That is too easy!!!

Reading: 2 Kings 5, 2 Chronicles 20, and Revelation 15-16

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:11-12, But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.

Thoughts: I can see a lot of myself in both Naaman and Gahazi, in this section of scripture Naaman was expecting because of who he was and who sent him that he would get special treatment. I know that we all feel like we are worthy of special treatment. Naaman didn’t even get a face to face with Elisha he was just told go take a bath. I know that when I have been told go by God the going was the easy part, the arguing with myself on if to go was the struggle. By today’s standards the Jordan river there would have been clean, but Naaman felt the need to bash the quality of that river. Are we being told go do something, even something as simple as take a bath, and because it is not what we thought it should be or some great task, are we are hesitant or dismissive of what we heard God tell us to do? Open your heart to the God’s leading and even when it seems simple and silly. 

Prayer: Lord God, you are so wonderful, I thank you that you are always leading and guiding us. I thank you for all you are doing in my life, the molding and refining, the provisions and joy that you bless us with. I ask that you help us to hear your voice and walk in your calling no matter how simple. 

Who you canceling?

Reading: 2 Kings 2-4 and Revelation 14

Scripture: 2 Kings 2: 23-24, He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys.

Thoughts: In this day and age of cancel culture and media shaming, we are all quick to write someone off or ridicule them for something they have said or done. These boys decided to go taunt this man of God, we are not told if these boys knew that this was Elisha but there was a large number of them, large enough that the, she bears tore forty-two of them. When we criticize and cancel people because of something they have done, do we really know who we are canceling? Is this a prophet who could call the bears? Let us not cancel people but let us have a conversation that could allow us to come to an understanding and in that conversation, we could find that we are in the wrong. Be open to talking to people that have a different point of view and not canceling them just because they think differently.

Prayer: Lord God, your truth is higher than mine, your ways are higher than mine. Open my eyes to your truth and help me to walk in your ways. Continue to mold me and refine me into the person you call me to be. Fill me with your spirit and help me to hear your discerning voice to see and hear the truth. 

Rejoice and be glad

Reading: 2 Kings 1, 2 Chronicles 18-19, Psalm 70, and Revelation 13

Scripture: Psalm 70:4-5, “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!

Thoughts: Over the last few days we have been reading in Kings and Chronicles about Ahab and how he was not listening to God through his true prophet, and in the end even without wearing his robes he was shot and killed by a random shot from a bow. Then in Psalm 70 David starts by crying out to God for deliverance from whatever was bothering him. Here in the end David promotes what Ahab didn’t do, saying to seek and rejoice in God. When we humble ourselves and seek God he is faithful to deliver us, it may not be the way we think it would be. Like at the beginning of 2020 I could not see how we would survive with my hours cut. But because of the reduces hours we got on assistance for medical and over the last year we have had two surgeries and one of the kids had seizures, that on our old insurance would have left us with huge medical bill but instead God allowed us to walk through a trial to get deliverance form other things. 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the one who is in control of all things, you own the cattle on a thousand hills. You are my provider and my strength. I thank you for the molding and refining you do in me. I ask that you pour your blessings our on us and help us to see your love every day. 

Authority in the Lord.

Reading: 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 17, Revelation 12, and Luke 22

Scripture: Luke 22:10-12, He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.”

Thoughts: Even with all the miracles and the teaching with authority that Jesus had done over the last three years, and all the things the disciples had experienced. I think that walking into a town watching and waiting for a man to great them carrying water, then to follow him and tell the master of the house the Teacher needs your guest room, would take lots of faith. I know that I struggle with sharing what God has done face to face with people. Yet we have been given that authority, when we are told go, we have the power and authority to go and do whatever it is that we were told to do. Seek God and listen to his leading and walk in the authority He gives you. 

Prayer: Father God you are the highest authority, you know all, and you walk with us through the trials of this life giving us the strength and endurance to get through. Through our trials and tribulations, you train us for the trials we are not yet in, you call us to walk in your ways and seek you. I thank you that you are molding and refining me through the fires of these trails and tribulation, I ask for the continued renewing of the strength you pour out on me. 

What is my place

Reading: 1 Kings 20-21 and Revelation 10-11

Scripture: 1 Kings 21:29, “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”

Thoughts: Have you been humbled? What is your understanding and thoughts on what humility? 

Prayer: Father God, you are the creator of all things. I lay my life before you and ask that you help me to humble myself and walk in your ways. 

