Where is your citizenship?

Reading: Habakkuk 1-3 and Acts 16

Scripture: Habakkuk 2:3, For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Thoughts: I feel like lately there has been an increase in talking on and teaching about the end times. Jesus told the Pharisees that they see the signs but don’t understand them. Whether Habakkuk through his vision is referring to something that has already come and gone, it can also be applied to the end. We are told that is will come but we are not to know the day or time. As a human I know that if I know when the end would happen or just knew when I would die there is much I would do and figure I will repent later. The kingdom of God is near and we are called to live as citizens of that kingdom even as we sojourn here on earth. Be prepared the end is coming.

Prayer: Father you are so good, you lead us and guide us even though we want to seek our own glory and our own pleasure. I thank you for seeking and calling after me even when I turned my back on you. I thank you that your grace is sufficient for me. I thank you for my family and the joy and love they have taught me to have. I thank you for my friends and the accountably and connection they bring to my life. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that you pour out on us every day. I ask that you help me to focus on living for you and living as that citizen of your kingdom and not my own. 

A yoke your father could not bear.

Reading: 2 Kings 23, 2 Chronicles 35, and Acts 15

Scripture: Acts‬ ‭15:10-11, Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.‬‬

Thoughts: As a gentile myself I am grateful that it was determined that we do not have to live by the mosaic laws the rules and regulations that not even the best could live up to. We are all saved by grace and need to do anything to receive, one we have and we follow him then the Holy Spirit will work within us leading us to change and become more like the Father and walk away from the things of this would that do no fulfill the hole in our hearts. 

Where is your Bible?

Reading: 2 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 34, and Acts 14

Scripture: 2 Chronicles‬ ‭34:30, And the king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the Levites, all the people both great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord.‬‬

Thoughts: After many generations of Kings doing evil and the occasional one listing to God the books of the law had been lost for generations, and after they were found and read these books one of the first things he did was to have them read to the leaders and the people. We are to always be in the word and letting it transform us and draw us closer to God. As these people were seeking after gods of other nations God hid his word somewhere that someday someone would find it and lead them back into relationship with Him. Does the Word of God hold the reverence in our homes as it should, or are we dusting it off when we have guests over? 

Is God suffering our manners?

Reading: Nahum 1-3 and Acts 13

Scripture: Acts‬ ‭13:18-19, And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance.

Thoughts: Paul the former Pharisee, the keeper and teacher of the law, was the one who brings up that God put up with the people or Israel. In the King James Version, it is translated as suffered their manners, then they received their inheritance after destroying the nations there. We have our inheritance in heaven and we are called to share what God has done in our lives. We have already gone through time here God put up with what we were doing before we knew him but, are we still causing him to suffer our manners?

Prayer: Lord you know me and love me in spite of the things I do or don’t do. You know that hairs on my head and the failures and victories. I thank you that you are seeking me and calling me into a deeper relationship with you. I thank you for my family the love and joy that they bring to my life. I thank you for the men you have brought around me. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you our out on us and that you take care of us. I ask that if there is anything in my life that is offensive to you or is causing you to suffer my manners that you help me to see it and in your name take it captive. Lead me and guide me in your plan and your directions. 

Drain it down to the dregs.

Reading: 2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33, Psalm 75, Acts 12, and 2 Corinthians 4

Scripture: Psalm 75:8, For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.

Thoughts: I am not a wine drinker, there is something about the flavor I do not care for. With my small amount of knowledge, I was wondering about this and if it was referring to something like sparkling wine or something else. As I looked, I found information about how mostly in red wine that there are times where the compounds in the wine will react and do something with the surface tension of the wine and creates a frothy scummy wine. In the word there are several places that the Lord’s cup is his wrath. Looking at todays world the surface tension is palpable, this feel like they are about to burst at any moment. If the cup is the wrath of God it then talks about how as God is pouring this cup out the wicked will drink it all to the dregs. That is not just the last drops, back then they did not really have much in the way of filtering things. That bottom of the barrel would not be good, just like when we are told that sin in pleasurable for a time, this wine may be ok at first but by the time the dregs would be the foam chunks of grape and anything else that had been added to that wine, creating a nasty sludge on the bottom. So, with God saying his wrath will be drank down to the dregs invokes a image of the wicked going through the wrath to the bitter and nasty end before being judged and being put in eternal domination.

