October 12, 2009- Moving On

Scripture to read today:

Nehemiah 7; Nehemiah 8; Acts 1

Scripture that spoke to me:
Acts 1:11
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Observation:
Have you ever let go of a helium balloon and watched it rise until you couldn’t see it? There’s always that final glimpse of it, after you thought you’d lost it, when you see it again. I can just imagine the disciples standing there, looking up, hungry for that one final glimpse. But there’s also that time that you have to decide that you’ve seen it for the last time, look down, and go on. This is the time that the disciples must have dreaded- going on with life without their Messiah with them there physically.

Application:
How do you go on after you have lost something important? There is that time that you have to decide to stop longing for what is gone and move on. There is still work to be done. But we are comforted that Jesus hasn’t really left us- He is with us always! We can call on him, talk to him, listen for him, and learn from his teachings every day. We can long for the time that we will see him face to face, but he is not gone- he is right here!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for living in our lives every day, giving us wonderful things that remind us of your presence. Forgive us for looking up when we should be looking forward, ready to go on and do your work. Amen.

September 19, 2009- What’s in a Life

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.

August 9, 2009- Search for Happiness

Scripture to read today:

Jeremiah 3; Jeremiah 4; John 11

Scripture that spoke to me:
Jeremiah 3:23
Our worship of idols on the hills
and our religious orgies on the mountains
are a delusion.
Only in the Lord our God
will Israel ever find salvation.

Observation:
The people have looked for salvation everywhere but where it can be found. True salvation can only come from the Lord- the One who created life.

Application:
I know people who are searching for happiness. They look in all the wrong places- in the bottom of a bottle- in another person- in possessions- in travel- in hobbies. These things can bring pleasure, but only the joy of knowing Jesus can bring true happiness. It amazes me that people will try everything else (and some is strange stuff!) but they won’t try Jesus. Why is He such a turn-off to people, when He really is the ultimate high?

Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for giving me a taste of joy through Your Son, Jesus. Open the hearts and minds of others to receive that same joy. Amen.

June 14, 2009- Happy in Christ

Scripture to read today:

1 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 13; 2 Chronicles 14; Philippians 4

Scripture that spoke to me:
Philippians 4: 12
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Observation:
Paul went through a lot in his life. He was rich, a Pharisee who condemned Christians until he met Christ himself; then he gave everything up to further the kingdom. He lost it all to gain it all. In prison, his possessions were meager. He knew hunger, he knew bounty, and he learned the secret to being happy in everything- Christ.

Application:
I’d make a horrible divorce counselor. I have had the opportunity on occasion to talk to newly separated women about their situation. But I can’t get to the places they are, in many cases, because I was never there. I was never in that pit of despair. Oh, I was plenty sad and scared and worried, but Christ was there beside me telling me that everything was ok. I want to give that to these women, who look at me like I have two heads or something. I don’t think you can just tell others about Christ, you have to show Him to them. And most often, they see Him in you.

Prayer:
Lord, let me be a reflection of Christ to others. Amen.

June 9, 2009- Looking for the Good

Scripture to read today:

Ecclesiastes 10; Ecclesiastes 11; Ecclesiastes 12; Psalm 94; Ephesians 5

Scripture that spoke to me:
Ecclesiastes 11:5
As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.

Observation:
Scientists work hard to understand how God made things and how they work. Solomon points out that there are some things we just cannot understand. We are not our own Creator, and we do not have the knowledge of all He knows.

Application:
I try to remember this when something happens that I don’t like. God has a plan- He is in control. And I don’t have the big picture. I have to trust that what He has set about will be good in the end. Some of you know our cat died this week (I closed it in the garage door- freak accident.) My heartbroken but wise daughter said “Mom, I wonder what good is going to come from this? Whenever something bad happens, something good usually happens, too.” How smart she is!

Prayer:
Lord, let me always be able to see the good, even looking back on it, that comes from everything around me. Amen.

May 27, 2009- God has the Game Plan

Scripture to read today:

Proverbs 4; Proverbs 5; Proverbs 6; Romans 8

Scripture that spoke to me:
Romans 8:31
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Observation:
God is the omnipotent, all-powerful, mighty Lord! Yet He cares for each of us as His own children. We are blessed to have such a wonderful, caring Father. Yet we struggle to get more, we worry needlessly, we turn away from the Father to lead our own lives.

