January 17, 2018 This thing is heavy...

Reading: Luke 17 and Job 24-25

Scripture: Luke 17:1, And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

Thoughts: This morning when I saw this verse I was thinking should I have a millstone around my neck. I know that I do stupid things and fall into temptations myself but have I been the bringer of temptations without realizing it. From what I was seeing the smallest ones were still 50-100 pounds. I would not want an extra 20 pounds let alone much more to pull me down when I go swimming. I have been rebukes and brought back to God, as we seek God each day and spend more time in his presence the more we become like him and find ourselves acting and reflection him more. 

Prayer: Father I thank you for the opportunity to return to you when we fall and that you call us. I thank you for your provisions and blessings and the family you have given me. I ask that you remove any millstone that I have put on and help me to point to you and not the distractions and sin of the world. 

January 16, 2018 Its Dark in here

Reading: Luke 16 and Job 22-23

Scripture: Job 23:16-17, God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face.

Thoughts: Job was in his darkest days, after the evil one got permission to test him, he lost everything kids, property, everything. How often in the middle of a storm do we find ourselves staring at the problem yelling at God instead of looking to him. Job spends lots of time in despair, possibly borderline depression. Over the course of Job’s ordeal and all that the evil one did to him he was able endure it all and overcome it. God has given us the strength to overcome anything that can come our way. Darkness may try to overcome us and cover our face but the light of God through Jesus Christ his Son shines through and helps us to see in that darkness.

Prayer: Thank you, Father for the Light of your Son. I am amazed anew each day by the things you do. I thank you for your daily provisions and blessings you pour out on us and the things you allow me to be a steward over. I ask that you help me to see you love and light more each day and help me to seek you more. 

January 15, 2018 Party Time!!!!!!!!

Reading: Luke 15 and Job 20-21

Scripture: Like 15:10, Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Thoughts: For me it is so easy to get distracted by life and the world that I forget about the Joy of God when we turn back to him. I know that there are still sins that I struggle with. I have come to the realization that being a disciple is not the cure for being a sinner but it is a process of facing those sins and through God’s power and directions in my life. As I work through these thing such as lust and selfishness (two of my biggies) the more I see God in my life. Each time I fall get up and turn back to God (Repent) there is a party going on in Heaven. It’s not a salvation thing because I feel that the only way to not be saved is to turn on God and deny the Gift of salvation. 

I love the idea that God and the angels are in heaven and all around us celebrating when we come back and have our victories. I long to join in those parties, I think that is why I enjoy baptism weekends we are able to have an earthy party that is only a foreshadowing of the party in heave.

Prayer: Father I long to join your party, I thank you for the opportunities to gather and party with others as they have made the choice to fallow. Thank you for the provisions and blessings you have for us each day and the plans you have for our lives. 

January 11, 2018 The Door is Shut

Reading: Luke 11 and Job 11-12

Scripture: Luke 11:8b, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 

Thoughts: I found it was interesting that even though they are our friends they don’t want to help but because of his shame he will get what is needed. How often do we do about only doing what will keep the shame at bay. Are we being a good gift giver and a servant or are we helping and doing out of obligation? Doing with the right heart is just as if not more important that the actual doing. Just like lighting a lamp we want to have it where it will do the most good, when we just do because of obligation and not with the proper heart the impact on others lives will be diminished. God wants to show his love through us but if we are only doing because we have to then we are not spreading the love of God we may even be spreading discontentment.

Prayers: Father you are so wonderful, each day is a gift from you. I thank you lord for the great gifts you give us. I thank you for the family that you have allowed me to be a steward of. I thank you for the blessings and provisions of this day and ask that you help us to have a proper heart and motivations in our life and our interactions with the world. 

January 10, 2018 Who will stand in the gap??

Reading: Luke 10 and Job 9-10

Scripture: Job 9:33,  There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.

Luke 10:29, But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Observation: As I was going through the reading today, when Job said,”there is no arbiter between us,” it hit me that before Christ there was not an arbiter or mediator. We would be on our own to try to justify ourselves to a perfect God who could not be in the presence of sin. Just like the man asking Jesus how to get eternal life, we want to justify ourselves saying I’m a good person look at all the good things I have done. 