Prayer: Father you are in control you know when this cup will be poured out and who will be drinking of it. You are our light in these dark times, you are the one that lead us and shine a light on our path. I thank you that you are shining a light, I ask that we be more perceptive to seeing and following the light. I thank you for my family and the blessings they are to me. I thank you for the mentors and brothers in my life that help keep me aimed in the right direction. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you pour out on us every day. I lift up to you those who are set to drink of your wrath, I ask that we all be more open and receptive to your leading and help us to take the steps to reach more and share your love.

A kick in the gut or a kick in the butt?

Reading: Isaiah 65-66, Psalm 124, Acts 11, and 2 Corinthians 3

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Thought: In todays world where we are so often taught that we cannot rely on anyone, that everyone and everything will let us down so we must do it ourselves. Being told that we are not enough on our own and that God is the one who ministers though us can be a kick in the gut or it can be a kick in the butt. When we walk in the sufficiency of God and in his calling he will multiply our effectiveness exponentially just like compounding interest is a helps to grow money faster God’s sufficiency will our faith and effectiveness in ministry. 

Prayer: Father God you are more then enough for me, your sufficiency overflows into this world and onto those that have been adopted into your family. Your grace and mercy pour out on me though your love. I thank you that you know me and that you seek me. I thank you for my family. I thank you for my friends. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that are in my life. I thank you that your are enough and in that enough I ask for more strength, I ask for more guidance, and the help to open my ears to that guidance. 

Are we showing honor where honor is due?

 Reading: Isaiah 62-64 and Acts 10

Scripture: Acts 10:23, So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

Thoughts: As I read this morning and having the reminders that Peter was a guest in Joppa ministering to the people there and after this crazy vision these Gentiles come to the door. At this point Saul had just had his encounter with Jesus and may not have taught any but Jews. After reminding them about what culture and traditions tell them they can and cannot do, such as easting and lodging together. Then Peter invites them in as guests and normally this meant eating and staying. Not only is this showing us that no mater what the background they should have the opportunity to hear the Gospel, but also, we are to treat everyone with dignity and respect. Are we showing the respect and dignity to those different then us, are we showing honor where honor is due? We all have biases and make judgments because of how we were raised or experiences we have had we need to let them go and meet people where they are no matter what the color of their skin or the words they use.  

Prayer: Father you are the creator of all, you have made us all equal and we are the only judge. Your Glory shine on us all and you lead us to green pastures. I thank you that you are in control I thank you that your love in sufficient for me. I thank you for my family, I thank you for the friends that are as family. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that are continually putting me in awe of you. I ask that you help me to pull down any prejudices that I may have and only seek people with your love.

Help me to polish my mirror

 Reading: Isaiah 60-61, Psalm 111, Acts 9, and 2 Corinthians 2

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-2, Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

Thoughts: in this dark world where the war is on the streets, where evil is seen as good and good as evil. We are told throughout scripture that we are the light. Isaiah is saying get up and shine because God’s light is on us. we are to go the Lord will be with us and glory will be seen on us. We were born into this dark world and it is only getting darker, the benefit to it getting darker is that our light get to shine brighter. Are we getting into the word and seeking God so that we shine well and are we going out into the darkness. 

Prayer: Father God you are so wonderful you glory and light sines upon us. Help us to be a mirror to the world around us and let us reflect your glory and your light to the world. I thank you for my family and those who are as family. I thank you that you seek me and desire to be near me and me to draw near to you. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that you pour out on us every day. I ask that you help me to polish my mirror that you may be glorified in I do. 

I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.

Reading: Isaiah 58-59, Psalm 5, Acts 8, and 2 Corinthians 1

Scripture: Psalm‬ ‭5:6-7‬, You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.

