October 10, 2017 Help Help

Reading: Acts 11, Isaiah 65-66 and Psalm 124

Scripture: Psalm 124, "If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—let Israel now say— if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

Observation: As God spoke though the Psalmist David it spoke to me in that through everything I’m going through I should have more and better faith in God. My flood is currently stresses of work on top of a diagnosis of a birth defect that I have been living with for all my life and could have been potentially fatal. God’s had has been on my life from day one preparing me for something, He has not only kept this issue in check all these years there have been a couple accidents that could have caused this to get so bad that I could have just dropped dead because I couldn’t breath or other complications that come along with this issue. God is with me taking care of me each day and I look back at how if he was not there I would not have survived this and would have been swallowed by the waters. Our help is in the name of the LORD.

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful and awesome I thank you for taking care of me even when I was not taking care of myself. I thank you for my family and I lay them at your feet they are your sons and daughters and I thank you for all the time and love I see though them. I thank you for your provisions and blessings in our lives. I ask for your healing to come and thank you for that witch is coming. 

October 9, 2017 I am a Ragamuffin!!!!!!!

Reading: Acts 10 and Isaiah 62-64

Scripture: Acts 10:15-16, And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common." This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Observation: I struggle so much with calling things that God has called clean, common mostly me. I struggle with seeing myself in a way that God does. I look at all my faults and all the places where I have fallen hard on my face. I can relate to something Brennan Manning said in his book “The Ragamuffin Gospel” in this Quote he is speaking from a history of Alcoholism (not one of my personal struggles) but he said “When I get honest, I admit I am a bundle of paradoxes. I believe and I doubt, I hope and get discouraged, I love and I hate, I feel bad about feeling good, I feel guilty about not feeling guilty. I am trusting and suspicious. I am honest and I still play games. Aristotle said I am a rational animal; I say I am an angel with an incredible capacity for beer.” 

Application: Pete was shown though the sheet of food and God speaking to him about making all things clean, and though that seeing God’s longing got the Gentiles to know him. These people are no longer excluded from God’s love because of who there fathers were or where they were born. The good news is there is nothing we can DO to earn God’s grace. I need daily reminders that even with my incredible capacity for things not of God I’m Still loved by him and still apart of his family.

Prayer: Father I thank you for all that you have done for me and the offer of salvation though your son. I thank you for my family and I lay them at your feet. I thank you for the provisions and blessing you pour out on us and ask that you help me to see myself and others as you see them, as your creation and beloved. 

October 5, 2017 Im full of it!?!?!?

Reading: Acts 6, Isaiah 52-54 and Psalm 102 

Scripture: Acts 6:3, Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.

Observation: I don’t know how often I think am I full of the Spirit, and feel like I’m not sure if I should be in ministry at all. In a recent teaching that I was have had talked bout the Greek language and how it has multiple formed in each verb. In a passage talking about being filled with the Holy Spirit it’s in a form that is not just a one time thing but a continual in that we are to connect to God and have the Spirit always pouring into us. 

I grew up in a church that didn’t really touch on the Holy Spirit part of the trinity at all, or the gifts of the Spirit, now being in a place not only where they teach about these things having gone to school I better understand and better listen to these things. I’m still struggling with my head knowledge and filtering into my heart some times. 

Prayer: Father I ask you to help me filter this head knowledge to my heart. You are the Giver of life and the one true God and I want you to reign in my life. 

Oct 1, 2017 Hey where you been?

Reading: Acts 2 and Isaiah 44-45

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

Observation: I know that it is easy to get distracted and sometimes even keep yourself so busy that we forget to pray or spend time in the word and with summer coming to an end the reminders of how little importance people and sometimes me sometimes place on going to church. 

Application: We are not told to go to church because God wants the giant churches to show how great he is and to just to say and show that we go to church. Church is to be a community where we do life together and go deeper into God’s word. Church is not just the weekend service, Church is our family of believer and we are to do life together and reach out to those around us to bring them in.

Prayer: Father you are worthy of all praise and honor, you are higher then any other. I thank you for all you have done for me, your provisions and blessings that you pour out. I ask that you help us to devote ourselves to the things of you and in fellowship. 

