Go back where you came from.

Reading: Genesis 15-17 and Acts 5

 

Scripture: Genesis 16:8-9 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.”

 

Thoughts: I know that there have been many times when I have prayed to have a trial removed from myself and others. None of us want to go through trials, which is why when reading this portion of Hagar’s experience I was drawn to the fact that God said to go back and submit. As a man, I will never understand the experience of being the other woman, pregnant, and a servant yet I can understand being told to go back to a situation. Being sent back was not about punishment, but about growth and God wanting to bless us. We need to not be discouraged because God didn’t take pain or trial away but learn to worship in the storms of life and trust that He will bless us on the other side.

 

Prayer: Lord God, you know the hairs on my head, you call me by name to your side. I thank you for the strength to overcome the trials and tribulations in my life. I thank you for the refining and molding you do through the trial. I ask that you give me wisdom and strength to overcome all the obstacles. I ask you to take the anger and roughness from me and place in me a heart of love and joy.

Are you training?

Reading: Genesis 12-14 and Acts 4

 

Scripture: Genesis 14:14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

 

Thoughts: Abram led his TRAINED men. Before a conflict happened before there was a need Abram had already trained men to fight. Are we training for the trials and fights that we are not yet in? The Bible says there will be trials in our lives. (John 16:33) When it comes to spiritual war our training will look different in comparison to the wars of the world. Our training is going to be more focused on the fruit of the spirit we are to be leaning into the Word of God and familiarizing ourselves with the Armor of God and how to use it. We need protection, but we also need to learn to use the Word of God. Dive deep into the word, seek Him with all your heart, and pray always and in every situation.

 

Prayer: Father God, you are the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega. I place my life at your feet. I thank you for the opportunity to honor you with my stewardship. I thank you for covering my needs and blessing us so that we may bless others. I ask that you help me to put on the Armor of God and take up the Sword of the Spirit so that I can in your power and authority overcome the evil one.

It wasn’t me

Reading: Job 41-42, Genesis 11, and Acts 3

 

Scripture: Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

 

Thoughts: The Apostles were pointing to the one who gave them authority and power to overcome. It is human nature to seek more power and authority. It is more common for men to seek power but most everyone wants to be known for something. There are those whom God gave the abilities and talents to become actors or political leaders but in that notoriety who are we pointing to? Are we puffing ourselves up saying look what I did or are we praising God for the talents and abilities that brought us to where we are today? God places in each of us the longing to grow and strengthen who we are but we need to remember and give glory to the one who gives us that power. 

 

Prayer: Father God, you give and your take, you are the power and authority by which I do all things. Your grace overwhelms me and your love overflows in me. I ask that you continue to work in me, mold me, and refine me into the man you are calling me to be. I place my life in your hands, I lay all my wants and desires at your feet and welcome your corrections.

Breaking bread.

Reading: Job 39-40 and Acts 2

 

Scripture: Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

 

Thoughts: We can easily get distracted and lose focus on the things of God. Yet we are still called to be discipled. At my church, we are encouraged to go through a discipleship series. During the different levels, we are asked to commit to a drastic reduction of media consumption. That includes social and mainstream media sources. We are to devote ourselves to the teachings and reading of the Bible, getting into or back into the discipline of daily Bible reading and prayer. In the Bible days and even in many Jewish homes today breaking bread together (having a meal) was not taken lightly it was seen as an acceptance of that person and what they represent. Are we devoting ourselves to seeking God and his will to the point of surrounding ourselves with those who can speak into our lives and those whom we can speak into theirs? 

 

Prayer: Lord God, you are worthy of all praise, your glory shines brighter than a thousand suns. Your peace amid chaos leads me to joy without understanding. I thank you for all you are doing in my life, I thank you that you are molding and refining who I am. I ask that you help me to devote more time and energy to seeking you and seeking others who point me more to you.   

Like breathing out and breathing in.

Reading: Job 37-38 and Acts 1

Scripture:  Acts 1:14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Thoughts: Prayer was an integral part of Jesus’s life. Luke 22:39 says “And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.” As was his custom – Jesus was in prayer so much seeking his father’s will and seeking closeness to his father, that he became known for being in prayer it was his custom. We are to emulate Jesus seeking that closeness and God’s will in our lives. The disciples, not just the remaining 11 but at least 120 people gathered and devoted themselves to prayer. How devoted to prayer and seeking God’s will are we? I know that I have had plenty of times where I was not praying, I was not seeking God. Let us commit to like the old Steven Curtis Chapman song Let Us Pray says “Let us pray without end and when we finish start again Like breathing out and breathing in, let us pray.”

