Stop negging me!!!!

Reading: Judges 14-16 and 2 Thessalonians 1-2

Scripture: Judges 16:16, And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death.

Thoughts: I’m sure we all have been negged about something, be it doing a chore or getting homework done. Sampson had a life that was lived on the verge of breaking the vow that was put upon him in his mother’s womb. As he pushed up on the boundaries of the vow he became comfortable with pushing those boundaries to the point that after lying top Delila so many times that he finally told her a condition of the vow. Are we walking close to sin that we may be enticed or even nagged or bullied into that sin? 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, your grace abounds, your love overwhelms, and your joy lifts me. I thank you for all that you are doing in my life. I thank you for the molding and refining that you are doing today and forever. Help me to move away from those places that I am inviting nagging and bullying, lead me into those green pastures and bring peace into this place. 

Sort and Sweet

Reading: Judges 11-13 and 1 Thessalonians 5

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Rejoice always

Thoughts: In English Jesus wept is the shortest verse in the Bible and almost every kid who grew up in the church uses that as one of there memorized verses. But in the Greek the shortest verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:16, “rejoice always” this command to the believers in Thessalonica and to us that even through all the trials and tribulations that you are dealing with and that are coming rejoice, rejoice that we are deemed worthy of even a fraction of what our savior went through, rejoice that we are here, rejoice that we have a citizenship in heaven. 

Prayer: Lord God I thank you that you are with us, I thank you that you are opening doors and leading us as we go. I thank you that you walk with us though our trials and tribulations and that you give us the power and authority to overcome the evil one. I rejoice in your authority, I rejoice in your love, I rejoice in your joy and I ask for help in rejoicing in my trials and tribulations. You are the one true God and I seek after you. 

Go cry out to the gods you have chosen!!

Reading: Judges 9-10 and 1 Thessalonians 3-4

Scripture: Judges 10:12-14, The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to me, and I saved you out of their hand. Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.

Thoughts: I hear it time and time again that the God of the Old Testament is different than the God of the new. When we just look at how much destruction came from God before Jesus and what Jesus preach and taught his disciples it can look that way. God here as reminding Israel that he brought them out of all these things, yet they went after other gods. When we go after other gods, we are given the same options repent and seek God with all our hearts or be given over to our sins. Paul talks about that in Romans 1:24, the evil one and the world who have been influenced by the evil one is always trying to get us off track. Most of us are rooted in our faith that we are not going to just become unbelievers, but he will work to get us to be ineffective in our calling. Those others gods that we may be crying out to, can be things like money, possessions, or even affirmation in the form of likes on social media. All these are not bad things but how you interact with them shows if they are elevated to a god status in your life. Let us look at what God did for us and is still doing for us and if there needs to be a return, because he has given us over to our sins and said go cry to your gods.

Prayer: Father God, you are the creator of all things, you made it all therefore it all is yours. Your ways are higher than our ways. I thank you that you call and not just force us to be your children. I thank you that you are forming me and refining me every day. Help me to evaluate if I am putting anything before you or even bringing anything close to being equal to you. Your glory shines and is being shout by all creation. I ask that you forgive those sins I have and help me to grow into the man you call me to be. May you be glorified all the days of my life. 

Let us shake some trees!!!

Reading: Judges 7-8 and 1 Thessalonians 1-2

Scripture: Judges 7:4, And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.”

Thoughts: When staring down an army so large that it says they were like locust, I would already be shaking in my boots, then God lets 2/3 of your army go because they were scared. Then God says that the army is still too big, I probably would have had a few choice words for God just saying to lower our numbers, let alone when I saw only 300 men left. Today we are that 300, we are all called to simply share God with those around us. The Church is to be a place of teaching, equipping, and discipling, but so often we think if we get someone to the church then it is the job of the paid staff to present the gospel. A great illustration of this is this world is an orchard trees every where with fruit on it all that fruit is at different stages of being ripe. We need to go out and shake those trees around us, the fruit that is ready will fall and become part of the family of Christ but if it remains on the tree, we have watered it, gave it an opportunity to ripen a little more. It is not about us or anything we do but its about what God is doing in their heart. We are partnered with Holy Spirit and he will always be available when we step out and share God.