Sleeping gods

Reading: 1 Kings 18-19 and Revelation 8-9

 

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:27,And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 

 

Thoughts: This comes from one of my favorite stories of Elijah, after Israel had followed Baal, Elijah comes in saying let’s see who’s God is real. In the middle of a drought and famine he called for bulls to be sacrificed and to see who’s God was going to light the fires for the sacrifice. Letting the priests of Baal go first he mocked them and in the end after pouring out 12 jars of water over the sacrifice and filling the trench he dug around the altar. Elijah worshiped and called fire down. Are we looking to the word of God and the teaching from the Word, or have we gotten ourselves distracted and turned aside by the shine new teaching that sounds good but get us just a little off course. Getting a little off course today can lead to a large divide after going that way for a time. It is not bad to look at other teachings but always take it back to the one truth that leads to the Father. 

 

Prayer: Father God, you are the maker of all things, your love overwhelms us and you know the hairs on our heads and the number of our days. I thank you for your provisions and your guidance in my life the molding and refining you are working in my life. Creat in me a clean heart. I ask that you help us to listen to your discerning spirit and recognize when something is not of you and that we can get ourselves back on the narrow path when we have gotten of your way. 

Crashing coins

Reading: 1 Kings 16-17, Psalm 76, Revelation 7, and Luke 21

Scripture: Luke 21:1-2, Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

Thoughts: This passage started with Jesus looking up from what he was doing, what sort of things distract you and get you to look up from what you are doing? My thought with what follows was the thing that got Jesus’ attention was a loud noise. These wealthy people were not paying online, or dropping a check in the offering box, they were coming in with bags of coins and pouring them into the tithe box. This would have made a loud noise that would have been distraction to most everyone including those teaching. With all this commotion going on Jesus still saw the poor widow woman, not just someone who couldn’t put much into the offering but also someone who would have been overlooked because she was a woman, and she was poor. Even when we fall on our face when we are spiritually bankrupt, God still sees us, and God still wants a relationship with us. Are we doing things to get attention from others or are we walking with our arms open to God and his leading and teachings? 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, you are calling us into relationship with you and ask us to lay down our desires and walk in your ways. Lord help me to not be seeking the attention of the world but following you and walking in relationship with you.

Letting Life get in the way.

Over the last few days between work and other distractions I have only read the word and have not been writing about what it said to me. There have been passages that have stood our over that last few days the reading for the last few days has 8/8 1 Kings 13, 2 Chronicles 11, Psalm 130, Revelation 3, and Luke 20 8/9 1 Kings 14, 2 Chronicles 12-13, and Revelation 4-5 and 8/10 1 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 14-16, and Revelation 6.

The passages that stood out were, Psalm 130:5-6, I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 2 Chronicles 13:18, Thus the men of Israel were subdued at that time, and the men of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers. And 2 Chronicles 16:7-8, At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. 

It is interesting on how all these passages point to waiting and trusting on the lord even in the midst of a battle. The Psalmist talks about waiting on God and hoping in his word, and the 2 Chronicles passages about kings ether relying on God or not and the consequences of those actions. We all need to make a point to focus more on God and his plans and less on the pressures of this world. 

Abandoned Council

Reading: 1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10, Psalm 125, Revelation 2, and Luke 19

Scripture: 1 Kings 12:8, But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.

Thoughts: Solomon’s son Rehoboam chose to listen to his pears and instead of those who had been advisers for a long time. These older men would have been working with Solomon I’m sure that there would have been some influence into who they were and the wisdom of their council after serving under one who is considered to be one of the wisest men to have lived. Who are we taking council from? Are we in a echo chamber with a bunch of people who are like mined or are we listening to all the information and seeking council of the wise? 

Prayer: Father you are our wise council and you bring us wise council, I thank you that you are leading us and guiding us though your word and those who bring around us. I thank you that you are with us, that you know the hairs on our head. I ask that you help us to have a discerning spirit to recognize the council of the wise and the council of the foolish. Lead us and guide us in all that we do.

Wise words of correction.

Reading: Ecclesiastes 11-12, Psalm 106, and Revelation 1

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:11, The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 

Thoughts: As I read this passage this morning, just before this it was about the work of a preacher and how they need to make things understandable and craft what is going to be said, Just like any good presentation of a given point the facts and information need to be used in a way to make the point. Those who go before us, who have experienced things we have not yet gotten to in our lives have wisdom we do not. Our Father in heave is the wisest of them all and he inspired the writing of his word and the bringing it together into one place. I read this with this authors paraphrase “The word of God is like a staff of correction, bringing together His collection of sayings, given by the one true Shepherd.” Let us be corrected, let us be open to wise counsel, and seek God in His collection of sayings.

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, you lead us and guide us through your word and your spirit. I thank you for all you have done in my life and all you will do. I thank you for your molding and refining you are going in me. I ask that you help me to continue to dive into your word that wisdom of the ages and let it correct me where I fail and encourage me on the right bath. 

Loud fools and whispered wisdom!!

