April 30, 2016 I am Two-Face

Reading: Galatians 2 and Deuteronomy 25-27

Scripture: Deuteronomy 25:13-16, "You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small. A full and fair weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the Lord your God.

Observation: Back in that day and area, to do trade men would have these measures and weights in their homes or with them to do business. Today we don’t worry about that too much being that there is a system for that, but I also see this as the way we treat those we know are in the church and those we don’t know or experienced that they act as if they are not. Just the other night I noticed that was acting one way around an old friend who’s past I knew to be away from God.

Application: As we sat down to eat dinner and they asked that we bless the meal. After blessing the meal they started going into things they had been learning at church and how they had been going for a few weeks and a worlds religion class they had taken. It totally changed they way the dinner went. That is not how it should be, we are to have one measure and one weight. We are to be the same person in front of our friends who are believers as well as the unbelievers, that could be the only witness to them we may have. 

Prayer: Father, I thank you for your grace that covers me every day, you are so amazing, creating this beautiful wold for us to live in and enjoy as we seek you. Lord I ask that you open our eyes to the times where we are being two faced where we have brought out the second set of weights or second measures when dealing with our friends and coworkers. Help us throw away those things that make us abominations and embrace your standards.

April 29, 2016 How can I help you

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

Scripture: Galatians 1:10, For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Observation: I think everyone likes getting a pat on the back or a well done, but are we looking for that more from man because we see them and can get them directly and right away.  

Application: We are call to do all things to the glory of the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:31) we need to be careful that we don’t start doing what we do for our own glorification and not his. God tells us quietly that we are doing well and speaking his Gospel in a small voice that only we hear, even though we think that we need to have someone using a megaphone telling of our deeds. 

Prayer: Father, I thank you that you sent your Son and have brought us our of the muck to find the white robs of forgiveness. I ask you to help up to keep you in the forefront for our minds and do everything to your glory and not worry or think of what others think of us.

April 28, 2016 His Steadfast Love

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

Scripture: Psalm 145:8, The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Observation: I am so thankful for this verse and so many others like it. I know that i fall down I screw up and look at things that I shouldn’t or tell little lies. I’m sure we all do, and the newer someones relationship with Christ is the more likely we are to have reverted back to who we were before God got ahold of our lives. 

Application: for me this is a great reminder of how much he loves us that we are brought back into his arms even after we turn and run from him. whether it is that we never knew him before, to you ran away with your inheritance like the prodigal son. His love is so abundant that no matter the mistake you made, as long as you are turning from it and striving for God he will forgive and open his arms to welcome us back into his graces.

Prayer: Father, I thank you for this beautiful day watching the rain come down as the sun shines getting the feeling of a warm summer shower. I thank you for your glorious mercy and grace that you pour out upon us. I thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to us to help us to seek you and place a longing to do right that we do not bring the need for the grace. 

April 27, 2016 Yes Jesus Loves Me

Reading: 2 Corinthians 12 and Deuteronomy 18-20

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:10, For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Observation: Growing up I always heard just the final portion of this scripture. “For when I am weak he is strong.” It is true when we are weak, which is almost always, He is strong. God does not inflict upon us the hardships of life but as is said in Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” 

Application: Yes it is good to remember that though him we have great strength and we will be given the power to overcome when we don’t have strength of our own to stand up to a situation. I think this is reminding me less about his power and more about the willingness to take up the mantel that has been laid on my shoulders and be ok where I am and continue to seek God’s plan. 

Prayer: Father, you are so amazing I thank you for another day to worship and praise you. I thank you for your Holy Spirit and the why that he helps me to see things in your word that I didn’t before. I ask that you open my eyes to the joys and contentment that you have for me in my situation and that I can be OK seek you daily. 

April 26, 2016 What a Beautiful Angel

Reading: 2 Corinthians 11, Deuteronomy 16-17, and Psalm2

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:14, And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Observation: When I was in Choir at a Christian college right out of high school, I had a professor who came to us after rehearsal and said to us “how would you guys feel if this beautiful angel appeared and said how great of a job we were doing?” Of course we are all college kids and we are going “that would be awesome” and things of that nature. Imagine an Angel showing up at your work or school saying you are doing great. 

Application: Sure it could happen God could send down an angel to tell us how pleased he is with us. We must be wary of things like that because Satan was a beautiful angel who fell. The Holy Spirit speaks God’s words and love into us daily as we seek him. Seek him and stay in the word and God will speak to you. Be carful who and what you listen to and if you see or hear something confirm it in the word God. 

Prayer: Father, Love you and thank you for each day you give us to enjoy. Open my eyes to see and my ears to hear. I love listening to you speak and long to hear more each day in the quiet of my day. I ask you will be done in family situations and have you touch those around us. 

April 25, 2016 Destroy the Strongholds.

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

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

Observation: After going though what I did yesterday I am not surprised a verse like this is what jumped out at me. I have always heard war was scary both from those who were in the military and those who have experienced spiritual warfare. Other then hearing people speaking into situations with words of discouragement or the seeds of doubt coming into our lives I had not seen battle. I felt insulated and relatively safe on this war. 

