Scripture Reading: Genesis 1-3

Observation: God creates the universe in six days and rests on the seventh. He created man, gave him dominion over all creatures and all living things on earth - and woman He created to be companion to man. Satan in the form of a snake perverted the process by causing them to disregard God’s command – which was to stay clear of the tree of knowledge. God later dealt with the snake, as well as Adam and Eve for their misdeeds.

Application: God creating the heavens, the stars and planets and all of the earth and its inhabitants, is the ultimate 'new beginning' - the epitomy of 'newness of life'. As a new year begins, and the old fades into history, we need to remember that the true living God that created all this is still in the business of providing all the necessary components, and all the protection needed for an amazing and victorious life here on earth - especially in the after-life. All we need to do is believe in Him by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives.
     He not only created the entire universe, He maintains it to this day. Until He chooses to do otherwise, we can certainly trust Him to take care of us such that we don’t have to listen to any other voice messing with our minds and with our hearts.
     If we believe that He is the awesome God that He is, than we ought to stop the devil at the door and command him to hit the road, for he can never bring anything that equals (let alone surpass), what God provides and plans for our lives. We just need to remember to send Jesus to the door when the devil comes knocking. We do that by getting on our knees daily; seeking Him for strength, courage and direction, and giving Him the praise and worship that He so richly deserves.

Prayer: Lord as this new year begins and unfolds, I pray that You be exalted and lifted up in my life. Have Your way in me O God, and let me be pliable in Your hands.

Scripture Reading: Acts 5-6

Observation: Ananias and his wife Sapphira like others in the group of believers with Peter and the disciples, sold their land and property and donated its proceeds for the cause. They didn't have to donate any of it so when Ananias and Sapphira pretended to have given all of the money, keeping a part of it for themselves was a sin against the Holy Spirit - which cost them their lives.
     With the power of God manifested in their lives the disciples performed many works of wonder in healing the sick, casting out demons, and taking care of the spiritual needs of the people. As a result, the apostles were jailed by the jealous Sadducees - who were surprised to find them free and preaching God's Word the following day. Again the Sadducees took them in - though this time they were gentler for fear of the people rising to the defense of the apostles. The apostles ministered to the people about the Messiah who died and rose again to be at the Father's right hand, in order to save those who would receive and believe in Him as the Son of God. Needless to say, that didn't sit well with their captors. The Sadducees wanted them dead but convinced by a Pharisee named Gamaliel that it would be best to let them go, they set the apostles free. Gamaliel's argument was that if the apostle's message was false, they would soon fade away and their followers would disperse. Otherwise God is the One the Sadducees would contend with if they caused them harm.
     Within the community of the believers, an issue came up of partiality among the widows of one group against another. The apostles met and decided to appoint others to deal with such issues so they can have more time for prayer and ministry.
     Powerful miracles being performed by one named Stephen caused a group called 'Jews of the Freed Slaves', much anger and opposition. Since they couldn't compete with Stephen's arguments, the Jews concocted a scheme against Stephen involving false accusations of treason and blasphemy against God's Word that led to his arrest.

Application: Just as Ananias and his wife Sapphira lost their lives for keeping part of the whole that they had promised to God, committing our lives to the Lord is of little or no value unless it is all the way.
     The story of Ananias and Sapphira was graphic and to the point. Some may even say that it was extreme, since they were giving up a portion of the proceeds of the sale of their land for the cause. I believe that it was meant to emphasize the point that even though giving to the Lord is our choice, we can't disrespect the King of Kings by our misleading or deceptive practices… as if to say, "He doesn't know everything".
     We have got to guard ourselves against the ‘old self’ - the ‘self’ that operated under different rules and values. These are rules and values that were supposed to have been crucified with the old self when we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives. It is when we take our eyes off of the Lord, and let down our guards by - for example, neglecting or taking lightly our quality time with the Lord, that the ‘old self’ can sneak back in. Ananias and his wife Sapphira obviously did, and paid with their lives.
     Surrender is total! Anything less is surrendering in part; there is no such thing as surrendering in part. Anything less than a total surrender would have to go under the heading of 'an arrangement' or 'a settlement' or 'a compromise'. For example, to avoid the stigma of a 'guilty' verdict, the party on the losing side of a court case can reach a compromise by offering a financial settlement to the other side without conceding defeat. Try convincing that party that they had just threw in the towel. Surrender is an acknowledgment of God's supremacy and our desperate need of His guidance and love in our lives.
     The other point to be made from today's reading is that we can't make a show of giving more than we actually are. We shouldn't be making a show of giving - period. The Pharisees perfected that practice and were reviled by the Lord for it.

Prayer: You came to die for my sins Lord; not for a part, but the whole. You died for all… not just part of mankind, but all of mankind. Thank You for giving Your life, all of Your life that all of mankind may receive life everlasting. Help me to do the same with my life in giving to You all that I am that You may live in and through me.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 40,47; 1 Corinthians 9-10

Observation: (Psalms 40) The first three verses of this chapter are highlighted in my bible with the date - 17th of Dec, 1999 pencilled in to note my receiving them from the Lord. "¹ I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. ² He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a Rock and gave me a firm place to stand. ³ He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." (Psalms 40:1-3) Waiting on the Lord, trusting in Him, putting Him first and seeking Him for provision and deliverance are the focus of this chapter.
     (Psalm 47) In this 47^th chapter of Psalms are nine verses of rejoicing and praising God - which emphsize the joy of serving the Lord.
     (1 Cor 9-10) Paul discusses our right to reap the blessings of our labor, especially from the work our Lord has called us to do for the Kingdom. He also reminds us that we need to be all things to all men (without compromise, of course) so we can win some to the Lord. He then makes the comparison of running a race, to preaching the good news. In chapter 10, he delivers his version of, 'Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat them', recalling the deeds of Israel when they chose to worship idols in Moses' time. He also clarifies the issues of food sacrificed to idols and sensitivities to the faith of others.

Application:  (Psalms 40) To wait on the Lord is:

• to focus on Him with our spirit, soul, heart and mind,

• to know the Master's voice,

• to trust Him,

• to put Him first,

• to know that what He planned for us cannot be equaled - let alone… surpassed,

• to want what He purposed for our lives,

• to know that His timing can never be wrong and that the green light will come (because 'wait' means… there's more to come),

• to refuse to settle,

• to refuse to compromise,

• to refuse to be bullied or intimidated by circumstances (whether it'd be physical, financial, personal or otherwise),

• to be obedient,

• to take our hands off of the steering wheel and give Him total and unconditional control of our lives… to surrender,

• to abide

• to be steadfast

• to know that He is faithful
  
  And finally, the essence or the heart of it all - to wait on the Lord is …

• to know that He, and He alone is God.

     (Psalms 47) As this chapter proclaims, God wants us to rejoice and to have a heart of thanksgiving and of praise. If our "… faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb 11:1), and we know that "… without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6) - rejoicing, thanksgiving and praise, will serve to seal that same faith. We need therefore to rejoice and to lift Him up in thanksgiving and in praise. Thanksgiving completes our faith; surrender confirms it.
     (1 Corinthians 9-10) To not accept recompense from doing His work is to put God in a 'box'. The truth is that while it is clear that it's not about what we can get (materialistically speaking), it is up to the Lord as to how He provides for our needs. One of the things God is teaching me ever since I've been surrendering to His will, is no matter what people bring to my door (or to my life) as a gift, I am to receive and give God thanks and praise Him for it. Also, giving to the work of God not only blesses the workers, but in particular… the givers.
     'Being all things to all men', in our personal ministry is an extension of our servitude role, as humility would allow. "To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." (1 Corinthians 9:22) So let's continue to pray and seek God for humility.
     As in any competition, we need to be prepared physically as well as spiritually, to move in a moments notice to serve Him in any capacity. That includes staying, to the best of our ability, physically fit and healthy. As we see basketball players tearing off their velcroed warm-up attires when their coaches call them off the bench, we shouldn't hold on so tightly to possessions and relationships that it hinders our immediate obedience to our Heavenly Father.

Prayer: Thank You Father for finishing the good work that You started in me.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 28

Observation: As others in the Book of Proverbs, this chapter promotes and encourages living righteously through the understanding of God's Word. Wisdom is always in the forefront of its message, for it is what reveals the true nature of God - and to those who would follow and obey Him, it teaches godliness and true love.

Application: Some time ago the Lord gave me a hypothetical situation to afford me a glimpse into His great love for us.
     It was during one of the times when my wife and I took time for ourselves and go to the movies. Before the movie started, she got in line at a nearby cappuccino stand for her latte and cream. I had gone to get myself some ice cream at a nearby kiosk. On my return I saw that she was by now close to the front of the line, so I waited off to the side next to a lady who was, I later found out, also waiting for her spouse or boyfriend who was standing in the same line my wife was but further to the back. She must have thought I had evil intentions seeing that she was standing there on her own. She suddenly left the spot she was in next to me and moved over to stand by her man in line, and they both glanced in my direction. It didn't dawn on me right away, but when it did (which was after I had walked off with my wife when she joined me after getting her coffee), I was disappointed to say the least. I tried to understand her concern but I was still disappointed. I couldn't help thinking to myself, 'Would she have done that if I was not a person of color?'
     During my morning prayer-time a couple of days later, He used that same incident to hypothesize a situation that would allow me to catch a glimpse of His mercy and great love for those who would repent of their sins and seek Him for forgiveness.
     Into my heart the Lord said, "What if today, you were walking through the same part of Gateway Mall and that same lady was also there. Upon seeing you, she walks up to you and tell you that she'd been hoping to run into you. She felt so bad about thinking the worst of you when you stood next to her a few days earlier. When she realized you were simply waiting for your wife, she was so sorry for her mistake that she seeked you out to ask for your forgiveness." Then the Lord asked, "What would you do and how would you feel?" I noticed that I was flooded with emotions that I had not expected. I felt not just forgiveness but true love and compassion for this lady. I was thinking to myself: I would so lovingly embrace her for her genuine remorse and humble disposition, because I realize that such an act demonstrates humility, honesty and courage. The love I felt in my heart for someone who would do that was so overwhelming that it brought me to tears.
     I had brushed up against the great love of God and experienced a little sample of His compassion for those who would approach Him for forgiveness with humility and a spirit of contrition. "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)
     Not that it matters, but was it a question of the color of my skin? I've thought about that question for some time now, and what I've concluded is that it really wasn't. She would not have walked away if it was a black older woman... maybe not even a black younger woman. In which case she was inadvertently paying me a compliment. One could argur that, she might have thought I was still young and agile enough to grab her purse and run like the wind. What a nice thing to think of some grey haired old man in his mid fifties. But seriously, the one thing I'm sure of is that what God wanted me to take away from that incident is the fact that He loves those who would come to Him for forgiveness of any wrong they've done. When we repent of our sins and come to Him with a heart of contrition, it touches His heart and pleasing in His sight.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for revealing to me a vision of Your great love for us. Please help me to repent of my sins and to seek Your forgiveness, with swiftness and a contrite heart.

Scripture: Obadiah 1

Observation: This prophetic word the Lord gave through the prophet Obadiah is about arrogance, indifference and a total lack of compassion for others. It also portrays God's faithfulness to protect and fight for the innocent, as well as His refusal to tolerate wickedness.

Application: In our daily walk in Him, we should be encouraged by the fact that He honors our faith and love in Him, and that arrogance, as all wickedness, doesn't pay.
     The Lord is a living God! He is not asleep or dead. He sees everything and knows everything. He is also ever so faithful. He is true to His Word and His Word endures forever - so His faithfulness endures forever. His Word says that He loves and will watch over, protect and provide for those who choose to put their faith in Him. That means if defeating the enemy and putting him in his place is our need, He will provide. He has done it over and over again and again. He is not about to change His MO now. We can trust Him to do the same for us. But we need to remember all that He has done for us. We need never to take Him for granted and we need to obey His precepts which require us to love others and to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength.

Prayer: Thank You Lord that we can always count on You to deliver us from our enemies. Help me Lord to remember all that You've done and to thank You for the past, present and future blessings of Your love and faithfulness.

Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 20-24

Observation: Because of foolish pride, David did wrong in God's sight by counting the number of fighting men there were in Israel.
     "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel." (1 Chronicles 21:1) The Lord was infuriated and punished Israel for David's sin, but relented after seeing the devastation it was causing His people.
     "¹⁴ So the LORD sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead. ¹⁵ And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, 'Enough! Withdraw your hand'.” (1 Chronicles 21:14-15)

Application: In the past, I've made choices that I knew might not be right, but felt wasn't that big a deal. I allowed my desire to satisfy the flesh drown out the Lord's small still voice. In reality, if we played back the VCR or DVR recordings of our life, turned up the volume of what the Lord was saying right before the wrong choices we made, we just might make out the words of His small still voice saying something like "Don't go there!" I'm sure that was true with David, as it's been with every believer since the beginning of time. God always speaks to us; guiding us to do the right thing when we're facing choices. When we do catch a whiff or a hint of the Lord's voice saying anything, we need to stop everything, and listen more intently. The Holy Spirit will help us listen with our hearts, hear, understand and obey the Lord's direction for the decision we're about to make. In that same process, we can understand the impact of the choices we're about to make and the consequences of failing to heed His directives.
     I need to seek Him and walk in His presence daily that I may be receptive to His voice. If something is nagging at me and just won't let me be, then I should ask the Lord about it - including seeking Him for confirmation one way or another. Listening for His small still voice with the understanding that He will answer is the next step.

Prayer: Lord please forgive me for the carelessness of my sinful ways, which showed a lack of appreciation for the weight of Your directions in my life. Help me to refrain from activities that take lightly Your Word and Your purpose in my life.

Scripture Reading: Jonah 1-4

Observation: Jonah knows what God wanted him to do, which was to prophesy to the people of Nineveh about their approaching doom, but chose to run away from the Lord instead. On the ship bound for Tarshish the other occupants found out through casting lots that he was the cause of the deadly storm they were going through. After casting him overboard Jonah was swallowed by a big fish which the Lord sent to keep him imprisoned in for three days and three nights. Coming to his senses Jonah obeyed God and went back to Nineveh to confront the wickedness of its people. The people repented, turned from their evil ways, worshipped the Lord - and their destruction was averted. As a consequence, Jonah was angered because it made him look like a fool… or so he thought. The Lord reasoned with him and talked him through it.

Application: We can be so spoiled sometimes; much like Jonah. In our ignorance we sometime feel like our heavenly Father is lucky to have us working for Him. So, if He wants us to do His will, then we'll do it our way. Ah, the arrogance of a spoiled brat.
     We're so blessed to have a loving Heavenly Father who recognizes our immaturity, and chooses to gather us gently to Himself anyway. In most cases He refrains from unleashing upon our lives the destructive consequences of our ignorance that we so richly deserve.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your great love and patience. You love us in spite of our childish ignorance. Thank You for Your mercies and for Your gentle love.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 22

Observation: Once again wisdom is the underlying theme of this reading in Proverbs that espouse:

• Character and reputation more than financial gain

• Prudence rather than recklessness

• Humility and discipline rather than pride

• Righteousness rather than unfaithfulness

     Laziness and anger are to be rejected and reviled, for they bring failure and disappointment.

Application: Proverbs is filled with so many good stuff that ingesting it in small doses is sometimes the only way to truly benefit from its wisdom. The verse that stands out today is about the lust of the flesh: "The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the Lord's wrath will fall into it." (Proverbs 22:14)
     I believe the above verse is saying that when we are not walking in the light or not living righteously, we are vulnerable to the devil's lure of adultery and corruptness. In contrast, it proclaims that when we're with Him or in Him, the Lord shields us from the poisonous darts of our weaknesses and shortcomings. So, to avoid falling victim to the devil's sabotage, we need to do all that we can to remain in God, faithful to all that He has instructed us to do. He will keep us safe by defending us from the enemy's deception and plan, for most of the time we don't see it coming unless He reveals it to us.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for showing me the reality of Your love and the vulnerability of man.

Scripture Reading: John 19-21

Observation: After having Him flogged, Pilate wanted to free Jesus for he did not find any wrong in Him. The Jews gathered there would not have it and shouted for Jesus to be crucified. Jesus was later crucified on a wooden cross until He died, and on each side of Him were two thieves also crucified. Everything that the scriptures prophesied came true, including Jesus' clothes that the guards cast lots for and divided among them. Furthermore, the scriptures accurately foretold that not a bone was broken even though they pierced His side with a spear. "³⁶ These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: 'Not one of His bones will be broken,' ³⁷ and, as another scripture says, 'They will look on the One they have pierced.'" (John 19:36-37)
     Three days after Joseph of Arimathea took possession of the body of Jesus and laid it in a brand new tomb he had prepared for himself - Jesus, true to God's word, rose from the dead. He then appeared to many of His followers performing many miracles, before ascending to heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father.

Application: Today's reading underscores the amazing love of the Father, His faithfulness to do what He promised He would, and the importance of our faith in Him - that we may do our part in remaining in Him. We won't always know or understand what He is doing or allowing to happen in our lives. But we need to be reassured that He is faithful to protect us, to deliver us and to provide for our every need. We need to be confident of His faithfulness and of His love for us.
     In a world where someone's record and reputation is everything when it comes to acquiring a job or just winning the confidence of those who matter, God's word stands alone in precision and power. All we need to do is look at His faithfulness and the absolute accuracy of His word to understand that He is not going to change. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Prayer: Father God, You are so good. Your love is so magnificent and Your faithfulness endures forever. Thank You for sending Jesus. Jesus, thank You for coming that we may live. Help me to remember all that You have done that I may never take my life in You for granted.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)
     There are three parts to this verse that I'd like to briefly address individually, but that are inseparable in it's awesome power.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you
     God doesn't encourage us to be something that's not there to be had. When the bible says, 'be strong and courageous' (Joshua 1:6,7,9 & 18), we know that strength and courage are available to us. It's more than just ink on paper, it's a promise. God never hedges on a promise.
     My wife Theresa and I went to this birthday party for a friend's young son. Half way through the party, they hung up a piñata and gave the kids baseball bats. They took turns swinging at this 'piñata' trying to bust it open... all for the promise of candies. And of course for the parents of the birthday boy, forgetting to put candies inside the 'piñata' would be unthinkable. That's us - mere mortal. Imperfect, incredibly flawed mortal men doing our best not to disappoint our kids with an empty piñata. God is certainly not going to give us something that's empty. I'm sure most of us agree on that point; but at the moment of truth, 'when the rubber meets the road' and we're being confronted by an unfair or insurmountable situation, we often forget what Jesus said. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." His peace - not the Bank of America's peace, not Wall Street peace, not 'la piñata' candies kind of peace… not even World peace. His peace. The kids at that birthday party are going to find some candies they like, some they're not too crazy about and some they can't stand (maybe not too much of the latter); but the peace that Jesus is talking about here, "the peace that passeth all understanding" - will never disappoint.

I do not give to you as the world gives
     How does the world give. 2009 have been tough for a lot of honest hard working families.

• Credit card companies have been changing the rules of their lending practices lately. In some cases, they just rip the rug right out from under their faithful customers… for ridiculous reasons, like not using their cards often enough; or for being late 'once' in their payments.

• Unemployment is an all-time high (apart from the great depression era in the 30s). Jobs that were once secure are disappearing.

• Retirement plans that people banked on, have dropped in value - if it's there at all.

• Medical coverage have gotten to be 'a privilege for the few' rather than a right for the average worker. As a result people with urgent medical needs have started to sacrifice other necessities so they can pay for coverage. On the flip side, people have been cutting corners or skipping all together, the purchase of their much needed medicines to put food on the table… because of the lack of health care that were once a part of most full-time employment packages.

     That's how the world gives; and here Jesus is clearly saying He's not like the world. What He gives is ours to keep, if we choose to receive it. It never loses its value.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid
     In the words of another bible verse where God is reassuring us of His all encompassing power and faithfulness: "Be still, and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10)
     Another from Isaiah that I love to go to, especially when I'm losing focus: "¹² I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, ¹³ that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor?" (Isaiah 51: 12-13)
     I believe God is saying to you and me today, 'What's he (the oppressor) got that I can't answer or remedy or take out or destroy?' "Who are you that you fear mortal men" to me translates (in today's expressions) to "What's with you? Are you serious? Don't you get it? Come on! Show Me some respect here!"

How do we keep or hold on to His peace?
     We know that all we need to do to have His peace is to choose to receive it and thank Him for it. But how do we hold on to it?

Steadfastness and trust
     "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)
     The dictionary defines 'steadfastness' as unwavering, unfaltering, resolute, persistent, committed, dedicated, unswerving and firm. And for trust, it has words like faith, belief, hope, conviction, confidence, expectation, reliance and dependence.

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 16-20

Observation: When King Baasha of Israel threatened him, King Asa of Judah depended on King Ben-Hadad of Syria for support. The Lord sent a messenger to Asa to rebuke him for his lack of faith in the Lord when he went instead to a mere man for help. This was a pattern in Asa's reign that did not please God. When he died, his son Jehoshaphat succeeded him; Jehoshaphat pleased God during the early years of his reign by walking in the way of the Lord. The Lord blessed him with wealth, power and peace in the region. No one dared to go to war against Jehoshaphat because they feared the Lord God who was with him.
     Jehoshaphat was tricked by King Ahab of Israel into going to battle against the city of Ramoth in Gilead. Even though he told Ahab to inquire first of the Lord, Jehoshaphat ended up going when all of Israel's prophet deceived Ahab into thinking that the Lord would grant them victory. The prophet Micaiah, who at first agreed with the other prophets, relented and told the truth when pressed by Ahab king of Israel. God wanted Ahab to go to battle against Ramoth because He meant for Ahab to die there, so He allowed a spirit to lie to the prophets; Jehoshaphat survived the battle but Ahab didn't.
     Even though Jehoshaphat pleased God during his reign as king of Judah, he made some made decisions in aligning himself with a couple of kings whose heart were not for the Lord. However, he and all of Judah repented and turned to the Lord for guidance when an army that outnumbered them 100 to 1, threatened to annihilate his kingdom. "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." (2 Chronicles 20:12) This is one of my most 'go to' bible verses in times of confrontation with the enemy. It highlights two key issues that are common in every believer's life: the frustration of running out of ideas of what to do, and remembering that the devil's strategic first move is to get us to take our eyes off of God. The Lord heard their prayers and honored their fast; He fought their battle wiping out the entire enemy force coming against them.

