June 30, 2016 You Said What?!?!?!

Reading: Titus 1, 2 Samuel 16-18, and Psalm 7+41

Scripture: 2 Samuel 16:11, And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 

Observation: I feel that when ever someone curses or attacks me I am one of those guys that is quick to lash back and send insults and cursings back to them. I have grown up in a time where we are all very proud people, proud to a point of not listening to those around us.

Application: Here as David was feeling his son a man comes our cursing David and his men as they went by. Abushai probably had the mindset like I would have had, let me stop him from cursing us. I think what God is telling us in this is that we need to not worry about what others are saying about us or curses from others but even if there are those trying to curse us God will us it for good and we should let it fall on def ears.

Prayer: Father thank you for taking such good care of us. I thank you for your provisions and your blessings that you pour out on us each day. I thank you for the good council that you place in our lives. I ask that you help us to be slow to anger and more like a duck letting things just roll off our backs like a bead of water.

June 29, 2016 Seeking the world

Reading: 2 Timothy 4, 2 Samuel 15, and Psalm 3+89

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10a, For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. 2 Samuel 15:6, Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Observation: In the reading today I was hearing people loving the world. Demas left Paul and Absalom built a conspiracy to overthought his father and the kingdom of Israel. Society today has fallen in love with the world just as Demas and Absalom did. I admit it is easy to allow yourself to fall into the schemes of the devil, because they feel good, and they get you what you want now, but they don’t last. Like drugs these pleasures of the world they feel good at first but the more you do it the more  you need to do it to make yourself feel that same good you felt the first time.

Application: To me these stories and letters reminded me that I need to follow God’s plan and seek him, instead of seeking after the world. 

Prayer: Father I thank you of your great blessings and the reminders that all this comes from you. Nothing I have is not yours, and there are times I look at things though the eyes of the world. I thank you for the reminder and the blessings that you continually pour out on us. 

June 28, 2016 The Struggle is real!!!!!

Reading: 2 Timothy 3 and 2 Samuel 13-14

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:2-4, For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

Observation: Every day I see more and more of these becoming prevalent in the American Culture. This list of attributes are not something we want to see. There are a couple things on this list that I have struggled with, or been a victim of, I know that self-control is something I struggle with and I have an ex-wife who was abusive to me.

Application: I know that everyone has the things that they struggle with, if we find ourselves struggling with one or more of these, first know its Ok we are human and have a sinful nature, but staving to overcome those struggles is what separates us from the world. Take those struggles to God and have someone in your life that can help hold you accountable, someone of your same gender and close enough to you that you can share those dark secrets with and will help you to grow and win more battles then loose.

Prayer: Father I thank you for the people you bring into our lives, those who are there for a lifetime and those only there for a season. I thank you for your provisions, your promotions and your blessings. Help us to see where we struggle and find those who can walk beside us as you work on our hearts to over come those things we struggle with. 

June 27, 2016 What use are you

Reading: 2 Timothy 2, 2 Samuel 11-12, Psalm 51

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:20-21, Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

Observation: We are part of the Great house of the Lord and we are all vessels, all have our uses. Before knowing the Lord we were all dishonorable and used for dishonorable uses. 

Application: Through the forgiveness of sin by the great gift of God through the death and resurrection of Jesus we have been cleansed of what is dishonorable and been made ready for honorable use. Now that we have been made for honorable use we need to stop going back to being used for dishonorable defiling ourselves. With the help and convictions of the Holy Spirit we can strive daily towards being the righteousness of the lord.

Prayer: Father Thank you for removing whatever is dishonorable in my life that causes me to be a vessel for dishonorable use and cleansing me to be one of honorable use. I thank you for the blessings and the provisions in my life that you pour out on me and my family. I ask that you speak loudly to us and convict us when we start picking up our dishonorable duties again.

June 26, 2016 Lets make a bonfire

Reading: 2 timothy 1, 2 Samuel 10, 1 chronicles 19-20, and Psalm 107

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:6-7, For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Observation: It is so easy to allow the would to snuff out our gifts and the abilities that God has given us. With the internet and social media everybody in only seconds away from everyone else, as good as that can be in bringing the world together, it also has created a would of judgement and criticism. 

Application: Paul is reminding Timothy and by extension us not to let others diminish your gifts and callings. Fan those flames into a roaring fire that nothing can quench. We were not made to fear and let people walk all over us, we have Power and Authority that defies understanding and a Love that over comes all things.

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful and I thank you daily for the blessings that you pour out on us. I thank you for the Power and Authority that you have given to us though your great love. I ask you to help us to know and walk in that power and authority each and every day. 

June 25, 2016 I'm Not a Slave

Reading: 1 Timothy 6, 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18, and Psalm 60

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:1 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.

