January 17, 2017 Where are you going?

Reading: Luke 17 and Job 24-26

Scripture: Luke 17:14, When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed.

Observation: In those days lepers we cast out of the city and were not able to do anything because everything they touched and worked with became unclean in the eyes of the Jewish faith. If you thought your leprosy was cured or that is was not leprosy then you would go to the priests have them look at you and determine if you were clean or not and then they would have you give sacrifices to God according to the law. So when Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests he was saying you are cleansed and healed.

Application: I think the biggest struggle we have with being healed of something in our own lives is dealing with the last portion of that verse, “as they went they were cleansed.” I know that when ever Jesus did a miracle the was a command something the recipient had to do to fully receive the healing. These lepers were told to go to the priests, if they had though I'm not going to that guy he condemned me to this life I hate that guy or anything along those lines they would not have been healed. If we are to be healed we need to listen to the command that God gives us and have faith in that healing.

Prayer: Father I thank you for the miracles that happen each and every day, the restoration mobility, the release from pain and the releases from addiction. I thank you for your daily provisions and the blessings you pour out on us. I ask that you help us to hear the commands that you have for us so we can be healed and also hear your commands to heal others. Open our eyes to see and our ears to hear from you each day. 

January 16, 2017 It's a Zombie

Reading: Luke 16 and Job 22-23

Scripture: Luke 16:31, “He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’"

Observation: As I was reading this passage it clicked in my mind that Jesus was going to be the dead man. I have been at churches who have said we just need a miracle to show the world the truth and they will believe. How often do we even exhibit that mentality, “I wont  believe it until I see it with my own two eyes.” 

Application: I feel that most of us are looking to shown that God exists and that he loves us. This parable of a man Lazarus and the rich man not only show that we need to be good stewards of what we have and share with others. We may think that we don’t have anything to share but we have God’s word and the Gospel. Jesus die and rose from the grave and people still don’t believe just as the parable said. We need to be carful of spending too much time looking for that Miracle and not looking at the risen man Jesus standing beside us.

Prayer: Father I thank you so much for sending your son to pay the price and bring us into your family. I am in awe that you can provide all the provisions that we need and still bless us. I ask you to help us to open our eye to the truth and how to share it with those around us and stop relying on the need for a miracle. Open our hearts and mind to your Holy Spirit and help us to quiet ourselves to hear you. 

January 13, 2017 Hey you are in my seat!!

Reading: Luke 13 and Job 15-16

Scripture: Luke 13:8-11, "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Observation: In western society we have lost or maybe never developed a true sense of honor, maybe that is why for most of my life this didn’t make sense to me. Moving up and down a table to show how important you are was just so foreign to me. As it has been explained to me in that culture the close to the host the more honor you had and more opportunity to network at these dinners. So people would get there and try to rank themselves but if your seat was needed you were cast to the bottom. James and John even asked Jesus “Who will be greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” They were looking to see who would have the seats of honor.

Application: I know that most everyone wants to be important and have honor among their friends colleagues and family. God called us to do what we do for him and to honor him, and to humble ourselves. The second half of the parable was showing one way. We are not to seek the highest seat. How I like to look at being humble and love, both are large topics in Jesus’ ministry. Being humble I believe is thinking if others more then yourself, and love is like it in love is placing others needs above your own. Love is not a feeling is a verb it’s something you do. 

Prayer: Father I love you and stand in awe of your power, grace and mercy. I thank you for loving me and sending your Son to pay the price for me. I ask you to help me to think of myself less and place the needs of those around me above my own and to bless them as you bless me. I thank you for the provisions you give us each day and the blessings you pour out on us. 

January 12, 2017 It's the StayPuffed Marshmallow Man

Reading: Luke 12 and Job 13-14

Scripture: Luke 12:1b-2, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

Observation: To me when I first heard heard this I was confused and wondered “what does this have to do with me?” As I spent more time in the word and also understood how some of these things are used this made more sense to me. The Pharisees were the biggest quandary to me for a long time until I learned that in a way they were like religious lawyers, they new the Mosaic law inside and out and how to navigate all the loopholes to make them puffed up and feel and look more important then others. 

Application: So when Jesus said “Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees,” he is saying watch out for the things that will bring out your arrogance and pride. The term hypocrisy was odd to me with everyone saying being two faced (being a geek I think of the DC comic character) but what it meant back then were actors that would ware masked to change characters. So the thing that puffed up the Pharisees was hiding who they really are. The second verse to me makes more sense when I look at it this way, we are not called to hide who we really are, God gave us our story to be able to share with those around us. God knows all of who we are already and we will can not keep it hidden. What you have been through will give you a unique perspective to reach out to other. I can reach people you can’t and you can reach people I can’t not just because of where we live but what our pasts are.

Prayer: Father, I love you so much and I stand amazed at the love you have shown this world even though none of us deserve it. I thank you for each day I get to wake up to and spend with you. I thank you for the provisions you give us each day and the blessings you bring into our lives. I ask that you help open my eyes and heart to opportunities to share who you are and what you have done for me. 

January 11, 2017 let us overwhelm this land

Reading: Luke 11 and Job 11-12

Scripture: Job 12:15,  If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.

Observation: This passage is part of where Job is talking back to one of his friends who has been trying to convince him that because of all the loss that he has been enduring that Job is not in good standing with God. We in Western society and in many of western churches that if you are not prosperous or you are going though hard times you are not in God’s graces, and Job’s statement seems to support that.

Application: When I read that I got a different picture I got this picture of water flowing from the word of God over me and my life. When you look at it from the perspective that God’s word is full and he is looking to open the floodgates as we dive into it then God is only holding back the waters and allowing us to dry up as long as we are not seeking him. Then the second portion of that scripture is about being sent and overwhelming the land. Just before ascending to Heaven Jesus sent the disciples and us out, when you look at the numbers of believers that accepted the Gospel within the first 50 years they overwhelmed the land. Many people who say they are Christians don’t even attend church or read the word regularly, We are called to overwhelm the land and we can’t do that if we don’t know the Word, if we are not in the Word or if we don’t get fed. 

Prayer:  Father I love you and I long to sit in your presence. I thank you for the provisions you give us each and every day you are the provider of all things. I thank you for the blessings that you give us. I thank you that you sent your Son to pay the price I could never pay. I ask that you help us to see the ways we withhold the waters that you want to give us and help us to see how we are to overwhelm the land. 

January 10, 2017 I have a story to tell!!!

Reading: Luke 10 and Job 9-10

Scripture: Luke 10:23-24, Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."

Observation: This passage came just after Jesus was saying that only the father knows the son and only the son and those who he reveals him to know the father. We like his disciples have been shown the father though the Holy spirit and the Son. 

Application: We have seen what only a portion of the population on the wold has seen. Some have seen more clearly then others but we have seen the Holy Spirit reveal to us the Son and though the Son the Father. The Holy Spirit wants to work though us and we need to open ourselves to sharing what has happened in us. Just as the blind man was asked how did you come to see, and he said I don’t know I was blind now I see and I was told it was this man named Jesus who did it. I wish my transformation was so obvious at times but there are others that I wouldn’t want the responsibility of having that testimony.

Prayer: Father I thank you that you have given each of us a story to tell, from the great to small. I thank you for the provisions that you have poured out on us for another day and the blessings you have in store for us. I stand in awe that you take notice of me and took the time to think of me and form me just as you have formed my family. I ask that you help open my heart to telling my story and sharing the love you have for those around us. 

January 9, 2017 Its all wrong!!!!

Reading: Luke 9 and Job 7-8

Scripture: Luke 9:49-50, John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you."

Observation: Reading this passage reminded me about how much I will say mostly in my head, “they are doing it wrong.” We are called to be loving and kind without being a judge. I know its easy to attack something when it appears to you to be being done wrong, especially for men we want to be right and want others to know we are right and help them to be right too. 

Application: Jesus talking in spiritual warfare terms here is telling us anyone who is doing God’s work even if it looks different then our work is on our side. I feel like there are only three positions in this war, those who knowingly work with the opposition, those who don’t know they are working for the opposition, and those who are fighting against the opposition. We are not only called to fight in this war but also share the difference in our life and grow our army.

Prayer: Father, I thank you for all the provision you have for me and the provision you have yet to give. I thank you for the blessings you continue to poor out on us even though we have not done anything to deserve it. I thank you for the work being done in the hearts around us and in our hearts. I ask that you help us to see the opportunities to open us and share what God has done for us.

Here we go again

I thank everyone who read my words and I pray that everyone does hears God’s voice speaking through me. I don’t wright this for me, I want to see God’s word getting out there. This last month has been crazy trying to prepare for our new arrival who came just a few days ago. I have been struggling with keeping myself focused on God and the blessings he has for me. He has been watching over me and bringing my family closer together. I know I have mentioned this in the past but over the last few days I have felt the Holy Spirit impressing on me the passage in Jeremiah 12:5a, “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?” 

I have felt that with allowing myself to step away from regularly being in the word and focusing on family and finances and all other aspects of life, I have not only grown wearied but there are many times where I have not even run the race with men. I want to get back to writing and having God’s word spoken into this world. I recently started a online debate between a couple people because of quote I shared on another format. I had felt that this person had a good point and a biblical truth, to find out that he ended up scamming people as well. What I got out of this debate was less about the man who said the quote but more about how I see God’s truth. 

I don’t care if this person was/is a sinner/crook, no matter who says God’s truth it does not change the fact that it is GOD’S TRUTH, I don’t think that because he speaks one of God’s truths makes him infallible, even the Devil used scripture when tempting Jesus, but just tells me we need to be in the word so we know the word and so that we are not fooled by one who will twist and change scripture. 

Holiday stress

It is so easy to get stressed out over things, especially in this time of year on a normal year when you are going over when and how are you celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years? How you are getting to the places you want to celebrate each of those Holidays and where you will stay when you get there? This year we have upped the stakes a little. On top of the normal holiday stuff and work, we have been trying to refinance our house for almost three months and on the day before Thanksgiving my Nine-month pregnant wife gets in a car accident and the car gets totaled. 

Our second child has a due date of the 26th and we don’t know if we are going to be able to celebrate much. To culminate everything some of the money we were going to use to refinance the house we found out that it may take longer to get and that our time frame for the loan in quickly closing. When I find our that our information shows they received my stuff on a date and that the person I talked to said that they have not received anything and are not paying us until they have this from us. I got very stressed and said things i shouldn’t have.

I get home pull together all the information we have to verify that we are doing what we should and have proof that we sent off what we need (at this time I'm fuming and rushing around like a bull). When I get a little reminder from my wife God has us, He loves us and wants to take care of us always. He has provided so many things to us and has blessed us more then we could know. There are so many things that he has protected us from without us even knowing that wee need it. 

In this last couple weeks I been finding it hard to spend time with God and in his word. I want to encourage you to seek God even when everything is going good and when it goes sideways. Jeremiah 12:5a says, “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?” and a great pastor from Fresh Life Church in Montana put it this way “We need to prepare for the trials we are not yet in.” Yes I flipped out a little when I heard that because of things getting lost or misplaced I may not be able to refinance my house when I though I was. My wife and I are a great team when I'm freaking out she is my rock pointing back to God and there are times when the roles are reversed and I get to be the rock. 

Father I thank you for all that you give to me and provide for us each and every day, work, family and friends. I am thankful that you send your help in all its forms. As the normal stresses of the holidays get to people help us to love our neighbors and spread your love. 

November 30, 2016 Watchmen are you out there?

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

Scripture: Ezekiel 33:1-6, The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.

