June 28, 2017 Help me love

Reading: 2 Timothy 3 and 2 Samuel 13-14

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:2-5, For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Observation: With the anger that I let loose the other day and the way I was making a fool of myself there are several of these things in this list that I know I have exhibited. Then here at the end it says to avoid suck people and I start to think I don’t want to be someone avoided. Yes I do have to admit that it is nice when I have a break from people and I can do things my way and not worry about how others see my process or if they thing I’m doing wrong, but I don’t want to be avoided. 

Application: As I seek help thru the programs at church and outside church if needed I also know that the only way to battle this is with God’s love and with the help of the Holy Spirit. God has shown us the way thru Jesus and his example is Love.  

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful and I thank you that you love me even though I fall down and fail at showing your love. I ask for a fresh infusion of your love and your grace, Help me to let go of the anger and find the place of peace where I can reside with you. 

June 27, 2017 Wash me and train me

Reading: 2 Tim 2, 2 Samuel 11-12 and Psalm 51

Scripture: Psalm 51:7-8, Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice

Observation and Application: Todays reading in 2 Samuel and Davids reaction to being told of his sin really hits home this morning. Yesterday as I was preparing to make dinner for the family and trying to get pinterest to work being that something happened and it got logged off. I got to the point where I was cursing, swearing and screaming at the computer with my family in the room. I know that I grew up with yelling at things and sometimes hitting things being ok because they are not people or animals. I was raised with a reverence for life. My wonderful wife is trying to help but she can only go so far. 

I have lived with this anger for so long that I don’t know how to deal with it, I’m going to start going to a group that is run at my church to get help as a starting place and seek help. I think I was a large contributing factor to the end of one of my marriages and I don’t want my children to grow in a home like this. We love each other but my actions could easily drive a wedge so far between us that our home would not be a place that any would want to be in. I don’t want to hurt my family or those around me. I struggle with this just under the surface and at times it seems to come out as being brusk with my coworkers and others around me, I pray that this group will be the tool that God uses to teach me to be the man I truly need to be to this world and more importunity my family.

Prayer: Father I fall before you and plead for forgiveness and direction. I need your help to overcome this anger and habits of lashing out. I thank you for my wife and children and I place them in your hands because mine are not what they should be. I ask that you help mold me into the father, husband and man I need to be to better show your love.

June 23, 2017 To whom it all comes from

Reading: 1 Timothy 4, 1 Chronicles 16 and Psalm 105

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:4-5, For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Observation: I find it interesting that in 1 Timothy 4 he starts off saying “in latter days.” God without time or end so seeing into the future of that point to us is nothing and beyond us to the end of the days. With in that Timothy states that there will be a time when the things God meant for our good and our enjoyment are going to be persecuted and taught to be wrong. Im fine with people choose to be vegan but when they start preaching to me about how evil or wrong it is to eat meat or any product that subjugates the animals. 

Application: When it comes to what we eat in God’s eyes it is all from God and Holy though prayer. How often do you forget to pray before a meal and just eat and move on to what ever we deem more important then taking a few moment with our lord and savor to thank him for what he provides. It is so easy to allow ourselves to get so wrapped up in what ever we are doing thru-out the day or our lives that we don’t take the time to thank God for the things he provides us.

Prayer: Father I stand in awe of your generosity and how you care for us. I thank you for my family, My wife and children and the provisions and blessings you give us. I thank you for all you have done for us and all you have paned for us. 

June 20, 2017 Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Reading: Matthew 28, 1 Chronicles 12 and Psalm 37

Scripture: Matthew 28:13, and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 

Observation: These guards were there to see the angels role the stone away and see these women show up at an empty tomb, I don’t know if they saw Jesus walk our on his own accord or if the tomb was empty and it was just opened to prove to the disciples he is not in here. Then they were told by the priests and elders what happened they were paid off. How often do we choose to keep quiet about our faith or say something that we know is not the truth to save us from embarrassment or to keep from getting in trouble.  

Application: I know I struggle with speaking up about things when (what appears to be) every one else is doing or saying the same thing. God has called us to be a reflection of him to the world, to shine his love all around and lift him up. I know that in my day to day I struggle between being a apostle (sent one) and being one of the guards that was paid off to say “I fell asleep on the job and they got past me to steal the body of this guy we killed”

Prayer: Father You are so amazing I long to rest in your presence. I thank you for your son and the sacrifice he made on the cross and the provisions and blessings your pour out on us each day. Help me to speak the truth and to speak it in love and kindness. 