Application: In today's reading we have a true picture of God's mercy and faithfulness to deliver those whose heart is true to the Lord. I believe that the difference between King Jehoshaphat of Judah and King Ahab of Israel comes down to the condition of their heart. The Lord saw that the former was true to Him even though he had faults, "The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him." (2 Chronicles 17:3); "... for you (Jehoshaphat) have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God." (2 Chronicles 19:3) Ahab whose heart was never truly for the Lord however, was wicked... prompting the Lord to put into motion the plan to kill him. "And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’" (2 Chronicles 18:19)
     The Lord always sees our hearts. All through out the bible He has supported, delivered and loved those whose hearts were for Him - even though in many instances, they had outrages shortcomings. Looking to God, keeping our eyes on Him, trusting in Him and Him alone is what we should be about as believers. Regardless of who says what, and in spite of our own telling flaws, our hearts need to always turn to and keep Him first; we will never go wrong if we remember to focus on Him and Him alone - giving Him our devotion, and indeed our very lives.

Prayer: Lord I pray that my heart is ever in You to never depart from Thy presence. Refine me O Lord that I may grow more in love with You and that I may draw nearer to Thee every day.

Scripture Reading: John 16-18

Observation: As the time for Jesus to be crucified neared, He teaches His disciples what to expect and what they should do to ensure their future in the kingdom. In the presence of His followers He prays to the Father for Himself, He prays for His disciples, then He prays for all believers of all future generation.
     Jesus is brought before the high priest and then before Pilate, but neither really wanted to convict Him. The crowd however was not going to hear of any sentence other than crucifixion for the Lord Jesus.

Application: As Jesus prays for all believers, I am reminded of just how crucial unity is in the body of Christ. "²⁰ My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in US so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. ²² I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they be one as WE are one: ²³ I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me." (John 17:20-23)
     Even though God loves us individually and cares about our individual needs, Christianity has never been about individualism.

Prayer: Help me Lord to always think team when I think about the body of Christ, and that a 'team' functions best when its participants work in unity.

Scripture Reading: Numbers 21-24

Observation: When Israel complained to Moses about the lack of food and water, the Lord was angered and sent snakes to kill many of them. The people repented and Moses prayed that the curse be removed. The Lord told Moses to make a snake - so he made one out of bronze and have those who were bitten by snakes look at the bronze snake so they would live.
     Israel asked for permission from King Sihon of the Amorites to pass through their land, but was refused. Sihon and his army came against Israel but Israel utterly destroyed the Amorites and took over their land.
     Likewise the king of Bashan, Og came against Israel but at God's direction and help, Israel destroyed them too. Balak king of the Moabites out of fear of the power of Israel asked Balaam to come and curse Israel so they would not be a threat to his kingdom. But after seeking the Lord Balaam blessed Israel three times instead. One of the times that Balaam was asked by Balak to come and curse Israel, the donkey he was riding to meet Balak started acting strangely and was beaten by Balaam. Through the power of the Lord the donkey spoke in a human voice to Balaam asking why he was being abused. He then realized that he was doing wrong in going to meet Balak when the Lord had told him not to. Balaam repented and obeyed God by blessing Israel instead of listening to Balak.

Application: We sometime already know what God has said or what He wants, so we can stop pursuing a different path or agenda. Even if we were not planning on following through with someone else's plan, it's not acceptable to the Lord to even consider it further.
     As the bronze snake was lifted up for those bitten by snakes to look to and be saved, so was the Son of God lifted up on the cross for all people to look to and be saved from certain destruction. Comparing Jesus to a snake, a fake one at that is not what we may consider proper; but that is exactly what we need to remember. We should never put God in a box, thinking that if things don't happen in a specific way, than it cannot be from the Lord. It is always about Him; what He wants and how He wants it. It is not about what we think it should be and how we think things should be done, simply because that's the way it's always been.

Prayer: Thank You Father for today's word. Help me to realize it fully as You would have me understand it, and to apply it to my everyday life.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 120-121

Observation: These Psalms and the following thirteen (according to some researchers of the bible) are known as the Songs of Degrees or Songs of Ascents either for the times when Israel went up to Jerusalem for the yearly feasts, or for the Levites going up the fifteen steps from the court of the women to the court of the Israelites.
     A call of distress goes up to the Lord for help and guidance in a world full of deception and animosity, and He answers and meets the needs of the faithful every time. The reading ends with the assurance that the God we serve watches over His children every moment of the day to protect their every step.

Application: We can trust Him to be there when we need Him for He will never fail us. "³ He will not let your foot slip - He who watches over you will not slumber; ⁴ indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." (Psalm 121:3-4) Because He stands guard, we can rest easy. We need not go around terrified and afraid of what the enemy will do. All we need to remember is: Whenever we're getting overwhelmed by situations in our lives, we can stop whatever we're doing and call on Him. We need to keep our eyes on Him. He is never far from us and He is always watching.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your reassuring word this morning that You are always near, ready and willing to help me get through any obstacle that I may face. Thank You for that.

Scripture Reading: Nahum 1-3

Observation: The Prophet Nahum was given a vision by God to foresee Nineveh's destruction for its wicked ways and sin. It describes vividly the power of the Lord and paints a clear picture of His burning anger and vengeance that would be visited upon a disobedient and disloyal people.

Application: The fruits of our stubbornness and arrogance will come to bear without fail. Hard-heartedness with a disregard for the true living God will never escape His judgment. He created the universe that gives life to all; to serve and obey Him is our rightful duty. Anything less is, to put it bluntly - deserving of death.

Prayer: Please Lord remind me if ever I am flirting with taking all that You've done for me, lightly - and all that You've blessed me with, for granted. Keep me alert and focused on You and Your love and power, that I may walk in righteousness with a grateful heart.

Scripture Reading: Acts 7-8

Observation: The 60 verses of the 7th chapter of Acts dealt with Luke's account of Stephen's defense as he faced the Sanhedrin. His speech referred to the scriptures - from Abraham obeying God to leave his native land among the Chaldeans, to the persecution and crucifixion of the Messiah. Luke went on to describe Stephen's death by the hands of the people he - Stephen, was addressing.
     The following chapter describes how the apostles and other believers after burying Stephen went on to evangelize the various communities in the area while Paul, then known as Saul, continued his mission of persecuting Christians. There were miraculous healings, deliverance from bondage to evil spirits, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit as Peter and the apostles were moved and empowered by God. A sorcerer named Simon was converted and was baptized. He nevertheless was corrupt in his heart and tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit, for which Peter strongly rebuked him. Philip's encounter with an Ethiopian eunuch resulted in the eunuch's water baptism.

Application: As Stephen spoke about the scriptures and his convictions, there were two key elements that were apparent to me about his character: his knowledge of the Word, and his boldness to testify and minister without compromise - to a people who were filled with animosity and judgment against him. Stephen put his life on the line for the sake of the One who willingly gave His for us all. On top of it all, as the people were stoning him, he prayed for God to forgive them for what they were doing.
     I need to be well versed in His word and His commandments so I can be ready to answer any who would inquire about my convictions. "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15) The tail end of this verse that talks about 'gentleness and respect' is often overlooked (history has taught us) when we take on a 'slash and burn' approach to evangelizing. I need also to grow by seeking the Lord for more and more courage and boldness that I may minister to those whom the Lord has apportioned me - without fear or compromise.

Prayer: All that I am, I give to You Lord. Change my heart that I may be more like You each day; strengthen me with Your joy that I may speak Your Word with boldness. Anoint me with Your power that I may walk in You with courage. Please guide me and use me for Thy purpose and will that I may bring glory to Your name.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 4-6

Observation: Moses relates to Israel all that the Lord their God is commanding them. To obey the laws and decrees of the Lord, that it may go well with them. He warns them against worshipping other gods, as he outlines to them in detail, the commandments of the Lord - including The Ten Commandments. This is the same account as described (practically verbatim) in Exodus 20. Moses instructs Israel to love the Lord with all their being and to embrace the commandments in their hearts so they can walk it, talk it, think it and live it everyday.

Application: Believing His Word is one thing; putting that faith into action and applying it in our everyday life is another - and is exactly what the Lord wants us to do, because it proves or completes our faith in Him. It isn't enough to believe that He exists for "the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19). Surrendering our hearts, our very lives gives God something to work with, to bring Him honor - releasing His power to do mighty things in our lives.

Prayer: Help me Lord to put my faith in You into action everyday by letting go of things that get in the way of my trusting You. Sometimes I don't even know what exactly those things are, so Father please reveal to me the things that so easily beset and trip us up.

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 21-24

Observation: When King Jehoshaphat of Judah died, he was succeeded by his first born Jehoram, who unlike his father displeased God by his wicked ways. He killed all of his brothers, built high places for idol worship and caused Judah to sin in prostituting themselves. According to God's word brought by Elijah His prophet, Jehoram died a painful death with his bowels pouring out of him. His youngest son Ahaziah ruled after him but also did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He was killed with all his family by Jehu - son of Nimshi, who was acting under God's direction. Ahaziah's mother, Athaliah then took over the reins of ruler of Judah by killing off her competition - Judah's royal family. The one son, Joash survived the massacre when he was hidden away for six years by Jehosheba, wife of the priest Jehoiada, sister to Ahaziah, and daughter of Jehoram - the late King of Judah.
     Jehoiada the priest gathered some prominent members of the community in Judah to help prepare and anoint young Joash (at age 7) son of Ahaziah, king of Judah. Athaliah was then taken out and killed; thus Joash became ruler of Judah. The high places of idol worship were torn down and the temple of the Lord repaired with the money collected from the people as taxes. Things were being run mostly by Jehoiada the priest, for the young King Joash was too young and inexperienced. So when at the ripe old age of one hundred and thirty Jehoiada died, everything started to unravel. Officials of Judah took advantage of the vulnerable young king and had their way in Judah, forsaking the Lord and worshipping Asherah poles and idols. Zechariah, Jehoiada's son spoke through the Spirit of God and condemned the people for their wickedness. As a result Zechariah was himself condemned to death by Joash. A much inferior army of Aram attacked Judah snf was given victory by the Lord to punish Judah for their wrong. In addition, Joash was killed by some of Judah's own officials in retaliation of his killing Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. Amaziah, Jehoiada's other son, became king after his death.

Application: By a variety of ways can sin take control of our lives. For one, youth and inexperience without godly guidance, can certainly be a tool by which the devil enters to take dominion over our surrounding. If we let it, status or power is another that can lure us away from the ways of the Lord to wreak havoc in our spiritual lives. Arrogance and foolish pride are characteristics often born or florish under these conditions. And certainly, a combination of all the above can create a concoction more deadly than any virus or disease.
     As in Joash's case, we may for one reason or another, lose the right influences in our lives, leaving us to either grow up and make decisions (hopefully the right ones) for ourselves, or suffer the consequences. The only sure way to guard against our own inevitable demise, is a consistent and sincere worship of the Lord our God. Obedience and reverence to the same God and Creator is not only a good thing, but is absolutely necessary, if we are to experience all the blessings of His power and love.

Prayer: Help me Father never to wane in my worship of and love for You, no matter what changes my life may bring. Indeed the more changes that occur in life, the more I need You to guide and watch over me. Grow me Lord that I may love and desire You more with each passing day.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 122-124

Observation: A Psalm acknowledging the need for Jerusalem to have peace and for Israel to embrace righteousness starts out today's scripture reading.
     The 123^rd Psalm encourages focus and seeks the Lord for peace. "¹ I lift up my eyes to You, to You whose throne is in heaven. ² As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He shows us His mercy." (Psalm 123:1-2)
     The third of these morning's chapters appreciates and praises the Lord for His presence and protection over His people. The realization that if God wasn't there, Israel would have been defeated - is the theme of the 124^th Psalm and the cornerstone of today's reading.

Application: Joy is the result of our knowing that the Lord who is more than enough to meet our every need, is so good and loves us so deeply with a love that endures forever. Rejoicing is the release of that joy which facilitates our gratitude and praise for His goodness and faithfulness.

Prayer: Thank You for what You do every day for me. I love You Lord and hope to draw closer and be more true to Your Word as I live for You each and every day.

Scripture Reading: Acts 9-10

Observation: Stephen dies from his wounds at the hands of those who stoned him. Though Saul may not have personally participated, he was not only present but supported Stephen’s murder. Saul of Tarsus continued persecuting Christians by seeking them out and throwing them in jail. On one of his trips to do just that, the Lord appeared to him in a bright light and confronted him about what he was doing. Saul fell to the ground 'blinded by the light'; and after hearing the voice of the Lord, he was led by his followers to Damascus - as the Lord instructed... talk about 'blind faith'. The Lord sent a believer by the name of Ananias to where Saul was, and restore his sight. Saul not only received his sight back but also the anointing of the Holy Spirit. As he started preaching the message of Christ in the synagogues, the Jews who did not take kindly to his conversion, went about finding a way to kill him. So some of the other believers took him out of harms way by sending him to his home town - Tarsus. In spite of oppositions the church of Christian believers grew throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria.
     Peter was also doing much to spread the power of God in the area, converting many to the faith. The sick were healed, the dead raised to life and the lost became believers. Christianity was no longer just for the Jews; Gentiles were also given the right to receive Christ and be baptized in the Holy Spirit. After preaching Christ the risen Lord to the Gentiles who were gathered at Cornelius' place, the people were filled with the Holy Spirit and started speaking in tongues. There was no objection to baptizing them with water so that's what Peter ordered to have done.

Application: There are a number of key points from today's reading that ministered to me particularly:

• the power of God to affect such a dramatic change in the life of Saul - a persecutor of Christians

• the Lord taking the life of one as flaky as Peter and empowering it with the ability to heal the sick, raise the dead and win souls for Christ

• God's faithfulness in following through with His original plan for each of our lives, in spite of what we may have become or how corrupt we or others may think we are

     After careful consideration I decided to expound on a fourth point: Peter's vision of the four legged creatures, earth crawlers and birds - and what it signified. "¹¹ He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ¹² It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. ¹³ Then a voice told him, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat'. ¹⁴ 'Surely not, Lord!' Peter replied. 'I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.' ¹⁵ The voice spoke to him a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.'" (Acts 10:11-15) We should never let our own understanding or preconceived notion (judgment) of the world around us, get in the way of God's will and plan for our lives.
     Not only do we not know a nano miniscule fraction of what God knows, He can do anything He chooses with any part of His universe (which includes us). So what He deems 'so'... is 'so'. We don't have neither the right nor the awareness of spirit and mind to question, let alone disagree with His decisions to do what He wants with His creation… all of His creation. Once we truly get that, obedience and total surrender should be the next natural step. If we choose the contrary and disobey, then not unlike Israel, it will be another unnecessary struggle through the wilderness until we get it right.

Prayer: Thank You Father for the powerful things You did and will do, to change lives and unite people under Your banner. Help me to pay close attention to the ways that You are working in my life that I may hear You and obey Your directions.

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 29-32

Observation: Hezekiah became king of Judah, succeeding his father Ahaz who did not walk with the Lord. King Hezekiah however, did please the Lord in bringing back the people to worship Him. He started by purifying the temple and ridding it of all that was unclean. Then he got all the people to follow all of God's commandments that were handed down from his forefather King David. A few mocked Hezekiah but soon the people obeyed and returned to the Lord to worship and obey His word. Their number was so great and tithes and offerings were so abundant, new buildings were built to store the overflow. The purification as well as the celebration of praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord was so immense, both their allotted times were extended - doubling them to sixteen and fourteen days respectively. God heard their prayers, honored their offerings and sacrifices, and blessed the people. Objects of worship to idols and false gods were cut down and destroyed.
     King Sennacherib of Assyria threatened Judah and arrogantly challenged the Lord their God demeaning all that He is. Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah turned to the Lord for help, and the Lord struck the forces of Sennacherib down so terribly he had to retreat in shame. He was later killed by his own sons as he entered the temple of his god.
     When Hezekiah became ill and almost died, he prayed and the Lord saved him. He however failed to credit the Lord for his recovery for which he and the people paid a price. He repented of this sin averting the anger of the Lord upon the nation - until after his death. The Lord had left him momentarily to see if he would pass the test in giving God the glory for healing him. He didn't do so well, but at least he repented and humbled himself. When he died, his son Manasseh succeeded him as king.

Application: Most all of Israel and Judah's kings desired and sought after power and wealth, going to all lengths to acquire them. When God was not first in their agenda, they not only failed miserably, but devastation and destruction was visited upon them as well as the people they governed. If we, as King Hezekiah did, put God first and worship and obey Him with all our hearts, He will add all that we need to the blessings He bestows upon our lives. If wealth and power is what we need, than He will deliver exactly that, and more. Let's just make sure that all the 'Asherah poles' (high places… love of money and other worldly possession, impurities and corruptness) are identified and removed from our lives.
     When Hezekiah failed to give God the credit for healing him, it reiterated to me how two key components of our relationship with the Father, focus and immediate obedience, are so critical to the most appropriate response for recepients of His blessings and love - thanksgiving.

1. Focus - so as to remain in Him day in and day out… never losing sight of His provision and power expressed in our lives. Acknowledging His every blessing in our lives is a result of that focus, which compels us to be grateful. We can't do that without communing with Him daily with praise and worship.

2. Immediate obedience to His every word to our heart is an expression of our trust in His leadership. Trust in the Lord comes from the understanding that He loves us; there's no better demonstration of that understanding than thanksgiving. Why should our obedience be immediate? Because the enemy is constantly vying for a foothold in our lives, and putting obedience off for a more convenient time can be his foothold in the making.

Prayer: Thank You for Your Word and Your faithfulness. Thank You for the encouragement today's message brings. Please help me to never stop looking to You and keeping You first in every part of my life.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 125-127

Observation: The power of faith is highlighted and the faithfulness of the Lord is touted to strengthen the righteous and to reiterate the consequences of evil. Freedom from captivity and the joys that results from such deliverance is attributed to none other than the Lord. Even when the people suffered through the period of sowing, the reward of harvest comes in the morning.
     Building a house, establishing a home, constructing a life, protecting one's environment - are fruitless unless God is, not only involved but the chief architect.

Application: The very first verse of today's reading grabbed me and refreshed my sense of trust in the Lord God of Israel. "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever." (Psalm 125:1)
     Yesterday I found out when I went to work at Coracle Inc. where I had just started working three months earlier that the head of our local office had just resigned. He was in the process of loading up his stuff as I got to the door. Later that same day the other shoe dropped; the rest of the employees and I found out from the head office in Southern California that the company was ceasing all work schedules until further notice. The company was shutting down. I'm sure our boss knew what was coming and quit so he didn't have to face letting all of us go. We hadn't been paid for the past month and now we are being laid off - indefinitely. The funny thing about this was - when I got this job, it was the only thing that came to me as I trusted in the Lord in my search for employment. I knew than as I know now that it was God's will that I was there, and whatever happens next is in His hands.
     During my brief time of employment at Coracle, I worked under a young man by the name of Paul Glowka who was desperately seeking for a way out of his confusion - his anger at life in general. We often talked at length and as a result, Paul had some major breakthroughs in surrendering all of the battling and anger issues going on in his mind. A stern and serious face that had revealed a pessimistic outlook gave way to a friendly smile and gentle tone of voice. He was definitely becoming a new person.
     There was another gentleman by the name of Vern Stokesberry whom I had known for quite some time and as coincidence would have it, worked in the same building - right below our office. But I know that with God there is no such thing as 'coincidence'. Although Vern had been a Christian for some time he was confused and upset with how his life had turned out. It seemed that no matter what he tried to do, life always turned on him - taking him down quite a few times. I spent some lunch breaks with him and as he put it "…broke through to him like few has ever done before". What he needed to do, I shared with him, was to surrender it all to God. Unlike Paul who was in his early forties, Vern is in his seventies and have been around the block a couple of times - doing things his way. He was and is, to the best of my knowledge, still struggling with the notion of surrender. I plan to spend more time with him.
     Not only do I believe that it was God's will that I came to work at Coracle Inc., I know and am convinced (strengthened by today's reading) that my life - as is the future of my family, is on track and secure in His hands.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your plan and purpose for my life, Your direction for my daily activities, Your provision that meets all of my needs, and Your reassuring Word that confirms Your faithfulness.

