Industriousness, April 21

Industriousness, April 21

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
"You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

John 15:12-16, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You have taught us that the two greatest commandments are to love You with all our heart, mind and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It seems Father, that all Christians find the first commandment completely clear and that the command to love our neighbors, though clear, is much more challenging. Help us understand that the kind of love we should have for each other is as the love You have for us.

Father, not many of us have the depth of love for others that we have for You. Help us see that our own imperfections make it difficult at times for others to love us. Then help us see that the imperfections in our acquaintances and friends are not only to be expected but they are to be forgiven as You have forgiven us.

Father, again You say, bear fruit! We thank you for defining the fruits of the Spirit that should characterize our lives; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness and self control(mnemonic device, PKG FGS to help us memorize and apply as a test, all day, every day). Now help us to manifest our love for You by loving our neighbors in a way that is impossible without Your Spirit in us. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, March 29

Industriousness, March 29

... He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:11-16, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Your word has made it clear. Every Christian must do their share if the body of believers is to grow. You have taught us that we are to seek to be mature in our relationship with You, no longer being as children who are deceived by the cunning of evil.

Father, we see that there are different ways to serve You and that You want to equip us to be as Jesus among men. Teach each of us what Your expectations are this day and every day and then enlighten us and lead us as we seek to serve You.

The presence of our fleshly, sinful instincts must decrease and Your perfect presence must increase. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, March 1

Industriousness, March 1

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
... we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

Ephesians 4:28, Colossians 3:23-25, 1Thessalonians 4:10-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know that your desire is that we are fruitful. You have taught us that one of the reasons to accumulate assets is to share them with those in need. Help us to know that assets, granted to us by You, make us a custodian, one who administers benefits to others.

Working with enthusiasm and joy is your hope for us. Again Father, help us to know that what we do, for and unto men, should be as if we were doing it for You personally. We work and serve, not to our glory, but to Yours. How tempting it is Father to take credit for dispensing Your gifts. Even the gift of love and caring, though free to us, came at a great cost to You. Help us this day to freely give that which we have been given.

In the material sense, most of us lack nothing that we truly need. Help us to be spiritually satisfied by Your word and presence and to generously share Your love. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, February 3

Industriousness, February 3

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;
... he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
... a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

1 Peter 1:17, James 1:25,27, 2:24-26 , www.solascriptura.com

Father, we do fear not being in the center of Your will for our lives and we seek diligently to please you. Help us O'God to know that we never stand before You in our perfection, since we are indeed imperfect. We come to you in all humility and contrition, cloaked in the righteousness of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer with thankful hearts.

Father, Your law reveals Your will for us. When we stand within Your law we stand in liberty. Forgive us O'God when we sin. Deliver us from temptation, constantly, because it is ever upon us. As we proclaim our faith, help us to do good works that verify our words. In the name and power of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, January 7

Industriousness, January 7

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,
let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
"... My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
"For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

James 5:19-20, Isaiah 55:8-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, witnessing of Your love for us is our privilege but let us not take lightly the possibility that our witness may cause a sinner to return to You for an eternal reward. We have seen the joy of redemption; we have seen lives changed. A changed heart is a miracle to behold.

Your thoughts are higher than ours, Your ways beyond our complete understanding. You are indeed omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.

You have told us that Your word does not return void. Your word is truth. Thank You for these words:

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:12

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, October 6

Industriousness, October 6

LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
You turn man to destruction, and say, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.
You carry them away like a flood; they are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up:
In the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers.
For we have been consumed by Your anger, and by Your wrath we are terrified.
You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.
For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a sigh.
The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Return, O LORD! How long? And have compassion on Your servants.
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days!
Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil.
Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children.
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalms 90:1-17, www.solascriptura.com

Father, for these Holy and wise words we are grateful. Help us O' God to fulfill Your expectations and to use each day to Your glory. Life is truly finite; we see the end approaching quickly for ourselves or for others and we realize that our opportunities to serve You and others, on this earth, will be gone.

Help us Father, make the most of what You have given us. Point us to a reunion, to an eternal life, with all those who love you and in the meantime help our work be meaningful and joyful. In Christ' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, August 28

Industriousness, August 28

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler,
Provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep--
So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.
A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth;
He winks with his eyes, he shuffles his feet, he points with his fingers;
Perversity is in his heart, he devises evil continually, he sows discord.
Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

Psalms 126:5-6, Proverbs 6:6-15, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Help us learn from the lowly ant. He who would eat, must work. We know Father of the exceptions for those who can not work physically but even in their case you have provided a capacity to love and to receive love. Help us not only to be industriousness as we are able but to do everything knowing that You are noticing our motives and efforts.

