Enemies are Everywhere!!!

Reading: Job 1-2 and Luke 6

Scripture: Luke 6:27-28, But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Thoughts: It is easy to fall into the ways of the world, loving only those who love you, caring for those who care for you. Yet Jesus says to go against our nature. My nature tells me to road rage at the guy who cut me off in traffic, or to scream at someone who angers me, or even get revenge or hold a grudge. Following God’s way takes discipline and forethought, choosing peace before you get angered, choosing to breathe instead of yelling, and choosing to forgive the offenses of others. Then pray for them and bless them, so that they may know God’s love. How are we loving our enemies real or perceived?

Prayer:  Lord God, I confess that this is one of the hardest things in your Word for me. My anger and the drive to hurt others because I hurt. I need your help to find the hurt in my heart so that it can be healed, so that I can be a man worthy of the name you gave me. I want to shine your light. I want to create a legacy in my family of loving kindness and not one of anger and hurt. I want to break this generational curse that had its hold on us.

The Old is good

Reading: Genesis 9-10 and Luke 5

Scripture: Luke 5:39, And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’

Thoughts: As I read this parable this morning this last section stood out to me, it got me thinking about how we get so comfortable in a situation that we are not willing to change. Over the last 3 years, my family and I have been in the process of building a new home. We started by taking out a loan against the house we were living in then, after getting as far as we could with that loan, we sold that house and moved into a 32-foot travel trailer. After getting the house finished and being in the trailer for about 20 months, we started moving in. My son, with toys and clothes all over his new room and no longer having to share a room with anyone, asked, "Can we sleep in the trailer?" As exciting as it was to move into their own rooms and have so much more space there was a comfort to the familiarity of the trailer. When we listen to God and move when He says move, stop when He says stop, there will be new things that could make us uncomfortable, or may not be to our liking. When God is working something new in your life, we need to be willing to take on new wineskins that they may not burst and not destroy what God is doing because we are comfortable where we are. Throughout this experience, one of the most common things said to me as we worked through all the bumps along the way was, “Blessed are the flexible, for they will not break.” God is not out to break us but to break off those things not of Him and to break us out of our comfort zones. The old may be good but what is in store for us when He ages the new?

Prayer: Father God you are so wonderful. I thank you that there is the Good old that has fed us and God has led us to where we are. I thank you for doing a new work in us. I thank you that you are not done with me. I lay my old unyielding skins at your feet and ask you to turn them new again. Help me to be flexible and able to walk in your way and be a part of your plans. Lead me and guide me in all that I do.

Getting a late start.

Over these last few days I was reading the word but not really letting it sink in and letting life get before my journaling about what God is speaking to me. Here is what i read and if somthing stood out to me over the last few days, and on today’s will be thoughts on everything.

January 1

Reading: Genesis 1 and Luke 1

Scripture: Luke 1:3-4, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

January 2

Reading: Genesis 2-3 and Luke 2

Scripture: Luke 2:7, And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

January 3

Reading: Genesis 4-5 and Luke 3

January 4

Reading: Genesis 6-8 and Luke 4

Scripture: Luke 4:13, And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

 

Thoughts: With Luke 1:3-4 this was a reminder that even some of the early Christians needed reassurance that what they were being taught was accurate. The accuracy of the Bible is called into question by all kinds of groups yet the more that it is dug into people find more proof that it is true, given the sheer number of copies with very few differences to other accounts proving things within the Bible. Luke 2:7 reminded me of the significance of how Jesus was born. The swaddling cloths were there for when a lamb was born it could be wrapped so that it would not injure itself before being brought before the priests. The shepherds who were told of His birth would have known what being wrapped in swaddling cloths meant and who He was. Then Luke 4:13 this was a great reminder that as the devil even when with God’s help we overcome this set of attacks, he will step away until an opportune time. He will look for ways to trip you up later. Let us all remember that the Word has been tested and proved true, that there was more significance to where He was born than there was no room for them, and there will always be another attempt to get to you sin.

Prayer: Father God, I thank you that you placed it on the hearts of the writers of scripture that they needed to write, and that those who received these writings saw the need to copy and protect the scriptures you gave them. I thank you for opening my eyes to some of the layers in your Word, so I can better understand your Word and your heart. I thank you for the knowledge that even after a victory, there will be another attempt another attack that will come for us. I ask that you help us to keep your armor on, to keep it in working order, and help us to know how to use it. Be with us as we step into this new year and help us to put you at the forefront of our desires.

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.