Monday, January 2nd, 2012 (from January 3rd, 2005)
“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.” Luke 17:26-27
As the events of our world have unfolded just prior to my writing this devotion I thought of this scripture. By the time you read this their will most probably be a death toll of over 100,000 from the tsunami that was a result of the earthquake off the coast of
Jesus spoke these words concerning the events and attitudes just before His return. He spoke of people enjoying the pleasures of the world with no regard for its grief, poverty, or for their spiritual well being.
As I listened to the news commentators speak of the people killed, many were there on the beaches vacationing with no thought of sudden danger or destruction; while others lived there in poverty in huts made only of what they could find.
Jesus’ words were of our pursuit of pleasure instead of the pursuit of His call on our lives. We have been called to share His love with the world. We’ve been called to bring His Kingdom to the earth just like it is in Heaven. We’ve been called to seek and meet the needs of others before seeking our own pleasures and desires.
I’m not saying this is the end but it might be the beginning of the end. For us as believers, the worse thing we can do is forget that the end is coming and so, become like the rest of the world seeking our own pleasure over meeting the needs of others.
Let this be a “wake-up call” for each of us. Jesus is coming again. Read the entire chapter of Luke 17; things are going to get worse instead of better. But the assurance for us in these last days is this, with the worst will come the BEST and His name is JESUS.
Lord, we lift up the broken hearted who lost loved ones during this great tragedy. Give them peace. We also pray for our hearts to be changed to view our life on earth as a task you’ve given us to share your love. Help us to not seek the pleasures of this world and thus be caught in the tsunami of destruction but let us build our hope on the foundation of your Son Jesus so we can withstand the flood.
TODAY’ S SCRIPTURE
OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT
GEN. 3:1-4:26 MATT. 2:13-3:6
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 (NIV)
One of the things that always amazed me is how much love grows when we allow it. After our first daughter was born we wondered if we could love another child as much. But when the next two were born there was as much love for them as there was for the first. Always different but always equal. The same held true for our grandchildren and the same has held true for our church family and those that God adds to us.
Jesus said there was a new law or commandment He wanted to give us. It is the law of love. This law supersedes all other laws. It is in fact the bases from where God’s Laws are written. Because of His love for us and His desire for our best, He set boundaries (laws) for us to live by. They were set in love knowing that by keeping them we would live an abundant life.
The new command says we are to care enough for each other that we want to protect them from whatever would harm them. We are to care for them too, to lift them up in prayer and to see that no one is left in need.
This year let us love like He loved. It is a NEW COMMAND, and the basis for understanding His other laws. And most important of all, Jesus said it and it’s written in red.
Lord, help us to keep your greatest and new command all year long.
TODAY’ S SCRIPTURE
OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT
GEN. 5:1-7:24 MATT. 3:7-4:11
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 (from January 5th, 2005)
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
As we begin a new year we need to forget the successes and failures of last year but most especially the failures. Both will destroy us. We will either lose our vision for the future in the dimming light of last year’s glory or we will be drowned in the overwhelming disgrace of last year’s failures. Failures and looking back only come when you quit moving forward in the future.
Look at this list of men who failed but didn’t quit.
You and I must say of last year, forgetting those things that are behind, whether good or bad; this is a new year. The future for the
Let us forge ahead in the New Year with this in our hearts and on our lips:
“With Jesus as my guide I will not fail because I will not quit.”
Lord, we will forge ahead looking to you as our guide and our reward and we will not look back and we will not quit.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT
GEN. 8:1-10:32 MATT. 4:12-25
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Psalms 63:5
I found this little story the other day and I thought you might like it.
A few weeks ago, I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And
Along with laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That’s what’s wrong with this country. Kids today don’t even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer." "Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart."
Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, I bought my kid’s ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman.
With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes and my soul is good already."
How’s your soul?
Lord, satisfy our souls in such a way that we can give away the sweetness of your nature in us to others.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT
GEN. 11:1-13:4 MATT. 5:1-26
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Rom 6:4
This is the time for resolutions and most people make at least one whether publicly or privately. I have heard many people say, “After the holidays, I’m going on a diet.” I asked one person last Sunday how they were doing and their response was, “Not as good as I will be doing in month. I’m going to lose at least twenty pounds.” (Isn’t it amazing, that when most of the world is looking for their next meal, we as Americans are making promises about skipping ours)?
As for me, I’ve talked of joining a gym and working out. The only thing that concerns me is that I never liked that even when I was young. I wonder what makes me think I will probably like it now at my age. I’m considering just walking.
Most of us are all looking for something new for this next year. Something that will make us feel better about ourselves and, hopefully, make others feel better about us, too.
It is so wonderful to know that because of Christ, we are already able to live a new life no longer connected to the things in our old one. But for those living in regrets it is like someone living with a dead and decaying body. It stinks!!
Jesus was buried and rose again so this would not and should not ever happen. That is probably why when we begin to act like we did before Jesus changed us, we are worse than before---because we have dug up something dead and buried in our past. Kind of a gruesome thought, but so is digging up the past.
Your sins were buried with Christ. You have been made new. This is not a resolution that you may or may not keep after becoming a Christian. This is a life or death action. You are new, because your past is dead. Anyone who rises up their past, even if you are living there in regrets, is living out something worse than a Stephen King horror story.