Prayer: Father God, lead us and guide us. Open our hearts to hear you and long to be with you. I place my life before you, take my life, and use it as you will. Open my eyes to see and my ears to hear that I can follow you. Fill me with your love and mercy, continue to pass me through the refiner’s fire that I may be made pure. Mold me and make me into the vessel you need me to be so that I may overflow with your love to those around me. Help me to develop a custom of prayer and seeking you. 

Take this from me!!!!!

Reading: Job 36 and Luke 24

 

Scripture: Job 36:15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity.

 

Thoughts: So often I hear people asking for prayer to take away adversity or affliction in their lives. And usually we are looking to just have all hurts and struggles taken from us. Even Jesus prayed that in the garden the night before he was crucified, the big difference between the way we pray and the way He prayed is the “Not my will but yours.” We are asking for the removal of situations from our limited view of them and from the affliction we are in because of those situations. Here in Job, it is saying that God delivers those afflicted by affliction and our eyes are opened by adversity. Adversity and affliction are not fun but we need to be seeking God’s strength and endurance thought the situation if His will is for us to go through it. We need to seek His will be done and not ours. As a selfish person I want it my way and I need to let that go.

 

Prayer: Lord God, your ways are higher than our ways, you know the molding and refining that need to be done in our lives. I ask that you give me the strength to walk through these trial, help me to learn the thing I need to learn and grow in the places you need me to grow in. Open my eyes to see the next step that your light is showing. Help me to take the steps needed and discern those steps that will lead me from you.

Discipline and authourity.

Reading: Job 35, Psalm 6, and Luke 23

 

Scripture: Psalm 6:8-9 Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer.

 

Thoughts: After listening to David cry out to God to not discipline him in His anger and ask for grace. Then here at the end of the Psalm David walks in the authority given to him by God and tells the evil one and his minions to leave. Saying God has heard him in his weeping and pleading and has accepted them. We will be disciplined by God when we have unrepented sin in our lives. Yet when we are seeking God with our entire heart He will listen to our pleas and weeping. Let us turn away from those sins in our lives and seek the Father with all we have. 

 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the maker of all things, I thank you for your discipline, the correction, and redirection in my life. You are the author of all things and I long to walk humbly with you. I thank you that you do hear me and that you answer my cries out to you. I ask that you continue to mold me and refine me every day. I ask that you help me walk in your ways and seek you every day.

Whos ear is this?

Reading: Job 34 and Luke 22

 

Scripture: Luke 22:50-51 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.

 

Thoughts: I feel like when I hear this story after the focus on the sweat becoming like great drops of blood and the betrayal this servant’s ear gets glossed over. In John’s gospel it says it was Peter who cut off the ear. I can see impetuous Peter jumping in thinking its time to take over. Even being with Jesus for three years many of his follower thought he was going to be the concurring, Messiah. With the authority that the servant carried Peter most likely would have been harshly punished. But this was not just one last miracle before going to the cross but Jesus removed all evidence that the crime happened. Just like how after the cross our sins are wiped away, Jesus made it so that Peter could not be convicted of attacking the high priest’s servant.  He is still touching and healing us and those we hurt today, we need to accept it and ask for forgiveness form God and those we hurt. 

 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the healer and you put back together the things broken in our lives. I thank you that you are working in me. I ask that you forgive my iniquities, open my mind to remember those who I have hurt that I may seek forgiveness and help me to offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me. Fill me with your fruit – Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Faithfulness Gentleness and Self-Control. 

Swordsmen and Traps

Reading: Job 32-33 and Luke 21

 

Scripture: Luke 21:33-34 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

 

Thoughts: Are we watching for the traps and snares of the evil one? just as Job asked to be judged on a fair scale if he was deceived because deception is a trap, we too need to seek a fair scale. We do need to remember that The Word of God is the counter to the deception that is coming our way. It is sharper than and can cut deeper than any two-edged sword. As we dive deeper into the Word every day we learn how to wield that sword. Let us learn to be master swordsmen so that we may cut down the enemy and stand firm on the promises of God.

