Bigger is better!!!

Reading: Ezekiel 35-36, Psalm77, 1 Timothy 3, and 2 Thessalonians 3

Scripture: Ezekiel 35:10-11, Because you said, ‘These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will take possession of them’—although the Lord was there— therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them. And I will make myself known among them, when I judge you.

Thoughts: We all can be selfish, taking things that do not belong to us or claiming it as our own just so that nobody else can use it. Ezekiel was saying to Israel that even though God was there does not make it yours and that they will be delt with as they were dealing with these other nations. It is all to common today that nations and leaders are trying to take what is no theirs and wars break out. Not only is this applicable on the national and global levels it is applicable on the personal level. Are we striving to share God’s love or are we just trying to get converts and boost our numbers verses their numbers? This can also be seen in some churches where they are more interested in just getting bigger and not the growth of those within the church or sharing the Gospel. 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the one who knows our hearts, you know the motives we do what we do. I lay my motives at your feet and ask that you make them pure. I thank you for all you are doing in my life and refining and molding that is being done. I thank you for my family and friends that walk through these trials with me. I thank you for your provision and blessings. I ask you open my eyes to your will and your directions, I ask that you help me recognize those things in my life that draw my desires away from your plan. 

Have you helped today?

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

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:4-5,The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered

Thoughts: Before ascending to heaven we are given the commandment to go to all the world to bring the good news, in doing so we are being like shepherds, taking care of the sheep of the world. When we take it upon ourselves to do our own things, we start forgetting about taking care of others. As humans if we are not being loved and not being taking care of we will find someone else that will and seek our own comfort. Let us remember our commitment to God to follow his son and seek to be a mirror reflection the love of Christ. 

Prayer: Father you are the one who give us strength and heals, you call us back, you lead with a genial hand. I strive to be your hands and feet in this world. I thank you for the growth in my life. I thank you for your love and healing you are doing in me. I thank you for my family and the joy they bring. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that are new every day. I ask that you help me to walk in your ways and seek to heal, strengthen and bring home the lost. 

From, by, or Through the fire.

Reading: Daniel 3-4, 1 Timothy 1, and 2 Thessalonians 1

Scripture: Daniel 3:16-17, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

Thoughts: The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is one the church teaches kids from a young age. To me this was there to demonstrate that we are to follow God verses following man. As that is true but I also see a deliverance story, this passage shows two of the three deliverances in this story. The three types of deliverance; delivered from, delivered by, and delivered through. The two that are in this passage are from and by, they only saw the first two options in ether God keep us from going into the fire, or he will take us from you by the fire. The third deliverance is the hardest one. Yes, God can keep us from the fire of our trials, he can also take us home (heaven) by those trials, but there are times where he walks with you through that fire. Our refining happens in the midst of a fire, just like the process of refining medals it takes heat and time to bring the impurities to the surface to remove them. 

Prayer: Father, you are the one who delivers us, you are the one who takes care of all things. I thank you for your deliverance and lay my life at your feet, help me be refined and remove the impurities. I thank you for what you are doing in me. I thank you for family and times to gather in your name. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you have for us every day. Open my eyes to see what needs to change in my life and open my ears to year your word. 

Build a song in my heart that cannot be silenced.

Reading: Daniel 1-2, Psalm 137, and Philippians 4

Scripture: Psalm 137:3-4, For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?

Thoughts: We are all citizens of heaven and our souls long to join God there, yet we are captives here on earth. For some the nations they live in and belong to here on earth are oppressing them taking away the option to seek and worship the one true God. There are places that were once free and now that freedom is being taken away and are asking just like the Psalmist How are we to sing the Lord’s songs? What ever our situation is, and no mater how much oppression comes, we need to keep those songs in our hearts and worship no matter how it looks. 

Prayer: Father, you are the King above all kings, you are above all things and lead us to your green pastures. I lay my life before you and take up your yolk, lead me and guide me where I should go. I thank you for the molding and refining you are doing in my life. I thank you for those in my life who encourage and exhort me in the calling you have for me. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that you give us. Open my eyes to your glory, my ears to your voice, and my heart and mind to your presence, building that song in my heart that cannot be silenced. 

