Monday, March 1st, 2010
The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the Godly are as bold as lions. Prov. 28:1 (NLT)
I know this will be a great surprise to those of you who know me well, but when I was young I was quite mischievous. I would often do things just to get a rise out of people, and sometimes still do. One of the things I did was to ring doorbells and then run away. Another thing I did was to sneak up on couples who were parking and set off firecrackers behind their car and then run. In these and many other cases of my mischief I would always run, whether I was chased or not.
I’m not sure this is what King Solomon is referring to in this scripture but some of my reasoning then and our reasoning now is much the same. It comes from the knowledge of our shameful acts whether large and small. It started in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve hid from God after their sin. God wasn’t chasing them. He was looking for them.
We still run from God, because we think He is chasing us. Folks, He’s just looking. When we run, it is because we are ashamed of what we have done and rather than face Him and ask forgiveness, we run.
However when we are in Christ Jesus, we can stand as bold as a lion. There is no fear because our nature is like His and our strength is in the power of His Spirit. We don’t run from or fear anything.
Lord, keep our lives from sin. Help us to be strong and brave and to never run from you.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
MARK 10:13-31 PROVERBS 1
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. Isa 29:13 (NIV)
Have you ever had someone say something nice to you but you wondered if they really meant it. They say glowing things to you or about you, but it just seems to be words with no real heartfelt truth in them. And sometimes we give compliments to others just out of being nice, when we really don’t mean it at all. We use small talk to cover the fact that we don’t really want to know about someone or about his or her situation.
We also do this to God at times. We often think that some of the forms or ways that we do Worship on Sundays; it is really enough to please God. We become lost in tradition and use it as an excuse to not really become the worshippers of God, that we were intended to be.
Worship is an everyday event. King David said, “Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.” Ps 99:5 (NIV). He also said, “Oh Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto you and will look up.” Ps 5:3 (NIV). This should be the first thing in the morning that we do, worship the Lord.
God wants to hear and sense from us true worship, not just mouth service. So today begin to worship in some ways that maybe you have never done before. Get in the shower and sing with all your might. Lye on your face before Him, because He is Holy and tell Him you love Him. Turn up some Praise Music and dance for joy unto the Lord around the House. Be creative!
God is looking for people excited about praising and worshipping Him based on their personality, so why not create your worship to Him and start today. Remember that it’s just you and Him and He loves it when you are creative in your worship of Him.
Lord, I just want to tell you from the bottom of my heart, from my actions to my words that knowing you is the best thing that’s every happened to me.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
MARK 10:32-52 PROVERBS 2
Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. Ps 55:17 (NKJ)
When our son was born it was a long time before he began to talk. His mother and I worried that there might be a problem, but slowly he began to form some words. I remember that we nearly always needed his sisters to interpret what he was saying. However, at about two or three, his silence stopped and he began to talk all the time. It would get so bad that sometimes we would have to say, “Stephen, you are going to just have to stop talking and asking questions or you are going to drive Mom and Dad crazy.”
I often wondered if God felt the same way. I wondered if our constant coming to Him with needs and for help or even to just talk with Him drove Him crazy.
King David seems to be letting us know that all during the day he was in communication with God. Paul talks about praying without ceasing. We are told to pray at all times with all types of prayers. You know, it seems to me that God’s a much more patient Father than I was. It just seems to me that He likes to hear from us all day everyday.
Today let’s be more talkative at least to God. I think He enjoys it, and I’m sure it doesn’t bother Him to hear us. (Oh yeah and that watch and pray scripture, that means while you’re driving your car.)
Lord, I’m so glad you never get tired of listening to me because I never get tired of talking to you. I’ll be in touch off and on all day.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
MARK 11:1-25 PROVERBS 3
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; in fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Ps 5:7 (NKJ)
Have you ever been at the place where you’ve entered together with other believers by His mercy and because of His Son, to Worship in one accord? His presence was so real; that you didn’t ever want to leave that place.
