The chosen ones!!!

Reading: Nehemiah 13, Malachi 1-2, and 1 John 4

Scripture: 1 John 4:19, We love because he first loved us.

Thoughts: There are days when I need the reminder that no matter what I have done God loved me before I chose to love Him. He chose me before I knew Him. As we make our way into the new year, remember you are loved, you are liked, and you are chosen.

Prayer: Lord God, I thank you for choosing me, I thank you for loving me even when I do not deserve it. I thank you for sending your son to give us the ability to have a right relationship with you. I thank you for this year and the lessons you have been teaching me. I ask that you continue to refine me and mold me into the Husband, father, and leader you call me to be.

What are we practicing?

Reading: Nehemiah 11-12 and 1 John 3

Scripture: 1 John 3:7-8, Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Thoughts: As I struggle with lust and all the things that come with that, verses like these hit me and make me think. Growing up in the Church and being a believer in Christ and the work He did on the cross, there are so many messages out there on how it all works. There is the once saved always saved, there is the must confess to a priest regularly and many more that I can’t think of. As I struggle with seeking God and not striving after the desires of my flesh I wonder if I am practicing my sinning or am I falling into temptation. That is the question that we need to ask God and ourselves. I long to not have these desires except for toward my wife. We all need to seek God to understand where we are in our relationship with him and to gain insight into whether we are practicing righteousness or sin.

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for your Son, I thank you for filling me with your Holy Spirit. I thank you for the blessings you have poured out on my life. The ones seen and the ones not seen. I thank you for calling me into a relationship with you. I ask for help in rooting out the lust and the anger in my life. Lead me into the loving man you have called me to be.

Who is the AntiChrist?

Reading: Nehemiah 9-10 and 1 John 2

Scripture: 1 John 2:22, Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

Thoughts: Most of the time when I hear about the antichrist, it is in reference to a single person. This single entity in Revelation is referred to as the Beast. Here in 1 John he is saying that the antichrist is not a single entity but anyone who denies Jesus as Christ or anyone denying the Father and Son. Does not matter what political affiliation you have, what you believe about sexuality or race relations, if someone denies Jesus as Christ or the Father and Son, they will lead you astray. We need to remember that Matthew 7:22-23 talks about those who say, " Didn’t I do these things in your name? And he will declare I never knew you. We need to be in a relationship with God that he knows us and we know and seek Him when the last days come we will not be told to leave. Careful who you listen to and verify everything through the Word of God.

Prayer: Father God you are the beginning and the end, Jesus is the Christ, The Way, the Truth, and The Life. The only way to the father. I thank you for sending your Son to make the way for a sinner like me to be forgiven and grafted into the family. I ask that you help me find the root of my anger so that it can be removed Help me to be more like you and walk in your ways.

BE Prepared!!!

Reading: Daniel 7-8, Psalm 116, and Hebrews 1

Scripture: Daniel 7:25, He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

Thoughts: This passage is from one of Daniel’s visions of the end times, He had been speaking about a kingdom that will cover the earth, I have been hearing and watching different groups that could be this kingdom that will cover the earth. They come in peace and then start forcing their views on those around them. Growing up I heard about their peacefulness and today I hear about plans that were in place then on how to take over by infiltration and rewriting of the law. I have already heard these groups speaking against God and His servants. We are the saints of the Most High. Not sure what Daniel means by wearing out the saints but the Hebrew word for wear out is bᵊlā meaning to wear away, wear out, or to harass constantly. To me, this sounds like some of those groups that are very vocally against Christ and His Ecclesia. Every day we move closer to the return of Christ and His eternal reign. No matter if it's in our lifetime or generations from now we need to live as if it is tomorrow. Be prepared to be ground down, worn out, and harassed for who we put our faith in.

Prayer: Father God, you are worthy of all our praise you are worthy of all our worship. You are worthy of all the pain and suffering, the wearing down and harassment that will come. I thank you for sending your Son to save me. I thank you for the ability to work with the provisions you provide. I thank you for the strength you are providing for us for the day we will be worn down. Open the eyes of those who do not know you and help me to speak your love to the world.

Don’t give me that!

Reading: Daniel 5-6, Psalm 13, and 2 Timothy 4

Scripture: Daniel 5:17, Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.

