Scripture to read today:
Job 26; Job 27; Mark 15; Mark 16
Scripture that spoke to me:
Mark 16:15
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
Observation:
This is the Great Commission. Go and make disciples. This is what we are called to do even today. Spread the Good News!
Application:
I get complacent at times. I pray to God and wait for an answer. What am I to do with my life? Where does He want me? I forget that He has already told us to GO! I may need to wait on going to a new place, but that shouldn’t mean that I can’t go right here. Speak about Him- spread the Good News.
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me when I forget that You already gave me my orders- to go. Help me to know when, where, and how, but never let me forget that I am to go. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Job 25; Mark 13; Mark 14
Scripture that spoke to me:
Mark 14:36
“Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Observation:
Jesus knows that he has a job to do. We see here that he doesn’t really want to do it, but is faithful to God and His plan. He acknowledges that everything is possible for God, but not always in the plan.
Application:
Savannah had a bad experience last week- she didn’t make the school basketball team after she had made the team last year- and has always made whatever team she wanted to be on. I let her grieve, rant and rave, cry, and then we talked. We talked about how God has plans that we don’t see, don’t understand, and sometimes don’t like very much. But looking back on them, they were great! They caused lots more good in our life than any plan we had in mind. It is really hard when things don’t go the way we want them to, but God has a plan and I trust Him to turn up with something great!
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being a faithful God and having an awesome plan. Help me understand when things don’t go my way, that Your plan will be even better than what I can conceive of. Thank you for blessing me and caring for me. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Psalm 121; Mark 9; Mark 10
Scripture that spoke to me:
Mark 9:23-24
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
Observation:
This father has watched his son suffer his entire life. Now he turns to Jesus, who he knows can heal his son, for help. Jesus says that of course he can heal the boy- anything is possible if you believe.
Application:
I believe with my heart but my head says something else. I know that all things are possible with God. I get it. He can do whatever He wants. I also know we don’t always get everything we ask for. So where is the line in there- between believing that God can do anything and knowing that sometimes our prayers are answered with a “no” or a “wait awhile?” I feel a lot like this father- who believes that Jesus can heal his son, but isn’t sure that He will.
Prayer:
Lord, I do believe that all things are possible with You. Help me to have faith. Help my unbelief. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Ezra 7; Ezra 8; Luke 20
Scripture that spoke to me:
Ezra 7:28b
So I was encouraged, as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.
Observation:
Ezra has been sent by God (and with the king’s blessing) to Jerusalem to take silver and gold as gifts to the temple; inquire of the people there; and supply the temple with servants. Going with the blessing of both God and the king makes Ezra’s job better.
Application:
If the hand of God is upon you, then you will be blessed in all you do in the name of the Lord. Life may not seem easier, but doors open that may have stayed closed otherwise. It’s like God lines things up that, if you’re in tune with him and paying attention, will make things fall in line.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for caring about my life, for making the things You ask me to do easier to do; for blessing me with more than I deserve. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Esther 3; Esther 4; Esther 5; Esther 6; Esther 7; Esther 8; Luke 18
Scripture to focus on today:
Esther 4:14b
For who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Observation:
I studied Esther in depth last spring, and this verse keeps resonating in my mind. Esther was a Jew who just happened to be chosen to be the queen of Persia. She was in a position to eventually bring about the salvation of her people. God puts people in places that, though we may not understand why we are where we are, He can use us to bring about something He has planned.
Application:
I’ve always believed that I am where I am for a reason. I’ve spent the last 17 years raising children who are now mostly grown men. As Savannah gets older, I wonder where I’ll be and for what purpose. I’d love to have a crystal ball and be able to see 10 years into the future. Where will I be? What will I be doing? Whatever it is, I know that God has a plan and it will be good.
Prayer:
Lord, lead me where you want me to be. I want to be your servant and follow the plan you have for my life. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Ezra 5-6; Psalm 138; Luke 16
Scripture that spoke to me:
Psalm 138:8
The Lord will work out his plans for my life- for your faithful love, O Lord,
endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me.
Observation:
The Lord made me and he has a plan for me. This verse tells me that he
will work out his plan for me because he loves me and is faithful. He will
not abandon me.