Your deeds shall return on your own head.

Reading: Lamentations 4-5, Obadiah 1, and Philippians 3

Scripture: Obadiah 1:15-16, For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been.

Thoughts: We are called to be imitators of Christ. The term Christian was first used as a derogatory by the Jewish leaders, it meant little Christs. These disciples we so Christ like they stood out by they actions. When we live with Christ in our mind heart and soul our actions will reflect who we are and who’s we are. When we walk without Christ in our lives and without his forgiveness, we are subject to the judgment. Obadiah was talking about just that, the end is nearer now then when Obadiah wrote this, but it is no less true. Unless we have Christ in our lives, our deeds both the good and bad will come back upon us. No matter how good we are we cannot out weight even one sin with all our good deeds. 

Prayer: Father God you raise nations and you bring nations down, you raise up leaders and topple others. Your greatness abounds over all. I bow down before you and you alone, lead me and guide me along your path. I thank you for all you have done in my life and all you are still doing. I thank you for your refining and your molding. I thank you for family, both blood and adopted. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you have for us every day. I ask that you help me to be the man you have called me to be and focus on being that little Christ. 

Remembering my afflictions and wanderings.

Reading: Lamentation 3 and Philippians 2

Scripture: Lamentations 3:19-23, Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Thoughts: I can relate to this passage in Lamentations, the fact that my mind goes back to my sins and failures. The evil one uses things to bring us back into focusing on our failures even after we have been forgiven and those things have become as far as the east is from the west. Spending time worshiping and diving into God’s Word with help us to remember His steadfast love and how is does not end and he always has new mercies on us. He is faithful to do what He says He will do and overcome what He says He will do.

Prayer: Father God your grace and mercy are food to my soul, your love sustains me. Your loving hands mold me and protect me. I give my life to you. I thank you for all you are doing in my life the refining and the molding, you are removing my impurities. I thankyou for my family I thank you for all you have done for me. I tank you for your provisions and blessings. I ask that you lead and guide me in remaining focused one your will.

Take up a yoke.

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

Scripture: Lamentations 1 :14, My transgressions were bound into a yoke; by his hand they were fastened together; they were set upon my neck; he caused my strength to fail; the Lord gave me into the hands of those whom I cannot withstand.

Thoughts: Being a Christian we are covered by the grace and mercy given to us though Jesus’ death and resurrection and he paid for our transgressions. Here in Lamentations they were under the law and the system that called for sacrifices. We are told now under the new promise that are sins are as the east is from the west and will not be remembered. So, I started thinking after reading this passage, we are said to be slaves to sin if we are not repentant and turn from our ways and what would it look like if we could see the yokes we all wear. Jesus said my burden is light and my yoke is easy. Are we walking as if we have His light and easy yoke or are we clinging fast to our heavy awkward yoke that he wants to take for us?

Prayer: Father, your burden is easy even when you take on ours, your grace abounds and your mercy shines. I place my yoke at your feet and walk in your ways. I thank you for all you are doing in my life. I thank you for my family and friends. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you give us. I ask that you help me to see when I pick up my yoke and seek after my glory and not yours. 

Should I stay or should I go now?

Reading: Jeremiah 42-44 and Ephesians 6

Scripture: Jeremiah 42:10 If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you.

Thoughts: How many times have you asked God for a direction and you do not get the answer you thought you wanted? For me plenty, knowing God’s plans are higher and greater than mine it is still hard to walk on a path that is mostly obscured. As I have been getting frustrated with my job and my state, I have been praying and thinking about different work and moving to another state. This morning this passage was speaking to me about not running from what is going on and being content where I am. Let us be content and not continually seeking our own pleasures. Is God calling you to stay or go today?

Prayer: Father you are the great strategist, you know what is in store for me. You lead and guide and we are to listen and follow. You have called us to seek and follow you in all we do. I lay my own desires and seek your will and my place in your plan. I thank you for all your are doing in my life, refine and mold me. I thank you for my family I thank you for all the joy and struggles they bring. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you pour out on us and have set aside for us. I ask that you help me to be content and listen to your leading and guiding. 

My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness.

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

Scripture: Psalm 38:3-6, There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.