Thoughts: We all enjoy when we are recognized for a job well done. Yet are we pointing to God when He is the one who did it? Even though from what I understand of Daniel is that on top of the blessings of God he was intelligent and trained, yet nobody else who was trained as he was could read the writing on the wall. Before giving the interpretation, he told the king to keep his gifts, and he pointed to God as the one who showed him what it meant. Several years ago, sitting in a prayer meeting, I had the urge to go pray for my aunt who had been diagnosed with cancer. I struggled with what I thought I heard, after the meeting I went to work, and I did not even make it through half a day before I could not deny what I felt and knew I had to leave work and drive about 300 miles to pray for my aunt. My father and I both left work early, got in the car, and drove up to where my aunt lives. We had dinner and visited and later we sat down and got to pray with her and for her and God did a work and healed her cancer. I could have denied the call; I could have prayed for her over the phone, but I felt led to go. I do not brag that I did a miracle but that I was a part of what God was doing calling my aunt back into a relationship with Him. I do not need the accolades and congratulations. I know there are people out there who have been part of many more miracles that we do not know of because it is not about us. God wants to work through you not to raise you up but so that you can point to the one who saves us. Be a part of pointing to the light of the world.

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for letting me be a part of your plan. I thank you that I get to see your miracles and the glory of your presence. I am your servant, I say here I am, send me, speak I am listening. But I also confess that I do not always listen as well as I should and allow myself to fill my ears with other things. Help me allow your spirit to flow through me. Help me to walk in your ways.

Don’t judge me!!

Reading: Ezekiel 47-48, Psalm 26 and 2 Timothy 3

Scripture: Psalm 26:8-9, O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

Thoughts: David starts this Psalm by asking God to judge him. I have not met anyone who wants to be judged, let alone by someone with such authority as God. Then we get to verses 8 and 9 where David is saying he loves to be where God is, but what struck me was that David who was called, “a man after God’s own heart” was sitting there crying out to God, “don’t cast me away with the sinners and don’t let the bloodthirsty men kill me.” In the United States, we get an overinflated sense of importance and can easily put our wants and needs before our devotion to God. In David’s time God dwelt in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, but today through the sacrifice of Jesus and the filling of the Holy Spirit into us we are that tabernacle in which God dwells in each of us. Yet we still allow ourselves to put earthly things before Him even to the point that we create a god out of things in our lives. Let us ask God to show us where we have gotten out of order.

Prayer: Lord God, you are above all things, your ways are higher than my ways. You are worthy of all praise and honor. You are worthy of all obedience and I admit that I allow myself to get distracted and focus more on things that are not you. You deserve my devotion. I ask that you help me see what is taking me away from the place you have for me. Help me see the places in my life that I have allowed to get out of order.

Dry bones

Reading: Ezekiel 37-38, Psalm 44, and 1 Timothy 4

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:10, So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Thoughts: Ezekiel saw the valley of bones and was told to prophesy to the bones. We have all been called by God to do something that is beyond our power. Sometimes it is as big as raising an army from dry bones and sometimes it is as small as forgiving and letting go of bitterness. I have been a part of a miracle, and I still struggle to release things. What are the dry bones that are before you that God has told you to come alive?

Prayer: Lord God, you are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning, and the end, yet you see me and call me by name. I thank you for being willing to use me to touch others even though I still have a lot of sanctification to work through. I thank you for our house and the ministry we will get to do in it. I thank you for the opportunity to do your work and be a part of your plan.

I Have Spoken

Reading: Ezekiel 35-36, Psalm 77, 1 Timothy 3

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:36, Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.

Thoughts: As a bit of a nerd/geek the thing that caught my eye and made this passage stand out is toward the end of the passage. “I have spoken” drew me in with a saying I recognized from the Star Wars show The Mandalorian. Kuiil would answer almost every question of direction with this quote “I have spoken.” Yet, as I looked at this passage and those around it Ezekiel is speaking of the promise God is making to restore the things that were stolen but this would not come about until we are cleansed of our iniquities. I’m sure there are many thoughts on when that is and if that is referring to Israel or all of creation. This promise will be a light to the world that they can not deny, saying He has rebuilt ruined places and also talked about desolate places being like Eden. Then closes this entire thing with the declaration “I Have Spoken.” Are we listening and believing that He is Lord God and that what He says will come true? No matter if it is a Word for the nation, for the state, for the county, for the city, or just for you if God spoke it, it will be so. Number 23:19 talks about how God is not a man that he lies or a son of man that he may change his mind. He has spoken and it will come to pass.

Prayer: Lord God, your ways are higher than my ways your knowledge greater than any on earth. You spoke all things into existence; you knew us before we were born. I thank you for seeing me and knowing me. I thank you for the blessings and provisions that are coming. Your love knows no bounds. I thank you for being here with us leading and guiding. Fill us to overflowing that we can pour out your love and grace on those around us.