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 3-4

Observation: The first of these two chapters talk about time and season, and everything having their turn and moment in the cycle of life - birth, death, tears, laughter, peace, war… etc; it seems to ask more questions than it answers. This book reminds me of someone whining about a dead-end they have encountered due to some bad choices they've made. At the same time, I'm a little concerned that it might be more on-target than I care to admit; especially the part about everything being 'meaningless' - it appears five times in today's reading. What exactly does it mean?
     The writing gives God credit for all of creation, yet in the very next breath discounts all to little more than 'the luxury of enjoying the moment'. "¹¹ God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. ¹² So I concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they can." (Ecclesiastes 3:11-12)

Application: Couple of conclusions that I can come away with from today's reading are as follows:

1. As I noted for the first two chapters of this book (Wisdom, Under Scrutiny), applies here as well; wisdom is not in itself an end-all source and power that we may think it is. It's true that wisdom is a source of power; certainly one of the most desirable qualities of human existence, but only in the context of the Kingdom of God and the love of the Father. King Solomon, to whom the authorship of this book is accredited, in all of history is the most well known name associated with wisdom. He took his eyes off of God by doing what the Lord specifically told him not to do when he married foreign women, and worse - he worshipped their gods; he was brought down in the end. He was the wisest of all of mankind - yet his demise proves that righteousness and obedience still trumps wisdom.

2. The other key point or conclusion that can be derived is that this book was designed by God to be a sort of stabilizer for our faith. Sometimes, we can be guilty of taking ourselves too seriously as Christians. Often we get so energized and mobilized in our faith that without our knowing, we have left the Lord our God behind, taking off running and working it on our own. These chapters, as a matter of fact the whole book, help us take a breather. If for no other function than to slow us down long enough to evaluate where we are in the Lord, these verses have done their job. In the final analysis, God would never include a book in The Canon of Scripture that does not have a specific purpose for His kingdom - which makes this book as all the others in the Holy Bible - perfect.

Prayer: Man is nothing without You Father. You O Lord are the true source of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Keep me balanced O Lord in Your truth and in Your love.

Scripture Reading: James 4-5

Observation: In his letter to the twelve tribes, James discusses issues that cause conflict and ineffective faith. Placing the world and the lust of its ways before the Lord is enmity (hostility) against the God we serve. James advises that we are to be preemptive in our approach to spiritual matters - but always listening, surrendering and obeying. "⁷ So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites." (James 4:7-8)
     Judging is to be avoided at all costs, for God alone is the true judge. Planning that ignores God's authority is presumptuous and wrong. Trusting on wealth to save us will come to naught; taking advantage of the weak will result in condemnation. Patience and long suffering will be rewarded with power and spiritual growth. James encourages believers to pray - as a remedy for sufferings and sicknesses. Confessing our sins one to another, and leading others back to the Lord will certainly grow us in the Lord's good graces; not only do we bless others in the process, but are ourselves blessed by our heavenly Father.

Application: Earlier today, I was sharing with Ronnie, a drummer at a local church (Springfield Faith Center), about resisting the devil. He had been letting me into his struggles with depression; mostly for the devil's constant disheartening and defeatist barrage of negative thoughts. Most of our problems begin with our passive attitude in confronting the enemy and our failure to exercise our God-given right to run to the Lord and call on Him for help.
     To quote Edmond Burke, 'The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing'. The devil is not going to simply roll-over for us. Whether it's by our passivity or personal invitation, the devil will mess with our lives until we're eating right out of his hand. We need to be firm and aggressive in keeping the enemy out. I left Ronnie in an authoritative stand, commanding the enemy to, "Shut up and get out!" We need to reclaim our place in the Lord; victorious over the ways of the world, and not in submission to its ruler - the devil.
     On the same token, part of any offensive strategy is knowing the capabilities of our weaponry. If we believe in God, we believe in the power of His word that supercedes any known force in all of creation. With that much power working on our behalf we can be confident of victory every time. The only way we are less then victorious is if our lives are not in harmony with His Word. Even when we're toughing it, the end result of His plan for our lives is always - total victory. "And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Prayer: Thank You Lord for this brand new day. This is a great and wonderful day Lord because I believe that You're growing me in amazing and wonderful ways. Thank You Father for working in me and for the honor and privilege of serving You with my life.

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 33-36

Observation: Manasseh takes over as king of Judah after the death of his father Hezekiah. Unlike his father, Manasseh was a wicked king leading the people in sin and evil practices. He was abrasively arrogant in the things that he did against God, disregarding all of the Lord's instructions. God punished him through the hand of his enemy - Assyria, who took him captive and humiliated to Babylon. Manasseh came to his senses and repented with heartfelt contrition and was looked upon with mercy by the Lord the God of love and forgiveness who later restored him to his place in Jerusalem. He changed his ways and worshipped God doing right by Him. When he died, Amon his son took over as king but did not do right by God and was assassinated by his officials two years later.
     Josiah succeeded Amon his father and did right by the Lord destroying all articles of idol worship and Asherah poles as well as repairing the deteriorating temple of the Almighty to its former glory. In the process of renovating the temple, the Book of the Law in which are laws ascribed by God to be followed and obeyed by the people, was found and brought to the king. Josiah was seriously perturbed by the revelation of God's anger for the people's wickedness revealed by the Book of Law and by further interpretation of it that came through a prophetess named Huldah. She proclaimed that there will be devastation and destruction visited upon the land and its people due to sin and disobedience, but it won't be during Josiah's reign because of his humility and heart. The king after reading the message to all the people, vowed to worship and obey the Lord God, making sure that everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin made the same commitment. The Passover was then celebrated like it has never been since the time of the prophet Samuel, and all the ways of the Lord deeply and absolutely revered.
     Josiah made one mistake and went to fight Neco king of Egypt despite being warned against it. He was fatally wounded and was carried back to Jerusalem where he died. He was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz who reigned for only three months when he was taken out by Neco who replaced him with Jehoahaz's brother - Eliakim, whose name Neco changed to Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim reigned in sin and wickedness for eleven years, at which time King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated and took him prisoner back to Babylon. Jehoiakim's son, Jehoiachin ruled in his stead. Again, the new king reigned like many before him, doing evil before the Lord. Three months and ten days into his reign Nebuchadnezzar recalled him to Babylon and replaced him with his uncle Zedekiah who reigned for eleven years. Once again the new king of Judah and Jerusalem chose the way of evil and ruled with a stubborn heart causing the people to follow in his footsteps and refusing to heed the Lord's warnings. Once yet again God used the hand of the enemy, in the form of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, to bring justice upon his people and had them carried off to Babylon. Seventy years of captivity in Babylon meant seventy years of rest for the land; Sabbath rest they had never acknowledged.
     Captivity was brought to an end when King Cyrus of Persia came to power over all the land, including Babylon. Acting on God's word, Cyrus released all the Israelites to return to Jerusalem where under his supervision, the temple for the Lord was to be built.

Application: Without a doubt, the one key point that stands out for me in today's reading, is the one and only mistake that King Josiah of Judah made, which was going to war with Neco king of Egypt even though he was warned not to. "Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Neco had said at God's command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo." (2 Chronicles 35:22) In spite of all that he did right, that one mistake cost him his life.
     Often we as Christians can get so fired up and carried away with our religiousness that we forget or neglect to pay attention and listen to what God is saying. Things don't always have to look like they did in past circumstances. If someone else is enjoying a victory that we feel belongs to us, God may have a plan in it that we need not interrupt or mess with. Keeping our eyes on the Lord will help us refrain from being rash and going it on our own. Most of the time though, we don't mean to 'go it on our own'; we just forget to submit to God any and all situations, seeking His will in the matter.
     If we really look and listen, there are parts of the bible that are specifically designed to get our feet back on the ground. The book of Ecclesiastes is one such example - for me anyway. "¹¹ God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. ¹² So I concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they can." (Ecclesiastes 3:11-12). At the very least, it slows us down long enough to listen more intently. They can help to break us free from the religious ruts that we often find ourselves in. Taking ourselves too seriously can be just as damaging as doing things our own way. Leaving God out of our decision making because we think we know His mind - which amounts to 'putting God in a box', will have unfavorable consequences.
     The situation with Josiah running off to battle against Neco king of Egypt tells me that he was so sure of himself that he didn't listen to what God was saying, thinking instead that the Lord would back him up in whatever endeavor he chose to take on. We need to be focused on the Lord and on putting Him first always in every area of our lives. Everything and anything that comes up, we should immediately turn our thoughts and our minds to Him who is our source and our refuge. We need to do that repeatedly and consistently - so much that it becomes second nature; before we even realize it, we are looking to Him - inquiring with our hearts what He wants us to do.

Prayer: Help me Lord to look always to You for guidance and wisdom. Teach me to depend solely on You Father for You are my source and my strength. I can do nothing without You Lord. Please remind me of Your power and of Your faithfulness so as to highlight my vulnerabilities when left to my own devices.

Scripture Reading: Haggai 1-2

Observation: The word of the Lord comes through His prophet Haggai to the people of Judah about their neglect in restoring the Temple of the Lord while they themselves live in their newly paneled homes. They are reminded of the lack in their lives; the insufficiencies of their produce and basic necessities which they failed to associate with the condition they have left the Temple of the Lord in. As a result, not only blessings were withheld from them but the Lord also unleashed a drought upon the land complicating further their lives.
     When the people realized their wrong and obeyed the word of the Lord, He spoke again through Haggai - this time reassuring the people of His presence among them, and mobilizing Zerubbabel, Joshua and the whole remnant of Israel to action. "'But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty." (Haggai 2:4)
     The Lord confirms His commitment to be with the people in their endeavor even if the project of rebuilding the Temple of the Lord isn't looking like much, despite their efforts. The Lord encourages them to be strong for He will do mighty things which will result in a greater accomplishment of their mission than they ever imagined. "'The glory of this house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the Lord Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the Lord Almighty." (Haggai 2:9) The Lord reiterates the importance of the laws concerning sacrifices and the defiling of consecrated elements of the Temple; how they would be defiled if rules and regulations pertaining to them were abandoned. He reminds them of the way it was when the Temple of the Lord was left in ruins; the people getting only half back from their hard work. After they repented of their ways and obeyed, He guarantees a much better return for their efforts, in the form of blessings in their lives - including victories over all their enemies. The Lord God singles out Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel to be His close confidant and representative, much like a Messiah of his time.

Application: The message for me today is, 'Don't place God second to anyone or anything'. His call upon our lives - what He's appointed us to be or do, is directly related to His place in our lives. If we neglect 'the call', then we don't have Him where He needs to be - first. We can't put Him aside for a more convenient time - neither can we put His call or His anointing on our lives on the back burner, for when we're good and ready. If we do, than He will put our blessings on hold as well and dry up what blessings we may have presently.
     Choosing to obey in placing the 'building of His temple' back in first place will please Him to release blessings in our everyday lives and anoint us with power. "'On that day,' declares the Lord Almighty, I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,' declares the Lord, 'and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares the Lord Almighty." (Haggai 2:23)

Prayer: Please keep me from being distracted by the world or by my own faults and weaknesses to not give You my very best every moment of every day.

Scripture Reading: Ezra 1-5

Observation: King Cyrus of Persia who ruled the world in 538 BC freed the Israelites from captivity in Babylon to help him fulfill the word of the Lord he received to rebuild the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. In his edict which proclaimed as much, Cyrus instructed all people who were staying behind to aid those leaving for Jerusalem with valuables and supplies needed for the task at hand. The Temple treasures that was taken by the then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was found and returned to its original place in Jerusalem.
     All the people making this pilgrimage back to their homeland, their number and the family they belong to were documented for the record. Their number came to about 50,000 with over 8,000 donkeys, horses, camels and mules - gifts amounting to 61,000 gold coins, 6,250 pounds of silver, and 100 priest robes. After settling into their homes they started making sacrifices and offerings unto the Lord their God. They did this every day until they laid the foundation and got the supplies they needed to start rebuilding the Temple of the Lord on its original site.
     After hearing about it, those who had settled the land since the Israelites were taken captive, wanted to be part of the project, but were turned down by the leaders of Israel. As a result Israel faced complications and opposition in building the Temple, which were orchestrated by the locals. These same local residents banded together and sent a letter to Artaxerxes king of Persia informing him of Israel's activities - suggesting that if they were allowed to continue, his rule would be threatened. Artaxerxes replied with an order for the project to be stopped until records are searched as to the validity of Israel's claim that it was all according to King Cyrus' order.
     The work stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius, the new king of Persia; at which point the prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied - in support of the continuation of the work, which it did. Again the local residents complained to the King of Persia documenting all the names of the leaders involved. The names of the leaders of Israel and their explanation for continuing the work were given to the residents, who then sent them to the King of Persia. This time unlike the previous, the case for Israel was fairly and clearly presented to King Darius in the letter that was sent. The investigation found that the first King Cyrus did make such an order.

Application: In our commitment to follow and obey God, we can often come under fire by those who would just as soon see us stop and abandon our work for the Lord, than to see any good come of it.
     Today, five days before I am to sing and speak to two services in a small gathering of believers in Salem, Oregon - I came down with a severe flu bug that knocked me for a loop. We need to understand that just like the Israelites returning from exile in Babylon to rebuild the Temple of the Lord, we can also face opposition in the mission the Lord has commissioned us to do. "⁴ Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. ⁵ They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia." (Ezra 4:4-5)
     The enemy is always eager to put a stop to any work that would exalt the Lord and pay tribute to the God we serve. We need to keep on going to accomplish the mission He has set in motion in us. He will never abandon those whom He has called; He will not desert those whom He has commissioned. He is always faithful to support those He has sent. We need to consistently look to Him, listen and obey what He tells us to do.

Update: As for the planned speech that I was scheduled to make in Salem, I kept that appointment and everything went smoothly - glorifying the Lord, and blessing me in the process.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for letting me know and understand a little bit more the workings of the enemy. I am grateful O Lord for Your faithfulness and love. Please help me to keep my eyes on You, to trust and believe in Your power to deliver me from any and all attacks of the devil.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 131-133

Observation: David expresses his humility while embracing the peace of God to settle him down that he may weather any storm. He encourages Israel to do the same, and to place their hope in the Lord God.
     The author of the 132nd Psalm (which is not clear - possibly Solomon) pleads for God to remember with favor His servant David, for it was David's commitment to honor the Lord that he built a sanctuary for His covenant. He appeals to the Lord that He remember what He promised in establishing David's line on Israel's throne. The final verses refer to the Lord's promise in establishing from David's line a King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ the Messiah that is to come.
     The final chapter of today's reading relates pleasantness and goodness to coming together. Unity in the Lord, it expresses, is refreshing and a lightning rod for God's blessings and power.

Application: Humility is key to finding peace and rest in the Lord. In Proverbs 11:2, we learn that humility brings wisdom - whereas disgrace and destruction follows pride. Five chapters later we read that… "¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. ¹⁹ Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud." (Proverbs 16:18-19) What we sometime don't realize is that the two are dynamically opposed one to another; humility to pride as light is to darkness, right is to wrong or righteousness is to wickedness. We can't truly have one without repudiating the other.

Prayer: Please Lord, help me overcome foolish pride, self righteousness and inflated ego. Teach me Your humility that I may acquire wisdom and that I may love others as I ought.

Scripture Reading: Zechariah 1-7

Observation: The Lord reveals to His prophet Zechariah His displeasure over the sins of his forefathers; through him He warns the people not to follow their corrupt ways, and to repent of their sins.
     A number of visions follow that outline events that will come, both good and bad, relative to the people's regard for God's ways and commandments. Zechariah's visions were of:

1. A man among the myrtle trees

2. Four horns and four craftsmen

3. A man with a measured line

4. Clean garments for Joshua the High Priest

5. A gold lampstand and two olive trees

6. A flying scroll

7. A woman in a basket

8. Four chariots

     Zechariah is then instructed to make a crown of gold for Joshua, appointing him both as High Priest and as King over the people. True justice, mercy and compassion, the reading observes, are more important than fasting, which is sometimes self serving. "⁴ Then the word of the LORD Almighty came to me: ⁵ "Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for Me that you fasted?'"" (Zechariah 7:4-5) "⁸ And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: ⁹ "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. ¹⁰ Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.'"" (Zechariah 7:8-10)

Application: "³ Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. ⁴ The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Take off his filthy clothes'. Then he said to Joshua, 'See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you'." (Zechariah 3:3-4) I believe and receive what the Lord is saying to me today - that He has not only cleansed me of my sins but has also disengaged the mechanism of evil practices from my life, removing their power over me.
     I truly believe that He is putting on me rich garments, anointing me for a special and holy purpose for His Name's sake. "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.'" (Zechariah 3:7) It may take some time for its physical manifestation to be realized, but the actual deliverance and healing is done as of this moment.
     On a personal note, which may or may not be of any significance - I've always wondered where the spirit with the red horses went. (Zechariah 6:2-6)

Prayer: Lord, there are no words to express my gratitude and privilege in being anointed by Your word to receive rich garments to serve in Your house and in Your courts. Thank You Lord for finishing the good work that You started in me. Please guide and strengthen me to keep Thy charge.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 16-19

Observation: Moses conveys to the people what God commands concerning the celebration of the Passover, including eating bread without yeast. This was to remind them of the time they had to leave Egypt in a hurry - when they did not have time to prepare bread with yeast. The particulars of celebrating the Feast of Weeks with its freewill offering to the Lord, as well as the week-long Feast of Tabernacles, were also part of the instructions given by Moses to the people as God told him to.
     The list of directives for the people to follow included the appointment of judges, officials and kings, justice and righteousness to be adhered to, sacrificing animals without defects and the purging of evil from among them.
     The Lord God of Israel promises to raise a prophet like Moses from among them to speak through, and the people will know if he is a true prophet or not by the outcome of his prophesies. He also told them through Moses to prepare three cities for those innocent of the murder they are being accused of - to run and hide in.
     Only by the testimony of more than one witness can an accusation be established and judges and priests in office at the time rule on it. Again the Lord stresses for evil to be purged from among them (meaning death by stoning), whether it be witnesses who lie on the stand, or those guilty of the evil deeds they're accused of.

Application: In today's reading, the three elements that made particular impression on me were: 'direction', 'daily' and 'purge'.

1. Direction that the people are to follow in observing all that the Lord was instructing them to obey

2. Daily remembrance of His laws and decrees: "It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees" (Deuteronomy 17:19)

3. And the purging (flushing out or removal) of evil from among them: "… You must purge the evil from among you." (Deuteronomy 17:7; 19:19)

     For each and every word in the Bible, there's a special meaning that was put in place long ago to instruct believers from that time to the present day church. It is true today as it was back when the Israelites roamed the wilderness. Through the Holy Spirit, we can decipher what it means for us today and be empowered as we obaerve and obey His mighty Word. It is therefore crucial for every believer to study the Word and indulge themselves in its power and blessings… and to do so on a daily basis for it is the only way we can free ourselves consistently from the evil among us.

Prayer: Help me Father to continue and not wane, indeed to grow - in my thirst and hunger for more of You.

Scripture Reading: Ezra 6-10

Observation: Because of the claim of the people of Israel, a search was conducted for the edict of King Cyrus concerning the rebuilding of the Temple of the Lord. When it was found and Israel's claim authenticated, the order went out from King Darius of Persia to allow the reconstruction of the temple to proceed unhindered, or else there'll be hell to pay. Supplies, from the building materials to every little article needed for the sacrifices and offerings are to be provided - paid by the royal treasury.
     There was joy in the land for the change of attitude towards the building of the temple. The Passover as well as the Festival of Unleavened bread were celebrated with much rejoicing.
     Years later, with King Artaxerxes of Persia's support, Ezra a descendant of Aaron came to Jerusalem from Babylon with a group of about 1514. Because there were no Levites among them who volunteered, Ezra requested Iddo of the town of Casiphia to send him some to be ministers for the Temple of God, which he did - to the tune of about 250 Levites and their servants.
     Some of the people committed sin in intermarrying with the people of the land - something they were forbidden to do by the Lord their God. After it was brought to his attention, Ezra seeked the Lord for forgiveness on behalf of the people. The problem was addressed and the people repented and amended their ways.

Application: Fasting is an act of humility. "There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions." (Ezra 8:21) And as the following two verses convey, fasting is also an act of faith in God's faithfulness to honor His promise to meet our every need. "²² I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, 'The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.' ²³ So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayer." (Ezra 8:22-23)
     In the past, I have mistakenly viewed fasting simply as a means to an end - the end being to get stuff from God or to have Him do stuff for me. While it is true that we come with specific needs to the Father, the vehicle of our petition - which fasting is, is based on humbling ourselves in God's presence. That's where I need to focus - the humbling of one's self, and not the getting stuff part.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for revealing to me this day the true meaning of fasting. Thank You for providing for me today my daily bread.

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 9-10

Observation: Solomon continues his observations of life, here and after - that life is a gamble; one does not truly know where one will end up, because only God knows. Spin the wheel and hope for the best, because when you're dead - it's done. At least when you're alive, you have the option of choices you can make. The day you leave this world behind is the day you give up all say to your life.
     There are of course valid points to what Solomon is saying; I just don't know if I like the attitude he is saying it with. "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten." (Ecclesiastes 9:5) I still believe though that the reason God allowed this book to be part of the Canon of the Bible, is because (as I eluded to in my journals of previous readings of this book), He understands what we go through at times and would say to us, "Isn't that what you sometimes feel is going on? I know what you're going through and I can sympathize with the issues you struggle with. Even my servant Solomon had them."

Application: In a round-about way, I find comfort in these verses - despite the gloom and hopelessness of its tone. It helps me as a believer to not take myself so seriously and to know that no matter what may arise or what things may seem to be, there are certain truths that will always remain. "So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands..." (Ecclesiastes 9:1), and "If a ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great errors to rest." (Ecclesiastes 10:4)
     I have come to the conclusion that, as in life itself, the book of Ecclesiastes requires us to lean on God and seek Him for meaning and truth.

Prayer: Please guide me to receive Your word. Help me to embrace Your peace and Your power, and to stand firm in my faith in You.