Prayer: Father, your heart is for the lost, your heart breaks for this world to the point that you sent your Son to open a way back to you. I thank you that you are doing a work in me, I thank you that you are leading and guiding my growth. I ask that you help me to step out of my comfort zone and shake some trees. Lord many you be honored and glorified in all we do. 

I'm not worthy.

Reading: Judges 5-6 and Colossians 4

Scripture: Judges 6:12&15, And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” … And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” 

Thoughts: When we are called, how many of us feel we are qualified or equipped? Gideon was given a compliment then told to use what he had ben complimented on to save Israel. I know that I don’t feel qualified, I don’t feel like I have the qualities that I have been told I have. Like Gideon I have made excuses on why I should not be the one. One of my favorite sayings that I have heard is “God is not looking for the equipped, he is equipping the available.” When we keep waiting to be equipped and saying I will go when I have this or that, the opportunities God has called us too, will walk on by. Just the other day I was out with my wife and friends and I felt like I needed to talk to this person who was playing basketball. When we got closer as we walked around the park, I chickened out putting up excuses, maybe there would be a language barrier, or I would be told off or something. I let the obstacles that Holy Spirit can overcome keep me from sharing God with someone. Just because we feel unworthy or ill-equipped does not mean that we are. 

Prayer: Father God, your love overwhelms, your creation shines and shouts of your glory. I thank you for this day and the opportunities that you have orchestrated this day. I thank you for the molding and refining who I am and helping me to Grow in who you call me to be. I thank you for the gifts and abilities that you have given me. Lead me guide me and help me to overcome my fears and anxiety when stepping out, help me to be obedient and in that obedience be bold. 

Am I doing this right?

Reading: Judges 3-4, Psalm 14, and Colossians 3

Scripture: Colossians 3:21, Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Thoughts: I do not know how many times I had heard people talk about the verses just before this, and yes, I understand the significance of those verses and that we need proper relationships with our spouses and parents. So often this verse about father gets skipped, being a father of a 6 and a 4 year-old is part of the reason this stood out to me today. I struggle with yelling at my children, they get loud and rambunctious, and I yell to get their attention, I yell at them when they do not listen, and I yell when I’m frustrated. Our children are in a way an extension of who we are, just like we are called to be extensions of God as his children. We all need to be disciplined from time to time, we all need to have our attention gotten. When God gets our attention or disciplines us are we lest feeling like garbage or even after our spiritual spanking are we left feeling like we are closer to God, closer to his will and knowing we are loved. As much as I love my children I know that there are times when my discipline does not raise them up it tears them down and I have to work on reflecting the father more. 

Prayer: Father, you are so wonderful, you discipline and get our attention without making us feel that we are less. Your grace and mercy show the love you are pouring out upon us. I thank you for all you do, the discipline you bring and the love you show and pour out on us. I thank you for your molding and refining you are doing in my life and ask that you help me to be the father you call me to be and grow in reflecting your love, peace, mercy, grace, and joy. 

Thorns, snares, and traps

Reading: Judges 1-2, Psalm 133, and Colossians 2

 

Scripture: Judges 2:2-3, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you. 

 

Thoughts: As Israel was coming into the promised land they were told to drive out everyone and to not make covenants with any of the inhabitants of the land. Through the first two chapters of Judges it talks about all the people groups that were left there and put to labor. God is telling them because you did not listen I will not drive them out and they will be a thorn to you. When we accept Christ into out lives He comes in and gives us authority to kick out the habitual sin in our lives, but when we leave some of that sin rooted in our lives, that choice we make allows and creates a thorn and snare in our lives. We need to walk in the authority we are given and remove the sins in our lives otherwise we may be given over to that sin as Paul wrote in Romans 1:24.

 

Prayer: Father God, we welcome you into our lives and relinquish the sin in our lives to you. We thank you for sending your Son to pay the price for that sin and ask that you help us to walk in your ways and your truth. We ask that you help us to identify that sin and those thorns and snares in our lives that we have unknowingly held onto. Help us to drop those chains that we bind ourselves with and walk in your freedom. 

 

 

 

How are we walking into the world?

