Bigger is better!!!

Reading: Ezekiel 35-36, Psalm77, 1 Timothy 3, and 2 Thessalonians 3

Scripture: Ezekiel 35:10-11, Because you said, ‘These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will take possession of them’—although the Lord was there— therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them. And I will make myself known among them, when I judge you.

Thoughts: We all can be selfish, taking things that do not belong to us or claiming it as our own just so that nobody else can use it. Ezekiel was saying to Israel that even though God was there does not make it yours and that they will be delt with as they were dealing with these other nations. It is all to common today that nations and leaders are trying to take what is no theirs and wars break out. Not only is this applicable on the national and global levels it is applicable on the personal level. Are we striving to share God’s love or are we just trying to get converts and boost our numbers verses their numbers? This can also be seen in some churches where they are more interested in just getting bigger and not the growth of those within the church or sharing the Gospel. 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the one who knows our hearts, you know the motives we do what we do. I lay my motives at your feet and ask that you make them pure. I thank you for all you are doing in my life and refining and molding that is being done. I thank you for my family and friends that walk through these trials with me. I thank you for your provision and blessings. I ask you open my eyes to your will and your directions, I ask that you help me recognize those things in my life that draw my desires away from your plan. 

Have you helped today?

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

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:4-5,The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered

Thoughts: Before ascending to heaven we are given the commandment to go to all the world to bring the good news, in doing so we are being like shepherds, taking care of the sheep of the world. When we take it upon ourselves to do our own things, we start forgetting about taking care of others. As humans if we are not being loved and not being taking care of we will find someone else that will and seek our own comfort. Let us remember our commitment to God to follow his son and seek to be a mirror reflection the love of Christ. 

Prayer: Father you are the one who give us strength and heals, you call us back, you lead with a genial hand. I strive to be your hands and feet in this world. I thank you for the growth in my life. I thank you for your love and healing you are doing in me. I thank you for my family and the joy they bring. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that are new every day. I ask that you help me to walk in your ways and seek to heal, strengthen and bring home the lost. 

From, by, or Through the fire.

Reading: Daniel 3-4, 1 Timothy 1, and 2 Thessalonians 1

Scripture: Daniel 3:16-17, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

Thoughts: The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is one the church teaches kids from a young age. To me this was there to demonstrate that we are to follow God verses following man. As that is true but I also see a deliverance story, this passage shows two of the three deliverances in this story. The three types of deliverance; delivered from, delivered by, and delivered through. The two that are in this passage are from and by, they only saw the first two options in ether God keep us from going into the fire, or he will take us from you by the fire. The third deliverance is the hardest one. Yes, God can keep us from the fire of our trials, he can also take us home (heaven) by those trials, but there are times where he walks with you through that fire. Our refining happens in the midst of a fire, just like the process of refining medals it takes heat and time to bring the impurities to the surface to remove them. 

Prayer: Father, you are the one who delivers us, you are the one who takes care of all things. I thank you for your deliverance and lay my life at your feet, help me be refined and remove the impurities. I thank you for what you are doing in me. I thank you for family and times to gather in your name. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you have for us every day. Open my eyes to see what needs to change in my life and open my ears to year your word. 

Build a song in my heart that cannot be silenced.

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

Scripture: Psalm 137:3-4, For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?

Thoughts: We are all citizens of heaven and our souls long to join God there, yet we are captives here on earth. For some the nations they live in and belong to here on earth are oppressing them taking away the option to seek and worship the one true God. There are places that were once free and now that freedom is being taken away and are asking just like the Psalmist How are we to sing the Lord’s songs? What ever our situation is, and no mater how much oppression comes, we need to keep those songs in our hearts and worship no matter how it looks. 

Prayer: Father, you are the King above all kings, you are above all things and lead us to your green pastures. I lay my life before you and take up your yolk, lead me and guide me where I should go. I thank you for the molding and refining you are doing in my life. I thank you for those in my life who encourage and exhort me in the calling you have for me. I thank you for your provisions and blessings that you give us. Open my eyes to your glory, my ears to your voice, and my heart and mind to your presence, building that song in my heart that cannot be silenced. 