So live the new life. Live the good life. It’s already been bought and paid for. Stay out of the graveyard of your past, that’s gruesome.
Lord, I will leave the past alone and live in the future tense of the new life you have given me.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT
GEN. 13:5-15:21 MATT. 5:27-48
WEEKEND SCRIPTURE
OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT
GEN. 16:1-18:19 MATT. 6:1-24
GEN. 18:20-19:38 MATT.6:25-7:14
Monday, January 9th, 2012
Not that I have
already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to
take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have
taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining
toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God
has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil
3:12-14
Several years back I had the opportunity to watch one of the
greatest football games I have ever seen.
It was for the national title of college football between University of
Texas and University of Southern California; it was an exciting game. It went down to the final seconds and you
could even say to the final play. The
winner was not decided until the very end, thus deciding would be and who would
be crowned the National Champions.
Before the game even began, the winning coach was asked what
his team would need to do to win and his answer was simple, “Whether we are
ahead or behind, keep playing.”
Paul understood the arena of sports. He wrote using it as an illustration on
several occasions. In this verse he
states basically the same attitude as the winning coach; forgetting the past,
(the first half, the last quarter or even the last play) you keep on keeping on
until life’s game is completed and you cross the goal line.
The 2006 National Champions became that not because of one
man who scored the winning touchdown, on a fourth down with 19 seconds
remaining in the game; but because everyone, the blockers, the receivers, the
running backs all kept playing till the very end.
So it is with us individually and as part of Christ’s
team. We must continue to battle, stay
in the game, never give up until the ultimate victory is ours; until Jesus
Christ, or Champion is crowned and recognized by the entire world as the only
true Champion.
We will continue the
fight until the victory is won and you are crowned the Champion.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING
GEN. 20:1-22:24 MATT.
7:15-29
Tuesday, January 10th, 2006
When words are many,
sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
Prov 10:19
Here is an interesting fact from an article on the growth of
federal regulations posted in the National Review.
The Lord’s Prayer is 66 words, the Gettysburg Address is 286
words, there are 1322 words in the Declaration of Independence, but government
regulations pm the sale of cabbage totals 26,911 words.
This may be part of the cause for us, especially as
Americans, to be so wordy in our answers to questions. Jesus warned, “Simply let your 'Yes' be
'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” Matt
5:37.
Have you ever noticed how most people will not take just
“yes” or “no” for an answer? And then
when you begin to add more to the answer, depending on what should or should
not be said, the evil one and his thoughts begin to cloud our communication.
I know I’m a wordy person.
I know that too often I add too much to a simple answer but this is one
of my New Year’s Resolutions. This is
hopefully going to be my motto for the coming year and the distant future, at
least it is my goal; “less is more.”
I can’t promise it will always be true in my devotionals but
hopefully it will be true in my communication.
I will not be like the Federal Government who waists 26,911 words to say
don’t sell rotten cabbage. Instead, I
will aim to be like Jesus and the great men of the past who in a few words
affected the design of God and history.
Lord, help us to
listen more and say less in order that grace and not evil may abound.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING
GEN. 23:1-24:51 MATT.8:1-17
Wednesday, January 10th, 2012
Those who know your
name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Ps
9:10
Here is a story from Helen Keller’s life. The little girl,
blind and deaf, tells about learning her first word.
“It is a moment I shall never forget. I was alone and unable to communicate with
anyone. I did not know the names of
anything. I did not even know things had
names.
Then one day, after my teacher had tried a number of
approaches, she held my hand under the water pump on our farm.
As the cool water ran over my hand, and arm, she spelled the
word water into my other hand. She
spelled it over and over, and suddenly I knew there was a name for things and
that I would never be completely alone again.”
God told Moses, that the nations shall put His Name on the
Israelites. And that promise is for us
as well; if we know Him by name, we will trust Him. And if we trust Him, He will never forsake
us.
And when our way and our future seems dark, like I know it
did for Helen Keller, we can be assured that not only is there a God, but He
has a name; and not only does He have a name but He has a name for us and He
will never forsake us.
Never is it too dark or so silent that we can’t have the
assurance that we will never be alone again.
Thank you LORD
because you have revealed to us your Name and our part in your eternal plan.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
READING
GEN. 24:52-26:16 MATT.
8:18-34
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
Let the wise listen
and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-- Prov 1:5
There are basically three types of people: those who don’t
hear or listen, those who do hear and listen and those who listen but don’t
hear.
Jesus talked often about having ears to ear but not
hearing. This has been a problem since
the beginning of time. Genesis 2:15 and
3:2 both told what was and was not permissible for both Adam and Eve. Pretty much everything is ok except eating
from the tree in the middle of the garden.
So what part didn’t they hear?
The part they didn’t choose to listen to. In this case as is so often is the case with
each of us, the important part.
We have continued the pattern. When my wife accuses me of not being able to
hear as good any longer, the truth is that my determining of sounds has not
diminished but my hearing has become more selective. I hear what I choose to hear and choose my
response based on what I hear.
Then, this is where the real problems begin for us as believers;
we speak without listening, hearing or discerning what was truly said. We speak out of our own determination and
again, we end up saying more than we should (i.e. our “yeses” being “yes,” and
our “no’s,” “no”).
