Longing or Seeing?

Reading: 1 Samuel 22, Psalm 52, 57, 63 & 142, and Matthew 13

Scripture: Matthew 13:17, For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Thoughts: In the middle of telling the parable of the seeds and explaining it Jesus tells his disciples that there will be high ups in the church that will be seeking what we have had the opportunity to experience. In Matthew 7:21 Jesus warned that there will be people who claim him but will not enter into the Kingdom. We need to be open and honest with ourselves and God. Are we seeking the relationship with God though the death and resurrection, or do we just have religion? Are we playing the Sunday morning Christion or worse thinking we can skate in on our parent’s or grandparent’s faith? 

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for all you have done, I thank you that you have opened the opportunity for our adoption into your family. I thank you that you pour out your love on us in so many ways. I thank you that you are refining me and molding me. Help me to overcome places in my life where I am still only religious and grow me in my relationship with you. Pour your spirit out upon me and lead me in your ways . 

We wish to see signs!!!

Reading: 1 Samuel 21, Psalm 34&56, and Matthew 12

Scripture: Matthew 12:38, Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”

Thoughts: There are times that I feel like the scribes and and Pharisees, asking for signs and wonders. God has been with us all our lives, he has protected us and provided for us in different ways throughout our lives. We need to open our eyes to the signs and wonders that he has already done, write them down keep a record of the answered prayers and the wonders that you have had the opportunity to see and walk through. Also do not forget to open your eyes to wonders that are not what you were expecting. 

Prayer: Father God, your creation shouts of your glory, the wonders of each day point to you. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you give us every day. You have paid the unpayable, you have redeemed the unredeemable. The signs and wonders may not be what we expect or what we are looking for, but you are shining in our lives every day. I thank you for those wonders we do see and ask that you help us to focus that we may see you more. 

Uproars and raised heads

Reading: 1 Samuel 20, Psalm 83, and Matthew 11

Scripture: Psalm 83:1-2, O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads.

Thoughts: When this was written Israel was under attack, as God’s people have been under attack sense God separated them and gave them the promised land. Today after Israel had been destroyed and have become a nation again, Israel is still under attack. Being that we have been grafted into God’s family we have been made sons and daughters of God, we are under attack as well. Over the last 10-20 years that I have been aware of the attacks on the church things have escalated from fights within churches to mass shootings in churches. God’s adopted children are being attacked, those who hate us are making an uproar and calling others to hate us too. Stand up for what you believe and do not let the hate of this world cause you to question that belief. 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the beginning and the end, you know the schemes of the evil one. I thank you that you are with us, that you give us the strength and ability to overcome those schemes. I thank you that you work all things for good even when we do not understand. I thank you that your training is preparing us for the battles to come and ask that you help us to discern what is coming. 

Who got more?

Reading: 1 Samuel 18-19, Psalm 59, and Matthew 10

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:8-9, And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on.

Thoughts: We all have people whom we look up to and would like to be more like. When we are trying to emulate someone, it is easy to be just look at the accomplishments, take Benjamin Franklin for example he is know as an inventor discovering electricity and creating bifocals, but in looking at things he was also a satirical joker. We need to be careful that how people see us is not what drives us, Saul’s approval rating seemed to be everything to him and when someone else’s was going higher than his he flipped. In a world of hyper connection because of the internet and social media we can seek those approvals faster and from more people. We are not created for this much dopamine; it has become an addiction for a massive amount of people. Are we looking to what God says about us and about who he says we are, or are we looking to see how may like and share we have when we make a post? 

Prayer: Father, your love is sufficient, your grace over flows, your joy bubbles over, and you pour them out on us. I thank you for all you are going in our lives, the molding and refining, the teaching and training you are calling us to walk through. I thank you that you know me better than I know myself and you still love me. Help us to have a healthy view of ourselves and look to you and those we trust. Let us hear and accept the truth and let those hurtful things to roll off out backs and not carry them into our lives. 

The trial of training.

Reading: 1 Samuel 17, Psalm 144, and Matthew 9

Scripture: Psalm 144:1, Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle

Thoughts: In 1 Samuel when David was asked about why he would be able to defeat Goliath, he said that he learned by being a shepherd needing to kill both bear and lion. Then here in Psalm he blesses God for training him. As followers of Christ every trial and tribulation is an opportunity to learn and be trained by God. Working under a difficult boss can be training to leaning into God more like Danial. Working through loss of some sort where God is your comfort, we are being trained to comfort others. No matter the situation and the trial there is an opportunity to be trained by God, the question is are we seeking the training that God has for us. God is not making these bad things happen but he will use them to train you for the battle you are not yet in. 

