Are you seeing this?

Reading: Isaiah 20-21, Psalm 32, John 7, and 1 Corinthians 3

Scripture: Isaiah 21:6, For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees.”

Thoughts: If you have been in the Church for almost any about of time you have heard someone say, “we are to be in the world not of the world.” This is a paraphrase of much of what John recorded Jesus saying in John 17. As I read in Isaiah this morning that saying came to mind after seeing where God told Isaiah to set up a watchman. We are in this world but not of it made me think of the ancient walled cities having watchmen posted around the city to want for danger, or at least the state of the surrounding world. In a way we are a walled city and if we cut ourselves off from everything outside our city, how are we going to spread the Gospel as we are told to do? Also without watchmen looking out into the world our enemy may find a hole in our wall and defenses. Each and every day we move one day closer to when Christ will return, if we don’t have watchmen looking to the horizons and interpreting the signs of the time, we may be caught not doing the will of the Lord. I want to be taken up going what I have been called to do or running on fumes because I gave Him everything. 

Prayer: Father God, you are in control, you have created all things and you know when you will send your Son back to collect those whom you call yours. I thank you that you have a plan and that I can be apart of it. I thank you that you are still refining me and molding me to be more affective in that which you call me. I ask that you help me to be a watchman and seek your will for each day. lead me and guide me 

Full of what?

Reading: Isaiah 18-19 and John 6

Scripture: John 6:26, Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”

Thoughts: We live in a society that in recent years have been putting more and more emphasis feelings. In the past there were times where boys were told to “be a man” and today we are told that being a “man” is toxic or oppressive. Jesus before starting his ministry he most likely would have been training under Joseph as a carpenter. Carpentry is hard work, I love the choice made to depict Jesus in The Chosen where even as the teacher he was still helping people. There is one scene where he was under a cart repairing and lubricating the axal and wheel. Here after the crowds found him after he fed them he is asking are you coming because you got a full belly or because you saw the signs and are seeking me. What are we seeking, are we seeking the feel goods, the goosebumps moment, or a temporally filled belly or are we seeking a relationship with the Father that will give us a place at the wedding feast of Heaven?

Prayer: Father God, you are the Master of the feast, you know where every ones place is and the calling you have placed on their lives. We ask that you help us to walk in your ways and seek you in all that we do. Thank you for the refining and molding you are still doing in me. Lead me to a deeper relationship with you where I am not following just to be fed or get the feel goods, yet I get to walk in your peace and joy all the days of my life. 

Glory from where?

Reading: Isaiah 15-17, John 5, and 1 Corinthians 2

Scripture: John 5:44, How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

Thoughts: The Pharisees and the Sadducees both were using their knowledge and affiliations to gain glory from man, the Pharisees from the religion side of things and the Sadducees from the secular bureaucratic side. There are still people who are living like these groups, from political figures to the very public TV preachers. Are we looking for the glory and fame of the world or are we pointing to the one who can place eternal glory on us. We may not see it this side of eternity and when we are before the King of Kings we will cast all those crown of glory at his feet because all our righteous deeds are still like filthy rags. May all glory be to the one who created all things.

I don't want to go there

Reading: Isaiah 13-14 and John 4

Scripture: John 4:4, And he had to pass through Samaria.

Thoughts: This passage was interesting to me, John sad that Jesus had to pass though Samaria. In that culture and time, the Israelites would take the extra time to walk around Samaria to avoid becoming unclean. There is always that one city or suburb that we try to avoid or make sure everything is locked securely if we must stop there. As a Jew Jesus would have been taught to avoid these people and to not go into their cities. Yet is says he had to, not in the shortest distance between two points is a straight-line way, but in a he was compelled to go there. I have been compelled like that, sometimes I have listened and other times I have fought against it. Are we listing to Holy Spirit, even when He tells you to go somewhere you don’t want to be?

Prayer: Lord God, you are so wonderful, you pour out your peace and joy over us and lead us to green pastures. I thank you for all you are going in my life, that molding and refining. Make me into the man you have called me to be. I ask that you help me to grow deeper in my relationship with you and develop the boldness you call me to have. Open my heart to your leading that I may hear and walk it out. 

Faith, Trust and Accidents

Reading: Isaiah 10-12 and John 3

Scripture: Isaiah 12:2, Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.

