April 26, 2010- Paying Attention

Scripture to read today:
2 Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

Scripture that spoke to me:
Matthew 13:16-17
“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.

Observation:
Jesus used many parables to teach his followers things about heaven and heavenly ways. Some people understood, some did not.

Application:
I suppose we are blessed because we understand a little. There are some things that I know I still don’t understand. And I know that I shouldn’t understand everything, but I think I miss some things. I don’t pay good attention, or I don’t really get the deeper meaning. I have a lot to work on!

Prayer:
Lord, help me be more aware of Your works and Your ways every day. I know You are at work all around me. Amen.

February 12, 2010- Leaving Your Mark

Scripture to read today:
Leviticus 18; Leviticus 19; Psalm 13; Acts 19

Scripture that spoke to me:
Acts 19:11-12
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

Observation:
Paul was able to show Christ to so many people in so many ways. Here we see another extraordinary way that God performed miracles through Paul, so much that Paul didn’t even have to be present in order for God to work.

Application:
I know that God works through those who believe in Him. How much does He do through us that we don’t see? I remember reading about Dr. Livingston, where he came out of the African bush and claimed that he didn’t lead a soul to Christ. But imagine all that God did through him that he didn’t see and didn’t know about. We never know how our presence in someone’s life is going to affect them later. I hope I leave a positive mark that can be used for good, even if I never know about it.

Prayer:
Lord, let me leave a trail of Your love wherever I go, for You to use whenever it is appropriate whether I even know about it or not. Amen.

February 10, 2010- Our Known God

Scripture to read today:
Leviticus 13; Leviticus 14; Acts 17

Scripture that spoke to me:
Acts 17:23
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

Observation:
The Greeks had many gods, one for every element and emotion you could think of. Many icons and idols were scattered throughout the city, including this one to “an unknown god.” Paul took the opportunity to introduce the people to Jesus.

Application:
How many people need to know about an unknown God? Some people don’t even know that there is a God. But we’re lucky that our God has made Himself known through many mighty acts. And He works in our lives so that others can see His goodness through us.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for making Yourself known to us, for allowing us to know You and love You and serve You, and for loving us. Amen.

January 9, 2010- Who Do You Say I Am?

Scripture to read today:
Genesis 23; Genesis 24; Luke 9

Scripture that spoke to me:
Luke 9:20
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

Observation:
The people surrounding Jesus had many ideas about Him and who He was. Some thought he was a prophet reincarnated. Others thought he was a wise teacher. Peter hit on the real answer- Jesus is the Messiah.

Application:
Even knowing that Jesus is the Messiah, do we know Him? Do we know how He thinks, what He stands for, who He is? Sometimes I wonder myself. Jesus said some really hard things I’d like to dismiss. I’d like to take the things that are easy for me and forget the hard parts. But to follow Jesus is to follow the entire man, not just the parts that make me happy. So I have to love my enemies, pray for those people I don’t like, embrace the poor and hungry and those different from me, because I want to truly know Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord, help me see who You are through Your Son. If I am to walk in Your ways, show me the path. Amen.

12 Days of Grace- Day 6- Growth Through Study

Study sounds like work! It is the application of the mental, using your mind to learn, or using your faculties for the aquitition of knowledge. Study can actually become an enjoyable adventure as you begin to add to your knowledge, becoming hungry for more.

Fact is, we grow or we die. We never stop learning. Think of doctors, who probably go to school longer than anyone in any other profession, then follow up with residency, practice, and continuing education.

Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the changing of your mind.”

Christian Study:
1- Study is a constant part of our lives
2- Study requires discipline- our utmost goal. We eat and exercise for health- spiritual study takes us from destructive habits to health.
3- Study has two parts-
– It informs you of the truth
– It helps you to grow to love the subject matter as you get to know the subject better.
4- Ignorance of Christianity abounds
– Seen as passive, when in truth, it challenges us to grow and change.
5- The world is constantly changing, and we must learn about it in order to keep up.

Fields of Study:
1- Study the Good News- what to study and how it will help our lives. This study helps us understand the Gift that is Jesus Christ.
2- Scripture- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says “all scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, training, correcting, and training in righteousness so man may be equipped for every good work.
3- Knowing yourself- Begin to know yourself as a child of God. Find your unique gifts.
4- Knowing others- get to know others from a spiritual perspective. This changes our minds and hearts.
5- Spiritual classics- study the lives of those like Martin Luther, Anne Graham Lott, John Wesley, Billy Graham…
6- Know the church- The church has a long history – know how it came about, what changes it has undergone, and how it has arrived where it is today.
7- History of the world- study history and the way it affects what happens today. We need to understand our world in order to navigate through it.

Excuses for not studying:
1- Time- we find time to do the things we want. This goes back to forming priorities.
2- “I don’t know what to study”- there are many resources- Sunday School, bookstores, your pastor, library, etc. Ask!
3- “I don’t like to read.” Then dont! There are great DVD’s, books on tape, podcasts, etc.
4- ” I don’t understand” – that’s why you’re reading! To learn! Check out those resources and have someone explain what you don’t understand. Join a Bible study with a good teacher and dig through some issues.
5- Theology is Confusing- sure it is, but approach it through yourself, where you are right now. Who do you know God is?