Scripture Reading: Acts 17-18

Observation: Paul and his group continue to preach the gospel and to face opposition from those who were jealous of the power that they professed. Many however believed the message and received the word that Jesus is Lord. "²⁸ 'For in Him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are His offspring.' ²⁹ Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone - an image made by man's design and skill." (Acts 17:28-29)
     After researching it on the Internet this morning, I found out why the first part of verse 28 was in 'quotes' ('For in Him we live and move and have our being'), and where the second quote ('We are His offspring') came from.

"http://www.talkjesus.com/51511-post15.html"  yields the following:

     << The basis of Paul's message to the idol worshipers of Athens of "in him we live and move and have our being..." is based on Epimenides's Creatia…

     They fashioned a tomb for thee [O Zeus], O holy and high one-
     The Cretans, always liars, evil beasts, idle bellies!
     But thou art not dead: thou livest and abidest forever,
     For in thee we live and move and have our being

and the opening lines of Aratus's Phaenomena:

     "We are his offspring. From Zeus let us begin; him do we mortals never leave unnamed; full of Zeus are all the streets and all the market-places of men; full is the sea and the havens thereof; always we all have need of Zeus."

     Paul found 'common ground' by which to lead the idol worshipers to Christ by using a 'blend' idolatorious scriptural poetry, which the idol worshipers understood and the Good News of the Jesus's resurrection which he understood; which resulted in many coming to salvation and then allowing the Holy Spirit to start His work of teaching, guiding, Sanctification, Convicting of sin and convincing of rightiousness. >>

Application: Sometimes God's will for our lives will reveal itself through unconventional means; meaning it may happen in unexpected ways. "But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, 'Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.'" (Acts 18:6) Paul was destined by God's plan to minister to and convert Gentiles. Two thirds of the New Testament bible covers the ministry of Paul and his letters, which today is still ministering to Gentiles all the world over.
     The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I grow in His word - and the more He reveals to me the deceptive ways of the enemy. Lately the attacks have been coming in the form of my not being able to be sensitive to the feelings of others - including my own relatives, which the enemy would use to justify my throwing in the towel. In spite of my faults and shortcomings I believe that the Lord would have me know today that He wants me to keep on putting one foot in front of the other - moving forward in the direction He has given me to go. "⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.'" (Acts 18:9-10) Paul was, through his own weaknesses, tempted to give in to fear.
     One other thing that I got from today's reading is the fact that we need not be afraid to say 'no' to those requesting we do a particular favor or commitment for the 'church'... given, as was with Paul, we believe that the Lord would have us do otherwise. "²⁰ When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. ²¹ But as he left, he promised, 'I will come back if it is God's will.' Then he set sail from Ephesus." (Acts 18:20-21)

Prayer: Please forgive me for the wrong choices I made in the last few days Father; even though I am grateful that through them, You gave me the opportunity to learn about making right choices.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 20-22

Observation: Through Moses - the writer of this book, God gives instructions on going to battle; how they should not be afraid for the Lord will be with them, what to do with the spoils of victory… etc. They're given directions on how to deal with unsolved murders, family affairs such as first born and rebellious children, a neighbor's strayed farm animal, dress code for women as well as for men, house construction, farming, proof of virginity, and rape cases; even bird's eggs.

Application: If there's one thing to be realized from today's reading, is that the Lord cares and is interested in the particulars of our every day affairs. We need not be sheepish about seeking Him for direction concerning our daily struggles. Nothing is too big or too small in the things we go through in life to involve our Heavenly Father and to ask His opinion and direction on how to deal with them. We can make a mess of things when we try to go it alone (due to a misguided idea that our situation's too miniscule a problem to bother anyone with) - too unimportant to talk to God or to look up in the manual of life (His Word) about. God loves us being dependent on Him for our every need.

Prayer: Thank You for letting me know this day Lord that You know everything about everything, and that You love for us to come to You in prayer for our every need. Help me remember all that You are teaching, reiterating and emphasizing to me so I may be complete in You.

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 1-4

Observation: After finding out the deplorable state of Jerusalem and the disgrace of the remnant of Israel, a broken Nehemiah fasted and sought the Lord for guidance and help for His people. "When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven." (Nehemiah 1:4) He then took his case before King Artaxerxes of Persia requesting that the king would let him go to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was not only allowed to go, but was accompanied with letters of recommendation as well as a cavalry of soldiers, to facilitate his mission. The enemies of Israel in the land were not happy with Nehemiah's mission and tried to sabotage it. The work for all repairs were divvied up among the Jewish remnant that survived the exile and living in Jerusalem. The people put their heart into the rebuilding of Jerusalem and ignored the attempts by their enemies to stop them. They prayed to God and posted guards doing everything necessary to keep the enemy at bay.

Application: Lately I have been burdened with the state of our financial affairs and the desperate need for funds to meet our various obligations coming due, including those that's been overdue for a while. Nehemiah humbling himself and fasting for the desperate situation of the people of the Lord in Jerusalem reiterates to me the power of fasting.
     I will fast today and however many days the Lord puts upon my heart to fast, and I will seek His guidance and help for our situation. As the people kept their eyes on the Lord, I will look to Him without letting the obstacles that we're currently facing, sway me from trusting in His faithfulness. After all, when God directs us to do something or to follow a certain path, He will not only provide the desire and heart for us to carry it out, but also the courage and strength to defend it against the enemy. All we need to do is, as the old Hymn says, 'trust and obey'; we should always remember that He is God, Creator of the entire universe. He is not only faithful but more than able to take care of our situation.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for showing me the way, and for continuing to grow me in my faith, thus strengthening my resolve to surrender to You completely.

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 11-12

Observation: Giving is encouraged as an insurance against barrenness and un-productivity. Waiting for the perfect time on the other hand is not advised for we do not know which way God will choose to bless us… and our sense of 'perfect timing' is often way off. Enjoy the good, for the bad may be right around the corner. Let go of worries and fear for they do little to change things; most of the time, they just make things worse. As with the fleeting years of our youth, there's not much we can do about situations that temporarily get us down.

Application: There simply is no excuse for not giving. We can always find something we have that others need more than we do. I believe that the trick to giving, besides faith in what God's word says about it, is basically forcing ourselves into that frame of mind… a giving frame of mind and heart.
     Even though we are to wait on the Lord, there are definitely times when we are to go with what's in front of us (what comes to our door), realizing that that's how the Lord sometimes will speak to us. The story of the man refusing to be rescued by a couple of rafts and a helicopter - because he was waiting for the hand of the Lord to save him from the rising water, says it best. After the man drowned, God answered his query as to why He didn't deliver him by saying, "I sent you two boats and a chopper! What else do you want?"
     Life with all of its twists and turns that come with the passing years will take us to new heights and terrible lows. Don't let any of it distract you from looking to God, the true Source of our every need, power and joy. Everything has its place; even wisdom may run dry - but the Lord our God will always be new, and will always deserve our worship and praise.

Prayer: Thank You Father for meeting my every need. Even though sometimes I don't recognize Your hand of deliverance, You are always providing for us in every way. Thank You so much for Your faithfulness.

Scripture Reading: Acts 19-20

Observation: Paul upon returning to Ephesus ministers to Ephesians - baptizing in the Holy Spirit, healing the sick, bringing sight to the blind and casting out evil spirits. His ministry grew in the region resulting in many conversions from idol worship to Christianity. In the process Paul encountered opposition from makers of idols and shrines of false gods, resulting in some of his traveling companions to be seized. As things got progressively out of control during one of the gathering, a city clerk got up to address the angry mob and eventually quieted things down. In an assembly of potential believers, a young man fell to his death while seated on a window sill listening to Paul talk on till midnight. Paul through the power of the Holy Spirit brought the man back to life.
     As Paul went about preaching the gospel to the Jews and Gentiles of the area, many were baptized by the blood of Jesus. As he prepares to head for Jerusalem, he bids farewell to his close companions in the region - knowing that the likelihood of prison and hardship awaits him. He tells them that he just wants to finish the race that was mapped out for him by the Lord Jesus. One of his final words to them included the words spoken by Jesus Himself: "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35) Paul knows his days are numbered but has no concern for his own life as he goes about finishing ‘the race’.

Application: A question I ask myself when I read about Paul’s vigor and boldness is, “How can I get that fire?” The answer comes before I’m even finished with that thought. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
     Hard work is always part and parcel of anything that is worth while. We need not shy away from hard work but rather be prepared to encounter it in our service to the Lord, praying incessantly for guidance and strength to enable us to do what needs to be done. As Paul writes, one of the areas of such hard work is in serving the weak; they're often the ones who need help the most. And as the Lord taught us, it is a blessing to them as it is to us who do the ministering.
     Today I'm reminded of those God has placed in my life who are struggling with one problem or another. I will do my best to do more to reach and spend time with them.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your word ministering to me today as it did to people more than two thousand years ago. Help me to absorb Your truth and retain it in my spirit so I can walk in the Spirit victoriously with Your love empowering me to obey Your commands and to love others.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 23-25

Observation: God continues to give Moses His commandments on who and what is to be or not be allowed in the duties and functions of Israel's every day life. The Israelites are reminded of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt and all that God did to protect them and provide for their needs along the way.

Application: In today's reading I find some of the most likely places that God's word was referring to when it said, "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14) The New Living Translation puts it this way: "… It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means."
     One such verse is, "If a man's testicles are crushed or his penis is cut off, he may not be included in the assembly of the Lord." (Deuteronomy 23:1 NLT) From the standpoint of worldly intelligence, we'd probably close the book right here giving no credibility to the validity of the bible as the unequivocal word of God. Our human wisdom might not allow us to look beyond what the mind does not reason as a valid and sensible argument. Another says: "¹² Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. ¹³ As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement." (Deuteronomy 23:12-13) One might ask: Why would the word of God concern itself with the mundane and the repulsive functions of daily existence? Yet another verse says, "¹¹ If two Israelite men are fighting and the wife of one tries to rescue her husband by grabbing the testicles of the other man, ¹² her hand must be cut off without pity. (Deuteronomy 25:11-12) Is this really such a regular occurrence - to deserve being mentioned within the pages of God's Word? And even if it was, is cutting off the hand of a woman who is simply trying to protect her husband, justified? Being the devil's advocate is easy enough; taking these verses seriously and justifying their place in the bible is a task only God can reveal - at the time of His choosing.
     I believe that the preceding verses are part of God's design to trip up anyone who thinks they can come with their own wisdom or worldly smarts, to investigate God's word. We cannot come under our own terms to the God of all creation, and expect to make the power of His Kingdom work for us. If and when we have difficulty understanding any part of His word, we are to go to Him for understanding; all the while realizing that we presently see in part what will be revealed in full on the day of His choosing. "¹² Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (Corinthians 13:12)

Prayer: According to Your will O God, reveal to me the wisdom and power of Your Holy Word. Help me never to look at Your Word from a human perspective - doubting it as a result. Guide me O Lord to understand all that You would have me receive today.

Scripture Reading: Acts 3-4

Observation: Peter and John heals a beggar who was crippled from birth and was sitting at the Temple gate. "⁶ Then Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.' ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God." (Acts 3:6-8) As a result, people turned out from all over Jerusalem, to the tune of about 5000, and became believers. Peter gives God the glory and ministered through the Holy Spirit, to all the people about the power of the name of Jesus.
     All the disciples banded together and pooled their resources to help with each other's needs.

Application: Of all the apostles and all the men and women of God in the bible, I can relate to easily excitable but at times wavering Peter. This is the same Peter who denied knowing Jesus three times, when his own life was threatened. Before that, he took his eyes off of the Lord in the midst of experiencing the incredible power of God that enabled him to walk on water. Consequently the miracle of his walking on water was short lived as he began to sink. Now here he is performing powerful works through the name of the Lord Jesus.
     As men and women of God, including Peter, have proven over thousands of years - when we speak or do anything in Him, He will provide all that we need to defend the faith by which we live.

Personal Revelation: This morning, the Lord placed these words in my heart... just for me: "Even though you've fallen short of the Glory of God countless times, and inevitably will again, I will use you in powerful ways that will defy human comprehension. Not if but when that happens, you need to remember to give Me all the glory and all the praise; for it is through My power and in My name alone that all things are possible." Hallelujah!

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your word to me this morning. I am grateful for Your love and mercy in saving me to live for You and bring glory to Your name.

Scripture Reading: Song of Solomon 1-2

Observation: To put it simply, these chapters are about love. Love that is holy and sacred; love that is true and faithful - love in the purest sense and how the Lord designed love to be.

Application: We are to realize that God created love and that He created it to be pure and holy. It is the world that corrupted it and polluted its purpose - which is to reflect God's love for us. We need to embrace God's love for us and use His love in our lives by which to love others with - even romantic love.

Prayer: Thank You for Your love O Lord. Teach us to love others as You love us - and may we love You and worship You more each and every day.

Scripture Reading: Acts 21-22

Observation: Paul with his entourage, said goodbye to the Ephesian elders and left Miletus to set sail for Tyre, going through the island of Cos, Rhodes, Patara and Phoenicia. From Tyre they sailed on and landed at Ptolemais and the following day they reached Caesarea. He was warned by many including the prophet Agabus about the dangers that await him in Jerusalem, but he insisted that he would not only be bound but would die for the Lord.
     The believers in Jerusalem after listening to Paul’s testimony urged him to beware, for the Jews in that area were out to get him due to all the misinformation being spread around concerning him. Paul tried to follow their advice and go through the process of purification for him and for others accompanying him, but before the purification was completed, trouble found him and he was seized and beaten by the Jews in the city. The commander of the Roman troops found out about this and took charge of the situation by chaining Paul up. He interrogated Paul and then gave him a chance to speak to the people. When that didn’t help, the commander was about to beat him some more when he discovered that Paul was a Roman citizen. This changed everything, and Paul was released to be questioned further by the chief priests and the Sanhedrin assembly.

Application: In spite of the dangers that may confront us in our ministry, we are not to waiver from our spirit-based conviction to follow the path of service in the Lord. “Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’” (Acts 21:13) Courage should be an extension of faith, and not of arrogance. Boldness likewise should be an extension of obedience, and not of pride.
     Not only am I convinced that He will meet all my needs and will not give me more than I can handle, but that it was for what the storms in my life is preparing me for, that I was called to begin with. In essense, it was for the struggles that I go through that I was born. Jesus said, “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.” (John 12:27)
     When we, based on our faith in the Lord, put on the right frame of mind and spirit, He will facilitate the rest of our journey by filling us with His peace, strengthening us with His joy and reassuring us with His love. Take away the journey and our faith is but a shallow reflection of itself, and of what it should be in the Lord.

Prayer: Thank You Lord, not only for feeding me with the daily nourishment of Your word, but also for growing me through the various aspects of the journey that You placed in my life and commissioned me to take.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 26-28

Observation: Through Moses, the Lord directs His people to remember all He has done and to honor Him with their tithes and offering when they come into the blessings of their inheritance which the Lord has given them in the Promised Land. The people of Israel are instructed to give their tithes to help others in need. “When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.” (Deuteronomy 26:12)
     Obeying the commands of the Lord is reiterated over and over again, so that it may go well with Israel and God will do for them over and above all of their hopes and dreams. On the other hand, if they forsake Him, there will be no end to the misery and devastation visited upon them. With obedience and reverence to the Lord their God comes unimaginable blessings, but with disobedience and wickedness comes unfathomable ruin.

Application: Remembering who the Lord our God is and what He has done for us is key and crucial to our continuing to live in His blessing and power. It is so dissappointing and heartbreaking when a loved one or a dear friend returns our kindness and sincere love for them with betrayal or rejection. As imperfect and assuming as we are, we sometimes bring these unpleasant responses upon ourselves, yet it hurts all the same; it can even cause anger and hate to rise in us. On the other hand, God is not only so good to us all of the time, He is without fault in His love and only wants the best for us.
     More than half of today’s reading is devoted to a clear and unambiguous portrayal of the consequences of forsaking God’s ways and the rejecting of His commands and decrees. It would have been better to have not known God than to know Him, tasting how good He is - only to reject Him for the world. (2 Peter 2:21) What do we do if, God forbid, we're in such a predicament? “²³ When he is made aware of the sin he committed, he must bring as his offering a male goat without defect.” (Leviticus 4:23) I believe that once we're wise to the situation, repenting of our wrongs and seeking Him for forgiveness is not only crucial, it needs to be immediate.

Prayer: Lord, it is scary to think of what would happen to me and my loved ones if I were to fall back into the ways of the world, from walking in Your abundance and power. Please Holy and most loving Father – keep me from even thinking about going there. And if that dreadful occurrence were ever to take place Lord, I beg of Thee – be swift to convict my heart to repent and to come with a contrite spirit back into Thy presence; at which point I pray that You'll be merciful O God to receive me back into Your fold.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 143-145

Observation: David’s 143^rd Psalm, according to many bible scholars, was written when his son Absalom was trying to kill him. He is afraid and weak, reaching out to the Lord his God for strength, guidance and deliverance. His desperation brought to the surface all of his core beliefs, as well as his desire to be rescued.
     In the following 144^th Psalm, things are obviously better for King David, who also authored it. In it, David gives God the praise and the glory for his victories. Still there were other battles to be fought, for which he seeks help from the Lord - as well as for other personal needs for him and the people under him.
     The 145^th Psalm, also by David, is all about praise and exaltation of the faithfulness and power of God in delivering him from his enemies, for His wondrous works and for His awesome love. “¹ I will exalt You, my God the King; I will praise Your name for ever and ever. ² Every day I will praise You and extol Your name for ever and ever.” (Psalm 145:1-2)

Application: The three Psalms of today’s scripture reading takes us through the different phases of our faith walk: Before, during and after God’s deliverance.
     When we call out to Him in our time of need, it is important that we keep our eyes on Him, even though it might be some time before we experience His mighty hand in rescuing us from the hand of the enemy. It’s okay that we sometimes fall apart when we’re in the thick of battle, face to face with our problems - may it be physical, financial or spiritual in nature. It’s excusable to buckle under the pressure of warfare, as long as we don’t turn away from the Lord our deliverer. If we seek Him in truth and in Spirit, He will deliver us. While He is delivering us, it is equally as important that we keep our eyes on Him - giving Him the praise and the glory for what He is doing even before He is done doing it.
     Finally, it is of grave importance that we do not forget Him after we’ve gotten our victory and have been delivered from our predicament. Praise and honor need to fill our hearts, our minds and our mouths, to be expressed and offered up to the God of our salvation, the Source and Provider of our daily existence – Jesus our great reward.
     As David went through these three stages, he never took his eyes off of the Lord. He cried to Him to come, he rejoiced in His showing up and tending to his needs, and he praised and exalted Him for completing His promise to save him.

Prayer: O Lord my God, author of life and lover of my soul, I am overwhelmed with gratitude Father for all that You’ve done, all that’s going on presently as Your perfect will unfolds in my life, and all that will come to pass as a result of Your love and faithfulness. Thank You Lord! You are so good, so wonderful and so precious to me. I adore You and I praise You with all that I am.

Scripture Reading: Revelation 7-11

Observation: As the apostle John writes down the details of his vision, more is given him. From all the tribes of Israel and Judah, 144,000 were sealed – 12,000 each from the 12 tribes. A great multitude, innumerable in number in white robes were also there worshiping and praising the Lamb. “And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” (Revelation 7:10)
     As each seal were opened and each of the seven angels blew their trumpets, the vision revealed to John kept unfolding in such dramatic fashion, it would have overwhelmed a lesser man.

Application: These are things that will be revealed to us in its proper time and place. The whole book of Revelation tells me simply that there are many unknowns during our time here on earth, and many things will remain unresolved until its appropriate time. In the mean time we need to simply trust Him to show us what we need to know and do, and not worry about the rest. Trying to find out about more than our share can keep us from fully embracing His peace and His joy that is ours every day; it can thus deny us the strength we need to overcome the oppressor. In the prayer Jesus taught His disciples, He puts it simply: “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) We need only be concerned with what He gives us on a daily basis – that keeps us dependent on Him and away from the enemy’s camp.

Prayer: Lord, there are many false teaching from false prophets that are leading people astray. Keep Your people from falling for the enemy’s lies and guard us against over zealous spirituality. Help me to be content with what You have allocated for me this day – for which I give You my gratitude and praise.

Scripture Reading: Song of Solomon 3-4

Observation: These chapters like the previous two I believe, talks about romance as a metaphor of the relationship between the church and the Creator. The bride searches through out for her lover and when she finds Him, she holds on to Him. It advises against treating love frivolously as in falling for anything that comes along. The author goes on to draw a parallel between the beauty of God’s creation – the landscape and the wild that inhabit its natural splendor, to the exquisite design of the love - in its truest form, that exists between God and His people.

Application: We as the church and as His bride are to seek Him out when He beckons our hearts. He knows when the right time is for us to do what we need to do. As the divorce rate of this country will confirm, jumping the gun on love or not hearing it at all has never ended well for those who were not looking to the Lord.
     Romancing the Lord can and should be a sacred and righteous endeavor. It is what love and romance was meant to be.

