August 31, 2016 Old Man Syndrom

Reading: Mark 8 and Isaiah 3-5

Scripture: Isaiah 3:5, And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable.

Observation: It is interesting reading these prophecies from the Old Testament, it is commonly thought that these prophecies only refer to the time of Christ. Although like this one I see it as so applicable to today. Maybe in comparison of when it was written to the time of Christ this could have been true but today it is so prevalent especially in the US. The youth of today are some of the rudest, most foul mouthed people I have ever seen being I am only in my mid thirties I remember thinking that of my generation in school nearly 20 years ago.

Application: We all have influence even if it’s only by what we don’t do. We are to Love people into heaven. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” We need to remember to give respect, give honor, and love as Jesus showed us to love. 

Prayer: Father, I love you and thank you for the ability to love as you love. I thank you of the provisions and blessings that you give us. I ask that you help strengthen us to love our neighbors as you do. 

August 30, 2016 E=mc2

Reading: Mark 7 and Isaiah 1-2

Scripture: Mark 7:32-35, And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 

Observation: When reading this account of one of the healing that Jesus did I remember about whenever he healed someone he never did it the same way twice, that I can remember. It feels like he didn’t want to give a formula to heal he wanted us to learn faith in healing. Later Jesus gives us the authority to heal and cast out demons. 

Application: To me the fact that there is not a formula or specific way we are to heal or be heal is great news. I have a hard enough time walking in the authority that Jesus gave me, but because he shows that the healing is less how the healing is being done and more about the faith and authority of those involve in the healing. We have the authority to heal in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Prayer: Father I thank you for the authority you have give us though your son. I also thank you for your provisions and blessings that you give us each day. I ask you too help me to walk in the authority and power that you have give to us and be open to stepping out in it to do your will. 

August 29, 2016 Can you hear me now?!?!?

Reading: Mark 6 and Amos 7-9

Scripture: Amos 8:11, "Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord God, "when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. 

Observation: This prophecy I think is two fold, first is more obvious he is referring to the 400 years of silence before Jesus was born. Amos was warning the nation and the king that God was going to stop talking to them though the profits. 

Application: The second fold I think is our time before knowing God. Even though we may have grown up in the church and heard the stories and maybe even had some of the stories memorized, there was a time before we really knew God and could hear him speaking though his word and the Holy Spirit. There are times in my life that I know I heard God speaking to me and giving me direction in my life then there are others where I feel like I'm all alone. This is something I struggle with but we need to slow down and listen for God’s still small voice. As a man with ADD tendencies this is exceedingly difficult, My mind wanders and I want to do something. As there are times in our lives when we don’t hear God I suggest that we all try to set time aside for God. 

Prayer: Father I thank you for all the work you are doing in my life. I thank you for your provisions and blessings. I ask that you help us to feel the call to have the quiet time with you and to set aside the hustle and bustle of the day and listen for your voice. 

August 26, 2016 They are watching!!!!!!!

Reading: Mark 3, 2 Kings 14 and 2 Chronicles 25

Scripture: Mark 3:2, And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 

Observation: When reading the Gospels I know I have a tendency to focus on the red letters (the words of Jesus), so many times I would just not listen the context and what is going on. In one of the gospels it said “Jesus went to the synagogue as was his custom”, that means he had a happy of going to church.

Application: So when it said they (the pharisees) watched him, they knew his habit of going to church and teaching. I feel this need too be a reminder to us that the critics of Christianity today are watching us looking for times to say look how these people not live up to their religion. When we are at work or out and about doing life we need to shine God’s love though us, in John 13:35 it says that they will know us by our love. Because the world is watching us and wanting to see how we react when things go wrong, Therefore we need to show them and not just hide our faith or confine it to church service.

Prayer: Father, I thank you so much for the provision that you pour out on us and the blessings that you have for us each and every day. I also thank you for giving us a reason to have true joy in you and share that with outers. Help us to shine your light each day in this dark world. 

August 25, 2016 A Sabbath for all!!!!!!

Reading: Mark 2, 2 kings 13 and Psalm 104

Scripture: Mark 2:27, And he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” 

Observation: Back before the Israel was brought out of Egypt there was no such thing as the Sabbath, you did what you did every day. You worked your fields, tend your flocks, or hunt for the things you need to live. Then once God used Moses to bring Israel out of Egypt he gave them a day of rest to encourage that we don't burn ourselves out. 

Application: Society has taken this day of rest and thrown it out the window and find ways to cram something into every waking moment of every day. There are those out there who work almost every hour they are not sleeping. We are all doing this in the name of wealth and “getting ahead.” The Jewish people had taken the commandment of keeping the Sabbath holy so far that they were not allowed to do some of the simplest of things on that day. I recommend creating a sabbath for you and your family. What my family does is we try to get all our house work and chores done Saturday before going to Saturday evening service at our church leaving Sunday for doing family stuff. We do lunch/dinners with extended family we take drives and sometimes we just stay home and relax. God created us and He know that we need a day to relax.

Prayer:  Father I thank you for everything you have done for us, you provide all we need and so much more. I think you for the ability to have days to just hang out with the family and relax. I ask that you help us to find the time to take a sabbath and just enjoy your creation. 

August 24, 2016 Are you worthy?????

Reading: Mark 1 and Jonah 1-4

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-2, But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, "O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

Observation: we all have people or people groups that we don’t want to interact with because of the way we were raised or because we have had a bad experience with them. Then later you find out that someone within that group has become a christian and we just like Jonah we get mad at God because he allowed them to repent and be saved. 

