November 22nd 2015 What is your gift?

Reading: Ephesians 4, 2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12, And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ

Observation: Paul here was saying that there are many callings and jobs that are to be done in the church to build us the body of Christ. We are not called to be all of them or do every job. That is why scripture says we are all members of one body. Just like if we were just an eye how would we hear, touch, taste, or move, we are not all to be prophets, evangelists, or teachers. We each have our gifts, things God gave us abilities in and we need to use those to serve and spread the love of God through our gift. Some of us our gift is cooking and cleaning and we love them because there are many of us who our gifting is not that and we are thankful there are people who clean up behind us.

Application: God gave us things we are good at and things we are love to do we now need to find ways to do that and build up the body of Christ at the same time. One of the pastors that I listen to has talked about having different small groups where people do things like knit or quilt together for to bless other and grow closer to God. If you have a passion for something find others who have that same passion and find a way to share God’s love though your gifts and talents.

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for another day to enjoy your great blessings in our lives, family, friends, and the ability to speak your name. Lord, we ask you to help us see where we can use our talents and our gifts for you and help us to share your love with those around us.

November 21 2015 What are you a Steward of?

Im Sorry this was not posted yesterday it took a second day to get to the computer to type it up.

Reading: Ephesians 3, Ezekiel 31-32, Psalm 45

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-2, For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,

Observation: Paul writing to the church in Ephesus is reminding them that God put it on his heart and called him to minister to Gospel to the Gentiles therefore he had stewardship of God’s grace to share God’s grace with all who would listen.

Application: Like Paul we are all called to Share God’s Gospel. We are all put in different places in our lives to reach people that others are not reaching. I’m not saying we are all called to be evangelist and stand up in front of a group and preach but we are all able to share God’s love wherever we are and invite people to church and small groups. Love your neighbors and coworkers in Christ’s name to the point that want to know what makes you different. We are called to be known by our fruit.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for another great day and time to spend with you and in your beautiful creation. We come before you asking to more love to share to our neighbors and coworkers and anyone around us who needs your love. We also ask you use us to touch those around us and help us to reflect you so that when people see us they see you and not us.

November 20th 2015 What's your pleasure?

Reading: Ephesians 2, Ezekiel 29-30, and Psalm 147

Scripture: Psalm 147:11, “but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.”

Observation: During my time in level two of the discipleship program called Operation Solid Lives I learned lots about the covenant and the Hebrew word “checed” witch in my translation is Steadfast Love. This Hebrew word is more about the promise that God made in the covenant and that in love (the reason he made the covenant) he wants to do what his covenant says he will do.  Also the word “fear” I don’t think is the best translation it is not bad to fear God but I think the better way to but that would be revere, honor, and respect.

Application: Being that we are under the new covenant that Jesus instated though his death and resurrection we need to look at this section of scripture differently that in the past. Now when I look at this I can see that God take pleasure when we show him the honor and reverence do him, and when we place our hope in his promises and in his checed.

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for another wonderful day to enjoy your blessings. I long to worship you and give you honor and glory. Help me to place all my hope and trust in you Lord and your checed.

November 19th 2015 Has God adopted you?

Reading Ephesians 1 Ezekiel 27-28

Scripture: Ephesians 1:5, “he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will”

Observation: This section of scripture is full of all sorts of good stuff but this verse just jumped out reminding me that we are adopted into God’s family though with Son and the covenant that was sealed by Christ on the cross where God and man’s blood flowed bringing the two families into one.

Application: In the adoptions we have been made heirs together and all we need to do now is accept that gift though believing that Jesus is the Christ and that he died for our sins and brought us into God’s family.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for sending your son to die on the cross and bridge the gap between us and you/ Lord, I ask you to bring people into to lives of unbelievers to share your love with them and draw them into your loving embrace. I pray for the leaders of this town, county, state, and nation may they know you and draw their wisdom from you and not the public.

November 18th 2015 How do you restore someone?

Reading: Galatians 6, Ezekiel 25-26 Psalm 118

Scripture: Galatians 6:1, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

Observation: I love the reminders that are throughout the Bible to take care of those around us and to help lift us those who have fallen. I know that I have been one of those people who have fallen and I want to be one who helps to raise then up.

