August 17, 2017 Hey when am I getting paid

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

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:26-27, But he said to him, "Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever." So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.

Observation: After doing God’s work and hearing his teacher refuse the payments offered for performing a miracle of healing Naaman’s leprosy Gehazi secretly went and got payment and then lied to his teacher about it. His punishment for seeking payment for what God intended to be free was to take on the affliction of the one healed. 

Application: There are many things that God give us the ability and the giftings to do. Some of these abilities are given so we can work and be blessed though work and earning finical compensation so we can take care of needs. Other abilities are just used for the kingdom, things such as teaching kids at church, greeting people as they come in, or working with the audio video teams to help the service run well. Most of the time these are not paid positions these are time where you get to serve God by serving others. We are not to seek payment for something God has called us to do for free. 

Prayer: Father your amazing power to over come all things amazes me and I stand in awe of you. I place my Family in your hands. I thank you for the giftings you have given me to do the things I do for you, I thank you for the provisions and blessings you pour out on us each day. I ask that you help us to listen to your voice in what we are to seek payment for and to look to serve you. 

August 16, 2017 Bring me another!!!!!!

Reading: Revelation 14 and 2 Kings 2-4

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:6, When the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another." Then the oil stopped flowing. 

Observation: Elisha had told this widow to gather empty vessels and to pour the oil into them. When reading this I was thinking I would have filled my house with jars, pots and what ever I could find that would hold liquid, but how often does God tell us that he will take care of us and that he will give us a good portion shaken down and over flowing yet when we come to him we only bring a cup instead of a large bag. 

Application: Where I live the convenance store chain 7-Eleven some times does any container sale on their Slurpee, saying you can bring anything in and fill it with Slurpee for some low price. How many of us would go in and pay that price for a thimble full when we could take in a bucket and fill it for the same price. This widow only got as much oil as she had faith to collect vessels and we have a tendency to when leaning on God for our needs to come to him with a thimble when he wants to fill a storehouse. Matthew 7:2b, and the measure you use it will be measured to you. If you come to God with a measure of a thimble he will fill it shaken down and over flowing but he will do the same with the 55 gallon drum and the storehouse. 

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful and I am amazed at how you can overflow the large and small vessels in my life. I thank you for your provisions and the blessings you pour out on us. I thank you for and place all I have in your and including my family. I ask that you help increase my faith to bring larger measures to you.

August 15, 2017 I am poor and needy?

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

Scripture: Psalm 70:5,  But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!

Observation: This morning dealing with the some of the struggles that my family and I have been working though like large medical bills and not knowing how to pay this or that bill that comes in somewhat unexpectedly. This passage stuck out to me in that how often I am crying out in my head I have nothing and I need I need I need. As I look at all the things that the Lord provides and the ability share with others, and as much as I feel like I am in need God is taking care of me and my family. We are so stinking blessed that even when I don’t know how things are going to be paid God know and he has arranged for ways to get us through like having a large bill that we were stressed out about and not knowing how to pay just go away. The father loves to give good gifts to his children. 

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful and your timing wail not being ours is perfect. I place my family and my finances in your hands. I thank you for all you have done and all that you will do for me and through me. I thank you for the provisions that you give us each and every day and for the blessings you pour out on us each day. 

August 14, 2017 I don't want to hear it.

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

Scripture: 1 Kings 22:8, And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so." 

Observation: How often do we hear things and just because it is something we don’t like we dismiss it or write it off just because we don’t want to believe it. Ahab didn’t like and the things that Micaiah was saying just because it was unfavorable.  

Application: When we get a word from God through a prophet, there are some things we need to do. First we need to hear it, I know that there have been many times I have not been listening to God. Next we need to weight it against scripture, So if you are not in the word and know what God’s voice sounds like and know what kings of things he would say you will have a hard time discerning if its God’s voice or some nut job. Finally keep track of the Words that are given to you one day you will be able to look back and see how God has fulfilled them.

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful I am amazed that you choose to speak to speak to us and sometimes though us. I thank you for all you have done in my life the family that you have given to me to take care of. I thank you for the provisions you give us we are never in need and I thank you for the blessings you give us so that we can bless others. I ask you to help us hear your voice and discern then what we hear is not from you. 

