Standing up

Reading: Daniel 3-4, 1 Timothy 1, and 2 Thessalonians 1

Scripture: Daniel 3:16-17, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.”

Thoughts: We are always needing the reminders in our lives that we need to stand up for what we believe. In western society and with the ever-widening divide that is being created by the narratives of one side verses the other and are being exacerbated by the echo chambers created on the internet. Are we getting into the Word of God every day seeking Him and asking to be led by Holy Spirit? We need the discernment to walk in this world and be willing to take whatever persecution will come our way. Here in the United States, we have been granted the freedom to speak and worship as we will, but there are those who are working to remove those freedoms. Even the freedoms we once enjoyed are being taken from us, we like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego need to be willing to stand up and say no more. We each need to listen to Holy Spirt and seek the path we are to take, there are some called to stand, there are those called to support. We may not be currently persecuted like those in other countries but if we don’t stand for God now that persecution will come here. Get in the Word every day and seek your place in Gods plan for this world. 

Prayer: Lord God you are in control, you lead and guide us. Your plan has been set in place since the beginning of time. I am blessed to be apart of what you are doing and the work you have for me to do. I ask that you continue to work in me, mold me and refine me into the spiritual warrior you have called me to be. 

Walking in inconvenience

Reading: 2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36, Ephesians 4, and 1 Thessalonians 5

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Rejoice always

Thoughts: Over the last few weeks, I have been struggling, I interviewed for a position on October 10 offered the position and told that I would hear something withing 3-4 weeks I thought that was a little long but went with it. When reaching the end of the time I had not heard anything I contacted them and was told there was a hiccup and that I should hear from someone by November 29, luckily it didn’t take that long. It had its how hiccups like me being given one date for a phone call and the person calling me another. Finally I got the official offer and a start date of January 10 a full 3 months after my interview. In going though all things I got away from journaling and missing some of my time with God letting myself get distracted with things on social media. Then in reading I came across the shortest verse in the Bible, probably not the one you are thing of, Jesus wept (ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς) may be the shortest in English but in the original language the shortest is a command that we should all want to and strive to keep and have as part of our daily lives. Rejoice always (Πάντοτε χαίρετε) is a short and powerful command that will change our outlook on life dramatically, when we spend our time focusing on the bad and the inconvenient that is going on, Like being told that because of a hiccup that you have a month and a half left at a current position, or if you were someone with out work that you had that much more time without income. What would happen if we found reasons to rejoice even in the middle of disappointment and inconvenience? Even though we may be having struggles and disappointments there are wondrous reasons to rejoice. 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, you own the cattle on a thousand hills, you created all things and yet you still know the hairs on my head. You know what I need before I do and you set things in motions to take care of all things. You work all things for the good of those who are called according to his purpose. You are with us as we walk through hardships and trials, you are our comfort and shield. I thank you for all that you are doing in me, I thank you that you are molding me and guiding me, that you are refining me and forging me into that witch you call me to be. I ask that you pour your peace and mercy on me as I continue in the place I am ready to leave. Lord I ask that you bless those who are loosing me as a worker and those who are gaining me. May your timing for the move be a blessing to all. 

Presented

Reading: Ezekiel 27-28, Ephesians 1, and 1 Thessalonians 2

Scripture: Ephesians 1:11, In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

Thoughts: When reading this verse I was going to look into the word for counsel but ended up accidently pulling up the word for purpose, the Greek word was prothesis and eight times it was translated as purpose but also it has been translated four time as Shewbread or setting fourth of things or to place in view. The Shewbread or Showbread were the twelve loaves that were offered every sabbath in the temple. This bread was offered regularly to God placing it in view of God. Paul is taking this practice that these Jews would have known and saying we are as the showbread Christ has taken us into the temple of Heaven and laid us out like the show bread before God. We have been washed clean by the Blood of Christ but we still have a tendency to pick up that we have been told to lay down. So, what are we holding onto in our lives that is being shown to God?

