Are we showing honor where honor is due?

 Reading: Isaiah 62-64 and Acts 10

Scripture: Acts 10:23, So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

Thoughts: As I read this morning and having the reminders that Peter was a guest in Joppa ministering to the people there and after this crazy vision these Gentiles come to the door. At this point Saul had just had his encounter with Jesus and may not have taught any but Jews. After reminding them about what culture and traditions tell them they can and cannot do, such as easting and lodging together. Then Peter invites them in as guests and normally this meant eating and staying. Not only is this showing us that no mater what the background they should have the opportunity to hear the Gospel, but also, we are to treat everyone with dignity and respect. Are we showing the respect and dignity to those different then us, are we showing honor where honor is due? We all have biases and make judgments because of how we were raised or experiences we have had we need to let them go and meet people where they are no matter what the color of their skin or the words they use.  

Prayer: Father you are the creator of all, you have made us all equal and we are the only judge. Your Glory shine on us all and you lead us to green pastures. I thank you that you are in control I thank you that your love in sufficient for me. I thank you for my family, I thank you for the friends that are as family. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that are continually putting me in awe of you. I ask that you help me to pull down any prejudices that I may have and only seek people with your love.

Help me to polish my mirror

 Reading: Isaiah 60-61, Psalm 111, Acts 9, and 2 Corinthians 2

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-2, Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

Thoughts: in this dark world where the war is on the streets, where evil is seen as good and good as evil. We are told throughout scripture that we are the light. Isaiah is saying get up and shine because God’s light is on us. we are to go the Lord will be with us and glory will be seen on us. We were born into this dark world and it is only getting darker, the benefit to it getting darker is that our light get to shine brighter. Are we getting into the word and seeking God so that we shine well and are we going out into the darkness. 

Prayer: Father God you are so wonderful you glory and light sines upon us. Help us to be a mirror to the world around us and let us reflect your glory and your light to the world. I thank you for my family and those who are as family. I thank you that you seek me and desire to be near me and me to draw near to you. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that you pour out on us every day. I ask that you help me to polish my mirror that you may be glorified in I do. 

I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.

Reading: Isaiah 58-59, Psalm 5, Acts 8, and 2 Corinthians 1

Scripture: Psalm‬ ‭5:6-7‬, You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.

Thoughts: David, even when he was just a servant in Saul’s house had to have seen his fair share of death and bloodthirsty and deceitful men, then continuing to become one of the great warriors and eventually becoming King after Saul. Over and over we here we hear David that man after God’s own heart. Here he is talking about how God destroys and abhors these men, but he had done or will do all these things, depending on when in his life he wrote this. Going on to say that through God’s love and mercy he gets to enter the house of God and bow down and worship in reverent fear of God. In todays world even growing up in the church and being told what is right and wrong it is very easy to fall into the lying and being deceitful and fallowing after the worlds views on sexuality. Are we going to walk in a way that God abhors seeking our own pleasure or are we going to seek to enter his House with praise? 

Prayer: Father your mercy is sufficient for me, you know every sin I have and every sin I will have and you still seek me and call me. Your grace continues to pour your love over me and drench me in your peace. I thank you for the work you are doing in my life. I thank you for my family and those who are like family and are sometimes closer than family. I thank you that you seek me and call me. I thank you that you are the great provider and you pour out your provisions and blessings out upon us every day. I ask that you restore to me schedule that seems better suited to ministry. I ask that you place upon the company to provide what they have promised. I ask that you open my eyes and heart to those things in my life that need changing, and lead me to the support needed to work though them. 

Peace, peace, to the far and to the near

Reading: Isaiah 55-57 and Acts 7

Scripture: Isaiah 57:18-21, I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Thought: We have all fallen, we all have failures in our lives both before knowing God and after coming into a relationship with him though this Son. Isaiah is speaking of a healing and comfort and a creating of a fruit in someone life. We are called to peace where we can be healed and comforted by God and Holy Spirit. We are also warned about abiding in wickedness and that there will be no peace and that we will tossed ab out and like a frothy sea, that is churning up all the garbage and dirt around us. The peace of God is not forgetting the past but releasing the holding it against others. 