Prayer: God, you are so wonderful, I thank you for all that you are doing, the training you have for us and the strength to overcome. I thank you for your refining and molding you are doing in my life. I ask that you help us to accept the training and lean into it that we may be come those whom you have called us to be.  

What is the bleating in my ears?

Reading: 1 Samuel 15-16 and Matthew 8

 

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:14, And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?”

 

Thoughts: After Saul we to destroy Amalek and did not destroy everything like God command, Samuel came onto the scene and confronts Saul about this sin. We all have sin in our lives no matter if it’s habitual sin or something that was something that snuck in, we are all in the process of sanctification, we are not perfect yet but we are striving for it. Do you have someone who will call you on those sins. I have some friends who help, but my biggest helpers is my family, out of the mouths of little kids, “Why did you do or say that?” or a loving spouse who sees your garbage almost as clearly as you do and calls you on it. Who are the people in your life that will call it as it is, a sin is a sin and it causes separation?

 

Prayer: Father God, you are the one true King, your creation is the testament of your great power and majesty. I thank you that you see us through the blood of your Son and that we have been forgiven, I thank you that you sent your Son. You have called us to be holy as You are holy, we are all in process and will still fall, I ask that you help us to see those who will help us and call out sin in our lives, and help us to be that friend as well. 

I forced myself

Reading: 1 Samuel 13-14 and Matthew 7

 

Scripture: 1 Samuel, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.”

 

Thoughts: To me the words Saul chose to use were interesting, “I forced myself” makes it sound like there was some force within him keeping him from offering this sacrifice that he was to be waiting for Samuel to come for. Earlier during Saul’s encounter with God he was changed, when we are changed and called are we falling back into old habits or maybe like Saul trying to make things move faster than God’s plan. God had a schedule Samuel was to get there when he was meant to get there. When we try to expedite God’s timing we move beyond God’s plan. Yes, he can still use that got his good and his glory but like Saul we may miss out on the greater blessing that He has for us when we try to move things along when we feel God or his servants are late. 

 

Prayer: Lord God, all creation shouts of your glory. Your grace and mercy overwhelms me. I thank you that you have thoughts of me. I thank you that you are working in my life, molding and refining me to be who you call me to be. Father I ask that you help me to wait on you and your plan. 

 

Made new or running from change

Reading: 1 Samuel 10-12 and Matthew 6

 

Scripture: 1 Samuel 10:9, When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day.

 

Thoughts: After Saul’s first encounter with Samuel, as he was leaving God gave him a new heart, and Samuel told him that God would make him a new man. When we we have an encounter with God we are changed forever. The question is not are you changed but how are you changed, growing up even after an encounter in my mid teens I ran even though I made an outward appearance of seeking I had started my running and playing the Sunday morning Christian. It took two divorces and finally starting to let God’s voice get through before my life started to change and I began the process of becoming a new man. Are we running from our encounter or embracing it? 

 

Prayer: Lord God, you seek us, call to us and encounter us where we are, to encourage us to walk in your plan. Help us to hear your voice and seek after is, may our fear not cause us to run the other way and hide from your love and glory. 

Seeking for what I have.

Reading: 1 Samuel 8-9 and Matthew 5

 

Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:19-20, But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 

 

Thoughts: As these men pressed Samuel for a king that Samuel warned them they didn’t want. Then they proceeded to give a list of things that the king will do, all which God wound do as long as Israel was seeking him. How many times have we gone up to a fence that God has told us not to cross and after debates and looking at all the things we want on the other side of that fence, we jump over and find that it is almost exactly what we had but now we have a sin or maybe if we are lucky just need to return to the last place God told us to go. Are we seeking something God has already given us from this world?

 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the great provider, you give us all we need, you take care of us and lead us and guide us, you go before us and fight our battles, the victories are yours. I place my wants and needs in your hands. Help me to walk in your ways and in your truth and not be looking for the blessing you bring from this world.

You victories.

Reading: 1 Samuel 4-7 and Matthew 4

 

Scripture: 1 Samuel 7:12, Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.”

 

Thoughts: After using the Philistines to bring about what he had told Samuel and Eli and the Ark is returned through God’s guiding hand. God then gave Israel victory over the Philistines. After this victory Samuel sets up this stone giving it a name the means stone of help, declaring God helped Israel though this situation and to defeat the Philistines. Is there a stone of help that we need to set up as a reminder or is there a stone that God is holding out to us because he has a victory for us? 