September 26, 2017 I don't know what you are talking about?!?!?

Reading: John 18 and Isaiah 36-37

Scripture: John 18:27, Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

As much as I try to not deny the Lord I feel like with my actions and the fact that I struggle with sharing His love, and what he has done for us with the world, I feel like I’m more then denying him like Peter I feel like I’m smacking God. I struggle with lots of thing with my faith. I know Jesus is my savior and I accept the Gift of his love and mercy. I can sit here on this side of the computer and share my struggle without fear being even if I get railed on for saying something here it’s not a someone getting in my face about things. I know that God can do all kinds of miracles through us but without seeing or experiencing them I feel left out. 

Until a couple years ago I had never seen someone who was being tormented or deceived by a demon and at a mens retreat there was a man there who was being deceived and a few of us encountered him and prayed over him. As strong as I though my faith was I felt useless and out of place. I don’t know what God has in store for me I know I am broken in many ways and I’m a work in progress.

Payer: Father you are so wonderful you give us so many chances and so much grace. I thank you for my family and place them in your hands and ask that you help me to be the father and husband you call me to be. I thank you for all that you give us the provisions and the blessings you pour out on us. I ask that you help me to open my eyes and ears to your voice and leading as I know that my ways are not your ways. 

September 25, 2017 I don't have time for that...

Reading: John 17 and 2 Chronicles 30-31

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 30:5, So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the Passover to theLord, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it as often as prescribed. 

Observation: As I was going over this the last portion of this passage is what struck me and stood out, For the had not kept it as often as prescribed. In that time the Mosaic law gave them lists of festival and feasts to observe. God wants a relationship with us and wants to be apart of our lives, we are now not held to the law of needing to observe all these things. Although we don’t have these laws dictating us we (or at least I) have a tendency to not spend time with God outside church.

This discipleship class that I am taking and trying to be consistent about my reading and journaling here help me to be more consistent and deliberate about being in the word and having other around me who are consistent is helpful in that we have things to talk about in the word and not just superficial things. 

Prayer: Father I thank you for your word and the revelations that come from Holy Spirit. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you pour out on us each day and the gift of my family. I ask that the rest we get is more restful and refreshing and that our time is extended  to get all the things on out plate done and to have time with you Lord. 

September 17, 2017 What is your story??

Reading: John 9, Isaiah 24-25, and Psalm 42

Scripture: John 9:25, He answered, "Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." 

Observation: I know that I so often struggle with the idea of sharing the gospel with people. I am scared that I will mess it up or not have the answers and I even went to Bible Collage so I know that I have plenty of knowledge to talk to people and that the Holy Spirit will being to mind what I need in the times I need it. 

Application: When it comes to sharing the good news (the Gospel) just like the blind man all we need to know is who we were before we met Jesus who we are now and how he is working on us. We all have different stories and different backgrounds and those make us all have a unique way to share the Gospel. 

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful that your spirit will call those who need us long before we get there and will us to touch people and lead them long before they choose you. I thank you that you took the time to bring those people into my life who made an influence for you in my life. I thank you for my family and place them in your hands, also I thank you for the directions you give me and the provisions and blessings. I ask that you help me to share my story more to those who need to hear it. 

September 16, 2017 I am, I am what?!?!?

Reading: John 8 and Isaiah 22-23

Scripture: John 8:58, “Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.””

Observation: As Jesus was teaching the people and the Pharisees were trying to debate him. The way he said, “before Abraham was, I am” confused me and made me wonder about what he was saying. I have learned over time my confusion was due to several thing, one being as a human we have a hard time understanding and grasping the idea of a being that is omnipotent omnipresent and infinite. The second thing is the use of “I am” not only is this a declarative statement of being to the Jews this was the name of God. 

Application: So when Jesus said, “before Abraham was, I am” he is saying lots. First he is saying I was there at the beginning, next he is saying I have been here, and the most important thing he is saying if these pharisees were listening to him he is saying I am God the son the one who was prophesied about. We need to open our eyes ears and hearts to hear this ourselves and allow him to work in us through the holy spirit who is in us.