June 19, 2017 Every day is a new day

Reading: Matthew 27, 2 Samuel 4 and Psalm 22

I have struggled this last week to be in the word I have not been reading, I have not been seeking God thru every thing that my family and I have been going thru. We struggle with money with medical things and thru everything I have been trying to hold it together. Over the last few days we celebrated my sister-in-law’s birthday and due to a misunderstanding in front of my wife’s family on our way home I let my temper get the best of me. I screamed and shouted and used foul language and my children were in the car with us. 

Then it was fathers day service at church and the guest speaker talked to us about the fathers faithfulness to us. After that I taught about submission and obedience to God’s will and how he lead Israel with the pillar of fire and cloud. Now it seems appropriate that todays reading is the crucifixion and the final act to instate this new Blood Covenant between God and man. Being a father and knowing how I feel about my children and how I want to protect them and do anything for them I get a small glimpse into what God felt for his son on that day 2000 years ago and a glimpse of how he feels about each one of us. 

Knowing what a fathers love feels like from both sides. Coming to the crucifixion after everything I have been going though reminds me through Christ Jesus I have been washed clean in God’s eyes but I still have to work with those around me and seek help to get things under control. When I place my tattoo of the Chinese symbols that mean Self-control on my wrist so that I would see it and the scripture of 1 Thessalonians 4:4 as a reminder that I need to keep control over my own body, there were other things that I was thinking about at the time but it applies to all sorts of aspects in my life. 

Prayer: Father I thank you for sending your some to minister to the world and ultimately setting us free. I am amazed by the love you have for us. I also thank you for the daily provisions and blessings you have for each of us. I ask that you help us to see the portions of our lives where we need help and to seek the help we need thru you and your workers. 

June 9th, 2017 Here fishy fishy fishy

Reading: Matthew 17, 1 Samuel 25 and 1 Chronicles 3

Scripture: Matthew 17:25-26, He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?" And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 

Observation: I have always remembered the story of Peter going and catching a fish to pay the taxes here it is who knows how many decades later and I’m seeing I remembered the wrong disciple. Wouldn’t it be nice that when ever we needed money that we could just go down to the local fishing hole and cast our line in and when we got a fish it would have what we needed. 

Application: As I was reading the question posed to Simon stood out and then the following replies. What stuck out was Jesus’ remark of “Then the sons are free.” This made me think as a child living with our parents we don’t have to pay taxes even if we work we get to claim exempt because someone else is claiming us. We have been adopted into God’s family and made sons and daughters and in his eyes we are always claimed. God paid the price though the death and resurrection of his son Jesus and we are now covered by that payment. 

Prayer: Father I am so grateful to be able to call you father and that you call me your son. I humbly come before you seeking to be held in your arms and comforted in our times of need. I Thank you for your provisions and blessings that you pour out on us each day and the instruction and directions in our lives. I ask you to help us see and hear your voice and the next steps you have for us.

June 7th, 2017 What's on your lips

Reading: Matthew 15 and 1 chronicles 1

Scripture: Mathew 15:8, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;

Observation: At this time Jesus was talking to the religious leaders these people who thought they were so Godly because of all the rules and statutes that was to keep them from breaking any of the commandments. Even after the death and resurrection of Jesus and knowing that salvation is a gift to be received not something to be earned, I have seen many churches that still appear to teach a works based salvation, you need to do this or do that to get your salvation then you have to do this or that to keep it. 

Application: Not only were these groups only pay lip service to God, we have can fall into that same trap. I know I used to be what many call Sunday morning Christians, I would put on a good show of looking good and being at church Sunday mornings but the rest of the week God was nowhere in my life I was using my salvation as fire insurance instead of another reason to praise him every day. This world is doing everything it can to distract us and keep us from becoming followers of Christ. I heard a pastor once put it this way “If the devil can’t keep you from coming to Christ, he will settle for making you ineffective for the kingdom.” We have this tendency to avoid conversation that may make us or the person we are talking to uncomfortable so the devil will use that to keep us from reaching others, and that is just one example of why we need to reach out to others. Its not the pastors job to bring people to christ his job is to equip us to go out and complete the Great Commission.

Prayer: Father I lay my family at your feet they are yours and I know the work you are doing thru them. I thank you for your provision and blessings you pour out on us each day. I ask for strength and wisdom when it comes to speaking to people about you.