Thoughts: As I read this portion of this Psalm, I felt this lament over who we are without God and how weak we are without his strength. We can get so caught up our strength and our plans that we forget that God is the one who gave us our strength. David had his great times of faith and God given power but also had his failures. Even with his failures he was still called a man after God’s own heart. David knew the power of God and the discipline. We need to stay in his Word and seek him every day and be honest with God and ourselves about the sin in our lives and seek to overcome them.

Prayer: Father you are the one who gives me strength, and health. You pour out grace and  peace upon us, and your glory shines from all creation. I lay my failures and self-serving ways before you and seek to walk in your ways. I thank you for all you are doing in my life the refining and molding you are doing in my life. I thank you for those around me who encourage and bring growth in my life. I thank you for my family and those who are like family. I thank you for your provisions and blessings, you take care of all we need and lead us in your ways. I ask for help recognizing when I turn my focus from you and your path and seek my own. 

Are you sure you have that on correctly?

Reading: 2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36, Ephesians 4, and 1 Thessalonians 5

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:8-9, But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thoughts: As I have been looking at Ephesians 6 and the Armor of God for other things this passage stood out to me, talking about some of the pieces. I thought it was interesting that after talking about the things of the night, Paul brings up be sober, having put on these pieces. My mind goes to times in my past where I drank too much, and anyone who has done so knows how much it impairs your abilities to do even the simplest of tasks. In turn trying to put on armor when impaired would probably be a mess and lead us to a point of ether it is not protecting us, or we are misusing it. All sin draws us away from God and the better things he has for us, we are called to the light and belong to the day we need to be seeking after God and putting on the armor and knowing how to use it properly.

Prayer: Father God you are the one who protects us and lead us in this war. We know the end and long to walk in your plans and find our place in it. I lay my wants and desires at your feet and seek your will and your guidance. I thank you for all you have done and all you are doing in my life. I thankyou for family and those who are as family. I thank you for your provisions and blessings. I ask that you help me to put on the armor every day and to walk in your ways lord.

What crowd are we following?

Reading: Ezekiel 31-32, Psalm 45, Ephesians 3, and 1 Thessalonians 4

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:8, Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Thoughts: As I was reading this morning going through Paul’s admonishment of this church and how they conducted themselves in their sexuality. First in verse 4 he tells them to control themselves, then here in verse 8 basically says if you continue you are not breaking man’s law but God’s and things promised may be be given or taken away. I do not feel that this is strictly linked to sexual sins but all sin. When we claim to be Christ followers but are running and seeking after sins in our life, we must start asking is our faith and beliefs real or are we following a crowd. 

Prayer: Father, your love and your grace is abundant, it cries out from all creation. I lay down my life and place my disregard at your feet asking to have it taken from me, help me to dive deeper into your love. I thank you for your refining and molding you are doing in me. I thank you for those in my life who call me out on my things and encourage me in my walk. I thank you for your provisions, you take care of us every day and give us the ability to bless others. I ask that you help me to toss my disregard aside and seek you more. 

Lifted in Humility.

Reading: Ezekiel 29-30, Psalm 147, Ephesians 2, and 1 Thessalonians 3

Scripture: Psalm 147:5-6, Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.

Thoughts: I feel I need this reminder form time to time, partly because when I was young I was held back because of a miscommunication, to later be found that the reasoning was unreliable and that I didn’t belong in those different classes. I have to both struggle with the idea that I am valued and not getting myself puffed up because I know how far I have come and what I have overcome. God’s power is so great, and so beyond my understanding, He lifted me up from being held back and gave me the strength to overcome, but if I allow myself to see myself as more than he has lifted me to then I can be cast back down to learn my humility again. 

Prayer: Father, you are so wonderful, your glory abounds in all creation. I lay my life before you and seek your place for me in your plan. I thank you that you are always there for me and help me through the tough times. I thank you for your refining and molding you are doing in my life. I thank you for my family and the joy they bring. I thank you for your provisions, you take care of all we need. I ask that you continue to help me to remain humble and know who I am and who’s I am and that it is through your strength and power that I do all things. 

What Journey are you on?

