Titus 3:5 (ESV) “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,” Titus 3:5
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“As a follower of Christ you know that self-reformation is futile. Having declared spiritual bankruptcy, you came to God asking Him to live His life through you. He is your life; you live day-by-day in dependence upon His strength and presence… If people conclude that they can solve their own problems, or at least learn to accommodate them in their lives, they lose their incentive to turn to Christ for help, and that is a short path to hell.” Walter A. Henrichsen (“Walt H”)
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A history of these Daily Devotions along with other valuable Resources can be found at: https://lylebrennan.com.
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Thoughts from the Diary of a Desperate Man
by Walter Henrichsen
Humility
Day Three Hundred Fifty-seven
“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own lips; a stranger and not thine own tongue.” Proverbs 27:2
Humility is an essential environment for virtues such as meekness, forbearance, and longsuffering to thrive. Without humility you cannot respond biblically to the many slights, rude remarks, and other irritants in life. One indicator of whether you have humility is how you present yourself to others. Are you quick to call attention to yourself, your accomplishments, and your opinions? An insidious expressing of this is when parents brag on their children, inferring that their greatness is in no small measure the result of their own gene pool.
The Apostle Paul commended himself to the Corinthians, but felt compelled to do it because of problems in the church with people calling into question his authority. He succumbed to self-commendation saying, “I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these superlative apostles, even though I am nothing. 454
If someone inquires regarding a particular aspect of your life, you do not express humility by evading the question or falsely understating your achievement. Humility usually expresses itself in an interest of others. Let this interest in others guide your conversation. To call to the attention of others praise bestowed upon you shows a clear lack of humility. So too, if you don’t think you are great, you will not be offended when others agree with you. “Let another man praise you…”
454 II Corinthians 12:11
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Nahum 1-3 Revelation 14 (New King James Version)
Nahum 1-3
God’s Mercy and Judgment
1 The [a]burden against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
God’s Wrath on His Enemies
2
God is jealous, and the Lord avenges;
The Lord avenges and is furious.
The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries,
And He reserves wrath for His enemies;
3
The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
And will not at all acquit the wicked.
The Lord has His way
In the whirlwind and in the storm,
And the clouds are the dust of His feet.
4
He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,
And dries up all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither,
And the flower of Lebanon wilts.
5
The mountains quake before Him,
The hills melt,
And the earth [b]heaves at His presence,
Yes, the world and all who dwell in it.
6
Who can stand before His indignation?
And who can endure the fierceness of His anger?
His fury is poured out like fire,
And the rocks are thrown down by Him.
7
The Lord is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust in Him.
8
But with an overflowing flood
He will make an utter end of its place,
And darkness will pursue His enemies.
9
What do you [c]conspire against the Lord?
He will make an utter end of it.
Affliction will not rise up a second time.
10
For while tangled like thorns,
And while drunken like drunkards,
They shall be devoured like stubble fully dried.
11
From you comes forth one
Who plots evil against the Lord,
A [d]wicked counselor.
12 Thus says the Lord:
“Though they are [e]safe, and likewise many,
Yet in this manner they will be cut down
When he passes through.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more;
13
For now I will break off his yoke from you,
And burst your bonds apart.”
14
The Lord has given a command concerning you:
[f]“Your name shall be perpetuated no longer.
Out of the house of your gods
I will cut off the carved image and the molded image.
I will dig your grave,
For you are vile.”[g]
15
Behold, on the mountains
The feet of him who brings good tidings,
Who proclaims peace!
O Judah, keep your appointed feasts,
Perform your vows.
For the [h]wicked one shall no more pass through you;
He is utterly cut off.
The Destruction of Nineveh
2
He[i] who scatters has come up before your face.
Man the fort!
Watch the road!
Strengthen your flanks!
Fortify your power mightily.
2
For the Lord will restore the excellence of Jacob
Like the excellence of Israel,
For the emptiers have emptied them out
And ruined their vine branches.
3
The shields of his mighty men are made red,
The valiant men are in scarlet.
The chariots come with flaming torches
In the day of his preparation,
And [j]the spears are brandished.
4
The chariots rage in the streets,
They jostle one another in the broad roads;
They seem like torches,
They run like lightning.
5
He remembers his nobles;
They stumble in their walk;
They make haste to her walls,
And the defense is prepared.
6
The gates of the rivers are opened,
And the palace is dissolved.
7
[k]It is decreed:
She shall be led away captive,
She shall be brought up;
And her maidservants shall lead her as with the voice of doves,
Beating their breasts.
8
Though Nineveh of old was like a pool of water,
Now they flee away.
[l]“Halt! Halt!” they cry;
But no one turns back.
9
[m]Take spoil of silver!
