Scripture:
Jeremiah 2:26 “Israel is like a thief who feels shame only when he gets caught. They, their kings, officials, priests, and prophets— all are alike in this.
Observation:
We are so much like Israel. only feeling shame when we get caught. Sad. when will we begin to obey the Lord because it is a pleasure to love and honor Him? When will the desire of our hearts be to love our Lord and walk in ways that please Him. Instead we spend time wondering what we can get away with in hopes that we will get away with something. How crazy is that? What if our energy were spent growing in love with our master and Savor Jesus? What if our time were spent training ourselves to live right and not how to get away with that which is wrong? Hmmm
Application:
It's exhausting to keep trying to see what it is that we can get away with. I want to spend time loving my father like i love my wife. No one needs to tell me to love her and only her. I love Pollie because i love her. I don't want to hurt her in any way. I want my love and obedience to the Lord to be like that kind of love
Prayer:
Lord Help me to learn how to walk in a way that pleases you out of love and "want to" I get tired trying to obey out of a "have to" I love you and i want my feet and hands to show it. I love you
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Let the Blind speak
Scripture:
John 9:20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”
Observation:
He is old enough. Ask him. I love that statement from the parents of the healed blind man. He can answer for himself. I wish more people would answer for themselves. I wish more people would step up and declare the healing of the Lord in their lives. Far too often we keep the message of the healing touch of the Lord down deep in our hearts. when it stays there the risk is that it will be forgotten and the loss of hope will set in
Application:
I want to remember that i have a message of hope to still talk about. like the healed blind man, i can speak for myself. I can never deny the touch of the Lord on my life. I want to speak it loud and clear to whomever needs to hear. Even my heart
Prayer:
Lord, I want to never forget the great things you are to me. I never want to walk quiet and soon forget what you have done. I can speak for myself. Help me speak loudly - I love you Lord
John 9:20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”
Observation:
He is old enough. Ask him. I love that statement from the parents of the healed blind man. He can answer for himself. I wish more people would answer for themselves. I wish more people would step up and declare the healing of the Lord in their lives. Far too often we keep the message of the healing touch of the Lord down deep in our hearts. when it stays there the risk is that it will be forgotten and the loss of hope will set in
Application:
I want to remember that i have a message of hope to still talk about. like the healed blind man, i can speak for myself. I can never deny the touch of the Lord on my life. I want to speak it loud and clear to whomever needs to hear. Even my heart
Prayer:
Lord, I want to never forget the great things you are to me. I never want to walk quiet and soon forget what you have done. I can speak for myself. Help me speak loudly - I love you Lord
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The first stone
Scripture:
John 8:6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
Observation:
The first stone. You know we all have a "first stone" of judgement that needs to fall to the ground. And like those accusers most of us have that stone in our hand poised and ready to throw. I know i do. I hate it but I do. I need to open my fist and allow it to fall from my grip
Application:
I want to be ready to open my fingers and let the stone fall to the ground. I want to stop the potential judgement in my mouth to fall away. truly I want to avoid picking up the "first stone" all thgether.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to see what you see in people. I want to be like you Jesus seeing what you see. when you looked at the woman caught you saw a woman who needed to be free. when you saw people ready to judge, you say people who needed to release their judgement. all about freedom. - i love you
John 8:6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
Observation:
The first stone. You know we all have a "first stone" of judgement that needs to fall to the ground. And like those accusers most of us have that stone in our hand poised and ready to throw. I know i do. I hate it but I do. I need to open my fist and allow it to fall from my grip
Application:
I want to be ready to open my fingers and let the stone fall to the ground. I want to stop the potential judgement in my mouth to fall away. truly I want to avoid picking up the "first stone" all thgether.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to see what you see in people. I want to be like you Jesus seeing what you see. when you looked at the woman caught you saw a woman who needed to be free. when you saw people ready to judge, you say people who needed to release their judgement. all about freedom. - i love you
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
"Want to" vs. "Have to"
Scripture:
2 Chron 35:3 He issued this order to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had been set apart to serve the Lord: “Put the holy Ark in the Temple that was built by Solomon son of David, the king of Israel. You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders. Now spend your time serving the Lord your God and his people Israel. NLT
Observation:
When we read the OT we need to remember that the cross of Jesus is the filter to look through. IOW: when we see the OT Arc we can look at the NT Presence of the Lord in our lives.
Here we see King Josiah decree to the Priests (in this case the people of God), that they were no longer supposed to "carry the Arc on their shoulders" I believe this is speaking to me about the fact that the religious things I do in hopes to 1. make God happy by my religious duties. and 2. impress people while looking so religious. Here the king says Put it in the temple. this for the People of the Lord in the NT is our hearts. IOW: put the Presence of the Lord back in your heart and with that there do what you were created to do. Love God and people.
Application:
With the presence of the Lord in my heart, I want my obedient act of service to be a "want to" not a "have to". When he remains on my shoulders like the OT arc it becomes a "Have to" not a "want to".
Prayer:
Lord I want to love and serve you because I love you. I want my obedience to be motivated out of love not fear, condemnation, or a "have to". help me my Jesus. I love you
2 Chron 35:3 He issued this order to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had been set apart to serve the Lord: “Put the holy Ark in the Temple that was built by Solomon son of David, the king of Israel. You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders. Now spend your time serving the Lord your God and his people Israel. NLT
Observation:
When we read the OT we need to remember that the cross of Jesus is the filter to look through. IOW: when we see the OT Arc we can look at the NT Presence of the Lord in our lives.
Here we see King Josiah decree to the Priests (in this case the people of God), that they were no longer supposed to "carry the Arc on their shoulders" I believe this is speaking to me about the fact that the religious things I do in hopes to 1. make God happy by my religious duties. and 2. impress people while looking so religious. Here the king says Put it in the temple. this for the People of the Lord in the NT is our hearts. IOW: put the Presence of the Lord back in your heart and with that there do what you were created to do. Love God and people.
Application:
With the presence of the Lord in my heart, I want my obedient act of service to be a "want to" not a "have to". When he remains on my shoulders like the OT arc it becomes a "Have to" not a "want to".
Prayer:
Lord I want to love and serve you because I love you. I want my obedience to be motivated out of love not fear, condemnation, or a "have to". help me my Jesus. I love you
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