Prayer: Father God, we are unworthy to me in your presence, yet you sent your Son to come and be the payment that I may be in your presence. I thank you that you are working in my life cleaning the spots and blemishes that I have put on over the years. I thank you that you call me to be your son and that I get to walk with you. I ask again this day to be cleaned the washed again as things creep into my life I ask that you help me to focus on you and seek your guidance for my life. 

Rejoice and be glad

Reading: Ezekiel 25-26, Psalm 118, Galatians 6, and 1 Thessalonians 1

Scripture: Psalm 118:24, This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Thoughts: We so often get wrapped up in the little things of day-to-day life let us stop and rejoice and be glad in what God has done in our lives. 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, your creation shouts of your glory, I rejoice in the work you are doing in my life the pleasures and joy pour out on me. I thank you and praise you. 

Flesh or Spirit

Reading: Ezekiel 23-24 and Galatians 5

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-21, Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Thoughts: When reading Galatians 5 the big focus from childhood has been on the fruit of the spirit, the who we should be when Holy Spirit is living in us and calling us to closer relationship with God. But shortly be for that well known passage is another list, this list is what will become abundant in out lives when we are not focusing on God and his will. Even if we overlook the big controversial ones at the beginning of the list from Sexual immorality to sorcery, we get down to things that we are seeing all over the world in all media sources no matter what side of the political conversation you are on. So, the question lies in, are we causing the enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and envy or are we as Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” When we look at this list of things that are signs of living in the flesh how is God calling you to work though things we struggle with or is he calling you to walk with someone to help pull them from that mire? 

Prayer: Father God, you know every hear on my head and every misstep that I have taken yet you love me and call me yours. I thank you that you do call me and lead me every day. I thank you that you are molding and refining me. you are removing the things of this world from my heart and replacing them with kingdom things. I thank you that you have brought people into my life to call me our on my shenanigans and point me back to you. I ask that you continues to work in my life and lead and guide me in your path. 

Are we institutionalized?

Reading: Ezekiel 21-22 and Galatians 4

Scripture: Galatians 4:31, So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Thoughts: Paul is reminding us of the freedom that Christ redeemed us from. Through the adoption into God’s family, we are made to free even though we tend to walk back into our slavery. There is a term for those who have been released from prison and don’t know how to cope with the freedom they have been granted, they are institutionalized, there are those that it is such an issue for them they will do a new crime to go back. Many Christians can find themselves in the same boat, we have spent so much time in the clutches of sin and taking the chains of our past with us we don’t know what to do with the freedom that we receive in Christ. Not that we are to sin more, but we are free from the guilt and condemnation of the chain we have caried with us for so long. Are we institutionalized by the sins of this world or are we striving forward into the calling The Father has placed in our lives? 

Prayer: Father God, creator of all things, almighty God, you are so wondrous. I thank you that you have called me and that you are leading me every day. I thank you that you are molding me into the man you call me to be, helping me to put down the chains of my past and walk in your grace and mercy. I ask that you help me to continue to strive after you every day.

What is getting in your home?

Reading: Ezekiel 19-20 and Galatians 3

Scripture: Ezekiel 20:7, And I said to them, “Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.”

Thoughts: The Prophet Ezekiel was talking to some of the leadership of Israel who had come to him to see wat God had for them. After God having him remind them of the things their fathers had done and of bringing them out of Egypt then reminds them to stop seeking the gods of Egypt. Today our gods and idols are not stone and precious metals, our idols are then entertainment that streams into our homes and phones 24/7 365. Are we seeking the things that are glorifying God pointing us to the one who created all things or are we too busy watching the latest episode of what ever the latest show is? We need to have the discernment to see with out spiritual eyes and see the evil that is coming into our home and what we are allowing to get into our minds and the minds of our family especially if we have small children. If we are not teaching them right and wrong according to God’s Word and plopping them down in front of a screen for several hours a day who is teaching them more Mom and Dad who are doing their own thing when the kids are distracted by a screen or is the screen teaching them the qualities of the world? What are we letting into our eye that is making its way into our hearts and mind?

