What does your cross look like??

Reading: Isaiah 3-5 and Mark 8

Scripture: Mark 8:34, And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Thoughts: As I read this passage this morning, I started thinking about what has happened to the cross over the last two thousand years. Today the cross is just another thing made into jewelry, tattoos, and t-shirts. We all have crosses we bear ether we recognize them and walk with God or we hand our chains from them. The cross that we are to take up, just like the cross that our savior carried, will not be beautiful, gold, or Dimond incrusted, it will be blood stained, rough, and quite ugly. God does not cause us to suffer or create the crosses that we carry, but in embracing God through the suffering he can transform that meager soapbox that we jump on, into a podium on a stage.

Prayer: Father God, I thank you that you are here with me, as I walk through valleys and carry my cross, you are there to help me to remove my chains and bear my burdens with me. Help me to see my cross with proper perspectives that I can point to you and give you the glory. I thank you for your provision and blessings and ask that you continue to lead me and guide me in your ways. 

Don't tell anyone...

Reading: Isaiah 1-2 and Mark 7

Scripture: Mark 7:36, And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.

Thoughts: When God comes into our lives, and we choose to be all in for God there is usually something that happens in our life to bring about that choice. As Jesus was healing people, he was telling them keep it quiet, yet these people were shouting it everywhere. They were doing this in a time that could have gotten them killed by ether of the ruling groups, the religious leaders, or the romans. As dramatic as it would be to be healed from blindness or an inability to walk, how much greater is it to gain eternal life and forgiveness of sin? Why are we not shouting about what God has done for us?

Prayer: Lord God, you are so wonderful, I thank you for sanding your Son to create a way to you and give us the ability to come into your presence. I ask for the boldness to shout your name to all the earth as you have planed for me. Help me to walk in your plans and your ways, pointing to your glory and what you have done in my life. 

Face your fears

Reading: Amos 7-9 and Mark 6

Scripture: Mark 6:49-51, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,

Thoughts: What is the greatest fear that you have had to face? What was your greatest leap of faith? For me they collided when I felt God telling me to go pray for my aunt who had cancer. I spent a quarter to half my workday fighting with myself on what to do. After making the choice to follow the leading I had the fear melted away as I listened to God say just as Jesus did to his disciples, “Take heart do not be afraid.” Both my father and I threw together a change of clothes and drove the 3-4 hours to my aunt’s house where we got to pray over here and witness a miracle. She was healed and is in good health to this day. Just as the disciples got to see the power of God seeing Jesus walking on the water and then calming the storm. When we are called if may be one of the scariest things we have ever walked in and the biggest leap of faith but when it is from the Lord it will also be a great blessing in your life, growing you to new depth.

Prayer: Lord God, I thank you that you know our hearts and know how to lead and strengthen us for the trials we are not yet in. I thank you that you are growing me and refining me into the man you have called us to be. Open my heart and ears to the steps you have for me and the leading that take me to the narrow path. You are the only way and I long to walk in your ways and linger in your presence. 

The end is near

 Reading: Amos 4-6 and Mark 5

 

Scripture: Amos 5:18-19,Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Why would you have the day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light, as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him.

 

Thoughts: For much of my life, in many different Christian circles I have been hearing the end is near. And yes it is a n comparison to yesterday we are near to the end. The wars and rumors is wars are al around us and many call for the rapture a word not even in the Bible. Here Amos asked “Why are are week looking for the day of the lord, the end times?” Yes I have faith to know where I’m going when I die, and I know that things will be wonderful when God’s kingdom has been set up here on earth and that Heaven will be more than we can imagine, but we are told the day of the lord will be a dark and trying time and we don’t know how God’s plan will play out we just know God wins this war. What are we trying to call down on us. 

 

Prayer: Lord God, hallowed is your name and great is your majesty. You are so wonderful, and your plans and ways are so much higher and greater than mine are. I ask you to help me to do your work until you come or I’m taken home, let your plan rain and your glory be shout to the world. 

