Sing And Shout
Isaiah 44:23 says:
"Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel."
Join me today in singing and shouting praise to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God who sent Messiah Jesus!
We see this same joyful praise recorded in the Old Testament in Ezra 3:11:
"And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid."
What a beautiful picture of God's people singing and shouting praise because of His goodness and mercy!
And we have so much to praise God for today.
Thank God for His great mercy. Thank Him for forgiveness. Thank Him for healing our hearts. And most of all, thank Him for bringing us the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
So let's sing! Let's shout! Let's praise the Lord Jesus with grateful hearts because He has redeemed us!
Richard Templin Hancock
Encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily.
Christian - forgiven - grateful
Welcome. My name is Richard Templin Hancock and I’m here to encourage you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. I'm glad you're here—let's walk this path together.
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God's Word In Our Hearts
God's Word In Our Hearts
It is a new day to serve our Lord Jesus! Let’s encourage each other to open our Bibles today and hear the words of Jesus. Remember what He says in Matthew 4:4?
“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
How important is God’s Word?
Psalm 119:89 tells us:
“Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens.”
We can trust the direction we receive from God’s Word today because His Word is trustworthy.
Isaiah 40:8 tells us:
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
Let today be a day filled with God’s Word in our hearts. Let His Word guide us, encourage us, and draw us closer to Jesus.
Let's open our Bibles and hear what God has to say. His Word is the one thing we can trust and rely on in this sin-sick world. As we read it, let’s remember that God’s Word will never fail or change. This brings us to the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:35:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”
And if you don't know Jesus, repent and trust Jesus alone to save you. Then get a hold of a Bible and ask God to speak to you!
A Life That Pleases the Father
A Life That Pleases the Father
Let's listen to God's Word in Proverbs 10:1:
Let's listen to God's Word in Proverbs 10:1:
"The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, But a foolish son is the grief of his mother." — Proverbs 10:1 (NKJV)
This proverb reminds us that our choices matter. A wise child brings joy to a loving parent, while foolish choices bring heartache.
As followers of Jesus, this truth points us to our relationship with our Heavenly Father. When we walk in wisdom—trusting Christ, obeying His Word, and seeking His will—we live in a way that honors Him. Our obedience doesn't earn His love, but it is the grateful response of hearts that have been changed by His grace.
Jesus showed us the path of wisdom. He always did what pleased His Father, and He calls us to follow Him. As we walk in His footsteps, we find the safest path for our lives, and our lives become a testimony that brings glory to God.
So today, let's seek to live in a way that brings honor, praise, and glory to our Heavenly Father.
This proverb reminds us that our choices matter. A wise child brings joy to a loving parent, while foolish choices bring heartache.
As followers of Jesus, this truth points us to our relationship with our Heavenly Father. When we walk in wisdom—trusting Christ, obeying His Word, and seeking His will—we live in a way that honors Him. Our obedience doesn't earn His love, but it is the grateful response of hearts that have been changed by His grace.
Jesus showed us the path of wisdom. He always did what pleased His Father, and He calls us to follow Him. As we walk in His footsteps, we find the safest path for our lives, and our lives become a testimony that brings glory to God.
So today, let's seek to live in a way that brings honor, praise, and glory to our Heavenly Father.
In Christ Jesus
In Christ Jesus
1 Corinthians 1:30–31 ESV
“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’”
As I was reflecting on this today, these words caught my attention: “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus...”
It is because of our Heavenly Father that we are in Christ Jesus.
Jesus says in John 6:44:
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
And again in John 6:65:
“And he said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.’”
What a gift so wonderful and so free—the gift of Jesus in our hearts!
And this gift gives us rest as we walk away from all our self-efforts to gain acceptance with God and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus as the only sacrifice God accepts to make us right with Him.
Hebrews 4:9–10 guarantees us:
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.”
I hope these truths will be a blessing to you today as you purpose in your heart to follow your Savior, Jesus Christ.
Let's pray:
Heavenly Father, thank You for drawing us to Jesus and giving us the wonderful gift of salvation in Him. Help us to rest in Jesus and trust completely in His finished work, rather than our own efforts. Help us keep our eyes on Jesus and follow Him each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
1 Corinthians 1:30–31 ESV
“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’”
As I was reflecting on this today, these words caught my attention: “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus...”
It is because of our Heavenly Father that we are in Christ Jesus.
Jesus says in John 6:44:
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
And again in John 6:65:
“And he said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.’”
What a gift so wonderful and so free—the gift of Jesus in our hearts!
And this gift gives us rest as we walk away from all our self-efforts to gain acceptance with God and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus as the only sacrifice God accepts to make us right with Him.
Hebrews 4:9–10 guarantees us:
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.”
I hope these truths will be a blessing to you today as you purpose in your heart to follow your Savior, Jesus Christ.
Let's pray:
Heavenly Father, thank You for drawing us to Jesus and giving us the wonderful gift of salvation in Him. Help us to rest in Jesus and trust completely in His finished work, rather than our own efforts. Help us keep our eyes on Jesus and follow Him each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Vessels Of Mercy
Vessels Of Mercy
Romans 9:22–23 NKJV
“What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory.”
As I read this last night, I was blessed thinking that those of us who have faith in Christ are God’s vessels of mercy!
Consider what it says in Colossians 1:26–27:
“the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Think about it: God’s vessels of mercy have Christ in them!
We have been loved, chosen, and prepared by God for glory—not because we deserved it, but because of His gracious purpose:
2 Timothy 1:9
“who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”
We have Christ’s righteousness credited to us through faith. Christ bore the wrath that His people deserved, so that we might receive His righteousness and peace with God:
2 Corinthians 5:21
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, giving us a new heart and leading us in repentance, faith, and a growing desire for holiness:
Ezekiel 36:26–27
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”
And we have an inheritance of glory, secured by God’s mercy and preserved by His power:
What a happy day to be a vessel of mercy!
Thank You, Jesus!
Romans 9:22–23 NKJV
“What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory.”
As I read this last night, I was blessed thinking that those of us who have faith in Christ are God’s vessels of mercy!
Consider what it says in Colossians 1:26–27:
“the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Think about it: God’s vessels of mercy have Christ in them!
We have been loved, chosen, and prepared by God for glory—not because we deserved it, but because of His gracious purpose:
2 Timothy 1:9
“who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”
We have Christ’s righteousness credited to us through faith. Christ bore the wrath that His people deserved, so that we might receive His righteousness and peace with God:
2 Corinthians 5:21
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, giving us a new heart and leading us in repentance, faith, and a growing desire for holiness:
Ezekiel 36:26–27
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”
And we have an inheritance of glory, secured by God’s mercy and preserved by His power:
Romans 8:28-29
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
What a happy day to be a vessel of mercy!
Thank You, Jesus!
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