Prayer: Father God, you are the creator of all things you know the good and the evil, you have given us the ability to seek after all and you call us to your side to walk with you and to forsake all others. I thank you that you have called me, and that you continue to call me as I get distracted at times. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you pour out on us, I thank you that you are working in me that I can forsake the evil of this world. I thank you that daily you mold me and refine me further into the man you call me to be. I ask that you help me to have a discerning spirit when it comes to things in my home, help me to lead my family in your ways and in your truth. 

Dig out the entrance

Reading: Ezekiel 6-8, Psalm 117, Romans 14, and Colossians 4

Scripture: Ezekiel 8:8-9, Then he said to me, “Son of man, dig in the wall.” So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. And he said to me, “Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.”

Thoughts: Ezekiel in his vision was taken to the temple, digging to enter into the temple he sees the abominations that is happening there. It happens more frequently than the Church would like to admit but local churches or leaders will sometime get lead astray. We are all human and we will all be tempted and sometimes we will fall to that temptation. Ezekiel was being shown atrocities happening in the Temple, today though the adoptions into God’s family we are made the temple, so not only do we need to continue to be discerning about what is bring taught in our homes, schools, and churches, but we need to continually be checking ourselves and having those people in our lives whom we are able to be open and honest with and will call us out on the trash we are letting into our lives. Hebrews 3:13 says “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” We need to come together not just for service once a week and call it good we are to be doing life together and holding each other accountable and encouraging each other in our walk with the Lord. Let us dig out the entrance into our hearts that we can see the abominations that we are letting reside there so that we can cast them out. 

Prayer: Father God, you are worthy of all praise and honor, your light cast out all darkness. Lord I open my heart to your light to break the chains and cast out all that does not belong in my heart. I thank you for the molding and refining you are working in my life and the growth you are calling me to. I ask that you help me to overcome my desires and seek after you. 

November 6 Should I stay or Should I Go now?

Reading: Jeremiah 39 & 50, Romans 10, and Colossians 1

Scripture: Jeremiah 39:9-10, Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to him, and the people who remained. Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.

Thoughts: We have our spiritual marching orders from God the Father, just as those who were being invaded by the Chaldeans. In this situation there were those who listened to God, and those who listened to the king. Those who listened to the king we killed and caused the city and temple to be burned, those who listened to God were ether taken to Babylon or were left to tend the vineyards. God has called each and every one of us to walk in his plan. Are we listening to God or are we letting the world influence us into fighting those whom we are called to serve. 

Prayer: Lord God almighty, you oh Lord are the banner I cling to, the banner that I run to where are others fail you stand firm. You are the Rock of all ages. I lay my life before you and walk in your ways. No matter is if is into service, or war I will follow you. I thank you for the provisions you are pouring out on us. I thank you that you are molding and refining me into the man and father you are calling me to. Lead me and guide me in all that I do. 

November 5 After the pit of dispair.

Reading: Jeremiah 34, 37-38 and Romans 9

Scripture: Jeremiah 38:13, Then they drew Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.

Thoughts: Jeremiah was thrown in a cistern and left there to die in the mud because of what he was telling people that if they follow God’s will to be taken by Babylon that the city would not be burned. After being brought out hopping to get a different answer the king comes to him again. Standing firm on what God had told him he tells the king the same thing. We are moving one day at a time closer to the end of days, being that no one but the Father knows the time or day, we need to be prepared to share the gospel and not change the word of God to suit the situation bust because we were put into or drawn out of the pit. 

Prayer: Father God, Creator of all things, you are worthy of all praise and honor. Your Son is the only way to you. I thank you for sending your Son and the grace and mercy you pour out on us every day. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you share with us. I ask that you give us the strength to stand for you when no one else will and the we will not bend to the world’s view of You and your Son. Lead us and guide us, pour your Spirit on us and fill us each day. 