Father, if we could just do "all things as unto You" the quality and consistency of the days of our lives would be improved. We know we can only be our best when it is You in us, guiding and teaching us. We indeed have our bad moments. Forgive us and renew us this day. In Christ's presence and power we pray. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, August 7

Industriousness, August 7

The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin.
As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man to those who send him.

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man's hands will be rendered to him.
The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.

Proverbs 10:16, 26, 12:14, 24, 21:25, 22:29, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Solomon, in his wisdom, made many observations about the futility of life if one focuses on "life here is all there is". We know You want us to work and to work well, all to Your glory.

You tell us that there is a tandem truth; the fruit of our mouth, what we say, and the fruit of our labor, what we do, will be rendered (delivered) to us. We know You are a just God but oh how we lean upon Your mercy. Our imperfections are ever before us.

Keep us from becoming self-satisfied with our efforts and help us remember that every asset we have, every thing that you made that we get to use in life, is a gift. Thank you and guide us in the use of Your gifts. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, May 14

Industriousness, May 14

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
"You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

John 15:1-7, www.solascriptura.com

Thank You Jesus for speaking directly to us. Divine instruction, not from the mouths of men, is indeed a treasure. Here You tell us that it is not just You speaking to us but You and the Father are one.

Father, Your word says, "bear fruit" or perish. That sounds harsh but it is only harsh to those who do not seek to bear fruit. We know that You give us different gifts by which to serve You but none of is without a gift. Help us to seek to serve You this day, knowing that the tests and challenges of life serve to bring understanding and growth. You "prune" us, as painful as it may be at times, that we might bear more fruit.

Teach us to see the value of difficult times that we might grow and bear more and better fruit. Jesus, without You we can do nothing that glorifies You and without You we can do nothing that endures. In service to You, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, April 21

Industriousness, April 21

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
"You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

John 15:12-16, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You have taught us that the two greatest commandments are to love You with all our heart, mind and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It seems Father, that all Christians find the first commandment completely clear and that the command to love our neighbors, though clear, is much more challenging. Help us to understand that the kind of love we should have for each other is as the love You have for us.

Father, not many of us have the depth of love for others that we have for You. Help us see that our own imperfections make it difficult at times for others to love us. Then help us see that the imperfections in our acquaintances and friends are not only to be expected but they are to be forgiven as You have forgiven us.

Father, again You say, bear fruit! We thank you for defining the fruits of the Spirit that should characterize our lives; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness and self control. Now help us to manifest our love for You by loving our neighbors in a way that is impossible without Your Spirit in us. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, March 29

Industriousness, March 29

... He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:11-16, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Your word has made it clear. Every Christian must do their share if the body of believers is to grow. You have taught us that we are to seek to be mature in our relationship with You, no longer being as children who are deceived by the cunning of evil.

Father, we see that there are different ways to serve You and that You want to equip us to be as Jesus among men. Teach each of us what Your expectations are this day and every day and then enlighten us and lead us as we seek to serve You.

The presence of our fleshly, sinful instincts must decrease and Your perfect presence must increase. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, March 1

Industriousness, March 1

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
... we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

Ephesians 4:28, Colossians 3:23-25, 1Thessalonians 4:10-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know that your desire is that we are fruitful. You have taught us that one of the reasons to accumulate assets is to share them with those in need. Help us to know that assets, granted to us by You, make us a custodian, one who administers benefits to others.

Working with enthusiasm and joy is your hope for us. Again Father, help us to know that what we do, for and unto men, should be as if we were doing it for You personally. We work and serve, not to our glory, but to Yours. How tempting it is Father to take credit for dispensing Your gifts. Even the gift of love and caring, though free to us, came at a great cost to You. Help us this day to freely give that which we have been given.

In the material sense, most of us lack nothing that we truly need. Help us to be spiritually satisfied by Your word and presence and to generously share Your love. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, February 3

Industriousness

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;
... he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
... a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

1 Peter 1:17, James 1:25,27, 2:24-26 , www.solascriptura.com

Father, we do fear not being in the center of Your will for our lives and we seek diligently to please you. Help us O'God to know that we never stand before You in our perfection, since we are indeed imperfect. We come to you in all humility and contrition, cloaked in the righteousness of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer with thankful hearts.

