Acts This is what happened to the first Christians: They agreed they were in for good-no quitting. They agreed in prayer. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and received supernatural power. They followed a daily discipline. They couldn't keep quiet about what they knew to be true. They prayed for fearless confidence in preaching The Message. They all shared with each other. Ananias and Sapphire are proof that secrets will kill you. The followers were 'promptly obedient'. Paul and Barnabas encouraged the believers wherever they went--putting muscle and sinew into their lives, encouraging them to stick with what they had begun and not quit. Making it clear that being a follower wouldn't be easy.
Songs of praise and worship break open the prison doors. Praise and thanksgiving will set me free from any bondage in my mind, too.
Paul gave constant encouragement, lifting the believers' spirits and charging them with fresh hope. When warned of trouble in Jerusalem, Paul told the believers that the issue was not what the Jews might do to him, but rather, what the Master, Jesus, does through Paul's obedience. Awesome reminder of the importance of immediate obedience.
In reading through Acts, and all the things that happened to Paul, I am reminded again that we modern, Western Christians have a very unrealistic view of how the will of God plays out in the circumstances of our lives. Even though Jesus taught that we would have trouble, we somehow think living in God's will for us means everything just works out good. That is so wrong. Paul had joy, contentment, and great productivity for Kingdom work, but hardly anything went the way he thought it should. Let that be a reminder to me again, Lord, that Your ways are so different from mine; Your perspective full and complete, and mine limited.
Romans Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgemental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors.
Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting Him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade.
Offer yourself to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God, and the freedom never quits!
God's gifts and God's call are all under full warranty--never canceled, never rescinded.
So, here's want I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings out the best in you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Love from the center of who you are--don't fake it. Be good friends who live deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
A final word of counsel--Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. I want you to be smart, making sure every good thing is the real thing.
I & II Corinthians God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of His purposes. You won't find it lying around on the surface. Also, see Isaiah 45:3.
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.
Enter this wide open, spacious life. (We) didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively.
Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in your faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular check-ups.
Galatians The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God does for him. Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. Make a careful exploration of who you are, and the work you have been given & sink yourselves into it.
Ephesians Long before we first heard of Christ, and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.
Philipians My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. Live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ.
There's more to this life than trusting in Christ. There's also suffering for Him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting.
I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward-- to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us.
Colossians Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Radical, exuberant praise & thanksgiving!
Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.
I & II Thessalonians God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life, but into something holy and beautiful. Look for the best in each other and always do your best to bring it out. Check out everything, and keep only what's good.
I & II Timothy Exercise daily in God--no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gym are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. Run hard and fast in the faith. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple. This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way.
Titus God's people should be big-hearted and courteous.
Philemon I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Gospels-Walking with Jesus
Matthew 15-28 Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant...if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty. Staying with it--that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end.
Mark The Diligent Servant. Jesus lost no time. He didn't fritter His time away. Everything He did was intentional and purposeful.
Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.
Jesus was never without a story when He spoke.
Love the Lord God with all your passion & prayer & intelligence & energy. And here is the second commandment. Love others as well as you love yourself. There is no other commandment that ranks with these.
Part of (Peter) is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire. Help me not to become tired, and then lazy as an old dog, Lord.
Luke Just like the Devil played upon Jesus' hunger in the wilderness, he will always play on my weakness. Whether it's a habit or a temporary situation. Just like the Devil only retreated temporarily, and lay in wait for another opportunity, he will do that to me. I must always be on guard.
Even though Jesus was doing a very successful ministry & there were still plenty to be healed, Jesus knew that God was sending Him to other villages to do the work of God. I believe I am being sent to another 'village' in PA, even though there is plenty of work to do in TN.
Jesus prayed all night before choosing His disciples. How long do I pray before making a decision?
Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier.
Jesus continued according to plan. Altho what He was doing might not have made sense to others, He knew He was doing the Father's business. He knew this because He was in constant communication with Him. Prayer is the primary source of direction. God's view, not man's.
Even though people were being healed, the people asked Him to leave--too much change, too fast, and they were scared. (Never be afraid of the change Jesus is working in my life.)
Life is not defined by what you have done, even when you have done a lot. We must watch carefully to not be consumed by our possessions. The way to life--to God!--is vigorous and requires your total attention.
If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you'll lose it, but if you let that life go, you'll get a life on God's terms.
John You're tied to the mundane; I'm in touch with what is beyond your horizons. You live in terms of what you see and touch. I'm living on other terms.
Anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal. If any of your wants to serve Me, then follow Me.