Your deeds shall return on your own head.

Reading: Lamentations 4-5, Obadiah 1, and Philippians 3

Scripture: Obadiah 1:15-16, For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been.

Thoughts: We are called to be imitators of Christ. The term Christian was first used as a derogatory by the Jewish leaders, it meant little Christs. These disciples we so Christ like they stood out by they actions. When we live with Christ in our mind heart and soul our actions will reflect who we are and who’s we are. When we walk without Christ in our lives and without his forgiveness, we are subject to the judgment. Obadiah was talking about just that, the end is nearer now then when Obadiah wrote this, but it is no less true. Unless we have Christ in our lives, our deeds both the good and bad will come back upon us. No matter how good we are we cannot out weight even one sin with all our good deeds. 

Prayer: Father God you raise nations and you bring nations down, you raise up leaders and topple others. Your greatness abounds over all. I bow down before you and you alone, lead me and guide me along your path. I thank you for all you have done in my life and all you are still doing. I thank you for your refining and your molding. I thank you for family, both blood and adopted. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you have for us every day. I ask that you help me to be the man you have called me to be and focus on being that little Christ. 

Remembering my afflictions and wanderings.

Reading: Lamentation 3 and Philippians 2

Scripture: Lamentations 3:19-23, Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Thoughts: I can relate to this passage in Lamentations, the fact that my mind goes back to my sins and failures. The evil one uses things to bring us back into focusing on our failures even after we have been forgiven and those things have become as far as the east is from the west. Spending time worshiping and diving into God’s Word with help us to remember His steadfast love and how is does not end and he always has new mercies on us. He is faithful to do what He says He will do and overcome what He says He will do.

Prayer: Father God your grace and mercy are food to my soul, your love sustains me. Your loving hands mold me and protect me. I give my life to you. I thank you for all you are doing in my life the refining and the molding, you are removing my impurities. I thankyou for my family I thank you for all you have done for me. I tank you for your provisions and blessings. I ask that you lead and guide me in remaining focused one your will.

Take up a yoke.

Reading: Lamentations 1-2, Psalm 79, and Philippians 1

Scripture: Lamentations 1 :14, My transgressions were bound into a yoke; by his hand they were fastened together; they were set upon my neck; he caused my strength to fail; the Lord gave me into the hands of those whom I cannot withstand.

Thoughts: Being a Christian we are covered by the grace and mercy given to us though Jesus’ death and resurrection and he paid for our transgressions. Here in Lamentations they were under the law and the system that called for sacrifices. We are told now under the new promise that are sins are as the east is from the west and will not be remembered. So, I started thinking after reading this passage, we are said to be slaves to sin if we are not repentant and turn from our ways and what would it look like if we could see the yokes we all wear. Jesus said my burden is light and my yoke is easy. Are we walking as if we have His light and easy yoke or are we clinging fast to our heavy awkward yoke that he wants to take for us?

Prayer: Father, your burden is easy even when you take on ours, your grace abounds and your mercy shines. I place my yoke at your feet and walk in your ways. I thank you for all you are doing in my life. I thank you for my family and friends. I thank you for the provisions and blessings you give us. I ask that you help me to see when I pick up my yoke and seek after my glory and not yours. 

Should I stay or should I go now?

Reading: Jeremiah 42-44 and Ephesians 6

Scripture: Jeremiah 42:10 If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you.

Thoughts: How many times have you asked God for a direction and you do not get the answer you thought you wanted? For me plenty, knowing God’s plans are higher and greater than mine it is still hard to walk on a path that is mostly obscured. As I have been getting frustrated with my job and my state, I have been praying and thinking about different work and moving to another state. This morning this passage was speaking to me about not running from what is going on and being content where I am. Let us be content and not continually seeking our own pleasures. Is God calling you to stay or go today?

Prayer: Father you are the great strategist, you know what is in store for me. You lead and guide and we are to listen and follow. You have called us to seek and follow you in all we do. I lay my own desires and seek your will and my place in your plan. I thank you for all your are doing in my life, refine and mold me. I thank you for my family I thank you for all the joy and struggles they bring. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you pour out on us and have set aside for us. I ask that you help me to be content and listen to your leading and guiding. 