Application:
I still get many questions about my relationship with Scott. Are we dating?
When I say no, just enjoying a wonderful friendship, people want to know what we are
waiting for. But what they don't see is there is a lot of good in having him for a best
friend. I enjoy sharing dreams and thoughts with someone who loves me
unconditionally. But as to a future? Who knows but God? That isn't for me to
decide. I firmly believe that God has plans for us both that we don't know yet.
But so far, His plan has been pretty good. I'm willing to hang out here until He shows
me what the next step should be.
Prayer:
Lord, I know I tell you what I want so much of the time. Please keep me
willing to sit back and see what plans you have and not become impatient.
Also, give me the wisdom to recognize those plans and the courage to move
forward with them. You've been faithful to me and I know you will not abandon
me. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Ezekiel 47; Ezekiel 48; Luke 2
Scripture that spoke to me:
Luke 2: 34-35
Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
Observation:
Mary should have known that Jesus was the Messiah, even then. She’d seen the Angel Gabriel and had been told everything in advance. To hear Simeon’s prophesy shouldn’t shock her. It is an accurate prophesy, but one with good and bad in it.
Application:
Looking at what happened over Jesus’ life just through this prophesy makes me wonder why we expect things are always going to be good for us? Jesus was a joy to many but many also opposed Him. We try to do things so that everyone likes us and our lives are always happy. If it didn’t work that way for Jesus, it isn’t going to work that way for us.
Prayer:
Lord, help me refocus on the things of Your world and not measure my life by the things of this world. Change my heart and make it pure. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Ezekiel 29; Ezekiel 30; Ezekiel 31; Ezekiel 32; Revelation 11
Scripture that spoke to me:
Revelation 11:13
At the same time there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed a tenth of the city. Seven thousand people died in that earthquake, and everyone else was terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Observation:
This is a prophecy of the end times. The seventh trumpet is blown and the end of the world is near. Here there is an earthquake that caused a lot of destruction, but the people gave glory to God in heaven. This seems oxymoronic, but we can praise God and give Him glory at all times!
Application:
I’ve heard people say “why did God let this happen” many times when something goes wrong. This verse reminds me that God isn’t here just to make our lives easy and happy. He is here to fulfill His promises and see His plans completed. That may mean that we have some earthquakes in our lives… shaking so violent that all we can do is drop to our knees and praise God. That doesn’t mean His plans call for destruction. If you’ve ever made bread, you know that you have to knead the dough and pound it with your fist in order to make it rise right. If all you focus on is the beating (and not the fact that you end up with risen dough) then you aren’t looking at the right thing. Look for the end result- because if God is there, you can bet it will be good.
Prayer:
Lord, help us look for Your purpose in all things, and be ready to give You glory, even in the worst of storms. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Jeremiah 28; Jeremiah 29; Jeremiah 30; 1 John 3
Scripture that spoke to me:
Jeremiah 29:11-12
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Observation:
God has a plan! He knows why each of us have been put here. We all have a purpose- something to do to fulfill a need. We are worthy of life, and we are worthy of God’s love because He made us with intention.
Application:
Sometimes I feel like I don’t have a goal right now- or maybe more accurately that the goal I have (which is to get these children raised and out into society as functioning adults) isn’t very noble. I wonder if I’m doing everything I’m supposed to be doing. But God has a plan for me! And I’m sure He will tell me what I’m supposed to do next if I only keep praying and listening.
Prayer:
Lord, let me fulfill the plans You have for me. Lead me in the way I am supposed to go and open the doors of my future ahead of me. Oh, and let me not be unsure of the direction. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Nahum 1-3; John 5
Scripture that spoke to me:
John 5: 30
By myself I can do nothing. I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
Observation:
This is Jesus speaking on his own return and the judgment that will come. God has given Jesus the authority to judge because he is the Son of Man, and he will judge righteously.
Application:
How right we would all judge if we were judging to please God and not ourselves! I know I tend to judge people based on earthly standards. In many cases, I cannot see people’s hearts to judge them on a heavenly basis. But that is not my place. It has to be left to the One who CAN see their hearts. I also have to remember that He is judging my heart, too.
Prayer:
Lord forgive me when I rate people by earthly standards. Help me to remember that we are all One in You. Amen.