Develop a Personal Study Plan:
1- Make study a priority
2- Find a time that works
3- Find a place to study- quiet, well lit, comfortable (but not too!) and keep your materials there.
4- Choose a balance of materials
5- Keep a reading journal (I choose to do it online, but you can get a notebook and write down what you read. You may even want to write questions you want to ask your pastor in the margins!)
6- Share what you learn with others- you will learn more.
7- Learn from study groups, Bible studies, Sunday School. Use the knowledge of others.

Expose yourself to new ideas and knowledge. Don’t let the world determine how you’ll change- be intentional about it yourself.

December 12, 2009- Knowing God

Scripture to read today:
Hebrews 5; Hebrews 6; Hebrews 7; Hebrews 8

Scripture that spoke to me:
Hebrews 8:7-8; 10-11
For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said:
“The time is coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah…
This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.

Observation:
That new covenant is found in the blood of Jesus Christ, the same Christ that we eagerly await this advent season. My biggest sadness is that not more people know the joy that comes from knowing Him.

Application:
I can’t change other people, but I can change me. I can get to know Him even better. And I can do that by continuing to read and study, to go to church, and to pray.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, let me know You better. Continue to show me who You are through Your word and Your people. Amen.

December 6, 2009- Grow in the Knowledge

Scripture to read today:

Philippians 1; Philippians 2; Philippians 3; Philippians 4

Scripture that spoke to me:
Philipians 1:9-10
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.

Observation:
Some people think that once you invite Jesus into your heart, that is all there is. But that is only the beginning. From there, God molds and shapes you into who He wants you to be. It isn’t an instant, overnight change, but one that often takes years, even decades, to accomplish. Paul’s prayer is good- that we continue to grow in love and knowledge each day.

Application:
Learning never ends. Oh, most 18 year olds think they know it all, but it only takes one semester of college to change that. Brandon is learning that. High school was easy comparitively. It is that same journey that we take with faith. Once we accept the Lord, then the learning begins. There will be times we think we know it all, and times that we don’t feel like we know anything. We can only keep reading, keep studying, keep learning.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to grow in the knowledge of your love a little each day. Amen.

November 15, 2009- Experiencing God

Scripture to read today:

Job 41; Job 42; 2 Corinthians 1; 2 Corinthians 2

Scripture that spoke to me:
Job 42:5
My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.

Observation:
Job knew all about God. He was as faithful a servant as he could be, but until he saw God’s goodness with his own eyes, he didn’t get the full impact of the awesomeness of the Lord.

Application:
I know a lot about God. I read. I go to Bible study. I go to church. I can have all the knowledge that there is, but if I have not seen God firsthand in my life, it is like knowing all about the Revolutionary War- I may know it but never experience it. And it is a real treat to experience God. He is all around, and it doesn’t take a lot to see Him. Just stop for a minute somewhere and look around. He created everything you see. And when you look at His creation, you see some really amazing things!

Prayer:
Lord, I honor You for who You are. You are truly an amazing God. Thank you for being with us and allowing us to see You through Your creation. Amen.

November 8, 2009- Guesses and Gossip

Scripture to read today:

Job 33; 1 Corinthians 1; 1 Corinthians 2; 1 Corinthians 3

Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Corinthians 2:11
No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.

Observation:
I’m seeing two different things in this- 1) that we can’t really know another person, in their innermost thoughts, and 2) we can only know God through the Holy Spirit.

Application:
The first thought leads me down the road of gossip. I really like knowing what is going on, but try to stay away from gossip, or at least treat it as a theory and not a fact. Because you truly never know exactly what motivated a person to do something unless they tell you. I don’t know why the Ft. Hood shooter shot all those people- and there sure have been a lot of guesses- but unless he tells us, that is all we have. Likewise, unless we know God, we don’t understand what motivates Him to do the things He does. We can guess, but without the understanding that only His Spirit can provide, we will never truly know.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to remember that we really don’t know people unless they want us to. Likewise, we only know what You have revealed to us. Help us not to take our guesses- our gossip- as fact. Amen.

November 5, 2009- Not Good News

Scripture to read today:

Job 28; Job 29; Galatians 1; Galatians 2

Scripture that spoke to me:
Galatians 1:6-7
I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ.You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

Observation:
There is a lot of misunderstanding, and a lot of truth-twisting, by those who profess to know Christ. I’m sure some of it is unintentional- misinterpretation on the part of the teacher- but some is meant to make you take your eyes from Jesus. Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders have an important job that should be taken seriously. God is found in the Bible, and the truths that are included in the Bible should be the ones that come through in teachings.

Application:
I was speaking with a friend last night who is hesitant to return to a Bible study because of some things the leader was saying. Things that were her own opinion of God and heaven, not anything that she learned by reading the Bible. This teacher needs to recognize that she is twisting the truth, perhaps leading people away from the Good News instead of to it.

Prayer:
Lord, please help me to not be like this teacher. I know there are things that I don’t understand, but let me acknowledge these as unknowns instead of making up my own explanations for these hard concepts. Let me lead no one astray from Your Word. Amen.