Thoughts: Yesterday morning I took my motorcycle to church to open the church for Friday morning prayer, about halfway to the church I had someone ether distracted or somehow missed seeing me coming the towards them, chose to turn left crossing my lane to go onto a side road. God had his hand on me, I should have been thrown from my bike or laid it down but I didn’t. Not only did I not fall or get ejected I bounced from the rear corner panel of the car and then I pulled off the road. This passage stood out to me after a sleepless night struggling with things and then having the accident on my way to church I see how placing my trust in God and not having fear. My trust and salvation is in God even when the world is going crazy or just having portions circling the drain. Let us focus on the one who can place his hands around us and keep us safe even when things should have killed us. 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the one who watches over me and takes care of my needs. I than you for all you do. I praise you in the middle of the storms of my life and the trials I’m walking though. I ask that you help me to keep my focus on you and the worship and glory you deserve. Lead me and guide me, mold me and make me, refine me and purify my heart.

War from within.

Reading: Isaiah 8-9, Psalm 39, John 2, and 1 Corinthians 1

Scripture: Psalm 39:1-3, I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

Thoughts: We are at war, both from within and from the outside. Needing to guard my tongue is part of my war, to watch what I say, not to keep from offending someone but to be sure that this is not a soapbox but a Podium that God has placed before me. We need to focus on God and the battle he has called for us to walk in. As much as I would like to scream and yell about how things are being handled in this situation or that situation, we need to determine if this is my podium, my mountain to die on or is it a soapbox that is causing us to make a lot of noise and get off our battle plan. Seek God’s battle plan not what feels good at the moment.  

Prayer: Lord God you are in control, you hold this world in your hand and yet you know each and every hair and struggle. You are at work in all we do, working all things for your glory and all thing for the good of those who are yours. I thank you that I am counted among yours and I thank you that you are molding me and refining me. I thank you for the men you have brought into my life that we are able to sharpen each other as iron. I ask that you lead us and guide us in our part in your great plan. 

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. 

Can I have something to eat?

Reading: Micah 3-4, Psalm 109, and Mark 16

Scripture: Micah 3:5, Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths.

Thoughts: There are those out there who like those in the Bible who “prophesy” for profit. This is what it seems like Micah is talking about. When we are given a word or have someone bring us a word, we need to have discernment and if we are giving that word not to speak as if we have all authority. These prophets were only giving favorable “prophecies” to those fiving them something. I say question the motivation of those asking for compensation for a “word from god.” We are given the Word of God (The Bible) as a way to get to know God’s voice. We need to be in his word, learning to hear his voice so that when someone give us a word or we hear something we can know it is his voice and discern if it is from God or not.

Prayer: Lord God, you are so wonderful, your glory shines upon us every day, your word speaks to us and leads us to know your glory. I thank you for speaking to me through your Word and giving me the ability to discern when you are not the one speaking. I ask that you continue to pour your discernment our on us and help us to walk in your ways. 

Watch the Lamb

Reading: Hosea 14, Micah 1-2, Psalm 29, and Mark 15

Scripture: Mark 15:21, And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.

Thoughts: As I was reading this morning, I came across this passage about the Romans getting Simon to take Jesus’ cross. It reminded me of a song my father used to perform as a special at church by Ray Boltz called “Watch the lamb,” the song tells the story of Simon as he is taking his sons to the temple for their sacrifice. In the song it talks about telling his sons about Moses and Abraham and reminding them to watch the lamb. At the end of the song his sons find him at the cross saying the lamb got away yet Simon had recognized who Jesus was and tells his sons to watch the Lamb. There is no scripture that says what happened with Simon and his sons, but I know that when you have an encounter with Jesus nothing will be the same after that. Now let us Watch the Lamb.

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for all that you have done, I thank you that you are walking with us every day. I thank you that you are molding and refining me more every day. I ask that you help me to keep perspective and focus on you, help me to watch the Lamb. 

The Guest are coming.

Reading: Hosea 12-13 and Mark 14

Scripture: Mark 14:13-14, And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’”

Thoughts: When the Jesus telling the disciples to go prepare the Passover meal, it stuck out to me that He had the disciples tell the master of the house “Where is my gust room.” We have no history or reference on who this master of the house was, but when the disciples followed His instructions, they were show a place that was ready for their needs. There are so many questions that come to mind with this, did this man have an encounter with God some how telling him that someone is coming to use it or was this a place given to God, and this was just the sign or password that was to be given to get to use it. Are we prepared for guests? Has God given you something that is meant to be open and shared with any who have need of it? 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the creator of all things and all things are yours, as stewards of those things you place in our hands, I thank you for the blessings and provisions that you pour out before us and the opportunity to steward them. I ask that you help us to see the opportunities, and that you continue to work in my heart to release things that are held too tight in my life. 