 

Prayer: Father God, you are the Lord of all, the creator of all. Your ways are higher than our ways. I thank you for your Word I ask you to continue to write it on my heart that I may wield it as you call me to. I ask that you refine me and mold me into the warrior that you are creating in me. Help me to show your love and mercy as well as speak your truth.

How are we being judged?

Reading: Job 30-31 and Luke 20

 

Scripture: Job 31:5-6 If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit; (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)

 

Thoughts: Are we being deceived? They call this the information age, yet with the invention of AI as limited as it is there are still plenty of things that look so close to the truth yet are false. Just in the last couple of weeks, I have come across ads where I noticed there was something off about how the mouth of this well-known actor’s mouth was moving so I knew that he had not said these words in the ad. The evil one has been deceiving people much longer than AI. Job was asking to be judged on a fair scale if he had been deceived. We need to also seek that fair judgment but also seek the wisdom and decrement to see through the lies of the evil one.  

 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the way the truth, and the life. All things are from you. I thank you for the blessings and provision in my life I thank you for the decrement that you impart to us. I ask that you continue to fill us with your love and understanding so that we can walk in your ways and not be deceived.

Use it of loose it!!

Reading: Job 29, Luke 19, and Psalm 121

 

Scripture: Luke 19:26 I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

 

Thoughts: After the parable of the Minas, Jesus tells us that if we are not wise in our stewarding of the things given to us they will be taken away and given to another. All we have is God’s we are here to steward it, to take care of it, and to do his work with it. Not to say we are to live in poverty but when we treat what we have as not ours and that we are to take care of it until the true owner returns and the ability to take care of it will determine how much we will have to take care of later. If we can’t take care of God’s provisions in our lives today what makes us think that our provisions will grow and that we can do more for the kingdom.  

 

Prayer: Lord God, I am in awe of the work of your hands. I thank you for the opportunity to steward the things you place in my hands. I thank you for the blessings and provision you pour out on us every day. I thank you for the supply you provide. I ask for the wisdom and directions to wisely steward those things that are yours and work all things for your good as you work then for mine. Lead me and guide me in all our ways.  

Just Keep Swimming

Reading: Job 27-28 and Luke18

 

Scripture: Luke 18:3-5 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward, he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’

 

Thoughts: I have gotten far too comfortable in this instant gratification world we live in. We have credit cards that allow us to buy things before we have the money to do so. The internet allows instant access to information. When was the last time you needed to wait for something? Even in the process of finding a large truck for being able to tow and haul things for the property, we were able to look at hundreds of dealerships without leaving our couch, instead of driving to a few and settling for what I could find I was able to find a deal. But that also came after time in prayer on how were are dealing with things going on. God’s timing is not our timing, He wants to give us what we need and want but He has his timing. The widow kept coming to the judge to get help even though he said no she kept coming back. We are to be consistent and keep asking. This is not to be a throw one prayer up and walk away we are to be in constant conversation with God and seek His will and his timing. But we do need to remember that sometimes there is a no for a good reason. Listen and be content.

 

Prayer: Father God, your creation shouts your name. With every breath, we say your name and cry out to you. Your grace abounds and your mercy pours out on your children. I thank you for the work you are doing in my life. I ask that you continue to help me to continue to smooth my rough edges, become less aggressive and controlling. Help me to be the strong leader you are calling me to be. To lead with love and mercy especially in my home. I know that the ones closest to me are the ones I hurt the most. Take my hurt and help me to walk in your way. 

Judgy Judgy

Reading: Job 24-26 and Luke 17

 

Scripture: Luke 17:3-4 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.

 

Thought: When someone is being called out on sin in their lives it is common to hear Matthew 7:1 be quoted. “Judge not, that you be not judged. But even in this passage about forgiveness we are called to have discernment and in turn, make a judgment. This is not an eternal judgment that is only for God but we are to judge how to deal with sin in the church. In Luke, it says “If a brother sins.” Sure this can be family but this is more likely to be referring to the church family, our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we are not calling out the sins (judging) ourselves and our brothers we will inevitably start finding ourselves and others finding our way towards the wide and easy path. Yes, we will be judged by the measure we use to judge others like Matthew says but when that judgment is loving kindness calling our brothers and sisters back to God that is the judgment I want used against me.

 

Prayer: Father God I thank you for giving me discernment, helping me to see the difference between where I am and where I should be. I am in awe of the love you pour out on me even when I have fallen into sin. I thank you that you have sent brothers and sisters around to call wake me up to sins in my life. I thank you that you are working in my life, continuing to mold and refine me. You are the potter and the silversmith that are working my life into a reflection of you. I ask that you help me to see the next steps in your plan and give me the boldness to step out in them. 

