Ron Edmondson » Devotional

Share Your Favorite Bible Verse

Ron Edmondson — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:00:45 +0000

I have a hard time saying something is my “favorite” of anything, but perhaps especially a Bible verse. There are so many.

What about you?

Do you have a favorite Bible verse?

What if we shared some of our favorites with each other? It could be an encouragement.

I’ll go first. As I said, not sure I can land on just one, but here is certainly one of my favorites:

There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

Now your turn.

The Trees of the Lord Flourish

Ron Edmondson — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:00:57 +0000

The trees of the Lord flourish…

I was reading the sixteenth verse in Psalm 104 recently and this phrase appeared to jump off the page at me.

The trees of the Lord flourish…

I was reminded:

Whatever the Lord touches…

Whatever God decides to do…

Wherever God places His stamp of approval…

Whatever God chooses to bless…

Whatever God builds…

Wherever God dwells…

Whatever God plants…

F L O U R I S H E S

God is God and there is no other.

Are you looking for success in life? Are you chasing a dream?

The trees of the Lord flourish…

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

Why the Baby in a Manger?

Ron Edmondson — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 19:40:19 +0000

Scripture Memorization, Week 52

Ron Edmondson — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:00:04 +0000

Here’s is the final verse in a year of Scripture memorization.

This is a verse appropriate for this time of year…and worthy of placing in your memory.

Week 52 verse:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:14

My Dog and Christmas

Ron Edmondson — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:01:08 +0000

The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Romans 8:19

Many of us have a nativity set sitting around for Christmas. If your nativity set is like most I’ve seen, you no doubt have a few animals sitting around it. There may be a cow or two, a sheep, even a camel if it is a fancy set! Of course, Joseph and Mary placed Jesus in a manger, which is a feeding troth for animals, so there certainly would have been animals close to His birthplace.

I’m not trying to be sacrilegious, but I have often wondered if the nativity scene were to take place in modern day America if there may be a cat or a puppy dog nearby. I’m certain my Yorkie dog, who knows well how to give unconditional love, would have been excited to welcome the baby Jesus!

It shouldn’t surprise us that animals may have witnessed the birth of the Christ child. Jesus was the Creator. He was with God from the very beginning, planning each intricate part of Creation. All creation, with the exception of man, naturally glorifies the Creator by unconditional obedience. A cow does as a cow is supposed to do. A camel is a camel is a camel. You don’t have to train a bird to tweet, it does as it was created to do.

The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. Psalm 104:21

The creation waits in eager expectation for God’s Son to be revealed! (Romans 8:19) This was the Creator! This was their Master, the Inventor of life!

I once read a story about a mother who found her nativity scene continually disrupted. She would enter the room to find all the pieces in one big pile. She would straighten it, put every piece back in place again, only to find it messed up a few hours later. One day she witnessed her daughter piling the pieces together. When questioned, the little girl replied, “Mommy, it’s Christmas! Everyone wants to be real close to Jesus!”

It’s Christmas! Don’t be surprised that the animals were present at Jesus birth! And keep them close in your nativity! Creation is praising its Creator! And don’t be surprised if you see a smile on a animal or two on Christmas day!

Just curious, what is your favorite animal of God’s creation?
Which animal fascinates you the most?

Scripture Memorization, Week 51

Ron Edmondson — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:00:53 +0000

The next to the last week…

Here is this week’s Scripture memory verse:

For my eyes have seen Your salvation.

Luke 2:30

Have you seen salvation? Have you seen Jesus?

Christmas is a beautiful time to come to know…or renew…your love for Jesus!

Adversity in the Center of God’s Will

Ron Edmondson — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:00:12 +0000

Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. 1 Samuel 19:1 NIV

One day David was minding his own business, tending sheep, when God called him to be a king. He didn’t ask to be king, but God said he was the one. He turned out to be a really good king. Imagine that? God made a good pick! David had a heart modeled after God’s, according to the Bible.

So, since God had chosen to bless David in such a way, why, throughout David’s story, do we continually find Saul trying to kill David? For some time, David was chased by Saul. David hid out, sometimes all alone, which is the setting we find him in during the writings of many of the Psalms. David was God’s choice for king and yet he was often placed in incredible adversity.

What does this tell us about the way God guides His children? It says to me is that sometimes God’s will for us places us in the middle of trials. More importantly, I am learning that I cannot determine whether I am in God’s will based on whether or not my life is peaceful. Just because I have struggles in life, doesn’t mean I am not in God’s will for my life.

Think about Abraham who faced the trial of leaving his homeland; Moses wandered in the wilderness forty years; Joseph was sold into slavery; Nehemiah had to fight off naysayers; Daniel was thrown into a lion’s den. All of these great servants of God faced persecution, heartache, and trials beyond most of our imaginations. Yet, all them, during the adversity, were right where God wanted them to be; in the center of His will.

We all like for life to be peaceful, and we can have inner peace in the middle of the storms of life, but God has not promised us a life free of problems. In fact, we can perfectly within His will and still be facing adversity. He has promised us we we can trust Him and that His grace is sufficient. Through it all, God uses the difficult seasons of life to make us more like Jesus.

How has God used adversity to shape you?

Scripture Memorization, Week 49

Ron Edmondson — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:00:52 +0000

It’s the Christmas season…so this verse seems appropriate.

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21

That’s the reason for the celebration we are experiencing this month! I’d say that’s a verse worth remembering.

Merry Christmas!

Getting Gut Honest With Jesus: Don’t You Care?

Ron Edmondson — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:50:51 +0000

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Mark 4:38 NIV

I have been told that the stern is the strongest part of the boat. The Creator of the universe was asleep there. The One who made the waters and was there when the waters were parted; who led Moses as Moses led the people through on dry ground had His head on a cushion. The One who walked with three guys in the fiery furnace, in all of His current humanity had decided He needed some rest. The disciples apparently lost sight of the fact that, Jesus was not only human, and He was also fully God.

I am reminded that I forget the same thing at times. Have you ever felt like the disciples felt? Have you ever wondered if Jesus cared? Has the thought crossed your mind that Jesus may not even be aware of your current situation? Have you thought, “Jesus, I see my problems, don’t you?” Or maybe, if you are honest, have felt something like, “Jesus, don’t you care?”

Of course, our spiritual piety would never allow us to admit our weakness in this area fully. Could I as a pastor really admit that I doubted His love? Could you? Yet if I am honest, sometimes from my perspective, it appears that Jesus is nowhere to be found and I am left all alone to wallow in my sorrows. Just saying….

I think the best thing we can possibly do in those situations is to be like the disciples and admit our frailty to God. When we get gut honest with Him about our insufficiencies, perhaps He will be willing to do what only He can do.

Do you need to have an honest conversation with Jesus today?

(This is a repost. Someone found it online in the archives. Sometimes I like to bring them forward, since my readership has tripled since this first appeared and half my readers do so by email.)

Scripture Memorization, Week 48

Ron Edmondson — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:00:17 +0000

It’s hard to believe we are closing in on a year of Scripture memorization. Thank you for those faithful few who have stuck with this all year.

I thought this verse was appropriate for the week and the season. Here is this week’s memory verse:

Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout triumphantly to Him in song.

Psalm 95:2

Spend a few minutes today reciting this verse…and singing a song in God’s honor!