Reading: Ecclesiastes 8-10, Psalm 150, Jude, Luke 18

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:16-17, But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

Thoughts: Over the course of the last several years there have been several topics that permeate into the media most every day, from the loud group leaders telling us one set of facts and opinions about what ever given topic, and the quieter group yelling the other side of those given topics. We are bombarded with each group telling the other they are wrong about something. Leading up to this passage was a story about a powerful king coming against a small town. Are we listing to the loud fools who seem to be looking for a fight or is there whispered wisdom that God is speaking to us through his word?

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for all the wisdom and knowledge that you give us and make available to us. I ask that you help us to have discernment and wisdom that we can hear and follow that whispered wisdom and not focus on the loud fools. I also as for the boldness to stand up for your truth and oppose those who go against you, your statutes. 

Fools, wise and God seeking!

Reading: Ecclesiastes 5-6, 2 John, and 3 John

Scripture: Ecclesiastes7:15-18, In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

Thoughts: In the age of Tiktok and viral videos, we are bombarded with anything and everything under the sun being beamed directly to a device in our pockets where we have access to knowledge and fools. What are we spending our time on? Luke 6:45 the last portion says “out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” When we focus too much on the knowledge we have at our fingers it is easy to only focus on worldly “Knowledge” or if we focus on the foolish things people are posting out there, we can become fools or loose perspective. When we pump ourselves full of all these other things from, cooking videos to stupid human tricks what is going to come out of our mouths? I encourage everyone to look at their inputs and see what gets more input into our lives, God or the World?

Prayer: Father God you are the creator of all things and the one who gave us our passions and interests. I ask that you help us to keep your perspective, help us to keep you in our heart that is may overflow on the world, and that with you as our focus the knowledge will become wisdom and we keep from becoming fools.

Stubbing your toe in the dark.

Reading: Ecclesiastes 2-4, 1 John 5, and Luke 17

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:14, The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them.

Thoughts: When you get up in the middle of the night to get a drink or something not wanting to blind yourself or wake the others in your home you make your way with the lights off and inevitably you find something with your pinky toe. Yet if we would have taken even a small light the likelihood of stubbing our toe would have diminished greatly. That is exactly what this passage is saying about being wise, we are all going to have trials and pains. There are going to be those like loosing a father or mother that we will all have to walk through at some point or others like miscarriage that only some know that pain. It is not about what pain we are walking through but how we walk through it. A wise person will walk through it leaning on God and others, where the fool will stumble through and may stub their toes along the way. Let us lean on God and gather around us that group of people who will walk through it with us. Find that Fox hole, Band of Brothers or Sisters, or your family (both biological and chosen), that will walk with you and point you to the father the one who gives you strength and comfort. 

Prayer: Father God, I crawl into your lap and seek your comfort, hold me in your embrace and pour your peace and joy over me, giving me your strength to overcome all that is before me. I thank you for all that you do I thank you that you are the one who provides all things, you lead and walk with me through the trials of this world. I thank you for the molding and refining you are doing in me. 

Tearing the kingdom away.

Reading: 1 Kings 11, Ecclesiastes 1, 1 John 4, and Luke 16

 

Scripture: 1 Kings 11:11, Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.

 

Thoughts: Solomon had every opportunity to succeed after his father passed away, he had money, wisdom from God, and a small but mighty nation backed by God. Thinking he knew better or he could handle it, he stuck his toes into the world’s ways. 700 wives 300 princess and 300 concubines, from all over the world bringing in all their beliefs. When we join together in a relationship with someone of different beliefs those will make their ways into our live if we are not careful. Not only is this true with relationships with people but also the relationship we have with the world being we all live in it. There are groups from the extreme liberal to the extreme conservative that may differ from what God said and his truth. Seek after God and not after the things of this world.

 

Prayer: Father God, you are the one worthy of all worship, you are worthy of all honor and praise. Your truth is higher above all truth and all truth comes from you. I thank you for all you have given to me and that witch you have entrusted to me to steward. I ask that you help me to steward will those gifts and resources to your glory. Help me to see the next steps on your path they stretches before me. 

Evidence of whos children you are

Reading: Song of Solomon 5-8, Psalm 13, and 1 John 3

Scripture: 1 John 3:10, By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Thoughts: In the previous verses John is bringing up those who practice righteousness and those who make a habit of sinning. Are we walking with the world and seeking their approval and their values or are we seeking God’s values? What evidence are we giving to the world, that what shows God love and righteousness or the evidence of our sinful life?

Prayer: Father God, you are the beginning and the end, your love overwhelms my soul. Your love sustains me, and your joy compels me. You are the giver of all things. You lead me and guide me, your loving hands mold me and make me. I ask that you help us seek you and not the approval of the world around us, your word says that they will hate us because they first hated you.