Reading: Ezekiel 27-28, Ephesians 1, and 1 Thessalonians 2

Scripture: Ezekiel 27:25-26, The ships of Tarshish traveled for you with your merchandise. So you were filled and heavily laden in the heart of the seas. “Your rowers have brought you out into the high seas. The east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas.

Thoughts: After spending the first 24 verses talking about how great the trade was and the merchandise gotten, then it says the east wind wrecked the vessel out in the heart of the sea. When reading this the passage in Matthew 19, saying it is easier for a camel to fit though the eye of a needle and also, the passage of the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). As I was reading this passage, I felt like so many of us spend out time working to buy, sell, trade and upgrade not just our things, but ourselves and our stations in life. I am not saying that bettering ourselves is a bad thing, but when our ambition and our longing for the next bigger and better thing is what is driving us we will fall on our face and our journey to heaven will be a rougher path, full of pitfalls and trials that will come form that love of money and things. 

Prayer: Father you are the great provider, you have made all things and prepare all things that we need. Your glory is shouted by all of creation. I lay all I have at your feet, it is yours and I am but a steward of it. I thank you for the ability to steward what you give me and ask that you continue to work that in me. I thank you for my family and those who are in my life. I ask that you continue to open my eyes to your plan and help me keep my eyes on you and not the shinny things of this world. 

Who is your distress call going to?

Reading: Ezekiel 25-26, Psalm 118, Galatians 6, and 1 Thessalonians 1

Scripture: Psalm 118:4-5, Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.

Thoughts: How often wo we remind ourselves of God’s love and how it will endure beyond anything we can do. I don’t know how many times in my life where I was in the middle of something and the thoughts of “where are you” or “do you care.” In times of trials and tribulations, and when we feel the most alone he is there with us even when we don’t see it. The poem Footprints is an amazing visualization of this. Are we leaning into God in the trials, in our distress calling on God for he is the one who sets us free? Lean into his love and pour it out on other so others can see His love living and working in us. 

Prayer: Father God, you are love and your glory shines in all your creation. You are in control of all things. I lay my life before you and say “here am I, send me” you have a plan and I ask that I find my place within that plan. I thank you that you are in control and work all things for our good. I thank you for your corrections and refining that you are doing in my life. I thank you for my family and the joy and love they bring into my life. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you give is. I ask that you help me to remember your love always and share it with those around me. 

 

Who are you trying to outdo?

Reading: Ezekiel 23-24 and Galatians 5

Scripture: Ezekiel 23:11, Her sister Oholibah saw this, and she became more corrupt than her sister in her lust and in her whoring, which was worse than that of her sister.

Thoughts: As Ezekiel talks about the two sisters who represent Samaria and Jerusalem and how the chase after the things of this would and give themselves over to those things. Not only did they give themselves over to them they longed for the things of their past looking for some sort of fulfilment. Here in verse 11 it talks about Oholibah, who is Jerusalem, watched what happened and did it better, getting worse and going after officers and leaders. I see this as us watching the world chase after the fame, money, and influence then wanting the same things. I know that there are many times where I will watch someone get something new or bigger or better then what I have, and go, “I wish I had that.” That is what the world is teaching us, we are to always need to be outdoing those around us. As Oholibah was out doing her sister in whoring, are we trying to outdo those around us. We need to be content with what we have, not that we have to settle we can strive and seek God’s blessings but if we are never content and a good steward of what we have then how could God trust us with more. 

Prayer: Father you are the provider and creator of all things, you give us all we need and long to bless us. I lay my desires at your feet, help me to seek your plan and not mine that is only focused on me. I thank you for the provisions you give us, you provide all we need and bless us with the ability to bless others as you provide for us. I thank you for family the joys and trials they bring. I thank you for your refinement and guidance you give me. Help me to be content where I need to be content and strive where you want me to strive. Lead me and guide me Lord. 

Who's Truth is true?

Reading: Ezekiel 21-22 and Galatians 4

Scripture: Ezekiel 21:8-10, And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say: “A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished, sharpened for slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! (Or shall we rejoice? You have despised the rod, my son, with everything of wood.) 

