November 22, 2017 Equipping of who??

Reading: Ephesians 4, 2 Kings 25 and 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,

The passage goes well with yesterday in that being stewards of grace and the Gospel we are not to be the Pew jockeys that so many churches have, we are to be disciples of Christ. When one becomes a disciple of something they leave their old life behind and go fully into whatever it is spending all their time and energy on it. We are called to be disciples. In this passage the saints mentioned are just those who believe and have accepted Christ so that is us. There are those of us who are called to teach, preach and shepherd but the church (individual congregations and weekly services) are not what we are to do to get through the week or just where we are to serve to be able to say we are serving God. Services are meant to be a time to worship and be equipped for ministry. 

In yesterdays reading and what I talked about was being the steward of Grace, That is our ministry being that ministry may take many different forms due to needs both within and outside the Church (body of Believers). I don’t want to be a pew warmer where all I do is attend church and maybe help out during services in some capacity, as we get equipped and grow in our walk we also need to open ourselves to hearing the Holy Spirit because he will show you opportunities to build up the body or plant a seed.

Prayer: Father I thank you for everything, without you there is nothing. I thank you for my family and friends who gather around me. I thank you for your daily blessings and provisions. I long to hear your voice more. I ask you help me to step out of my comfort zone and act upon the urgings of the Holy Spirit in my life, help me to plant the seed in my own life that it may become a tree that will produce many seeds. 

November 21, 2017 Make me a Colander!!!

Reaching: Ephesians 3, Ezekiel 31-32 and Psalm 45

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-2, 1For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of 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, 

For a long time and in many of the churches I have attended, other then talking about the great commission, we never really heard that those of us there had any other responsibility other then coming to services and serving in the church somehow. Paul here was reminding us that WE are the stewards of Gods grace, Matthew 18:18 tells us we have the authority to bind and loose. We have not been called to just be pew warmers and servants in the house. As stewards we are charged with the responsibility to properly distributing that grace. I know I am guilty of holding tight to that grace and not wanting to let it go, just like the love of God the more we pour out on those around us and share with the world the more he pours into us. Pastor Glen Eastman said it this way at a marriage conference a couple weeks ago, “What ever your cup is full of when it gets spilled will be what others see.” We need to keep our cups full of Love and Grace, and not let our cups get filled with the anger and venom that the world encourages us to hold onto. 

Prayer: Father I stand in awe of how you are able to touch other through the anger and venom in my life. I thank you for my family and place them in your hands. I thank you for the blessings and provisions you pour out on us even though we don’t deserve it. I ask that you help me to not place the anger and venom into my cup and to only put your love and grace there to pour out on others. Help me to be a mirror and a colander that your love and grace and just flow through me. 

November 20, 2017 May I reflect better

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

Scripture: Psalm 147:3, He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 

Ephesians 2:4-5, But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved

Observation: This weekend at service one of the points my Pastor made was be encouraged by knowing who is in your corner, using the Scripture Romans 8:31. In conjunction with the Passages that I read today, Not only is he on our side fighting for us, but also he is out doctor. God wants to heal us, when you workout the reason they tell you to rotate through working different parts of the body is because when you work hard you are tearing down your muscles and they need a couple days to heal and become stronger. 

God dose not cause bad things to happen or someone to sin or be tempted, but he will use those things to strengthen your faith. I know that in my past I have blamed God for thing, and I have at times given the enemy too much credit that he did it. Life because of the fallen nature of the world will have hurts and trials trying to tear us down. We know the ending Christ has already defeated the enemy, God is on our side taking the hits when we can’t and healing us and using those pains in our life to strengthen us. Each trial and pain we have in our life can ether break or dull the mirror we use to reflect Gods love or polish it a little brighter.

Prayer: Father I am amazed how you use these trials and pains to draw us closer to you. I thank you for all the work you have done in my life and the gifts, blessings and provisions you pour out on us each day. I ask that you help me to be polished and strengthened by these trials and not just shatter under presser. 

November 15, 2017 Ooooh Look another Brownie Point

Reading: Galatians 3 and Ezekiel 19-20

Scripture: Galatians 3:23, Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 

I don’t know how many times I have fallen back into the mindset of living under the law and not by faith. I feel like my head naturally strives to gravitate towards the law, it’s black and white. I can look at the law and check off I have not done this or that so I’m good. Just as the passage says when I think that way I am a captive. I forget that God is not about a giant list of DOs and DON’Ts but he wants to walk with us and be in relationship with us. 