This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in My name, according to My will & He'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks.
Mark The Diligent Servant. Jesus lost no time. He didn't fritter His time away. Everything He did was intentional and purposeful.
Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.
Jesus was never without a story when He spoke.
Love the Lord God with all your passion & prayer & intelligence & energy. And here is the second commandment. Love others as well as you love yourself. There is no other commandment that ranks with these.
Part of (Peter) is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire. Help me not to become tired, and then lazy as an old dog, Lord.
Luke Just like the Devil played upon Jesus' hunger in the wilderness, he will always play on my weakness. Whether it's a habit or a temporary situation. Just like the Devil only retreated temporarily, and lay in wait for another opportunity, he will do that to me. I must always be on guard.
Even though Jesus was doing a very successful ministry & there were still plenty to be healed, Jesus knew that God was sending Him to other villages to do the work of God. I believe I am being sent to another 'village' in PA, even though there is plenty of work to do in TN.
Jesus prayed all night before choosing His disciples. How long do I pray before making a decision?
Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier.
Jesus continued according to plan. Altho what He was doing might not have made sense to others, He knew He was doing the Father's business. He knew this because He was in constant communication with Him. Prayer is the primary source of direction. God's view, not man's.
Even though people were being healed, the people asked Him to leave--too much change, too fast, and they were scared. (Never be afraid of the change Jesus is working in my life.)
Life is not defined by what you have done, even when you have done a lot. We must watch carefully to not be consumed by our possessions. The way to life--to God!--is vigorous and requires your total attention.
If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you'll lose it, but if you let that life go, you'll get a life on God's terms.
John You're tied to the mundane; I'm in touch with what is beyond your horizons. You live in terms of what you see and touch. I'm living on other terms.
Anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal. If any of your wants to serve Me, then follow Me.
This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in My name, according to My will & He'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Thru the Old, on to the New--Hallelujah!
Hosea 1-14 I'm after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings.
If you want to live well, make sure your understand all of this. If you know what's good for you, you'll learn this inside and out. God's paths get you where you want to go. Right-living people walk them easily; wrong-living people are always tripping and stumbling. Everything you need to know is found in God.
Joel Each soldier does what he is told--so disciplined, so determined. Each one knows his job--and does it! What is my job? Am I doing it? When I am following hard after God, He is my safe hiding place, no matter what goes on all around.
Amos God, the Master, does nothing without first telling His prophets the whole story. Seek God and live! You don't want to end up with nothing to show for your life.
Obediah-Nahum Jonah didn't turn to God until he was sure he was so deep in trouble he saw no way out. Not until his life 'was slipping away' did he remember God. My prayer, Lord, is that I always run to You, no matter what & never try to hide and fix my own problems.
God has made it plain how to live and what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love. And don't take yourself too seriously--take God seriously!
From the Nathan Intro: God's characteristic way of working is in quietness and through prayer. If we are conditioned to respond to noise and size, we will miss God's work and action.
God is serious business. He won't be trifled with. No one gets by with anything.
God is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help, no matter how desperate the trouble.
Habakkuk No matter what, I'm singing joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God's rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain!
Zephaniah Seek God, all you quietly disciplined people who live by God's justice. Seek God's right ways. Seek a quiet and disciplined life.
Haggai A vivid reminder: God is living and breathing among us right now. Don't be timid. Don't hold back---think ahead. From now on, we can count on a blessing!
Zechariah God's charge to Joshua, the priest: If you live the way I tell you and remain obedient in my service, then you'll make the decisions around here & oversee my affairs. And all my attendants standing here will be at your service. This is my directive and warning as we head back home. This is our day of 'small beginnings'. All of this will follow as we put our minds to a life of responsive obedience to the voice of God.
Malachi I honor and worship God when I bring the very best of me to Him, as a daily, living sacrifice.
Matthew 1-14 Every day I wake up in the middle of something that is already going on, and has been going on for a long time. Why should I be concerned about the outcome of a single day, since I walk with God, & He already knows what will happen? Remember, just like the Wise Men, my life is a pilgrimage to worship Him!
Jesus was prepared for His test by fasting. Should fasting become a more regular part of my walk with Jesus?
The way to life--to God!--is vigorous and requires total attention. What is required is serious obedience--doing what my Father wills.
A command of Jesus--Become what you believe!
I have Chapter 10 marked in my Bible as the Disciples' Manual for Ministry. Here is what I am taking away from that today:
1) Go to the lost and confused right in my neighborhood.
2) When you start, you don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment.
3) Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you.