 

What are you wasting?

Reading: Job 22-23 Luke 16

 

Scripture: Luke 16:1-2 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’

 

Thoughts: As I was reading this I started thinking about all the different things that I manage. My household and finances are the biggest things I manage. At some point my job may move into a place where I manage people and projects but am I managing what I have well? I know there are times when I can definitely say I have not. Are we managing what God has placed in our lives not just well in the eyes of the world but well in God’s eyes? I know that tithes and offerings in the world’s eyes are not good resource management yet God calls us to give. Let us seek to manage well that one day more will be given to us to manage well.  

 

Prayer: Father God, you own the cattle on a thousand hills, you created all and all things bow before you. I thank you for the opportunity to manage and steward some of what is yours. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you pour out on us. I ask that you give us wisdom and discernment in managing you possessions that we can glorify you in our works. I ask for your peace and understanding as we move forward with the things we have been called to. 

Thats not fair!!!!!

Reading: Job 20-21 and Luke 15

 

Scripture: Luke 15:31-32 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’

 

Thoughts: Most of the time the wayward son and his retuning get the attention in this story. The older son who stayed and worked as the younger played was understandably frustrated. Yet the father reminded the older son that even though he was celebrating the return of his lost son all that the father has belongs to the son. It is easy to relate to the older brother when we have been trying to walk with the Lord for a long time looking at the hard work we have been doing being molded and refined by God. Like the older brother yes, we are putting in the hard work, but we also have access to God’s storehouses. Not that God is giving us everything we want, but he is fulfilling the provisions that we need. Let us not be frustrated and angry when someone is celebrated and celebrate the provisions of the Lord. 

 

Prayer: Father God, you own the cattle on a thousand hills, the gold is yours and the silver is yours. I thank you that you are refining me and molding me. I ask that you continue to remove the dross of my life, remove those impurities that are not your fruit in my life. I thank you for your provision in my life and the blessings you pour out on us. Lead us and guide us in all that we do. 

Questioning the attack

Reading: Job 17-19 and Luke 14

 

Scripture: Luke 14:3-4 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.

 

Thoughts: When attacked or questioned about our faith how do we react? Do we jump on the offensive to try to prove what ever tidbit of information they are using to try to debunk what we have accepted. Or life Jesus do we ask a question. These people were the lawyers and judges of all thing pertaining to levitical law, yet they were not able to answer this question. We also need to remember if we are asked something we don’t know that it is ok to say so and ask to look into it come back to them. We are not going to know everything. We need to keep calm and seek God. 

 

Prayer: Lord God your love endures forever, it is deeper and wider than anything this world could offer. I thank you that you are with us, leading and guiding us. I ask that you continue to mold me and refine me in the fire that I may reflect your glory. I ask that you continue to reveal your ways and your plan that a may walk in it. 

Im Growing that!

Reading: Job 15-16 and Luke 13

 

Scripture: Luke 13:7-9 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’

 

Thoughts: As I look back over the last few years, a have to ask myself am I bearing the fruit that I should. It is easy to bear bad fruit. I know that some of my bad fruit has taken seed in my children. I am working to prune the bad and fertilize the good. Are we being productive in what God has called us to or are we being productive to the world’s perspective? Is there something in our life that God is working in us to cut out, yet we are growing it? Or is there something that we have been called to cultivate yet we have been neglecting? Together let us strive for The Way, The Truth and The Life. 

 

Prayer: Father, you are worthy of all praise, I thank you for another day to worship and praise you. I thank you for the beauty of the snow and the stillness that comes in the fresh powder. I ask you to continue to lead and guide me in your ways. Open my heart and mind to your plans and directions.

What are you intentions

Reading: Job 13-14 and John 12

 

Scripture: John 12:5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

 

Thoughts: I feel that it is all too common to look at something someone is doing to for God’s glory and think about doing it differentially. We have a tendency to seek out ways to benefit ourselves. Judas being a thief was looking to line his own pocket. We are not to judge the intentions of others, but the fruit that they bear. We never know what God’s plan for the act that someone has been called to, sure there may be something that could look more beneficial in our eyes, but we don’t know the big picture. 

 

Prayer: Father God help me to not judge the deeds of others. Help me to walk in your ways and listen to the directions in my life that I may bear your fruit. 