It’s not about who clean we are or how many brownie points we have earned (even though we can never really earn anything from God). Jesus came to the Earth to do what no one could do except him, He came to take upon himself the punishment we have under the law and through our faith in him and what he did we can be set free. Just as the thief on the cross had no ability to do anything except to have faith that Jesus was who he said he was and was still taken up into paradise. The only thing we need to do is believe and place our faith in Him. After that as we spend time with him just as when we spend time with friends we start becoming more like him. God wants to spend time with us and we have to allow it.

Prayer: Father, I am nothing without you, all things are possible through and by you Lord. I cry out Lord God be with me. I thank you for all things, My family, the provisions and blessings you pour out on us. I offer up my returning to the law to you father and ask for your help to walk in faith and not by sight or the law. Help me to Love as you love and to have pour out that love on others. 

November 13, 2017 I'm Not Worthy!!!!!

Reading: Galatians 1 and Ezekiel 15-16 

Scripture: Ezekiel 16:59-60, "For thus says the Lord God: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant, yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant. 

Observation: Lately I have been struggling with knowing who I am in general and more over who I am in God and his plan for me. Over the weekend my wife and I attended a Marriage conference, at this conference things we brought into the light a little and on the drive home afterwords things broke loose and my mouth got me in trouble again. In that fight frustrations and fears were brought to the surface and I took a walk then went and had a talk with a friend to help me get it out. 

I may not have been turning my back fully on God but I was definitely not running toward him as I know I should. As I was in church serving as an usher a man that I have been talking to from time to time but have not felt close to came and ask how I was doing and told me that earlier this week He for the first time felt an urging to Pray for me and then during worship another man came and prayed healing over an issue that I have. 

Just as God told Ezekiel even though we may have walked away or turned away from that covenant that he gave us does not mean that he has forgotten. God has established an EVERLASTING covenant with us, that means no matter how we fail and fall on our face because I know we will He will hold up his end of the bargain even though when he made the deal he knew that he was getting the short end of the stick. 

Prayer: Father God, I am so unworthy of anything you have for me and I know that, that is the point. When you made Adam and Eve you looked down the line at each one of us and all we will do and chose to have your Son come and pay the price so that we could know you. I thank you Lord for all you have for me and the provisions and blessings that you pour out on us each and every day even when I’m even running the other way. I ask that you help remind me of your love, mercy and that you are thinking of me and want a relationship with me. 

November 7, 2017 This is hard Work

Reading: Romans 11 and Jeremiah 51

Scripture: Romans 11:6, But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Observation: The verse jumped out at me quickly this morning. There are times where is takes some time of contemplation and going over the reading a time or two to find what I feel God has for me. So often we feel or thing we have to do all these DOs and not to do all these Don’ts and I know I get bogged down in am I good enough or have I at least stayed away from things I shouldn’t do. There are even churches out there where they don’t teach grace but talk about the things you must do and avoid to get to Heaven. 

Application: This passage is a great reminder to me that I have a calling just like all believers do to be apart of spreading the Gospel, but it also is a reminder that God already has done the work needed to bring us back into a right relationship with him though the sacrifice. But just as Paul has said, we don’t sin more so that there can be more grace but those who have great sin there is great grace. 

Prayer: Father you amaze me in that you can use such a broken vessel to do anything to further your kingdom. I thank you for Lord for my family, both those of blood and those in the church. I thank you for all you have done for us and the provisions and blessings you give us each day. 

November 6, 2017 I ain't no preacher!!!!

Reading: Romans 10 and Jeremiah 39, 50

Scripture: Romans 10:14-15 And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" 

Observation: Back when I first graduated High School and went to one year of Bible college I distinctly remember telling someone I was going to school with that I would never be a preacher. I told them my nerves would not let me do it. Now many years later after study and some Godly leadership I found that biblical preaching is not getting on stage and speaking to a large group of people but it is sharing the Gospel with those who have not heard and we are all called to do so. 

Application: So often we think that it’s not our job to “make the pitch” to these people who don’t know God, that Job belongs to the pastor. We may not have all the answers but we have the truth and the knowledge of what God has done in our lives. All we have to do is share that and offer to them the opportunity to become a christ follower. The pastor his job is to teach and equip us for the work of the Lord. The church is not the building or the gathering of people but it is the entire family of God who have come to the Father through the Son and his sacrifice on the cross. 

Prayer: Father I am amazed that you can use even me even though I know I fall on my face and don’t do things quite right. I thank you for each day you have given me and each day I have with my family. I thank you for you provisions and the blessings. I ask that you help me to open my heart to your leading and urgings so I can further your kingdom.  

