The Morning Watch

Psalms 119:130; The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. John 8:12; Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 1 John 1:5; This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:7; But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

https://youtu.be/0mPzxzu4gdw?si=eRhZFFo5uQj9bZW6 What a great song! Maybe you’re walking through a valley today, or maybe you’re on top of a mountain. The truth is, life is full of mountain top experiences + valleys too!  This morning I was reading in my Bible from the book of 1st kings 20:28;  Then a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I [am] the LORD.’ ” The Lord is SO good + faithful to us even when our faith in Him is small and wavering.  I remember being driven back to the place where my friend Jennifer and I were staying in Africa after a 15 hour day. We had gone on a one day safari. It was late at night. Not everyone had headlights or well maintained vehicles. It was scary, but we had a good driver! This very song came into my mind + h...

1 Samuel 23:14; David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph.  Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:8-11)  Proverbs 18:10; The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. “Thank-you Lord, that we can find a refuge in you at all times!”   Psalm 46:1; God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Choices + Consequences   After the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD , they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. (2 Chronicles 25:27) After the time…  if only he had continued to follow the Lord! What a tragedy! “ For the wages of sin is death,  but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)  Every day we have a choice to walk with the Lord and follow Him as our Leader, or give into the sinful desires of the flesh. May we remember, and apply these words from Galatians to our daily lives! I say then: “ Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh .” (Galatians 5:16)  In contrast to Amaziah giving into his sinful desires, we have our Saviour, Jesus Christ, the only One who,  “…always did the things that pleased His Father.”  (John 8:29)  “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has...

In a world of darkness, I choose the light.  In a world of evil, I choose the good.  In times of sorrow, I choose joy.  When Satan deceives me, I choose the truth. When fears arise, I choose the Father’s peace. When religion knocks at my door, I choose a relationship with my Creator, through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for the forgiveness of my sin. When doubts arise, I choose to believe.  What or whom do you choose today?  “Today, if you will hear His (Jesus) voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” -Hebrews 3:7, 8

“ When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel .” (Judges 2:10)  “ Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come .” (Psalm 71:18)  “ You, O LORD, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation. Turn us back to You, O LORD, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old .” (Lamentations 5:19, 21)  “ For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep… ” (Acts 13:36)  What will be my legacy? My earnest prayer is, “Only Jesus!”  " Only Jesus " Make it count, leave a mark, build a name for yourself Dream your dreams, chase your heart, above all else Make a name the world remembers But all an empty world can sell is empty dreams I got lost in the lie that it was up to me To make a name the world reme...

Conviction or compromise ?  I love this king! It is said of him, “ Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him .” (2 Kings 23:25) What a testimony!  How can we have a heart bent toward God like Josiah? It has been said, “ You are as close to God as you choose to be.”  James 4:8 says, “ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you …”  Each of us has been given a free will by our Creator, Owner. What will we do with it in this short life we have been given? Jesus said, “ Without Me you can do nothing .” (John 15:5)  A heart bent toward God, like Josiah had, begins with a personal relationship with Him. That can only come about by trusting in Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls! “ In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, yo...