S. "...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" Philippians 2:13 (ESV)
O. Why do I ever question what is happening in my life? If I believe that the Bible is God's word of instruction for me, a word of guidance and wisdom, than I will believe this verse and apply it to my life. But the struggle to make sense of things many times drives people to seek their own way to resolve and deal with life. I must be a Christian who stand firm on God's word and I must be a person who sees the good work of God in my life. It is God who has created me and saved me through the blood of Jesus Christ and it is God who directs my life daily...for HIS will and to accomplish HIS will and to bring HIM good pleasure. What will it take for me to wake up to this on a daily basis. Yes, I see it sometimes, but I do have concerns that are purely from me that take over my mind and life. I don't like this and I need to be a person who puts full and complete trust in the ways of God in my life.
A. Once again I come to the application part of reading the scriptures and it is all about surrender. Surrendering my life on a daily basis to the will and plan of God. When will I get to the point of completely trusting God? When will I give up striving and give in to God's good and perfect will and plan for my life? It is once again about surrender.
P. "Lord Jesus, you know my heart and desire to surrender to you, daily, completely and always. Continue to mold me into the person you want me to be. I love you, Lord. Amen."
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The Main Thing
S. "But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 (NLT)
O. This is a popular story in the scriptures. Mary and Martha are expecting a visit from Jesus and Martha starts getting things ready...cooking, cleaning and more. When Jesus arrives, even though preparations are not complete, Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and soaks in time with him. Martha is upset and asks Jesus to get Mary back to work...and then the verse above.
After having back surgery earlier this summer, I have not been able to work in the yard. The weeds in our landscaping and as big as our shrubs. I have to walk by this every day and it really bothers me...but I am learning that this something that doesn't matter in the long run.
At times in ministry, I can get so caught up in the details of doing things for God that I don't spend the time focused on my relationship with Jesus. Here is the deal...there will always be something to do, but the doing of things for doing sake is not the best thing. One day we will be judged on what we did the God's son Jesus. Did I really get to know him? Did I make my relationship with him a priority? Jesus said that what she had chosen would never been taken away from her. So the question is this...will I spend time on things that matter or don't matter.
A. I will continue to see things that are important in my relationship with Jesus. I will focus my life on my relationship with Jesus Christ.
P. "Lord Jesus, I want to know you more...I open my life to my relationship with you. I love you, Jesus."
O. This is a popular story in the scriptures. Mary and Martha are expecting a visit from Jesus and Martha starts getting things ready...cooking, cleaning and more. When Jesus arrives, even though preparations are not complete, Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and soaks in time with him. Martha is upset and asks Jesus to get Mary back to work...and then the verse above.
After having back surgery earlier this summer, I have not been able to work in the yard. The weeds in our landscaping and as big as our shrubs. I have to walk by this every day and it really bothers me...but I am learning that this something that doesn't matter in the long run.
At times in ministry, I can get so caught up in the details of doing things for God that I don't spend the time focused on my relationship with Jesus. Here is the deal...there will always be something to do, but the doing of things for doing sake is not the best thing. One day we will be judged on what we did the God's son Jesus. Did I really get to know him? Did I make my relationship with him a priority? Jesus said that what she had chosen would never been taken away from her. So the question is this...will I spend time on things that matter or don't matter.
A. I will continue to see things that are important in my relationship with Jesus. I will focus my life on my relationship with Jesus Christ.
P. "Lord Jesus, I want to know you more...I open my life to my relationship with you. I love you, Jesus."
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Following Jesus' Plan
S. "And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. " Luke 9:23-24 (ESV)
O. There is a cost in following Jesus. We cannot be the same and continue to follow him. A person who has never given their life over the Jesus Christ will have to make a change...I will say it again, you cannot stay the same and follow Jesus. This saying is true for me today. Daily, I have to make a choice to surrender my life to Jesus, to allow His love and grace to live in me and work through me. Daily I have to deny my own selfish desires and wants and give into his plan for my life. I might not like what that is like, I might have different ideas about what to do in my life, but the key to complete and total surrender is looking at what the Lord wants in my life and not me. The formula is simple...if I want to live, I deny myself...for when I lose my life, I will save it in my relationship with Jesus.