You shall not prophesy.

 Reading: Amos 1-3 and Mark 4

 

Scripture: Amos 2:11-12, And I raised up some of your sons for prophets, and some of your young men for Nazirites. Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?” declares the Lord. “But you made the Nazirites drink wine, and commanded the prophets, saying, ‘You shall not prophesy.’

 

Thoughts: God is always raising people up, calling and giving direction to ours lives. Just like in the times of Amos we are called to rolls, pastor, teacher, evangelist, or the even parent. There are so many how have been called to rolls in the life yet those around them are telling them that can’t or shouldn’t. Just like Israel was telling those who are going God’s work to stop and break the vows and promises that were made. We are called by God and we need to not listen to those who will take us from our calling yet we need to be sure that the calling we are walking is that of God. 

 

Prayer: Lord God Almighty, your creation shouts of your glory and majesty. I thank you that you are the creator of all and you have given me the ability to enjoy it. I thank you the you have been and continue to be molding and refining me. Help me to have discernment to see your calling and your direction. Help me to see when you are turning me and when the world is discouraging me. 

To accuse of be accused

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

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

Thoughts: As I was reading this passage, I started to think about how there seems to be a loud voice trying to vilify the Church and how some churches are very legalistic and focused on the rules and regulation of religion over the relationship with God. These religious leaders were so focused on the DOs and DON’Ts of religion that the love of God for his people was pushed to the back burner. Are we being like those who are seeking ways to defame someone or are we looking for ways to being glory to God? 

Prayer: Lord God, to you all the glory and honor and praise. I lay my life before you and seek you and your ways. I thank you for your molding and refining that you have done and continue to do in my life. I ask that you help me to seek you over seeking religion. you are my all. 

All look to you, to give them their food in due season.

Reading: 2 Kings 13, Psalm 104, and Mark 2

Scripture: Psalm 104:24-27, O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it. These all look to you, to give them their food in due season.

Thoughts: We all need things to live, it is easy to focus on the need for the resources to fulfill those needs. How do I get the money to pay this bill or get that thing? When we are asking those questions, our focus is not where it belongs. The psalmist was looking at how God provided for all creatures. He made them all and he takes care of them all from the smallest to the Leviathan. Throughout the years I have watched things last longer than expected, we have watched unexpected things arrive that fulfill a need, some we didn’t know were coming. Are we living by the letter of the law, give this, do that, and sacrifice here, or are we seeking God and worshiping him for all he does for us? 

Prayer: Father God, you created all things, and you know the needs we have and even the desires of our hearts. I ask that you help us to keep perspective that money and things are not bad but when we put the importance of those things before you, we will fall. Lord, I thank you for the provisions you give us and the wisdom to use those provisions that will glorify you and bring others know you. 

Fleeing to what?

Reading: Jonah 1-4 and Mark 1

Scripture: Jonah 1:3, But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

Thoughts: We all have a calling on our lives, our callings can very from being a mechanic and blessing others through your work, to leading a small group, to being a great author selling millions of copies of a book. Jonah was called to be a prophet, when walking in that he was called to go to the “other side of the tracks,” to wat them about what God had planned to give them opportunity to repent. Yet he “rose to flee to Tarshish,” not only was he heading the wrong way he was trying to escape from God redeeming a people that Jonah felt were unworthy of God. Are we fleeing God’s calling on our lives, and if so where are we heading? Beware there may be a big fish moment seeking you.

Prayer: Lord God, you are so wonderful, all of creation shouts of your glory. Your grace and mercy abound all around me. I thank you for all that you have done in my life, and all you are still doing. I ask that you help me to walk in your path and seek you every day. Help me to recognize if I am running from you, and letting my own biases get in the way of pointing to you and your glory.  

Know Your Sword!!!!

Reading: Joel 1-3 and Revelation 22

Scripture: Joel 3:9-10, Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, “I am a warrior.”