Take spoil of gold!
There is no end of treasure,
Or wealth of every desirable prize.
10
She is empty, desolate, and waste!
The heart melts, and the knees shake;
Much pain is in every side,
And all their faces [n]are drained of color.
11
Where is the dwelling of the lions,
And the feeding place of the young lions,
Where the lion walked, the lioness and lion’s cub,
And no one made them afraid?
12
The lion tore in pieces enough for his cubs,
[o]Killed for his lionesses,
Filled his caves with prey,
And his dens with [p]flesh.
13 “Behold, I am against you,” says the Lord of hosts, “I will burn [q]your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions; I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more.”
The Woe of Nineveh
3
Woe to the bloody city!
It is all full of lies and robbery.
Its [r]victim never departs.
2
The noise of a whip
And the noise of rattling wheels,
Of galloping horses,
Of [s]clattering chariots!
3
Horsemen charge with bright sword and glittering spear.
There is a multitude of slain,
A great number of bodies,
Countless corpses—
They stumble over the corpses—
4
Because of the multitude of [t]harlotries of the [u]seductive harlot,
The mistress of sorceries,
Who sells nations through her harlotries,
And families through her sorceries.
5
“Behold, I am against you,” says the Lord of hosts;
“I will lift your skirts over your face,
I will show the nations your nakedness,
And the kingdoms your shame.
6
I will cast abominable filth upon you,
Make you vile,[v]
And make you a spectacle.
7
It shall come to pass that all who look upon you
Will flee from you, and say,
‘Nineveh is laid waste!
Who will bemoan her?’
Where shall I seek comforters for you?”
8
Are you better than No[w] Amon
That was situated by the [x]River,
That had the waters around her,
Whose rampart was the sea,
Whose wall was the sea?
9
Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength,
And it was boundless;
Put and Lubim were [y]your helpers.
10
Yet she was carried away,
She went into captivity;
Her young children also were dashed to pieces
At the head of every street;
They cast lots for her honorable men,
And all her great men were bound in chains.
11
You also will be drunk;
You will be hidden;
You also will seek refuge from the enemy.
12
All your strongholds are fig trees with ripened figs:
If they are shaken,
They fall into the mouth of the eater.
13
Surely, your people in your midst are women!
The gates of your land are wide open for your enemies;
Fire shall devour the bars of your gates.
14
Draw your water for the siege!
Fortify your strongholds!
Go into the clay and tread the mortar!
Make strong the brick kiln!
15
There the fire will devour you,
The sword will cut you off;
It will eat you up like a locust.
Make yourself many—like the locust!
Make yourself many—like the swarming locusts!
16
You have multiplied your merchants more than the stars of heaven.
The locust plunders and flies away.
17
Your commanders are like swarming locusts,
And your generals like great grasshoppers,
Which camp in the hedges on a cold day;
When the sun rises they flee away,
And the place where they are is not known.
18
Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria;
Your nobles rest in the dust.
Your people are scattered on the mountains,
And no one gathers them.
19
Your injury has no healing,
Your wound is severe.
All who hear news of you
Will clap their hands over you,
For upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?
Footnotes:
- Nahum 1:1 oracle, prophecy
- Nahum 1:5 Tg. burns
- Nahum 1:9 Or devise
- Nahum 1:11 Lit. counselor of Belial
- Nahum 1:12 Or at peace or complete
- Nahum 1:14 Lit. No more of your name shall be fruitful
- Nahum 1:14 Or contemptible
- Nahum 1:15 Lit. one of Belial
- Nahum 2:1 Vg. He who destroys
- Nahum 2:3 Lit. the cypresses are shaken; LXX, Syr. the horses rush about; Vg. the drivers are stupefied
- Nahum 2:7 Heb. Huzzab
- Nahum 2:8 Lit. Stand
- Nahum 2:9 Plunder
- Nahum 2:10 LXX, Tg., Vg. gather blackness; Joel 2:6
- Nahum 2:12 Lit. Strangled
- Nahum 2:12 Torn flesh
- Nahum 2:13 Lit. her
- Nahum 3:1 Lit. prey
- Nahum 3:2 bounding or jolting
- Nahum 3:4 Spiritual unfaithfulness
- Nahum 3:4 Lit. goodly charm, in a bad sense
- Nahum 3:6 despicable
- Nahum 3:8 Ancient Thebes; Tg., Vg. populous Alexandria
- Nahum 3:8 Lit. rivers, the Nile and the surrounding canals
- Nahum 3:9 LXX her
Revelation 14
The Lamb and the 144,000
14 Then I looked, and behold, [a]a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, [b]having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were [c]redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no [d]deceit, for they are without fault [e]before the throne of God.