A. Sometimes things don't go the way that I think they should be going. When this happens, I get frustrated and upset with the way life is being played out. I guess the best thing for me to do is accept what comes my way, whether I like it or not, and live my life in the fullest way possible as the Lord directs my life.
P. "Lord Jesus, at times I find it hard to surrender my desires...but today I want to lay them at your feet and allow your hand to guide my life. I accept your strength and grace to lay my life down and follow your ways. I accept your peace in the process of surrender. Thanks for caring about my life and all that is going on inside me. I love you. Amen!"
O. There is a cost in following Jesus. We cannot be the same and continue to follow him. A person who has never given their life over the Jesus Christ will have to make a change...I will say it again, you cannot stay the same and follow Jesus. This saying is true for me today. Daily, I have to make a choice to surrender my life to Jesus, to allow His love and grace to live in me and work through me. Daily I have to deny my own selfish desires and wants and give into his plan for my life. I might not like what that is like, I might have different ideas about what to do in my life, but the key to complete and total surrender is looking at what the Lord wants in my life and not me. The formula is simple...if I want to live, I deny myself...for when I lose my life, I will save it in my relationship with Jesus.
A. Sometimes things don't go the way that I think they should be going. When this happens, I get frustrated and upset with the way life is being played out. I guess the best thing for me to do is accept what comes my way, whether I like it or not, and live my life in the fullest way possible as the Lord directs my life.
P. "Lord Jesus, at times I find it hard to surrender my desires...but today I want to lay them at your feet and allow your hand to guide my life. I accept your strength and grace to lay my life down and follow your ways. I accept your peace in the process of surrender. Thanks for caring about my life and all that is going on inside me. I love you. Amen!"
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Love through Serving One Another
S. "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Galatians 5:13 (ESV)
O. This verse was very convicting for me today. To many times, I have been too focused on my own things, my own problems, my own desires. But the scripture says that I am to use my freedom of Christ...not for me, but for others. Not to promote my own wants and desires, but to love others. This takes a great deal of focus and energy. It takes a great deal of honesty and humility. That involves serving others and loving them with the love that God has given to us. This is basic in our Christian life. We must serve each other in love. Enough said...I just need to do it!
A. As a result of my understanding of the scriptures, I will apply the truth of scripture by living with humility under God's mighty hand.
P. "Lord Jesus, I want to be a person who loves others and serves them with humility. I surrender myself to you today and every day. I love you!" Amen
O. This verse was very convicting for me today. To many times, I have been too focused on my own things, my own problems, my own desires. But the scripture says that I am to use my freedom of Christ...not for me, but for others. Not to promote my own wants and desires, but to love others. This takes a great deal of focus and energy. It takes a great deal of honesty and humility. That involves serving others and loving them with the love that God has given to us. This is basic in our Christian life. We must serve each other in love. Enough said...I just need to do it!
A. As a result of my understanding of the scriptures, I will apply the truth of scripture by living with humility under God's mighty hand.
P. "Lord Jesus, I want to be a person who loves others and serves them with humility. I surrender myself to you today and every day. I love you!" Amen
Monday, July 27, 2009
Living with Consistency
S. "The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray." Galatians 2:13 (NIV)
O. Hypocrisy is one of the greatest enemies of the church. It has caused more people to turn away from the church as they see the inconsistency of Christians. In this section of scripture, Paul is calling Cephas to own up to his roll in leading people astray. He was saying one thing and living another. He even drew the entire church into the charade of hypocrisy. His inconsistent living was pulling others down.
As a Christian, I must examine every part of my life. I must look at every action in my Christian life and make sure it is consistent with the character of Jesus Christ. We are called to be like Christ and lead others into a consisteny, vibrate relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ. That can only happen if we see the whole person...the consistent person who lives what they say.
A. Be consistent to my family and church. Be a real Christian to everyone around me. Be held accountable for these actions.