 

Prayer: Lord God, I thank you for those Ebenezers that you have given to me over the years the victories in my life. I thank you that you have others that you are holding out to me. All my victories you in you and my peace and joy come from you oh God. I ask that you help me see those things you have for me to claim victory in. 

Are you listening???

Reading: 1 Samuel 1-3 and Matthew 3

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:8-9, And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

 

Thoughts: God through Holy Spirit, calls us, it may not be audible like when Samuel heard to the point of waking us up. I have had times where I have been woken up with a name or situation on my heart, I cannot say I ever got resolution to why I was woken up to pray and sometime I ignored It and rolled over and struggled with sleep the rest of the night. We are all called and when we hear are we listening? Eli told Samuel to open himself up to the calling by saying I’m listening. Today most people are not listening, they are hearing as they wait to respond. With this tendency in our day to day conversation it is easy to fall into that with God, in group prayers instead of being present and agreeing with those we are praying with we are preparing for our turn and trying to not leave silence, but God speaks most often in that silence. 

Prayer: Lord God, your servant is here and listening.

Showing Concern.

Reading: Ruth 1-4 and Matthew 2

Scripture: Ruth 2:8, Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women.

Thoughts: Ruth not knowing what was going to become of her going with Naomi, weather they would be redeemed or die widows went to a land unknown to her. We don’t know how much of the laws and traditions of the Israelite people she was told before she clung to Neomi. I have heard so many young ladies in the church talking about or being taught about looking for a Boaz, someone who will honor and respect them. Reading this passage when Boaz first interacts with Ruth, made me think about how are we treating those people who come into our lives? Boaz appears to have some knowledge of who Ruth is by reputation and the honor she showed Neomi and that he was in the line of redeemers, but why treat her so well? I felt like this is a picture of the love and honor we are to show to all people. It does not matter who they are what their background is we are all God’s creation and he wants a relationship with all of us. Boaz had concern and protected Ruth before she offered redemption to Boaz. Let us have concern for those who do not yet know the Father. 

Prayer: Father God, you are so amazing, you toke a broken family that would end the line and redeem it to bring forth the most notable king and through this line your Son. I thank you for the work you are doing in my life and the plans that I get to be apart of. I ask that you help me to be like Boaz and take care and show concern for those around me. 

What is that smell???

Reading: Judges 20-21 and Matthew 1

Scripture: Judges 20:5-6, And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead. So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and outrage in Israel.

Thoughts: In the honor and shame culture of the time a concubine was somewhere between a wife and a servant, they are like a bought wife with less rights, not that women had many at the time. Even with that true just from a humanity stance I do not know how anyone could cut up a body and send it across their nation. Without refrigeration and it is not likely he did any sort of preservation by the time those pieces got to the different leaders they would small even good meat that has been left out for a little too long smells bad. In addition to that depending on how it was presented and given to those leaders they would have become unclean. Just as the actions of these Benjaminites brought shame and destruction on much of their tribe, when we do not stand for God’s law and God’s truth, the evil will prosper. In today’s world we are seeing the changing of the meanings of words to be meaningless, we are being told that things that God says are wrong are good. Let us hold fast to God’s word and God’s truth, we are told that the world will hate us because it first hated Him whom we follow. Let us love the world that will hate us but also walk boldly in God’s truth. 

Prayer: Lord God you are the way, the truth, and the Life, we follow you and seek after you in a world that is not. I ask that you help me to be a light wherever I go, may your love and joy overflow onto those I interact with. Help me hold onto your truth and overcome the evil influences around me. Mold me and refine me into the vessel you need me to be. 

Right in their own eyes.

Reading: Judges 17-19 and 2 Thessalonians 3

Scripture: Judges 17:6, In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Thoughts: This saying is common throughout the book of Judges, after the time of operation where all they had was to lean on God, they were brought out of Egypt and given the law to live by and the promised land to live in. After a time being spread out and influenced by those they did not drive out, the phrase “everyone did what was right in their own eye” would surface. Here we are close to 3000 years later and this phrase has resurfaced in the subjective truth of this is how I feel so it must be true, and you can not argue that it is not true. Whose truth are we walking in our own or God’s objective truth that can not change? 

Prayer: Father God, I thank you that you are beyond time, that you are the creator of all things and in turn created truth that does not change. You lead us and guide us in your truth. I thank you that you are still working in me and helping be to become that man you call me to be. I ask that you help me to see where I create my own truth, or do what is right in my own eyes, give me your eyes and your truth that I may walk in it, to seek it and to linger in your presence all my days. 

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.