Thoughts: We are continually in a battle, be it a battle of the oppressive spirits, or if it is with our own flesh. I need the reminders in my life that we are at battle and we have been called to this war. Not only are we called to arm ourselves with what we have, like when Joel said to make swords and spears from the tools they had we have the armor of God to go into war with. We have all the gear available to us including a sword. We can look the part by putting on the gear but if we do not spend time practicing with that sword you will not be affective with it. That sword that we have is the Word of God and we need to be in it, to always reading and chewing on it. Just as a warrior knows his sword, we need to know ours. 

Prayer: Lord God, through your covenant with us we have been given your armor and your sword, we thank you that you have given us the opportunity to take up each of those items that make us your armor. I ask that you help us to have the desire to know our equipment and know how it protects us and how we are to battle with it. Lead us in the training for the battles we are not yet in and strengthen us to stand for you and all that will come against you. 

Executed judgment

Reading: 2 Kings 11-12, 2 Chronicles 24, and Revelation 21

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 24:4, Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.

Thoughts: God is calling each one of us to him. When we choose to walk away and strive after things of this would and the fleeting joys of sin, if we walk away long enough, we could stop hearing that calling or worse. We could end us like Joash and many other kings of Israel who God brought in other nations to take the people out of the promised land. In this passage it talks about how a small army defeated Joash’s great army to being judgment on them. Jesus died to take that judgment from us yet there are times where we turn our backs on what he did, and we start wanting to pick up those chins and burdens. Let us turn back to him and seek him before we have hardened out hearts so much that we can’t hear him calling us home. 

Prayer: Father God, you are worthy of all praise and honor, you are higher that all things. I thank you that know me and call me your own. I thank you that you are molding me and making me. I thank you for the provisions and blessings that you are continually pouring out that we may bless others. I ask that you help us to hear your voice and soften our heart that we can turn back to you when we go astray. 

Sinking in the mire.

Reading: 2 Chronicles 22-23, Psalm 69, and Revelation 20

Scripture: Psalm 69:14-15, Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.

Thoughts: No matter where you stand on issues, there is always a sinking pit and enemies that will attack you. We all have a place were we are going to plant our flag and defend until our dying breath. When our focus moves from being centered on God and what He has called us to those battels and enemies can turn into these mires and pits that will suck us down. We are at war. Our battles are not with flesh and blood but spiritual forces and principalities. Let us focus on the Father and march in his calling that we can be the light to this dark world. 

Prayer: Father God, you are the beginning and the end, you are the one who gives us the power and authority to trample on scorpions. I thank you for your leading and guiding, I thank you for the blessings and provisions you are pouring out on us. I ask that you help us to remain focused on you and your leading that we can be your light into the fallen world. 

Who am I???

Reading: 2 Kings 9-10 and Revelation 19

Scripture: 2 Kings 9:6, So he arose and went into the house. And the young man poured the oil on his head, saying to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I anoint you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel.

Thoughts: Here in western society, we tend to wrap our identity around what we do, I’m a repair man, I’m an accountant, or I’m a customer service person. Our jobs and sources of income will change on average of 12 time in a lifetime and in the last 10 years or so I think that has been going up fast. There is an identity crisis in this world. Jehu went from working for a king as a commander to being anointed by God, God has spoken an identity over each of us and is it a job title or is it son, daughter, and beloved. Where are we drawing our identity, from the one who created us and knows us better than we know ourselves or from what the world is trying to push on us?

Prayer: Father God, I stand in awe of you and fall on my face in worship. I thank you that you know me and love me even through my failures. I thank you that you are still growing me, molding me, and refining me. I ask you to help me to see myself as you see me and not as the world tells me I should be seen. 

This is how I fight my battles!!!