Prayer: Teach me true love O Lord, and help me embrace its sacred vows and deepest meaning. Yours O God is the purest love and the sweetest fragrance that we as believers and as children of the Kingdom have been blessed to receive and reciprocate.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 29-31

Observation: The Lord God commanded Moses to give Israel a covenant by which they will be blessed. They will prosper if they followed and obeyed it, but will face His wrath if they didn’t. He is to remind them all that the Lord has done; all the victories and all the blessings and prosperity He has given them - so that they may choose to hear His word and follow His commands and decrees. The people are to be sealed unto the Lord for He will be their God and they His people, and they are to abide by the terms of the covenant. The people are to be warned against following after the idol worshippers of Egypt and other countries that they observed along the way. The Lord their God was not going to tolerate or ignore it if they were to forsake Him for these lifeless works of man - the devastating consequences of which would be visible for generations to come.
     Moses gets ready to hand over the reigns of leading Israel into the Promised Land. Joshua will take over the leadership and bring the people into the inheritance God promised His people. 'Be strong and courageous' is the key theme of encouragement for Joshua and for the people as they go to cross over into the Promised Land. Moses receives his pink slip (so to speak), as the Lord predicts that the wickedness of His people will cause them to fall away from His way and follow after their own sinful desires. He will be faithful to punish them for their sin and turn His blessings away from them. A song given by God to Moses describes what the Lord has foretold – which is documented in the first 43 verses of chapter 32.

Application: I believe that ‘change of leadership’ or ‘change of guards’ has been taking place since Joshua took over Moses' leadership role. For whatever reason, the Lord may want to move people on - to either take up different positions in the body, take them home to be with Him or take them down because of sin. I pray not the latter (for anyone), but we need to be ready to fill any position in His body, as was the case with Joshua, if and when God wants us to. It is important to note though that such a calling may never come; in which case we are to remain in the role He last called us to serve (may that be a doctor, teacher, musician, minister, housewife... or any other) for the duration of our sojourning here on earth. But we need to prepare ourselves for such an honor in case we're called upon. It is equally important to realize that we cannot possibly be ready for such a moment without walking and remaining in Him and in His word on a daily basis.
     Whatever spot He may want me to fill, whether it's serving my family as a husband and a father, volunteering at a homeless shelter or being the head of a major organization, I am not only willing but will do my best in such a capacity - for it is to obey His bidding that I was born; it is to honor and glorify His mighty name that I was set apart.

Prayer: Thank You Father for all that You’ve done in growing and preparing me to serve You in fulfilling Your will for my life. Be glorified and be magnified in me Father.

Scripture Reading: Esther 1-5

Observation: King Xerxes threw a party for the elite of society and then threw another one - this time for all the people, great and small… in the citadel of Susa. The king sent for the queen so he can show her off to his guests, but Queen Vashti refused to come. Following his advisors suggestion, the king took Queen Vashti's privileges away and proceeded to replace her. After considering a number of virgins for the position, Esther was chosen to be Queen. Esther’s cousin Mordecai, who had raised her since her parents died, exposed a plot by two of the king’s officers to kill King Xerxes. They were captured and summarily executed; the Queen, who brought the information to the king, gave the credit to Mordecai.
     Haman the Agagite was honored by the king who made it official for the people to pay Haman homage by bowing in his presence; everyone except for Mordecai, who refused to follow the edict. Because of it, Haman decided to not only go after Mordecai but all of the Jews in the community – of which Mordecai was one. Haman got the king to endorse the plan, which divided and distressed the people, Jews and non-Jews alike; Mordecai in particular was greatly distraught. When they found out about the order to annihilate them, the Jews as requested by Queen Esther, fasted and mourned – along with Mordecai.
     Esther summoned all of her courage to approach the king about the matter. King Xerxes received her with honor and respect promising to grant her wishes no matter what they were. She requested permission to host a party for the king and Haman, to which the king agreed. Haman, thinking this was yet another homage paid him went around delirious with pride from his new found prestige and power.

Application: Standing up for something you believe in like Mordecai did, is admirable - putting it all on the line as in the case of Esther, because you believe it to be what you were set apart and born for, is exceptional and pleasing to Him who created you for such an occasion. “¹⁵ Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ ‘Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night and day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’” (Esther 4:15-16) There are not too many spiritual tools by which we can seek the Lord that are more powerful than fasting.
     We are each here for a reason; it may be to teach, to be a healer or an agitator, or simply to draw fire. Whatever it is, we need to check with the One who set us apart before we were even born (Jeremiah 1:5). Knowing what our role is and when we’re to move into action is all about focus and obedience and will be the difference between success and failure in our mission to do God’s will. We need therefore to draw near to the One who knew us before we were even formed and surrender to Him - the King of kings and the Lord of lords... for surrender takes the guess work out of it.

Prayer: I believe O Lord that You are preparing me for the very purpose You set me apart for from the beginning. For that O God, I am eternally grateful. Thank You for calling me and for finishing the good work that You started in me.

Scripture Reading: John 1

Observation: Here we find that the bible does not mix words when it comes to Jesus’ existence from the very start. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) Before anything came to being, He was - He existed. Also, we read about John the Baptist’s role in preparing the way for the Son of God. John immediately recognized Jesus as the Son of God because he (John) walked and communed daily with God.

Application: We the called need to realize that just as there was no doubt that John’s role in the Kingdom was to ‘prepare the way of the Lord’, God has a definite purpose and plan for each of our lives. We may not be a ‘John the Baptist’ or a ‘Paul’ or ‘Peter’… but what He has called us to, may it be less center stage, is just as important and requires faithfulness and obedience on our part. He’s coming back. We should (like John) be about preparing the way for His return, by listening closely and responding with immediate obedience to, His directives for our lives.
     Verse 36 talks about John recognizing Jesus when it says, “When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’” (John 1:36) Even over the phone, we can easily recognize the voice of a friend or loved one; it'd be difficult not to, given the fact we talk with them often - if not everyday. So let’s talk with God on a regular basis, so we can immediately identify His voice from the countless voices in the world vying for our attention.
     When Jesus called the first disciples, He did so unceremoniously and without fanfare. We need not be looking for a 'burning bush' or a thunder and lightning scenario to verify His voice... after all, His is a small still voice.
     Just like John’s two disciples, we need to be childlike in our curiosity and desire to know the Son of God; “Rabbi, where are You staying?” (John 1:38) Jesus knew their hearts when He said, “Come, and you will see”. (John 1:39)

Prayer: My Lord and Shepherd, help me to walk closely with you everyday that I may always recognize Your voice, and not to abandon the childlike heart that is pleasing in Thy sight.

Scripture Reading: Judges 9-11

Observation: Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal (Gideon) became ruler over the people of Shechem after he killed (the oppositions) all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons, his brothers. Jotham the youngest of the brothers escaped though, and later cursed the people of Shechem for making Abimelech their leader. The rest of these chapters talks about the different rulers from Abimelech to Jephthah and Israel’s ‘on again/off again’ love and servitude towards God. In chapter 11, Jephthah makes a vow to the Lord that he will sacrifice to Him whatever comes out of his door to greet him on his return, if the Lord delivers the Ammonites into his hands. Much to his dismay, after defeating the Ammonites, his daughter was the one that greeted him. What was he thinking? That a goat'd be stepping out?

Application: Through out our lives, we should remember the paths those who went before us took - and learn from them; how they were blessed when they worshiped God, and cursed when they turned to other gods. Good things happened when they were obedient, but were chastised wnen they were indifferent to what God specifically told them to do.
     Whatever we commit or surrender or vow to the Lord we need to honor. Making a vow to the Lord (as Jephthah did), is often treading on dangerous grounds. It is therefore crucial that we remain in Him - to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh, in order that we may commit to the Lord what is right and appropriate.

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember and to put to use in my everyday life, the lessons taught by your Holy Word. May I always look to You that I may keep from following false gods.

Scripture Reading: Revelation 12-17

Observation: As the vision given to John continues to unfold in the chapters of today’s reading, the stark difference of right and wrong becomes vividly clear. Righteousness is rewarded with grace and wickedness reaps its just recompense - eternal damnation.

Application: Even though there are temporary victories for the enemies of God, there will be deliverance and total triumph for those who believe in the Son. “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)
     I believe that some of the events colorfully portrayed here have either taken place, such as in famine and natural disasters that have devastated many (with more to come), or are taking place presently – as in war ravaged countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. The process has been in place since the beginning in which those who repent of their sin are forgiven and salvaged along with the faithful, and the stubbornly evil and sinful will perish. This book, I believe is about the final stages of this process, that's an abstract account of the last days - which will be revealed according to His will. Through it all, we once again will discover the true nature and inevitable demise of the beast - and the ever faithfulness, power and love of God.

Prayer: Help me Father, to be steadfast in my faith and to draw near to You each day.

Scripture Reading: Romans 15-16

Observation: In his letter to believers in Rome, Paul writes about ministering to Gentiles – encouraging, supporting and guiding them in the word. The verse that speaks specifically to me today reads, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

Application: We are to support and encourage our brothers and sisters in the Lord who are ministering and preaching God's word to the people of the world, lifting them up in our prayers and helping them with our finances. I believe that each and every believer definitely has a role in the spreading of the gospel, if not directly than through the ministries of God’s anointed called by the Father to minister to the world at large - Jews and Gentiles alike.
     Not only does Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us...” tell me that those who have gone before us blazed the trail for our benefit, we in certain respects are doing the same for those who will come after us. With that in mind, we are to be tolerant and patient in our struggles, for the purpose and plan of the Father provides the bigger picture of love and forgiveness not only for us but also for future generations of believers, in part through our experiences and testimony. So, let's keep fighting the good fight - for it's not for nought that we war; it is for our personal growth in the Lord, as well as for the spiritual well being of those touched by it.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please guide me to serve You in the ministry for which You have called me, as well as other ministries that You would have me support in order that the whole world may know You.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 24-26

Observation: In the 24th Psalm, King David talks of God as in the third person: “Who is this King of Glory? The Lord Almighty – He is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:10) Psalm 25 addresses God in part and us – the church, in part. The 26th Psalm on the other hand wholly communicates with the Father but details David’s resolve to walk in righteousness. In whatever way they are presented, God’s word is always about the power and love of God, the corrupt nature of man and his need of the Father’s mercy, and deliverance.

Application: These Psalms portray King David as dedicated and adamant in his conviction. If I am to emulate such conviction in any way, than I need to pay close attention to the fact that today’s reading exude a love and affection no worldly god can ever command - not even close. I need to work at mirroring David's passion for God if I am to be used in His Kingdom in a powerful way. Conviction is indeed the grease that facilitates determination.

Prayer: Father, enrich me with the same love and passion that King David had for You.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 45-50

Observation: Through His prophet Isaiah God declares that He alone is the true living God. All other gods are useless works of man’s ignorance and falsehood. They do nothing but bring those who believe in them emptiness and disaster. “Your nakedness will be exposed and your shame uncovered. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.” (Isaiah 47:3)
     In contrast, He says to believers – “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:4) To His beloved - "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” (Isaiah 48:17) And to His own He says, “…those who hope in Me will not be disappointed.” (Isaiah 49:23)
     Jesus Christ, a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles is foretold throughout chapter 49. And in the final chapter of this reading, in words and manner only He can express, the Lord convincingly makes the case for His unequalled and proven power, love and faithfulness. "² Was my arm too short to ransom you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you? By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst. ³ I clothe the sky with darkness and make sackcloth its covering." (Isaiah 50:2-3)

Application: The Lord makes clear the fact that He alone foretold and predestined the things that came to pass. “Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, 'My idols did them; my wooden image and metal god ordained them'” (Isaiah 48:5); everything He predicts have and will certainly come to be.
     If there were any doubt of who God is, what He did in bringing about all creations, what He’s doing and what He will do to acquire the worship, love and praise of all His people – today’s reading should put to rest. The authenticity of the God of Jacob, His genuine love and mercy, the destruction that awaits those who seek other gods and the everlasting joyous reward of a surrendered life in Him is spelled out in clear and unambiguous detail; disavowing any claim of, “But no one told me.” Neither can we say, "God never talks to me!" The book of Isaiah, among others, describes in detail what God said then, which is what He's saying to us today; for He is after all "... the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) James puts it another way: "... the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17) All we need to do is open His word, hear and receive what He's saying to us.

Prayer: Thank You for showing me Your ways, and for helping me see and desire Your truth.

Scripture Reading: Genesis 36-39

Observation: The Edomites, descendants of Esau who was Isaac’s first born and Jacob’s older brother is outlined in the 36th chapter of Genesis. Jacob’s second youngest son Joseph (the youngest was Benjamin) relates his dreams to his family and in the process causes his older brothers to despise him. As a result, they sell him off to the Ishmaelites which puts in play God’s plan. He ends up in Egypt and proceeds to excel in every field he is put in, but his good-looks causes complication when he gets unsolicited attention from the wife of his master - Potiphar. Even after landing in prison (as a result of being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife), he continues to prosper because the Lord was with him.

Application: In our minds, it may be questionable whether Jacob instead of Esau (the elder of the twin brothers, due to his coming out first) receiving the blessing of their father Isaac (Genesis 27) was fair or not; but once it was given, the promise stands. Regardless of the circumstances, God will keep His word to us and will fulfill His promises in our lives. When we do our best to do right in God’s eyes, He will take care of us in every way and will prosper us no matter what may come against us.
     I am living the reality of God’s faithfulness - even in the midst of the storms I'm encountering... bankruptcy and joblessness. I can definitely sense the ‘peace that passeth all understanding’ and the power of His joy and love in my life, and in my family - as we trust in Him to take us through the storm. Through it all He has prospered me - both academically as well as musically. Praise His Holy name.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your joy that strengthens me, and for Your peace that passeth all understanding. You are so faithful Lord. Please continue to guide me. Thank You for meeting all my needs.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 27-29

Observation: I thank the Lord for the 27^th Psalm this morning; it is precisely what's needed for the trial and difficulty my wife and I are going through presently. “The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalms 27:1)
     Even though we’re going through testing of our faith, I can honestly say that I have His ‘peace that passeth all understanding’ and His ‘joy that strengthens me’. Verses 13 and 14 of chapter 27 say, “¹³ I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. ¹⁴ Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
     The two chapters that follow seek God for help and deliverance from the enemy, and exalts the Lord for His power and His glory.

Application: The whole scripture reading this morning (Psalm 27-29), is a source of strength and stability; in particular Verse 14 of the 27^th : “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” More and more, I am convinced that this is the word of the Lord for us in this journey of hope and faith that we've embarked upon - at His urging. In an earlier posting of a journalling about "Waiting On The Lord" (click here) - a word the Lord impressed upon my heart, I outlined various reasons why 'waiting' is critical for our spriritual development.
     The Lord's been so good in taking care of all our needs - while seeing us through so many trials... trials that strengthen our faith and grow our relationship with the Father. This affirmation of His direction for our lives is absolutely what we needed at this particular juncture. I will indeed take heart and wait for the Lord.

Journal Revisited: As I revisit this day's journal, two years almost to the day since it was first logged, I am once again encouraged by the day's reading... and again, especially the 14^th verse of the 27^th chapter - “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” It's as powerful today, as it was then. We must keep in mind that a day in God's time could be years, if not decades in ours. Regardless, He is never too early nor is He ever late in delivering all He's promised us.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for affirming what You've spoken. Thank You for proving to us over and over again that You will never leave us – that You will never abandon us. Please help us to keep our eyes on and wait patiently for You, never doubting You our Lord and our God. Thank You Father for Your love in meeting our every need.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 3-4

Observation: The bickering that went on within the Corinthian church is still going on in some of today’s churches. Arguing about petty or reconcilable differences - the fate of which, pride and stubbornness will seal.
     A couple of the verses that stand out for me today says, “³ I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.” (1 Corinthians 4:3-4). In other words Paul is declaring that he's living his life for an ‘audience of one’.
     Paul cares about those he birthed in the Lord like a father cares about his own children; he treats them with that same love and stern discipline, never letting them forget for one moment who is first, and who their faith is all about - the Lord Jesus.

Application: I need to put aside any and all judgmental attitude or any strife that I may feel towards another in the body of believers - and love them regardless of any differences that may exist in how we worship the true Living God. We are all learning as we grow in the Lord. I should afford others the same slack I ask of others for my mistakes; who am I to think I’m the only one that deserves a break? Jesus came for us all. Arrogance, as in 'judging another', has no place in a true believer's heart.
     Looking to our heavenly Father and living each day for Him and Him alone will help keep our feet solidly on the path He has set for us to travel.

Prayer: Remove arrogance far far away from my heart Lord. Help me to look to You and not to the world. Grant me Your tenderness of heart that I may truly love others.

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 1-5

Observation: Hannah prayed for a child and God gave her Samuel. Hannah kept her promise to God and gave Samuel to Him. The name Samuel sounds like the Hebrew word that means ‘asked of God’ or ‘heard of God’. Eli prayed for God to bless Hannah with a son to replace Samuel and the Lord gave her three sons and two daughters. The two sons of Eli the priest were committing outrages sins against the Lord. The question that is often asked of today’s politicians when surrounded by controversy could have been asked of Eli: “What did you know and when did you know it?” God knew that Eli realized what his sons were doing and treated it lightly, and for that Eli paid dearly. He not only lost both his sons but also forfeited his own life when he fell and broke his neck. Other consequences of his gross negligence included the Ark of the Lord being captured by the Philistines as well as his daughter-in-law dying after giving birth.

Application: I need to pay attention to what is going on in my family. Saying, “Don’t be doing that” or “You know that’s not a good choice”, won't suffice - if the actions that are being addressed calls for stronger measures or stiffer penalties. This is particularly true when God reveals the wrong to us or brings it to our attention. Our whole ministry can be on the line, not to mention our family affairs. On the other hand, surrendering to God all of our frustrations and all of our inabilities like Hannah did, and looking to Him for help and trusting Him for deliverance, is acknowledging Him as Lord; for we know that He is faithful to reward all those who diligently seek Him.

Prayer: Lord, please save me from being indifferent to what may be going on around me that is against Your word. In particular, the affairs that involve my immediate family or friends and people close to me. When sin is present, convict me to act in seeking You for guidance and obeying Your word and following Your direction.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 56-61

Observation: The Lord’s prophetic word declares that the foreigners (Gentiles) will be included in the Kingdom, the wicked will perish, the righteous will be vindicated and Zion will rise again. The contrite and repentant heart will be comforted but the wicked and the unjust will be dealt the wrath and retribution of the Lord.
     The word of the Lord that speaks to me today is one that I highlighted in my bible on the 11th of February of 1999 - the first time it ministered to my heart: “¹ ARISE, SHINE, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. ² See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you.” (Isaiah 60:1-2)
     I will also stand on and receive the word of the Lord that declares, “¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, ² to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.” (Isaiah 61:1-2) Jesus read this passage in a synagogue in Nazareth, witnessed by those gathered: “¹⁸ The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)

Application: I believe that through Isaiah 60:1-2 and 61:1-2, God is calling me to stand and be His light unto the world. What an awesome honor and privilege it is to serve the Lord. I will do my best to answer the call and surrender all to His will.

Prayer: Father if this is indeed Your word specifically for me today, please confirm it to Your servant and help me receive it. I surrender my life and give You my heart Lord. Please take first place in me and guide me in Your way.

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 6-10

Observation: The Philistines upon realizing that the Arc of the Lord brought ill fate to them as it did to others who took by force the role of being its guardian, sought to return it to its rightful keeper – Israel. Seventy of those who dared to look into the Arc were destroyed by the Lord.
     Israel’s elders demanded a king in the place of Samuel’s sons whom he had appointed as Israel’s judges, to which the Lord relents; Saul is selected and anointed to be Israel’s king. God changes Saul’s heart and all of Samuel’s prophesies for that day becomes fulfilled.

Application: At the end of the day, I will probably learn more from Saul than any one else in the bible - for the things I shouldn’t do. Misplaced modesty, weak leadership, disobedience, inability to prioritize, and losing perspective, were all part of his downfall.
     I need to get ‘precisely’ what God tells me... which requires listening intently for His small still voice. Once we know what He has spoken to our hearts, which can be clear from the get-go, or might require our seeking Him more than once for confirmation (as with Gideon), immediate obedience is mandatory. The challenge thereafter is to keep in the forefront of our daily rememberance, exactly what He said to us - and always our obedience to His will.

Prayer: Teach me to be attentive to Your every directive. Help me to grow in true humility and obedience. Guide me Lord, into immediate and consistent obedience.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 62-66

Observation: God prepares His people for their deliverance, exoneration and return to the fold. Through Isaiah the prophet God reveals His plan to take out the enemies of His people and to redeem Israel; this in light of their compulsive disobedience and unfaithful acts.
     In the final chapter of the book of Isaiah, I’m reminded of who He is and who I need to be: "'All these things My hand has made, and so all these things are Mine,' says the Lord. 'But this is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.'” (Isaiah 66:2)

Application: In spite of who we are and what we’ve done, He’s willing to forgive us and gather us to Himself. All we need to do is repent and turn from our sins surrendering to Him - for He loves us so much. According to the above verse, some of the key elements to God accepting us are humility and contrition - without which there would not be true repentance.

Prayer: Please forgive me for my sins Lord. Change my heart and restore me to the person You created in me.

Scripture Reading: Mark 3-4

Observation: Jesus again heals on the Sabbath after telling the Pharisees on the previous reading, that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. "²⁷ Then he said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.'" (Mark 2:27-28)
     Between healing the people and casting out demons, Jesus picked His twelve disciples. He then talks to the people about the parable of the sower, and when alone with His disciples, He explains the meaning of each parable He shared with them including the one about the mustard seed. Later, while on a boat, He calms the storm that had risen as well as the fears of His disciples, rebuking their lack of faith.
     In responding to Jesus casting out demons, the teachers of the law accused Him of being possessed by Beelzebub (Satan). Jesus answers by saying, “In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house.” (Mark 3:27) John Gill explains this verse to mean that if Jesus weren’t working with a higher power than Satan, He’d have to first bind up the evil one before wreaking havoc in his domain.