There is an old poem by E. H. Richards that should be the
theme for us as followers of Jesus Christ as we choose to listen more---and say
less.
A wise old owl
Sat on an oak
The more he sat
The less he spoke.
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?
Lord, help us to be more like the creatures of your lesser creation and less like those of your greater creation; being wise by hearing more and saying less.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING
GEN. 26:17-27:46 MATT. 9:1-1
Friday, January 13th, 2012
It's like a man going
away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his
assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Mark
13:34
In one of Jesus’ final parables He tells of the master who
leaves each of His servants with an assigned task. It is very clear that the servants represent
each of us. This very simply deducts
into an easy understanding that each of us have a task to fulfill in His
Kingdom purpose until He returns.
This is where the problem lies. Too often we have people just watching others
and not seeing what their prepared task is.
It seems that they hope just by watching they will magically become
prepared for the task God has prepared for them to fulfill.
There is an old Turkish proverb that goes, “If skills could
be acquired just by watching, every dog would be a butcher.”
I know this is true with our little dog. If all it took to prepare meat was watching
my wife or I cook, he could go to work for any restaurant in San Antonio. The problem is that even though that is part
of his desires, it is not part of the task he was born to.
When we are re-born, we are re-born to a “God task” that
must be sought after. We need to be
aware of the task He has called us to and not just be watchers of others not
ever really finding that task.
Paul said in Acts 20:24, “But my life is worth nothing
unless I use it for doing the task
assigned me by the Lord Jesus.”
Let us not live a life of looking at what others are doing
hoping to become that, but instead find our task, prepare and do it before the
Master’s return.
Lord, show us the
task you have for each of us in fulfilling your Kingdom purpose.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING
GEN. 28:1-29:35 MATT.
9:18-38
WEEKEND SCRIPTURE READING
GEN. 30:1-31:16 MATT.
10:1-25
GEN. 31:17-32:12 MATT.
10:26-11:6
Monday, January 16th, 2012
Though He gives you
the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet He will be with you to
teach you-with your own eyes you will see your Teacher. Isa 30:20
A young woman came to her mother expressing the hardships in
her life and a desire to give up. Her
mother then used this illustration to help her through this adverse time.
She began to boil three pots of water. In one she placed some carrots, in another an
egg and in the third and final pan, coffee.
After about twenty minutes she took them off the stove and removed the
carrots and put them in a bowl. She then
did the same with the egg and also dipped the coffee out with a ladle and
placed it in a cup.
She then asked her daughter to observe all three. The daughter found that the heat had caused
the carrots to become soft, and when she removed the shell on the egg she found
it had been hard boiled on the inside.
The coffee she found to be rich in taste and aroma.
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced
the same adversity... boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot
went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected
to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The outside of the egg remained
unchanged by the boiling water, but its insides became hardened. The ground
coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they
had changed the color, appearance and taste of the water.
“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity
knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a
coffee bean?”
Now too the question comes to us. When adversity comes do we seem strong and
unyielding like the carrot but become soft and weak afterwards. Are we like the egg that seems unchanged on
the outside but have become hard on the inside because of adversity. Or, do we become like the coffee and change our
surroundings, even in the heat of adversity, to give new flavor to the
circumstances.
He is with us, teaching us and allowing us to see by Christ’s
example that we can become like the Teacher.
Lord help us to learn
from this little analogy from the kitchen that we can use adversity to change
situations instead of being changed by adversity.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING
GEN. 32:13-34:31 MATT.
11:7-30
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
And the disciples
were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts
13:52
In an effort to help a friend lose weight, a lady was told
that she should switch to low-fat foods, including
skim milk. When she said her family would drink only whole milk, it was suggested
that she keep their regular milk container and refill it with skim milk. This
worked for quite a while, until her daughter asked one morning whether the milk
was okay.
“Sure, it's fine,” she answered,
fearing she had been found out. “But why do you ask?”
The daughter explained, “Well,
according to the expiration date, this milk expired two years ago!”
Often we try to hide behind the
fact that we were filled with the Holy Spirit years ago, but the expiration
date on our life is very visible. We
need to be filled daily with the Holy Spirit just like the disciples were. In Acts 2:4 we are told that all of the disciples
were filled with the Holy Spirit but in Acts 13:52 we are told it happened
again.
Scripture seems to suggest that it
should be a daily, if not constant event in our life. Much like the milk container, we have the
same container, and we should be filled with His Spirit every day. But we need to have a new stamp put on our
lives that reveals we have been refilled with that power.
Let’s not have people looking at
us and wondering if the date has expired on the fullness of God in our
lives. Today, let’s be filled with joy
and the Holy Spirit and let Him stamp the new date on our lives.
Today Lord, our pray is simple. Fill us with the Holy Spirit.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING
GEN. 35:1-36:43 MATT.
12:1-21
In Old Testament times, bread was the main stay of
life. The average diet consisted of
bread, olives, cheese, fruit, and vegetables.