Application: Our weapons are for destroying the stronghold the enemy has erected. Though the discipleship and growth that I have been going though I was better prepared then I though, but I still was not ready for my first face to face encounter with one of satins minions. We are always to be ready with the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness and the shoes of the readiness of the gospel. Be ready to at a moments notice take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit.

Prayer: Father I Thank you for giving us your armor and your weapons to fight this war. Without them we would be trying to fight this battle in our own power and we don’t have much power. Lord I ask you to help us too remember to keep ourselves ready for battle and to have our shield and sword close at hand when the battle comes to us. 

April 24, 2016 Demons don't belong here!!

Reading: 2 Corinthians 9 and Deuteronomy 11-13

Scripture: Deuteronomy 12:2, “You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree.”

Observation: This morning one of the scariest things ever happened. This morning as I was trying to journal and prepare from our last day at the retreat when one of our leadership came across one of the men that came who was demonized or possessed. As a few of us contended and were trying to lay hands on him to cast out the demon for this man, he fled us. Many of us are still contending for this man and his release from the hold that the evil one has on him. 

Application: We are to tear down all the places where there are idles and destroy all idles. Jesus gave us his authority to cast out and heal. To tear down the strongholds the devil had gotten his finger into. Just as Israel was charged with dispossessing everyone our of their promised land we are to dispossess any place or person the evil one is crawling into. We have been given the power and authority in Christ’s name.

Prayer: Father, I thank you for the strength and courage too stand up to the evil one this morning, without you on our side and reminding us that this war was already be won by you it would have been easy to walk away. I thank you for your provisions and the great teachings that you gave us over this weekend. I pray for this man who is under such attacks that he sees men of God as enemies. I also want to lift up anyone who is battling in the spiritual realm give them the eyes to see the ears to hear and the courage to stand because we have the armor of God and his authority to crush the enemy

April 23, 2016 How much can I give away?

Reading: 2 Corinthians 8, Deuteronomy 9-10, and Psalm 148

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:2, “for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.”

Observation: The first thing I thought about reading this was the widows mite, this woman gave all she had to live on. For the longest time I didn't give at all let alone tithe. When I did start to give and tithe I didn't have joy or generosity I gave out of a feeling of obligation and I tried not to be bitter about the extra money that I could be spending on other things. 

Application: It has taken time for me to grown and find the joy in giving and it has been put on my heart that one day there will be enough to live on the 10% and share with rest. I'm not there yet but I know that at some point I will have more then what I know what to do with and I want to be so generous that I give it away. 

Prayer: Father, you are so wonderful you provide all that we need and you know before we do the things needing in our lives. I thank you for providing for all our needs and touching our lives in ways we could never imagine. Lord stretch me and help lead me to prepare me to give it all away. 

April 22, 2016 I did it, it was me.

Reading: 2 Corinthians 7, Deuteronomy 7-8, and Psalm 139

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:17-18, Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Observation: It is so easy to let yourself say, “Look what I did” or “I earned that.” I fall into that myself, we all want to think (especially men) that we can do it all or that it is because we are men that things got done. God guided me to go back to school and finish my Bachelors degree and I think about the IQ score I got taking a test, and I have a degree, in a few years will be moving up the ranks of any company I work at, but I'm just looking at my power. 

Application: God promised us All sorts of blessing, and given us the authority to make it happen. The word of God is truth and promise we just have to believe and claim those promises. In Matthew 4 is the parable of the sower we need to be the good ground and not let the thief come in and take that seed from us or let the worry and trials of life choke it out. Dive into the word and claim every promise God has for you. 

Prayer: Father, I love you so much and I long to sit in your presence all the days of my life. I thank you for the provisions you have poured out on me and my family, and the ability to continue with school and the intelligence to get my degree, it has all come from you. I ask you to help me to rise up in faith and keep your word in my heart and not let it be taken by the thief or choked by the worries and trials of life. Lord, bless this retreat may your will be done, tear down the walls in peoples lives that they may know you more.  

April 21, 2016 Thank you

Thank you everyone for reading my blog and my thoughts on God's word and what he is speaking to me though it. I am very blessed that I will be leaving tomorrow to go on a Mens retreat put on by my church and enjoy some great teachings and spend time worshiping the Father as men and of course we will be doing other fun manly things like playing sports and shooting guns. I will be away from my computer for a couple day so I will get my daily posts up on Sunday after I get back. I thank you again for reading I will post in the morning before I leave, then on Sunday I will post the one from Saturday and the one from Sunday. God Bless Your weekend and always listen for the breeze and watch out for the 2X4. I would also love to answer any questions you may have just put them in the comments and if I don't have the answer I will search the word of God and reach out to those who know more then I do.

April 21, 2016 My yolk fits well.

Reading: 2 Corinthians 6, Deuteronomy 5-6, and Psalm 64

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:14, Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Observation: I remember hearing the first portion of the scripture over and over growing up. Being told that I need to marry a good Christian girl. I am proud to day that I found one. The hardest thing was I went thought two others before meeting a woman who is a true believer. I say it that way because my first two wives were Christian only because in their eyes because of being American, and having family who were they got it like having it past down to them like being Greek or German. Granted I was not in a place to quibble over that being that I was barely a Sunday morning Christian living off my parents faith too. 