October 31, 2017 This is going to hurt me more then it is going to hurt you!!!

Reading: Romans 4 and Jeremiah 48-49

Scripture: Jeremiah 48:36, Therefore my heart moans for Moab like a flute, and my heart moans like a flute for the men of Kir-hareseth. Therefore the riches they gained have perished.

Observation: As God spoke to Jeremiah about what He is going to do to Moab, all this destruction and kicking people out, in the mist of all this discipline God cries out because of his great love for us and his people. I have so many time heard and I probably have even said it myself that the God of the Old Testament is angry and wrathful. 

Application: As I have become a parent of a 2 and a half year old little girl I understand how God will give a harsh rebuke and discipline one moment then turn and scoop up his people and pour out blessings and love the next. We have to remember that God will send correction and discipline but he will never send Guilt, condemnation or shame about something you have done. Those are tools of the devil used to get us to isolate ourselves from those who care about us and from God. God loves us and wants us to be with him. 

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful and I am so grateful you have chosen me. I thank you for my family and I place them in your hands. I thank you for the provisions you have already supplied and those you have planed for us. I ask you help us to see your correction and not listen to the condemnation of the evil one. 

October 24, 2017 Sent before governors and kings

Reading: Acts 25, Jeremiah 15-16 and Psalm 10

Scripture: Acts 25:23, So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

Today I felt more compelled to talk about the fact that so far in his current prison stay he has spoken regularly to two different governors and not they are preparing to take him to Rome to talk to the Emperor. During this prep time the regional king Agrippa comes in to hear what he has to say. So often I discount myself in saying who am I to go before anyone to speak anything. 

I am a 4th-6th grade Sunday school teacher who falls on my face screwing up, I’m not eloquent almost every time I get up to share something I cry through it. I don’t know whats next, but what I do know is my life is a miracle I recently found out the I have a Birth defect called a Bochdalek hernia that is fatal to about 60% of infants with it and he rarely found in adults except in an autopsy. God’s hand has been on my life for over 3 and a half decades protecting me. Paul was able to speak to governors kings and the emperor and he was someone who helped the Jewish leaders in that day to track down and murder those who fallowed Christ. 

We don’t know who God will place you before to share your story and the gospel with or how it will affect the world but all we can do is open ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit and take the steps that he places before us.

Father I am in awe that you use even a donkey and is you can use a donkey to speak your truth then I know you can use me. I thank you that you are always leading and calling encouraging us to get back up after falling and chasing after things of the world. I thank you for your provisions and blessings. I ask that you help us to seek your will more and open our ears to heat from you more. 

October 23, 2017 Go ahead and hit me I'm unarmed!!!!

Reading: Acts 24, Jeremiah 13-14 and Psalm 141

Scripture: Psalm 141:4-5, Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.

Observation: So often I find myself turning back to the fleshly things turning to things the will be pleasurable for a time but in the long run unfulfilling and unproductive. I need the help to keep myself from diving into things that I shouldn’t.

Application: This reminds me that we need people around us to help us when we are going to head down the wrong path. I am doing my best to surround myself with men whom we all can help each other to walk away for these temptations and seek the direction for our lives.

Prayer: Father I am in awe of how you love me even though I stick myself into situations where it does not belong. I thank you for my family and friends that are around me and help me to make better choices are you are a witness in their life as well in mine. I also thank you for the pro0vision and blessings you pour out on us each and every day. I thank you for those convictions and those who help with accountability.

October 11, 2017 Don't worry about that its just your imagination!!

Reading: Acts 12, 2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33 and Psalm 75

Scripture: But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 

Observation: I don’t know how often I have prayed and something happens and I don’t believe or think that my prayers really matter until I see something as proof. It is not mentioned in scripture but I have a feeling that part of the reason these people were gathered together praying was for Peter’s release from prison. I know that whenever I hear about someone I know getting in trouble, I try to pray for justice be it release and exoneration or conviction. 

Application: I the mist of (I think) contending for Peter’s release from prison there is a knock on the door and its him. They discounted the messenger until she insisted they come out and see him, and Rhoda finally opened the gate and door. I know I need to have more faith that God is listening to my prayers that I’m not just white noise that is there like a buzzing fly that wont go away. Let us not be so amazed when God dose something He is a good Father and wants to give us good gifts.

Prayer: Father, I am in awe of your power and majesty, and I long to bask in your glory. I thank you for the provisions and blessings your pour out on us each day and the opportunity to seek your face. Help me to have the faith to know you are listening and moving as I pray. Help me to grow deeper with you and be filled to overflowing with your love and peace. 

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.