Prayer: Father you are the one your judges, you are the one who brings peace to the wild sea. You pour your love upon us all. I thank you for all that you are doing in me and the breakthrough you are leading me to. I thank you for my family, and I place them in your hands and thank you for the opportunity to steward them. I thank you that you know the hairs on my head and care for me. I thank you for the provisions and blessings that you have poured out on us. I ask that you help me to seek your peace and to share it with those around me. Help me to see the faults in my life and the unacceptable behavior in my life that I may work on removing it. I ask that you help me to seek the help I need and the strength to over come the obstacles before me. 

Can anything good come out of Nazareth?

Reading: Isaiah 52-54, Psalm 102, Acts 6, and 1 Corinthians 16

Scripture: Isaiah 53:2-3, For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Thoughts: So often in church Isaiah 53:5-6 are quoted, reminding us of the prophetic sacrifice that Jesus was going to make. Reading Isaiah 53 today I noticed in the first few verses that it describes his background. The root from dry ground reminded where Nathanael says to Philip “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” This was a place that was a small town without much there and no of a history of greatness. There was not much information on the appearance of Jesus but being from this poor town and a carpenters son I would not expect a lot, as I read this it sounds like he would have been very unassuming and possibly easily missed, just looking like everyone else. To me this makes his message all that much more powerful, in this day and age, we are so focused on appearance and how we are perceived that it would make sense that if he didn’t look like a king or have a beauty that would draw people to him like David’s son Absalom, He could easily be missed until the authority in his words would dive deep into the hearts listening. 

Prayer: Father your Word astounds me every day, your Spirit ministers to me with new revelations from your word. I thank you for all that you are doing in my life, the revelations into who I am and the growth you are calling me into. I thank you for my family and the things you are teaching me through them. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that you provide even when it is hard to see them. I ask that you continue to reveal those things I need to work on. Help me to find the resources that I need to work though those things. Open my heart to the place you have for me within your battle plans. 

Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

 Reading: Isaiah 50-51, Psalm 58, Acts 5, and 1 Corinthians 15

Scripture: 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:32, What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

Thoughts: As I was reading this passage, the way that the media and even schools today are pushing science as the be all end all of things, that this passage is basically the way that the loudest part of the world is living. The world pushes nothing but science, nothing is true unless it is repeatable and measurable. In my studies into different sciences I feel that science affirms my belief in God, from the intricacies of the human body including Laminin a molecule vital to the function of our body and is shaped like the Cross, to the simplicity of a single cell organism or the interdependence of a forest on all the animals and creatures living in it. But when we decide to leave behind that we are made in the image of God and dismiss the resurrection, we see ourselves as animals and nothing is off limits. 

Prayer: Father you are the creator of all things, you make heaven and earth to declare your glory and you made us in your image. I thank you that you are hear with us every day. I thank you for your love and mercy. I thank you for my family and those who are as family. I thank you for your provision and blessing, you take care of all that I need and lead me in the direction I should go. I ask for your truth to be know and that the spirit of deception be removed, help us to remove the blinders from those around us and grow deeper with you. 

What have you seen and heard

 Reading: Isaiah 48-49, Acts 4, and 1 Corinthians 14

 

Scripture: Acts 4:19-20, But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

 

Thoughts: So often I have been timid when it come to speaking out, but the moment I start telling my story and my experiences that goes away. We are all called to speak what we have seen and heard. When we experience a move of God or a miracle it is hard to keep it to yourself. The world is searching for ways to try to shut our mouth and point to other things. Just as as Peter and John were arrested and told don’t speak in this name there are many parts of their world who say the same thing and in the name of tolerance and anti offense we are told we can’t talk about God and faith. Right or wrong in the eyes of the powers that be are you speaking what you have seen?