Application: We all are sinners and we will all fall but we all can help someone who has fallen. I don’t want to be the Christian who judges and looks down my nose at someone because they are struggling with something I have overcome or has never been an issue for me. We are called to help them to get back up, we can encourage them, offer to be accountability partner, or simply be a friend that shows God’s love by standing by them as they work through the situation with God’s help.

Prayer: Lord, Help is to be the people you call us to be, the helpful loving friend and not the judgmental harsh people that the world see us as.

November 17th 2015 What are you holding onto?

Reading: Galatians 5 and Ezekiel 23-24

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Observation: Here is America there are lots of things that become acceptable over the years that are not proper for us to do. Paul listed out a bunch that were an issues then and because the old tricks work so well the Devil does not need to come up with new trick the old ones still catch us. In Galatians 5:19-21 is that list, “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.”

Application: I struggle with some of those, more of them then I would like to admit, but when you focus on the fruit of the spirit and keeping God and your relationship with him as your primary goal the Holy Spirit will develop those fruit in you. After my older brother passed away from a car accident that we believed where was drugs and alcohol involved in, I got a reminder of what I’m striving for. That reminder is a tattoo it is the Chinese symbols meaning Self-Control and a scripture reference of 1 Thessalonians 4:4, “that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.” Keep your focus on God and being the person he calls you to be and not let that list of fleshly works define who you are. God accepts you right where you are but once he is accepted into your and your focus then those things of the world will start to loose their luster and draw. Not to say that we wont fall back into things but we will have the helper, The Holy Sprit to help us get back out of the mess we get ourselves into.

Prayer: Lord, help us to focus on you and develop the fruits of the sprit in us.

November 16th 2015 Where are your Adoption papers?

If you are one of my regular readers, first I want I thank you for reading and second apologize that I let the whirlwind of life get my focus off what is important, God’s word and diving into it every day. Yes I missed the last couple days I will be reading what I didn’t over the last couple days but I will not be writings SOAP’s about them this time.

Today’s reading was Galatians 4 and Ezekiel 21-22

Scripture: Galatians 4:6-7, And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Observation: This entire chapter talks about how we were slaves like Hagar, who can represent the law given on Mount Sinai making us slaves to the law. Then talks about how though Christ we have been adopted into Sarah’s free family making us free and fellow heirs in the promises God made with Abraham.

Application: As a son or daughter of God though Christ we need to look at our lives though the eyes of Christ. The eyes of Christ have so many times been painted as a pacifist who would never do anything controversial. The eyes of Christ are love at any cost, Christ loved the sinners and at with them, that was a huge controversy because the law pointed them out. The Law was put into place so that we could not do it on our own we could not be holy and righteous without the free gift of Grace given though the death of Christ on the cross.

Prayer: Lord I thank you for another day to read your word and share what is in my heart today. You continue to bless us and take care of all the things we need. Lord I ask you to help us to accept the gift of Grace your Son brought to us. Lord, I want to lift us all the tragedy going on in the world, I ask you to send people into their lives that will help them process the pain and see you calling them in their lives.

November 13th 2015 Are you set apart?

Reading: Galatians 1 and Ezekiel 15-16

Scripture: Galatians 1:13-15, “For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace”

Observation: Paul here was putting validity to his place as a teacher of the true Gospel. Just moments before he was talking about there only being one gospel and that though his experience with God on the road to Damascus he was shown the true gospel. Apparently in the early church as there is now there are false gospels out there leading people away from God by twisting things in the Gospel.

Application: Paul here was telling us how he was called and that he like us was set apart before we were born. God may choose different times to call each of us but we are all chosen by him before we were formed. We also need to be aware and watch out for those false teachers teaching that false gospel. Read the Word and not take things out of context, read and understand what is going on in that time, doing so will give you a much clearer look into God’s word.

Prayer: Lord, thank you so much for time with you again as the weekend draws near having a time I rest and worship with fellow believers. Lord, we ask you to help us to have a discerning heart and see these false teachers and false gospels as what they are and not to attribute these lies and twisted truths to you.