Bread was mixed with water, and the dough was placed on flat stones that
had been heated. If the bread was to be
leavened, a piece of dough from the previous day (the leaven) was put into the new
dough and the whole lump left by the fire until the yeast from the old dough
had permeated the new. Leaven bread had
a short term of usability because of the yeast.
Therefore, unleavened bread lasted longer even though it was not as
desirable to eat.
In today’s scripture, Paul is telling us that to boast about
yesterday is like adding yesterday’s leaven to the new batch of God’s sustenance
(bread) in our lives today. God does not
want us to live our lives based only on our past accomplishments and His past
blessings (bread from yesterday) but to be ready to accomplish new things for
His sake and in His power today.
Our life needs to be food to those around us: A new batch of unleavened nourishment that
nourishes those we meet. It does not become stale with the leaven of the past
but is fresh for the day.
So we need to let our lives take on a new freshness today so
others can taste of our lives and see that God is good. Prepare today with a new “loaf of life”
without the leaven of yesterday.
Lord, take us like
dough and make us into what you want to use to nurture others that we meet
today.
TODAY’S SCRITPURE READING
GEN. 37:1-38:30 MATT.12:22-45
Thursday, January 19th, 2012
and to put on the new
self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Eph
4:24
For most of married life I have heard Sharon say she has to
go put on her face before leaving the house.
I know this means she will put on some make-up to feel more beautiful or
more presentable before going out the door to face the world. She would even say, “Just so I want scare
anyone.”
As for me, less is more both for her, our daughters and most
women I know. And by this I mean
make-up.
I often wonder though, if we don’t all, men and women, have
a tendency to put on a face as we go out into the world; and in this case a
face not made up by make-up so we will look more presentable but to keep who we
really are from showing.
Maybe something happens that causes our Christ likeness or even
our image in Christ to change. We come
to a place where it seems that who we use to be is no longer who we are and who
we have become is not who we want to be.
Like Paul, we do the things we didn’t want to do and the things we
wanted to do, never get done. (See
Paul’s words in Romans 7:15-19.)
Because of Calvary we have a chance to put on a new self not
with make-up but with a complete spiritually surgical face-lift. We don’t have to be the same we can be
separated from our old ways and the world. We have a chance to be who and what God has always
intended us to be.
Since we have been re-created spiritually let us not act
like someone “putting on a face” but instead let us be what we are, “New
Creations”.
Today we put on the
image of Christ and not just our face.
We will take on His true nature in all we say and do.
TODAY’S SCRITPURE READING
GEN. 39:1-41:16 MATT.
12:46-13:23
…that God was
reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against
them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Cor 5:19
When we get to this time every year, there are all of these
“two for one sales”. The Christmas
decorations and the ornaments are on sale “two for one.” Many of the clothes are on sale and even at
the fireworks stands you see, “buy one get one free”. In fact, the other day, on my way to call a
basketball game, I saw a fireworks stand that had advertised, “Buy one, and get
five free.” I’m sure at this stand you
are probably paying ten times the price for the one so they can still make
money off the five they give away.
But in today’s scripture, Paul shows us something better
than a “two for one sale.” The types of
sales you see this time of year have one thing in common; you have to buy
something to get something else. But Paul
is talking about a “two for one” give
a-way. The price is
already paid and you get to enjoy the “two for one” for free.
He has reconciled the world to Himself through Christ AND is willing to not count men’s
sins against them ever again. To know
you are “OK” with God and He has forgiven what you’ve done in your past, is
enough to make you forget about all the other sales and bargains you will ever
find…EVER.
Why don’t you just stop now and thank God for the best “two
for one” give a-way you’ve ever heard of?
Thank you Lord, for
the greatest bargain ever, Christ paid the price and we get the rewards.
TODAY’S SCRITPURE READING
GEN. 41:17-42:17 MATT.
13:24-46
WEEKEND SCRIPTURE READING
GEN. 42:18-43:34 MATT.
13:47-14:12
GEN. 44:1-45:28 MATT.
14:13-36
Monday, January 23rd, 2012
Dear friend, I pray
that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your
soul is getting along well. 3 John 2
Here is a little story I have read several times but enjoyed
it each time. It tells a great truth.
Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My
six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads, he
said, “God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I
would even thank you more if mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all! Amen!”
Along with laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard
a woman remark, “That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even
know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream!
Why, I never!”
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, “Did I do
it wrong? Is God mad at me?” As I held
him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not
mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said,
“I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.”
“Really?” my son asked.
The man replied, “Cross my heart.”
Then in a theatrical whisper the gentleman added (indicating
the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), “Too bad she never asks
God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes.”
Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the
meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember
the rest of my life.
He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and
placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, “Here, this is
for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is already
good.”
I don’t know how good ice cream may be for our bodies but I
agree that some times it is good for our soul.
And kindness like that of the little boy is always good for our souls.
Be in good health today and do a kindness for a total
stranger. It will be good for your soul.
Lord, thank you for
the health of our souls and the kindness you cause us to show through the fruit
of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING
GENESIS 46:1-47:31 MATT. 15:1-28
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
Carry each
other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2
John was walking home from school one day when he noticed
the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying,
along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder.
John knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered
articles. Since they were going the same
way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked John discovered the boy's name
was Bill that he loved video games, baseball and history, and that he was
having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up
with his girlfriend.