Father, Your law reveals Your will for us. When we stand within Your law we stand in liberty. Forgive us O'God when we sin. Deliver us from temptation, constantly, because it is ever upon us. As we proclaim our faith, help us to do good works that verify our words. In the name and power of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, January 7, 2009

Industriousness, January 7, 2009

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,
let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
"... My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
"For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

James 5:19-20, Isaiah 55:8-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, witnessing of Your love for us is our privilege but let us not take lightly the possibility that our witness may cause a sinner to return to You for an eternal reward. We have seen the joy of redemption; we have seen lives changed. A changed heart is a miracle to behold.
Your thoughts are higher than ours, Your ways beyond our complete understanding. You are indeed omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.

You have told us that Your word does not return void. Your word is truth. Thank You for these words:

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:12

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, October 6, 2008

Industriousness, October 6, 2008
LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
You turn man to destruction, and say, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.
You carry them away like a flood; they are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up:
In the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers.
For we have been consumed by Your anger, and by Your wrath we are terrified.
You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.
For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a sigh.
The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Return, O LORD! How long? And have compassion on Your servants.
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days!
Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil.
Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children.
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalms 90:1-17, www.solascriptura.com

Father, for these Holy and wise words we are grateful. Help us O' God to fulfill Your expectations and to use each day to Your glory. Life is truly finite; we see the end approaching quickly for ourselves or for others and we realize that our opportunities to serve You and others, on this earth, will be gone.

Help us Father, to make the most of what You have given us. Point us to a reunion, to an eternal life, with all those who love you and in the meantime help our work be meaningful and joyful. In Christ' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, August 28, 2008

Industriousness, August 28, 2008

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler,
Provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep--
So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.
A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth;
He winks with his eyes, he shuffles his feet, he points with his fingers;
Perversity is in his heart, he devises evil continually, he sows discord.
Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

Psalms 126:5-6, Proverbs 6:6-15, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Help us to learn from the lowly ant. He who would eat, must work. We know Father of the exceptions for those who can not work physically but even in their case you have provided a capacity to love and to receive love. Help us not only to be industriousness as we are able but to do everything knowing that You are noticing our motives and efforts.

Father, if we could just do "all things as unto You" the quality and consistency of the days of our lives would be improved. We know we can only be our best when it is You in us, guiding and teaching us. We indeed have our bad moments. Forgive us and lead us this day. In Christ's presence and power we pray. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, August 7, 2008

Industriousness, August 7, 2008

The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin.
As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man to those who send him.

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man's hands will be rendered to him.
The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.

Proverbs 10:16, 26, 12:14, 24, 21:25, 22:29, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Solomon, in his wisdom, made many observations about the futility of life if one focuses on "life here is all there is". We know You want us to work and to work well, all to Your glory.

You tell us that there is a tandem truth; the fruit of our mouth, what we say, and the fruit of our labor, what we do, will be rendered (delivered) to us. We know You are a just God but oh how we lean upon Your mercy. Our imperfections are ever before us.

Keep us from becoming self-satisfied with our efforts and to remember that every asset we have, every thing that you made that we get to use in life, is a gift. Thank you and guide us in the use of Your gifts. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, July 18, 2008

Industriousness, July 18, 2008

I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down.
When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction:
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest;
So shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.

Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds;
For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.
When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
The lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field;
You shall have enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household, and the nourishment of your maidservants.

Proverbs 24:30-34, 27:23-27, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Solomon observed and made logical deductions. Give us the wisdom to do the same. We know that endeavor, in Your name, is rewarded, but as clear as we are on that fact, we sometimes think that what we have personally accomplished will endure.

Help us not to overly value the transitory. Help us to see that our industriousness here is simply one more important part of Your plan for our lives.

We sometimes work hard here but our treasure is there, with You, forever. Strengthen our resolve to do the right thing, every day. In Christ' name we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, June 4, 2008

Industriousness, June 4, 2008

"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 15:8-11

Jesus, You have taught us that God is glorified as we bear fruit as Your disciples. It is Your love for us, just as it was the Father's love for You, that is the enabling factor. Help us, this day, to trust and obey and to abide in Your love in such a way that it is obvious to everyone that we seek to serve You. The result you promise is that Your joy will fill us and that our joy will be complete.

There is no way to have joy in this troubled world, Jesus, but to seek to be Your disciples, no matter what happens. The world will perish that a more perfect existence may come to all of those who name You as their personal Savior and in clinging to that fact we are able to possess joy. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, May 14, 2008

Industriousness, May 14, 2008

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
"You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

John 15:1-7, www.solascriptura.com

Thank You Jesus for speaking directly to us. Divine instruction, not from the mouths of men, is indeed a treasure. Here You tell us that it is not just You speaking to us but You and the Father are one.