Thoughts: As I read this, my mind went back to Proverbs and the fool, the fool who does not accept correction. When we do not accept correction whether by the word or by the rod and continue to walk in our sin, the sword of the Lord will eventually be sharpened and polished. It is easy to do our own thing, to walk in thoughts that my truth is truth, and you can have your truth. If there is not a higher moral truth then we all can have our own truth, and this is what the world is teaching us. Get in the Word of God and seek the Higher Truth, not tradition or acceptance of all, but the True right and wrong of God. 

Prayer: Father, your ways are higher than our ways, your truths are higher than our truths, help me to seek your truth and not my own. I thank you for all that you have done in my life and all that you are still doing. I thank you for family and friends and the joy that they bring to us. I thank you for your provisions and blessings. I ask that you help me to seek you and accept your correction, lead me and guide me in your ways Lord. 

Faith or Works?

Reading: Ezekiel 19-20 and Galatians 3

Scripture: Galatians 3:5, Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith

Thoughts: In a world where media reigns as the arbiter of truth and science, we are so often told what to do, how to think, and in some cases even what to think. This group of house churches in Galatia they were falling into some of the ideals of the Pharisees where is was following all the laws perfectly was what got your into a right relationship with God. God did not pour out his spirit only upon those Jews who followed the law, because nobody other then Christ had. We thought Christ were given the opportunity to have that spirit poured out on us just as the early church did. Not though our good deeds or our works but though the faith that came from hearing the Word. 

Prayer: Father God you are the one who knows all and leads us in your ways, you have created all things and in all things be your glory. I place my trust in you and seek your truth and not the truth given to us by the media. I thank you that you have given us the ability to discern and seek the truth and not just take the everything in that the world throws at us. I thank you for my family. I thank you for those in my life that will help me to not go too far. I thank you for the provisions and blessings that you pour out on us every day. I ask that you grow my faith, lead me and guide me in you ways. 

Whose weapons are you using?

Reading: Ezekiel 17-18, Psalm 20, and Galatians 2

Scripture: Psalm 20:7-8, Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.

Thoughts: When we are at war we have to have the weapons, when the Bible was written the horse and chariot were some of the peak of warfare equipment. Today we have aircraft tanks and thing we probably can’t imagine. The psalmist is reminding us that we need to trust God for our victories, just as happened several times in the word the worshipers went first, not the warriors or the equipment but the worshipers. The most memorable was Jericho and Joshua and Israel walked around the city. Are we trusting in God or in the weapons of our modern warfare?

Prayer: Father you are the one whose weapons we need, you have already one the war and the battle is yours. I lay down my desires and trust in my own weapons before you and see to know you more. I thank you for all you are doing in my life. I thank you for my family those both of blood and of spirit and adoption into your family. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you give us every day. Open the eyes of me heart and the ears to my soul to better see and hear you working in my life. Lead me in your ways and help me to rely on your weapons and not my own. 

Build up you neighbors.

Reading: Ezekiel 9-11 and Romans 15

Scripture: Romans 15:1-2, We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Thoughts: Grief is a funny thing; you will be told of a loss and hours and sometimes day later it will settle in and it will wash over you like a tsunami. Yesterday I was told of the passing of a dear old friend, Bill would talk to anyone about his past and how God got his attention in his early 70’s, my first introduction was to this bubbly old gentleman greeting me as a came into the church, with a Great Big “God Bless you.” Bill was one of those guys that this passage talks about, even starting when he did, he knew God and would bear us up and build us up. We lost a great servant of God. Like Bill we need to remember to bear the failing of the weak and build up our neighbors. 

Prayer: Father you are in control, you know the breaths we will take and hairs on our head. You have called us all to build us those around us and help the weak when we are strong. I thank you for the time I had with Bill in my life, I thank you for the love and encouragement that he brought to this world. I thank you for family and friend that gather around us in times of need. I thank you for your provisions and blessings. I ask that we learn to be more like Bill and love as you love. 

Making the world look more righteous...

Reading: Ezekiel 15-16 and Galatians 1

Scripture: Ezekiel 16:50-51, They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it. Samaria has not committed half your sins. You have committed more abominations than they, and have made your sisters appear righteous by all the abominations that you have committed.