June 6th, 2017 One word all I need is one little word

Reading: Matthew 14, 1 Samuel 23-24 and Psalm 54

Scripture: Matthew 14:29, He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

Observation: Peter has so many great wins that come just before his spectacular fails. I feel like that is me all over that place, I will have a great moment of faith praying for healing or casting our demons, then the next day or even within that hour do something stupid. I have heard so many sermons that use this account of Peter walking on the water and focus on the “why did you doubt”

Application: I want the faith of peter, as everyone was sitting there in the boat debating on if that was actually Jesus or if it was the ghost they though it was, Peter said, if thats you call me out there. On one word “come” Peter walked on the water to Jesus. Nothing says that he slowly tested to see if he could stand on the water before going out to him it just said he got out of the boat and walked on the water. Sure when the things around him distracted him or got him to loose focus on Jesus he started to sink, but he still did it and with Jesus’ help he had to have walked back to the boat. 

I want to have the faith to on one word to jump out of this boat that I've been hanging so tightly to and run to what ever God has called me to. I struggle with that I know that he will give me what ever is needed to step into whatever I'm called to, but just like Peter I sick my head where it does not belong but I want to be able to step out one that one word.

Prayer: Father you are a Good Good Father and I am so blessed that you call me your son. I thank you for your provisions and blessings in my life. I thank you for my wife and children and I place them all in your hands. I ask that you help me to hear that one word and to respond to that one word to your glory and your honor. 

June 5, 2017 Water Water

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

Scripture: Psalm 63:1, O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Observation: As King Saul searched for David, he (David) seemed to spend a lot of time hiding and writing Psalms. Knowing many musicians that is part of the way they process things that are going on around them. David was trying to figure our what was going on and how to deal with this situation of being hunted by a man he served faithfully for years and how this fit into God’s plan.

Application: In many ways we are just like David we are trying to figure out what is going on around us, but many of us take the fork in the road that leads to blaming God for something that may be our own fault. I have found myself walking into a desert and then asking God why am I thirsty or blaming him because I’m thirsty. David has the correct mindset in knowing in whom he trusts and seeking him, we need to hunger and thirst after God as if we have not eaten or drunk anything in weeks, seek God as if our lives depend on it and he will fulfill every need we could ever have and give us the strength and wisdom to overcome every obstacle as long as we seek him first. 

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful and you take care of us even when we don’t deserve it. Thank you for your provisions and blessings that you are pouring out on us each day. I long to stand in awe before you forever. I ask that you help us to seek you first in our live, help us to set our priorities with you at the top of the list. 

June 2, 2017, And the Sheep says BAAA

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

Scripture: Matthew 10:16, "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 

Observation: I love the visuals that Jesus used in this passage. First calling us sheep as he does refer to us as throughout his life. Sheep are some of the dumbest and defenseless animals in the world and we are being told that is who we are. One of the primary predators of these dumb sheep are wolves. Then in Geneses it says that the serpent was the craftiest of all animals, and to be crafty gives a feeling of intelligence and knowledge. Finally he brings up the doves they are considered clean and pure due to their white feathers and represent peace.

Application: Being that we are called dumb defenseless in comparison to the wolves we are bing sent into, I feel like I am being told that we are to become more like the serpent in being crafty. As we go out into the world especially in the USA, if we go out just starting off every conversation with a hell fire and brimstone sermon people are just going to walk away but if we come into the situation and meet these people where they are then we can share with them God’s love. I feel that the mention on the dove is a reminder to us that we are spotless in the eyes of God but we need to be innocent of judgment when we are reaching out to others, Judgment and condemnation will only serve to drive people away from God and that is the brush that the Church has been painted with over the years.

Prayer: Father I thank you for all that you have done the blessings and the provisions that you pour out on us each day. I am amazed by the love you pour out on us each day. I lift up all your servants and sons and daughters as we go out into the world full of wolves and ask that you help us to be crafty and innocent as your sone called us to be. 

May 30, 2017 It was a run by Fruitting!!

Reading: Matthew 7 and 1 Samuel 13-14

Scripture: Matthew 7:16-18, You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.

Observation: There have been times in my walk with the Lord that I wondered about my fruit, I don’t think I have bad fruit, or that I'm a thistle or a thorn bush that are worth nothing more than being thrown into the fire. I think and wonder how healthy am I do I bear fruit at all. Our pastor a few weeks ago put at this statistic that about 90% of Christians today have never personally lead someone to the Lord. I wonder am I going to be apart of that statistic my entire life. Im not saying that souls lead to Christ are our fruit, I believe our fruit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control when we are in the word and seeking God’s will for each day we are given more opportunities to practice these fruit.