 

Prayer: Father God you are so wonderful, your love abounds and drenched me, you pour out peace and wisdom on your children. I thank you for all you have done and all you are doing in my life. I thank you for my family and friends in you have brought around me. I thank you for the provision and blessings you pour out and the wisdom to use them. I thank you that you are leading and guiding me. Help me to remove the timidity in my life. Help me to see the things that are the root of my issues so that they can be worked through that I can be more affective in your kingdom. 

 

How childish are we?

Reading: Isaiah 46-47, Psalm 35, Acts 3, and 1 Corinthians 13

Scripture:  1 Corinthians 13:11-12, When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Thoughts: So many of us men are referred to as bid kids, we like our toys and we can be goofy and silly especially with our kids. We are all at different stages in our walk with Christ and our maturity in that relationship. I have watched people who start strong and within a few years they have been scorched by the world or unfortunately something in the church and ether walk away or start the process of church hopping. Paul is calling us to examine ourselves and ask in our lives have we given up those childish ways and not working on polishing that mirror so that the world can see Christ in us?

Prayer: Father God you Word is nourishment to my soul and your grace abounds on us. Your majesty shines in your creation. I thank you for all you do in our lives I thank you that you have brought my family to me and the men in my life. I thank you for the provisions and blessings that you pour out upon us. I ask that you help us to see where we are still childish and help us to grow and be the men and women you call us to be.

Watch your toes

 Reading: Isaiah 42-43, Psalm 82, Acts 1, and 1 Corinthians 12

Scripture: 1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:26, If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.‬‬‬‬

Thoughts: As Paul was reminding the church in Corinth that everyone is apart of the body even though we all have different callings and giftings, he goes on to talk about all suffering and all rejoicing. The first thing that this brought to mind was when you stub your toe, especially your pinky/little toe. As you stumble around in the dark you are bound to find something with your toes ether that stray Lego you kids missed picking up or the doorframe you were sure was six inches to your right, but that moment of impact your eye sight blinks out your entire body recoils and begins the process of assessing the damage. Conversely when you watch a small child jitter with joy and anticipation as they are looking at a gift or dessert they have been looking forward to. Are we doing the same in the body of Christ? When someone is hurting and lost do we feel it and join them to help or when someone gets some new blessing in their life are we rejoicing with them, or do we sit there and go where is my blessing? 

Prayer: Father God you are so wonderful, you are honored in your creation, your glory is present in all things. I thank you for the honor of enjoying the beauty and glory that is in this world. I thank you for my family. I thank you for those who are like family. Thank you for your provisions and blessings that you pour out every day. I thank you that we are a family and a body. Help us to come together more and to become more of a cohesive body where do weep together and we rejoice together. 

August 11, 2020 Who is sustaining you?

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

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:7-8, And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

Thoughts: Just before this Elijah had Play the prophets of Baal and Asherah for fools, showing them and everyone present that Yahweh if the one true God. So, coming off this huge win, he hears that Jezebel want to kill him, he flees into the wilderness. Then God gives him food and drink and a good rest before sending him on another journey. When we have a great win and we are on a high that only comes when you are a part of one of God’s victory there will be inevitably be a low even if it is just a move back to normal. We will have highs and lows in our life, comedian and singer Mark Lowery put it this way “Life is a series of emotions” one thing after another. Just after the mountain Elijah had a valley then a trek through the jungle to another mountain where he heard God in the whisper. We are going to have both, and God will sustain you through both mountains and valleys and sometimes those valleys take us though the jungle. 

Prayer: Father you are our sustainer, you lead us to still waters and green pastures. Your love overwhelms me. I thank you for all you have done and all that you are going in me. I thank you for my family and those who are as family. I thank you for your provisions and blessings in our times of need and in our times of abundance. I lay my life before you and ask that you help me to trust in your provisions and your leading. 

August 2, 2020 What rope are you apart of?

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

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:12, And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Thoughts: My wife and I used this passage in our wedding, so this has some meaning to us in the rope each if us being a cord (God, my wife, and myself). With a couple pieces of three strand rope we also tied a fisherman’s knot that is to tighten as it gets pulled on. During this pandemic and times of protests and riots, who is your core? Who are you leaning on and being folded together with to withstand and stand up to the evil in this world. Living in a fallen world we need to be apart and grafted into that threefold cord. In a time where we are not able to come together as we once did we need to come together and have community. In the early days of the church the church got scattered and here we are scattered again let us come together to be the church beyond the 4 walls of the building.

Prayer: Father you are the great healer and shepherd, you lead us to green pastures and protect us. I thank you for your guidance and support, I thank you for my wife and the reminders that she brings to me. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that you pour out on us. I ask that you help us to strengthen that threefold cord and lean into your strength and understanding in these odd times. Place on the hearts of all that you are the answer and that your love is the only way to overcome the hate and fear that is being spread in the world. 

Been a little off

I have been a little off for the last few weeks and have not posting. I still have been trying to be in the word and writing but it didn't always make it here if get finished here is some stuff I have been writing and reading.

July 19 

Reading: Proverbs 9-11 and James 4

Scripture: Proverbs 9:7-9, Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Thoughts: We are sitting in a time where opinion is king, and feelings are queen. That means that the wicked and scoffers will run rampant in that world. There are good reasons that are talked about for the protests that are going on around the country but very few know the truth behind the organizations and ideals that they are supporting and as they all develop mob mentality the cities get broken.

Prayer: 

 

July 21 

Reading: Proverbs 14-15 and 1 Peter 1

Scripture: Proverbs 15:1, A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Thoughts: This is something that I struggle with, from some of my earliest memories I remember throwing things at people screaming and yelling and never really looking at the words I was using. I was spiting venom at the world around me because it was not going my way or I didn’t understand or because of a perceived insult. We need to make ourselves uncomfortable and before we let this verbal vomit come pouring fourth from our mouths we need to stop take a deep breath and think about what are going to be the results of what we just said.

Prayer: Father you are the healer the protector and the one who will work all things for our good. I thank you for the wonderful things you are doing in my life and the growth that you are doing in me. I thank you for the provisions and blessings that you bestow upon us. I thank you for my family and the peace and love you are pouring into our lives. I ask that you continue to work with me on getting control of my words and tone that I may honor you all my days.

 

July 23

Reading: Proverbs 18-19, Psalm 16, 1 Peter 3, and Luke 13

Scripture: Proverbs 18:1-3, Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace.

Thoughts: In the midst of a pandemic and riotous demonstrations about inequality and hate towards people who are different. We are being told to stay home and to isolate especially if we end up being sick. As social beings we crave connections that is why solitary confinement is a punishment. Being in isolation will break people and bring out our selfish desires. We have been isolated and now many fools are our not wanting to understand but just express themselves. There is wickedness, pouring into the contempt causing the dishonor and disgrace to pour over this country.  

Prayer: Father God I lift us this great nation, I lift up the dissention and anarchy that is growing in this place. You are in control and you are the one who watches over us and protects us. I long to linger in in your presence. I ask that you touch the leaders, have them encounter you and see how to love as you love and lead. 

 

July 24

Reading: Proverbs 20-21, Psalm 11, and 1 Peter 4

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:4-6, With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

Thoughts: I used to be involved in mid-evil reenactment groups, we were the pirates and gypsies basically everything that was not a merchant or those involved in the tournaments. At night all the things that Peter was writing about came out and engulfed you in that world. When God started getting back ahold of me and calling me back into his arms I experienced this and I think there are many out there trying to peacefully protest and demonstrate that all these this minority groups are being wronged but then there are those calling to everyone there to jump into the violence and destruction of public and private property. and they are surprised that someone could have a differing opinion or set of facts than what they heard.

Prayer: Father God I want to lift up all the protesters and demonstrators. Help them to experience your love and want to share that love with others. The issues with this world will not be solved with violence but love help us to love the world around us. 

 

July 25

Reading: Proverbs 22-23, Psalm 101, 1 Peter 5, and Luke 14

Scripture: Luke‬ ‭14:8-10‬, 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.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‭‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Thoughts: Luke here was reminding us of the teachings of Christ in that we should not be thinking too highly of ourselves. Today we spend lots of time jockeying for our positions in life, searching for that place where we get the recognition that we think we deserve. I know I did it and still struggle with it. In my work life I told them that I was going to start looking for other work if I didn’t get more money, they said they would give it to me and then the pandemic hit and a wage freeze came into affect and who knows when that raise will take affect. In the church after finishing my degree I thought I would have more opportunity to move onto staff and I would work in ministry but I have been teaching kids and leading small groups for the entire time after school and not feeling like I have been noticed, but I know at the moment I’m right where I need to be to learn what God is trying to teach me and move me into. I may be sitting in the lowest spot waiting to be brought higher then again, I may be in the place where he knows I will be most effective. Do not be discouraged if things do not look like you imagined. 

Prayer: Father God you are so wonderful I thank you that you chose me and know me by name. I thank you for your provision and blessings you pour out on us. I thank you for my family and those who stand by us as family. I ask that you help me to be content and joyful where I am and have a peace that when needed or opened, I will be moved. 

 

July 28

Reading: Proverbs 28-29, Psalm 48, and 2 Peter 3

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:16-17, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.

Thoughts: Growing up in the Church and being exposed to many differing denominations, I have seen churches spilt or be dissolved over differing thought on things going on in them, from order of service to carpet, from pews to chairs. Within the church there is also debates over passages and these lead to many of the differences in denominations across the world. There are those who have twisted and according to Peter this is nothing new. We are needing to make sure that we are going into the word with open hearts and minds that Holy Spirit can speak to us though it but also with the thought process of a scholar. We have so many resources where we can investigate whom this was originally written to and look at the context of what was going on because without understanding those there may be something missed 

Prayer: Father God I thank you that your word is living and is sharper than a two-edged sword. I thank you that you choose to seek after me and seek after my relationship with you. Open my eyes to the truth in your work and lead me in your directions. I thank you for my family, I thank you for those who have help support us though our trials and tribulations. I thank you for those reminders you give us of your love. 

 

July 29

Reading: Proverbs 30-31, Psalm 96, and 1 John 1

Scripture: Proverbs 30:21-23, Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up: a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food; an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.

Thoughts: I was reading with the lens of a pandemic and protests and riots going on around me, I found this passage standing out and interesting. The first thing a slave that becomes king, or another way of looking at it is someone with only experiencing oppression being put in charge, most of the time when that happens they become what they hated they oppress because they were oppressed. The Bible and we us the term fool to describe many types of people but how I saw this was when peoples only real concern is self-preservation, their focus was on doing what was needed to fulfil the needs of food shelter and so forth. In todays environment when because of the pandemic many people are staying at home and being paid to not work. Now those same people who were worried about working to fulfill their needs now have time to spare. 

Prayer:

 

July 30

Reading: Songs of Solomon 1-4 and 1 John 2

Scripture: 1 John 2:18-19, Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

Thoughts: We need to be vigilant, the wolf in sheep’s clothing is a real thing, so many in the church have been taught that antichrist is someone who will rise to power and try to squish the church or the remnant of the church. But antichrist is not a person with 666 on their forehead saying down with God but it could be something that appears good like “Black Lives Matter.” Yes, the strive against racism and inequality is something that should be stood up for but, when you look at the manifest for what the Organization “Black Lives Matter” you will see that they are not about racism they are about anarchy, breaking down the family unit and the established government. They say that they are Marxist and Marxist don’t believe in God. This organization claims to be doing good by having violent and destructive protests and destroying public property in the name of antiracism.