Thoughts: Ezekiel was writing this to Israel reminding them that God saved them and that over and over they sinned and ran to other gods. They were compared to all these places who were destroyed or despised. As Christians we are called to be righteous because he was righteous, there are those who have become more interested in what the world thinks of them and success then living as God calls us to live. I used to be a Sunday morning Christian, going to service most of the time volunteering sometimes and living in the world all the time. I as one of those people who people used to point out the hypocrisy of the church, I wore the mask of Christian well. Are our actions pointing to God and his redemption of the world or are our actions making the world look more righteous? 

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful, your grace and mercy pour from upon high waiting to wash over us. I lay my mistakes at your feet, I open my heart to you and say take all of me, help me to remove the things that need removing and grow those things that need growth. I thank you for the work you are doing in me and the work that is already done. I thank you for my family and the growth and joy that they bring. I thank you for friends who are attentive and point me back to you. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that you pour out on us every day. Lead me and guide me in these uncertain times help me to be a better witness to you father. 

Ezekiel drops a bomb.

Reading: Ezekiel 12-14 and Romans 16

Scripture: Ezekiel 14:13-14, Son of man, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast, even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord God. 

Thoughts: As Ezekiel is sharing what God is telling him, here he drops the bomb that, as I read it is am saying even though you may be related to or following the teachings of these men, their righteousness will only deliver them from his wrath. I have known many Christians who only see God at someone sitting in heaven just waiting to smite them when they mess us, on the other hand there are those out there who look at God as a vending machine, if I put in enough good deeds and press the right buttons the blessings I’m wanting will pop out. God a loving and just God knows what we deserve the smiting sometimes, but our wages are death. Knowing that we could not live up to the standards needed to get into heaven and be in relationship with him, he sent his Son to pay the price we cannot pay. Just as Israel needed the reminder that they cannot be saved be association neither can we, we must accept the gift that God gave us though his Son’s death and resurrection. 

Prayer: Father God you are the giver of the greatest gift, the gift of life eternal with you, you are the one true king. I lay my life before you, take me and use me as you need, refine me and guide me in your ways. I thank you for the work you have already done and the work you are doing in my now. I thank you for all you are doing in this family. I thank you for my family and friends. I thank you for your leading and guidance. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you pour out every day. I ask that you help us to remember our need for you and not listen to those who tell us there are other ways into heaven and into your presence, lead us and guide us in all we do. 

You have a Master!!

Reading: Ezekiel 6-8, Psalm 117, Romans 14, and Colossians 4

Scripture: Colossians 4:1, Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Thoughts: Here we do not truly understand what it means to be a slave because slavery has been abolished and illegal since January 31, 1865. Yes, there is still bias and racism here as there is everywhere but most of us are a couple generations removed from the experience of slavery. A bondservant was a slave that chose to stay after repaying a debt because in that day and area most servants sold themselves for a time to pay a debt in the end they could chose to stay and bind themselves to the master. Paul is reminding us that we all have a master, and we need to treat those under us just as fairly and justly as our master treats us. No matter if those under us are just our children or if we have billion-dollar company under us we need to lead and treat them as God treats and leads us. 

Prayer: Father God you are the example we need to fallow, you are to way the truth and the life and we need to seek you and your Son to reflect that light into the world around us. I lay before you my failures, I ask for your forgiveness where I have gone after my own glory at the cost of others and instead of leading them to you I lorded the authority I had been given. I thank you for the authority you have given us, I thank you for the refining and molding you are working in me. I thank you for my family who bring joy into my life, I thank you for friends who help keep me focused. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that you pour out on us. I ask that you help us to treat people as you would have us treat them no matter if they are under our authority or not. Lead us and guide us. 

Not My President!!!

Reading: Ezekiel 2-5, Romans 13, and Colossians 3

Scripture: Romans 13:1, 4-5, 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… for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore, one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

Thoughts: In a time where half the nation appears to be saying “not my president” no matter who gets in no matter who is in charge of the great nation, no matter who you voted for if you are a citizen the sitting president is your president. We are all under the authority God has granted to that position, God is not Democrat or Republican. God has raised us evil people and evil nations to get his people back in line. There are going to be times where our leaders will weald a sword and times where they will bring peace. So until my government tells me that I have to go against God I will be subject to it. 

