"O LORD, Hear Me"

“O LORD, hear me” 

Psalm 86:1 

King David was pouring his heart out to God. He cried, “save thy servant” (v. 2), “Rejoice the soul of thy servant” (v. 4), and “give thy strength unto thy servant” (v. 16). David knew who was serving Who. He realized that he was subject to God and that God was not subject to him.

This is the heart of our cries unto God – we need Him! He is greater than us and can do what we cannot. We must humble ourselves before this God who is “full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and plenteous in mercy and truth” (v. 15).

Faith in God brings the favour of God and man. In verse 17, David cried, “Shew me a token for good...”. May we seek God and His favour this week. Let’s ask Him to give us favour with those we are working with. Know that when our heart touches God’s, He touches others' for us.


–Tim Cruse

God Is Waiting For You

“And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.” 

–Isaiah 30:18 

We often speak of waiting on God to do certain things in our lives. Yet, there are times when God is waiting on us to do certain things. He wants us to:

1. Start Doing Things His Way 

“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me” (vs. 1)

• We must seek the counsel of His Word and do what He wants instead of what we want – come to the end of doing things our way. 
• “As for God, his way is perfect (entire; complete)” (Psalm 18:30) God already knows the end from the beginning and the best route for us to take to become more like Christ, learn life lessons and accomplish His will.

2. Start Listening to What He is Saying 

“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:” (vs. 9) 

• We can develop a habit of not listening –“...hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” (Matthew 13:13) 
• We cannot talk and listen at the same time – “Be swift to hear, slow to speak” (James 1:19) Be silent before the Lord – “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7), “Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.” (I Samuel 3:9)

3. Start Following His Lead

“Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things...” (vs. 10-14)

• God leads us through His Word, His Spirit and His servants. If we are not following God-ordained authority in our lives, we are not following God.
• To not follow God’s lead is to eventually fall and to be broken (vs. 12-14).

May the Lord help us today to take verse 15 to heart,“In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength”. Let’s return to the Lord by doing things His way, listening to what He is saying and following His lead.

–Tim Cruse

God Is A Refuge For Us

“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” –Psalm 62:8

The One Who has never failed will not fail us now. We can count on the eternal God to be the same yesterday, today and forever.

What is your burden today? Trust God with it! Pour out your heart to Him. He hears your cry of faith and will not refuse to carry the care you cast upon Him.

Have you sought refuge from people and places who have proved to be of no comfort and reassurance? Find your acceptance in the Rock of Ages! All who flee to Him within shall be safe from the storm. He is our lighthouse of salvation and security.

Thou art my Conqueror, Comfort and Guide, 

In the castle of thy Word I humbly abide. 

Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and stand by my side, 

Refuge of the ages in Thee I hide. 

There are times when only the Overcomer can help the overcome overcome – and He will!

–Tim Cruse

A Fresh Start for the New Year

Should I Do As I Have Done?


“Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?” - Zechariah 7:3

The people of God had observed fasts for certain special days in their history each year that God had not commanded them to.  Though commendable, they were to be willing to adjust their disciplines to make sure they were doing what God had commanded with the right heart attitude.

Sometimes our spiritual disciplines can become habits without heart. In light of the new year, we need to ask ourselves: Is my walk with the Lord in need of some fine tuning and freshness? Am I in a rut spiritually? Going through the motions? Settling for a form of godliness? In strengthening the fundamentals of my Christian life, do I need to adjust certain particulars? May the Holy Spirit enlighten me as I consider:

My Bible Reading

• Should I read the Bible all the way through in one year’s time by reading three chapters per day?
• Should I read a chapter in Proverbs per day?
• What about a Proverb, five Psalms and a chapter in Acts each day for a month?
• What about two OT chapters and one NT chapter per day?
• What about mastering one book of the Bible by reading it through each day for one month?  Then, a new book the next month throughout the year.
• What about reading the NT through – one, two or three chapters per day?
• What about one chapter per day in a book with close to thirty chapters?

My Prayer Life

• Should I spend more time giving thanks?
• Do I need to update my prayer list?
• Do I have a definite time planned for prayer?
• Do I need to get involved in a prayer meeting?
• Have I taken the time to write down some past known answers to my prayers?
• What about studying the subject of prayer?  Listening to some sermons on prayer?  Asking others about how God has answered their prayers?
• What about attending a Prayer Retreat?  Or taking a day or two to get alone with God to pray and think through some things?
• What about a prayer and fasting time when I skip a meal(s) to pray?
• What about seeking out a prayer partner to pray with and to help hold me accountable?
• Should I write some people and let them know that I am praying for them by name?
• Am I willing to memorize some verses on prayer?
• What can I do to start or strengthen my family altar?  New time?  Involvement of other family members?  Read the great stories of the Bible?  Change tone or spirit of?