Application: How often do we think that group over there are not allowed to be saved because they are all so bad. Jonah thought that he would be better off dead then living in a world where Nineveh was saved. We are not the ones called to judge who is worthy to be offered the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are called to share it will all the world. Only God knows the plans for you, you may be the person who reaches an entire people group or you may only touch one life, but we are all called to do our part. We are called to love as he loves we would need to truly hate someone to not tell them how to be saved.

Prayer: Father I thank you for all that you have done for me, the provisions and the blessings you have poured out on us. I ask you for forgiveness for not sharing your word as I should and ask that you help me to be more open and outgoing to reach those around me. 

August 23, 2016 Share

Reading: Joel 1-3

Scripture: Joel 1:3,  Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.

Observation: When I read this the first thing that came to mind was, “What have I been  sharing with my daughter?” As a bit if a geek I enjoy super hero, science fiction and fantasy, in all formats book, movie and video game. My daughter has sat on my lap and watched me play games, and we have watched shows and movies together, but how much have I told her about God and his love of us and specifically her. 

Application: Yes this passage was about giving a warning to the coming generations that all they have can be taken away if they do not follow the lord. But today I want to challenge all of us too speak God’s love into your children’s lives. I know not everyone has kids but everyone has kids in some aspect of their life and we just have to love them as God loves them because so many kids in this world don’t know what love is. 

Prayer: Father, I thank you for the opportunity to be a father, having this little girl has opened my heart and mind to understanding more of you and has helped me to become a better man. I also thank you for the provisions and blessings you pour out on us each day. I ask you help us to feel the need and urgency to share your love with our kids and all who are around us. 

August 22, 2016 They do what they do.

Reading: Revelation 22, 2 Kings 11-12 and 2 Chronicles 24

Scripture: Revelation 22:11-12, Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 

Observation: As John is writing about the return of Jesus he drops this bomb on us saying people will still be who they are but Jesus is coming soon and he is bringing what is deserved. 

Application: In some ways I feel that this world has taken the idea that I can do what ever I want to so fare that we are seeing so much evil and filthiness that John was talking about here. It is so hard to live in this kind of world where pornographic images and thoughts are bombarding us every day. We are to love and care for those who are lost. We need to daily lift up those around us and seek to share the gospel with them so that one day they me be caught up in the folds of God’s grace and mercy. We can’t stop people from sinning but we can be a light and continually shine God’s love on them. 

Prayer: Father I thank you for the people in my life that pursued me and prayed for me, I would not be here if it was not for those who poured your love into me. I thank you for the provisions and blessings that you five us every day. I ask that you be with us each day to help us see the opportunities you place around us to share your love and your grace.

August 3, 2016 You cant take it with you?!?!?

Reading: 1 John 5 and Ecclesiastes 5-7 

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:15, As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.

Observation: I have so many times heard this passage mis-quoted, most of the time I hear it as, “Naked I come naked I go” when they use it this way they are right in saying that you can’t take it with you when you go but I don’t think that is what the author and God was trying to say in this. 

Application: This passage is a warning about working just for ones own gain. I have wanted jobs that would give me power and money, I have even tried to get those jobs, saying that if I get this job or that job I will be happy and I will have all the money I could need. I thank God that I was not qualified or I was overlooked for some reason. Those jobs would have amounted to nothing and my family and relationship with God would have suffered. This passage is not about he evils of stuff as so many people quote it as, it’s about finding the Joy that God gives you in the work you have. 

Prayer: Father I thank you for the job you have for me, I thank you for the provisions that you give me each and every day as well as for the blessings you give us. You are so wonderful to us Lord and I pray that you help us to keep our focus on you and on the Joy you give us in our work and help us to do it all in your name.

August 2, 2016 The End Is here?!?!?!!?

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

Scripture: 1 John 4:1, Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Observation: So many times I remember hearing about the Antichrist in association with the book of Revelations and the end times. For the longest time I would pick someone in the new and think they were the antichrist and the end of the world was coming. I still hear about people doing that today, one of the biggest ones I heard was that President Obama was the antichrist and he was going to bring about then end. I have not heard it but I'm sure there are those out there who say the same thing about the current presidential candidates.  

Application: Here John warning people about these false profits and then calls them antichrist and that they are in the wold now. That tells me that there may be one overarching antichrist spirit like the devil but when that spirit comes upon someone they become an antichrist. Each and every day I see that we deal with antichrists, being that antichrists are those who do not acknowledge Jesus as Christ and from God. The more this world moves away from God the more antichrists are out there and the easier it is for the spirit of the antichrist to come upon them.

Prayer: Father That you for this day and that you have given us ways to discern between spirits. I thank you for your provisions and your blessings that you give us each day. I ask you to open our eyes to see what spirits are speaking into our lives and shut out those who are not of you. 

August 1, 2016 I can't do it I'm not perfect.

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

Scripture: 1 John 3:6, No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

Observation: For a long time this its scripture was very hard for me, I saw it as this declaration that I didn’t have a relationship with Jesus. I would fail and sin, then I would look at myself and think I must not have a relationship with God. I would find myself feeling like I should be baptized every week or so because I though it didn’t work because I slipped up and sinned in this way or that way. 

Application: As I have spent more time in the word and sought God, I found that this passage is less condemnation for those who still sin on accident but it is condemnation for those who plan their sin. This was here saying that those who go out and purposefully do evil and purposefully sin. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of the lord. None of us are worthy of going to heaven on our own deeds and actions. This does not mean we have the ability to do whatever we want because we are still called to be holy and he is holy. We are to seek God and do our best to honor him in all we do.

Prayer: Father I thank you for you love and guidance. I thank you for your provisions and blessings. As we all still struggle with different sins and failures in our life I ask you to help us to see your love and know that we are not just cast out because we are not perfect.