Tag Archives: devotionals

by Anthony Baker | November 27, 2020 · 3:45 pm

Blatant Suggestions for Your Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shopping

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
James 4:2 (KJV)

I’m Just Asking

Maybe you’ve done all your shopping. Maybe you only plan to purchase a few small gifts for your dearest loved ones. Maybe it’s just you and your significant other – no kids, no relatives, nobody you like at work – and you’re only getting a single gift for each other.

Whatever your situation may be, unless you are out of work and broke, I am going to ask you to consider how you can gift me with some items I would like to have.

In the above verse, James said, “You have not, because you ask not.” Evidently, people will literally start wars and kill people over “stuff” they want. I don’t want that! I want peace! That’s why I’m asking 🙂

Let’s avoid that whole global conflict nonsense, shall we?

My List

So, if you have been looking for somebody to buy for, or if you have extra money in your investment accounts that you need to burn, please allow me to share with you some options. The following are items I would like for YOU to purchase and give to ME.

Ready?

As you can see, the Tudor looks pretty good on my wrist. It could even help me tell the time!

A Watch. It doesn’t have to be too expensive, nor does it have to be a specific style; I just like watches. But if you want me to ask for specifics, sure, I can do that!
- Rolex Explorer (or pretty much any other model)
- Tudor Black Bay 58 with the metal bracelet. But of course, I’d take pretty much any Tudor watch, within reason.
Tubes of high-quality watercolor and/or gouache paint. Have you seen the price of good paint??
A Truck. Believe me, where I live and work …. I could really use a truck.

There ya’ go! Now you have your choice of several things you could give me because I asked. I feel better, don’t you?

Just give me a call if you have any questions about color, size, make, model, or brand. It could be like I ask, then you ask, then we both get stuff!

Cool, isn’t it?

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.
James 4:3 (KJV)

Dadgum it!

It May Be a Monday, but…

It may be another Monday, but I’d like for you to stop and consider a few things before you depress even more people with your complaining.

God made this day. Yes, like you already knew, “This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” This day, this Monday, is a gift from God made especially for you!

This day is a gift! Like I said in the sentence above, this day, this Monday, is a gift from God for you. You don’t deserve it. You didn’t earn it. It’s only because of the grace and mercy of God, not to mention because He loves you so much, that He gave you another Monday. It must be pretty special – and so are YOU – to get a gift from the King of the Universe!

You’ll never get another day quite like this one. That’s right, even though this is a Monday, there will never be another Monday, even another day, like this one. It’s totally unique and irreplaceable! Treat it as such.

Last, but not least, you will be held accountable for what you did with this day. God has given it to you for a reason; He knows what plans He has for you, but also what plans He wants you to accomplish. Will you waste today? Or, will you use this wonderful and priceless Monday to showcase the goodness of its Creator?

It may be Monday, but it’s the Monday God gave you. Rejoice and be glad in it!

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Filed under worship

Tagged as Calendars, Days of the Week, depression, devotionals, Manic Monday, Monday, tourism, vacation

by Anthony Baker | January 26, 2020 · 8:57 am

If Ever I Loved Thee, Tis Now

A Hymn Sermon

One of the greatest hymns, at least one of my favorites, is “My Jesus, I Love Thee.” A few years ago I preached a sermon based on the four verses from this song.

Below is a copy of the simple outline I took to the pulpit. I must admit, it got me a little wound up. (Can I get an “Amen!“)

“My Jesus I Love Thee”

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine; (Jn 21:15-17)
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign; (2 Tim. 2:19)
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou; (Ruth 2:10)
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. (The Place of Regeneration)

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me, (1 John 4:19)
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree; (1 Peter 1:18-19)
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow; (Mt 27, Mk 15, Jn 19:2)
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. (The Place of Realization)

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death, (Job 13:15)
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath; (Job 33:4)
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow, (Ps. 116:15)
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. (The Place of Resignation)

In mansions of glory and endless delight, (Jn 14:2)
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright; (Rev 21:23)
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow, (2 Tim 4:8)
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. (The Place of Revelation)

-William Ralph Featherstone (1864)

Regeneration. As I read the lyrics, I began to see a logical progression through the believer’s life. First, there was the love for Jesus that comes when one is born again – that moment of regeneration, when one is “saved.” The love we have for Christ is evident by our desire to repent of our sin and turn from its “follies.” Along with that, there’s the humble heart that asks, like Ruth, “Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me?”

Realization. The second verse describes a maturing love for our Lord that, over time, gains an appreciation for what Christ actually did to save us. Our love deepens when we begin to realize all those little sins, even the pettiest, caused the sinless Son of God to have to endure unimaginable pain and humiliation, not out of obligation, but because of His love for us. His cross should have been mine, but He loved me first; therefore, I love Him.

Resignation. Thirdly, there’s that place in life when we must ultimately resign everything – our hopes, our dreams, our lives – to the One who ultimately lends us each breath. This deep, trusting love comes from a life that has witnessed the enduring faithfulness of our Savior, leading us to echo the words of Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”

Revelation. Then, finally, there will be the place of revelation that will send our love for Christ soaring to infinite heights. We will know as we are known. We will have no more need of faith, for faith shall become sight. We will be eternally overwhelmed by the Love of the ages, forcing us to cry out, “If ever I loved thee, my Jesus tis now!”

Just thought I’d share 😉

Sermon: “My Jesus I Love Thee!”

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Filed under Christian Maturity, Faith, God, Love of God, Preaching, salvation, worship

Tagged as Church, devotionals, Jesus, love, sermons, Sunday, tough questions, Worship

by Anthony Baker | May 31, 2019 · 8:30 am

Determined to Reblog a Blessing

This morning, before I got out of bed, I read a post from Jill McIlreavy at Mustard Seed Blog.

The first thing I thought after reading her inspirational post was, “That’ll preach!” That, of course, is a common saying from around these parts (the South), but some of you might have never heard it. Jill hadn’t.

What it means is that a good preacher could take that there post and walk up to a pulpit and let the devil have it! At least that’s one way to describe it 😉

Regardless, I tried to “reblog” this post, but dagnabbit!, WordPress just won’t have it! So, I’m just going to bypass the normal “reblog” route and post a link below.

Believe me, it’s worth the effort. If you are now or have ever gone through a dark time in life, this piece from Jill McIlreavy will genuinely encourage you.

God bless,
Anthony