None of the good we have done even in the name of God mean anything if we have not accepted Jesus as our arbiter. God knew that the entire world was lost without an advocate and he prophesied about him in Genesis 3 talking about the evil one bruising his heel. Without someone to go before us to God the most we could do would be to try to cover our sin with the blood of goats and sheep and that is not sufficient.  

Prayer: Father I am in awe of how you open my eyes to new things every day. I love you so much, even though it pales in comparison to the love you have for us. I thank you for the provisions for the day and the blessings you are wanting to pour out on us today. I thank you for sending your son to be the arbiter that we need so that we can enjoy your presence in our lives. 

January 9, 2018 Open mouth insert foot

Reading: Luke 9 and Job 7-8

Scripture: Luke 9:33, And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah"—not knowing what he said

Observation: I know that everyday I have a tendency to open my mouth without thinking or as this passage says, “not knowing what he said.” Like Peter I’m a doer so if I was there I may have said something similar. Later when the village rejects Jesus here we are sooting off our mouths again, saying kill them for rejecting you. 

Application: Are we so different, we get passionate about something to the we act as if we would die for whatever that thing is we have gotten passionate about. God wants that passion and that drive in our lives but not at the expense of driving others away. There are groups out there that spread hate in the name of god when that is not God’s heart. The Bible tells us that God is Love and as I see it we are to Love people into the Kingdom. No amount of finder waving or yelling will bring someone to God but if we love them no matter who or what they are then they will see God’s love through us and eventually want to know why we are the way we are. That is being God’s hands and feet to the world.

Prayer: Father, I thank you for your love and that you love me through my times of rebellion. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you pour out on us each day. I place my family in your hands. I thank you for the breakthrough in my life. I ask that breakthrough flow through your kingdom and through this world. I ask that your love flow through us to those around us that need you. 

January 8, 2018 What Storm

Reading: Luke 8 and Job 5-6

Scripture: Luke 8:24b, And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Observation: I allow myself to run into storms, where things seem like they will rage over me. Then when I am sufficiently scared and crying out to God I am reminded He was always with me. I don’t know how often I have run into a situation I was not ready for. If we open our ears to hear what God has for us he will tell us, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” Verse 22, we can look at this as Jesus saying, “Hey let’s check out the other side of the lake” or as I have come to see it as a prophetic statement. Jesus had something that needed to be done and he knew what was going to come during the trip over the lake. Many of these men were seasoned sailers on this lake. Once they were to the point where they thought they could not handle it any more they went to Jesus.

We are the same way, we go about our live going I can handle this or that. Then something big comes and here we are knocked to our back saying, “I have fallen and I can’t get up” to God. 

Prayer: Father I thank you for all you do for me, picking me up when I fall guiding me around pits and taking care of enemies I didn’t know where there. I and you for the blessings and the provisions you pour out on us every day. I lay my life and that of my family in your hands. I ask that you help me to open my eyes to your directions.

January 4, 2018 You want to heal WHO!!!

Reading: Luke 4 and Genesis 6-8

Scripture: Luke 4:38, And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 

Observation: I know that I am blessed with in-laws that I to the most part agree with and get along with and my wife gets along with my family. The first thing that I though about in this was the stereotype of sons and daughters in-law are always at odds with their in-laws. I know there is always a grain of truth within those stereotypes. With that said I know that I would find it very difficult to live with my in-laws, there are enough differences that I could see conflict coming a mile away. 

Application: Jesus goes to Simon’s house and heals her of her illness. Society in some ways tells us that we should be happy for the miracle but be sad that we were not rid of the in-law. How many of us pray for others in general? We by nature are selfish and have a pray the I prayers, I need, I want, I I I. Simon appealed to Jesus on behalf of his mother in-law. 

Prayer: Father I fall before you longing to feel your love and grace more each day. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you pour out on us each day. I thank you for bringing me into a family that does not cause strife. I ask you bless my mother in-law and help her with the choices she has on her plate this day. Open her eyes and ears to your leading in this situation and grow her faith and he witness. 

January 3, 2018 I Want More

Reading: Luke 3 and Genesis 4-5

Scripture: Luke 3:14b, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."