That is why it is called the Present.

Reading: Hosea 8-11 and Mark 13

Scripture: Mark 13:33, Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.

Thoughts: It has been about two thousand years since Jesus said this to his disciples, and Christians have been seeking and watching for the that day and that hour. Whenever there are wars or talk of wars or the disagreement in ideologies, beliefs and convictions, people start saying it is the end times. Every day we live we move one day closer to the Lord’s Day and all that comes with that. Jesus told his disciples who passed it on to us to not fall asleep, we are to be watching for those signs and we are to be living and spreading the Gospel. We are not promised tomorrow. Just as Master Oogway said in Kung Fu Panda “Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the Present.” Are we living as if each day is a gift from our Father or are we living in the past or trying to figure out the mystery of tomorrow?  

Prayer: Father God, you are the one and only, you know the beginning and the end. I thank you that you have a place for me in your plan. I thank you for your provision and blessings that you pour out every day. I ask that you help me to see the next step to take and the next right thing to do. Lead me and guide me to make the best of the present of today. 

What do you value?

Reading: Hosea 4-7 and Mark 12

Scripture: Hosea 4:1-2, Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Thoughts: Hosea was writing to a rebellious Israel, but I see several correlations that I am seeing in the United States today. The US was set up with many of the Christian values and ideals and over the last near 250 year we have come to a place where we are looking like the description of Israel in this passage. Lying, swearing, murder, stealing, adultery, are all prevalent in this country. Are we walking with our country or are we fallowing after God and trying to live up to his values that don’t change? 

Prayer: Father God, your ways are higher, your ways are greater. I thank you for all you are doing in my life, the leading and guiding that you are doing to help me to stay on your path and walking with your values. I ask that you help me to keep my eyes open and my heart open to correction. 

Moving mountains

Reading: Hosea 1-3, Psalm 92, and Mark 11

 

Scripture: Mark 11:23,Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

 

Thoughts: Through the working of Holy Spirit in my life I got to see this happen. I was reading some old journals and came across one about the woman with the emission of blood and I talk about how if I had the kind of faith she showed I would see miracles. Since that time Hod did such a work in me that I was able to listen when God said to go pray for your aunt, and I got to see her healed from cancer. Let us continue to grow in the Lord and strive to hear God’s voice that we can watch him move mountains.

 

Prayer: Father God, all glory and honor are to you, we are but your hands and feet. I thank you for the opportunities that you have given me to share your love and your power. I thank you for the provisions and blessing you are pouring out on us every day. I ask that you help me to listen better and have to boldness to step out where needed. 

Legacy built on customs.

Reading: 2 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 27, and Mark 10

Scripture: Mark 10:1, And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.

Thoughts: This and other passages like it give a glimpse in Jesus’ daily life, every time I see “as was his custom” it tells me this is something he did as often as he could. We were told he was in synagogue on the sabbath, he would get away for time with his Father every night. In this passage it says he taught the crowds that gathered. What are the customs that would be linked to your legacy? 

Prayer: Father God, you are the author of all eternity and the creator of all things, your creation shouts your glory and your mercy abounds. I thank you for all that you are doing in my life, I thank you for the provisions and blessings that you pour out on us and the guidance in stewarding those things you place in our hands. I ask that you help me to have the customs that glorify and testify of you in all that I do. 

Salting the world..

Reading: 2 Chronicles 26, Isaiah 6-7, and Mark 9

Scripture: Mark 9:49-50, For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.

Thoughts: We are so often told we are to be the salt of the world, then here we are told we will be salted with fire. What are the two primary uses for salt? Flavor enhancement and preservation. With standard salt once it loses it’s saltiness it becomes useless and nothing can be done with it but when we loose our saltiness we start becoming like the world. To preserve something with salt we don’t just sprinkle it on it is dumped on, so in our lives for us to be salt to this world we need to be preserved, we need to be in the Word and in relationship with God that we have so much salty preservation that we can’t help but season those around us. When we have that preservation from God that salt permeates us so deeply that the bacteria and that Salt of God starts killing those things in our life that are not of Him and cause us to spoil and go rancid. Let us be so covered in salt that we season the world with God’s love and grace every where we go. 

Prayer: Father God, your grace is sufficient for even me, you pour your salt of preservation over us we must accept it and allow it to work in our lives. Lord I thank you for all you are doing in my life the molding and refining as you salt me with fire. I ask that I become preserved and so salty that I season the world around me. May your glory shine and all glory be to you.