August 9, 2017 The War

Reading: Revelation 4-5, 1 Kings 14 and 2 Chronicles 12-13

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 13:14-15, And when Judah looked, behold, the battle was in front of and behind them. And they cried to the Lord, and the priests blew the trumpets. Then the men of Judah raised the battle shout. And when the men of Judah shouted, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

Observation: In 2 Chronicles today we are seeing the divided nation of Israel getting ready to fight against itself. The smaller portion being those who were faithful to the Lord against the larger portion of those who chased after the things of this world. As I see it this is great imagery of the battle that rages inside all of us, the part that loves everything this world has to offer and the part that goes to church. Paul describes it this way in Romans 7:15, For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 

Application: This war inside us is like the one between Judah and Jeroboam where we are ready for battle even though we are out numbered but then they come around behind us. I know we all struggle with something coming in and keeping our focus one way and then taking a cheep shot when we are looking the other way. This is a common tactic of the evil one. We need to remember who is on our side and who we are fighting for. Not only do we have the power and authority that God has given us but we have God in the Holy Spirit standing right there with us to help us defeat the enemies.

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful not only have you given us authority but you help us overcome any enemy that comes our way. I thank you for the power and authority you have give us, the provisions each day and the blessings you want us to have. I ask that you help us to have the watchful eye to see the attacks and to hold fast to your love and strength that will guide us in battle. 

August 8, 2017 You said What

Reading: Revelations 3, 1 Kings 13, 2 Chronicles 11 and Psalm 130

Scripture: 1 Kings 13:18, And he said to him, "I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, 'Bring him back with you into your house that he may eat bread and drink water.'" But he lied to him.

Observation: How often do we get deceived or led astray by some new teaching or something shiny. I know I have many times. Shiny things look fun and sometimes they are fun for a time. The word says to watch out for wolves in sheep’s clothing. There will be people out there who look like they are God’s workers but they are just there to spread deceit and lead people away from God just enough. 

Application: My pastor over that last few weeks has been talking about prophecy and the Spiritual gifts and how they are used properly. Just like the Prophet from Judah we can be lied to and deceived by people who ether think they are doing the wright thing or by people who have been deceived themselves. As disciples of Christ we are to weigh these prophets and prophecies against the word of God and determine the validity of the prophecy. We need to never take anything as scripture unless it has been verified by scripture.

Prayer: Father you are the creator of all things and I stand in awe of the beauty around me. I thank you for the provisions you give us each day and even the blessings we don’t always need. I ask that you help us to discern when something is from you and when it is form some other source. Help us to see your love and direction and even give us words for others, open our hears to pour your love into others. 

August 7, 2017 The Unforgivable

Reading: Revelations 2, 1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10 and Psalm 125 

Scripture: Revelation 2:5, Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Observation: As someone who has been one of those people who will look one way at church and another the moment I walk out the doors, seeing that the Church in Ephesus has all these great things attributed to it but also needed the reminder they too fall and need the reminder to repent and turn back to God. 

Application: We all have the ability to repent and turn back to God when we fall on our faces. God longs for us to turn and come back to him. His desire is that none perish but it is our own hubris that stands in the way. No matter how great of a sinner you are God is a better forgiver. So many religious people have put a hierarchy on sin, “This is worse then that or that is worse then this” and I have even heard this fraise “The unforgivable sin” Nothing if unforgivable if you confess and repent. So the only unforgivable thing I see is unbelief in God or complete rejection of him. 

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful, you made the heavens and the earth and placed it all in place with your words. I thank you for all you have done for us and the forgiveness you offer though the death and resurrection of your son. I thank you for the provisions you give us each day and the blessings you pour out on us even though we don’t deserve it. I ask that you help us to see those things in our life that cause us to fall and to turn from them, brake the chains that are in our lives to help us focus on you more. 

August 2, 2017 Antichrist antiwho???

Reading: 1 John 4, 1 Kings 11 and Ecclesiastics 1

Scripture: 1 John 4:2-3, By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

Observation: I don’t know how many times I have heard people quoting scripture saying this person or that person is The antichrist. There are thing to watch out for but I don’t know if there is going to be in the end times singular person who will be the on speaking out against God, but I do know that here in 1 John and other places in the word talk about spirits being antichrists. My understanding is that we are surrounded by antichrists all the time. Any thing that tells us that it is more important then God in our live is a type of antichrist.