Application: We can be so close to the presence of the Almighty, and be witnesses to the power of His works that we are dazed and temporarily ‘thrown for a loop’, such that we can’t put things in their proper perspective. We need to keep our Spiritual balance at all times, knowing that He is God and that He loves us. It’s easy to sometimes forget that the One that is telling you, “I got this, trust me” - is the same God that created and hung the sun, the moon and the stars in their places. Too often times we respond as Lois Lane did in Superman 1. As she was falling to her certain death, Superman caught her in mid-air and said, “Don’t worry, I got you!” She replied, “But... but who’s got you?”

Prayer: Thank You Father for all that You created and all that You are doing in my life. Help me never to lose sight of how great and how faithful You are.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 36-38

Observation: The injustices of the wicked are contrasted with the righteousness of the godly. Accordingly, the fate of evil men is death but God delivers and rewards those who hope and delight in the Lord. Wisdom is linked with godly fear, whereas the absence of wisdom displaces justified fear of the power and justice of the Almighty. The 36th Psalm talks about the wicked as having, “…no fear of God before his eyes …he has ceased to be wise and to do good.” (Psalm 36:1 & 3)
     David comes before the Lord with a contrite heart in Psalm 38, repenting of his sins and seeking His forgiveness.

Application: As a child, we learn that playing with matches can have painful consequences. As a result, we’ve developed enough of a healthy respect for fire to take measured protection against its destructive force, such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishes; that’s wisdom at work. My hope is that I, like David, have been burned enough times to truly appreciate both - God’s anger, as well as His redemptive love. When we lose being fearful of the consequences of sin, we are operating outside the realm of wisdom. “Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong." (Psalm 36:4) I need to come clean whenever I’ve done wrong and seek Him for forgiveness with a humble and contrite heart - resisting at first sight the trappings of immorality - whether in thought or deed.
     Lately, anger has had its way in my heart, becoming a road block in my walk in the Lord. Regardless, I remained in His word and communed with Him on a daily basis. He rewarded me by highlighting the self-defeating nature of anger, in a verse I've read at least a half dozen times before but now seeing for the first time in a personal and powerful light. "Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil." (Psalm 37:8) That helped open my eyes to let anger go and to reclaim the joy of the Lord. The change was instantaneous - for apart from righteous anger (John 2:15; Romans 13:3-4), there's no co-existing between anger of the flesh and the joy of the Lord.
     In Psalm 37 of my bible are some verses I had high-lighted some time ago that are strongly witnessing to me again.
     "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)
     "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;" (Psalm 37:7)
     "But those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land." (Psalm 37:9)
     "²³ The Lord delights in the way of the man whose steps He has made firm; ²⁴ though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand." (Psalm 37:23-24)

Prayer: Thank You Lord for revealing to me my hidden faults, reassuring me of Your love and faithfulness. Please forgive me of my sins; help me to surrender all my cares and concerns to You, for You will never fail to uphold those who hope in You.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 9-10

Observation: In the 10th chapter of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, Paul says - “¹² So, if you think that you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³ No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13) It is important to realize that temptations will come and we may slip up, but God will not allow the loads we carry to be more than we can handle. Paul said in Romans 11:11, “Again I ask, Did they stumble so as to fall…?” This clearly states that slipping up or stumbling is one thing, falling is another. As is stated in the book of Psalms, “²³ The Lord delights in the way of the man whose steps He has made firm; ²⁴ though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” ( Psalm 37:23-24)
     A point of contention that may be argued is the 22nd verse of the 9th chapter: “I have become all things to all men so that by all means I might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22) Is this something other than a compromise, or is compromising acceptable in some cases?

Application: There are two key points that I come away with from today's message. One is that God uses the obstacles we encounter to grow us. The other is applying the appropriate lubricant to maintain the flow of God's word.
     Over the years, I've almost perfected the art of stumbling. I've gotten so good at it that it almost doesn't phase me anymore. Thank God that through the Holy Spirit, I am reminded constantly of it's significance; and that even though we work to minimize its occurrence, it (stumbling) serves as a blown fail-safe fuse which protects against a much greater catastrophe. He will not let me handle more than I can bear. I need to relax and know that He is faithful, and to look instead on what He is directing my attention to. That is where He is usually working me - in situations where He may want me to stop or change something or make better choices in. In most cases, disobedience or hard-of-hearing is the likely culprit that leads me astray.
     On the second key point - being ”... all things to all men” does not mean that God’s word is open for discussion or interpretation. Through the Holy Spirit, it is what it is. Compromise is not an option when it comes to the principles of my Heavenly Father’s word. I believe that what Paul is saying here is really about one thing – respect. Respect is born out of love - and love, as we know is the greatest among faith, hope and love. It's like using soap to slide a snug-fitted ring from someones finger. Grease (or oil) on the other hand (not soap) is used to facilitate movement within an engine block. Paul is saying, 'What ever the situation requires, I will do – in order to facilitate the message of God's word being received'.

Prayer: Lord forgive me for my weaknesses. Forgive my consistency in stumbling. Help me to not fall away from You. Please help me to resist the devil for he will flee, and to draw near to You for You will draw near to me.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 11-12

Observation: Paul discusses in his first letter to the Corinthians, issues that are causing division and friction among the church members; the role of the man as well as that of the woman in the body or in the family, for one. He also instructs them that the Holy Communion is to be treated with the uttermost respect for it represents the life and death of Jesus.
     Spiritual gifts are varied but are all of the same body, which is Christ.

Application: In 1 Corinthians 11:32, Paul says, “When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.” It is definitely a good thing when we are on the receiving end of God’s disciplinary actions. For “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”. (Romans 8:28)
     The word unit, meaning component or entity, is from the same root-word as unite – which means to come together or join. That’s what the body of Christ should be about. “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12) We as believers need to get that. We are meant to be one; not fragmented and thus weakened. A computer hard-drive need to periodically go through a process called de-fragmentation, or defrag. As a consequence of the continuous use of files in a computer, its parts gets broken into various pieces ending up in different parts of the drive. The process of defrag brings these pieces back under the same file-unit where they belong, which helps the computer work better and faster. The same principle applies to the body of Christ - the church. We need to come together as one, as we were meant to be - as the Lord Jesus expressed in His prayer to the Father, “… so that they may be one as We are one.” (John 17:11) The problem is, unfortunately, we as Christ’s body may never get the critical importance of unity.
     Though the capacity of our service, as with the gifts of the Spirit, are varied, we are of little use if not brought (in unity) under the same umbrella – which is Christ.

Prayer: Help Your church to come together Lord, so we can do mighty works in You. Thank You Father for Your gifts in me. Use it for Thy glory and praise. Continue to grow me and guide me each day Lord.

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 21-25

Observation: As King Saul pursues David in these chapters, I’ve come to realize some characteristics about David that needs emphasizing. One is that in spite of his brave victories and famed conquests, he was still a man - and as such, he had fears and weaknesses like any other man. The other is that through it all David never took his eyes off of God. He went to Him consistently to inquire of Him what he needed to know and what he was to do. He also honored those anointed of God, and generally treated people with respect. He even felt guilty about cutting off a piece of King Saul’s robe, which he did instead of taking the life of God’s anointed - even though King Saul was at the time trying to kill him.

Application: What I am encouraged with today is David’s unwavering commitment to keep God first and foremost, no matter what life threw at him. Through the prophet Samuel, David knew God had set him apart to be King of Israel. He knows that nothing will keep God’s plan from fruition, so why sweat the detail? Why be overly concerned with what comes our way, even if they may appear to threaten God's call on our lives? Through thick and thin, David kept his eyes on God - and we should too.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your perfect will is ever faithful. In the midst of instability and disorder, You remain the solid Rock that You are - changeless, and stable.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 42-44

Observation: Today’s reading begins with a verse that’s powerful in expressing the heart of a believer: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God.” (Psalms 42:1) On the one hand these chapters depict the wonderful joy and power of the Lord, bringing to mind past works of God’s deliverance and celebration. On the other, they express in vivid terms the depth of sorrow that burdens their hearts, or at least, the heart of the writer of these Psalms - which is mainly credited to David. Even amidst such downcast of spirit, looking elsewhere for relief and assistance was never an issue. “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalms 42:5) So much so, that this one verse was repeated (word for word) in two other places in today's reading (Psalms 42:11 & 43:5).

Application: While remembering what the Lord has done for us is not only helpful, it's biblically right; keeping in mind that sorrowfulness can be part of our lot as we live in Him will help us better deal with it. Regardless of what our situation is, we are to look to Him. To emphasize that we are not alone in dealing with such situations, the following is worth repeating: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalms 42:5, 42:11 & 43:5)

Prayer: Thank You Lord for helping me understand that there doesn’t have to be a humanly understandable reason for downtime. Keep me strong in my hope in Thee. Thank You for growing me daily as I trust in You.

Scripture Reading: Job 29-30

Observation: These two chapters of Job reminds the reader how good Job had it and how things have turned 180° without justification – at least not in Job’s mind. Personally, Job’s description of his state of affairs before life turned sour, borders on ‘tooting his own horn’. I guess it wouldn’t be if it was simply stating the facts, from a standpoint of severe disenchantment. "¹¹ Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, ¹² because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him." (Job 29:11-12)

Application: The one thing that stands out in the entire book of Job is that, no matter how good it gets, we need to be aware that things can go south and very unpleasant, very quick. But we should never lose sight of who God is and of His faithfulness. We should also remember that in some cases where misfortune becomes our lot, we have brought it upon ourselves (though not so here). We need to do our best to hold it together standing firm in our faith, in the event that we deserve every part of what is being visited upon us - for “When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:32) If on the other hand we're going through a situation not unlike Job - when, to the best of our knowledge, we haven't done anything wrong, it is not ohly possible but very likely that the Lord is using us to make a point, for the benefit of someone else. In those instances we can be reassuared that a big payday will follow... in the form of spiritual growth, powerful ministry (Job's life is still ministering to us today) as well as material blessings. Either way, keeping our eyes on the Lord in the midst of a storm is not only a good idea, it's critical to our 'walking in His peace', and can be the difference between moving forward in our faith and stagnancy - or worse yet, falling back. And of course the verse that applies to either situation is found in the 8^th chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
     I’m reminded also of what I read yesterday, that's so relevent to a dejected frame of spriritual existence David repeated it three times verbatim, in two chapters: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalms 42:5, 42:11 & 43:5)
     As I’ve noted before, during the course of my reading Job’s book, his is a situation unlike any I’ve been through and hope never to go through. But if I were (to any degree), I hope to have enough of a presence of mind and spirit to remain hopeful and focused on Him - praising Him regardless.

Prayer: I hope and pray that I would never be put in a similar circumstance as Job was Lord. I pray that Father You will be near to comfort and guide me in the event that I was, sustaining me to praise You in the midst of it all.

Scripture Reading: Exodus 9-12

Observation: As Pharaoh remained defiant, the plagues kept increasing in frequency: the plague on livestock, the plague of boils and sores, the plague of hail, the plague of locusts, the plague of darkness, and the plague on the firstborn. With the previous four in chapters 5-8 (the plague of the blood, the plague of the frogs, the plague of the gnats, and the plague of the flies), there were ten (10) plagues altogether unleashed upon Egypt before Pharaoh finally relented and let Israel go.
     The unleavened bread that God specifically instructed the people to eat during this period, to be called the Passover, was to signify purity as well as time constraints due to the hurried exodus. Purity in the sense that leavened bread would have included the addition of yeast to the pure dough mix. They were to reflect upon it in generation to come as they celebrated the Passover.

Application: One thing that occurred to me during the reading of the ‘Let My People Go’ scenario, was that God himself hardened Pharaoh’s heart to not release His people. Did Pharaoh truly have a choice then in the matter? No. The reason was twofold: To demonstrate for generations to come God’s awesome power and love for His people, and to punish Egypt for the 430 years of the mistreatment of Israel.
     When we struggle with things or we don’t know why we do the things we do – it could very well be due to transgressions or acts of disobedience from our past. We need to get it out in the open and deal with it by asking God to reveal our hidden faults to us, repent of our sins and ask for His forgiveness. Through it all, He will remain faithful, ready and willing to deliver us from bondage and slavery to the master of deception and evil – Satan.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for what You did to deliver us from our sin. Help us Lord not to soon forget Your mercies and power. Thank You Father for Your awesome love and faithfulness.

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 1-4

Observation: King Saul and his son Jonathan both die in battle. The bearer of the news of their death was himself put to death by David for having had anything at all to do with the death of God’s anointed. David felt genuine sorrow for the death of King Saul and his son, and had his followers learn a song of lament.
     David is anointed King of Judah, but Ish-Bosheth – son of Saul takes his father’s place as King of Israel. The two kingdoms battle it out for a long time, with King David’s men emerging as the victors. King David’s power and kingdom is consolidated to include Israel.

Application: What King David had besides courage and his faith in God, were his deep rooted convictions. For one, you don’t mess with God’s anointed, even when they’re trying to kill you; if you did, you will answer to him - David. He also believed in checking with God about anything and everything. “In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. ‘Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?’ he asked. The Lord said, ‘Go up.’ David asked, ‘Where shall I go?’ ‘To Hebron,’ the Lord answered.” (2 Samuel 2:1)
     What stood out to me above anything else in these chapters was the seemingly indiscriminate sword-happy mindset of both sides of any conflict. I sense that, as a referee of an NBA final gives the two teams some slack by letting them 'play' during the last few minutes of the game without calling every little infraction, God may sometimes allow us to have at it... just my opinion.
     Growth can best come from our making choices and learning from our mistakes; better yet, learning from the mistakes others have made, sparing us the time and agony of making them ourselves. In the times of these biblical generations of believers though, there were not too many road maps for them to go by. We on the other hand, have their whole history, including those who came after them (their strengths, their weaknesses – their mistakes), to draw from.
     The bible is God’s word. It is full of wisdom and encouragement; a source of guidance and power - demonstrated in the lives and history of the faithful. The bible has everything we need to live a righteous life. It is glorious and majestic in tone as well as in its power, to deliver us from evil; but it’s not pretty at times... as in the consequences of the choices of the wicked and the faithless. It is meant to teach us that if we do wrong, we will reap bad results. On the other hand, if we do what is right in Him, we will be blessed. It (God’s word) wouldn’t be an effective learning tool if all it contained were pretty little 'Shangri-La' scenarios.

Prayer: Thank You for the freedom to make choices and Your grace to redeem us when we make mistakes. Help me to learn from my wrong choices as well as from the mistakes that others made.

Scripture Reading: Mark 13-14

Observation: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angel in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32) I believe when Jesus included the words ‘nor the Son’ in the above verse, He was referring to Himself - before the crucifixion. He rose again to be One with the Father - at which point He would know everything the Father knows.
     This past week, I’ve been preparing a song by Curtis Mayfield called ‘People Get Ready’ to include in my gospel repertoire. Chapter 13 of Mark is all about ‘getting ready’ and being prepared for His return. “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” (Mark 13:33) And again, two verses later - “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back – whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:35-37) Jesus relaxed in the house of Simon the leper. Whether Simon got his name due to his on-going bout with leprosy, or because he was once a leper is not clear; what is clear is that it didn’t bother Jesus any. A woman with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume anoints Jesus, to the objection of some. On the feast of the unleavened bread, Jesus and His disciples celebrated on what was to be their last supper together.
     “Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from Him.” (Mark 14:35) Even Jesus needed His time alone with the Father. We are also reminded here of Jesus’ human-ness when He expressed His reluctance to carry through with what the Father had sent Him into the world to do. Like we sometime ask "Is this really necessary?" - about something we already know the answer to. On the other hand, He could have resorted to all the power available to Him as God to avoid the embarrassment of it all - not to mention the physical suffering for bearing our transgressions. He didn’t do that; He instead felt every strike of the hand, every ounce of weight of the cross and every sting of the whip.
     Peter abandons Jesus - attesting to the frailties of man and confirming God's mercy and love... not to mention Jesus' prophetic powers in predicting Peter’s human weakness.

Application: Trusting God and walking in obedience to His every will, enables us not only to rise above any of the world's attempts to destabalize our stand in the Lord, it dispels the fear of looking inadequate and foolish. “… Do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 13:11)
     As for ‘getting ready’ - being prepared is about anticipation. It’s about being a part of the next phase; it’s about faith in Jesus and knowing that what He’s predicting, will come true. Ultimately, getting ready needs to be a frame of mind, a mindset – as is our very faith in God... before it can consistantly make a difference in our lives - drawing us closer to Him and to being all that He wants us to be.

Prayer: Thank You Jesus for what You did for me. I am nothing and nobody without You.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 51-53

Observation: David, in the 51st Psalm is visited by the prophet Nathan whom God sent to confront him about Bathsheba. David was convicted in his heart of the sin of unfaithfulness, adultery, and even murder. He repents of this great sin and seeks God for forgiveness and renewal. “¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹ Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:10-11)
     In the 52nd chapter of Psalms, David describes Saul (and anyone else) ‘who did not make God his stronghold’ as destined to fail in whatever they do. The 53rd Psalm reflects upon the fool and his heart, the sinner in his iniquity - to reveal their inevitable doom and destruction. David, the writer, hopes for the salvation of God’s people, to come from Zion.

Application: As David’s Goliath is a symbol of man’s great victory over impossible odds, David’s Bathsheba could very well be a simile for humankind’s depth of betrayal. Behind every Goliath is a looming Bathshe-ba scenario. (Note: We need to remember that it isn’t the Bathshebas in our lives - per se, that cause us to derail, as it is our human nature's tendency to take our eyes off of God.)
     We need to be aware of the likelihood that what goes up must come down. Of course, we don’t have to comply with the ‘must come down’ part of it; the only way we can be reassured of that is if our victories are based on Him and we daily walk in His righteousness never taking our eyes off of Him.

Prayer: You have blessed me O Lord with so much. Victories and miracles adorn the walls of my heart. Thank You O God for I am not worthy of such love and power. Keep me I pray, from even considering the paths of unrighteousness.

Scripture Reading: Mark 15-16

Observation: Jesus is brought to Pilate to be questioned about all that the chief priests were accusing Him of. He was whipped, mocked, slapped, and spat upon. In the face of such extreme humiliation, He did not defend Himself; neither did He speak one word in anger for the brutality being done to Him. Later, He was made to carry His cross to which He was nailed and crucified while being subjected to further ridicule and degradation – all, for the sins of the world. As Jesus breathed His last, the world was afforded free passage to life eternal with the Father through the blood of the Lamb – Jesus Christ.
     The body of Jesus was later retrieved by Joseph of Arimathea, and laid in a tomb freshly dug out of a rock. After He rose again three days later, He appeared to many of His followers before He was taken up to be at the right hand of the Father.

Application: They say that ‘if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself’. They also say that ‘you need to lead by example’ if you’re going to lead right. When God said for us to love one another, He led the way by showing His great love for us in sacrificing His own beloved Son to cleanse us of our sins. In doing so, He took it upon Himself to once and for all redeem us by purchasing us with His own blood.
     From the humble and unpretentious environment of His birth, to the pain and shame He endured, to His ultimate death on the cross – He was immaculate and flawless in His design to lead us to Him.
     Jesus did not defend Himself, nor did He rain down fire and brimstone from heaven (which He had the power to do) to destroy those who were trying to kill Him. He was able to go through all that because of His love for us, and the fact that He kept His eyes on the Father. He never lost sight of the big picture… the salvation of mankind through love. He understood that what He was going through was all for a reason – God’s plan to save us. The Father likewise has a plan for each one of us, His children; so whatever we go through and whenever we struggle through trials and tribulation, we need to keep our eyes on the big picture… His plan to draw us closer to Him and to bless us beyond our wildest imagination.

Prayer: To even comprehend what You did and why You did it is itself too much for me Lord. It is only through Your grace and Your Holy Spirit that I can even begin to get it. The more I understand it, the more I’m amazed at Your great love. I am so grateful and eternally indebted to You O Lord for sending Jesus. Jesus, I love You so much. Thank You for coming.

Scripture Reading: Exodus 21-24

Observation: Verses, if not whole chapters in today's reading are paths I consider 'slippery' or 'stumbling blocks', when travelled without the guidance and revealing power of the Holy Spirit; for while we stand with one foot in today's basic rights and laws that govern our daily existence - the other in our quest for truth through the bible, we're doomed before we even start if we dare make this journey alone. For example, God approved systems such as humans bought and sold as slaves (like personal property); people being put to death for infractions that today won’t even get life… etc. “²⁰ If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, ²¹ but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property." (Exodus 21:20-21) Are we to reinstate slavery, and punish them at will? Almost everything about this reading causes one to wonder if God was behind its penning; which is exactly the argument of those (including some Christians) who would cherry-pick their way through it. Or is this part of what God designed to befuddle the 'wise' and confuse the arrogant?

Application: The simple fact is this: I as a Christian believe that the bible is the Word of God - whether it makes sense to me or not - and whether it appeals to my sense of justice or not. God will help me understand the things that I don't get. "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12) In other words, everything that He wants us to receive while we tarry here on earth, we need to trust Him and accept. Even the things that don't make sense now, He will make known to us when He returns - if not sooner. This is where we’ll part company with those who will not accept the whole truth because of the few parts they don’t understand. Our human nature wants to get it all... and get it all now. Believers believe God and accept His word by faith – not on the basis of what they don’t, but on what they do get. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

Prayer: Thank You for Your grace in forgiving me my sins. Help me with what I’m still struggling with – whether it’s to do with Your word or whether it’s to do with my everyday life. Help me to surrender all that I’ve given You control of.