Reading: Joshua 23-24, Psalm 99, and Colossians 1

Scripture: Colossians 1:10, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Thoughts: there are churches out there that preach a works based gospel, you must give some much or do so much or give so much before God will accept you or forgive you. The may not be as blatant or obvious as that but they take Jesus and then say there is more needed. As we walk in faith Paul is praying that we be fruitful not just getting knowledge not just doing good, like it says in James 2:18 “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” Let our faith and light shine through all that we do, be it our jobs or shopping for groceries people should see a difference. How do you walk into the world?

Prayer: Father God, you are our peace and our joy, you pour out all you have for us. You open your pantry door and say take what you need. I thank you for your provision and the blessings you are pouring out on us. I thank you for your peace and joy and ask that you help us to allow you to fill us to overflowing that we can pour it out on others. 

What is your witness?

Reading: Joshua 21-21 and Philippians 4 

Scripture: Joshua 22:26-27, Therefore we said, “Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we do perform the service of the Lord in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings, so your children will not say to our children in time to come, ‘You have no portion in the Lord.’”

Thoughts: After the fighting and claiming of God’s promised land this portion of Israel was headed home to that land they received but came to help the rest of Israel to claim the rest. After seeing the victories that God had given them and the times they failed they wanted a reminder, something to look at to remind them and future generation not only who they are but who they are apart of. We may not have great wars where we are claiming land, but we all have victories that God has given us and are we setting up a witness, a memorial to one draw a line between who we were before and who we are now. It can be as simple as a stone in your pocket or something elaborate, but just as the ten tribes came to check the purpose, we need to not let that witness to become a god replacement. 

Prayer: Father God you are so wonderful. You give us all we need and give us the authority to overcome the evil one. I ask that you help me to set up a reminder of who I was and the great blessing you have poured out over us. Let us remember our past but look to the sanctification that you are working in us and not just to the point you saved us. Lead us and guide us in our walk.

Life Happens

Over the last month and a half I have fallen out of my disciplines, I have been trying to retain as much as possible but with being off work and recovering from surgery. Today I am going to give you what I have been reading and what scriptures stood out to me.   

April 30 

Reading: Deuteronomy 25-27, Galatians 2, and Mark 14

Scripture: Galatians 2:1, Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.

May 1

Reading: Deuteronomy 28 and Galatians 3

Scripture: Galatians 3:2-3, Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

May 2

Reading: Deuteronomy 29-30, Psalm 15, Galatians 4, and Mark 15

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:6, And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

May 3 

Reading: Deuteronomy 31-32 and Galatians 5

Scripture: Galatians 5:12, I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

May 4 

Reading: Deuteronomy 33-34, Psalm 68, and Galatians 6

Scripture: Galatians 7:12, It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

May 5

Reading: Joshua 1-3, Psalm 94, and Ephesians 1

Scripture: Joshua 2:9, and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.

May 6

Reading: Joshua 4-5, Psalm 71, Ephesians 2, and Mark 16

Scripture: Joshua 5:1, As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.

May 7

Reading: Joshua 6-7 and Ephesians 3

Scripture: Joshua 6:12, Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.

May 8

Reading: Joshua 8-9 and Ephesians 4

Scripture: Ephesians 4:2-3, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

May 9

Reading: Joshua 10-11 and Ephesians 5

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-2, Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

May 10

Reading: Joshua 12-13 and Ephesians 6

Scripture: Ephesians 6:9, “Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

May 11

Reading: Joshua 14-15 and Philippians 1

Scripture: Philippians 1:9-10, And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

May 12

Reading: Joshua 16-18 and Philippians 2

Scripture: Philippians 2:14-15, Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world

May 13

Reading: Joshua 19-20, Psalms 53, and Philippians 3

Scripture: Psalm 53:2-3, God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

April 29 Protection in many forms.

Reading: Deuteronomy 23-24, Psalm 91, Galatians 1, and Mark 13

Scripture: Psalm 91:4, He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

Thoughts: We are often told to do things on our own or to toughen up. There are things we need to be able to do on our own and sometime we need to toughen up, but we are also God’s children, and he wants us to be protected. Just as a mother bird will spread her wings to protect her young from everything, God opens his wings to protect us but he gives us the tools to eventually stand up to those things in our lives. Just as the bird starts by protecting eventually the young are kicked out of the nest, are we going to learn from our heavenly father when he has protection for us so that when we are sent out, we will have that what we need to succeed. 

