November 24, 2009- Sold Out?

Scripture to read today:

Matthew 17; Matthew 18; Matthew 19

Scripture that spoke to me:
Matthew 19:16-21
Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

“Which ones?” the man inquired.

Jesus replied, ” ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.”

“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Observation:
The man wasn’t going to be perfect by keeping the commandments. Perfection came when he let go of the things he loved the most in the world and followed Jesus.

Application:
What is it that I put between me and Jesus? My house? Job, kids, car… church? Am I sold out to Jesus- would I sell out and follow Him? I don’t know- I’d like to think I would, but I really don’t know.

Prayer:
Lord, sometimes I’m not the person I wish I am. Forgive me for the times I am not what you had in mind for me to be. Help me become all that you wish. Amen.

Seotember 17, 2009- Kiss the Messenger

Scripture to read today:

Ezekiel 42; Ezekiel 43; Ezekiel 44; Revelation 22

Scripture that spoke to me:
Revelation 22: 8-9
I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”

Observation:
In this last chapter of Revelation, John is telling us how he heard and saw all these things. An angel, sent from Jesus, gave him this message. And he was so in awe, he fell at the angel’s feet. But the angel reminded John that he was only the messenger- the praise belongs to the Lord.

Application:
I want to look at this as the messenger. We are all sent to spread the Good News- be the messenger. But how many times do we get the praise when something goes right? Do we remember to deflect that praise on to God? Or do we absorb the praise for ourselves?  Especially with music, I struggle with the fact that I want to sing well- I want people to like what I’m singing- and I want the praise that comes with a job well done. But my motives need to be right. The praise is fine as long as I understand that the praise belongs to God, who gave me the gift I use to glorify Him.

Prayer:
Lord, this is hard. It is hard to not be prideful when a job is well done. Help me to balance that pride with worship and thanksgiving for the good things You give me. Help me to do a good job of showing You to other people through these gifts. Amen.

August 6, 2009- Bonds of Slavery

Scripture to read today:

Habakkuk 1; Habakkuk 2; Habakkuk 3; John 8

Scripture that spoke to me:
John 8:34-36
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Observation:
Freedom is offered by the master, but it comes at a cost- the cost of giving up sin. Many people don’t even realize that their sins enslave them- holding them captive to the sin and causing them much pain.

Application:
I have a real easy time seeing this in my older children and my ex. It is so easy to see the things that hold others captive. It is not so easy to see this in myself. I live behind rose-colored glasses sometimes and can pretend things are wonderful with the best of them. But I am not without sin, therefore I know I am a slave. When I am honest and truthful with myself, I see what my sins are and can repent of them.

Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for being shortsighted and intentionally ignorant of my world. Forgive me for not putting  You first in most cases. Amen.

July 17, 2009- Tell Me No Lies

Scripture to read today:

Isaiah 29; Isaiah 30; Isaiah 31; James 1

Scripture that spoke to me:
Isaiah 30:10
They tell the seers,
“Stop seeing visions!”
They tell the prophets,
“Don’t tell us what is right.
Tell us nice things.
Tell us lies.

Observation:
Isaiah is speaking of people who refuse to listen to the Lord’s instructions. Most probably, he is talking of the leaders of that time who have enlisted the help of Egypt to protect them instead of turning to the Lord. The prophets may warn them, but they don’t want to hear it. They want “yes-men” around them, telling them what they want to hear instead of what is right.

Application:
We all want to hear nice things- even if it is a lie- because it makes us feel better about ourselves or our situation. But that feeling is short-lived, especially if the truth is hard to take. Because at some point, we will have to face that truth head-on. I don’t have a particular situation in mind, but say you’ve gained 5 lbs and you want to believe you haven’t, that you’ll still look the same and that it isn’t any big deal. Or maybe it is more weight, but at some point, you look in the mirror and realize that your clothes are tight and don’t look right. Or it could be something way more serious than that. The truth is better to take straight up, but most people like hearing the lies better.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for always being a truthful God. Even if it is hard to hear, or hard to bear, let me remember that the truth is better than and good-feeling lies. Amen.

July 14, 2009- You Can’t Always Get What You Want

Scripture to read today:

Isaiah 19; Isaiah 20; Isaiah 21; Hebrews 11

Scripture that spoke to me:
Hebrews 11:1, 39
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see..   All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.

Observation:
This chapter defines faith, then gives many Biblical examples of faith- Noah building the boat, Abraham leaving his country, Jacob, Joseph, Gideon… and then verse 39 is neat- none of these people received everything that God promised (or everything they wanted.) Faith isn’t about getting things. Faith is about believing in God and knowing that what you have is enough.

Application:
I like things- I like to shop and buy pretty things. Too bad I never have any money, because I could do that very well! But I know that this life isn’t about what we have- it is about what we do, who we love, how we worship. Looking at the lives of all these great men of God, even they did not get everything they wanted. And neither should I.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for blessing me with everything I have. Help me to be satisfied with all the good things around me. Amen.