Through the Holy spirit we are given these fruit and our hearts are open to them but this is not just a fix all. There is work involved, if you are like me and have a history of being quick to anger and wanting everything now, these are some very difficult things to do and have in your life. As I spend more time in the word and more time with God in my life and listening to him the more opportunities I have to practice and with the help of God and the Holy Spirit to grow each of the fruit. Having children has definitely opened my eyes on how much further I have to go.

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful your creation in magnificent and I enjoy being in it each day. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you have for me each and every day. I come before you broken and needing your help, I ask that you help me to grow your fruit and become the light of your world, a beacon that points to you and your love joy and peace. 

May 26, 2017 Blessings and cursings

Reading: Matthew 3 and 1 Samuel 1-3

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:19-20, They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the Lord."

Observation: In todays reading God reminded me on how faithful he is both in blessings and cursings. In the first chapter of 1 Samuel when Hannah prayed and weeped for a son and even offering him to God. Later God remembers her and she conceives and has Samuel. Later God sends Eli a messenger telling him that his family will be cursed, then later confirms it through establishing Samuel as a profit and telling him of the curse.

Application: There are of many doctrines of faith out there in the Christian world and some of them ignore the curse that God lay our before us and only look at the blessings. We have to be carful to not only look at the blessings but to understand that there are curses that can afflict us. 

Prayer: Father you are so faithful I stand humbly before your. I thank you for all the provisions and blessings you choose to pour out on us. All I have is yours and I am only a steward of it. Lord I ask that you help us to see your blessings and understand that there are cursing that can happen. 

May 25, 2017 Im not listening

Reading: Matthew 2, Ruth 3-4 and Psalm 68

Scripture: Ruth 3:18, She replied, "Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today."

Observation: Today what stuck out to me was once God’s plan was known to Boaz he didn’t say as so many christians do “I need to pray about it,” as soon as the next day dawned he went to do what needed to be done. 

Application: How often do we hear God telling us to do something and we put it off or ignore is completely. What we can lear from Boaz is when we hear from God we need to get right to it and not put it off. I know that God can use us when we finally come around to listening but the blessings that come when we listen the first time is so much better then when we just get around to it. 

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful. I thank you for the blessings and provisions you give us each day. I ask that you help me to hear your voice more and have the fortitude to act upon in the first time. 

May 24, 2017 Where have all the Good Men Gone

I have missed so much of the reading plan and without taking the time to be in the word and seek God’s plan each day, I have found myself falling into old habits and letting things get me down. I want to hear what God has for me this morning. Father open my eye and ears to what you have for me and help me to hear your voice. 

Reading: Matthew 1, Judges 21 and Ruth 1-2

Scripture: Ruth 2:15-16, When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her."

Observation: My sister in law just returned from a trip to Africa and one of the things she talked about was the community that the people had there, in these villages that she stayed at everyone would support everyone else. Just at Boaz made sure that Ruth had what she needed for her and Naomi, these people will fill a need of those in their community when it is seen or made know. 

Application: Christ tells us to love our neighbors (Mark 12:31) so often we look at this and like the people around him we ask who is our neighbor and because just like everyone out there we have family members we don’t even like we think how can we love them. I think this comes from the wrong definition of love. Love in the minds of most people in western society we think of love as this feeling for some one you want to be with or even as the act of sex “we made Love.” God’s definition of Love (I think he would know being that he is love) first off DC Talk had it correct when they sang Love is a verb. Love is choosing to place the needs of others before your own and wanting the best for someone even if you don’t like them or maybe especially if you don’t like them.

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful giving us your love even when we don’t deserve it. I stand in awe of your great love that even before you formed us in our mothers wombs you had a plan for us. I thank you for your love and your provision in my life. I ask that you help us to have your heart of love and help us to love our neighbors as you would love our neighbors. Help us to be your hands and feet to the world around us. 

May 15, 2017 It's not mine

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

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-15, "Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Observation: Growing up every time I heard about “God’s chosen people” I imagined that the nation of Israel was so Holy and so good. Now as I have learned better and spend more time in the word and seek the knowledge that God has for me though the Holy Spirit I see that Israel is just as stubborn and pig headed as I am. 

Application: I would have thought that after what they have seen as God has given the land into their hands and all the stories they heard form their parents of how God brought them out of Egypt and gave them mana, that these people would have had such great faith and would have had no need for other gods and look to other things. I know that I will from time to time place things above God by worrying and focusing on other things like money. We need to keep things in the proper perspective.

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful and forgiving. I thank you for your provisions and blessing you pour out on us each day. I lay my fiancees at your feet this is your money this your debt this is your house and car we are only stewards of this. I ask that you place on my heart what to pay and how much to pay each day and each bill and each place to give. it is all yours and I ask for your leading.