HE RESCUES

Wednesday, August 8, 2012 - Jeremiah 1,2; John 10

S - Jeremiah 1:19  "They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.

O - God says through Jeremiah that the enemy will indeed attack, but they will not win.

A - So many times I feel attacked.  Stuff happens all around me and to me that I have to battle against.  God says to stand and fight.  He is with me and will rescue me.

P - Lord, help me to remember that You want me to hold my ground.  I am not to retreat when I feel attacked. I believe that You will rescue me.

CHILL

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 - Isaiah 65-66; Psalm 62; John 3

S - Psalm 62:5  Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

O - David is reminding himself to chill.

A - Nobody can calm me down like God.  My husband, in the past, has tried by raising his voice at me and telling me to "Calm down!"  But, truthfully, that command from him has the exact opposite effect.  In contrast, my God somehow wraps me up in Him and just tells me He is with me.  And that's enough.

P - Lord, I thank You for rest and peace and hope.  More, Lord.

God be praised

Wednesday, July 25, 2012 - Isaiah 43-45; 1 Peter 4

S - 1 Peter 4:11b If you serve, you should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

O - We should do our serving on God's strength, not our own.

A - If a person is praised for their ability to serve or for how much they serve, that person is receiving praise, not God.  God is the one who is to receive all praise and all glory.  So, if someone doesn't serve because they don't have the energy, or the time, or the fortitude, that is maybe when they should just show up to see God work through them.

P - I give You all praise, glory and honor, Lord.  Use me.

FAVORITISM

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 - Isaiah 32-35; James 2

S - James 2:1  My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.

O - James is telling us not to prefer the rich, pretty people over the poor filthy ones.

A - Jesus dies for us all - even the best of us, even the worst of us.  So, what makes us think we can exclude people because of their social status or the clothes they wear or even because of the way they smell?  I think this directive applies mostly to those of us who favor pretty people, but also, brace yourself, for those of us who favor the poor and destitute.  What?  Think about it.  Favoring one means lowering the status of another.  Jesus died even for those who don't think they have a need for Him.

P - Lord, help me to scorn no one, to just love the one You put before me, regardless of their status in life or their attitude or their belief system.  Amen.

"By Faith!"

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Is. 19-21; Heb. 11

"By Faith!"

S-Heb 11:8  ”By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

O- Abraham heard the voice of God and was called out of the land of Ur not knowing where he was going.   

A – God is going to call on us.  He is going to call us out.  He is going to call us out of our seats, out of what is familiar to us, out of our comfort zones.  He is going to ask us to walk by faith and not by sight, not what is familiar.  He wants us to see, to know, to learn, and to experience new things in Him.  In doing this we learn more about our God.  We learn that we can trust Him. That He has our best interests at heart in whatever He calls us out to do.  Step out, step out and experience the journey that the Lord has set forth for you.

P-Lord as you call me out, I pray that my faith will increase all the more as I step out in obedience to your call. Amen!

Fear God

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - Isaiah 8-10, Hebrews 8


S - Isaiah 8:13 The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. 


O - The previous verse told us not to fear what most people fear.  We are to fear God alone. 


A - This does not mean we are to be AFRAID of God.  Fearing Him means to be in reverential AWE of Him, not to be in dread of His presence.  If we are in right relationship with God, there is no need to be in dread of Him.  


P - Lord, help me to walk in Your ways always.  I thank You for the absence of fear and the full knowledge of Your great love and protection.

JESUS

Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - 2 Kings 15-16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

S - Hebrews 1:3a The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.


O - Looking at Jesus shows us who God is.


A -  When I think of God's awesomeness and being, I get overwhelmed.  It is more than my finite mind can handle.  But, when I think about Jesus, THAT I can handle.  God came down to earth in a form I could wrap my little mind around, so that I could understand the depth of His love for me.


P - Lord, for all those I pray for, I ask that they would be able to see You  and understand how much You truly do love them.  And use me, Lord, to do my part in helping them to see.

Bless the Lord, O my soul

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Amos7-9; Ps. 104; Titus 2

Bless The Lord, O My Soul

S-Ps. 104-1 “Bless the Lord, O My Soul!”

O- The psalmist is giving praise to God and all the credit as the Creator of all things.

A –Giving God credit where credit is due should be at the top of our hearts.  He not only is the Creator of the universe, but He is the creator of all things good.  We should practice exercising our praise muscles daily, thereby blessing our Heavenly Father and bringing Him joy.  He delights in our praise and our recognition of who He is. Teachings from the time of the Egyptians to present try to convey if not convince us that the universe was put together by accident of by some other false god, but our trust is  in our God and all truth written within the teachings of His Word.  Bless the Lord, O my Soul….and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.

P-Instead of a prayer Father, my soul desires to praise You.  You are the Creator of the heavens and earth and all that is good.  You deserve praise just because…..You are good.  Praise the Lord O my soul!