That Stinks

Reading: Job 11-12 and John 11

 

Scripture: John 11:39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”

 

Thoughts: As I was reading this passage, I started thinking about how so many people talk about how they need to get their lives straight and stop this habit or that habit before they can come to God or go to church. These are all lies from the pit of hell. Here in John 11 Jesus was ordering to have a tomb opened that would have had all sorts of uncleanness in it and yes it probably would have stunk. I have heard this story told by several people claiming it was their story but, a stoner comes to a pastor asking if he needed to stop smoking marijuana to be able to accept Jesus, and the pastor tries to explain that the intoxicated individual didn’t need to stop doing anything to come to God and this stoner not getting it. finally tried asking him, “Do you need to get cleaned up to take a bath?” when the stoner answered “No” the paster told him you don’t have to quit anything, but Holy Spirit will cause a change and that is when you start cleaning. Jesus didn’t tell the sisters to go clean him up before he called Lazarus out of the muck and the dirt and the stench to come walk in a new life. Just as Jesus called Lazarus out, he calls us out of our disgusting mess of a life into a new walk where we are working on growing close to God.

 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, you call us out of our filth and into your grace and mercy. I thank you for sending you Son to pay the price that I can spend eternity with you. I thank you that I didn’t have to get right and get clean before I could come before you and seek your acceptance. I ask that you continue to refine me and mold me into the man you called me to be. Lead me and guide me, Lord, open my eyes and ears to hear and see you and your path. 

Right before God?

 Reading: Job 9-10 and John 10

 

Scripture: Job 9:2-3 “Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God? If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.”

 

Thoughts: I know in my past I have questioned God, and been angry with Him. I also know I spent plenty of time I know best especially when I was running from God’s presence. Job brought up the question - How can a man be right before God? That we could not answer God one out of a thousand times, yet even in my lifetime I have seen more and more people walking away from God or twisting His Word to say sin is OK. The only way that we are seen as right before God is to die to ourselves, accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and seek after God working through the process of sanctification. We can stand before God and answer Him because we are covered by the blood that was shed on the cross and filled with the Holy Spirit. Let us recognize that without Jesus there is no way we can be right with or answer God.  

 

Prayer:  Father God, I fall humbly at your feet. You are the creator of all things, the gold is yours and the silver is yours. You provide all things. I thank you for the provisions and blessings that you pour out on us every day. I ask for your wisdom and direction with the property and the vehicles, for the repair or replacement in the situation we have with the vehicles. Open our ears to hear, our minds to perceive, and our eyes to see what you are doing in our lives and the steps to take and when to take them to glorify you. I place all I have in your hands and ask to be led. 

Who, What, Why, and How

Reading: Job 7-8 and John 9

Scripture: John 9:9-10, Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?”

 

Thoughts: Here in the information age, we are regularly looking for the hows and whys of the world around us. After seeing this man, who they knew as a blind man now seeing, they started seeking how this was done. Some even questioned if he was the same man. I know that I can get too caught up in the who and how of a situation and not look at the why. Jesus said just a few verses earlier to his disciples that he was born blind God’s might could be displayed in him. When situations arise in our lives good or bad, are we missing something in the who, what, why, and how of seeking? I feel like we spend more time looking at the who and what of the situation instead of looking at how can God use this to point to him. Sometimes we do need to understand the why of situations. Sometimes we are being attacked, sometimes there is an unconfessed sin in our life, and still, others may be God wanting us to point to him.  We need to remember to always point to God no matter the situation good or bad. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

Prayer: Lord you are worthy, your majesty renders me speechless and unable to proclaim your glory. Your presence overwhelms me and fills me with your love and mercy. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you pour out on us, I thank you for the opportunities to to point to you and share your love and your might to the world. I ask then you help me to walk out those opportunities that this world may know you. I thank you that you are refining me, I ask that in that you help remove the anger and harshness in my heart and voice and show your peace and joy more. 

Heavier than the sands of the sea.

 Reading: Job 5-6 and John 8

Scripture: Job 6:2-3 “Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.”

 

Thoughts: Hebrews 11 talks about the cloud of witnesses, Paul took companions with him on his journeys. When we are being weighed down and we feel that we can’t move due to the burden that has fallen on us, are we taking out the harsh rash words and tones or are we seeking those who can help shoulder those burden? Soldiers learn to relay on those men in their squad. We need to find those people around us who are willing to help us with our burdens and we help them with theirs. When seeking those to help carry your burden don’t be deceived by the sweet alluring voices telling you that your sins are ok, seek those who will call you out on your shortcoming and together build up the strongholds against the evil one who seeks to destroy the work God is doing in your life. 