Observation: The first thing I saw today was Be content. This is so counter intuitive to what the world tells us every day. Every day we are bombarded with the you have to have this or you need that and you need to better yourself and work your way up the corporate ladder to make more so you can get all the things the “Rich” people have.

Application: The world tells us every day that we need more and we always need the latest and the greatest what ever it is. I know I fall for it and will loose focus and go spend money on things I really don’t need. Here we are being reminded that as much as God wants to bless us he also wants us to be content or satisfied with where we are at and what we have because he as a plan for us. This morning on a radio show I listen to they were talking about having a word for the year. This year I think mine should be content. I need to stop thinking about how to advance my career or what I’m going to do with the next bit of money I'm getting. I need to focus that energy on doing what God has for me to do and to seek his plan. 

Prayer: Father I am in awe of the way you touch my life with words spoken more then 2000 years ago. I thank you for all you have done for me and the grace and mercy you pour out on me each day. I thank you for the provisions and blessing you give us each day and I place my family in your loving hands. I ask that you help me to seek you and not the things of this world. help me to be satisfied with where I am and what I have and be the best steward of what I have. 

January 2, 2018 Im not done Yet.

Reading: Luke 2, Genesis 2-3 and Revelations 1

Scripture: Luke 2:49 & 52, And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. 

Observation: When reading this I was thinking about the class I have taught for Sunday school the preteen class is called J12 referring to Luke 2 where even at 12 Jesus was looking to be in his fathers house. I have enjoyed working with this age group in that they seem to grasp some of the larger things of God that the younger kids are just not ready for and I feel I can teach and not just be a childcare provider. 

Application: Then as we get down to the end of the chapter we get the verse about Jesus increasing in Wisdom, Stature and Favor with God and man. I know I have so many times though, “Why has God not Just Fixed me?” As perfect and sinless as Jesus was he was still a child and had to grow in his wisdom, stature and favor. Even though we are covered in what He as done for us dose not mean that everything is just fixed. Ever since hearing this at Boise Bible Collage near 20 years ago there are times like this that is keeps coming back to me. “Be patient with my me I'm a work in progress.” 

Prayer: Father I thank you for all you have done for me and all that you will do through and for me. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you pour out on us each day and I lay my family in your loving care. I ask that you continue the work you started in my so many years ago and help me to be the man you have called me to be. 

December 22, 2017 Mirror Mirror

Reading: James 1 and Esther 7-10

Scripture: James 1:23-24, For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 

Observation: Over the Last few weeks I was away from my normal routines. I went out of stare to get some training for work. I spent two weeks away from my family and everything I really knew. I was able to talk to my wife and children on video chats most every day, but in that time I feel like I became a hearer only if even that. I was able to get myself to sit down to read and write my devotions one day and I read them maybe a couple more times. It was very quickly that I started forgetting what I had seen in that mirror of my relationship with God and the fellowship of those around me. Especially the men who help hold me accountable. Without trying I stopped seeking God and being back home It has been a struggle to get back into the swing of what I was doing before and even that I was falling down on. 

Here I am coming back to the word seeking God and working to develop the good habits and practices of getting into the word every day. I hope the hustle and bustle of the holidays does not completely mess with that plan. Im here to say we need that Mirror of God’s love and mercy to look into and allow it to show us where we need improvements. 

Prayer: Father I thank you so much for the revelation you have shown me this morning, that I need that Mirror and how easy it is to get sucked back into the world. I thank you that you are the great provider, Thank you for the provisions and blessing you pour out on us each day. I ask that you help me to remain in the mirror of your word and your Church to grow and see the places you are working on me. 

December 4, 2017 For The Love Of Money

Reading: 1 Timothy 6 and Ezekiel 41-42

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10a, For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.

Observation: It is odd sometimes this passage popped out at me today because of so many times I have heard this as this is why money is bad and this gets teamed up with Matthew 19:24 about it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. I have heard these used to say you should live in poverty. Depending on where people live in the world and what their economic standing is I can be seen as rich being I have a house on property with cars and a annual income but others will look down on me because this house is small and the cars are almost 20 years old and my income is less then some number they feel is the line of being poor. 