Father, Your word says, "bear fruit" or perish. That sounds harsh but it is only harsh to those who do not seek to bear fruit. We know that You give us different gifts by which to serve You but none of is without a gift. Help us to seek to serve You this day, knowing that the tests and challenges of life serve to bring understanding and growth. You "prune" us, as painful as it may be at times, that we might bear more fruit.

Teach us to see the value of difficult times that we might grow and bear more and better fruit. Jesus, without You we can do nothing that glorifies You and without You we can do nothing that endures. In service to You, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Industriousness, April 21, 2008

Industriousness, April 21, 2008

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
"You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

John 15:12-16, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You have taught us that the two greatest commandments are to love You with all our heart, mind and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It seems Father, that all Christians find the first commandment completely clear and that the command to love our neighbors, though clear, is much more challenging. Help us to understand that the kind of love we should have for each other is as the love You have for us.

Father, not many of us have the depth of love for others that we have for You. Help us to see that our own imperfections make it difficult at times for others to love us. Then help us to see that the imperfections in our acquaintances and friends are not only to be expected but they are to be forgiven as You have forgiven us.

Father, again You say, bear fruit! We thank you for defining the fruits of the Spirit that should characterize our lives; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness and self control. Now help us to manifest our love for You by loving our neighbors in a way that is impossible without Your Spirit in us. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

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Industriousness, March 29, 2008

Industriousness, March 29, 2008

... He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:11-16, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Your word has made it clear. Every Christian must do their share if the body of believers is to grow. You have taught us that we are to seek to be mature in our relationship with You, no longer being as children who are deceived by the cunning of evil.

Father, we see that there are different ways to serve You and that You want to equip us to be as Jesus among men. Teach each of us what Your expectations are this day and every day and then enlighten us and lead us as we seek to serve You.

The presence of our fleshly, sinful instincts must decrease and Your perfect presence must increase. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

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Industriousness, March 1, 2008

Industriousness, March 1, 2008

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

... we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

Ephesians 4:28, Colossians 3:23-25, I Thessalonians 4:10-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know that your desire is that we are fruitful. You have taught us that one of the reasons to accumulate assets is to share them with those in need. Help us to know that assets, granted to us by You, make us a custodian, one who administers benefits to others.

Working with enthusiasm and joy is your hope for us. Again Father, help us to know that what we do for and unto men should be as if we were doing it for You personally. We work and serve, not to our glory, but to Yours. How tempting it is Father to take credit for dispensing Your gifts. Even the gift of love and caring, though free to us, came at a great cost to You. Help us this day to freely give that which we have been given.

In the material sense, most of us lack nothing that we truly need. Help us to be spiritually satisfied by Your word and presence and to generously share Your love. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

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Industriousness March 1, 2008

Industriousness March 1, 2008

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

... we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

Ephesians 4:28, Colossians 3:23-25, 1Thessalonians 4:10-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know that your desire is that we are fruitful. You have taught us that one of the reasons to accumulate assets is to share them with those in need. Help us to know that assets, granted to us by You, make us a custodian, one who administers benefits to others.

Working with enthusiasm and joy is your hope for us. Again Father, help us to know that what we do for and unto men should be as if we were doing it for You personally. We work and serve, not to our glory, but to Yours. How tempting it is Father to take credit for dispensing Your gifts. Even the gift of love and caring, though free to us, came at a great cost to You. Help us this day to freely give that which we have been given.

In the material sense, most of us lack nothing that we truly need. Help us to be spiritually satisfied by Your word and presence and to generously share Your love. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

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Industriousness #11

LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
You turn man to destruction, and say, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.
You carry them away like a flood; they are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up:
In the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers.
For we have been consumed by Your anger, and by Your wrath we are terrified.
You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.
For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a sigh.
The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Return, O LORD! How long? And have compassion on Your servants.
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days!
Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil.
Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalms 90:1-17, http://www.solascriptura.com/

Father, for these Holy and wise words we are grateful. Help us O’ God to fulfill Your expectations and to use each day to Your glory. Life is truly finite, we see the end approaching quickly for ourselves or for others and we realize that our opportunities to serve You and others, on this earth, will be gone.


Help us Father, to make the most of what You have given us. Point us to a reunion, to an eternal life, with all those love you and in the meantime help our work be meaningful and joyful. In Christ’ name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell