Category: Psalms (Book of)

"Sitting"…Don't Stand For it!

R. Mangold

A recent scientific study has deftly concluded sitting can be bad for you. The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences says after 4 hours of sitting, the body starts sending harmful signals telling the body’s genes that regulate the amount of glucose and fat to start shutting down. Doctors from the British Journal of Sports Medicine, wrote, “excessive sitting leads to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Dangers increase for people who do little exercise as it is.”

Christians, our day calls for action! If we’re sitting around, we’re losing ground! We could easily become “spiritually obese”, gorging ourselves on the blessings of God! David said, “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful [Psalm 1:1].” Idly standing or sitting is going to get you in trouble! 

The angel asked the disciples at Jesus’ ascension, “Why are you standing here gazing?” They had a promise in Jerusalem waiting for them. [Acts 1:11]

I know it’s easier to “sit” and wait for things to happen, but Jesus commanded us to GO! Go compel, preach, baptize, and disciple our world!  [Mark 16:15]

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Growing Down Before Growing Up

R. Mangold

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Psalm 92:12

In ancient times when a palm sprout would first stick its head above the sand, they would take a large rock and place on it. This forced the palm’s roots to grow down before the exposed tree grew up. Consequently, its roots wrapped around rocks before its branches and trunk ascended to the sky. When the winds came it was already gripping the rock and could not be blown out of the sand. Sometimes the palms would bend all the way to the ground and pop back up. Why? Because they are anchored to the rock.

How often does God do that? He places things on us we don’t understand to make us grow down before we grow up.

Tenney


Excerpt from T.F. Tenney’s Book entitled, “The Lord Said…Or Was that Me?” (Chapter Nine, Page 78, Paragraph 3)

Reverend Tenney and his wife Thetus make their home in Tioga, Louisiana. They travel nationally and internationally, ministering the message of God’s love and power of deliverance to thousands.  Check for other items by this author/group

 

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Sparrow

R. Mangold

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matt. 10:29-31)

Sparrows, seemingly inconsequential creatures, make their nests virtually anywhere they please, even being presumptuous enough in David’s day to nest on the altars of the Lord (Ps. 84:3). If one didn’t know better, they’d think their “Daddy owned the place!” Oh wait…He does!

Sold at a bargain price of 2 for a penny (farthing), sparrows were used in ceremonial cleansing of lepers; one was killed, the other set free. It may have been arbitrary to men which was killed, or set free, but not so with God. He took discriminate interest in both.

Our finite thinking dictates, the sheer magnitude of God’s responsibility, the survival and existence of the entire universe, interferes with His ability to account for one single human life; let alone the number of hairs on our head, or the life of an insignificant sparrow…NOT SO! Omniscient, God has the capacity to infinitely know everything that can be known about everything!

You are the hallmark of God’s creation, the apple of His eye, made in HIS likeness and image. Robed in flesh, God Himself became the ransom for your soul. Considering the ultimate price He paid to redeem you, your worth to God is immeasurable!

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“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute.  One Minute Spiritual Sermonettes and Sermon Ideas  for Busy Christians, Pastors, Teachers, and Bible Students!  Visit our ABOUT PAGE  for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you.  Rev. RD Mangold


Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Rabbit

R. Mangold

There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise…The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; (Prov. 30:24-28)

This particular species rabbit (coney) resides near rock formations and crevices of mountains. Ill-equipped to face predators, the coney surrounds itself with protection and can quickly evade capture by hiding amongst rocks. What great wisdom may we glean from our “feeble” friend the rabbit? 

  • Not quick to defend itself
  • Sometimes it’s better to flee (youthful lusts)
  • Holding his peace allowing God to fight his battles
  • No greater protection and defense than God

Ironically, David, Israel’s most courageous king was quite the “rabbit!” 

  • “My rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;” (Ps. 18:2)
  • “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Ps. 61:2)
  • “My defense; and my God is the rock of my refuge.” (Ps. 94:22)
  • “Rock of our salvation.” (Ps. 95:1)

Apostle Paul spells it out better than anyone who our true “Rock” is…they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (I Cor. 10:4)

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

To Rebel is to Repel

R. Mangold

Yet honor me [Saul] now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and beforeIsrael, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. (I Sam. 15:30)

Once the most humble man in Israel, rebellious Saul was stripped of his kingship. When told of God’s rejection, Saul quickly sidesteps his relationship saying the “Lord THY God.” In stark contrast, David’s vocabulary is replete with relationship in Psalms, “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer; my God…” (18:1-2). Remember, when you rebel, you repel your relationship with God!

Serminutes – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Putting the Brakes On

R. Mangold

Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart (Ps. 26:2). Anyone who knows me well knows I’m not a mechanic. I have on occasion changed brakes on cars. When finished, the daunting task of “trying” them out can be frightening. But any work performed must be tried out. God is working on each of us, and at times we need our “reins” tried to “prove” the work is done well. Remember, it’s great to be on the move in God, but there will be times we need the brakes put on to prove the work God’s doing in our life!

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold