What is said in the dark?

Reading: Job 13-14 and Luke 12

Scripture: Luke 12:3, Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Thoughts:  When this passage was written people had a greater sense that what was done in private would stay there, it was much less likely that someone would overhear or see what was done in those dark and private places. The idea of this being said or done in secret being broadcast to their neighbors let alone the world was absurd. Yet in today's connected society, there are many private things that are broadcast to the world whether wanted or not. Between all our devices listening to us and those things we voluntarily put out for consumption, we are in a society that really has little privacy. What are we saying in the dark? Are we tearing down? Are we pointing fingers? Are we lusting after others? Even if we can keep those sins hidden this side of eternity, the Father knows. Let our private talk and actions be worthy of being broadcast to the world.

Prayer: Father God, you know what is done in the dark and what is said in private. I confess that there is sin in my darkness and private time. I ask for your forgiveness and ask for your help to turn from those thoughts words and actions that take me from your presence. I ask that you help me see the root cause of these things so that I can find a way to combat the problem with your power and strength. Help me to hear who you say I am and not listen to the world or myself. Lead me in your ways.

Not My President

Reading: Ezekiel 2-5 and Romans 13

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

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

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

The Duck and The Sword

Reading: Jeremiah 1-2 and Acts 18

Scripture: Acts 18:6, And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Thoughts: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is offensive. The Gospel tells us that nothing we can do can get us to Heaven, that we are sinners, and that only through Jesus can we get to Heaven. I suspect that nobody likes being told they are not good enough. When sharing this offensive news there are bound to be those who will oppose and revile us. This is a great reminder that there are times to be a duck, in the sense that like a duck with a water drop on its back, we need to just let it roll off. Even though we are letting things go, we need to stay aware and keep our Armor on and our Sword at the ready. I have been reading/listening to fantasy novels and as these heroes get ready for battle one of the things they do is to clear their sword (if I’m remembering my term correctly) which is moving the sword in, out, and around in its scabbard a little. This is to make sure that when the time comes to pull their sword it does not get stuck. In “The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe” Aslan tells Peter, “Never put your sword away dirty.” In the heat of or after a battle anything that was on that sword is now in the scabbard and as it dries your sword can get stuck. A sword stuck in its scabbard is little more than a club. We are also not to neglect keeping our swords clean and sharpened. Between battle and in the calms we need to keep those swords(The Word) sharpened and practice with them that when that battle comes not only do we have an effective tool but we are prepared to use it.

Prayer: Lord God, you are worthy of all praise and honor. You are the alpha and omega. I thank you for paying me any attention. I am in awe that you know me and the hairs on my head. I thank you for the provision and blessings you pour out on us. I ask that you continue to mold me and make me into the man you call me to be. Open my eyes to my faults and failures so that I can seek forgiveness and restoration. Please help me to take the steps needed to remove the impurities in my life and fill them with things of you.

Are you seeing the Promise or Entering into it?

Reading: Deuteronomy 31-32 and Galatians 5

 

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:52, For you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel.

 

Thoughts: With so much going on and the constant distractions from work, social media, streaming services, and even family it is easy to let God drop from the priority and being the one who brings all things into alignment, to just making God into another priority. Even with all that Moses did because of not listening to God he was only able to see the promised land. I’m Matthew 7:23 after talking about people coming to the Father and saying they did all these things in His name he said, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” Our faith in Jesus and what he did on the cross will save us but are we going to be brought in being told “well done good and faithful servant” or will we be getting in by the skin of our teeth. Are there going to parts of heaven or blessings we will miss out on because like Moses we didn’t listen. We have the opportunity to seek him first and confess our failures and start listening to that still small voice that God speaks with.

 

Prayer: Lord God, you are gracious and merciful, I thank you for not giving me what I deserve. I thank you that you do speak. I thank you that your are leading me, molding me, and refining me. You are the orchestrator, the one who brings things into alignment. I thank you for the opportunity to steward the blessings you are pour out on me. I ask that you help me to open my ears more, soften my heart and help me to keep you are The priority and that all things will fall into alignment under you. 

Who you talking to???

Reading: Jeremiah 1-2 and Acts 18

 

Scripture: Acts 18:6, And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

 

Thoughts: I know that I have been guilty of the mindset of I just need to invite someone to church then it is the pastors job to get them to come to Christ. Yes that can work and people can come to know God through a pastor, but we are not called to just drag people in off the street and expect that what ever the sermon that week is, that it causes this person that was come to Christ. It says that’s Paul taught every sabbath meaning he was there for an extended period of time, but it goes one to say the that after he was opposed he shook out his sandals said “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” How often are we truly living out the great commission and sharing Christ with the world around us or are we just dragging people in to try to get the pastor to do that work. I know that my biggest fear is that I would fail or look stupid when sharing the gospel. Are we letting our fears keep us from sharing the gospel, and when we do fail, then we fail and we move on, shake the dust out of our shoes and hair, get up and speak the word again. No matter when or how we fail it is not on us as Paul said “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent.” It is not up to us to convince someone they need Christ but we are to share Him with all. 

 

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for my voice, I thank you for the ability to speak and share what you have done in my life. I thank you that you are working in my life, growing and strengthening me every day. I thank you for the opportunity to steward the provisions you have given to me. I ask that you help me to walk in your ways, to spread your word to those around me. 

Reading: numbers 7 and 1 Corinthians 2

Scripture: 1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:14-16, The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 

Thoughts: When I read this passage I was reminder of a sermon talking about carrage and how we need to be bold even our families and friends. What hit me was the courage and how much courage it takes to not just believe the world and the walk in our faith. It's easy to just listen to the worlds explanations of what we are experiencing. The world wants us to see things only with our eyes end only hear with the ears that hear what they think we should hear. May the spirit fill us with the joy and discernment that we can better listen and hear the voice of God.

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful,you are the good shepherd, you lead us and guide us. I thank you that you have overcome and you offer us redemption. I thank you that you are molding me and refining me, , I ask that you fill me with you strength and corragel that I may overcome all things in your name.

Who sinned?????

Reading: Job 7-8 and John 9

Scripture: John 9:3, Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.  

Thoughts: One of the great and terrible questions that get brought to Christians is, “why does God let bad things happen?” Normally my answer it because we live in a fallen world and are given free will, and because we being called to by the sin and there are those who live in that sin there is evil in this world. Also this man who was blind from birth being thought of ether his parents sinning or he sinned in the womb. Jesus said that neither are true but he was born this way not to suffer but to show God’s glory. I have heard Romans 8:28 quoted to just say it will all work out, or God has a reason for this. Sure the sins in the world around us and the free will of the world bring all sorts of pain and hurt into our  lives, but it is how we walk though the situation and how we are showing God’s love through it all. We all have sinned no matter if it was a little white lie or you have killed hundreds we all have fallen short and need the redemption of Jesus Christ. The situation you are in may or may not be of your own making but when you release it to God and seek him he will help you to be restored. 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, you know the hairs on my head and the day of my life. You are the one who knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank you that you are working in me that you are molding and refining me every day, that I may grow into deeper understanding. I ask that you help me to walk though my situations and to over come the struggles of living in a fallen world. 

When the poop hits the fan.

Reading: Micah 5-7 and John 1

Scripture: Micah 7:7, But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

Thoughts: When everything is going well it is easy to, glorify God and say he is in control. But when everything starts to spiral toward the drain, are we still glorifying God? Micah had just been writing about not putting trust in neighbors and that our enemies would be within our homes and families, then to say, “I’m looking to God.” When the proverbial poop hits the fan of our life and get slung everywhere, where are we are we looking? Are we looking at the mess that is now all over our lives or are we keeping our eyes on the one who can wash us clean no matter the stain that the world is trying to inflict on us? As the world falls in on us, we need close friends who we can count on to point us to God when we are getting overwhelmed. My men are my Foxhole the men who are in the trenches with me and would be on their way when something happens. Let us find our foxhole that points us to God. 

Prayer: Father God, you are the beginning and the end, you have known my failing and my victories, and you call me any ways. I thank you for the men you have placed in my life who I walk with. Help me to grow in depth of relationship with them that we may be those men who no matter the time will drop everything and be there to help, and point our brothers to you as we walk through that poop splattered room. 

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. 

Remember, Remember....

Reading: Exodus 12-13 and Romans 2

Scripture: Exodus 13:8-9, You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt.

Thoughts: I feel like I have this horrible ability to forget the good and remember the bad. Remembering the joy of holding my babies for the first time is harder to recall than the torment of the loss of my twins before I even got to meet them. God as he was putting in place the Passover Feast told them not to forget, use this yearly reminder of what he did for them to keep fresh the history and blessings that God did and is still doing. We are all called to remember what God has done for us. What narrative are we sharing and writing on our hearts as well as the hearts of our children? God is always working to bring good out of every situation, are we focusing on Him and what he is doing or just on the pain of the trial that we are in? 

Prayer: Father, you are so good, your ways are higher than our ways. I thank you that you do take what the enemy has meant for evil and you lead us closer to you if we follow. I ask that you help us to recognize when your hand moves and remember your faithfulness in it. 

Don't forget to remember!!!

Reading: Malachi 3-4, Psalm 78, 1 John 5 and 3 John 1

Scripture: Psalm 78:42-43, They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe, when he performed his signs in Egypt and his marvels in the fields of Zoan.

Thoughts: We so easily forget. As much as I feel like I would not forget the things like crossing the red sea or being fed mana, I realized it is not about forgetting it about not remembering. The difference in my eyes and that I think the Psalmist may have been saying here is we get too caught up in our day to day lives that we forget to spend time remembering the things God has done for us. I feel it appropriate that this passage stood out to me here at the end of 2020, for many of us an extremely difficult year, between a pandemic, new mandates and restrictions, job losses and to top it all off the election that would not end. There has not been any big miracles in my life I have heard from others but I have seen God’s had though out this year. The thoughts about starting a home church that has led us to hosting a group in our house that is still part of our local church creating great community, the fact that between loosing my overtime and not getting a raise that I was promised that we were able to get on the state insurance that cost us nothing making it so that we could pay our bills without having large medical bills as we have had several large medical issues come up over this last year including a miscarriage of twins. God uses what the enemy has meant for evil for the good of those who love him. I am not saying life will be all sunshine and roses, but God has provided in ways we never saw coming. It is not about forgetting the great things of God is about not forgetting to keep your thoughts on him and giving him all honor and praise. I choose to remember the good that he brought about from the evil in this would. 

Prayer: Father God, you are so good to us, you provide all thing and turn those things meant to harm us into good, your love and mercy abound over us. I thank you for the molding and refining you are doing in me every day. I thank you for those who have brought into my life, new friends who have become life family and those who are not part of your family. I thank you for my family and our health the ability to continue on. I thank you for your and in the mist of all that is going on. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you have given us over this year and ask for the provisions and blessings over the next year. 

Gatekeeping

 Reading: Ezra 1-2 and Hebrews 4

 

Scripture: Ezra 2:62-63, These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.

 

Thoughts: Lineage and genealogy are so important to the Jews of this time and may still be today, I know that beyond my grandparents I have little to know knowledge of my heritage. It was so important to be counted among God’s people, even with out prof of who they were the came and worked and gave to rebuild the Temple. It appears to me that they were told you can work and you can give but until the priest gets here and consults with God using Urim and Thummim you don’t get any of God’s blessings. When people are coming to us or the church are we welcoming them in or are we being a gatekeeper and saying you need to meet these criteria before you can be apart of our family. 

 

Prayer: Father God, your arms are open to all who seek you and to all who accept your gift of adoption thought your Son. I thank you that you are leading me. I thank you for the people around me that lead and guide me in seeking you. I thank you for your provision and blessings. I ask that you help me to be welcoming and not a gatekeeper.

 

Limbo over

Today is an emotional day, after a week of prayer and not knowing the outcome, last night my wife miscarried. She did it at home with her mother there to help her through until I got home from work. To me this felt like I was helping her though birth and, in some ways, it was, but I knew that this was not going to end in another member of the family in our home. Before learning that there were two and that there were no heartbeats, we had been discussing names and those became the names for these two that we never met.

 

It was exceedingly difficult for me to be with my wife as she was going through this because there was truly little if anything I could do other then be there with her. I am grateful for my mother and mother in law because they were able to be more helpful than I was because I was struggling emotionally as my wife went through the physical. Something that this process has shown me that I may be more extroverted then I thought, when we found out there were not heartbeats my fist thought was not I need to run and be alone I needed my Foxhole men, I had already scheduled my monthly meeting of my guys and I knew that I should not cancel it even though I knew there would not have been any objections or questions if I did. 

Writing has become one of my outlets. Because of the taboo nature of miscarriages all I can do is to talk though what is going on in me because I have never really heard other men talk about it. I am pro-life I believe that as soon as those cells are knit together and start forming into a new life, that new life is valuable and worth honoring both in birth and in death. We have named our children that are in heaven, I morn their loss, I see myself with 4 children with 2 in heaven, not having 2 children and a miscarriage. 

July 16, 2020 Count it as joy!!

Reading: Proverbs 3-4 and James 1

Scripture: James 1:2-4, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

Thoughts: When in the midst of a trial, I know that it is hard to see or find the joy. James is exhorting us to count it as joy to go though trials. Being in limbo between being told our babies have no heartbeats, faith that our father in heaven can heal and breath life into these children yet knowing there is the possibility (likelihood) that my wife can miscarry. The joy I have found is in knowing no matter the outcome I have twins, no matter if its on earth or if they are waiting for me in heaven. The joy I know is that through this I will have a new strength and a steadfastness that that I didn’t know before. What are your trials, and how can they bring joy and a steadfastness?

Prayer: Father God, your love abounds over me, you comfort me in my hurt and you open my eyes to joy. I thank you for my family and all those who gather around us as family. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you pour out on us. I thank you for the peace that you are giving us in this time of distress. I ask that you pour your peace and love out on all who are hurting in this time, open the eyes of those who don’t know you so that they can see the comfort that only you can bring. I continue to ask for healing to my wife and children with all authority you give us in your Son’s holy Name. 

 

Miscarriage Limbo

Miscarriage has been this taboo subject for most if not all my life. I would occasionally hear about it in hushed conversations between women and see ladies crying without understanding. As a man it is even less heard about in conversations, not that is does not affect us, but I feel like it is because we have not been seen forming a bond with these children. Fathers are often just thought of as sperm donors until they prove themselves as dads after the child is born. Well that has been what I have seen, fathers do not get a say in if a woman gets an abortion or really anything until these children are in this world and the father is given the opportunity but sometimes not even then.

I am in limbo; the doctors have told us that there were no heartbeats after going in for our first appointments and then being sent to an ultrasound. I know that our God is a miracle working God, I have seen them, and I have been apart of them happening. We are praying life and health be pored into these babies that are still in my wife’s womb. There is a grief that is with me to a point because there is a possibility that things can go ether directions. We know that is this is a full miscarriage that they will be with the Father in Heaven awaiting us when we arrive.

We are greatly blessed by our community who are gathering around us and praying with us. As a husband and father, my heart aches for my wife with the emotions and hormones coursing though her and my children who have no idea really what is going on with their mother. My 5 year old knows that there was reported issues with the babies and that they didn’t have a heartbeat and my 3 year old keeps saying stuff like “baby bye bye” or “baby out.” Like when you first loose someone close to you I am walking though each day one step at a time feeling bla and not knowing what to do next. As a man going though uncertain times, and praying for peace and understanding though out the process, I need my friends I need my foxhole guys who are gathering around me. If you are going though this you are not alone there are others who have going though it but just as every pregnancy is different every loss is different.