Scripture Reading: Job 37-38

Observation: After Elihu puts Job in his place, God Himself lights up his dark and depressed world. One cannot help but wonder if Job was cringing as he tried to cower away from the barrage of truth he once knew well. Especially when it was pouring down from the Almighty Himself; as if someone had just turned the lights back on to reveal his flawed nakedness. You can’t argue with that kind of power.

Application: To know Him is to read His word and commune with Him on a daily basis. As I read God’s word, again I am amazed (and I know I shouldn’t be surprised, for the simple reason that this is God’s word) at the power and beauty of His written word. Each day we can discover anew that no one else could have created the universe, no one else could have written the bible or moved saints of old to write such powerful truths. His Holy Word is so perfectly assembled and knitted together, that it erases any doubt as to its provenance and source; while at the same time it blinds and deafens those who weren’t destined to receive it.
     When we choose to put our faith in God, change is inevitable; and sometimes change can be severe (for the better or for the worse). In Job’s case, it covered the outer limits of both.
     Believers should beware that defensible anger, warranted fear, or even justifiable celebration do not diminish God’s place and dominance in our lives. On the contrary, that’s when we need to keep our eyes on the Lord; maybe even take our worship and our faith up a notch.

Prayer: Thank You for Your word Lord. I praise You for all that You created and all that You do. I praise and thank You for Your love and for Your faithfulness.

Scripture Reading: Luke 1-2

Observation: Luke begins his letter to Theophilus (which the Gospel of Luke is) by recounting the events leading up to the birth of John the Baptist as well as that of the Lord Jesus Christ. Zechariah's ability to speak was restricted for doubting God’s messenger who told him about his wife Elizabeth being able to conceive despite her old age. They later became proud parents of John, known as 'John the Baptist'. Six months later, the angel Gabriel appears to Elizabeth’s relative Mary and foretells the virgin birth of Jesus.
     The verse that caught my attention this morning... “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble” (Luke 1:52) was part of the beautiful Spirit-filled verses (Luke 1:46-55) known as Mary’s song. The part that particularly ministered to my heart was about lifting up the humble.
     Zechariah, also filled with the Holy Ghost, prophesied about the coming Messiah (Luke 1:67-79), and about the role his son (John) will play, in preparing the road for Him to travel.
     Jesus is born of the virgin Mary in a manger in Bethlehem, the news of which brings joy to those the angels of the Lord would announce it to. They come from far away lands to pay tribute to the new born king. He grows into an impressive young boy who would amaze all who engage him in scriptural discussion.

Application: Pride has been and will always be a formidable enemy for man... for some more than others. I've had my share of bowing to and falling victim to its powers; I guess it is an on going battle that will continue to confront us 'till the Lord comes again. I need to be watchful that the foolish pride-filled ways of my youth don’t sneak back in unhindered - for our enemy the devil is sleek and crafty. We need to always keep our spiritual guard up so we won’t slip back into our old ways.
     The Lord will hold us accountable according to where we should be in Him. If we are grown ups who should know better than the dictates of our deeds, the lion share of His disciplinary love will find us. On the other hand, He “…lifts up the humble”.

Prayer: Teach me true humility Lord and help me to walk in it daily. Thank You for sending Jesus. Lord Jesus, thank You for coming.

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 6-8

Observation: Like a parent guides his or her children, Paul encourages and leads the church in Corinth, by example. Paul is encouraged by the love and affection that Titus’ brought back from his visit to the church in Corinth. Sharing what one has with others is what Paul is teaching the Corinthian believers. “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” (2 Corinthians 8:12)

Application: The above verse caught my attention specifically because it touches on something that I’ve struggled with before. Giving of our finances via a credit card (CC) has never sat right with me. It was never really settled in my mind nor in my heart, and now I understand the reason for that was because I never found definitive scriptural support for or against it. Paul tells us that gifts or help was to be given “…according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” We all know that CC are bank loans, and bank loans are money we don’t have. On the other hand, a debit card is money we do have.
     I believe that whenever a church or an organization asks for your credit card information to facilitate your contribution, red flags should go up - and then at the very least, God’s people need to pray for wisdom and guidance before surrendering their financial information on what they don't have.

Prayer: Thank You for Your word this morning Lord. I love You for all that You do; I love You for what You don’t do, but mostly I love You for what You promise to do in affording me life eternal through Your Son Jesus.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 57-59

Observation: In these Psalms, as he often does, David wears his heart, his faith, and his fallibilities, on his sleeve. The thing that stands out about David, besides his courage, his faith, and his shortcomings, is the fact that he is always forthright and humble about his life when approaching God. He cries out to God for mercy, to be delivered from the traps set by his foes. He reiterates the importance and power of his remaining in the Lord. “⁷ My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. ⁸ Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. ⁹ I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of You among the peoples. ¹⁰ For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. ¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth." (Psalms 57:7-11)
     David frequently petitions God for His protection and deliverance; at the same time, his love for and trust in the Lord is unwavering. “Deliver me from evildoers and save me from bloodthirsty men.” (Psalms 59:2) “O my Strength, I sing praise to You; You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.” (Psalms 59:17)

Application: As God used the incident with the woman in Gateway Mall (in my journal "God Loves A Contrite Heart"), to show me how much He loves those who come to Him in humility and with a contrite spirit, likewise I need to be humble and forthright with Him about my sins.
     We may never come face to face with death as often as David did; but if we did, we can be reassured that God is faithful to protect and deliver us, if we remain steadfast with a heart of praise and worship for our God.

Prayer: Lord, I applaud You this morning for Your love and for Your faithfulness. You are so good. Thank You for taking wonderful care of us; never abandoning us, but always growing and enriching us.

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 9-10

Observation: Paul urges the Corinthians to remain faithful to their prior commitment to afford support to others in the ministry. He encourages them to sow and to do so bountifully for the rewards (many times over the amount sowed) will be to their credit. Paul also emphasizes that their gifts honors God and enriches them with blessing from above and respect from other believers.
     Chapter 10 discusses Paul’s boldness, or rather, the boldness his critics are denying him of having - at least, when he’s with them in person. This type of confrontation tells me that as was in Paul's time, the church today can sometime face criticism… even from within.

Application: Our faith in God and in His ability to meet all of our needs should free us to give abundantly of our money, our talent and of our time, to help others and to build up His kingdom. “⁶ But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ⁷ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7 KJV) In contrast, the lack of or the unwillingness to do so, can impede our progress as a believer.
     In our journey as followers of Christ, He has made available to us His peace, and His joy; but we will also have struggles and battles of varying degrees... that is a given. Battles are what make us grow in our faith; it can come through false apostles (as in the situation with Paul and the Corinthians), a family member, a friend, or a total stranger. Whatever the situation, we will have opposition when we choose to follow Jesus. We do however have the power and the means by which to defend our faith and stand firm in His word. "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)
     Timing they say is everything - and when the time is right, immediacy is key to having the upper hand. It is essential to defend our stand by immediately extinguishing the blaze that resulted from the fiery darts or weapons of the enemy.

Prayer: Please help me Lord, to not only recognize the infiltrating forces of the enemy, but to immediately address and repudiate the seeds of his agenda.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 60-62

Observation: David in these Psalms pleads for God’s help in his time of need. He indicates that God is angry with him and the people, and has exposed them to the forces that have gathered against them. David appeals to God his refuge, for His presence and power to watch over them. He proclaims that he is surrounded from every side by his enemies who are out to kill him. Nevertheless, he will hope in the Lord and wait on Him for He alone is his faithful protector.

Application: When times get tough and it seems that the world is against me, I will steadfastly trust and hope in the Lord – for He is the Creator of the entire universe. He made all this, He can certainly take care of the little bitty issues - comparatively, that I’m having. He is faithful to His word and promise to protect His own. He is just to reward me according to my deeds. His love endures forever and His mercy is new every morning.

Prayer: Thank You Father, for the promise of Your love that is fulfilled everyday.

Scripture Reading: Job 41-42

Observation: The Almighty continues to scold Job, though somewhat tenderly, reminding him of his limitations as a man, while at the same time pointing out why He alone is God. Job makes a feeble attempt at answering the Lord, recognizing his lowly place - in light of the greatness and awesome power of the Creator of the entire universe who is before him. He repents of his offenses and the Lord clearly accepts Job back in His good graces by restoring to him his life with twice as much than he ever had. The Lord reprimands Job’s friends for misrepresenting Him in what they had said to Job. They (Job’s friends) comply with God’s instructions to petition Job to pray on their behalf for God’s forgiveness – which Job did, and the Lord accepted.

Application: I have in the past expressed anger, and even rage, towards God for things not going in my favor. I was not even close to Job’s subtlety, and neither was my situation as tragic as his. The sad part about it is, I don’t recall ever repenting and seeking His forgiveness for my unbridled arrogance.

Prayer: Father, please forgive me for the wrong of my ways and the misguided attitude I’ve displayed towards Thee. Please, cleanse me of all unrighteousness and restore me according to Thy mercy and love.

Scripture Reading: Luke 5-6

Observation: While at the Lake of Gennesaret, the people started to crowd Jesus, so He decided to get into Simon’s boat, and continued to teach the people. He then performs the miracle of the two boat-loads of fishes, after the disciples had struggled all night unsuccessfully to catch even one. He cures a leper, spreading His fame even further. A group of faith-oriented desperados literally go through the roof to bring Him a paralyzed man to heal – which He did. He goes to dinner with tax collectors and sinners, which didn’t sit well with the Pharisees. “³⁰ But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to His disciples, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?’ ³¹ Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ³² I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’” (Luke 5:30-32)
     Jesus breaks with tradition, when it comes to the Sabbath – for He is the Lord of the Sabbath. He condones His disciples eating the kernels of the grain they picked along the way. He also heals a man with a shriveled hand, restoring it to its wholesome state – both of which happened on the Sabbath. Jesus picks His twelve disciples; later He delivers the sermon of the ‘Beatitudes and Woes’. He teaches that loving our enemy is of more value than simply loving those who loves us back.
     Judging is to be reserved for the One true Judge, since we have flaws of our own and therefore shouldn’t try to pick on each other’s faults. Jesus furthermore teaches the importance of building on the solid foundation - that is Christ.

Application: There’s so much substance in today’s reading, but the part that speaks to me particularly, is His word about loving our enemy: “But I tell you who hear Me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28)
     It’s not so bad when God’s laws deals with something that we can grasp mentally and emotionally, but when it’s going against the grain of our human nature, like loving those who hate us – well, let’s just say that it doesn’t always come easy. To get over this one, we need to do just that – get over, or get above our human nature and get into our spiritual nature. And in the spiritual realm, there’s no other power that can accommodate us in taking on this challenge than the Spirit of Almighty God. “But,” we may ask, “what about them getting theirs - you know, for hating us?” If they have anything coming to them, it is God who will be the Judge and the Jury of that. We can trust Him to dispense justly to each one according to our deeds. Let’s just be concerned with looking to Him, listening for His voice, hearing His word, and obeying His commandments.

Prayer: Please help me Lord, to turn the other cheek when confronted with hate, prejudice or simple misjudgments. Grant me the swiftness of understanding so my fleshly responses may be pre-empted by Your Spirit in me.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 63-65

Observation: What comes to my mind in reading these Psalms is how beautiful they are in their poetic appeal alone. A gift of poetry is one thing - translating God’s word from its original text without compromising accuracy is another; both, I believe are true here.
     Psalm 63:6 might very well be speaking to me today as an answer to a dilemma I’ve struggled with for some time - woolgathering. “On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night.” I have often asked for a better train of thought to be revealed to me to meditate on as I lay on my bed awaiting the covering of sleep to arrive.

Application: David’s heart pleased God like few others have before or since King David, the author of these Psalms. I need to examine closely his worship and life that I may be mentored by one of God’s favorite people. “¹ O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. ² I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. ³ Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. ⁴ I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands.” (Psalm 63:1-4)

Prayer: Lord, I pray that my heart will be for You as David’s heart was. Draw me closer to You Lord and make my worship pure and pleasing in Thy sight.

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 47-52

Observation: Prophecies against the nations and people whose hearts were against the Lord and whose wicked ways angered Him, described in detail the destruction and mayhem that were to befall them. Such nations as Philistine, Gaza, Ashkelon, Moab and in particular - Babylon, will be at the receiving end of God’s wrath as prophesied through His prophet Jeremiah.
     In the 52nd chapter, the fall of Jerusalem is laid out, and its people massacred or taken into captivity – beginning with King Zedekiah.

Application: He takes into account our every action, our every thought, and every word we speak – and will hold us accountable to reward us accordingly. Devastation awaits those who are blatant in their disobedience and stubborn in their arrogance.

Prayer: Help me Lord to be aware of all that I do, think and say... to do what is right in Thy sight that I would be acceptable and even pleasing in Thy sight.

Scripture Reading: Exodus 37-40

Observation: Israel, led by Moses, puts in effect God’s instructions of how His tabernacle is to be built, and all that is to go in it. They follow it in detail, which pleased God such that He came and filled the tabernacle with His presence.

Application: In my journal titled "Rules Of Engagement", the Lord gave me a powerful word about following rules in order that we may receive the full benefit of what is promised. Today’s reading, I believe, is an extension of that word in that it emphasizes the importance of following God’s instructions to the letter, if He is to inhabit our lives in all His glory and power. "The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses." (Exodus 39:42)
     "Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." (Exodus 40:34)

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your powerful word and promise. Thank You for finishing the good work that You started in me.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 66-68

Observation: These three Psalms acknowledge and praise God for His power and goodness while hoping in His might and grace to provide and preserve the faithful. They make clear distinctions between the blessed, powerful believer and the destroyed or soon to be defeated non-believer.

Application: The joys and praises of the godly people of old are inspiring, and a source of courage and strength to those who remain in Him. The lives of those who have gone before us were and are meant to help believers of all generations that come after them, to keep trusting in the Lord, hoping continually in His saving grace. Their songs of praise and rejoicing serves as reinforcement to help us through times of weakening and moments of despair.

Prayer: Thank You Father for sending reinforcements when I need them. Thank You for Your revelations as I read and study Your word and for Your blessings as I meditate on the messages You put upon my heart.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 2-3

Observation: These chapters expose wisdom as a polygraph machine that actually works… all the time. Much like a light in a dark room, a brain scan that reveals a tumor, a storm-warning system that’s never wrong, a seeing-eye dog that warns of danger and leads the vision impaired in the right way. But as all forms of technology needs the technician to set it up, and a seeing-eye dog needs its trainer to learn its duty, wisdom serves at the pleasure of its creator - our Heavenly Father.

Application: Wisdom leads us to God; the key to true wisdom is the fear of the Lord. “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.” (Proverbs 3:7) Wisdom is void and hollow if it doesn’t point to the Almighty – who is indeed the source of all life, as its source. If the bible is the book of answers to the tests of life - and most certainly it is, wisdom is among its most valued commodity.

Prayer: Holy and most righteous God, Creator of all the universe, perfect and most faithful One – thank You for Your perfect design and Your perfect love. Thank You for wisdom and for revealing its proper place in Your kingdom.

Scripture Reading: Lamentations 1-5

Observation: The book of Lamentation depicts the pain of Israel’s devastation brought on by the wrath of God as a result of His people’s unbridled sin; among which were the shedding of innocent blood, including the persecution of the priests and prophets of the Lord.
     Jeremiah, the author, at times sounded as if he’s putting it on God. “⁴³ You have covered Yourself with anger and pursued us; You have slain without pity. ⁴⁴ You have covered Yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through. ⁴⁵ You have made us scum and refuse among the nations.” (Lamentations 3:43-45) Jeremiah nevertheless successfully relates to the reader, the trauma and the suffering, to be the consequences of sin and disobedience.

Application: We as believers and non-believers alike need to understand that going against God has very real and sometimes long lasting and painful consequences. One of the lessons I come away with from reading the book of Lamentations is: ‘Reader Beware!’ Invoking from the heart of the believer a healthy sense of respect and even fear for His justice, is God’s purpose as He draws people unto Himself. We can treat it simply as some old prophet whining about a people losing their comfortable lifestyle - to our own detriment. These accounts are the raw material of wisdom, if we are to believe Psalms 111:10 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
     Today's reading also reminds me that in life, I will encounter, not just joy and peace, but also sorrow and pain. As Pastor Tim Johnson of Eastside Faith Center (the church my wife and I attend) says, “Lamentations teaches us depth”. It is vital to understand that God intended for us to benefit from each and every account in the bible, as well as from every experience we go through in life.

Prayer: Lord, help me to relate the pain and suffering of others as well as my own, to getting us to the place where we need to be in You. And that we are bound to make mistakes – and mistakes are not necessarily bad, if we learn from them.

Scripture Reading: Galatians 4-6

Observation: Before Jesus came, the law was what believers were justified by. Jesus is the new covenant in that we can simply come to Him and accept Him as our Lord and Savior in order to receive eternal life. Paul continues to reprimand the church in Galatia for not standing firm in the principles of God's word that he taught them, and allowing others to easily manipulate them. Paul recounts the story of Sarah (Abraham’s wife) and Hagar (Sarah’s mistress), and the children they bore Abraham. Hagar was the slave woman and Sarah, a free woman were the precursors of the old and the new way - Christ being the new. He relates to the Galatians what the acts of the sinful nature of man are, in stark contrast to the fruits of the Spirit that he encourages them to receive.
     In closing, Paul talks to them about how to confront someone caught up in the sin of pride, warns them about deceptive teachings such as circumcision being a pathway to godliness and freedom from sin. He reiterates that Jesus alone is the way to the Father, the Creator who is the true living God.

Application: To me these chapters are about one thing - standing firm; holding fast to the word the Lord places upon my heart at any given point in my life in Him. I am to stand solidly firm on what He told me; at present, the last thing that the Lord spoke to my heart is: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalms 27:14) I need to not only remember what He said to me but to stand, and stand firmly on it - not wavering, not doubting.
     Agents of deception can come in any shape or form. They can be church affiliated, they can be friends or family, or they can be circumstances (financial, health or otherwise) that try and pressure us to take our focus off of Him and His word.

Prayer: Right now Lord, I’m going through some trying time with our finances; car troubles being one. Please, help us to not lose sight of You Lord. Help us to stand firm on Your word, for You are always faithful. Thank You for Your unwavering promise to take care of all our needs.

Scripture Reading: Leviticus 1-3

Observation: Burnt offering, grain offering and fellowship offering are the focus of these three chapters of Leviticus which was authored by Moses according to what the Lord told him. This was how the sins of the people were forgiven by the Almighty. Very specific steps were to be taken to ensure God’s acceptance and pleasure for their sacrifices.
     The word that came up a lot was ‘unblemished’ - as in a goat or a sheep that was free of any defect. The eating of the fat and blood of these sacrifices was forbidden.

Application: When Jesus came and died on Calvary, we no longer needed to go through all of the offering and sacrifices mentioned here. Jesus as the Son of God became the One and only sacrifice needed for the sins of the world – given the fact that we believe in and accept Him as our Lord and Savior. He was and is, the perfect and unblemished Lamb of God. In turn, when we come to Him, we are to give Him our very best – our hearts, our very lives… surrendered to His will so He can give us the Kingdom and life eternal. We can live forever and never find another deal that would even come close to being as good; as a matter of fact, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will live forever with Him in His peace, joy and love. How good is that?

Prayer: Thank You for Your sacrifice in giving up Your only begotten Son, that I may live. Help me never to forget what You went through Jesus, that I may forever worship and love You… and bask in the joy of Your magnificent presence.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 4

Observation: As it was with the first three, wisdom remains the focus of this chapter. Solomon, the author - hereby strongly advocates the premier status of wisdom and understanding and the consequences of disregarding their worth and significance.
     Solomon relates to the reader his father David’s urging when he (Solomon) was but a tot, to embrace and never let go of wisdom: “⁷ Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. ⁸ Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. ⁹ She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.” (Proverbs 4:7-9)

Application: The verses that I highlighted a while ago still stand out for me as the bi-products of wisdom: “²³ Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. ²⁴ Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. ²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. ²⁶ Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. ²⁷ Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:23-27) Verse 26 above "Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm" reminds us that we, or the choices we make, are often responsible for the situation we find ourselves in. Wisdom allows us to understand and take to heart these truths.
     As exalted and praised as He is within the writings of Solomon, Jesus Christ - the undeniable link wisdom has with righteousness and therefore godliness, is crucial and of the utmost importance. For wisdom is of little or no value at all when it is void of His Lordship and control. ‘John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible’ links wisdom directly to the Lord Jesus. Of Proverbs 4:5 - “Get wisdom, get understanding ...” Gill says, ‘Not only moral and political wisdom and understanding, but that which is spiritual and evangelical; Christ, and the knowledge of Him.’ True wisdom leads us to God.

Prayer: Lord, You have blessed me with glimpses of wisdom. Thank You for such honor and such privilege. Of that I know I am not deserving, which gives me even more to be grateful for. Please Lord, according to Thy Holy will, continue to bless me with wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1-3

Observation: Paul writes to the believers in Ephesus about God’s purpose and plan in which he - Paul, was selected by the Father to tell the Gentiles about the love of God. He talks about Jews and Gentiles finally united through the coming of Jesus Christ, creating from two people – one. The old ways of the world that unbelievers are a part of are no longer our ways, for a believer in Christ Jesus have become a new creature in Him. He encourages them to live in God so they can find out just how big His love is.

Application: As were the Ephesians, not only are we (today’s church) to be encouraged by Paul’s letter, we need also to encourage others with the same Spirit. Paul is setting an example for us to not just sit on our laurels, but to think of those who may be struggling with their faith - as well as those who may have just left the starting gates... vulnerable and exposed. Sharing with others what God has given us is what our faith should be about. Listening to the Holy Spirit deep within our hearts will confirm God’s plan to use us not only to preach Christ to the world, but to support other believers in their walk and in their ministry.