My Church Attendance

• Do I see the wisdom of faithful church attendance for myself and my family?  Am I obeying God in this matter?
• Do I put forth my best effort to attend as much as I possibly can?  Do I let unimportant things stand in my way or make excuses?
• Should I attend more services?  Attend more regularly the ones I presently attend?
• Are my children developing the rewarding lifelong habit of faithful church attendance?  What am I giving to them to take from my home to give to their children?Should I attend special meetings in my church more often?
• Should I change my attitude toward church and do a better job of planning ahead to attend?
• Do I need a notebook to write sermon notes in?  What about my children?  Are they paying attention?  Are they needlessly going in and out of the services?  Do I need to rearrange our seating order?
• Should I participate more in the services?  Singing from my heart?  Giving out of my heart?  Listening with my heart?  
• Should I invite others to attend more often?
• Is there someone at church I need to reconcile with?  A past grievance I need to give to God and move on with?  Someone I need to forgive and trust to the Lord?

My Witnessing

• How long has it been since I told someone how he or she can know the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour?  
• Could I be more soul-conscious?  Carry gospel tracts with me?  Participate in church visitation efforts?  Keep a prayer list of unsaved people I am working with?
• Should I start a Bible Study at work?  In my neighborhood?  
• What about writing a gospel tract?
• Should I start putting tracts in my correspondence and on tables with my tips?  What other venue comes to mind?
• Am I willing to talk to a visitor about the Lord?  Work the altar during invitation time?  Take a class on Soul-winning?
• Should I seek a renewed burden from the Lord for my unsaved loved ones?
• Do I know that my immediate family members have professed faith in the Lord?  Followed Him in baptism?
• Should I keep a better record of my family’s spiritual life?  (dates of professions of faith, baptisms, church membership, Baby Dedications, surrender of life, etc.)

My Giving

• Do I understand that all things come from and belong to God in my life?
• Should I become a tither by conviction?
• Should I give regular offerings above God’s tithe?
• Should I give to Faith Promise Missions?
• Should I put forth more direct effort to teach my children Biblical stewardship principles?
• Is God in His kindness to me forcing my hand to deal with a financial situation that must be addressed with faith and boldness?
• Should I take a class on money management?  Am I living on a budget?  Do I need to talk to a counselor?
• Should I offer to teach others how to honor the Lord and have victory in this area?

     
“Dear God, help me to outline and, from my heart, act upon what you have shown me.  In Jesus name, Amen.”


-Tim Cruse

A Guide to Christmas Cheer

“Glory to God in the highest, 

and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Luke 2:14

The following principles will help make this a blessed Christmas season:

Put Christ First:The Lord Jesus Christ is the very reason for this time of year. Remember that daily worship of Christ in Bible study and prayer lays the foundation for genuine weekly and seasonal worship. Be faithful to God and His house.

Plan Family Events Ahead of Time:Every family needs to continue or establish traditions which make this season more meaningful. Whether it’s visits, meals, times of praise and prayer, church services or other events, always remember to be Christian, be kind and be calm.

Pay Cash for Gifts:Through proper planning and prioritizing, Christmas gift-giving can be a genuine expression of love and appreciation. Watch excessiveness. Look for good deals. Prepare something “homemade.” Avoid credit spending; “if you cannot afford it, you can only enjoy it for 30 days.”

Place Gospel Tracts in Christmas Cards:Everyone needs to know what it means to trust Jesus Christ as Saviour. Give God’s Word on eternal life and forgiveness of sin to family and friends in a practical way.

Provide for Those in Need:There are many in need throughout the year. Be sure to remember others and look for ways to be a blessing to the sick and shut-in, those between jobs or someone without a family. Time and help are ways to provide in addition to money. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

–Tim Cruse

The Foundation of Contentment

“Contentment is not having all you 
want, but wanting all you have.”

Ill-gotten gain always comes with the attached string of eventual guilt. That is why there are many who are increased with goods yet decreased in their ability to enjoy them.

A known principle we see and illustrated by Solomon is: “Contentment is not having all you want, but wanting all you have.” Only the Lord Jesus Christ can give us the capacity to rejoice over what God has given us already. Thank God today for what you have. Contentment and gratitude are opposite sides of the same coin.

One preacher said this about marriage, “If you ever leave your wife, you will not leave her on the same day you are on your knees thanking God for her.” A grateful heart is the foundation of contentment in life.

“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

Philippians 4:11

–Tim Cruse

Another Spirit

“But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me 

fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.”

–Numbers 14:24

Some things we learn from the life of Caleb:

1. He walked by faith, stood apart from the crowd & looked for the hand of  God in situations.
2. Caleb asked, “Where is God in this?”, “What is He trying to do and to teach me?”. “I must deal with this in faith!”, “We are well able...”.
3. Caleb wasn’t surface, shallow or small-minded. He was a man of content, character and commitment.
4. People with vision truly from God have an uncommon depth to them. Their spirit is resilient, reassuring and refreshing.
5. While others dwell on the giants of life and fall by the way, Calebs dwell on the mountains of promise and keep going.
6. Obtaining the mountain God has for us will involve waiting on God, wading through problems and wanting it more than anything else.
7. When the want for what God wants for us increases, the want for what we want for us decreases.
8. There is no price too great for a reward that is far greater!

–Tim Cruse