cast out more seed whenever and wherever you go. You do not know whether the seed you sow in the morning will prosper. Perhaps the seed sown later in the day will succeed first. Whatever is acceptable and right to the Lord is what will happen. It is possible that both will bring forth a united yield. If your seed is good, then it will produce no matter when you sow it. Your good seed will bring forth wealth and prosperity for you.

Therefore, keep on sowing, expecting God to give you a harvest!

November 21st is Hello World Day!

Although my calendar sources tell me that today is "Hello World" Day, a day in which you should greet and be friendly to those you meet, for me this day has more meaning and significance. This day marks an important milestone and event in my personal life. Thirty five years ago today, I met the Lord God and received purpose and meaning for my life. Living for Jesus the Lord has given my life significance and honor. The dignity and respect that every heart longs for can only be found in Him. And that is what I discovered thirty five years ago.

There is nothing greater than knowing that you are loved by the Almighty God. Instead of being afraid of His judgment, which is real, receiving His mercy is an awesome thing. On November 21, 1970, Adonai showed me His mercy and love, which He freely gave to me through His Son Jesus Christ. And I am so very, very thankful!!!

Hello World, let Jesus into your heart today!!!

11-21-05 Joshua 24:14

Joshua 24:14 (KJ21)
Now therefore, fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river and in Egypt, and serve ye the LORD.

Joshua 24:14 (NAS)
Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:14 (NIVUS)
Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:14 (NLT)
So honor the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone.


The greatest decision that you can make is to fear, honor, and respect Jehovah, the Lord your God. When you behold Him and His greatness, it is natural for you to stand in awe and astonishment of the One who is your Creator and Lord. Shoot forth praises to His name and pour out your heart of worship to Him.

The Lord has made you complete, sound, and whole. Now in your restored innocence and integrity, you desire to serve God according to the Truth of His word. Love for Adonai, the Almighty, consumes you; for the Lord has destroyed the uncleanness in your life and has made you upright and perfect. Your faith remains firm and sure, as you rely on God's word, whether it is spoken or written. That word supports, upholds, and nourishes you. Therefore, stand firm in your belief and continue to trust the Lord.

It is now your responsibility to turn aside and depart from any other "gods" that you or your ancestors used to worship. You should no longer work for or serve them. The purposes and plans of the 'gods' of this world are totally opposite to those of the Almighty. All of these shall surely perish, but the Lord your God remains forever.

Although once you were besieged and held captive by these "gods", you are no longer their slave. You were bound and confined in cramped quarters, with no freedom of movement. You were enclosed and shut in by your adversary, who treated you with hostility. However, Jehovah the Lord rescued and saved you. Instead of being a bound slave, you voluntarily work for and serve Him; for He has earned your loyalty and respect.

Does your PC have a name?

As many hours as I spend with my PC, I have never had the urge to give it a name. Afterall it is just a machine--a necessary machine, perhaps--but a machine nevertheless! In searching today, however, I discovered that it is "Name Your PC Day". Contemplating this subject, I came up with these ideas. Perhaps one of the Seven Dwarfs' names would be appropriate, such as Dopey, Grumpy, Bashful, Sneezy, or Sleepy. These would apply more to those older PC models that are slow and have to be coaxed to do their jobs. Doc would be good if your PC always needs technical support. If you have the newest model with all the bells and whistles, then you could name it Happy.

Perhaps these dwarfs are just too childish for you. If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, you might name your computer Gimli. Or you could name it after one of the hobbits--Frodo, Merry, Pippin, or Sam. If your PC is your nemesis, then Gollum would be more appropriate. If your computer is your hero, then Aragorn might apply. There certainly are other options, but if you are extremely close to you PC, you might name it Buddy (but that is just very sad in my opinion.)

If you have any good suggestions, leave a comment. I would love to know what you think.

11-20-05 1 Kings 18:21

1 Kings 18:21 (KJ21)
And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people answered him not a word.

1 Kings 18:21 (NAS)
And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word.

1 Kings 18:21 (NIVUS)
Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing.

1 Kings 18:21(NLT)
Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, "How long are you going to waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!" But the people were completely silent.

There come times in each of our lives in which we have to decide in favor of the Lord God. The children of Israel had many such opportunities; sometimes they chose correctly and sometimes they did not.

Elijah was a prophet of Adonai, the Almighty God. His name even conveys his commitment; for Elijah means "My God is Jehovah". Elijah was not afraid to confront his enemies, nor was he hesitant in challenging his own people to follow God.

If you act like Israel and do not make a firm commitment to Jehovah, you will appear to be lame and to limp. You may even continue to repeat past mistakes and failures. Your divided opinions and ambivalence could keep you from attaining to the heights that the Lord God has ordained for you. In fact, God could cut you off as a limb from a tree.

You can only have one lord and master. It is important that you choose Jehovah, the Lord, to be your Lord; for He is the One True God. Do not hesitate or delay in following Him If you do not choose to walk with the Lord and live your life according to His ways, you will remain behind and will be hindered in your life. Instead of being silent, shout aloud that Adonai is your God. Let your speech always declare His commands and promises.