Thoughts: David, even when he was just a servant in Saul’s house had to have seen his fair share of death and bloodthirsty and deceitful men, then continuing to become one of the great warriors and eventually becoming King after Saul. Over and over we here we hear David that man after God’s own heart. Here he is talking about how God destroys and abhors these men, but he had done or will do all these things, depending on when in his life he wrote this. Going on to say that through God’s love and mercy he gets to enter the house of God and bow down and worship in reverent fear of God. In todays world even growing up in the church and being told what is right and wrong it is very easy to fall into the lying and being deceitful and fallowing after the worlds views on sexuality. Are we going to walk in a way that God abhors seeking our own pleasure or are we going to seek to enter his House with praise? 

Prayer: Father your mercy is sufficient for me, you know every sin I have and every sin I will have and you still seek me and call me. Your grace continues to pour your love over me and drench me in your peace. I thank you for the work you are doing in my life. I thank you for my family and those who are like family and are sometimes closer than family. I thank you that you seek me and call me. I thank you that you are the great provider and you pour out your provisions and blessings out upon us every day. I ask that you restore to me schedule that seems better suited to ministry. I ask that you place upon the company to provide what they have promised. I ask that you open my eyes and heart to those things in my life that need changing, and lead me to the support needed to work though them. 

Peace, peace, to the far and to the near

Reading: Isaiah 55-57 and Acts 7

Scripture: Isaiah 57:18-21, I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Thought: We have all fallen, we all have failures in our lives both before knowing God and after coming into a relationship with him though this Son. Isaiah is speaking of a healing and comfort and a creating of a fruit in someone life. We are called to peace where we can be healed and comforted by God and Holy Spirit. We are also warned about abiding in wickedness and that there will be no peace and that we will tossed ab out and like a frothy sea, that is churning up all the garbage and dirt around us. The peace of God is not forgetting the past but releasing the holding it against others. 

Prayer: Father you are the one your judges, you are the one who brings peace to the wild sea. You pour your love upon us all. I thank you for all that you are doing in me and the breakthrough you are leading me to. I thank you for my family, and I place them in your hands and thank you for the opportunity to steward them. I thank you that you know the hairs on my head and care for me. I thank you for the provisions and blessings that you have poured out on us. I ask that you help me to seek your peace and to share it with those around me. Help me to see the faults in my life and the unacceptable behavior in my life that I may work on removing it. I ask that you help me to seek the help I need and the strength to over come the obstacles before me. 

Can anything good come out of Nazareth?

Reading: Isaiah 52-54, Psalm 102, Acts 6, and 1 Corinthians 16

Scripture: Isaiah 53:2-3, For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Thoughts: So often in church Isaiah 53:5-6 are quoted, reminding us of the prophetic sacrifice that Jesus was going to make. Reading Isaiah 53 today I noticed in the first few verses that it describes his background. The root from dry ground reminded where Nathanael says to Philip “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” This was a place that was a small town without much there and no of a history of greatness. There was not much information on the appearance of Jesus but being from this poor town and a carpenters son I would not expect a lot, as I read this it sounds like he would have been very unassuming and possibly easily missed, just looking like everyone else. To me this makes his message all that much more powerful, in this day and age, we are so focused on appearance and how we are perceived that it would make sense that if he didn’t look like a king or have a beauty that would draw people to him like David’s son Absalom, He could easily be missed until the authority in his words would dive deep into the hearts listening. 

Prayer: Father your Word astounds me every day, your Spirit ministers to me with new revelations from your word. I thank you for all that you are doing in my life, the revelations into who I am and the growth you are calling me into. I thank you for my family and the things you are teaching me through them. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that you provide even when it is hard to see them. I ask that you continue to reveal those things I need to work on. Help me to find the resources that I need to work though those things. Open my heart to the place you have for me within your battle plans. 

Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

 Reading: Isaiah 50-51, Psalm 58, Acts 5, and 1 Corinthians 15

Scripture: 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:32, What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

Thoughts: As I was reading this passage, the way that the media and even schools today are pushing science as the be all end all of things, that this passage is basically the way that the loudest part of the world is living. The world pushes nothing but science, nothing is true unless it is repeatable and measurable. In my studies into different sciences I feel that science affirms my belief in God, from the intricacies of the human body including Laminin a molecule vital to the function of our body and is shaped like the Cross, to the simplicity of a single cell organism or the interdependence of a forest on all the animals and creatures living in it. But when we decide to leave behind that we are made in the image of God and dismiss the resurrection, we see ourselves as animals and nothing is off limits. 