They arrived at Bill's home first and John was invited in
for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a
few laughs and some shared small talk, then John went home. They continued to
see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, and then both
graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school where
they had brief contacts over the years.
Finally the long-awaited senior year came and three weeks
before graduation, Bill asked John if they could talk. Bill reminded him of the
day years ago when they had first met. “Did you ever wonder why I was carrying
so many things home that day?” asked Bill. “You see, I cleaned out my locker
because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some
of my mother's sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after
we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had
killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might
follow. So you see, John, when you picked up those books that day, you did a
lot more than that, you saved my life.”
Acts of kindness change lives and sometimes it is for
eternity; we are called to help make those changes every day in every thing we
say and do. Keep your heart tuned to the
heart of Christ and let his nature shape your actions today and you too will be
this change maker.
Lord, help us fulfill
the law of Christ today.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING
GENESIS 48:1-49:33 MATT.
15:29-16:12
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
And do not forget to
do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Heb
13:16
Today would have been my brother’s seventy-ninth
birthday. He was my only sibling and was
fifteen years older than I. This made
him very much an example to me in what could be considered a father role. In fact, in many ways he was a dad to me for
most of my life, since our dad died when I was twenty-four. But, this example was not just because of the
age difference but because of the example he has showed me all of his life.
This scripture exemplifies my brother. All of my life, every time I would call, he
and his wife were doing or planning to do something for others. When he worked for General Motors as an
instructor in the Mechanics School, he was always helping neighbors repair
their cars in order to help save them the expense of a mechanic’s shop or
dealership costs.
When he saw a need, he would find a way to help. He saw their needs as opportunities to share. He didn’t see their needs as their problems,
but as his opportunities. I don’t think
he or my sister-in-law knows the word “no” when it comes to helping others.
All of his life he lived as the older son and older brother
of a dad and brother who were in the ministry but he was a true minister. Because what is ministry any way? It is to not forget to do good and share with
others, as the scripture says.
My brother did this and I know it pleases God. And I am pleased to call him my brother.
May we all please God by doing good and sharing with others
from the talents, gifts and resources that God has given us. Sometimes just helping someone fix their car
can be a great blessing, just ask my brother’s neighbors.
Lord, help us to be
pleasing to you today by the good we do and the way we share.
TODAY’S SCRITPURE READING
GENESIS 50:1-EXODUS
2:10 MATT.
16:13-17:9
Thursday, January 26th, 2012
… put on the new
self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and
dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness
and patience.
Col 3: 10 &12
I have an unusual attitude about new clothes. Maybe it goes back to my early childhood: Believing as a preachers kid and not having
much, I didn’t deserve new stuff. Or! Maybe
I’m just weird. (Please don’t answer
that).
Anyway, when I get new clothes I won’t wear them for several
months so that when people say, “Oh is that new?” I can say, “NO I’ve had these
for several months.” Strange right! My family gets really mad at me. They’ll say, “Have you worn that (shirt,
pants, shoes, etc) that I got for you yet, or is it still in the closet waiting
to get a few months old.”
You, however, are probable like my wife and children, when
they get something new they want to wear it home from the store OR at
best put it on the minute they get to the house.
Whether you are like me, (which I doubt), like my family, or
maybe somewhere in between; as God’s chosen people we need to clothe ourselves
in what Paul is talking about right now and ever day instead of leaving this new
appearance hanging in the closets of our lives.
I don’t know about you but I think I’ll put on compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience right now and
wear it around the house. I’m even going
to keep it own when I leave out the door today.
Hey! You know what else, I’m even proud to say, “Yea, it’s new”.
Lord, cause us not to
hide or put off wearing the attributes of you as new clothing today.
TODAY’S SCRITPURE READING
EXODUS 2:11-3:22 MATT. 17:10-27
Friday, January 27th, 2012
Therefore, brothers,
since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by
a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, Heb 10:19 & 20
We have some friends who had strict requirements of their
children before entering their bedroom.
This is probably a good policy in order to give them some privacy and
even times of marriage intimacy.
This was never the case at our house. In fact, my wife wanted to leave our door
open just in case they needed us but was afraid to come in. To this day, seldom will she close our
bedroom door, even with company in the house, just in case they need something?
Because of this, our children and grandchildren to this day
will come into our bedroom any time day or night. Even though this is not a holy place, in our
case it is not even much of a private one.
In the Old Testament the High Priest were the only ones
allowed to enter the Holy Place where the intimate presence of God was
housed. But the High Priest when he
entered in would have a rope tied around his leg so if he died he could be
pulled out. They wore bells on the
bottom of their robes so that the other priests outside could pull him out if
they no longer heard the jingle of the bells because he had not survived the
presence of the Lord.
Today, we can enter that place with confidence. When Christ died the curtain was torn and we
have been given the right, the pleasure and the assurance that we can enter
that Holy Place, talking to God face to face.
No ropes, No bells, No fear.
Through Jesus Christ, our great High Priest he has unlocked
and opened wide the door for us. With
that assurance, and that open door, before you go about your day, you’ve got
the right to enter in, so go on in and spend some time with you Heavenly
Father.
Thank you Lord Jesus,
for opening up the door of intimacy with our Heavenly Father through your death
at Calvary.