November 4 Setting your mind????

Reading: Jeremiah 32-33 and Romans 8

Scripture: Romans 8:6, For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Thoughts: We all have fleshly desires, some are created by God for survival and procreation, others are tools that have been twisted into desires by the evil one. The most common one of these is money, it is a tool for commers, money allows us to convert the works of our hands and mind into other thing we need for survival. When we get to the point where we are seeking money for the sake of having more, or that old phrase “keeping up with the Jones.” Are we living to work or are we working to live? For me there was a time where I think I was living to work, in the fact I was working as many hours as I could to get as much money as I could to get more things, as well as living on credit. Today I am fighting to not work too much but needing to pay my bills and take care of a family I still work more then I would like and I’m tired when I am home. When I started focusing on God and looking at my spiritual life I started to see even in the tight budget and crazy world swirling around me I found all the provision and peace I needed. Our flesh is always going to want more and always change what it wants when we get what we thought we wanted, but the peace of God is always there always filling us we just need to learn to tap into it.

Prayer: Father God, you are the creator of all things, you are the great provider and you pour your peace over us. I thank you for all that you are doing in my life, the molding and refining to grow who you have called me to be, I thank you for the provision that you pour out upon us. Giving us what we need when we need it and even at times the things we want. I thank you that you are always with us pouring your love into your lives that we may pour it out to others. Help me to keep my focus on you and seek your spirit and turn from the fleshly desires that only fulfill for a time. 

November 3 Can a man bear a child?

Reading: Jeremiah 30-31 and Romans 7

Scripture: Jeremiah 30:6-7, Ask now, and see, can a man bear a child? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor? Why has every face turned pale? Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.

Thoughts: Jeremiah 2500 years ago was writing about things we are dealing with today. When he was writing this and hearing this from God I doubt that he imagined that there would be such controversy over if a Man can be a Woman. Then going on to say that it is a distressful time for Jacob (Israel) but he will overcome. We are seeing crazy changes in what is being pursued and Israel was not a nation for a very long time to only be reestablished in the 1940s and their people we still holding fast to who they are. Are we holding fast to who we are in Christ and declaring the truth in an unbelieving world. 

Prayer: Lord God, you know the plans you have for us, you shine a light on the next step and lead us though the darkness. I thank you for all you are doing in my life, I thank you that even in the times of distress that you have declared victory and that as adopted heirs you have declared the will be saved. I ask for the boldness and strength to share the gospel where you have for me to share it. Lead me and guide me in all that we do. 

November 2 What did you say???

Reading: Jeremiah 28-29, Psalm 17, and Romans 6

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:10-11, For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

Thoughts: There is love and distain for this verse, in part because so many people us it at inappropriate times and situations. There are many people fall into these traps of using a verse that sounds good in someone’s time of distress. This passage can be a comfort for those walking with the Lord knowing there is a plan and a path to walk but it does not make the trial or the pain any easier to go through. Jeremiah had just been telling Israel that they are going to Babylon for 70 years so when they get there build houses, plant gardens, and have families, then tells them that God has a plan. In the ESV they use welfare but the Hebrew word shalowm can also be translated as completeness, soundness or peace. We can’t see God’s big picture this side of heaven, we may be given a glimpse into the next step or two. This verse may be a comfort to those who have overcome a trial or are on a mountain between valleys but when we are in the mist of a valley fighting to remain faithful, fighting to overcome something we don’t want to hear “He has a plan” we need to hear “Here is my shoulder I will walk with you.” This is why we need our community, Men gathering together to sharpen iron, Women gathering to hold each other up, and Families coming together to battle the influences of a world that does not want the Word of God to spread. Let us overcome together. 

Prayer: Father God, you are the Comforter and you give us the peace in the mist of the storm. You pour your joy into our lives and give us life. I thank you that you do have a plan and that you are working in our lives. I ask that you continue to mold me and refine me into the father you have called me to be. I ask that you help us to walk together in the trials and pains that are to come, there is a way though. Help us to come together to shine your glory into this world. 