Application: When hearing the don’ts in life you almost alway want to go and do the don’ts just to find out what it is all about. With my first two wives being believers only in name and as I now see the end of my second marriage I end starting to listen to God again. I wanted to tithe and have my family attend church, in that there started to be arguments and a division happened. I was blamed for all the issues with the marriage and was told I needed counseling, I wanted us to do it together and she insisted it was all me, so I started seeking out counseling and before I could get to the first appointment I was served Divorce papers. Even after that mess I though I knew best when I went looking to new relationships again I had sex with them and even lived with one before God took out that 2x4 again. Once I truly come back and started seeking after him I met a woman who I could be equally yoked or pared with. 

Prayer: Lord, your grace and mercy are so wonderful and I thank you got fending your son. I long for your will be done and to bring down heaven to earth. Lord i ask you to help us to see the parings that we have in this would and to be sure that we are pared equally. 

April 20, 2016 How long is this camping trip?

Reading: 2 Corinthians 5 and Deuteronomy 3-4

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-2, For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,

Observation: I love this verse especially after listing to a sermon series called Breaking Camp at www.freshlifechurch.com The idea that this is not our home and we are on a camping trip where we are just here until its time to go home. 

Application: Being that we are only here for a time we need to make the best of it. God has called us to share his love with all the people around us. Use the platform and microphone that life has given you and God has amplified to speak life and love into the would around you. 

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for preparing a place for us in heaven. You are so wonderful and giving. I long for your kingdom to come and pray your will be done here. I ask you touch all that read this. Lord help me to see your opportunities to speak into the lives of those around me and the strength to take those opportunities.

April 19, 2016 Where is my sword?

Reading: 2 Corinthians 4 and Deuteronomy 1-2

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:43, So I spoke to you, and you would not listen; but you rebelled against the command of the Lord and presumptuously went up into the hill country. 

Observation: I feel like I do the something that the men of Israel did after God told them they screwed up. When they were told because you didn't trust and have faith you are getting this punishment they all went wait we will go do what you said and go and try and do it now that God is not going with them on this endeavor. I feel i do the same thing I will say I can’t to this or that then God shows me the blessing that he would have given me and I go well if I would have know that I would have done that a long time ago.

Application: God does not want us to do things for the blessings that will come from it, he wants us to follow his plan and will for our lives because we believe in him and that he will be there with us to give us the strength to make it though and he wants to bless us. God just wants to bless us but we sometimes have to walk though the fire to get that blessing.

Prayer: Lord, you are so awesome and we thank you for the blessings you have poured out on us. Lord I ask you like the man with the epileptic son “I believe help me in my unbelief” I know you can do all things and a will do all things for those who ask and believe yet there are times I still wonder will you. Lord help me to listen the first time and not learn later why I should have done it then.

April 18, 2016 Am I readable

Reading: 2 Corinthians 3 and Numbers 34-36

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:2, You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.

Observation: For the longest time I didn’t like this verse because I was the Sunday morning christian. I would show up to church on most Sundays the ones where I work up and got there or I had volunteered to do something. But I would go out drinking I smoked and even smoked pot with my friends. If I was anyones letter of recommendation I was a poor one.  

Application: As Christians we are called to be the light into the world, we are that light by writing Gods word on our hearts and setting ourselves apart. We are to in the world not of the world. We are God’s heavenly ambassadors, our citizenship is in Heaven and with God but we are here to share the word of God that is written on our heart. I have been blessed to notice a difference in one of my coworkers who the first few days I worked with him it was “f” this and “f” that and now after a could weeks working with him I only hear a couple “f” bombs a day.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the opportunity to be a light at work and in the world around me. I ask you to every day to write you word deeper onto my heart and make it show, cause people to see the difference and want to know what it is that causes the joy in my life. Lord help me to be more Joyful in all that I do help me to make that choice to be joy filled even when I don’t want to. 

April 17, 2016 Drive them out!!

Reading: 2 Corinthians 2, Numbers 33, and Psalm 65

Scripture: Numbers 33:55-56, But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.

Observation: I love it when we get to see where God promises something and then later we get to see it. It is so easy to forget the answered prayers in our own lives but when we can see something like this promise to the entire nation of Israel and later how when they don’t get everyone out how much of a pain or barbs and thorns these people become. 

Application: What God is speaking to me about in this is that our hearts and lives are just like the Promised Land, we need to be purged of the unholy things in our life that we pick up over the years. When we come to Christ and ask for the forgiveness and turn from our past, we need to remove all the things that will cause us to fall back into that sinful life. I had to give up Mid-evil reenactments that I was involved in because there were parts of me that it brought out in me that were not who I should be. 

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your son and you love. As we go about our days help us to cast our those things in our lives that take attention from you and cause us to focus on things of the world. I know that these things can only be cast out of our lives by your strength, without you we would be overcome and fall back into the pleasures of the world that do not last.