Application: Here we are being given ways to know the difference between something from God and something that is part of antichrist. Besides these examples that are given in these verses, also the more we are in the word the more we are able to see God and his love and recognize it when his appears in our lives and when we can hear and when you distinguish between then you fight back as God’s warrior.

Prayer: Father Thank you for your son and the spirit of discernment that you gave me. I thank you  for the victories that you have given me in my life and the ones that I have not seen yet. I ask that you be with us and help us to discern when there is a spirit of antichrist 

August 1 2017, How long God

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

Scripture: Psalm 13:1, How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

1 John 3:1, See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 

Observation: These two verses stood out to me going hand in hand being that there have been times in my life where I have sinned and suck my head up my rear, and at those points I am feeling I am deep the first lines of Psalm 13 saying where are you and how long are you going to stay away. As I work back into a right relationship with God I see the love of God, and how he considers us his children. 

Application: One thing I have learned over the years is God does not go anywhere, we may feel the lack of his presence in our live but when we are in sin we have walked away from God’s presence. God has never and will never forget you or hide his face from us, we have turned from him. We need to turn from what we have been doing and seek God first in our lives, so the how long is dependent upon us and how stubborn we are chasing after what ever it is that is turning our heads from Christ. Some times we just need the reminder that we are God’s children and some times we hit rock bottom and that is when God shows us that he still wants to be in relationship with us and he will help us to come back to him. 

Prayer: Father I am in awe of you and how you can love me even when I walk away or fall flat on my face. I thank you for sending your son and providing a way to you. I thank you for your provisions every day and the blessings you pour out on us and the blessings you give us even when we don’t deserve them. I ask that you help me to walk in your love and not fall into lamenting about where you have gone or when I will see you again. I know you long to have us with you and we are the ones who cause the rift as you continue to call out to us. 

July 31, 2017 The Price Has Been Paid

Reading: 1 John 2 and Songs of Solomon 1-4

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-2, My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Observation: This morning I was looking forward to spending time in the word again being that the last few weeks I have been struggling being in the word. During worship at church this weekend one of the songs we sang was about God setting the captives free and that is exactly what this passage is about too. We are all going to have failures in our lives and do things that will take us away from God’s will for our lives.

Application: This Passage is reminding us that not only has a payment been made for the sins that have been committed it has also been paid for those sins we have not yet committed. On top of that his love is so immense that his love and forgiveness is so great that anyone and every one can be covered by it if that would hear and accept the gift of God. Any one can come to the Lord. It doesn’t matter what you have done you will be forgiven. God will accept you where you are but he loves you too much to let you stay there when his plans for you are so much greater then what you could have ever imagined.

Prayer: Father I thank you for your son and the grace and forgiveness that you have poured out on us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. I thank you for the provisions you give us each and every day and the blessings of things not yet seen. I ask that you help us to walk in the forgiveness you give us but also strive to grow closer to you and seek your direction for our lives. 

July 24, 2017 There is nothing good in me

Reading: 1 Peter 3, Proverbs 18-19 and Psalm 16

Scripture: Psalm 16:1-2, Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."

Observation: I feel like I understand David a little in this Psalm, David is crying out “God save me”, I don’t know how often I feel I am crying that our myself. After crying out for help he says “you are the only one who can save me. Here I feel most connected to what David is saying, I am a bag of poop without you. 

Application: God has called us all into his love, grace and mercy, even though we are a bag of poop God has a plan for us and we just need to walk in it. 

Prayer: Father I long to walk in your grace and mercy. I thank you that you sent your son to die on the cross to cover our sins. Lord I ask that you help me to hear your voice and seek your will in my life. 

July 21, 2017 Man I can be so stupid.

Reading: James 5, Proverbs 12-13 and Psalm 149

Scripture: Proverbs 12:1,  Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Observation: Over the last few weeks I have been dealing with this myself, I have been allowing discipline and exhortation in my life. I grew up angry and a bit of a rage monster, I could identify with the Hulk on that. Within that rage that would build until I exploded, I would also not listen to anyone who would tell me I was in the wrong or that I was hurting people even though I never touched anyone in anger. I grew up thinking that lashing out with words or hitting objects was ok. 

Application: I was stupid, I thought that I was ok and didn't need to change and I know that looking back, one of my marriages may have ended because of this hatred of being corrected. Im not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but through the grace of God and the gathering of men to help hold me accountable God is working on healing my life. Be open to correction, God’s correction will leave a lasting mark for the better.