Observation: Today having bondservants is not as common as it was back in the days of the Bible, but today we have different masters. Our masters are now our bosses and the owners of the companies that we work for. There are not many here in the USA that work for themselves most of us work for others to make a wage to get what we need.

Application: I remember reading many passages about slaves and bondservants, and though theses don’t apply to me these why are they even in the Bible. We are all under a yoke we have to work to pay our bills, so this passage is saying treat your bosses, your managers, and your supervisors with respect and honor and by so doing you will be a light and bring the Gospel with you each day at work.

Prayer: Father I thank you for the work you have given us and the opportunity it gives us to shine your light and love into a place that may not be seeing it. I thank you for your provisions and the blessings that your pour out on us. One our eyes to the opportunity to shine and love as you would in that situation.

June 24, 2016 The Rod and Staff

Reading: 1 Timothy 5, 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17, Psalm 23

Scripture: Psalm 23:4, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Observation: This being one of the most well know scriptures can so easily be miss understood or just glossed over because we hear it at almost every funeral or time of hardship. I have to admit that for a long time I didn’t think about this passage.

Application: As I read it and reread it, the second half of this scripture spoke to me. Not just the “for you are with me” because that is a great comfort when going though hard times but, “your rod and your staff.” The rod is a disciplinary tool and the staff is a symbol of authority. So David was say here (it is something I have found that give me comfort as well) is that having someone who is bigger then me and can help me to stay on the right path is a comfort. We all need a little discipline now and then to help us to correct our course and get back on the right path. 

Prayer: Father I thank you for your Rod and Staff, for your discipline and directions. I also that you for the provisions that you give us each day and the direction you have your our life. 

June 23, 2016 It's All Good

Reading: 1 Timothy 4, 1 Chronicles 16, and Psalm 105

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:4, For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 

Observation: There are so many different denominations of Christianity out there each with their own slant on how to read scripture. There are even groups like the people of Westboro who are so adamantly against so many things and so many people and here it says, “everything created by God is good” 

Application: We have all sinned and we are all forgiven as long as we accept the free gift of God given to us though the death and resurrection Of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Prayer: Father I thank you for your love and forgiveness and the provisions you pour our on us each day. All promotion comes from you and all good things are of you Lord I thank you for all that you give us and all that you provide.

June 22, 2016 Pray for your leaders!!!

Reading: 1 Timothy 2-3, 2 Samuel 6, 1 Chronicles 15, Psalm 122

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-2, First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way

Observation: Here in the United States one of the most common pastimes is complaining about the government and the leadership of the country. We complain that the those we have elected are not doing what they said, we complain that who we voted for didn’t get into office or any other variety of things that are not to our liking.  

Application: But how often to we take them to God in prayer. We need to be constantly lifting up our leaders in payers, no mater if they are believers or not or we agree with them or not, God placed them in a place of leadership for a reason. We need to pray for their wisdom and their discernment in the situations that they are dealing with.

Prayer: Father I thank you for those whom you have given authority and leadership of country and state. I lift us all those who are currently in office, grant them wisdom and discernment in all situation. Lord I also ask that you be with those who are in the mist of the election season and lead them and give them the words to say.

June 21, 2016 It is Trustworthy

Reading: 1 Timothy 1, 2 Samuel 5, 1 Chronicles 13-14, Psalm 30

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:15, The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Observation: I feel like Paul in his statement here “of whom I am the foremost.” This letter to Timothy was reminding him where Paul came from and where we are all should be going. 

Application: We all need this reminder from time to time, I feel like even in a spirit filled church where we get to see God move in mighty ways, I still walk into sin traps that I can see before me, and allow myself to not focus on what God has done for me in the past and the promises that you have given me for the future. All his sayings and promises are trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.

Prayer: Father I thank you so much for the gifts you have poured out on us and the forgiveness of all my sins, I thank you that your promises have come to pass in my life and there are more to come that I have yet to see. Lord open our eyes to see and our ears to hear each and every one of your promises and accept the Gift of forgiveness. 

June 20, 2016 Future Tripping

Reading: Matthew 28, 1 Chronicles 12, and Psalm 37

Scripture: Psalm 37:7,  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

Observation: As I was reading this I was thinking about how I am always thinking that I need something now or trying to over plan for the future. My paster calls this Future tripping, even though I daily ask God for provisions and thank if for what he is giving me I tend to not want to wait for it. 

Application: I don’t know if David wrote this as reminder to himself, like I will write notes to myself to remind myself of things that need to be done and I ask my wife for a list of things to do, so I have a record of what needs to be done and what I have gotten done, but we need to Patiently Wait on the Lord and not worry about what tomorrow will bring.