Watching the watchmen.

Reading: Ezekiel 33-34, Psalm 114, 1 Timothy 2

Scripture: Ezekiel 33:6, But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.

Thoughts: Who are the watchmen in your life? Watchmen are those people who call sin, sin. They are the ones who are out there warning people of the consequences of their actions. Charlie Kirk was a watchman, he was willing to stand up for Christ and call out sin. Not only do we need watchmen in our lives who can call us out when we have sin or when something is attacking us. We also need to be watchmen for others.

Prayer: Father God I thank you for those men in my life who act as watchmen and point out where I fall short. I ask that you send more and deepen the relationship so that we can call each other out when things go astray. I ask that you help me to stand in the gap and speak love and truth to this world. Not condemning but to be a light on those things that are not of you. Help us all to call sin, sin that we may be repentant.

Are we cursed?

Reading: Lamentations 1-2, Psalm 79, and Philippians 1

Scripture: Lamentations 2:17, The Lord has done what he purposed; he has carried out his word, which he commanded long ago; he has thrown down without pity; he has made the enemy rejoice over you and exalted the might of your foes.

Thoughts: As I read this, I think about how things today are getting progressively worse. When you look at what it looks like for a nation to be under the curse of God in Deuteronomy 28 there are many parallels that can be seen in this country. Specifically on the west coast of the United States I have seen the difficulty in buying a home and the raising up of the immigrants that is talked about in verse 30 it says, “You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall ravish her. You shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it. You shall plant a vineyard, but you shall not enjoy its fruit.” It feels like the Lord is doing what he said he would do. Yes, this was written in Lamentation weeping over what was happening to Israel at the time, but this is a word for now as well. Our nation was founded on Christian principles but as I have watched this nation over the course of my life it has fallen deeper into the throes of self-centeredness and debauchery. Are we fighting to root out the evil and sin in our nation or are we going to let it quietly overcome and fully curse our home?

Prayer: Lord God, I thank you that you give us warnings and promises in your word. I thank you for your discernment that we may understand the promises for when we follow and when we stray. I thank you that you are leading and guiding me. I thank you for the insight on where I do not measure up and the opportunity, I have in you to grow and overcome those obstacles. I ask for your strength and boldness to speak where you call me to say.

You have that on right?

Reading: Jeremiah 42-44 and Ephesians 6

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Thoughts:  When we talk about the Armor of God, we tend to only talk about the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of readiness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Yet so often we forget what comes in verse 18. I see there being two sections of armor first being those things you have always on, and second those things that you do something with. Praying is the last thing in the list of do statements about the armor, the take up applies to the shield helmet, and sword, those you take up as you run into battle but the one thing that Paul says is to pray always. We often think that when there is no attack we can take everything off and relax, but we need to be prepared for the battle we do not see. Keeping on the belt shoes and breastplate, ready to take up the shield helmet, and sword, but also covering everything we do with prayer. Keep alert keep your armor on and ready for the battle and cover the King’s Army with prayer.

Prayer: Father God, I thank you that you made a covenant with us, and we have the authority to take up your armor and be a part of your army. I am in awe of your creation and the majesty in it. I thank you for your provisions in my life, for my job that provides for our needs. I thank you for the blessings you pour out on us, giving us vehicles to get around, food in abundance, and the strength in our bodies to do the things that are required of me. I ask that you help me to continue to steward those things you have put in my control well that I may honor you with all I have. Help us all always to have your armor on, help us to stay vigilant, and cover all things in prayer.

How are you treating your body?

Reading: Jeremiah 40-41, Psalm 38, and Ephesians 5

Scripture: Ephesians 5:28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Thoughts: After two failed marriages I must look back and see where my fault was in those marriages. First, I was too selfish. Yes, I am still selfish today, but I have also learned how to put my wife before myself. I spent many years in search of self-gratification only looking for the things that fill my wants and needs. That is in part what caused those marriages to fail. Two, I could not love those women the way they deserved to be loved. Here Paul is calling us to love them as we love ourselves, there are other places where we are exhorted to love as Christ loved the Church. When loving ourselves we take care of all our needs, we look to find pleasure in this world, sometimes to the detriment of our health. If we look at loving our wife as Christ loved the church, that is a sacrificial love, a Love that is willing to give up everything to save and serve the one He loves. I know that part of my failure as a husband was that I could not put my wife’s needs first and looking back I do not know if I could have laid my life down for those women or stood between them and the attacks that could come. We need to walk in the headship that God has placed on us, not a controller but the source. God did not say He was the controller of the church he said he is the source and we are called to be the head of the family as He is the head of the church. What are we pouring out into our family, is it Love, honor, grace, and mercy or are we filling our homes with selfishness, strife, control, and fear? I struggle with pouring the right things into my family I still fail, yet God continues to work in me that I may be the husband and father that my wife and children deserve.