Reading: 2 Kings 8, 2 Chronicles 21, Psalm 27, Revelation 18, and Luke 24

Scripture: Psalm 27:3-4, Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

Thoughts: As Christ Followers we are called to be different from the world, we are to emulate and seek after Jesus every day of our lives. When we stand for the values and principles in the Word of God and take it as the Living Word of God that is Sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12), we will be attracted. We are at war; we may know the end results of this war but there are many battles that happen that are not talked about. David may have been talking about a physical war, but our war and battles are no less real. We are surrounded by the enemy and he is using every dirty trick to get us to turn from the battle plans of the Lord. Part of those battle plans are to strand firm in him and dwell in his temple. Be in the word every day, pray every day, as you go about the work you do, seek the Lord in what you are doing. And as Steven Curtis Chapman said in his song let us pray, “Let us pray without end and when we finish start again Like breathing out and breathing in, let us pray” 

Prayer: Father God, you are the Beginning and the End, you know the battle lines and the plans, you are the one who give us the strength to stand in mist of the battle. I thank you for all that you have done in my live preparing us for the current and future battles. I ask that you continue to pour your peace and love into me that I can pour it out on those around me. I come before you and bow myself before you oh Lord, May I dwell all my days in your temple. 

Open his eyes.

Reading: 2 Kings 6-7, Psalm 115, Revelation 17, and Luke 23

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:16-17, He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

Thoughts: As the army surrounded Elisha and his servant I can almost feel the tension and apprehension coming from the servant. Most of us if we saw an army surround us would have a reaction like that. Elisha didn’t go God open our eyes so we know what to do he said “Do not be afraid” then asked for the eyes of his servant to be opened. Are we walking in faith that says, “I know God plan for me and this is not my end but, if it is I will walk in it anyways” or are we walking in fear or what is around the next corning until someone opens our eyes? I don’t believe that Elisha saw a single angel or heavenly warrior that day. Is your faith in what is seen with the human eye, or is it in the one who created that eye?

Prayer: Lord God, you are the one who created all things and the one who knows all things. I thank you for all the blessings and provision that you have poured out over the years and every day. I ask that you help me to walk in your ways, help me to grow my faith that ether my eyes are always open or I have no need to see. You are the compass and light to my path and I long to walk only on the narrow road you call us to. 

That is too easy!!!

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

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:11-12, But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.

Thoughts: I can see a lot of myself in both Naaman and Gahazi, in this section of scripture Naaman was expecting because of who he was and who sent him that he would get special treatment. I know that we all feel like we are worthy of special treatment. Naaman didn’t even get a face to face with Elisha he was just told go take a bath. I know that when I have been told go by God the going was the easy part, the arguing with myself on if to go was the struggle. By today’s standards the Jordan river there would have been clean, but Naaman felt the need to bash the quality of that river. Are we being told go do something, even something as simple as take a bath, and because it is not what we thought it should be or some great task, are we are hesitant or dismissive of what we heard God tell us to do? Open your heart to the God’s leading and even when it seems simple and silly. 

Prayer: Lord God, you are so wonderful, I thank you that you are always leading and guiding us. I thank you for all you are doing in my life, the molding and refining, the provisions and joy that you bless us with. I ask that you help us to hear your voice and walk in your calling no matter how simple. 

Who you canceling?

Reading: 2 Kings 2-4 and Revelation 14

Scripture: 2 Kings 2: 23-24, He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys.

Thoughts: In this day and age of cancel culture and media shaming, we are all quick to write someone off or ridicule them for something they have said or done. These boys decided to go taunt this man of God, we are not told if these boys knew that this was Elisha but there was a large number of them, large enough that the, she bears tore forty-two of them. When we criticize and cancel people because of something they have done, do we really know who we are canceling? Is this a prophet who could call the bears? Let us not cancel people but let us have a conversation that could allow us to come to an understanding and in that conversation, we could find that we are in the wrong. Be open to talking to people that have a different point of view and not canceling them just because they think differently.

Prayer: Lord God, your truth is higher than mine, your ways are higher than mine. Open my eyes to your truth and help me to walk in your ways. Continue to mold me and refine me into the person you call me to be. Fill me with your spirit and help me to hear your discerning voice to see and hear the truth. 

Rejoice and be glad

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

Scripture: Psalm 70:4-5, “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!

Thoughts: Over the last few days we have been reading in Kings and Chronicles about Ahab and how he was not listening to God through his true prophet, and in the end even without wearing his robes he was shot and killed by a random shot from a bow. Then in Psalm 70 David starts by crying out to God for deliverance from whatever was bothering him. Here in the end David promotes what Ahab didn’t do, saying to seek and rejoice in God. When we humble ourselves and seek God he is faithful to deliver us, it may not be the way we think it would be. Like at the beginning of 2020 I could not see how we would survive with my hours cut. But because of the reduces hours we got on assistance for medical and over the last year we have had two surgeries and one of the kids had seizures, that on our old insurance would have left us with huge medical bill but instead God allowed us to walk through a trial to get deliverance form other things. 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the one who is in control of all things, you own the cattle on a thousand hills. You are my provider and my strength. I thank you for the molding and refining you do in me. I ask that you pour your blessings our on us and help us to see your love every day. 

Authority in the Lord.

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

Scripture: Luke 22:10-12, He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.”

Thoughts: Even with all the miracles and the teaching with authority that Jesus had done over the last three years, and all the things the disciples had experienced. I think that walking into a town watching and waiting for a man to great them carrying water, then to follow him and tell the master of the house the Teacher needs your guest room, would take lots of faith. I know that I struggle with sharing what God has done face to face with people. Yet we have been given that authority, when we are told go, we have the power and authority to go and do whatever it is that we were told to do. Seek God and listen to his leading and walk in the authority He gives you. 

Prayer: Father God you are the highest authority, you know all, and you walk with us through the trials of this life giving us the strength and endurance to get through. Through our trials and tribulations, you train us for the trials we are not yet in, you call us to walk in your ways and seek you. I thank you that you are molding and refining me through the fires of these trails and tribulation, I ask for the continued renewing of the strength you pour out on me. 

What is my place

Reading: 1 Kings 20-21 and Revelation 10-11

Scripture: 1 Kings 21:29, “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”

Thoughts: Have you been humbled? What is your understanding and thoughts on what humility? 

Prayer: Father God, you are the creator of all things. I lay my life before you and ask that you help me to humble myself and walk in your ways. 

Sleeping gods

Reading: 1 Kings 18-19 and Revelation 8-9

 

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:27,And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 

 

Thoughts: This comes from one of my favorite stories of Elijah, after Israel had followed Baal, Elijah comes in saying let’s see who’s God is real. In the middle of a drought and famine he called for bulls to be sacrificed and to see who’s God was going to light the fires for the sacrifice. Letting the priests of Baal go first he mocked them and in the end after pouring out 12 jars of water over the sacrifice and filling the trench he dug around the altar. Elijah worshiped and called fire down. Are we looking to the word of God and the teaching from the Word, or have we gotten ourselves distracted and turned aside by the shine new teaching that sounds good but get us just a little off course. Getting a little off course today can lead to a large divide after going that way for a time. It is not bad to look at other teachings but always take it back to the one truth that leads to the Father. 

 

Prayer: Father God, you are the maker of all things, your love overwhelms us and you know the hairs on our heads and the number of our days. I thank you for your provisions and your guidance in my life the molding and refining you are working in my life. Creat in me a clean heart. I ask that you help us to listen to your discerning spirit and recognize when something is not of you and that we can get ourselves back on the narrow path when we have gotten of your way. 

Crashing coins

Reading: 1 Kings 16-17, Psalm 76, Revelation 7, and Luke 21

Scripture: Luke 21:1-2, Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

Thoughts: This passage started with Jesus looking up from what he was doing, what sort of things distract you and get you to look up from what you are doing? My thought with what follows was the thing that got Jesus’ attention was a loud noise. These wealthy people were not paying online, or dropping a check in the offering box, they were coming in with bags of coins and pouring them into the tithe box. This would have made a loud noise that would have been distraction to most everyone including those teaching. With all this commotion going on Jesus still saw the poor widow woman, not just someone who couldn’t put much into the offering but also someone who would have been overlooked because she was a woman, and she was poor. Even when we fall on our face when we are spiritually bankrupt, God still sees us, and God still wants a relationship with us. Are we doing things to get attention from others or are we walking with our arms open to God and his leading and teachings? 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, you are calling us into relationship with you and ask us to lay down our desires and walk in your ways. Lord help me to not be seeking the attention of the world but following you and walking in relationship with you.