The Psalmist knew about this type of Worship as well as individual Worship. He understood the mercies of God, because He called on them everyday. He was not afraid to enter into the
When the Psalmist says “in fear of You I will worship,” he is really saying in awesome reverence I will bow toward You. When we understand that the God of creation is ready to offer us undeserved mercy, it will cause us to bow in fearful reverence just like the Psalmist.
Worship is not limited to inside the walls of
Today, allow your life to become this temple of worship. Allow the Holy Spirit to take you into the mercies of God. Worship is a lifestyle.
In Psalms 40:11 the Psalmist says, “Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.”
His mercies are there, don’t leave home without them.
Lord, as I give you my worship today give me your mercy. I bow my head and my heart to you in reverence and declare that You are God and there is none like You.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
MARK 11:27 – 12:17 PROVERBS 4
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the
Today is Kelli, our oldest daughter's, Birthday. It is hard to believe that it has been so many years ago that she came into the world. She was and is such a great joy to Sharon and me.
Although she is not really our first child, she is the first one who lived with us more than two days. (We had another daughter born prematurely before her who lived only two days).
About sixteen years ago she became part of another family when she married Randy, the Ayres family. Although to some extent she will always be a McNeill, she has another allegiance now to Randy and the Ayres family: And to their three sons who now carry that family name.
But more importantly than either of these two events, years ago she became part of the Family of God. As important as it is for her to be a McNeill and an Ayres, this family is the most important, the Family of God. I have always told my children “the most important thing in this world, in fact, the only really important thing, is that we all walk heaven together.” And she will, not because she is a McNeill or an Ayres, but because she is a “child of God”, she will walk heaven and so will our other children and family.
Do you know someone you love, a family member or friend, who needs this assurance? Why not pray for them this morning? It may even be your child. Remember, only being part of the Family of God secures their future no matter what. You must be born again.
Lord, I ask you to work through your Spirit in ___________ life today. Cause things to happen to draw him/her to your Son and may they be born again and become a Child of God.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
MARK 12:18-37 PROVERBS 5
WEEKEND SCRIPTURE
MARK 12:38 – 13:13 PROVERBS 6
MARK 13:14-37 PROVERBS 7
Monday, March 8th, 2010
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
Rom 8:16 (NIV)
One of my favorite shows on television is Law and Order. I even watch the reruns on the A&E channel late at night. I enjoy the capture and the trial. The making deals and the way they arrange for the testimonies of the different witnesses. It has always amazed me how a smart lawyer can turn the testimony of a witness around to where the witness is not really sure if what he said is what he meant or not.
When I was a teenager I got in trouble for some mischief that I did and had to go to court. Before the prosecuting attorney got through with me on the witness stand, he had made my mischief sound like an attempt to end someone’s life and not just a youthful prank. I have never forgotten that, because even though what I did was wrong, the prosecutor made the intent much worse than the act.
The Bible says that Satan is constantly accusing us before God. He is bringing accusations about us up all the time; and without a great defense attorney, we are totally disarmed in our stand against him in the court of God’s Law.
Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit becomes our witness. The very part of God that raised Jesus from the dead takes the stand in our defense. He testifies to all the court of Heaven that we have been redeemed and that all the accusations of the enemy against us are false because of the blood of Jesus. Case dismissed.
So if the devil tries to accuse you today just remember, your case has already been settled out of court.
Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit today. Thank you that He testifies to what I am becoming as well as what I am: Thank you Holy Spirit for being my righteous defense.
DAILY BIBLE
MARK 14:1-21 PROVERBS 8
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 1 Cor 13:12 (NKJ)
Several years ago I suffered from ischemic optic neuropathy and ever since I have had trouble seeing myself clearly in the mirror: It affected my vision in my right eye. If for any reason I must shut my good eye, in my other eye it looks as if I’m observing things through a smoked glass. Things are hazy and shadowy. It is nearly impossible for me to discern anything out of that eye.
This is also how it is for us in the spiritual world at times, and the
All of my life I have heard people say, “when I get to heaven I’m going to ask God…..” I have felt the same way about a lot of things. The problem is that according to this scripture when we see Him face to face, we will know as much about Him as He knows about us. When all the haze and shadows that blind our spiritual eyes are gone, we will really see.