Prayer: Father I stand amazed that you love me enough to correct me even when I don’t want to listen. I thank you for your blessings and your daily provisions. I ask that you help me listen to your corrections and to seek you and your will and lay down the chains that you have broken in our lives but we keep picking them back up. 

July 16, 2017 Eat the fruit of your labor

Reading: Hebrews 13, Proverbs 1-2 and Psalm 128

Scripture: Psalm 128, “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!”

Observation: After going over the reading together, my wife and I started talking about the entirety of this Psalm. We talk about the imagery and the even looked at pictures of some of the things that are mentioned in this Psalm. In this time of struggling and trying not to worry about how this or that was going to be paid, but as we try not to it looms heavier upon my mind.

Application: We spent time talking about this in the context of our family and were taking this and declaring it over our family. We are going to be blessed and eat of the labor of our hands and it will be well with us. My wife's comment about being a fruitful vine is to be fruitful as a vine you have to be pruned and then said “I don't like being pruned.” As we continued to talk we talked about how for a tree to be fruitful it also has to be pruned from the top so that it will focus on producing fruit on and on filling our children the olive shoots that spring up around the base of the tree. As we grow larger and stronger in the Lord and the Holy Spirit prunes out what should not be there we are able to give more to our children and raise them up to become fruit trees and vines of their own. Then in the end it echoes the earlier line about being blessed and we will see our children's children. We are blessed and we need to walk in it to see that fear also be faith and no longer worry about the little things in our lives. 

Prayer: Father I stand in awe of how you can pack so much into a small section of scripture. You are the one who takes away all fear and doubt, the righteous fear of you helps to lead me to faith. Lord I ask that you help us to hold onto the proper fear and to leave the worry and stress behind. Help me to raise up a family that want to honor you each day. 

July 12, 2017 What a bloody mess

Reading: Hebrews 9, 1 Kings 8 and 2 Chronicles 5

Scripture: 1 Kings 8:11, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

Observation: After the Temple was finished and the Ark of the covenant was placed in The Most Holy Place God’s presence filled the temple so thick and tangible that the priests could not perform their duties. I love how we get to feel the presence of the Lord come around us during worship. I know that God surrounds us all the time and knows the number of hears on my head but I seem to feel it or notice it more during worship. 

I am not part of it every month but my church has monthly corporate prayer, where anyone can join us and pray for all aspects of what God is doing around us and though us. At the end of every corporate prayer one of the things we do is go to the entrance of the church and ask the Holy spirit to come into our church. Not that he ever leaves but we alway ask for God’s glory to fill our house of worship, teaching and discipleship, we ask him to be apart of all we do. 

Application: May your house be fill with his glory

Prayer: Father, you are so wonderful, Your glory shines about us each and every day. I thank you for my family, a wife that is patient with me, Children to love and teach your ways. I thank you for the provisions you give us and the blessings we don’t see. I ask you to fill this house with your glory, impress upon us your love and kindness. 

July 11, 2017 It's only a shadow

Reading: Hebrews 8, 1 Kings 7 and 2 Chronicles 4

Scripture: Hebrews 8:5, They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain." 

Observation: Tonight during the reading about how the Temple was built and furnished, my wife and I started discussing how wonderful it would be to see the temple just after it was finished. I have always hoped that when we get to heaven that we would be able to see things like the temple or watch some sort of holy DVR to go and watch some of these things we have read about in the word, things like the 10 plagues crossing the Red Sea or sit and listen to Jesus teach. Then the Holy Spirit remained me of this scripture in Hebrews, and I said but we are going to be in the Heavenly Temple when we get there this Temple as grand as Salomon made it, it was still only a shadow of what is in Heaven. 

We have been shown these shadows and given these accounts of what happened back then, to point us to the glory and majesty of God and what he has for us. Through Christ we have been made citizens of heaven and hears with him. We are resident aliens here on earth and we need to live our lives in honor of where we are from.

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful, I stand in awe of how you can cause one little comment lead to a better understanding. I thank you for all that you do for us I thank you for my family and the provisions you give us each day and the blessings you pour out on us. I ask that you help me to continue to gain a better understanding you and to live as a citizen of heaven.