4 THINGS

by Vivian Bills

Wednesday - March 31, 2010 - Judges 9,10; Psalm 49; 1 Corinthians 16

S - 1 Corinthians 16:13 - Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

O - Paul was giving the Corinthians a final directive in his letter to them. Watch out for the enemy; don't waiver in faith; be brave; and don't be weak.

A - We would do well to take these four directives to heart. Some of us have strong faith and yet forget to be on the lookout for temptation. Some of us are very brave and bold in demanor, but are weak when it comes to resisting the enemy.

P - Lord, I am reflecting on this verse for a while. Help me, Lord, to be on my guard. Help me to stand firm in the faith and to be courageous and strong.

EXHAUSTED, YET KEEPING UP THE PURSUIT

by Cathy Weymouth

Tuesday 3/30/10 Judg 8; Ps 42; 1 Cor 15 EXHAUSTED, YET KEEPING UP THE PURSUIT

S - 1 Cor 15:58 MSG, Stand your ground.  And don't hold back.  Throw yourselves into the work of the master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort. Judg 8:4,5 - Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it.  He said to the men of Succoth, "Give my troops some bread; they are worn out."

O - Gideon was in pursuit of the kings of Midian, whom the Lord had promised they would conquer.  Gideon asked two towns to feed them, but his request was denied. Yet they continued on and did indeed capture the kings. 

A - I can relate to the Corinthians verse... "Throw yourself into the work of the master."  That sounds very familiar to me indeed!  Yesterday, because of my present fatigue created by this Tune the Temple project, it was suggested to me by my counselor that I give up Tune the Temple and find a less taxing job. Whoa... Well, needless to say, I didn't receive that very well!  So my other option is learning to put limits on how much I work each day.  I feel like the troops, "exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit."  Nope, I am not giving up.

P - Father, teach me how to put limits on my work.  You know I am driven and I like to complete things that I begin.  Show me how to readjust my work so that I can indeed be refreshed with bread as I keep up the pursuit.  Ps 42:1, As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you.  My soul thirsts for God. 

I CHOOSE TRUST

Diana Kriesel

Monday, 3/29/10 – Judges 6,7; Psalm 52; 1 Corinthians 14 – “I CHOOSE TRUST”

S – Psalm 52:8 – “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in and confidently rely on the loving-kindness and the mercy of God forever and ever.” [Amplified Bible]

O – This gloomy psalm takes a bright turn as David compares himself to a green olive tree, which implies abundance of grace, peace and prosperity. He is saying that though the enemy has made many efforts to destroy him, he has been kept unharmed, like a green and flourishing olive tree—protected in the courts of the house of God; safe under the care and watch of God. David is flourishing because of God’s unfailing love, to whom he vows to trust and praise forever.

A – I love the shift in this psalm from doom and gloom to a solid place of trust in God. This gives us hope for times when we feel like everything is coming against us, we can know that we are planted, safe, and will flourish under the mighty hand and watchful eye of our God.

P- Lord, take us to deeper levels of trust in who You are and how You care for us. Keep us mindful of Your faithfulness in spite of our circumstances; so that, like David, we can confidently “rely on the loving-kindness and mercy of our God."

FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW CHRIST

Diana Kriesel

Friday, 3/26/10 – Joshua 23,24; Psalm 44; 1 Corinthians 11 – “FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW CHRIST”

S – 1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (NIV)

O – Paul truly made Christ his example in all things and it is from his dedication to the Lord that he can call us to follow him, for Christ had become his model in all that he did. Another translation is “Be imitators of me as I imitate Christ.” This verse comes as he closed out chapter 10, where it is obvious that Paul not only preached doctrine that they should believe, but led a life they could imitate. In essence, he is saying, “imitate me; live as you see me live, because I am living as Christ lived.” Paul knew that Christ did not please Himself, but gave Himself for us; laying aside His divine glory. This means we are to follow Christ first, and then others only as the follow Christ.

A- This verse calls us to a life of excellence because we are living our lives out before others. As people watch our lives, they should see a life being lived unto Christ that is worthy to be imitated, and that imitation would bring glory to God because it would all reflect Christ. Paul is saying, “Don’t follow me any further than I am following Christ. But where you see Christ in me, follow.”

P – Lord, we desire to be a pure reflection of You and Your ways. Keep us mindful of the truth that people are reading our lives. When they do, may they see Your life across each page, and may they not want to put down the book and walk away, but be drawn closer to You because of our love and dedication to You.

Instructions for Living

S: Joshua 22:5 - But take careful heed to do the commandments and the law which Moses commanded you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.

O: Israel has been given its inheritance and its people are being sent into their new territory to rest. These are the instructions they were given for living.

A: What amazing instructions for living! Love God, Walk in His Ways, Keep his commandments, Hold fast to him and serve Him. It seems incredible that the instructions for living a "righteous life" haven't changed over time. God hasn't changed the rules. God hasn't changed. His love for his children has never waivered. We are about to celebrate the season that celebrates just how much He loves us - he sent his beloved son to die on the cross for our sins. In light of what he has done for me, I want to seek more and more to follow his instructions with a joyful heart.

P: Father God thank you for your word. Thank you that your word shows us the depth of love you have for your children - that you provided us with instructions to live by. Father God impress upon me today the certainty of your love for me, the certainty of your plans for me and my family. Teach me to follow you Lord. To Love You. To Walk in ALL of your ways. To Cling to you and to Serve you. Amen.

RELATABLE

by Vivian Bills

Wednesday - March 24, 2010 - Joshua 18-20; 1 Corinthians 9

S - 1 Corinthians 9:22 - I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

O - Paul did not stand totally separate from the unsaved waiting for them to come to him to be saved. He went to them and made himself relatable.

A - "I was once like you" is a great witnessing statement. When people see that it is not impossible to escape the bondage of sin, then they can see the possibility of their own salvation. "God could never forgive me." How do we counter this statement? By finding common ground. "If God can forgive me, he can certainly forgive you."

P - Lord, help me to show others that I was once like them and you forgave me and now I am free. I am so free in You, Lord and it is a much, much better place to be! Hallelujah!

REFRESHING SPRINGS

by Cathy Weymouth

Tuesday 3/23/10 - Josh 15-17; 1 Cor 8 - REFRESHING SPRINGS

S - Josh 15:18,19 "What is it?  What can I do for you?" Caleb asked.  And she (his daughter) replied, "Give me another present!  For the land you gave me is a desert. Give us some springs, too!"  Then he gave her the upper and lower springs.

O - In conquering the promised land, Joshua was assigning territories to families as directed by the Lord.  Caleb received a portion - his inheritance - and drove out the enemies. He also promised his daughter, Acsah, to anyone who would attack and capture the city of Debir. This was done by his nephew, who received her as a bride and the land as inheritance.  Then she asked for additional land, land with springs, as a wedding gift.

A - It is okay to ask more from our Father! Having received desert land, Acsah asked for springs and pools of water; a land of refreshment.  Sometimes we are caught up in the work and responsibilities of life and we miss the refreshing the Lord wants to give us.  I am guilty; I am realizing how driven I am. I need refreshing. Just as Caleb was very willing to give his daughter refreshing springs, our Father is wanting to give refreshment to us as well. It is part of our inheritance.

P - Father, give me those refreshing springs today, I ask.  Before I begin my work day, I am going to sit and meet with you.  Please replenish this tired soul, I pray.