Observation: As I was going though the reading this entire section stuck out at me. I have always had a hard time speaking to people face to face about God. I speak worse then I write. The idea that God not only watches what we do but also what we don’t do. Yes we are saved by the grace given to us by Christ Jesus but we do have a responsibility to call others. 

Application: Ezekiel said that if we share the knowledge we have been given with others and they choose not to change then its on them but is we keep it to our selves then their blood is on our hands. God desires all to be saved and come to know the great gift of God though his son Jesus. We are to be his watchmen, we have the knowledge that God has forgiven us and that he has a place for us in Heaven. Penn Jillette a devout atheist had this to say after a man gave him a Bible, “If you believe in heaven and hell or eternal life, how much do you have to hate someone to not share it with them.” We have been called to love this world to God though sharing the knowledge we have and to great gift of salvation. 

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful I stand amazed by your love and grace extended to me and I'm blown away that you can have that for everyone. I thank you that you have given us that grace, I thank you for the provisions and blessings that you give us each day. I ask that you help me to open my mouth to those who need to hear your love and your greatness. help me to be a light at my work and to those around me.

November 28, 2016 Where is your Joy now??

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

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7, 12, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 

Observation: It is hard to rejoice and find the joy when things are going sideways. This last week here in the USA we celebrated Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving was started as a way to each year to remember the prosperity or even just making it though the last year. In this last couple weeks I have been going though some rough times with work scheduling stuff, my pregnant wife having a car accident, the holiday and finding part of my fence knocked down from a wind storm. In this it would be easy to just throw my hands in the air, scream hell and curse. Looking at my life in comparison to Paul and what he has gone though and was able to find joy. 

Application: Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians from prison and not a nice cushy American prison. Everything he knew and had from being a roman and a Pharisee had been taken from him and he was thrown into a prison that was most likely no more then a hole in the ground. In all these situations I have been trying to see God in them. God has protected my wife and unborn son, we had been talking about what we were going to do being that our family was getting ready to our grow our car no matter if the insurance company totals or repairs it we know that its the way it’s meant to be. God’s provision for us each day is so amazing he not only gives us the things we need just to live but he also shows his loving kindness to us each day. We all need to open our eyes and ears to the joy of the Lord.

Prayer: Father I stand in awe of your great power and love for me. You have the power to do any and all things and you choose to love me. I thank you for your love and provisions you pour out on us each day providing the things we need and the blessings you have for us. I ask you to help us to see the Joy you have for us even in the mist of a trial that if we relied on our own understanding and strength we would fall on our face. I thank you Lord for all you have done. 

November 14, 2016 Its not my fault I was raised this way.

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

Scripture: Ezekiel 18:20, The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

Observation: Lately I have been struggling with my anger more. I get snippy and will pour gas one the fire of my anger until I and yelling at the ones I love the most. I struggle with calming down in the most of the situation. Once I have finished with what ever rant I was on I can drop it. I have for most of my life have blamed my father for teaching me how to have this reaction. In some ways I think I was one of his best students. As I intellectually want to change and be a better husband and father I allow my emotions to remain unchecked and volatile. 

Application: This scripture spoke to me in that back in the day and it has crept into some churches today, the thought that we inherit our fathers sin. Inheriting sin is why many of the churches who practice infant baptism do so. This scripture in the Old Testament tells us even though sin entered into the wold through one man Adam we are not going to die because of his sin we have inherited a sin nature. As much as I blame my father for making me someone who can’t control his temper and be a volatile man God said that the son will not suffer his father’s iniquities and the father will not suffer the son’s. The opposite is true as well we can not skate by on the righteousness of our parents or grandparents. We are responsible for our own actions. 

Prayer: Father I love you and stand in awe and wonder on how you can love me even though I fail so spectacularly. I thank you for each and every day I get to wake up and enjoy your creation and the family you have given me. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you give us each and every day. I as that you help me and any one else who is like me to stop blaming others and help us to learn what are our triggers and how to defuse them before they blow. 