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Amos7-9; Ps. 104; Titus 2

Bless The Lord, O My Soul

S-Ps. 104-1 “Bless the Lord, O My Soul!”

O- The psalmist is giving praise to God and all the credit as the Creator of all things.

A –Giving God credit where credit is due should be at the top of our hearts.  He not only is the Creator of the universe, but He is the creator of all things good.  We should practice exercising our praise muscles daily, thereby blessing our Heavenly Father and bringing Him joy.  He delights in our praise and our recognition of who He is. Teachings from the time of the Egyptians to present try to convey if not convince us that the universe was put together by accident of by some other false god, but our trust is  in our God and all truth written within the teachings of His Word.  Bless the Lord, O my Soul….and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.

P-Instead of a prayer Father, my soul desires to praise You.  You are the Creator of the heavens and earth and all that is good.  You deserve praise just because…..You are good.  Praise the Lord O my soul!

WORDS OF WISDOM

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 - 2 Kings 13,14; 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3

S - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God's people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

O - Paul is charging Timothy to continue on in his faith and to stay in the Word for wisdom.

A - Whenever I feel ill-equipped, inadequate, at a loss for words, I must remember to return to the Word.  Seeking Godly counsel from others is good, but I need to be able to glean from the Word what is or isn't right.  All counsel must be able to be backed up by the Word.

P - Lord, help me to live my life by Your Word more and more every day.  Thank You that it is as unchanging, relevant, and wisdom-filled for me today as it was in Timothy's day.

Providing for our own

2 Ki 10; 2 Chr. 22,23; 1 Tim 5

S-1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than the unbeliever.

O- Paul instructs those in the faith that they are to provide for the members of their household who can no longer provide for themselves because of age, and further proclaims that if we do not purpose this, we have denied the faith and are worse than the unbeliever.

A -In today’s society it isn’t a popular subject on taking care of our elderly.   The argument would be made up of many reasons why they cannot, but Paul instructs those of us that are of the household of faith, that we have the responsibility of taking care of those who have become aged and can no longer work or have become both physically and mentally incapable of doing for themselves.  Our responsibility would be to see that every provision is in place for them and if at all possible to see that we ourselves each individually minister to their needs on every level, emotional, physical and spiritual.  If we take on the attitude that they are no longer useful to us, or serve no purpose we have lost God’s definition of the value and purpose of a life and how precious it is from beginning to end to Him.

P-Father help us to love and honor our elderly.  Help us to provide, comfort and minister to each of their needs in a way that would be pleasing to you.  Remind us that we are of the household of faith and that we are your hands and feet bringing and administering your love.  Help us to remember the commandment that we are to honor our mother and father all the way up to the time when you call them home. Amen.

SPITTING IN GOD'S FACE

Wednesday, June 20, 2012 – 1 Kings 6; 2 Chronicles 3; Psalm 97; Romans 1

S - Romans 1:32 (The Message) SAnd it's not as if they don't know better. They know perfectly well they're spitting in God's face. And they don't care—worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best!

O – Paul is speaking of sinful humans.

 

A – I think about my family, my friends, people I just know in passing.  I know they don’t care.  I know they not only sin, but they champion those who do.  And I hope they didn’t learn this behavior from me.  I don’t think they have, but reading this scripture makes me pause and take a close look at myself.  Can anything I am doing be equated to spitting in God’s face? 

P - Oh, Lord, please, no.  I love You more than anything.  Jesus, stand before me always so that I can see You clearly and choose You and Your ways…every time.

LEARNING THE DIFFERENCE

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 – 1 Kings 13,14; 2 Chronicles 12; Philippians 3

S – 2 Chronicles 12:8 They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.

O – The Lord spoke to the prophet Shemaiah and said Judah would become subject to Shishak, king of Egypt.

A – Sometimes I wonder why I have had to go through what I have in my life to get to where I am today.  It seems I spent the first 29 years of my life looking for and yearning for love personified.  I don’t recall ever having anybody tell me back then who Jesus was and what He did for me by dying on the cross.  I never knew how much He loved me and I believe I would have just jumped into His arms back then and never looked back if I had had the opportunity.

But, now I am crazy in love with Him.  I know what it is like to love and not have that love returned, to serve and not be appreciated, to follow, only to get stomped on.  I was chasing after the wrong lovers.  But maybe because of what I went through, I SO appreciate the love I experience now with Jesus.  I certainly don’t take it for granted and I know that He is the only One worthy of my utmost devotion.

P – Lord, I love You so much.  I don’t know how You could possible use me to show others the way to You and Your wonderfulness, but I ask that You do, so that others would truly know how great Your love is and follow You into Your kingdom to serve You forever!

GOOD WORKS

Wednesday, June 6, 2012 - Ecclesiastes 1-3; Psalm 45; Ephesians 2

S - Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

O - Paul had just finished saying we are saved by grace, not works, but now he says we were made to do good works.