November 12 2015 Are you Sheeple?

Reading: Romans 16, Ezekiel 12-14

Scripture: Romans 16:17-18, “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”

Observation: I have heard the term “Sheeple” many times this term refers to people who just flock together and just listening to the latest and greatest thing, believing and chasing after it as long as it is calling their name and is the shiny new thing. With the mentality of sheeple many Christians church hope trying to find the next spiritual encounter or seek the next great teaching. The gospel has not changed in 2000 years it’s in the word.

Application: Paul is telling us to watch out for the shiny new stuff because it can cause us to falter and be that stumbling block and obstacle. We need to get ourselves planted in a church that teaches the Bible. The word always confirms itself. God’s love is all over this book and calls us to him though it.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for another day to enjoy your creation. I life us to you those how are being hit with the bad weather across that country. Protect those who are dealing with that as it comes though. Lord, I also lift up all those who are out there searching for a church or an encounter with you, I ask you to lead them to the church you have for them and help them to see the encounters you have with them and find a church that wont make them stumble.

November 11th 2015 Who are you building up?

Reading: Romans 15 and Ezekiel 9-11

Scripture: Romans 15: 2-3, Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

Observation: Paul does a great job of hitting these topics that we really need to hear multiple times and in multiple ways. Not only is he taking us back to some of his earlier teachings but also the new commandment that Jesus laid out for us, Love your neighbor.

Application: Jesus said love your neighbor as yourself, that love is the action word meaning to put their needs above your own. Paul loves to take it to the next level, not only taking care of needs of our neighbors, but doing and saying things that please and build up our neighbor. It is easy to give some food or money to the homeless man down the street and say we are good we took take of their need, but Paul is saying that is not what its about. Because Jesus took our reproach and wrongs we have done we need to take time with them. This is something I struggle with. I want to just fulfill a need and walk away and not put time into these people showing them God’s love I want to get back to my life and what I want to do. Let us please our neighbors for their good.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be your light in this world help me to overcome my own stubborn and resistance thoughts to spending time with people that I may not be comfortable with and showing your love though my life. Take my life and let it be a living sacrifice to you Lord.

November 10th 2015 Is that Clean?

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

Scripture: Romans 14:21, “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.”

Observation: Growing up this verse was used to try to keep us in line and tell us that we could not drink because it could make someone stumble. As I have studied and gotten a better understanding of how God speaks though his word I have come to realize as Paul did, it’s ok to drink and eat as long as we are not causing people to sin because of what we do.

Application: This section of scripture is not just written to Jews but to Gentiles who have come to know Jesus as their savor. There was much debate over what people could eat and drink. In Christ all things are clean and may be eaten as long and in your heart you believe that it is clean. The tricky part is that someone you may eat with my think that thing is not clean that is where we need to be discerning and when we are with people who have conviction that we don’t. In love we are to respect that and not do what we feel we can because they believe that it is wrong and to them it is.

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for another beautiful day to lift up you Holy Name and worship you. Lord we ask you to help us to discern when someone has conviction we don’t and support their relationship with you and avoid those things that cause them to struggle. Help us to have your grace when we are asked to not do something around someone.

November 9th 2015 Are you paying to all what is owed to them?

Reading: Romans 13 Ezekiel 2-5

Scripture: Romans 13:1-2, 7, Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment… Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Observation: We as Americans complain about the government and the president whether we voted for them or not, we look at the world leaders our there and say there is so much evil and corruption out there, then we sit back in a chair and do nothing about it. God’s word says that we are subject to the governing authorities and He placed them there. I’m not going to start spouting political views but as God’s people we are to honor and respect those who God has raised up to be leaders. There are many times in the Old Testament where God raised us an evil nation to bring Israel back into covenant with him.

Application: I have heard of radical religious groups that tell their people to do everything they can to undermine the government. That is not what God tells us though is word, what God has called us to is verse seven of Romans 13 “Pay to all what is owed to them” I also say that we need to pray for our nation and the leaders. Just as Israel had good and bad kings and judges every nation has leaders who are good or bad but all are placed there by God for a purpose. Pray for your nation and your leaders, local, regional, and national, and not that the bad be replaced but call for a stirring in the hearts of the leaders to come to or back to a relationship with God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for another day to see your works and you working in my life. You are the great provider without you we are nothing and have nothing. Lord we lift us the leaders around us those who work in our cities, county, states, and nation, Stir up their hearts to seek you and keep you in the center of their work so that you are driving this nation.