P. "Lord Jesus, I want to be person who leads others to you. I want my life to reflection your life to the world. As I surrender my life to you, give me wisdom and discernment to live consistently before the world. I love you, Amen!"
O. Hypocrisy is one of the greatest enemies of the church. It has caused more people to turn away from the church as they see the inconsistency of Christians. In this section of scripture, Paul is calling Cephas to own up to his roll in leading people astray. He was saying one thing and living another. He even drew the entire church into the charade of hypocrisy. His inconsistent living was pulling others down.
As a Christian, I must examine every part of my life. I must look at every action in my Christian life and make sure it is consistent with the character of Jesus Christ. We are called to be like Christ and lead others into a consisteny, vibrate relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ. That can only happen if we see the whole person...the consistent person who lives what they say.
A. Be consistent to my family and church. Be a real Christian to everyone around me. Be held accountable for these actions.
P. "Lord Jesus, I want to be person who leads others to you. I want my life to reflection your life to the world. As I surrender my life to you, give me wisdom and discernment to live consistently before the world. I love you, Amen!"
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Being Faithful
S. "Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the LORD in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the LORD had given Moses." 2 Kings 18:5-6 (NLT)
O. I love these words about Hezekiah. The was faithful to God and brought deep reforms to the people of Judah. I was pondering the change that had to take place when he brought these reforms. People were stuck in their plays that were not pleasing to God. They were worshiping idols and useless gods. They had to do an "about face" when Hezekiah called on them to turn back to God. Isn't that the way it is for so many people in our world today. They have to turn away from evil and harmful habits and ways so their lives can begin to honor God. And after we turn we are called to remain faithful...faithful to a God how has demonstrated faithfulness to us in so many ways.
A. I want to be a person who remains faithful to God. Who looks to God for strength and direction...who seeks God above the pleasures of this world.
P. "Lord Jesus, Thanks for your incredible faithfulness to me. I want to keep my eyes on you and remain faithful to your call and honor your Son Jesus Christ. I want to call others to remain faithful in their lives as well. Plant that message in me that I might bring it forward always. I love you. Amen"
O. I love these words about Hezekiah. The was faithful to God and brought deep reforms to the people of Judah. I was pondering the change that had to take place when he brought these reforms. People were stuck in their plays that were not pleasing to God. They were worshiping idols and useless gods. They had to do an "about face" when Hezekiah called on them to turn back to God. Isn't that the way it is for so many people in our world today. They have to turn away from evil and harmful habits and ways so their lives can begin to honor God. And after we turn we are called to remain faithful...faithful to a God how has demonstrated faithfulness to us in so many ways.
A. I want to be a person who remains faithful to God. Who looks to God for strength and direction...who seeks God above the pleasures of this world.
P. "Lord Jesus, Thanks for your incredible faithfulness to me. I want to keep my eyes on you and remain faithful to your call and honor your Son Jesus Christ. I want to call others to remain faithful in their lives as well. Plant that message in me that I might bring it forward always. I love you. Amen"
Monday, July 20, 2009
Love is the Key
S. “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal….If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1, 3 (NLT)
O. This scripture was really lived out for me today. I just can’t explain all that happened today in the villages that we visited in the Dominican Republic. We were literally the hands and feet of God to all those whom we were able to see. We carry a timeless message of true and hope…and most important, we carry the love of Jesus Christ to them. Without love, we would really be useless. But with love in our heart and in our eyes and in our arms and in our feet…we are able to share Jesus with them. In the simple giving of a bag of food, or Frisbee or simple crown to let them know that they are royalty in God’s eyes…we give love. What an awesome experience to be part of this summer. I am thankful for God’s plan and purpose in being here.
A. How simple love is to give. I must make a practice of loving others unconditionally. How easy it is to build people up in God. I must continue to encourage the love and blessing of others as we go in the name of Jesus. I must lead our congregation to love and give and serve unconditionally in the name of Jesus.
P. “Lord Jesus, thank you the awesome experience of being here in the Dominican Republic. Thanks for filling me with your love that I can give to others. I love you. Amen”.
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