The Proclamations of Three Angels
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon[f] is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
12 Here is the [g]patience of the saints; here[h] are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying [i]to me, “Write: ‘Blessed arethe dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
Reaping the Earth’s Harvest
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come [j]for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
Reaping the Grapes of Wrath
17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred [k]furlongs.
Footnotes:
- Revelation 14:1 NU, M the
- Revelation 14:1 NU, M add His name and
- Revelation 14:4 M adds by Jesus
- Revelation 14:5 NU, M falsehood
- Revelation 14:5 NU, M omit the rest of v. 5.
- Revelation 14:8 NU Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, which has made; M Babylon the great is fallen. She has made
- Revelation 14:12 steadfastness, perseverance
- Revelation 14:12 NU, M omit here are those
- Revelation 14:13 NU, M omit to me
- Revelation 14:15 NU, M omit for You
- Revelation 14:20 Lit. stadia, about 184 miles in all
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PRAYER REQUESTS
Please Pray for:
Tyler Martin, Rod Martin’s son who had a terrible freak accident … he went through a plate glass window and suffered multiple severe injuries.
Please Pray for Brother Walt’s granddaughter, Kale’a, and his prodigal son, Elijah.
Please Pray for Tavia’s family. Tavia received a call fro
Her mom letting her know her uncle didnt survive a heart attack in Wisconsin. Please keep her family in your Prayers. Her uncle’s name was Tony Nelson, his wife is Kerri, and his kids are Tera, Kerissa and Alex.
Sister Kristen and husband for God to intervene and heal their marriage. Additionally, please Pray for their 2 young daughters.
Miguel’s salvation, a confessed murderer and drug dealer, who lives in Mexico.
A Las Vegas woman that currently is working in an abortion clinic who is very discouraged with what she is doing and seeking counseling as to what to do. Pray God opens her eyes and saves her. Also, regarding the same abortion clinic, Pray God sends Godly women to that clinic daily to be available to minister to the women going in and out of that clinic daily.
The salvation of Brother David Frear’s parents.
Brad and Regena Mitton and their family. Regina has been diagnosed with cancer and Brad has put his landscape business on hold to be with his wife. Pray God will move in the Mittons lives and that He will be glorified.
Jeff from Oregon that has cirrhosis of the liver and has been given only five months to live. He is unsure of his faith and trying to fill in his remaining days traveling. Please Pray God awakens Jeff’s spirit to His Salvation. (Like Jeff, we are all terminal…“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalms 90:12)
Larry who has leukemia. Pray God would bring Larry and his love ones closer to Him and His Blessed Hope of Glory.
Lisa Long and her family. Lisa has had for eye surgeries that have failed and she remains blind. Pray for God to direct her path for His glory.
Darrell Blalock who has Parkinson’s disease. Pray for Darrell to have a meaningful and closer walk with the Lord.
John LaPorte and other Brothers and Sisters who are doing ministry at UNLV.
A UNLV student named Tyler who is propaganda machine for the enemy. Pray God will radically save Tyler and that our God will use Tyler to bring many to Christ.
Remington, another UNLV student, says he is a new catholic… not a Believer, yet, but says he is a seeker. Pray God reveals His Truth, His Salvation to Remington.
That our families and Brothers and Sisters in Christ will gather together to Pray… Jesus says in Matthew 18:20 (NKJV) “… For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Our unSaved family members and those around us that we have relationships with. Or, is that you? … Have questions &/or need Prayer?… If yes, please reply or call (702) 592-4098.
Family members and those relationships around you who say they are Saved, but their lives don’t show it. And, if that’s happens to be you, the Holy Spirit can change you into a New Creation, Christ in you… but, you must totally surrender everything to Him. (As long as you think you can do it on your own, He’ll let you; and, you will fail.) … Have questions &/or need Prayer?… If yes, please reply or call (702) 592-4098.
Our nation that God would open all our eyes to the sins that are drowning us. Lukewarmness, abortion, sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, hatred & divisiveness, greed, pride, rebellion, covetousness, etc. Please Pray and Fast for our nation to turn from this evil that is enveloping us.
II Chronicles 7:14 NKJV
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
… AND YET, God is Sovereign and has called us to live in such a time as this and to be His Light in the darkness… to give Hope to some. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Sister Fabiola and her children in Mexico in our Prayers. This Sister and her family, in a short time period, have been hit with a more tragedies (persecutions) than most of us have in our entire life time… the murder of her husband, x-husband and one of her children. And, recently, her modest home (a shack by any American standard) was burnt to the ground. …Her neighbor’s house caught fire and due to the closeness of her home, it caught fire, too. Brothers & Sisters, please Pray for God’s Holy touch on Fabiola and her family.