 

Prayer: Author of eternity, creator of all things, I fall on my face before you. I raise my hands I worship and lay my life before you. I thank you for the work you are accomplishing in my life and those people you have brought into my life to help carry me. I ask that you help me to be the helper that they have been to me and to grow deeper in my relationship with you and walk the narrow path that leads to you. Lead me guide me and open my heart to more of you. 

What do you have in your eye?

Reading: Job 3-4 and John 7 

Scripture: John 7:51-52 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” 

 

Thoughts: As I look at this passage, I see how the modern world with cancel culture and the viral nature of social media that many people have forgotten about the law and take things into their own hands. No matter what side of political groups you are on there are always people who take it too far. Are we doing our due diligence to hear out what is being said so that we may determine God’s leading and truth? These political and religious leaders were trying to keep themselves in power, they didn’t want to hear about the miracles being done, they needed to be shown that there was something illegitimate about Him so they could squash the idea He was Messiah. They even wanted proof that no prophets have come from or have been said will come from Galilee. Are we canceling someone because they have a sin in their life that we don’t struggle with? What is the plank in your eye that you are looking around trying to pick the speck out of someone else’s eye? As we walk with God, and seek the influence of the Holy Spirit in our life we will start to hear God speaking to us. 

 

Prayer: Speak Lord for your servant is listening. I lift my eyes to the heavens and open my ears to the whispers of your great love. I raise my voice to praise you and worship you. I ask that you continue to mold and make me. I ask that the refining help me to know you more. I ask that your love fill me to overflowing that I in turn can’t help but spill your love out on others around me. 

What do I need?

 Reading: Job 1-2 and John 6 

Scripture: Job 1:21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

 

Thoughts: The verse stood out to me first thing in the morning but I hadn’t gotten around to writing this until later. In the late morning, my wife was taking the kids to the bowling alley for her sister's birthday celebration, and halfway there we got the notification on low tire pressure. As I call to get what the system says the tire pressure is so I can determine how to deal with it I get this frantic I think the car is overheating. I start heading to where she parked to take a look at the car and check the codes to see what the issue is my mind is spinning on all the possibilities and dollar signs that go with those possibilities. I get to her let her take the car I drove there in and I start poking around in the broken car. I discovered there it was just the tire pressure and the car was not overheating. But in the meantime, I had to remind myself that if God takes this car away then he will provide what we need and in all situations, I need to praise God.   

 

Prayer: Father God I praise you, I lift your name above all names. I glorify your name. I thank you for all you are doing in my life, I thank you for the refining and molding you are doing. I ask that you help my heart and mind be more receptive to that molding and refining, help me to cut out the things that are not of you, and walk in your ways. 

What father are you follwing?

 Reading: Genesis 9-10 and John 5

 

Scripture: John 5:19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”

 

Thoughts: I have come across many videos on the internet showing children’s reaction to getting the news that they have been adopted. The pure joy that erupts in their eyes is evident. When God first found us we found joy but have we held onto that joy and truly accepted our place as a son or daughter of God. Jesus after healing the man at the pool of Bethesda, said He only does what the Father does. Are we taking the position of sons and daughters to do the things the Father does. Jesus said in John 14:12 that we will do the things he did and greater things. Are we looking and listening to the Father so that we know what he is doing so that the can do the things He is doing? 

 

Prayer: Lord, I lay my life before you, creator of all things, owner of the cattle on a thousand hills. I thank you for your refining and your molding of my life. I run after you and seek our plans that I may find a place in it. I long to be walking in your ways. I lay my anger and lust at your feet. Help me to leave the chains that have held me down and back from your will and to walk in your ways. 

Where are we leading others to?

 Reading: Genesis 6-8 and John 4

 

Scripture: John 4:53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.

 

Thoughts: The other night I was at a men’s ministry meeting discussing reaching men. Then as I read this morning, I was reminded that even today when we reach a man the family will fallow. I feel like a woman may take her children church but a man will lead his family to God. As a man I need to remember that to good or bad I lead my family. I need to be more intentional and lead my family to God and not into the world.