A - I was created to do good works.  I am not serving as a way to somehow earn my spot in heaven.  I am doing good works because this is what I was created by God to do.

P - Lord, thank You for saving me by Your grace.  Jesus, strengthen me and enable me to do good works.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - Proverbs 13-15; Romans 11 - BEYOND RECOVERY


S - Romans 11:11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.


O- Paul is speaking of God's chosen people who have rejected Him.


A - The Israelites are not beyond recovery.  And so then, neither am I.  I am not hopeless.  I see the freedom that lies in total devotion to God and I want it.  I want it enough to leave my old ways behind and to attain it for myself.


P - Lord Jesus, thank You that true freedom comes from You.  Teach me to walk in this freedom of recovery and provoke others to envy what You have given me so much that they want it for themselves.

Saturday, May 26, 2012 Prov. 1-3; Rom 7 S=Scripture; O=Observation; A=Application; P=Prayer “The Law Cannot Save” S – Romans 7:6 “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. O- Paul addresses the difference between the law and grace, the flesh and the spirit, and how the law cannot save us from death. A – We hear it all the time, “ I’m a good person, I don’t do this and I don’t do that.,” or “ I have a knowledge of what is written in the Ten Commandments and I pretty much follow them. “ and “I was raised up in Sunday School and know right from wrong.” These are all good things and we need to practice what we have learned from them every day, but the written word of the law although holy and good is not what saves us from the sins of the flesh. Its purpose is to reveal and make us consciously aware of the sin that is in our lives. It does not produce righteousness within us apart from the saving grace of Christ Jesus. By the law we walk in death, by grace we walk in newness of life. So, which will it be life with Christ or death without Him? I choose life! P – Father thank you for delivering us from the letter of the law through and by the saving grace of your Son who gave us newness of life to those who believe. Amen.

Friday June 25, 2012
1 King, 10-11;2 Chronicles 9
Romans 6

IT’S FREE
S-o 6:23  :For the wages of sin pays in death, but this bountiful free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.”

O-Paul is explaining that even though we are free from sin…that it no way gives us the permission to sin..

A- I love the word FREE…when I see a free sign on things I must check it out!  Well when I gave my life to Jesus He offered me the FREE gift of eternal life…how awesome is that?  This  does not give me permission to do my own thing…but should inspire me to do all I can for the Kingdom.

P-Thank  you God for the free gift of salvation, abundant life and eternal life.

RIGHTEOUSNESS

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 – 2 Chronicles 6,7; Psalm 135; Romans 4 

S – Romans 4:4-5 (The Message) If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift. But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.

O – Have faith that only God can make us holy. This is righteousness.

A – I know that apart from God I am nothing.  I can’t climb a mountain called “Holy” and reach this summit called “Kingdom of God.”  It is not by my efforts that I am saved from eternity in hell.  It is only because of God and who He is.  He loves me and He just wants to scoop me up in His big hand and transport me to His kingdom.  No climbing required.  Just faith that His hand is there.

P – Lord, I love You.  Thank You for Your gift.  I want to know You more.  Reveal more of Yourself to me, in Jesus’ name I pray.

Encouragement 101

Sunday May 20, 2012 – 1 Kings 6; 2 Chronicles 3; Psalms 97; Romans 1

S:  Romans 1:12 (Amp):  That is, that we may be mutually strengthened and encouraged and comforted by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

O:  As believers when we share our faith and struggles with one another we are both encouraged and comforted.

A:  I love how that works.  Whether you are the one imparting encouragement or the one receiving it – when two believers get real and share their victories and struggles with one another both are encouraged and both of them are blessed with renewed faith.  We were created to be relational beings.  It was never God’s intent for us to live solitary lives but to live real and out loud – to share our hurts and disappointments; to share our struggles and our victories.  Not pretending allows other people around us to pray for and encourage us.  We ALL need to be encouraged.  Take a risk.  Get real.  Share with someone else what you are going through.  Seek out someone today who you think may need encouragement and be an encourager.   Take a risk.

P:  Father God I love that you made me to need other people.  I surrender myself completely to you.  I lay down anything like pride that tries to prevent me from letting anyone see my insides.  Lord let me be me today.  The real me.  No pretending.  Let me encourage those who come to me with their needs and Lord let me be open to receive the encouragement of others who you place in my path.    Amen.

ACKNOWLEDGE

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - 1 Kings 1; 1 Chronicles 28; Psalm 91; 1 Thessalonians 5

S - 1 Thessalonians 5:12 Now we ask of you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.

O - This is how we Christians should treat each other.

A - Acknowledge people for what they do.  Criticism flies so easily.  If I find it easy to find wrong and hard to find right in a person or thing or happening, then God tells me to check MY attitude.  I'm so grateful God doesn't do that with me.  He looks at me and sees the gold.  I need to do likewise.

P - Father God, I thank You for Your son, Jesus.  You dwell within me.  Help me to look around and see all things good that You created.