Prayer: Father you are the creator of all things, you make heaven and earth to declare your glory and you made us in your image. I thank you that you are hear with us every day. I thank you for your love and mercy. I thank you for my family and those who are as family. I thank you for your provision and blessing, you take care of all that I need and lead me in the direction I should go. I ask for your truth to be know and that the spirit of deception be removed, help us to remove the blinders from those around us and grow deeper with you. 

What have you seen and heard

 Reading: Isaiah 48-49, Acts 4, and 1 Corinthians 14

 

Scripture: Acts 4:19-20, But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

 

Thoughts: So often I have been timid when it come to speaking out, but the moment I start telling my story and my experiences that goes away. We are all called to speak what we have seen and heard. When we experience a move of God or a miracle it is hard to keep it to yourself. The world is searching for ways to try to shut our mouth and point to other things. Just as as Peter and John were arrested and told don’t speak in this name there are many parts of their world who say the same thing and in the name of tolerance and anti offense we are told we can’t talk about God and faith. Right or wrong in the eyes of the powers that be are you speaking what you have seen?

 

Prayer: Father God you are so wonderful, your love abounds and drenched me, you pour out peace and wisdom on your children. I thank you for all you have done and all you are doing in my life. I thank you for my family and friends in you have brought around me. I thank you for the provision and blessings you pour out and the wisdom to use them. I thank you that you are leading and guiding me. Help me to remove the timidity in my life. Help me to see the things that are the root of my issues so that they can be worked through that I can be more affective in your kingdom. 

 

How childish are we?

Reading: Isaiah 46-47, Psalm 35, Acts 3, and 1 Corinthians 13

Scripture:  1 Corinthians 13:11-12, When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Thoughts: So many of us men are referred to as bid kids, we like our toys and we can be goofy and silly especially with our kids. We are all at different stages in our walk with Christ and our maturity in that relationship. I have watched people who start strong and within a few years they have been scorched by the world or unfortunately something in the church and ether walk away or start the process of church hopping. Paul is calling us to examine ourselves and ask in our lives have we given up those childish ways and not working on polishing that mirror so that the world can see Christ in us?

Prayer: Father God you Word is nourishment to my soul and your grace abounds on us. Your majesty shines in your creation. I thank you for all you do in our lives I thank you that you have brought my family to me and the men in my life. I thank you for the provisions and blessings that you pour out upon us. I ask that you help us to see where we are still childish and help us to grow and be the men and women you call us to be.

Watch your toes

 Reading: Isaiah 42-43, Psalm 82, Acts 1, and 1 Corinthians 12

Scripture: 1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:26, If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.‬‬‬‬

Thoughts: As Paul was reminding the church in Corinth that everyone is apart of the body even though we all have different callings and giftings, he goes on to talk about all suffering and all rejoicing. The first thing that this brought to mind was when you stub your toe, especially your pinky/little toe. As you stumble around in the dark you are bound to find something with your toes ether that stray Lego you kids missed picking up or the doorframe you were sure was six inches to your right, but that moment of impact your eye sight blinks out your entire body recoils and begins the process of assessing the damage. Conversely when you watch a small child jitter with joy and anticipation as they are looking at a gift or dessert they have been looking forward to. Are we doing the same in the body of Christ? When someone is hurting and lost do we feel it and join them to help or when someone gets some new blessing in their life are we rejoicing with them, or do we sit there and go where is my blessing? 

Prayer: Father God you are so wonderful, you are honored in your creation, your glory is present in all things. I thank you for the honor of enjoying the beauty and glory that is in this world. I thank you for my family. I thank you for those who are like family. Thank you for your provisions and blessings that you pour out every day. I thank you that we are a family and a body. Help us to come together more and to become more of a cohesive body where do weep together and we rejoice together.