June 26, 2009- Trust in the Lord

Scripture to read today:

Jonah 1; Jonah 2; Jonah 3; Jonah 4; 2 Timothy 2

Scripture that spoke to me:
Jonah 4:2
He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity

Observation:
Jonah was told to go to Nineveh and preach to the people there. When he did, the city turned from its evil ways and God had mercy on them. Now, Jonah is upset because God didn’t smite them all! This wasn’t the way he wanted things to turn out.

Application:
This is probably my biggest fault. I know how I want things. I don’t always know how God wants them, though. I try to order my world so that I’m pleased with it. I don’t leave things for God because He might not do things the way I want them. I recognize this, and try hard to change it so that God’s will is done, not my own. I try to see the big picture, but it isn’t always easy.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, forgive me for not trusting in You. Forgive me for not laying everything at Your feet and giving over to your will. I know that You work through everything for good- help me to be able to give it all to You. Amen.

JUne 20, 2009- The Small Things

Scripture to read today:

2 Kings 4; 2 Kings 5; Psalm 83; 1 Timothy 2

Scripture that spoke to me:
2 Kings 5:10-12
Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.  Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.

Observation:
Naaman has been sent to Elisha to find a cure for his leprosy. But the remedy that Elisha has for him is not what he expected. He wanted fireworks- a big show- instead of being sent to the nastiest river around to wash. Luckily for Naaman, he ends up listening to Elisha and is cured.

Application:
Oh boy, can I be like Naaman sometimes! I want some big, showy thing from God. I expect him to tell me to go to Zimbabwe and be a speaker at a large gathering when instead, he wants me to talk to one overlooked person right here. Or I expect him to bless me with a huge miracle when in fact, he has already blessed me with several hundred small ones. We all have an easier time seeing God in the big things- when He is most often found in the smaller, less desirable things.

Prayer:
Lord, help me remember that this life isn’t what it is all about- that Your kingdom cannot be judged by the ways of man. Help me to see you in the everyday, ordinary things in life. Amen.

***it occurred to me later that Naaman’s other issue was that he was called to be active in his own healing. We often want to do nothing and receive God’s gift- when in fact we are called to be an active participant in our own blessings.

June 17, 2009- Getting Out of My Own Way

Scripture to read today:

1 Kings 20; 1 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

Scripture that spoke to me:
Colossians 3: 5-6, 12
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming… Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Observation:
Paul’s words are easy, but in practice they’re a seemingly insurmountable mountain. Turning away our own nature is, well, unnatural. But Jesus cane to show us that is can be done. He set an example for us to follow, even if we fall short.

Application:
I had a conversation with a friend today about giving everything to God and not taking it back. Why is our nature so hard to overcome? I want to do it all myself, on my own strength. I want to make the plans, set them in motion, and see them through. Oh, I say I trust God, but I want Him to do things my way! To do something that goes against my most innate desire, even if it is the right thing to do, is so very hard. But that is what sets us apart as Christians- we don’t live for this world. We understand that the things we gain in this life aren’t gained forever- it is what we store up in heaven that remains.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me get over myself sometimes. Help me get out of my own way and on to what You have planned. Amen

May 20, 2009- Knowing God

Scripture to read today:

1 Kings 6; 2 Chronicles 3; Psalm 97; Romans 1

Scripture that spoke to me:
Romans 1:21-22
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.

Observation:
Knowing God isn’t enough- believing in Him and following His ways makes us truly wise. Think of it this way- Satan knows God! Satan probably even understands how God works. That doesn’t make Satan any better than it does one of us who just knows without following. And to truly know God, you have to get into the Word. You have to get with other believers. You have to pray. And you have to obey.

Application:
The obey is probably the hardest part. Because, as Paul points out, our human nature trends toward instant pleasures. It is a sacrifice of our own wishes that helps us follow God. And that isn’t easy to do. I also find it difficult to know what it is that God wants me to do- not in a rules- based way, but in the actions of my life. I do know what He does NOT want me to do- at least that is a start!

Prayer:
Lord, please let me see the plans You have for my life, and help me to sacrifice my own wishes to fulfill Your will. Amen.

May 12, 2009- Instant Gratification?

Scripture to read today:

2 Samuel 21; 2 Samuel 22; 2 Samuel 23; 1 Thessalonians 1

Scripture that spoke to me:
2 Samuel 21:1
During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”

Observation:
This is late in the reign of King David, and Saul has been dead for many years. Yet the Lord tells David that the people are just now experiencing the effects of something they did long ago.

Application:
Anyone who believes in karma (or in getting out of something what you put into it) thinks that the results are instant. Do something wrong, have something bad happen. But often, we don’t see the results of our mistake for a long time. But I also think you can turn that around: We don’t see the results of the good we do for a long time, either. We can’t expect instant gratification or instant results. We want them, but often we have to wait to be rewarded.

Prayer:
Lord, help me see the big picture. Let me know that my efforts, right or wrong, have consequences often far into the future. Help me make good choices that will help my future be good. Amen.