4) People will turn on you, but don't quit!
5) Don't be intimidated.
6) Don't think the life of a disciple is cozy.
7) If you first concern is to look after yourself, you'll NEVER find yourself. If you forget
yourself, and look to Jesus, you'll find both yourself and Jesus.
8) We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving
someone help.
If you want to live well, make sure your understand all of this. If you know what's good for you, you'll learn this inside and out. God's paths get you where you want to go. Right-living people walk them easily; wrong-living people are always tripping and stumbling. Everything you need to know is found in God.
Joel Each soldier does what he is told--so disciplined, so determined. Each one knows his job--and does it! What is my job? Am I doing it? When I am following hard after God, He is my safe hiding place, no matter what goes on all around.
Amos God, the Master, does nothing without first telling His prophets the whole story. Seek God and live! You don't want to end up with nothing to show for your life.
Obediah-Nahum Jonah didn't turn to God until he was sure he was so deep in trouble he saw no way out. Not until his life 'was slipping away' did he remember God. My prayer, Lord, is that I always run to You, no matter what & never try to hide and fix my own problems.
God has made it plain how to live and what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love. And don't take yourself too seriously--take God seriously!
From the Nathan Intro: God's characteristic way of working is in quietness and through prayer. If we are conditioned to respond to noise and size, we will miss God's work and action.
God is serious business. He won't be trifled with. No one gets by with anything.
God is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help, no matter how desperate the trouble.
Habakkuk No matter what, I'm singing joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God's rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain!
Zephaniah Seek God, all you quietly disciplined people who live by God's justice. Seek God's right ways. Seek a quiet and disciplined life.
Haggai A vivid reminder: God is living and breathing among us right now. Don't be timid. Don't hold back---think ahead. From now on, we can count on a blessing!
Zechariah God's charge to Joshua, the priest: If you live the way I tell you and remain obedient in my service, then you'll make the decisions around here & oversee my affairs. And all my attendants standing here will be at your service. This is my directive and warning as we head back home. This is our day of 'small beginnings'. All of this will follow as we put our minds to a life of responsive obedience to the voice of God.
Malachi I honor and worship God when I bring the very best of me to Him, as a daily, living sacrifice.
Matthew 1-14 Every day I wake up in the middle of something that is already going on, and has been going on for a long time. Why should I be concerned about the outcome of a single day, since I walk with God, & He already knows what will happen? Remember, just like the Wise Men, my life is a pilgrimage to worship Him!
Jesus was prepared for His test by fasting. Should fasting become a more regular part of my walk with Jesus?
The way to life--to God!--is vigorous and requires total attention. What is required is serious obedience--doing what my Father wills.
A command of Jesus--Become what you believe!
I have Chapter 10 marked in my Bible as the Disciples' Manual for Ministry. Here is what I am taking away from that today:
1) Go to the lost and confused right in my neighborhood.
2) When you start, you don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment.
3) Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you.
4) People will turn on you, but don't quit!
5) Don't be intimidated.
6) Don't think the life of a disciple is cozy.
7) If you first concern is to look after yourself, you'll NEVER find yourself. If you forget
yourself, and look to Jesus, you'll find both yourself and Jesus.
8) We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving
someone help.
Monday, March 7, 2011
In Constant Prayer, by Robert Benson
"In Constant Prayer" by Robert Benson was a delightful introduction to the ancient practice of the daily office. I had not heard of this practice, which consists of praying specific prayers three times daily at set times. I did not grow up in a liturgical church, and it appears I may have missed some meaningful traditions.
The author uses his experiences with this ancient practice to examine the command to pray without ceasing. He says that since the beginning of the Jewish nation, these types of prayers have been offered to God. They continued on through the Gentile Christians of the first century, through the Reformation and into the 20th century. He believes our post-modern generation is the first to break this tradition, and we have lost because of it.
I thoroughly enjoyed his story of the impact of praying the office on his life. His self-deprecating honesty touched my heart and made me want to incorporate this into my life. I strongly agree with him when he said that communion with God is several things--and predictable is not one of them.
Disclaimer: I have been given a free copy of this book by BookSneeze to review. I am not obligated to give a positive review to fulfill this obligation.
The author uses his experiences with this ancient practice to examine the command to pray without ceasing. He says that since the beginning of the Jewish nation, these types of prayers have been offered to God. They continued on through the Gentile Christians of the first century, through the Reformation and into the 20th century. He believes our post-modern generation is the first to break this tradition, and we have lost because of it.