November 1 Babylon and Newton's fist law

Reading: Jeremiah 21, 24&27, Psalm 33, and Romans 5

Scripture: Jeremiah 21:8-9, And to this people you shall say: “Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you shall live and shall have his life as a prize of war.”

Thoughts: How many times have we been told what to do and we just don’t? Probably more times than we can count or can remember. Israel was the same way, God many times though his prophets would tell them do this or that or stay away for this or that. In this case Israel was told surrender to Babylon and go with them or they will die. Most of our trials are not nearly as dramatic as go into captivity or die but one day it may. Newton’s first law says, “An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.” That is the same with people, we don’t want to change or move from what we find comfortable, it is easy to just put up our feet and let the world move around us. God through Jeremiah was telling Israel to go into exile for a time. How many of us have been told to change something, knowing that after the hard work of the change that you would be better off. I’m sitting in that now. After getting surgery to fix my diaphragm, and after 2 months of not doing much, I went back to work, and it has been exhausting and I have increased my bad eating habits getting to the heaviest I have ever been. I now faced with overcoming the want to stay where I am. For me I need to get up and get going with my exercise and eating better for Israel it was go to Babylon. What is God or your health telling you that you need to do that is not a fun situation but will have great benefits later. 

Prayer: Father God, you know all and sell all and in that knowledges you still chose me and you still call and lead me. I ask that you help me to overcome the longing to stay where I am and overcome the stagnation with my body and my spirit. You are the one who created us and knows what we need to overcome the want to stay at rest, give us the fuel to get this object moving and to overcomer ourselves. 

October 31 Circumcision as a seal.

Reading: Jeremiah 48-49 and Romans 4

Scripture: Romans 4:11, He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,

Thoughts: Paul when writing to the Romans is talking about how Abraham was counted as righteous before he was circumcised, that the righteousness could be counted to both circumcised and the uncircumcised. There are those put too much weight on other topics withing the church today. Thing that causes issues in the church today very from what kind of baptism and at what point do they get, to chairs vs pews, praise songs to hymns. It is not about all the different physical things that happen in and around the church it is about the heart and soul relationship with God that was opened to us by the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is not about the outward signs but the inward choices, We can easily look like the good little boys and girls yet be walking ourselves strait to hell. 

Prayer: Lord God you are the one who sent your Son to wash me and cleans me of my sin. I thank you that you did send him and that you offer a way to walk with you. I thank you that you are working in my life refining the righteousness in my life and removing the sinful desires that I hang onto. I ask that you open my heart and soul to the changes and growth you have for me, help me to walk the narrow path and seek you all the days of my life. 

October 30 Who needs rules???

Reading: Jeremiah 45-47, Psalm 86, Romans 3, and 2 Corinthians 13

Scripture: Romans 3:20, For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Thoughts: In the course of Biblical history the amount of law varied, in the garden they had one rule to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, later Abraham made a covenant with God, then God gave Moses the ten commandments. Later the Jewish leaders developed hundreds of laws to keep them from getting close to breaking one of the commandments. Jesus later said all the law can be summed up in two Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Even though the Law changes and is modified by man over the years Paul is telling us it is not about the law, we are not getting into heaven because we keep a list of rules, those rules are there to help us see that there is sin in our lives and that our wadges for that sin is death. We are not able to be in relationship with God on our own we need the connection that is made through the gift of forgiveness and adoption made when Jesus the one who did live a sinless life gave up his life to offer that connection.  

Prayer: Father God, I thank you that you did send your Son that we could have reconciliation with you and be able to walk with you. I know that there is nothing I can do to wash myself clean but thought the blood of your Son I am washed clean and redeemed. I thank you that you are working in my life, you are leading and guiding, molding, and refining my life. Help me to focus on you and your path you have laid before me.