Letting Life get in the way.

Over the last few days between work and other distractions I have only read the word and have not been writing about what it said to me. There have been passages that have stood our over that last few days the reading for the last few days has 8/8 1 Kings 13, 2 Chronicles 11, Psalm 130, Revelation 3, and Luke 20 8/9 1 Kings 14, 2 Chronicles 12-13, and Revelation 4-5 and 8/10 1 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 14-16, and Revelation 6.

The passages that stood out were, Psalm 130:5-6, I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 2 Chronicles 13:18, Thus the men of Israel were subdued at that time, and the men of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers. And 2 Chronicles 16:7-8, At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. 

It is interesting on how all these passages point to waiting and trusting on the lord even in the midst of a battle. The Psalmist talks about waiting on God and hoping in his word, and the 2 Chronicles passages about kings ether relying on God or not and the consequences of those actions. We all need to make a point to focus more on God and his plans and less on the pressures of this world. 

Abandoned Council

Reading: 1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10, Psalm 125, Revelation 2, and Luke 19

Scripture: 1 Kings 12:8, But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.

Thoughts: Solomon’s son Rehoboam chose to listen to his pears and instead of those who had been advisers for a long time. These older men would have been working with Solomon I’m sure that there would have been some influence into who they were and the wisdom of their council after serving under one who is considered to be one of the wisest men to have lived. Who are we taking council from? Are we in a echo chamber with a bunch of people who are like mined or are we listening to all the information and seeking council of the wise? 

Prayer: Father you are our wise council and you bring us wise council, I thank you that you are leading us and guiding us though your word and those who bring around us. I thank you that you are with us, that you know the hairs on our head. I ask that you help us to have a discerning spirit to recognize the council of the wise and the council of the foolish. Lead us and guide us in all that we do.

Wise words of correction.

Reading: Ecclesiastes 11-12, Psalm 106, and Revelation 1

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:11, The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 

Thoughts: As I read this passage this morning, just before this it was about the work of a preacher and how they need to make things understandable and craft what is going to be said, Just like any good presentation of a given point the facts and information need to be used in a way to make the point. Those who go before us, who have experienced things we have not yet gotten to in our lives have wisdom we do not. Our Father in heave is the wisest of them all and he inspired the writing of his word and the bringing it together into one place. I read this with this authors paraphrase “The word of God is like a staff of correction, bringing together His collection of sayings, given by the one true Shepherd.” Let us be corrected, let us be open to wise counsel, and seek God in His collection of sayings.

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, you lead us and guide us through your word and your spirit. I thank you for all you have done in my life and all you will do. I thank you for your molding and refining you are going in me. I ask that you help me to continue to dive into your word that wisdom of the ages and let it correct me where I fail and encourage me on the right bath. 

Loud fools and whispered wisdom!!

Reading: Ecclesiastes 8-10, Psalm 150, Jude, Luke 18

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:16-17, But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

Thoughts: Over the course of the last several years there have been several topics that permeate into the media most every day, from the loud group leaders telling us one set of facts and opinions about what ever given topic, and the quieter group yelling the other side of those given topics. We are bombarded with each group telling the other they are wrong about something. Leading up to this passage was a story about a powerful king coming against a small town. Are we listing to the loud fools who seem to be looking for a fight or is there whispered wisdom that God is speaking to us through his word?

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for all the wisdom and knowledge that you give us and make available to us. I ask that you help us to have discernment and wisdom that we can hear and follow that whispered wisdom and not focus on the loud fools. I also as for the boldness to stand up for your truth and oppose those who go against you, your statutes. 