Prayer: Lord God we are grateful for the tools you offer us and the protection you give us as we seek and learn to use what you have for us. You grace overwhelms me and the authority that you give opens opportunities to share your love. Open my eyes and heart to the next steps in your path. Lead me and guide me in all I do. 

April 28 Meditating on your works!!!

Reading: Deuteronomy 21-22, Psalm 145, and 2 Corinthians 13

Scripture: Psalm 145:4-5, One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

Thoughts: We all have stories of what God has done for us, provision, healings, and restorations. The nation of Israel was about 400 years old and by traditions and law the people were to know the stories of how they were brought out of Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, the desert, and the Jordan river. David was writing about how the generation should have been and should be in the future share what God had done that we may meditate on it. We need to meditate on those things God has done in our lives, with remembering God’s goodness and keeping it in the forefront of our minds it is easier to share with others I was here and with God I am now here. 

Prayer: Lord God, you have brought me our of my mess and washed me clean, you sent your Son to die before I knew you. Your love is so big that it cannot be understood. I thank you for bringing me out of my mess and into your love. I thank you that you loved me before I could even love myself, or let others love me. Help us to focus on your love, that we may share it with those around us. 

April 27 I can't tell you!!

Reading: Deuteronomy 18-20, 2 Corinthians 12 and Mark 12

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:3-5, And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses

Thoughts: Where do we seek our value from? It is easy in this day and age that we could dive into social media, or video sharing sites and do things that draw attention to ourselves. There are thousands of people who make videos and podcasts what ever to say look at how great I am. Paul here is talking about someone who was given some sort of vision that at least in part could not be shared publicly. He could have been talking about John and what became the Book of Revelation where at one point John says he was told not to write something down (that is pure speculation). Paul is saying he will boast in others pointing to Christ and in his own weakness. When we focus on boasting about our weakness then it shows God’s glory more. 

Prayer: Lord God, to you be all the glory and honor. In my weakness be glorified and may the light be on you and not me. 

April 26 Who's truth?

Reading: Deuteronomy 16-17, Psalm 2, 2 Corinthians 11, and Mark 11

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11: 13, For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

Thoughts: When we are not in the word daily or clinging to traditions to closely for the sake of tradition, it is easy for things to get turned from the true north of God’s objective truth. The evil one will not come in and try to get us to walk in a complete opposite way, but he will just as with Adam and Eve he will try to get us to believe something just a little wrong and over time that little wrong can lead us so far from our calling we do not know where we are or where we are going. In this time off from work for surgical recovery I have getting so distracted that the things I planned on and even things I normally did got placed on a back burner and things that are of little importance moved to the front of my attention. There are many things that are not bad but when they become distractions from the greater things it will cause issues. 

Prayer: Father God you are the truth, and you call us to walk in that truth. There is no subjectiveness in your truth, it is not about how we feel, but what you say. We ask that you help us to see and walk in that truth. Open our hearts and minds to understanding you’re your word. 

April 25 For His glory or your own?

Reading: Deuteronomy 14-15, Psalm 88, and 2 Corinthians 10

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:17, Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

Thoughts: When reading this again the saying from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where one of the Brotherhood is talking to Indi and asked, “Do you seek the cup of Christ for your glory or His?” We so often tell our stories in a way that we get some of the glory, we are not fully seeking his glory in what we are doing. It is normal in that in our nature we want recognition, and we want to be known. Where we need to be carful and I struggle with this is when I want to be recognized over God. God is to be where everything gets pointed and if He determines that I can handle some of that he will give it to me otherwise I need to be content that He knows me and loves me. 

Prayer: Father God you are the one worthy of all praise and honor. You are the one that takes care of all things. You own the cattle on a thousand hills and know the hairs on my head. You have set every grain of sand in it’s place and told the waves how far they can roll. Your love overwhelms me and leads me. Father help me to seek your glory and not my own. Help me to point continually to you.