My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness.

Reading: Jeremiah 40-41, Psalm 38, and Ephesians 5

Scripture: Psalm 38:3-6, There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.

Thoughts: As I read this portion of this Psalm, I felt this lament over who we are without God and how weak we are without his strength. We can get so caught up our strength and our plans that we forget that God is the one who gave us our strength. David had his great times of faith and God given power but also had his failures. Even with his failures he was still called a man after God’s own heart. David knew the power of God and the discipline. We need to stay in his Word and seek him every day and be honest with God and ourselves about the sin in our lives and seek to overcome them.

Prayer: Father you are the one who gives me strength, and health. You pour out grace and  peace upon us, and your glory shines from all creation. I lay my failures and self-serving ways before you and seek to walk in your ways. I thank you for all you are doing in my life the refining and molding you are doing in my life. I thank you for those around me who encourage and bring growth in my life. I thank you for my family and those who are like family. I thank you for your provisions and blessings, you take care of all we need and lead us in your ways. I ask for help recognizing when I turn my focus from you and your path and seek my own. 

Are you sure you have that on correctly?

Reading: 2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36, Ephesians 4, and 1 Thessalonians 5

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:8-9, But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thoughts: As I have been looking at Ephesians 6 and the Armor of God for other things this passage stood out to me, talking about some of the pieces. I thought it was interesting that after talking about the things of the night, Paul brings up be sober, having put on these pieces. My mind goes to times in my past where I drank too much, and anyone who has done so knows how much it impairs your abilities to do even the simplest of tasks. In turn trying to put on armor when impaired would probably be a mess and lead us to a point of ether it is not protecting us, or we are misusing it. All sin draws us away from God and the better things he has for us, we are called to the light and belong to the day we need to be seeking after God and putting on the armor and knowing how to use it properly.

Prayer: Father God you are the one who protects us and lead us in this war. We know the end and long to walk in your plans and find our place in it. I lay my wants and desires at your feet and seek your will and your guidance. I thank you for all you have done and all you are doing in my life. I thankyou for family and those who are as family. I thank you for your provisions and blessings. I ask that you help me to put on the armor every day and to walk in your ways lord.

What crowd are we following?

Reading: Ezekiel 31-32, Psalm 45, Ephesians 3, and 1 Thessalonians 4

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:8, Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Thoughts: As I was reading this morning going through Paul’s admonishment of this church and how they conducted themselves in their sexuality. First in verse 4 he tells them to control themselves, then here in verse 8 basically says if you continue you are not breaking man’s law but God’s and things promised may be be given or taken away. I do not feel that this is strictly linked to sexual sins but all sin. When we claim to be Christ followers but are running and seeking after sins in our life, we must start asking is our faith and beliefs real or are we following a crowd. 

Prayer: Father, your love and your grace is abundant, it cries out from all creation. I lay down my life and place my disregard at your feet asking to have it taken from me, help me to dive deeper into your love. I thank you for your refining and molding you are doing in me. I thank you for those in my life who call me out on my things and encourage me in my walk. I thank you for your provisions, you take care of us every day and give us the ability to bless others. I ask that you help me to toss my disregard aside and seek you more. 

Lifted in Humility.

Reading: Ezekiel 29-30, Psalm 147, Ephesians 2, and 1 Thessalonians 3

Scripture: Psalm 147:5-6, Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.

Thoughts: I feel I need this reminder form time to time, partly because when I was young I was held back because of a miscommunication, to later be found that the reasoning was unreliable and that I didn’t belong in those different classes. I have to both struggle with the idea that I am valued and not getting myself puffed up because I know how far I have come and what I have overcome. God’s power is so great, and so beyond my understanding, He lifted me up from being held back and gave me the strength to overcome, but if I allow myself to see myself as more than he has lifted me to then I can be cast back down to learn my humility again. 