To know that He will entrust us with the knowledge of the universe is overwhelming to me. Why, he couldn’t even trust our ancestors in the paradise of the Garden of Eden to do what He said to do. When I read that He wants us to rule and reign with Him, I’m amazed.
The world keeps us blinded to what is eternal and what is temporal. Today we need to let the Holy Spirit clean off the hazy shadows from our eyes, so we can see more clearly what His will is for today. Until that time He can entrust us with the knowledge of the universe, lets see if we can see His plan for today.
May our prayer today be like the words to this chorus.
Open my eyes Lord, I want to see Jesus. To reach out and touch Him and say that I love Him. Open my ears Lord and teach me to listen. Open my eyes Lord, I want to see Jesus.
DAILY BIBLE
MARK 14:22-52 PROVERBS 9
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
I tell you the truth; anyone who will not receive the
When I have a need or a concern, the first person I want praying for me is a child. Often I will call my daughters and ask them to get the grandchildren to pray for us about something. The faith and belief of a child is unwavering. They have no doubts. They haven’t had the time to learn all the reasons for can’t; they only believe in can. When they pray they just trust God completely to do what He says He will do.
Jesus calls us to that same type of trust-----to throw ourselves completely into His care and not trust what we can do. Even King Solomon understood this when he wrote, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Prov 3:5, 6 (NIV) Sometimes the problem with us is this; if we don’t completely understand, we are not going to trust.
Jesus made it clear that unless we trust like a child, we will never enter the
Lord, I just want to be real childish today. I’m going to trust what you say, do what you tell me and know that you want the best for me just like a loving father.
DAILY BIBLE
MARK 14:53-72 PROVERBS 10
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2 Tim 3:1-5 (NIV)
Because of the “Left Behind Series” there is a lot of interest in the return of Jesus Christ, both in and out of the church world. Just the other day I had someone tell me that they had read all seven books and wanted to know how they could be sure they will not be left behind when Jesus comes.
In this scripture we see many things that parallel with the nature of people today, especially in
My dad always said that it was more important to be on the preparation committee than the planning committee when it came to eschatology (the study of last days). Jesus has called us to make sure people are ready and not to work out the details of His return.
So today let us be the witness who thinks it could be today, acts like it could be tomorrow but is sure it’s going to be.
Lord, I know your return is certain and that in our world the time seems near but help me live and witness today like it will be today, and if it is hooray!
DAILY BIBLE
MARK 15:1-47 PROVERBS 11
Friday, March 12th, 2010
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:18
Several years ago I experienced one of the most unusual and tragic events you could ever imagine. While at early Morning Prayer (5:30am), I heard an ambulance go by the church. A few minutes later, I received a call at the church and was told that one of our members had been killed in a tragic and unbelievable accident.
While on his way to early classes in
I remember as I tried to comfort both of these families, the wife and daughter of the man killed and the driver who had been the one who accidentally struck and killed his friend. I struggled for the right words to say. I remember thinking, “this is the most impossible task in all my years of ministry, what can I say.”
I know that some of you who are reading this feel like things couldn’t get much worse for you. You may feel you’ve just been hit with more than you can bear. Jesus has promised that no matter what you are going through, He is there to comfort. We have a Savior, who understands what we are going through and is there to be our comfort, if we will just let Him.
All I could do in this case was to be there and hold my two friends, saying nothing but letting the Holy Spirit be their comfort. He wants to be your comfort today, also. The problems in your life today are possibly not as tragic as this, but for you they still hurt. So why not call upon the comforter right now to hold you and help the hurt go away.
Remember, whatever your need, He’s as close as the mention of His name, Jesus.
Lord we call on you today to be our comfort in the trials and heartaches of this world. I thank you that when I call upon your name, Jesus, you are always here to comfort me.
DAILY BIBLE
MARK 16:1-20 PROVERBS 12
WEEKEND SCRIPTURE
LUKE:1-25 PROVERBS 13
LUKE:26-56 PROVERBS 14