TODAY’S SCRITPURE READING
EXODUS 4:1-5:21 MATT.
18:1-22
WEEKEND SCRIPTURE READING
EXODUS 5:22-7:24 MATT.
18:23-19:12
EXODUS 7:25-9:35 MATT.
19:13-30
Monday, January 30th, 2012
If anyone thinks he
is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Gal 6:3
Several years back, after a basketball game I had officiated
with two other gentlemen, we were having a discussion with one of the coaches from
the home school. We had some problems
with some of the fans during the game and had to have the home school
administrator come and correct them.
In our conversation, I suppose to impress the coach, one of
my co-officials was telling him about his role in his job outside of
officiating. He told the coach that he
was over a 35 million dollar industry and that all the people working there
were answerable to him. He stated that
if they ever questioned him on anything-he fired them on the spot.
I remember thinking as he spoke, “I’m not impressed with
what you do but this sure makes me question what type of boss you are?” It would seem to me that most of the time
questions are to get answers not to show contempt. And those who have a little or a lot of responsibility
need to be ready and willing to answer questions.
G. Arthur Keough wrote, “Greatness is not standing above our
fellows and ordering them around -- it is standing with them and helping them
to be all they can be.”
We are to be like Christ who, even though God, thought it of
no great importance to lessen Himself to become a man, feel our temptation and
carry our redemption to the cross.
Is humility in our speech, our actions and most of all, our
attitude toward others? If not, it
should be if He truly lives in each of us.
Lord, teach us your
humility.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING
OLD TESTAMENT NEW
TESTAMENT
EXODUS 10:1-12:13 MATT
20:1-28
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
For who among men
knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? 1 Cor 2:11
There is a gentlemen's club, where the man at the reception
desk who collects the member's hats, coats, umbrellas, and gloves has a
reputation for an infallible memory. In
thirty years, he is reputed never to have given the wrong coat, hat, gloves or
umbrella to any member when they leave the club. One day, a member decided to test it out. As
he left the club and was handed his coat, he asked the concierge, “How do you
know this is my coat?”
“I don't, sir,” came the reply.
“Well, why did you give it to me?”
“Because, sir, you gave it to me.”
We don’t actually know the thoughts of others, we just
respond to what they say. We don’t know
the ideas of others, we just respond to their shared plans. Thoughts are hidden from us but never from
God.
Just like the Concierge who never forgot who handed him
their objects of clothing, it wasn’t that he knew more about them than what he
was given but he didn’t forget what was entrusted to him.
Therein is a lesson for each of us. Never try to read more into something than
what we are told. (And never forget what
has been entrusted to us as valuable, from where it came and when and to him it
needs to be returned?)
Lord, help us to be
as trustworthy and dependable with others as you are with us.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING
OLD TESTAMENT NEW
TESTAMENT
EXODUS 12:14-13:16 MATT
20:29-21:22
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
Afterward, as you
know, when he (Esau) wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could
bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears. Heb 12:17
Some years back, while teaching on the Dave Ramsey’s course,
Financial Peace, the group was quite interested in his first session. In it he talks about not purchasing items on
impulse but to plan, save and then pay cash.
As Dave says, “If you don’t have the money, you don’t need it.” Instead of waiting until the best is there
for us, out of impulse, we settle for less and end up paying much, much more.
Even in our spiritual life, how often have you and I settled
for less than the best because we were not willing to wait for God’s
timing? You probably know the story of
Jacob and Esau. Esau came in hungry and
Jacob had made some stew. When he asked
for some, Jacob said, “Ok but give me first your birth right.” The birthright was the blessing as the
first-born. Basically Esau concluded,
what good was a birthright later if you are starving now. So, for the pleasure of the moment, to
satisfy his own desires, he gave it all up.
Today, many of us are selling our blessings form God for the
pleasures of the moment. We think our
physical, emotional, or financial needs should be met right now no matter what
the cost. We give up our blessings from
the God who made it all and owns it all just to be satisfied for the moment.
Today, remember that you are in store for a blessing. God has promised it to you and all of His
promises are yes, and amen. Don’t let
the moment destroy the eternity. Stop
right now and ask the Lord to bless you.
He wants to; remember the Sermon on the Mount, Matt. 5: 3-12 are all
blessings.
Go ahead, have a “cup of blessing” it’s on the house.
Lord, help us to
never settle for less than your best.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING
OLD TESTAMENT NEW
TESTAMENT
EXODUS 13:17-15:18 MATT
21:23-46
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
But you have come to
Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have
come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of
the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the
judge of all men, Heb 12:22 & 23
When Moses came to the mountain where he saw the burning
bush and where God appeared to him and wrote His Law with fire, Moses was
fearful. In Heb. 12: 21 it says,
“The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am
trembling with fear’.”
This was the attitude of the people of the Old Testament
when they came to the presence of God or even worse when He came to them. However, the writer of Hebrews changes our
prospective. We are now on a new
mountain. We are on a mountain that is
filled with the assembly of angels; Thousands and thousands of angels
worshiping God and asking us to join in.
We have no fear but instead we enter into the joy of the moment.
Why can we enter in no matter what the day holds for us or
what yesterday did to us?