Application:
I needed this reminder today. I played the “If, then” game with myself last night. “If I lose my mother, then God will comfort me.” “If Scott leaves my life, then God must have someone even better in mind.” “If Brandon goes off to college and never comes home, then I have done my job.” Things like that. I went on and on- but it comes down to the fact that I know God is in control, and He has better plans than I could ever have! So I don’t need to worry, I just need to pray and listen and find what He has planned for me.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for loving me and wanting what is best for me. I know that if I follow Your ways, that I need not worry, because You have the plan already. Please continue to bless me and my family. Amen.

March 18, 2009- Let’s Have Some Fun

Scripture to read today:

Joshua 1; Joshua 2; Psalm 37; 1 Corinthians 3

Scripture that spoke to me:
Psalm 37:1-2
Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

Observation:
David is saying that we shouldn’t look at someone off having “fun” (which is probably partying, or having sex, or something of this world) and be envious. They will only have fun for a moment. If we stick with God, we will live forever and will have a lot of time to be happy.

Application:
Have you ever had too much to drink? Probably embarrassed yourself without knowing it, or at least woke up feeling horrible, swearing you’ll never do it again. Fun doesn’t last too long when it isn’t the right thing to do. I don’t envy those who are living that lifestyle, because I see where they’re missing out on life! They may have a few hours of fun, but they pay for it.

Prayer:
Lord, help me remember that walking with You is the most lasting fun of all. Amen.

March 14, 2009- Living in the Spirit

Scripture to read today:

Deuteronomy 25; Deuteronomy 26; Deuteronomy 27; Galatians 5

Scripture that spoke to me:
Galatians 5:16-25
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit

Observation:
Paul is saying that we have freedom of choice- we can choose to live for the world, or we  can choose to live for the Lord. If we choose God, then it means giving up our sinful desires- ambition, hatred, jealousy, anger, drunkenness… and choosing the fruits of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, and goodness.

Application:
That sounds so easy, and so nice. The problem is the world is still there, pulling at us, making it look so fun and appealing. And every now and then we give in to the world. If we’re focused on God, though, we will come back to the Spirit and not be devoured by the world. It is all too easy to focus on the world, though, and then you find it harder to get back to the Spirit.

Prayer:
Lord, help me, and help my friend (you know who) to live for you every day and leave behind the things of this world. Amen.

February 28, 2009- Love One Another (but define love?)

Scripture to read today:

Numbers 24; Numbers 25; Numbers 26; Numbers 27; 1 Corinthians 13

Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Observation:
True love, if it is love, isn’t proud or rude. It doesn’t destroy, but builds up. It doesn’t keep up with the wrong that has been done it. Paul’s word “always” means a lot- always protects, and trusts, and hopes- not just some of the time.

Application:
If we couple this with Jesus’ two commandments- to love the Lord and love each other- then here we see what love really is. We can’t love God if we’re keeping a list of things we wish God would do, but hasn’t. We can’t love our neighbor if we harbor ill feelings for things he has done- borrowed something and not returned it, for instance. Have you ever had a friend that helped you when he could, and you helped him, and no one paid attention to who helped who more? It is a beautiful relationship to have. Look at this- true love, of God or of people, is kind and patient and understanding and trustful. It is a radical love!

Prayer:
Lord, help me to love people more radically this week. Amen.

February 26, 2009- Reach out and Touch

Scripture to read today:

Numbers 19; Numbers 20; Psalm 28; Mark 5

Scripture that spoke to me:
Mark 5:27-28
When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

Observation:
This woman had suffered for 12 years with a bleeding disorder but had the faith that Jesus could heal her. She acted on that faith and was indeed healed.

Application:
I think sometimes we sit back and wait for something good to happen. We pray and then think that God will drop in whatever it is we wanted, much like relief supplies are dropped from a helicopter. But that isn’t how God works in many cases. We have to take an active part in our own blessings.

Prayer:
Lord, I reach out to You- help me this week. Help me find the right car for Brandon. Help me to be a good friend, a good mother, and a good worker. Amen.