Prayer: Father God your ways are higher then my way, your plans are greater than my plans. I thank you that you are in control. I thank you for all you are doing in my life, I thank you for your refining and molding you are doing in my life. I thank you for my family, I thank you for your provisions and that you give us what we need. I ask that you help me to keep an open mind to your work and not assign my own agendas to these times. 

It is not our choice on what happens in their life.

Reading: Jeremiah 52, Ezekiel 1, Romans 12, and Colossians 2

Scripture: Romans 12:20-21, To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Thoughts: We are so ready to attack anyone or anything that is contrary to the way we are thinking that we forget to think about, the people on the other side are still people and are loved by God. We are told not to judge or we will be judged ourselves, as God’s people and adopted hears we should be showing his love and grace to all. As we show those we want to attack God’s love and mercy we are ether going to open their eyes to the Father and lead them to God or allow God to judge and heap the coals onto their head. It is not our choice on what happens in their life it is our job to show grace and mercy, by loving them despite our differences. 

Prayer: Father you are the great redeemer, you refine us and mold us. I thank you for your refining and molding you are doing in my life I know that I will not be done this side of heaven and pray that as you work me I more and more reflect your and your love. I thank you for my family and friend who remind me of who I am and who I am called to be. I thank you for your provisions and blessings in my life. I ask for the healing of this nation, open the eyes of those who need to see the corruption and let the truth me know. Bring a peace to this nation no matter the outcome and encounter those in leadership, Guide and lead those who lead out country. 

The dos and don’ts to getting into heaven.

Reading: Jeremiah 51 and Romans 11

Scripture: Romans 11:30-31, For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.

Thoughts: For some disobedience was earlier today, for some it was yesterday, and for some we don’t even recognize it as disobedience any longer. Paul was talking to the church in Rome helping them to understand that the system of works is not a valid system to get to God. There are many churches out there that still teach the dos and don’ts to getting into heaven, and if you don’t do the dos the right way and completely flee the don’ts you are not going to make it to heaven. Paul is telling us that it is only the gift of Jesus that will get us into heaven and the dos and don’ts become apart of who we are as we seek to be closer to him and become a mirror of the one we serve. 

Prayer: Father you are the great redeemer, you are the gardener who prunes and grafts in. I thank you for grafting me into your family and into your root. I thank you for my family and friends. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that you pour out on us. I ask that you help us to see where we are being disobedient and help us to get back into alignment with you. 

We may become a POW for a time.

Reading: Jeremiah 39, 50, Romans 10, and Colossians 1

Scripture: Jeremiah 39:18, For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.

Thoughts: We are all at war. War with ourselves, war with the world, and the unseen spiritual war, when we accept what God did for us through His Son on the cross, we volunteer to join God’s army. Jeremiah in this passage was being told to go talk to the leaders who were invading the city and you will be fine, but he would be a prize of war. The evil one can capture us hold us down, but we know who will be victorious and like Jeremiah we have been told “I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword.” We are on the winning side, we have been given the authority and equipped for the situation, but also know we may become a POW for a time.

Prayer: Father God you are in control of all things, you know what is going on and what the outcome will be, help us to walk in your peace that we can show your glory in this dark world. I thank you for all that you do father. I thank you for your guidance and refinement you are working in me. I thank you for my family and the joy they bring to my life. I thank you for your blessings and provisions that you give us. I ask for healing, healing over those sick and healing over those injured, kill the infections and repair the damage. I ask that you give us the strength and fortitude to endure whatever is coming out way in the war we are in. 

Can I put my two Cents in?

Reading: Jeremiah 34, 37-38 and Romans 9

Scripture: Romans 9:20-21, But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

Thoughts: In a world of options and creating yourself to be who you want to be, it is difficult to think we were formed, we were set apart, and there is a plan for us. We are not the first to think this way and we will not be the last. Paul was talking about just that even two thousand years ago people were looking at what God was molding them to be and wanted to put their two cents worth in lead God. I have been guilty of that thinking I was gifted in one place to later see my gifts lie elsewhere. Just as we are all part of the body, we are not all the part that gets seen or acknowledged but we all serve a vital function in the body. It is not always obvious but listening to God and those your trust to be honest will help to find that place in the body where you function. 