Prayer:

 

July 31

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

Scripture: Psalm 13, How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Thoughts: Reading this Psalm I felt like I had something in common with David, being that he was a warrior king and a soldier before that. I have felt at times that God had forgotten me and was hiding from me. I know that other than the evil one I don’t really have an enemy but lately I have felt so much opposition be it work or struggling with my own insecurities for ministries I’m apart of. Then the great reminder at the end that I have and need to every day put my trust in God steadfast love let my heart rejoice and sing because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Prayer: Father you are in control of all things and lead me to green pastures. I thank you for your blessings and guidance in this trying time. I thank you for my family I thank you that you are with me even when I feel alone. I thank you that you are doing a work in me and guiding me. I ask that you help me to continue to find the Joy and Peace that flow from you so that I and share and show that to others. 

 

Aug 1

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

Scripture: Ecclesiastes‬ ‭1:14, I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.‬

Thoughts: What are we striving for? There is such a focus today on doing what feels good or bettering one self. One of the largest sections in bookstores is the self help section. When growing up the top jobs kids talked about were famous then cops firemen and doctors, most of us knew that famous was a dream and focused on one of our other jobs. Today the top jobs I have heard are YouTube star, influencer, and gamer. There had been a move from service or protection job dreams to the look at me. The word tell us that with was in affect 2000 years ago and today technology had made it easier to dive into that vanity rabbit hole and seek your own glorification and not be pointing to the one who truly deserves it and the one who created it all. 

Prayer: Father you are so wonderful your love abounds over us and give us all we need. I thank you for my family, I thank you for your provision and blessings that are being poured out every day. Your grace is enough. I ask that you help me to keep my focus on you and my family help me to be that father you have called me to be. 

July 18, 2020 My soul has had enough!!

Reading: Proverbs 7-8, Psalm 123, James 3, and Luke 10

Scripture: Psalm 123:1-4, To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.

Thoughts: This Psalm is a lot how I feel at this time. I try to keep my eyes on God, I try to keep looking to him. I look us to praise and worship looking for grace and mercy. I have had enough for the contempt and scorn and craziness that has been going on in our cities and around the country, no matter if it is about racism or if it is over being asked to wear a mask, I am tired and had enough of the of the proud and extreme who are putting the scorn and contempt into this world. Let us all pray for our county, state, county, and cities that the truth be know and the spirits of deception and rebellion be removed. 

Prayer: Father God you are our strength and our armor. You are the author and director of all things. I thank you for my family, I thank you for your provisions and blessings you pour out. I pray against the spirits of deception and rebellion that are leading people. I pray for this great country, grant the leaders visions of you and your wisdom starting from the top with the president all the way down to city and local leaders. I lift up the police force as they are being attacked for actions of a few. Open the eyes of all help the to see you and how you have called this world to act and live. Show your love to this time of upheaval. 

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 17, 2020 I don't want to work!!

Reading: Proverbs 5-6, James 2, and Luke 9

Scripture: James 2:18, But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Thoughts: To me this passage was mirroring the passage in 1 Corinthians 13:1, If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. We are know by our fruit, do we have good works for good works sake, to we speak in tongues to edify ourselves, with out faith and love all the religious things we do all the works we do are worthless. I know that in my past I did things just to keep up appearances that I was still being a good Christian, looking like I was still doing all the dos and staying a way from the don’ts, at least to those who didn’t know me. That may be part of the reason that the church I attended at that time folded, there was not a call to repentance and faith grown or discipleship. I’m not saying that everyone in that church were wrong or that they taught false doctrine but there was a focus that was off center for many including some of the leadership. Let us seek God and find ways to share our faith though the work we have. 

Prayer: Father God your love is overwhelming, you are so good to us and pour your grace and mercy upon us. I thank you for your love, I thank you for the peace and comfort that you have shown us. I thank you for my family and those who are as family. I ask that you help me to keep my focus on you and not doing works to get the praise of works but to point to you.