Prayer: Father, You are so wonderful and awe inspiring, I thank you for everything you have given me, a Wife and family a home and a Job that helps provide money we need to survive. I thank you of r the daily bead that you give us and that which is still on the way. I ask you help us to understand that our timing is not yours and help us to accept that your timing is perfect

June 19, 2016 Silence is Golden

Reading: Matthew 27, 2 Samuel 4, and Psalm 22

Scripture: Matthew 27:14, But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Observation: Standing before Pilate Jesus could have proven himself the Christ and Son of God but it was so much more powerful that he said noting. he stood there and took all the beatings from the Religious leaders then only said “you have said so” when asked if he was the Son of God. 

Application: How often would our silence speak mountains more then thousands of words. I know there are groups of so called “christians” who are out there persecuting people instead of warning them of what is to come and loving them. We as Christians have this tendency to put a order to how bad a sin is, and say I'm better then them because I have not done the sin they have. The point is we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). If God is big enough to cover my multitude of sins he is big enough to cover what ever your sins are as well.  

Prayer: Father I thank you for sending your son and providing a way to come back into communion with you. I thank you for your provisions and your directions in my life. I ask you to continually remind us that sin is sin no matter how we view it and you are the one who forgives and we are called to love one another and not persecute. 

June 18, 2016 Take it I don't need it!?!?!

Reading: Matthew 26, 2 Samuel 3

Scripture: Matthew 26:9, For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.

Observation: I don’t know how often I have though about wining the lottery or anther sort of jackpot where I would get lots of money then think about how I would spend it and what good I could do with it and so many times giving to God his portion is not where my mind went first. just recently we got a mailer showing we won something and the way things were printed it looked as if we should get a few thousand dollars, thinking about how we could use that money and what we could do with it after talking about it for almost a day I remembered we made a commitment to God to give of every increase. so then we calculated out where we would be after that. 

Application: When we are in need God could use anything to provide us what we need, be is a promotion at our job or even a job where there never appeared to be one in the first place, or even a giveaway. Even though disciples reasoning sounded good there can be underlining deception. Money can corrupt us more easily the anything. 

Prayer: Father, I thank you that you provide for every need we have and that you take care of us so well. I also that you that many times you don’t give us what we think we want because you know where our hearts are and that what we ask could cause us to stumble. 

June 17, 2016 I'm not lazy!!!

Reading: Matthew 25, 2 Samuel 2, and 1 Chronicles 11

Scripture: Matt 25:26, But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 

Observation: In this parable about the men being given money to be stewards of for their master. First something I found interesting was a Talent was a term used for about a years wages, so if we look at this in round numbers say that a talent today is $50,000 so the guy given 10 of this was given a half Million dollars to invest. this last guy was so scared all he did was bury it in a field. 

Application: God is not telling everyone that we all need to be the best business man by praising the ones who doubled what they were given but rebuked the one who didn’t nothing. God is not looking at how much money you make him but he is looking for someone who is going to step out but his trust in the Lord and do for the glory of God and doing for the Gory of God can fail and the master will not fault you for a mistake but will rebuke you for laziness. 

Prayer: Father I thank you for opening my eyes to your work ethic and help us to work anything we do for you. I thank you for you provision and I ask for your discernment looking into what is to come. 

June 16, 2016 Hey when is this all going to end?

Reading: Matthew 24, 2 Samuel 1, and Psalm 85

Scripture: Matthew 24:3, As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

Observation: Listening to Jesus telling them that one day the reign of the world will be over and he will come back and reign, the disciples came to him asking when is it going to happen how will we know when to be ready. I know that there are many times that I wish I knew when Jesus was coming back so that I could prepare doing what ever I needed to do to be right with God on that day. 

Application: Jesus didn’t give them a day and time he gave them signs to watch for. We are living in a time when all those signs have been fulfilled, we live in a time where we are only waiting for the date that Father God has set aside for the return. We are the bride of Christ and we are preparing ourselves for his return. In a traditional Jewish wedding after the Bridegroom and his family has chosen a woman for him to marry then the bride is to gather the things she needs for the house as the bridegroom build their new home. Once the house is ready they come blowing trumpets to gather the guests and they finish the wedding and start living together. We are the bride and we are in the waiting phase until the house is ready. Make yourself ready because he could come back any time. As Jesus said these signs are the beginnings of the birth pains we are just getting started but he could come at any time. 

Prayer: Father we thank you that you sent your son to die on the cross for us and to save us from the cliches of the evil one. I thank you that you have given us signs to watch for giving us knowledge that you are to come back soon. I thank you for your provisions for each day and the blessings that you pour out upon us each day. I ask you to help us to open our eyes to your glory and your revelations you have for us.