Prayer: Father you are in control you know the purpose you put into us as you formed us. I lay my pride before you and ask forgiveness for trying to make myself into something you did not intend. I thank you for your refining and guidance in my life. I Thank you for my family who bring joy and love into this home. I thankyou for your provisions and blessings, you give us all we need and take care of us in our times of need. I ask that you help us to pliable and allow you to mold us and make us as you want and help us to let go of our desires and seek you in all we do. 

Who is King in our Lives?

Reading: Jeremiah 32-33 and Romans 8

Scripture: Jerimiah 33:20-22, Thus says the Lord: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night will not come at their appointed time, then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical priests my ministers. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me.

Thoughts: After telling Judah over and over again that they are going to go into exile and have all this stuff happen to them, he then brings up that God says (authors paraphrase) “if you can figure out how to break the promises I have with time and space, then I will forget about king David’s family and my Priests.” Are we more focused on who is going to be in charge of our; country, state, county, and city then who is King in our Lives? Are we placing God as our King or are we trying to place ourselves as the king?

Prayer: Father God you are the One True King and you lead and guide us in all your ways. I ask for your forgiveness when I try to do it my way and don’t want to listen to your directions. I thank you for all you are doing in my life the guiding and refining you are leading me though. I thank you for my family and friends that help keep me on your path and call me on my mistakes. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that you pour out on us, you give us all we need and sometime what we want. I thank you for your joy and peace that you give us. I ask that you help us to share that peace to the world help them to see that peace is not just a lack of war but a coming together as one despite our differences. 

Revenge will make us feel better

Reading: Jeremiah 30-31 and Romans 7

Scripture: Jeremiah 30:16-17, Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured, and all your foes, every one of them, shall go into captivity; those who plunder you shall be plundered, and all who prey on you I will make a prey. For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’

Thoughts: Jeremiah was calling out Juda and reminding them that they are going away from God but even though they are not seeking him at this time when they do when they turn back from their own evil ways that he will return the evil done to them back onto those who did it. Most of us want that revenge or payback ourselves and in our timing. It is easy to think revenge will make us feel better and allow us to move on. There is a movie called Memento, Spoilers for a 20 year old movie, in the movie Leonard the main character has something happen and now he has short term memory problems and cant remember anything new except for a few hours. With this issue he is trying to track down his wife’s murderer, in the end we discover that he has killed many people with the help of his friend because after finding the murderer the first time nothing changed he just become more obsessed with finding the killer. We can get so obsessed with getting our revenge or what we deserve that we can find ourselves in a cycle that is not only destructive to others but ourselves. God has said he will pour out justice, but if we are trying to be the arbiter of that justice, we may get swept up in it instead of delivering it. 

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful, I thank you for all you do. I thank you for your patience with me and that you lead and guide me every day. I thank you for my family and the joy correction that bring into my life. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you pour out every day. I ask that break my heart for the things that break yours, Lead me to the people you have for me to interact with today open their heart and my heart so that love can flow.

Who’s your boss

Reading: Jeremiah 28-29, Psalm 17, and Romans 6

 

Scripture: Romans 6:16, Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

 

Thoughts: We are all slaves to something, be it sin like lust, food, money or even pride. Paul is talking about whom we are enslaving ourselves to, are we striving to be obedient to God and his call to righteousness or are we enslaving ourselves to distraction through the sins or the world that Jesus died to wash us clean from. By continuing in sin we telling God that what he sent his Son to do is not good enough for us or we do not care. Let us strive to be bond servants to Christ and not a slave to sin. 

 

Prayer: Father your grace abounds each day, your glory shines beyond comprehension. I lay my inadequacy at your feet, I ask that you forgive the places where I have failed the temptations and ask for the strength to overcome them. I thank you for the refinement you are doing in me. I thank you for my family and those who are as family. I thank you for your provision and blessings that you pour out on us. Open my eyes to those things where I am striving after the things of the world and help me to turn to seeking you every day.