Application: These comparisons are some of the roots of evil that are being talked about. It is not that money is good or bad just like a baseball bat is not good or bad but it can be used for both kinds of purposes. We are stewards of what ever God places on our plate. God has placed the cars and this house in our care for us to use them best for the kingdom and he has given us this income to yes cover our needs but also take care of others needs. We tithe and give offerings to our church and through what our church does with our gifts we are reaching around the world and touching lives both locally and globally. As you start letting your stranglehold on your finances and placing them in Gods hands you will start seeing God move financial mountains you thought you would be berried under for ever.

Prayer: Father I am in awe of how you can move mountains. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you pour out on us each and every day. I ask you to help us to loosen our grip on our money and place it in your hands.

November 29, 2017 They are just keeping me down!?!?!?!?

Reading: 1 Timothy 1 and Daniel 3-4

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:8-9a, Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners

Observation: When reading this it struck me on how often I have heard that, “The Law” is holding me back or holding me down. I hear about people wanting to rise up against the establishment because they don’t agree with The Law. Here it is saying that the law is not for the just. The Law (The 10 Commandments) were given to be a mirror to us so we could see the need for God and redemption. Most modern Laws that I know about (not being a lawyer) are based on The 10 Commandments (excluding the one about God being first in your life). The law is not there to show good we are but as a measure of how much grace we have been shown and how we can not measure up. Jesus summed up all the laws into two “Love God and Love your neighbors as your self” I know how hard it is to love someone who does you wrong, but that is what we are called to. 

Prayer: Father I thank you for all you have done and the opportunities you place before me each day. I thank you for your blessings and provision. I ask that you kelp me to learn to love as you love. 

November 28, 2017 This little light of mine

Reading: Philippians 4, Daniel 1-2 and Psalm 137

Scripture: Philippians 4:22, All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.

Observation: As we read though Daniel today and were looking at his life being drug to Babylon and trained, Daniel remained a light for God. He asked to not be fed the kings food and when the king had a dream and God gave him the interpretation he pointed strait to the one who showed him the dream and the interpretation. Like Daniel, Paul remained a light when he was under house arrest in Rome at Caesar’s palace. Paul not only was given freedoms to preach and teach from a house he was places in as he awaited his trial with Caesar, it is said that many in the house of Caesar came to know God and embrace the Christ and his church though Paul. These members of Caesars house were such a part of Pauls life and ministry there when writing this letter to the church at Philippi he basically said “hey all my homies as hi too.” Weather we are in captivity, at our jobs, in our homes or on the street like Paul says, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Philippians 4:11 

Prayer: Father I thank you for all you have done in my life, the ups the downs you have been by my side even though I may not have wanted to acknowledge you. I thank you for my family and place them in your hands and seek your guidance in the next steps of my life. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you pour out on us each day and the strength to cary on. I ask that you remind us and help us to be the light you have created us to be to reach those around us.

November 27, 2017 The struggle is real

Reading: Philippians 3, Lamentations 4-5 and Obadiah 1

Scripture: Philippians 3:7, But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 

This passage is one almost every Christian has heard and possibly quoted at some point. Even being a Christian most of my life and hearing this passage taught from time to time I admit that I both didn’t listen to it or didn’t understand what was being taught. Over the years during the time I walked away from God acknowledging him with my words and not my actions (something I still struggle with) I also saw that all the advantages and benefits in my career were because I was doing them myself and didn’t acknowledge God’s involvement in my life. Paul was a self made man in the eyes of the Pharisees he did everything right and was on the holy war against “The Way” and after God got ahold of him on the road to Damascus Paul learned that his past was nothing and got to see the benefits to living for Christ. Since God got back ahold of me and I stopped looking at what I have done and where I have gotten me and my family he has blessed me with more then I ever thought I would have and I am still working on giving it all back to him. 

Prayer: Father I thank you for getting my attention again and using the 2x4 to help me to struggle with my words and actions to aline in your love. I thank you for your love that you give that I can pour out. I thank you for your provisions and blessings each day I thank you for my family and again I place them in your hands. Help me to listen to the Holy Spirit and open myself to your leadings to touch those around me.