Geo, a banker, who was deployed by the military to the Mideast. Pray God would keep him safe and that God would bring Geo closer to Him; and, that Geo would share God with all his company and those who come in contact with him.
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I’ve been told by one Geo’s co-workers, Lorraine Flores, who says she considers Geo a son, that the day Geo was deployed to the Mideast, his girlfriend delivered his new baby. Please Pray Geo would Walk in God’s Light and be a Godly husband and father. And, please Pray for Geo’s family. (Also, please Pray for both Lorraine Flores and her biological son that was deployed the same day as Geo, but to Africa.)
Brother Mark Pedder, a missionary in the Philippines. Please Pray for Mark, Mark’s wife for strength in their trials, tribulations and persecution.
Gemma that she be delivered from evil and receive Jesus as her Savior.
Pray for Brother John LaPorte’s roommate, Brother Freddy, whose commitment to Christ caused his wife to separate from him for 6 years. The couple have 2 daughters. Both parents has stayed single all this time of separation… Within the recent past, it appears his wife, Arlene, has been Saved and the couple are beginning their reconciliation process. They are planning to reunite the family again under one roof in the next few months. Please Pray for their total reconciliation with God at their helm.
Scott’s salvation and healing. Scott is a commercial real estate broker.
Our President and ALL our government leaders of both parties. Pray they would submit their authority to God’s Authority and ask for His Wisdom in directing the affairs of our nation. Please Pray that God would open their eyes and they would be obedient to His Will.
Brother Frank Sun, a Taiwanese, that owns several businesses in China and Taiwan. Please Pray Frank will be bold in his sharing Christ in his companies and that he will be faithful to disciple the new Believers.
AND, let each of us use Frank’s example and share the Love and Salvation of Jesus to our coworkers, employees, family, friends and acquaintances … Invest in the Eternal!
Women’s Pro-Life ministries in Las Vegas and throughout the world …that they would lead women to the Lord and continue to assist in saving babies’ lives.
Dave Ubank and his family. They are ministering and rescuing children and families in Syria directly affected by ISIS – Pray for their protection and their ministry. For a short 2 minute video about Ubanks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_htIgIvgDM[/embedyt
Brothers’ and Sisters’ struggling with various addictions. Pray that God would reveal Himself to them that all things are possible through Him… He can Cure any addiction … He is our Great Creator, He is our Savior, He is our Healer …He is our All and All!
Alejandro Corral, his son Alejandro Jr.
Brother Steve Venable dealing with ALS.
Persecuted Brothers and Sisters and their families that are suffering and giving their lives for our Faith.
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Please stand with your Brothers and Sisters in Prayer and Support. (See: The Voice of the Martyrs: https://www.persecution.com)
Biblical “headship” in families.
All the children.
That there would be a resurgence of Biblical “Fear of the Lord” in the church and in each of us… “to fear the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.”
Brother Ron Brink’s son who had 3+ military tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and who is now suffering brain damage and PTSD. Pray for God’s Healing Power to fall upon Johnathon. (Ron is a 20 plus year missionary in Mexico and heads up Touch Baja.)
Touch Baja ministry. Touch Baja is a Christian ministry based in Mexico touching the saved and unsaved lives of the Mexican people focused on real discipleship; truly changing lives through Christ. From church planting discipleship ministries to half-way houses for the Mexican youth, Touch Baja needs our Prayers, support and physical involvement. One person can make a difference… whether an individual or a group, if you are interested in seeking an international missionary opportunity that’s not that far from home, here it is… you are needed and welcome. Please check out Touch Baja and consider becoming a real partner and getting involved: http://www.touchbaja.com. (I am personally available to share with you about the ministry… I have 20+ years of stories and history.)
Makers Way ministry feeds poor families in NLV. Check it out and if you are lead to help or give, contact Mike at (702) 596-9103 or give online at:
As it’s that time again when candidates for Congress and other government offices are making their rounds drumming up support to make a run to get elected. Please Pray for God to position Real Deal Christian men and women in those races that would honor Him above anyone or anything else. If those elected honor Him, they will honor us. (If you or someone you know is running for an office, please let us know so we can Pray for you or them. As the upcoming elections come closer, please Pray for the CANDIDATES:
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Please Pray for Dan Rodimer who is running for the US Congress in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District. Dan is a conservative. He is married with 5 children. Dan says he is a catholic. Please Pray for his salvation and that God would would be made known in Dan’s life in such a way that those that encounter Dan would see Jesus in his life. (https://danrodimer.com)
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Please Pray for FL Congressman Ross Spano. Brother Ed Taney’s daughter Cameron is going to be interning for him starting in January. Pray for wisdom and clear direction from God for him and his staff, and for him to pursue and honor God.