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful and I thank you for sending your son and the sacrifice that he was for us to bring us home. I thank you for the provisions and the blessings you pour out on us each and every day. I ask you to open my eyes and ears to know you more. 

September 15, 2017 You did what?!?!?

Reading: John 7, Isaiah 20-21 and psalm 32

Scripture: John 7:24, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."” 

Observation: How often do we all make assumptions or judge a situation or someone before we have all the facts. I know I do that so much more then I would like to admit. For me I think the assumptions are my biggest downfall and biggest contributor to miscommunication. This morning out camping as I was doing my reading my wife tells me the others are up and I can go make breakfast was something we had talked about her making part of beforehand it didn't happen so that was needing to be done so I had thought she was making breakfast and in turn  she thought I was going to make it.

Application: Jesus was talking about this not judging people on what is done but on motives and truth. We need to focus on God's truth and love and do those things so that when someone tries to judge us only he is seen and we need to look at others with God's love 

Prayer: Father I am in awe of how you are able to love us even though I so often turn from you and think I can do it on my own. I thank you for my family and place them in your hands. I thank you for the provisions you give us each day and the blessings you pour out on us. I ask that you open our eyes to the how you see others and help us to love as you love. 

September 14, 2017 Do you hear something?!?!?!?

Reading: John 6 and Isaiah 18-19

Scripture: Isaiah 18:3, All you inhabitants of the world, you who dwell on the earth, when a signal is raised on the mountains, look! When a trumpet is blown, hear!

Observation: It seems like some times that I don’t look or listen for the signs that God’s word say are all around us. I have struggles with quieting myself and listening to God. That is part of the reason I write this and why it is named the breeze and the 2x4. I know that there have been more times then I would like to admit that God has brought out the proverbial 2x4 and smacked me with it to get my attention. I feel like my generation is the start of the great decline in attention spans. I have a hard time focusing on anything unless I find ways to keep myself entertained or engaged. For example this morning on my morning prayer walk I found my mind wondering from praying and thinking about a camping trip, work and surgery instead or talking to God. I’m not sure but I think maybe my lack of sleep the last few nights may have contributed to it but I know it is mostly how I have trained myself growing up.

I grew up in the Golden age of the 80’s and 90’s great video game advancement and crazy cartoons available almost anytime you were awake if you had cable. I become one of those kids that loved TV and video games and looked for others to entertain me. This has followed me into my adulthood and causes me to have issues focusing on things, in turn when it comes to quiet time with God I struggle and my mind wonders to all sorts of thing. I long to hear God’s voice and to walk in his ways but I struggle with getting quiet enough to hear him, and sometime have trouble even talking to him. If you are like me find things to help like instead of just trying to read the Bible I use a website that will read in aloud so I can listen as I read it to help me engage the word, and journalling is easier for me on the computer to type it then to wright it long hand. Just find what helps you.

Prayer: Father I fall at your feet and honor you, I thank you that you are willing to listen to the ramblings of someone who can’t focus at times. I thank you for my family and their continued safety. I thank you for the provisions you have for us and the blessings you didn’t know we needed. 

September 13, 2017 Is there anybody there??

Reading: John 5 and Isiah 15-17

Scripture: John 5:6, When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?"

Observation: I know that God is reaching out to me all the time, maybe he is asking if I want to be healed or maybe he is trying to give me a better plan then the one I have for myself. No matter what he is saying to me I know that most of the time I am not listening. I am trying to go so fast through so many things that I’m not hearing God. 

Application: If this man who had been an invalid for nearly forty years had blown off Jesus going “shhhh I’m watching for the pool to stirred up” he would have never been healed. Just as if he had not listened if we don’t listen to God wont do a work in us. But how often do we seek something other then God or allow the distractions of the world to take our attention from the Lord. 

Prayer: Father I am in awe of the patience you have for us and we allow the world to distract and influence us. You are so wonderful and I thank you for this new day. I also want to thank you for the provisions you pour out each day and the blessings you decide to give us any ways. Lord I ask that you help us to close off the distractions and to open our ears to hear and our eyes to see so we can better walk in your path. 

September 12, 2017 A Long, Long Time Ago

Reading: John 4 and Isaiah 13-14

Scripture: John 4:39, Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." 