November 7, 2016 Tearing down nations!!!!

Reading: Romans 11 and Jeremiah 51

Scripture: Jeremiah 51:20-23, "You are my hammer and weapon of war: with you I break nations in pieces; with you I destroy kingdoms; with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider; with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer; with you I break in pieces man and woman; with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth; with you I break in pieces the young man and the young woman; with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team; with you I break in pieces governors and commanders.

Observation: Today is the eve of Election day in the United States of America as proud of being a citizen here as I as I am. I am also so ashamed of what the election seasons have become. Jeremiah may have been talking to the nation of Israel after they had been taken away into Babylon but the Living Word of God speaks to us as well. 

Application: Here we all are called hammers and weapons of war. A hammer is a tool used for building and creating but it can also be weald as a weapon. Here in the USA we are the hands and tools in the government more then in many other nations being we get to vote. If we want God in our government and have Godly people in government we have to do the work. We have to be involved no matter who we vote for we need to pray and consider all the options and vote, not just on the big stuff but vote on all the position and all the issues. With all Christians rising up and voting for what God has placed on their hearts we will not see a change. Pray for our leaders and our country.

Prayer: Father I stand in awe of you and how you can rase up nations and cause them to fall. I thank you each day that your provide all our needs and many of our wants in your great blessings. You are so amazing and I thank you for all you have done. I ask that your will be done, open the hearts of those who are to vote in the next couple days and help them to see the way you want them to vote. I ask you to work on the hearts of whomever it is that will be elected in each position. Place a proper fear of you in their hearts and bring them Godly council. 

November 3, 2016 Feed the wolves!!!

Scripture: Romans 7:19-20, For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 

Observation: I can so relate to Paul on this one My heart and spirit want to do good and be kind to those around me like my family and coworkers and even those I interact with on a daily basis. With all my good intentions to be good and kind I have a great ability to be a jerk and think if only myself. Even though I she would not my wife has stories of times I have been a jerk.

Application: Paul is telling us about our two natures here first is the nature to follow after God and be love and to love as he loves. The second is our sinful fallen nature that we got though the fall of man. These natures are apposing forces we can look at them as wolves chained together but trying to go two different directions and you get to choose witch one is going to win by witch one you feed. You can feed the wolf that represents your relationship with God or you can feed the one that represents the sinful nature and chasing after the things of this world. The choice is yours do you pour good things into your heart and soul and seek after God or do you chase after the things that are of this world. 

Prayer: Father I stand in awe of your love and patience you have with me as I sometimes feed the wolf of this world. I thank you for sending your son to die on the cross and offer us the gift of forgiveness and a personal relationship with you. I thank you for the provisions you give us each day and the blessings you pour out on us each day. I ask that you help convict us when we are looking to feed the wrong wolf and help us to want to and enjoy feeding our relationship with you Lord. 

November 1, 2016 I don't know about that other guy!!

Reading: Romans 5, Jeremiah 21, 24 & 27 and Psalm 33

Scripture: Romans 5: 19, For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 

Observation: This is a great reminder that there are times where I forget or don’t think about how much Jesus did. Sure I remember that he died for my sins and that you can be saved too. Some times we forget that the true magnitude of what Jesus did. Just as the fall of man into a sinful nature though Adam and Eve eating of the fruit that they were told not to. 

Application: Being that we are living in a fallen world and in a day and age where distractions are so prevalent as well as the sin if selfishness, I have found myself knowing I am saved but thinking “I don’t know about that guy over there.” Paul was sharing in this letter to the Romans that just as the one act caused the world to become fallen the one act of obedience offered redemption and righteousness to the world. Romans says that many will be made righteous and we are covered by Christ’s righteousness.

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful and I thank you for sending your son and his Obedience that allows us to be covered by grace and righteousness. I also thank you for the provisions and blessings you have for us each and every day. I ask you help us to open our eyes and ears to how to live in the righteousness that you offer us though your son.