I thoroughly enjoyed his story of the impact of praying the office on his life. His self-deprecating honesty touched my heart and made me want to incorporate this into my life. I strongly agree with him when he said that communion with God is several things--and predictable is not one of them.
Disclaimer: I have been given a free copy of this book by BookSneeze to review. I am not obligated to give a positive review to fulfill this obligation.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Major Prophets-DONE
Jeremiah 37-47 There is a theme running through these chapters--God's prophet is hardly ever listened to, even by those who should know better. Also, God is very long suffering towards His people, who are greedy, selfish, stubborn & evil. He gives them so much warning & chance to repent, but they are so busy living in the NOW, they don't care about the future. Like a T-shirt I saw the other day, Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now. God has great promises for His children who want to do the 'hard work' of Kingdom building. Most often, tho, we don't see it nearly as quick as we want.
Jeremiah 48- Lamentations 2 A picture of how my sins can be woven into a rope that harnesses me into captivity. I am especially mindful of Pastor Ralph's statement that 'what I starve dies, but what I feed grows'. Thank You, Lord, for a pastor that doesn't court his church with sweet talk, but helps us face our sin, so we can repent.
Lamentations 3- Ezekiel 12 God proves to be good...to the woman who diligently seeks. Don't be afraid of living among the people to whom we are sent. Our job is to speak to them, whether they listen is not our concern. Just like Ezekiel, we must 'eat the Book & make a full meal of it. Don't dabble, and immerse ourselves in it. Get all the words that God is giving inside of us. Listen obediently. Make them your own. And then, go. Ezekiel didn't want to go where God was taking--like I didn't want to go at first.
Ezekiel 13-23 God acts out of who He is, not how He feels. He acts in a way that evokes honor.
Ezekiel 24-35 Always remember that we are watchmen, waiting to proclaim God's word to our dying generation.
Ezekiel 36-48 I finished Ezekiel, reminded of the 'river of life' in 47, where the Lord had shown me almost 15 years ago, that He wanted me to jump in over my head, not just dabble around the edges, like I had for so long. This week, changes in my life have felt like a tsunami, and I am carried along. But I have felt that this is the will of God & it's right where I want to be! Thank You, Lord, for this reminder today. Your will for me, whatever it may be, is my 'River of Life".
Daniel The three in the furnace KNEW that God could do whatever He wanted. But even if He didn't save them from the fire, they would still worship Him. Like the quote from JK Dean that has helped me see faith more clearly. "My faith is not in an outcome: it is in a Person--no matter the outcome."
This is what Gabriel said about Daniel's fast: 'from the moment you decided to humble yourself to receive understanding...your prayer was heard.' Persistence in prayer is so important. And sometimes so hard.
Jeremiah 48- Lamentations 2 A picture of how my sins can be woven into a rope that harnesses me into captivity. I am especially mindful of Pastor Ralph's statement that 'what I starve dies, but what I feed grows'. Thank You, Lord, for a pastor that doesn't court his church with sweet talk, but helps us face our sin, so we can repent.
Lamentations 3- Ezekiel 12 God proves to be good...to the woman who diligently seeks. Don't be afraid of living among the people to whom we are sent. Our job is to speak to them, whether they listen is not our concern. Just like Ezekiel, we must 'eat the Book & make a full meal of it. Don't dabble, and immerse ourselves in it. Get all the words that God is giving inside of us. Listen obediently. Make them your own. And then, go. Ezekiel didn't want to go where God was taking--like I didn't want to go at first.
Ezekiel 13-23 God acts out of who He is, not how He feels. He acts in a way that evokes honor.
Ezekiel 24-35 Always remember that we are watchmen, waiting to proclaim God's word to our dying generation.
Ezekiel 36-48 I finished Ezekiel, reminded of the 'river of life' in 47, where the Lord had shown me almost 15 years ago, that He wanted me to jump in over my head, not just dabble around the edges, like I had for so long. This week, changes in my life have felt like a tsunami, and I am carried along. But I have felt that this is the will of God & it's right where I want to be! Thank You, Lord, for this reminder today. Your will for me, whatever it may be, is my 'River of Life".
Daniel The three in the furnace KNEW that God could do whatever He wanted. But even if He didn't save them from the fire, they would still worship Him. Like the quote from JK Dean that has helped me see faith more clearly. "My faith is not in an outcome: it is in a Person--no matter the outcome."
This is what Gabriel said about Daniel's fast: 'from the moment you decided to humble yourself to receive understanding...your prayer was heard.' Persistence in prayer is so important. And sometimes so hard.
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