Observation: I have so long been afraid of the word evangelist, I have never felt like I was a good speaker, and I still get shaky when I get up to talk to people in a group. Part of the reason I feared the word evangelist was because I was afraid God would tell me I was the next Billy Graham and I would have to get up before hundreds or thousands of people and speak to them. I now know that the Woman at the Well was an evangelist.

Application: Evangelists are not just these guys who get up at these giant venues and get televised around the world. Evangelists are every day people loving and sharing their story with others, This is where I was before God got a hold on me and here is where I am now and that he is doing in my life. In this day and age it seems like everyone wants to be the center of attention and talk about themselves in turn it should be simple to tell your story about what God has done for you. 

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful and in your infinite power and wisdom you can use even me to spread your word if I get out of your way. I thank you for the opportunities you place before me each day and ask that you help me to recognize them when they present themselves. I thank you for the provision you give us each day and the blessings I know we don’t deserve. 

September 11, 2017 Who's Angry?!?!?

Reading: John 3, Isaiah 10-12

Scripture: Isaiah 12:1 & 6,  You will say in that day: "I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."

Observation: Getting back into the discipleship program that I have been going though and having this passage come up today is a God appointment. I have been struggling with getting up and spending time with God. Both in prayer and in being in his word. Having an accountability partner has already helped me to be get beck into my routine. In class last night we were talking about praising God all the time and these verses jumped out at me after I had my morning walk and prayer.  

Application: I didn’t realize how much I don’t talk to God and praise and worship him until you have encouragement and accountability to take time out of your day to do just that. I realized that even though God does not have anger turned toward me I many times still see it that way. I have to remember that once I came to him he turned his anger from me and he will comfort me and that give me the reason to shout and sing for joy, because that Joy is his and he pour it out on us. 

Prayer:  Father you are so wonderful I stand in awe of the power and grace you have. I thank you for sending your son and turning your anger from us. I thank you for my family and the opportunity I have to speak your love into their lives. I place them in your hands they are yours. I thank you for the provisions that you give us each day and the blessings you choose to give us even though we screw up. 

September 6th, 2017 Where did this come from?

Reading: Mark 14 and Hosea 12-13

Scripture: Mark 14:8, She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.

Observation: This passage stood out to me today because I have times where I don’t feel like what I’m doing is enough. I know that God is pleased with what I do but due to the way the world looks at things and my history with self worth I have those times and thoughts of what I’m giving is trash.  

Application: The Lord reminds me that like the passage says I have done what I can. Just like the widow who only can put in her last two pennies, I can give with a grateful heart and with the right mindset. This is not only for the financial giving that we do, but also the giving of our time and other resources we have available. I have to remember that it is all God’s, my time, my money, my house, my cars and so on. Nothing belongs to me I am only a steward of them and need to remember to treat them as Christ would, to spread the love of God.

Prayer: Father your love is so amazing and so wonderful you take care of every need we have. I thank you for your provisions and your blessing that are poured out on us even though we don’t deserve it. I ask you to help us to remember that it is all yours and nothing we have is an accident. 

September 5, 2017 The end is here!!!!

Reading: Mark 13 and Hosea 8-11

Scripture: Mark 13:8, For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Observation: So often when some sort of disaster happens, like the one in Houston or many of the past people start quoting the Bible saying the end is near. Yes I believe the things spoken that need to happen before the end have happened and The return of Christ could come at any moment but also according to the word these things we are seeing are the beginnings of the birth pains and as most woman who have had children know those birth pains can start long before the big event. 

We are told in several places in the Bible that only the father knows the day and time. Matthew 24:37, "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” There are many things that are happening and have happened recently that appear to fulfilling some of the last prophecies for the end times but we also have to remember that when ever someone says this day or this time we can be relatively sure that it won't happen then because only the father knows. 

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful, you have placed these signs and wonders into our lives to show your truth. I thank you for all you do in our lives I thank you for the provisions you pour out on us each day and the blessings you give us even though we don't deserve it. I ask you to help us to know your presence in our lives and share your love with the world around us so that the entire world has been told of your love.