Fools, wise and God seeking!

Reading: Ecclesiastes 5-6, 2 John, and 3 John

Scripture: Ecclesiastes7:15-18, In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

Thoughts: In the age of Tiktok and viral videos, we are bombarded with anything and everything under the sun being beamed directly to a device in our pockets where we have access to knowledge and fools. What are we spending our time on? Luke 6:45 the last portion says “out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” When we focus too much on the knowledge we have at our fingers it is easy to only focus on worldly “Knowledge” or if we focus on the foolish things people are posting out there, we can become fools or loose perspective. When we pump ourselves full of all these other things from, cooking videos to stupid human tricks what is going to come out of our mouths? I encourage everyone to look at their inputs and see what gets more input into our lives, God or the World?

Prayer: Father God you are the creator of all things and the one who gave us our passions and interests. I ask that you help us to keep your perspective, help us to keep you in our heart that is may overflow on the world, and that with you as our focus the knowledge will become wisdom and we keep from becoming fools.

Stubbing your toe in the dark.

Reading: Ecclesiastes 2-4, 1 John 5, and Luke 17

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:14, The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them.

Thoughts: When you get up in the middle of the night to get a drink or something not wanting to blind yourself or wake the others in your home you make your way with the lights off and inevitably you find something with your pinky toe. Yet if we would have taken even a small light the likelihood of stubbing our toe would have diminished greatly. That is exactly what this passage is saying about being wise, we are all going to have trials and pains. There are going to be those like loosing a father or mother that we will all have to walk through at some point or others like miscarriage that only some know that pain. It is not about what pain we are walking through but how we walk through it. A wise person will walk through it leaning on God and others, where the fool will stumble through and may stub their toes along the way. Let us lean on God and gather around us that group of people who will walk through it with us. Find that Fox hole, Band of Brothers or Sisters, or your family (both biological and chosen), that will walk with you and point you to the father the one who gives you strength and comfort. 

Prayer: Father God, I crawl into your lap and seek your comfort, hold me in your embrace and pour your peace and joy over me, giving me your strength to overcome all that is before me. I thank you for all that you do I thank you that you are the one who provides all things, you lead and walk with me through the trials of this world. I thank you for the molding and refining you are doing in me. 

Tearing the kingdom away.

Reading: 1 Kings 11, Ecclesiastes 1, 1 John 4, and Luke 16

 

Scripture: 1 Kings 11:11, Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.

 

Thoughts: Solomon had every opportunity to succeed after his father passed away, he had money, wisdom from God, and a small but mighty nation backed by God. Thinking he knew better or he could handle it, he stuck his toes into the world’s ways. 700 wives 300 princess and 300 concubines, from all over the world bringing in all their beliefs. When we join together in a relationship with someone of different beliefs those will make their ways into our live if we are not careful. Not only is this true with relationships with people but also the relationship we have with the world being we all live in it. There are groups from the extreme liberal to the extreme conservative that may differ from what God said and his truth. Seek after God and not after the things of this world.

 

Prayer: Father God, you are the one worthy of all worship, you are worthy of all honor and praise. Your truth is higher above all truth and all truth comes from you. I thank you for all you have given to me and that witch you have entrusted to me to steward. I ask that you help me to steward will those gifts and resources to your glory. Help me to see the next steps on your path they stretches before me. 

Evidence of whos children you are

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

Scripture: 1 John 3:10, By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Thoughts: In the previous verses John is bringing up those who practice righteousness and those who make a habit of sinning. Are we walking with the world and seeking their approval and their values or are we seeking God’s values? What evidence are we giving to the world, that what shows God love and righteousness or the evidence of our sinful life?

Prayer: Father God, you are the beginning and the end, your love overwhelms my soul. Your love sustains me, and your joy compels me. You are the giver of all things. You lead me and guide me, your loving hands mold me and make me. I ask that you help us seek you and not the approval of the world around us, your word says that they will hate us because they first hated you.