Prayer: Father God, you are the example I strive to emulate, your love knows no bounds. I thank you that you are the Good Good Father and that you are worthy of all praise. I thank you that you have brought into my life imperfect men who are still shining your light and love into their families and the world. I thank you for bringing me into that family that I can be poured into so that I can pour into others. I ask that you continue to open my eyes to see the things I need to remove and help me to find the necessary help to remove those things from my life.

Today is the day

Reading: Ezekiel 25-26, Psalm 118, and Galatians 6

Scripture: Psalm 118:24, This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Thoughts: Woke up this morning, living in an RV for almost 20 months. Before I could get in the shower, I needed to swap out the propane for heat and hot water after it ran out overnight, then after getting my shower and getting dressed I had to step outside again to dump the black tank. All this before 4 AM and breakfast. Yet God still gives me the ability to laugh about this situation. God has provided for my family of four and a dog to have a roof over our head, food in our bellies, and transportation to where we need and want to go. God has blessed us so much. Our plans may have been to be in our home a year ago, but God knows what we need, knows when we need it, and has His plans for us that are better than any, we could dream up ourselves. We need to rejoice and be glad on the day the Lord made. We need to remember that Joy is not a feeling it is a choice. Happiness can come and go with your situation but when you choose to have joy and rejoice in all situations, we shine God’s involvement in our lives and others notice. Bring the Joy.

Prayer: Lord God, you are the Joy of the World. You made this day, and I thank you for it. You created all things you provide all things; I thank you for the provisions and blessings you pour out on us. I thank you for the roof over my head, for my job that provides for my family. I thank you for my family and the growth I am experiencing both as a husband and father. I thank you for growing me every day.

Just the Tip!?!?

Reading: Ezekiel 23-24 and Galatians 5

Scripture: Galatians 5:12, I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

Thoughts: Sarcasm and exaggeration are so common today that sometimes it is difficult to see. As Paul was speaking to the Galatian church about the group of people who were intent on making all the Christians follow the Law that Jesus came to fulfill. They were telling them that they needed to be circumcised to be saved. Christ fulfilled the Law and threw his sacrifice we no longer need the sign of the old covenant we no longer need to bring goats and sheep to use their blood to cover our sins. Christ was the perfect lamb who covered the sins of the World. Paul is calling out those people trying to add rules and regulations to what Christ did. It seems to me that Paul is saying that if you are pushing the circumcision to show you are more holy than maybe you should do more than just trim the foreskin. We were brought into God’s family through the perfect life and sacrifice of Jesus not by walking out any set of rules and regulations set forth to show us that we cannot measure up to the requirements of perfection that God calls for. Only by accepting the gift of Christ’s blood covering in us can we have a connection and a right relationship with God.

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for sending your Son. I thank you for making a way for me to have a relationship with you. You are worthy of all praise and adoration. Your ways are higher than our ways, your knowledge is so much greater than ours. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you pour out on us. I thank you for the refining you are doing in my life. Help me remove the things in my life that are not of you. I thank you for the people in my life who are helping me recognize those things.

Not My President

Reading: Ezekiel 2-5 and Romans 13

Scripture: Romans 13:1-2, Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Thoughts: No matter what side of the political spectrum you are on, I have heard the phrase "Not My President." No matter if you voted for that person elected or not or if there is another form of authority over you, we are subject to that authority. We must remember that just because they are in authority and God put them there does not mean they are good. God used many foreign evil kings to bring discipline to Israel; there could be a discipline or an awakening being done through this and all we can do is serve God. God is putting those authorities in place for a reason, we may not understand but we are subject to it. Even when we do not agree with the current authority if we break the laws set forth by that authority there will be a judgment. Christ was judged, but a corrupt system put him to death and later Peter said, "we must obey God rather than men." showing we are not to be doormats to be walked on. Following God will have a cost and sometimes that cost can come from the authorities whom God put in place. Follow God and his Word no matter what the consequences are even if it is judgment.

Prayer: Lord God, your ways are higher than my ways, you know the troubles of this world. I thank you that there is a purpose for all things. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that you are pouring out on us. I ask that you help me to walk out your ways and seek you. Help me to stand up for you. I pray that there is a plethora of evidence against me when they come to charge me with being your follower.