Prayer: Father, you are so wonderful, your glory abounds in all creation. I lay my life before you and seek your place for me in your plan. I thank you that you are always there for me and help me through the tough times. I thank you for your refining and molding you are doing in my life. I thank you for my family and the joy they bring. I thank you for your provisions, you take care of all we need. I ask that you continue to help me to remain humble and know who I am and who’s I am and that it is through your strength and power that I do all things. 

What Journey are you on?

Reading: Ezekiel 27-28, Ephesians 1, and 1 Thessalonians 2

Scripture: Ezekiel 27:25-26, The ships of Tarshish traveled for you with your merchandise. So you were filled and heavily laden in the heart of the seas. “Your rowers have brought you out into the high seas. The east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas.

Thoughts: After spending the first 24 verses talking about how great the trade was and the merchandise gotten, then it says the east wind wrecked the vessel out in the heart of the sea. When reading this the passage in Matthew 19, saying it is easier for a camel to fit though the eye of a needle and also, the passage of the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). As I was reading this passage, I felt like so many of us spend out time working to buy, sell, trade and upgrade not just our things, but ourselves and our stations in life. I am not saying that bettering ourselves is a bad thing, but when our ambition and our longing for the next bigger and better thing is what is driving us we will fall on our face and our journey to heaven will be a rougher path, full of pitfalls and trials that will come form that love of money and things. 

Prayer: Father you are the great provider, you have made all things and prepare all things that we need. Your glory is shouted by all of creation. I lay all I have at your feet, it is yours and I am but a steward of it. I thank you for the ability to steward what you give me and ask that you continue to work that in me. I thank you for my family and those who are in my life. I ask that you continue to open my eyes to your plan and help me keep my eyes on you and not the shinny things of this world. 

Who is your distress call going to?

Reading: Ezekiel 25-26, Psalm 118, Galatians 6, and 1 Thessalonians 1

Scripture: Psalm 118:4-5, Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.

Thoughts: How often wo we remind ourselves of God’s love and how it will endure beyond anything we can do. I don’t know how many times in my life where I was in the middle of something and the thoughts of “where are you” or “do you care.” In times of trials and tribulations, and when we feel the most alone he is there with us even when we don’t see it. The poem Footprints is an amazing visualization of this. Are we leaning into God in the trials, in our distress calling on God for he is the one who sets us free? Lean into his love and pour it out on other so others can see His love living and working in us. 

Prayer: Father God, you are love and your glory shines in all your creation. You are in control of all things. I lay my life before you and say “here am I, send me” you have a plan and I ask that I find my place within that plan. I thank you that you are in control and work all things for our good. I thank you for your corrections and refining that you are doing in my life. I thank you for my family and the joy and love they bring into my life. I thank you for your provisions and blessings you give is. I ask that you help me to remember your love always and share it with those around me. 

 

Who are you trying to outdo?

Reading: Ezekiel 23-24 and Galatians 5

Scripture: Ezekiel 23:11, Her sister Oholibah saw this, and she became more corrupt than her sister in her lust and in her whoring, which was worse than that of her sister.

Thoughts: As Ezekiel talks about the two sisters who represent Samaria and Jerusalem and how the chase after the things of this would and give themselves over to those things. Not only did they give themselves over to them they longed for the things of their past looking for some sort of fulfilment. Here in verse 11 it talks about Oholibah, who is Jerusalem, watched what happened and did it better, getting worse and going after officers and leaders. I see this as us watching the world chase after the fame, money, and influence then wanting the same things. I know that there are many times where I will watch someone get something new or bigger or better then what I have, and go, “I wish I had that.” That is what the world is teaching us, we are to always need to be outdoing those around us. As Oholibah was out doing her sister in whoring, are we trying to outdo those around us. We need to be content with what we have, not that we have to settle we can strive and seek God’s blessings but if we are never content and a good steward of what we have then how could God trust us with more. 

Prayer: Father you are the provider and creator of all things, you give us all we need and long to bless us. I lay my desires at your feet, help me to seek your plan and not mine that is only focused on me. I thank you for the provisions you give us, you provide all we need and bless us with the ability to bless others as you provide for us. I thank you for family the joys and trials they bring. I thank you for your refinement and guidance you give me. Help me to be content where I need to be content and strive where you want me to strive. Lead me and guide me Lord.