November 8th 2015 Have you overcome evil with good?

Reading: Romans 12, Jeremiah 52, and Ezekiel 1

Scripture: Romans 12:20-21, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Observation: These are some of my favorite verses, not that I feel I have lots of enemies but the idea that being nice to some one can teach them a better lesson then retaliating. The Old Testament and the world teach us to repay a wrong done to us with something equal, a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye.  The Gospel of grace is not just that we were given a great gift though the love of God though the sacrifice of his Son on Calvary, but also that we are to love and have grace for those around us. We are to fulfill the needs of all who are in need around us. I love the image that I have heard depicted by many different teachers and preachers of us passing out what little we seem to have to those around us and God sitting there with a great bag ready to fill our little basket so that we never run out.

Application: Not only are we to share what we have with those we like or have done us no wrong, but also to those who wish to hurt us of have wronged us in the past. Matthew 22:37-39 says “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Your Neighbor is not just the one you like but also the one who hates you. I believe that this second command is the hardest command in the Bible, to love someone in this way is not the western touchy feely love, it is to put their needs above your own.

In our relationships we all start out with the western definition of love towards the person we are in that relationship with but once those first exciting months or sometimes years (if you are lucky) are over then you have to make the choice to put their needs before your own and that is true love. God calls us to have that love for everyone especially those who hate us, not that we can see ourselves as better then them but to allow God to work on their heart because God will heap those coals directly where they need to go so that his work will be done in their lives.

How Prayer: Lord we thank you again for another day to worship and seek your wisdom though your word. Lord I lift up our enemies to you and ask you to work on their heats though us, Give us the words to say and the strength to love them as you love them.

Jehovah Jireh - The Provider

It is interesting some times how we stretch ourselves so much, to keep up with the Jones, or make ourselves feel better about where we are, or even to impress people. This is a struggle almost every American has, we want more, and better things. Our society had become a disposable society, we don’t repair things we replace them. With this throw it away mentality that our world has moved into it is so difficult to know who provides for our needs.

 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” Mathew 6:25-32

Jehovah Jireh The Lord will provide or God provides. In his word God tells us that we need not focus on the things of this world but focus on him and all the things we need, will be provided to us. As an American man it is something I struggle with so much. I struggle with having a hand-me-down car that needs work done to it; I fear that there will not be money to pay the mortgage on the house we just bought. But every month the car keeps working and getting me back and forth to work, the house payment is always paid and we have not gone hungry.

I am so blessed that God has brought a woman and church family into my life that has helped me see that God provides. As we continue to struggle with our human eyes and try to trust God for the bills and needs we have, we remind each other almost daily that, this house was given to us by God. The way that we found and the process that we went though getting this house could have only been orchestrated by God and knowing that he is the one that gave it to us. He will provide for us, and will make sure that this house is ours until its time for us to have something different.  God has and will provide for us.

November 7th 2015 Are you a tool?

Reading: Romans 11 and Jeremiah 51

Scripture: Jeremiah 51:20-23 ““You are my hammer and weapon of war: with you I break nations in pieces; with you I destroy kingdoms; with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider; with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer; with you I break in pieces man and woman; with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth; with you I break in pieces the young man and the young woman; with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team; with you I break in pieces governors and commanders.”

Observation: I love this section of scripture where Jeremiah is telling both those in Israel and us today that we are the tools and weapons. In this sections he primarily talks about been the weapon of war breaking down the things that are agains God. 

Application: But we need to remember that as God's tools we are also to build up and take care of those around us. Not only are we spiritual warriors we are carpenters too. We go in and break down the strongholds of the enemy then rebuild with the Holy Spirit so that that we have a foundation on the rock of the word. 

Prayer:  Lord, thank you the great blessings you have poured out on us. Help me to see the task ahead of me and help those who need help breaking down strongholds and share the firm foundation of God.