It is simple, we are the church of the firstborn, (the ones
who inherit the blessing) and our names are written in heaven.
Hey! You know what else?
I don’t think there are any erasers in Heaven either but even if there
were, it wouldn’t matter, because our names are written in His blood.
Thank you for writing
down our names in such a way as to never be erased.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING
OLD TESTAMENT NEW
TESTAMENT
EXODUS 15:19-17:7 MATT
22:1-33
Friday, February 3rd, 2012
Sing to the LORD a
new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea,
and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.
Isa 42:10
I remember several years back, when for the first time,
Sharon and I saw the movie “Castaway” with Tom Hanks. It is the story of a man who, after a plane
crash, is the only survivor on a deserted island where he is totally
alone. During his years there alone on
the island, he makes a strange friend with an unusual object, a Wilson Volley
Ball. It seems that if it hadn’t been
for “Wilson,” he might have lost his mind.
Sometimes we find ourselves on an island of despair and can
find no comfort or hope. We find our
peace with many unusual objects. But,
this is when we need to begin to praise the Lord in song and in word and make
Him the object of our attention. We need
to open our mouths and give Him Glory for who He is and what He has done.
Whether we feel we are in a sea of despair or on an island
forgotten by everyone, God does not forget and He is always there. In times like these we need to sing a “New
Song” of Praise unto our God. No matter
what happened yesterday or what you might fear from today, just begin to sing
Praise to God right now like never before.
No matter where you’re living right now emotionally, on the
sea, and island, or on a mountain, God wants to hear for you.
Thank you Lord that you have given us the
power from the depths of our emotions, the power to praise you name.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING
OLD TESTAMENT NEW
TESTAMENT
EXODUS 17:8-19:15 MATT
22:34-23:12
WEEKEND SCRIPTURE READING
OLD TESTAMENT NEW
TESTAMENT
EXODUS 19:16-21:21 MATT
23:13-39
EXODUS 21:22-23:13 MATT
24:1-28
Monday February 6th,
2012
The Lord is my light and
my salvation whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1
Several
years ago Sharon bought a lamp that was the last one, so she had to buy the
display.
It
was an old fashioned looking lamp with two round globes, one on the top and one
on the bottom. The problem is we can’t
figure out how to get a light bulb in the bottom part. Since she bought the display model, there was
no box and no directions, so we are at a loss as to how to get a light bulb in
the lamp. So now a beautiful lamp sits
on the end table in the guest room with no light, because it needs a light
bulb---but we have no clue how to get a light bulb in it.
This
is something of what I see in this scripture.
First the Lord is our light, but how do we make sure He shines in our
lives. I think it is by making Him the
directing, and enlightening force in all of our decision-making. Getting screwed in to what He wants for our life,
our whole life everyday. When we try to
be our own light, (doing it our own way), it is like using a pin light (our
way) to accomplish what needs the light of a tracker beam (the Lord’s
way).
Secondly,
how do we get the source of light into us to illuminate our way? You read and follow the direction manual, His
Word. Times like today and every day
that you spend reading His Word, it becomes light for all you do that day. King David said it this way in Psalm 119
verse 105, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” His word shows me the path I need to take.
So,
if you are like the lamp in our bedroom---you have a bulb but can’t seem to
find out how to install it, use the direction manual.
You
know what? If I can get my hands on a
manual, I’m going to read it and find out how to put a light bulb in that lamp
and you should, too.
Lord,
like David said in Psalm 18 verse 28 “You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God
turns my darkness into light.” We
confess that today as our prayer, Lord you and you only keep our light burning.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
READING
EXODUS 23:14 –
25:40 MATTHEW 24:29-51
Tuesday February 7th,
2012
And that is what some of
you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1
Cor 6:11 – 12
The
other day I was washing off our driveway at the house. As the water ran down the drive toward the
street it would catch in the cracks where the drive had been poured in
sections. It would take more pressure
from the water hose to clean the dirt from these cracks.
When
the dirt reached the street, it would just stand at the entrance to the
driveway but since we live on a hill, I was able, with water pressure, to make
the water run down the street.
As
I was doing this I thought of this passage of scripture and how the driveway
relates to our lives. Mud, dirt and
grease from the cars will continue to accumulate on the driveway and I will
need to continually clean it. And
depending on the dirt, I will need to use more or less pressure.
You
and I have been washed because of Jesus and kept clean by the Spirit. He, the Holy Spirit, is the pressure hose
that keeps the mud and grime of this world running down the driveway, into the
street and down the hill of our life every single day. And sometimes He needs to use more pressure
when that dirt from the world gets caught in the cracks we have left in our
lives.
So,
if you are feeling a little bit of pressure from God right now, it might be
because there are some things hidden in the crevices of your heart. If not, just enjoy the shower and either way,
let Him take you for a cleansing.
Lord,
we want to be washed in the fountain of your love and forgiveness. And, Lord, if you need to apply some
pressure, we’re ready because we don’t want any sin to be hidden but we want to
be totally clean.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
READING
EXODUS 26:1 – 27:21 MATTHEW 25:1-30
Wednesday February 8th,
2012
Where can I go from your
Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the
depths, you are there. If I rise on the
wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand
will guide me your right hand will hold me fast. Ps 139:7 – 10
Have
you ever run into someone you haven’t seen in years at a place totally
unrelated to where you had known them in the past? This happened to Sharon and I a while back.