 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful. Your glory shines around us in all your creation. I see your wonders in the dew of the morning, in the beauty of a shell, and in the colors of the sunrise. I thank you that you have entrusted me with my family, l thank you for the provisions to take care of them and the blessings of things you allow us to enjoy. I ask that you continue to help me release my anger to you and to remove the harsh tones in my voice. Mold me and make me into the man you have called me to be. 

“When 900 years old, you reach… Look as good, you will not.” – Yoda, Return of the Jedi

 Reading: Genesis 4-5 and John 3

Scripture: Genesis 5:32 After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

 

Thoughts: looking at all the generations listed before Noah and their average age of around 900 then at today ninety to a hundred, we are living about one-tenth of their lifespan. If we take the ages here in chapter 5 and divide them by ten, we see some interesting things. Child rearing was normally very early in life, and it always said they fathered other sons and daughters. We don’t know how many, but I guess that because they started early, they would have many. But in our passage, it said Noah was 500 when he started having kids. That is like today waiting until you were in your fifties to start having kids. I am in my early forties I have a seven- and a nine-year-old. I remember how exhausted my wife and I were having our babies when we did. I can only imagine how tired we would be if we had started having kids almost twenty years later than we did. We also can look at Abraham having kids at 100 and Caleb going in to take land at 80. We are never too old for God to work in us and through us. We have a calling, and He will give us the strength to walk out that calling He has placed on our lives. 

 

Prayer: Father God, your wonders never cease to amaze me, your glory shines among the stars and fill the earth with your love. Your love overwhelms us and calls us to you. I thank you for all the work you have done in my life. I thank you for the blessings and provision you are pouring out on us every day. Open my heart to hear your voice more, help me to seek after you more. I ask for the strength of the ages to do your work, to overcome the trials and tribulations that are around me. Help me to cast off the old me and take on the righteousness that you have called me to. 

What are you wearing

 Reading: Genesis 2-3, Psalm 149, and John 2

 

Scripture: Genesis 3:21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

 

Thoughts: What are we clothing ourselves in? After disobeying God’s one rule and their eyes were opened Adam and Eve clothed themselves in leaves. Leaves when removed from the plant will start to wither, dry out, and become crumbly as an effect of being disconnected from their life source. What do we have in our lives that may cover us for the moment but will ultimately wither and fall apart? Social media is an example of this at work. Almost every social media platform has filters for the photos being taken, leading to this paper-thin veneer over reality. The posts are also typically engineered to show the best side of a situation but when we zoom out a little and remove the filters the reality of who we are and what is going on shines through. All these things will one day fall apart. Through the shedding of blood, God made clothes for Adam and Eve out of skins. These garments may not last forever but would have lasted much longer than the leaves and also would have given them some protection. The blood shed for us by Christ allows us to cast off the clothes of sin and put on the armor of God that will last and protect us for the battles to come.    

 

Prayer: Lord God, praise be to you, your love endures forever and ever. I thank you for your provisions and the blessings you pour out on us. I thank you for the work you are doing in my life, the refining fire, and the revealing of sin in my life. I thank you for your Son and the blood shed for me. I cast off my sinful clothes and seek to put on the armor and step up to the battle before me. I ask that you help me to continue to remove the veneers and filters I place on my life so that I can shine your light on this dark and broken world.

Food for Thought

 Reading: Genesis 1 and John 1

 

Scripture: Genesis 1:30-31, And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

 

Thoughts: As we start another year, I love starting with the beginning, the creation of all things, and how God meant for it to be. Not only are we allowed to start anew, just as when we came to the Lord, but we are also allowed to look back at where we came from. In the beginning, God gave all plants and all creatures that have the breath of life in them as food. Then when establishing the nation of Israel God gave them dietary restrictions, now through Christ all foods are considered clean. As we are cleansed by the blood and starting a new year let us look back on who God created us to be and who we have been over this last year. Now let us walk in the new year striving to return to the person God created us to be. 

 

Prayer: Father God, you are worthy of all praise. Your creation cries out your design and your purpose. I ask that as we start this new year help to cast out the old man that seeks himself and fill me with your love and your kindness. Forgive me my trespasses and help me to be changed. I thank you for all that you have done in my life, the molding and refining you have done so far, and I thank you for the continued work you are doing. I place my family in your hands, our finances, and our property. Our home and land are yours and we ask you to do with it as you will. Our vehicles are yours. May we be the stewards you have called us to be of these things that are yours.