I
had met Sharon at what used to be the Quiznos in Leon Springs for lunch. It was about half way between our house and
Boerne where she was working at the time.
While we were eating our sandwich a gentleman walked over to me. It was a coach from a high school in Orange,
Texas where we had lived for several years.
In
my football officiating I had worked several games for him over the years and
had not seen him since I had left Orange.
He was with his daughter who had been practicing her barrel racing at
the Rose Palace Rodeo Arena, just down the road form Quiznos. She was preparing for the event at the San
Antonio Rodeo at the SBC Center that week.
What
was strange was Sharon and I never meet there for lunch but we did that day. When we do meet it is generally at noon, but
it was later that day.
From
his part, he didn’t want to eat there with several other restaurants around,
but his daughter had convinced him. All
these things had to be just right or our paths would have never crossed.
You
know, that’s the way it is with God. It
just seems like we are always running into the Holy Spirit. No matter where we’re headed and no matter
what our plans, He always seems to be there.
No matter what we are doing, He is there. And if we have a problem, He is there. When there seems to be a need, He is
there. Like the writer of the Psalms, it
just seems there is no where we can go where we are out of His presence.
And
even though, when we see people from our past, it may or may not always be a
good thing like it was for Coach Hooks and I; with God, it is always a
good thing.
Lord,
thanks for crossing our path today.
Thanks for being there for us all day.
Never be an old friend we haven’t seen in awhile but be our companion
all the time.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
READING
EXODUS 28:1-43 MATTHEW 25:31 – 26:13
Thursday February 9th,
2012
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed
to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,
but you were not willing. Matt 23:37
I
remember as a child going to my Uncle Rash’s house to visit. He had chickens, and they would run around in
the yard and in the barnyard in the back.
They sure were messy creatures!
Still are!
The
only thing cute about them was when a mother hen would gather her chicks
together and usher them in the direction she wanted them to go. She would go after every straggler and try to
bring them under her wing. I remember
one time when there was a chicken hawk that tried to steal one of the chicks
but the mother hen fought it off as she hid the chicks under her wings.
Jesus
said He came for the lost sheep of Israel, Matthew 15:24. From the very beginning they were and are His
chosen people---but they didn’t want His care and protection. They would rather run through the “barnyard
of life” being their own saviors. Isn’t it
interesting that two of the creatures that Jesus use to describe mankind are
the most helpless---sheep and chickens?
Since
they would not receive Him, Jesus said, “go into the highways and byways and
compel others to come.” This then gave
us opportunity to receive this same promise.
But
much like the people of Jerusalem, we still run from His protection. And like the chickens, we still want to be
out in the barnyard of life where the threats of everything from manure of the
world to the heat of life’s pressure and the destruction of the chicken hawk
himself, Satan, is ready to completely destroy us. The Lord wants to hide us under His
protective hand---but, just like them, we won’t let Him.
Lord,
we have all been in a place where we needed your care and protection. We find ourselves there again. Protect us with your mighty hand and deliver
us from the barnyard of this world.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
READING
EXODUS 29:1 – 30:10 MATTHEW 26:14-46
Friday February 10th,
2012
For the word of God is
living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and
attitudes of the heart. Heb 4:12
I
read an unusual article from ABC News a few days ago. A 57-year-old woman from Bethlehem
Pennsylvania said that she spent $5,400 on magic wands to erase negative
thoughts. She said that she purchased
three wands at $1,800 each.
The
article continued by saying; “Joann Zansky said she contacted Bethlehem police
after she became suspicious about the ineffectiveness of the wands.”
My
question is, “Why didn’t she notice they didn’t work after she bought the first
one?”
This
is a very extreme case, I hope! But we
all suffer at one time or another with negative thoughts that haunt us. This seems to be the most difficult of all
tasks in our Christian walk, “forgetting those things which are behind.” (Philippians 3:13)
The
truth is, however, that there is a place where our negative thoughts can be
captured and held captive. It is the
knowledge of His Word and the cleansing power it has in our lives as we
read it everyday. Just a few minutes in His
Word everyday and suddenly there seem to be a cleansing from all of our
negative and destructive thoughts. We
suddenly become able to move forward without dwelling on the negative parts or
our past.
Jesus
came, died and rose again to make this possible for all of us. The curious thing is that He also came from a
town called, “Bethlehem.” The
difference, however, is that He had no magic wands, but His stuff worked. He never sold His release from negative
thoughts; it is free to all who will receive it.
If
people are willing to pay thousands for what is ours for free, maybe we have a
fortune at our fingertips and don’t even realize it.
Let
His Word be your “magic wand” today, it works.
Lord,
we will let your word destroy all the negative thoughts that haunt us. We will let it do surgery on our thinking so
that today our minds will be fixed on you.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
READING
EXODUS 30:11 – 31:18 MATTHEW 26:47-68
WEEKEND SCRIPTURE
READING
EXODUS 32:1 – 33:23 MATTHEW 26:69 – 27:14
EXODUS 34:1 – 35:9 MATTHEW 27:15-31