Prayer: Thank You Father for the apostle Paul and others like him who have gone before us, for their faith and their conviction still ministering and empowering us today. Please help me to have the same heart for my ministry in You.

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 14-18

Observation: In these five chapters, the kings of Israel: Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Ahab, and the kings of Judah: Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat – lived to witness the wrath of God when they committed sinful acts. With the exception of Asa, they all provoked the Lord God of their forefathers to anger by their evil deeds, and paid the price with their lives.
     The prophet of the Lord, Elijah, prophesies against King Ahab of Judah forecasting a period of drought in the land. God tells Elijah to leave town and go to the Kerith Ravine where he will be fed bread and meat by ravens, and where he can drink from a nearby brook. When the brook ran dry due to the drought, God sends him to Zarephath of Sidon where he will encounter a widow who will take care of him. She feeds him what was supposed to be her and her young son’s last meal. She then witnessed God’s power, as the last supply of floor and oil she had that was used up in making Elijah’s meal, was miraculously stretched to last until the rain returned. Her son falls ill and stops breathing, but was soon brought back to life after Elijah prayed.

Application: I’ve often wondered how people in the bible - in particular those that were put in positions of power and honor, did not learn from those who went before them. But I guess (as a matter of fact - I know) it’s easier said than done. We have the benefit of hind-sight more than they did, for the simple reason that we have more to draw from, including their record of performance to help us. It is to our advantage (the believers of these latter days), that their lives were displayed in all its gory detail. We need to learn from their mistakes as well as from their strengths - in order to walk in righteousness before the Lord our God, and to live in His peace and in His power. What a contrast between the acts of defiance on the part of the unrighteous and the defeat and death that followed them, and the obedience of a few - such as King Asa of Judah who reigned for forty-one years, and the prophet Elijah through whom God displayed amazing power and miracles.
     My mother was, in the eyes of many that knew her, a ‘clean-freak’. As a matter of fact, she fits the classic description of someone with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). But as hereditary influence goes, her extreme nature of cleanliness has been watered down quite a bit when it comes to us, her children. We are not as fanatical as she was (by a long shot), but we cannot help but be affected by her ways such that we’ll never tolerate living in absolute filth and disorder. One way or another, every generation that follows will unquestionably be influenced by the one before it; but usually to a lesser degree. I believe that is what the seemingly outrages depictions of the blood and gore in the bible (Old Testament in particular), was meant to do for us believers of today. It’s not likely that we’ll be food for the dogs of the streets or the birds of the air; neither is it likely, generally speaking, that every member (man, woman and child) of our family will be killed in cold blood (even tho it does happen) - but we will do good to take God’s word seriously enough to be affected in such a way that we will refuse to be indifferent. In fact we will be doing ourselves a favor if we embrace and hold fast to its every truth out of a healthy and godly fear of the true and living God... Jehovah-Jireh.

Prayer: Help me to learn from those who have gone before me Lord that I may acquire wisdom, knowledge and understanding so as to minimize my making the same mistakes some of them made. Thank You for the priceless lessons You have provided through the accounts spoken of in Your word.

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 7-12

Observation: The Lord continues to show the prophet Ezekiel what to prophesy to the people of Israel - declaring their doom and their destruction for their detestable deeds. The wrath of God is unleashed upon a disobedient and arrogant people. Ezekiel is to announce to them before hand the prophecies the Lord gave him, so that they will know that He is the Lord. The deeds of the house of Israel (including even seventy elders) were so outrages, it provoked the Lord’s anger to bring prompt retribution. Those who detested the evil that was going on were identified by a mark on their foreheads and were spared. The mark was placed there by a man who was clothed in linen and had a writing kit at his side.

Application: There are consequences to our sinning; to outrageous sinning, there will be outrageous consequences. He is a loving God who will give us chances upon chances to return to Him. He is a forgiving God who is so patient and kind that He would send His only begotten Son to die on the cross, that we may receive life everlasting. For Him to take such drastic measures in correcting us, we would have to be so arrogant and oblivious to all He’s taught us to be. We've had to have been involved with detestable deeds, to provoke Him to such anger. Getting there from here though can start with one step of disobedience without repentance.
     I believe that the purpose of accounts such as told in these six chapters of Ezekiel is for us believers to learn from them and be forewarned of His commitment to punish the wicked. He is not going to let such flagrant disregard of all that He stands for go unpunished. God's faithfulness is true when it comes to holding us accountable for our misdeeds, as it is in blessing us when we remain in Him.

Prayer: Help us O Lord never to lose sight of Your love and power, that we may never take You for granted - let alone desert you for another; for if Your faithfulness will not allow even Your people Israel to disrespect You by turning to other gods, we the adopted will certainly not be spared.

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4-6

Observation: Paul appeals to the Ephesians to be one in the Lord; to embrace humility, gentleness, patience, obedience, faith and love that they may become “…mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”. (Ephesians 4:13) He clearly distinguishes between the ways of the world (which they were all once a part of), and their new life in Jesus. He stresses that they should guard their hearts to deny the devil any opportunity to influence their lives… stating, “And do not give the devil a foothold.” (Ephesians 4:27) Paul encourages them to resist anger in all of its expressions, but be forgiving towards one another instead.
     Christ is the head, the Holy sacrifice who died that we may live. Paul reiterates the need for believers to be like Jesus and to avoid immorality. Husbands and wives, as Christ and the church, should love and respect one another according to their appointed roles. Parents and children likewise are to comply with their God given responsibility in how they relate to one another.
     Paul reminds us that taking on the full armor of God - truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Holy Spirit, will reassure a firm and stable stance as we live our lives for God. Last but not least, he advocates the power of prayer to be lifted up for the saints and one for another, so as to build and advance God’s plan and purpose in our lives.

Application: We as Christians work hard at getting every part of our walk right. Even when we’re doing it right, we often either give little importance or totally neglect a critical component in defeating the enemy as a body – unity. We think and strategize in terms of our denomination, in terms of our local church. We go about our ministry as if we’re competing against each other; who’s got the biggest or the tallest church building, the biggest congregation, the biggest world outreach program... and so on? If we could only remember that we’re in the same team, we’d be much more effective in winning the world for Jesus.
     In April 14 of 1997, a CNN World News story page headline read, ‘Fast-growing Islam winning converts in Western world’. In it, correspondent Gayle Young writes: “The second-largest religion in the world after Christianity, Islam is also the fastest-growing religion.” She goes on to say, “In the United States, for example, nearly 80 percent of the more than 1,200 mosques have been built in the past 12 years. Some scholars see an emerging Muslim renaissance as Islam takes root in many traditionally Christian communities.”
     Though we Christians are successful in many fronts and win many battles, we’re losing the war. Unless we tear down the barriers that divide us and work together, I believe that we’re not going to see a reversal in that trend any time soon. Now, I know that the end is already determined - we win! But, wouldn’t it be wonderful to stand before Him on Judgment Day and hear on account of our coming together, our Heavenly Father say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.
     ‘Unity’ means loving each other enough to put aside our differences and embrace one another as family in order to advance our common cause. How can we love our enemies when we can’t even love our brothers and sisters in the Lord? How can we help someone all the way across the world whom we’ve never met, when we won’t even sit down with a fellow Christian of another denomination to discuss ways we can work together? Let’s trust God to help us with our differences, and believe in His power to bring us and keep us together. Let’s begin today in putting aside what divides us and just focus on loving one another. Whatever threatens our family unity, we need to surrender to the Lord. He is the One True Judge who is able and more than willing to sort it all out and to empower us as His church.
     Dignitaries came from the world over to listen and be amazed at Solomon’s wisdom in resolving a dispute. We have here in our midst, someone much greater and much wiser than Solomon ever was. "The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here." (Matthew 12:42) We need to bring it to Him and trust Him to be our Mediator. “¹¹ It was He who gave some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹² to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13) Division over miniscule differences is a sign of infantile behavior. Unity, on the other hand is a sign of maturity.

Prayer: Help me Father to think outside the box enough to allow no barrier to keep me from loving another. According to Thy Holy will Lord, help me to love and embrace my brother and my sister in the Lord regardless of their beliefs and their convictions, so You can do Your work in me.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 7

Observation: Proverbs chapter 7 urges us to listen-up and take note, insisting that we take seriously what it is imparting.
     I’m reminded of situations in the past when something I may have observed or experienced and found to be true, I would later wholeheartedly work to convince others of. I would seek to convince them to believe in what I know to be a fact. I guess, that’s what conviction is all about.
     Solomon realized that but for wisdom, which he asked God specifically for, he wouldn’t have been blessed with power and riches – not to mention, faith. He advocates the power of wisdom as a shield from the advances of the 'wayward wife’ - the ‘adulteress’ and her trappings, that will lead the unsuspecting simpleton astray. “¹ My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. ² Keep my commands and you will live, guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. ³ Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and call understanding your kinsman; ⁵ they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words.” (Proverbs 7:1-5)

Application: All through out the bible, there is no human being wiser than Solomon. We need to carefully examine his writings, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in order that we may fully benefit from it.
     If wisdom is a gateway to God, than a prostitute or the wayward wife, according to Solomon, is a pathway to spiritual or physical death - or both. I need to take seriously the consequences of lusting after the flesh. Everything in this chapter promotes wisdom, for it leads to godliness. By the same token, it condemns lust of the flesh for being conducive to falling away from the ways of God. It was when Solomon lost his godly wisdom, later on in his life (marrying foreign women and worshiping their gods), that everything fell apart. Where our faith in the Almighty is concerned, wisdom is powerful but obedience is critical.
     The bible is the word of God, and as such, its content is infallible and true. I need to embrace not only what it promotes, but repudiate what it condemns. While it promotes wisdom, knowledge and understanding, it clearly condemns disobedience and unbelief.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your word. Help me to walk in it; to honor, respect and share it with others that they may come to know You in all Your glory.

Scripture Reading: Philippians 1-2

Observation: Paul writes a letter of encouragement and support to the Philippians to ensure their steadfastness and unity as a body acceptable and well-pleasing unto God. He reaffirms his resolute love and defense of them and vows to “²⁵ …continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.” (Philippians 1:25-26)
     In my journal of a week ago today, I wrote about "unity" - or the lack of it, in the present day church. Today I read that, indeed division among believers is not new: “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.” (Philippians 1:15) And again, “¹ If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” (Philippians 2:1-2)
     He strongly counsels them to be one in the Lord and not to fear those who would attack them, for the enemy’s fate is already sealed; even if they suffered at the hands of the oppressor, suffering for Christ is part of a believer’s calling. Paul reminded them that the ultimate suffering was borne by Jesus when He was tortured and crucified on the cross for our sakes.

Application: Paul’s letter to the Philippians is one of a father to his children, as his concern and love for them is pronounced and apparent. If I am to be effective in my ministry in the field where He has assigned me, it is essential that I adopt a similar if not identical heart. I personally know, as other parents do, what that involves, since I have children of my own whom I love a lot. I believe that that is one of the reasons we are blessed with a family; it is to be able to understand the father-child relationship, so we can espouse the same sensitivity and spirit in our role in the body of Christ. It also signifies the love that the father has for us, His children – only so much more.

Prayer: Thank You for Your love and concern for us Your children. Help me to have the same affection for those You have placed in my fold.

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 1-5

Observation: King Ahaziah ruled over Israel after King Ahab’s death. After injuring himself, Ahaziah did something stupid and sent some of his men to inquire of a false god if his injury was going to be fatal. The prophet Elijah was told by God to intercept Ahaziah’s men and have them take the message back to Ahaziah that he will surely die. This resulted in more than 100 of his men being consumed by God’s fury until Elijah finally responded to Ahaziah’s beckoning him to come to him, only to declare to Ahaziah…his fate, death – to which he soon succumbed. Since Ahaziah did not have any children, Joram succeeded him.
     When Elisha realized that his master Elijah was about to be taken up to heaven, he refused to leave his side but went wherever Elijah went.
     Elijah parted the Jordan with his cloak so the two of them can cross over. Elijah was separated from Elisha by a chariot of fire and horses and was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha crossed back over the Jordan by parting the water with the same cloak that had fallen from Elijah when he was taken up.
     Elisha was blessed with the Spirit of God and performed many powerful works, including healing a city’s water problem and cursing 42 of the young men who were jeering him, causing a couple of bears to maul and kill them.
     When Ahab died, Moab refused to continue providing Israel with a previously agreed upon 100,000 lambs and wool from 100,000 rams. King Joram of Israel, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the King of Edom after getting the green light from the prophet Elisha, joined forces and attacked and defeated Moab. When he realized that he was done for, King Mesha of Moab sacrificed his son that was to succeed him and thus brought great fury against Israel. King Ahaziah had to back off and return home.
     Elisha helps a widow and her two sons ward off the creditors by miraculously producing enough oil for them to sell and pay them off; they used the left over profit to provide for their daily needs.
     A Shunammite woman and her husband provided room and board for Elisha. In turn Elisha blesses them, resulting in their receiving from God a son. This, their only child, later dies - sending the Shunammite woman to seek out and ask Elisha to restore her son to her… which he did.
     Elisha also demonstrated the power of God working in him when he neutralized the poison in the stew and made it edible; from twenty loaves of bread he had more than enough to feed a hundred men.
     Naaman, a highly regarded commander of the King of Syria’s army contracted leprosy but was healed by Elisha, even though he doubted in his heart. Naaman, after getting healed, wanted to give gifts to Elisha, but he unwaveringly refused. So after Naaman left, Gehazi, Elisha’s servant succumbed to the powers of evil and went after Naaman and deceived him into believing that Elisha had changed his mind about the gifts. After acquiring from him two talents of silver and two sets of clothing, he returned home only to be confronted by his master who was, through the power of the Holy Spirit, wise to his evil deed. As a consequence, Gehazi and all his descendants were inflicted with leprosy from that day forth.

Application: When God grants us a position of prominence and power, we will be tempted to take our eyes off of Him and to look elsewhere for provision and guidance. Death awaits those who will give in to such temptation.
     As Elisha appreciated his master, the prophet Elijah, and stayed close to him, especially when Elijah was about to be taken up, we need to be in close proximity to those who we believe have been anointed by God to be our mentor. As a result we, like Elisha, will be empowered by the same Spirit as was our mentor.
     Elisha’s ministry was powerful in affecting the lives of thousands, yet he always had time and affection for individuals like the widow and her two sons, as well as the Shunammite woman and her husband. Our love and passion for God's calling in our lives, away from the spotlight, should never be influenced or altered by the fame brought by the spotlight.
     The powerful works exhibited by the Spirit of God in Elisha can be and are manifested in the lives of believers today - for He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Likewise, as was the case with Elisha’s servant - Gehazi, there are those who would sell their soul or at the very least, compromise their faith by giving in to greed for the acquisition of personal gain; the fate of such will never escape God’s justice.

Prayer: Help me Father to remember that it is not about Elijah, Elisha or any of the prophets of old, nor is it about anyone before or since. It is about Jesus and the power of Thy Holy Spirit as You manifest Your presence in the lives of believers who surrender to You with all their hearts and with all their soul.

Scripture Reading: Philippians 3-4

Observation: Paul warns the church at Philippi of those who would destroy their faith by leading them down the wrong path of circumcision of the body, making it about the flesh and not, as it should be, about the spirit. He, Paul, has been down that same road and knows only too well how misguided it is. It is Christ crucified and Him alone that is the true hope and salvation of all God’s children.
     He assures them that he himself have not reached the goal of all believers, which is to be perfect in Christ, but that he is forging forward towards that end – and that they should too. “¹³ 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, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
     Paul states that if they, in the process of growing in His word, are struggling with issues, they should put it in God’s hands - all the while holding on to what they have learned. “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” (Philippians 3:16)
     Paul reiterates the power of unity, joy, gentleness and thanksgiving - discarding anxiety, which is the product of doubt and fear. He reassures them that he’s fine, for he has learned how to make do with what he has. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV) But nevertheless, he encourages them to give, in order that they may reap a reward in heavenly riches. “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Application: One of the verses that stands out for me this morning is the 16th verse of chapter 3: “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” 'Living up to what we have already attained' is, to put it in another way, ‘rising to the level of our convictions’.
     I believe that at any given point of our walk in Him, we are accountable according to the level of our convictions. If we grew up, for example, in an environment of love and faith in God, the Lord expects more from us than from someone reared in a family or community completely void of His word. What we then encounter as a result of His direction in our lives and in response to the choices we make can therefore be categorized in one of two ways: guidance or compensation. When we err because of our ignorance of God’s laws, what He does or allows to occur in our lives, I believe is His helping hand teaching us the right path to walk. When what we choose to do is either the result of what we know in Him or in spite of it, then what follows can either be a blessing or punishment. Either way, it would be a reward or a consequence of the choices we make.
     Just today, Samuel discovered that in one of the rooms in our house, is a cable for TV that brings in a lot more channels than we’re paying for. I was immediately tempted to hook up TVs for the rest of the house to this cable source, which was originally installed for a Hi-speed Internet service that we no longer subscribe to. In my mind, I tried to make the argument that the company did not come back to uninstall their cable equipment – so it wasn’t our fault. But in my heart I knew, ‘that wasn’t going to fly’. I quickly told my wife and my son, before they start making plans for more channels in every room, that I was going to call the cable company the next day to let them know what the situation is – and go from there.

Prayer: Lately, You have been teaching me so much Lord. Thank You for growing me in Your word. Continue to teach me how to live my life and to make choices accordingly. Help me not to compromise what I know to be right for a little free TV entertainment.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 81-83

Observation: The Lord is worthy to be celebrated for it was He that delivered the people from bondage. “¹ Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! ² Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre.” (Psalms 81:1-2) “⁶ He says, ‘I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket. ⁷ In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.’” (Psalms 81:6-7) It was the Lord that routed and destroyed their enemies. If they would only listen, He would give them all that they will ever need and protect them from the oppressor. If they would only listen!
     Asaph the seer and prophet is credited for these psalms that talk of God coming to rescue Israel from slavery and guiding them and providing for their needs with His power and His love. They also reflect the heart of one who’s desperately seeking the Lord on behalf of the poor and the needy. Part of it may even be a prophetic cry for help against an accumulated force of foreign powers that were yet to come against God’s people.

Application: There are two aspects about today’s reading that speaks to my heart.

1. Celebrate: We need to celebrate His goodness, His works of wonder, His love and His faithfulness. Rejoicing is a vital part of celebration. The bible says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) Celebrating the Lord and rejoicing in Him is appreciating all He has done and believing His promises in all that He will do for us.

2. Listen: The intended objectives of ‘listening’, for believers in particular (where it concerns the truth), are two fold; to pay attention so we can hear what is being communicated, and to heed or to mind so we can obey the communiqué. We often forget or simply disregard the obedience part of listening. With what the world communicates to us, we need to choose, and choose carefully, what to accept as truth and what to discard as fallacy. With God’s word, we have only one option – accept it and obey, for He is the truth. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14:6)

Prayer: Thank You Father for Your joy in my heart. Help me to jealously guard it and daily display it, for it is a source of strength to my spirit and a confirmation of my faith in everything that You are to me. Teach me to listen for Your quite and still voice that I may follow and obey Your every directive.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 10

Observation: Wisdom and righteousness are promoted while foolishness and sin are discouraged.

Application: The verse that I had high-lighted some time ago still convicts me today: “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19) There’s a place for elaborate verbalizing, if it provides precision and clarity. Mostly, brevity is ideal if it cuts to the chase without sacrificing substance.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for teaching me the way to walk and helping me to understand it.

Scripture Reading: Luke 19-20

Observation: On His way through Jericho, Jesus beckons a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus and informs him of His planned stay-over at his house that day - much to the dismay of the people standing in judgment of Zacchaeus. This prompted Zacchaeus to declare to Jesus his resolve to change, which Jesus welcomes. Then He tells the people the parable of the would-be king and his servants who received from him money to invest until he returns, and those who tried unsuccessfully to stop him from being king.
     All this is followed by Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the people of which Jesus weeps over for their inability to accept Him as the Messiah. He then casts out the merchants in the temple, which is where He henceforth taught the people daily. After refusing to answer the religious leaders’ question as to what authority He was acting under, He told the people the parable of the vineyard its owner rented out to tenants, whom he, the renter was to try and collect his part from at a later time.
     “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Luke 20:25) was Jesus’ answer to the religious leaders’ feeble attempt at trapping Him. Later, Jesus confronts the Sadducees’ misconception of marriage and the resurrection. The reading wraps up with Jesus explaining the true relationship between Him and David, and warning them against the scribes or teachers of the law, who are caught up in their arrogance and deceit – for they will bear the brunt of God’s wrath.

Application: Jesus came for Zacchaeus as He came for me, a sinner. Even though, because of the crowd, Zacchaeus could not see Jesus, he faced up to his lack of height and promptly made a nearby tree the equalizer. Similarly, we are to recognize our own short-coming, (dependency, judging, arrogance, lying, stealing, unbelief or any other flaw) rise above it, look to Jesus, and welcome Him into our heart. For He said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation (3:20)
     The Pharisees didn't think Zacchaeus worthy of Jesus spending the day with. We may think the same of our own lives, and that we don’t deserve Jesus coming to stay in our hearts; deserving or not, He will anyways. All it takes is for us to answer His knocking at our heart’s door and let Him in. As He's given us the freedom to choose, it's our decision. But to recieve and keep Him in my life, I need to reject my old ways and embrace His way, bringing Him joy instead of grief, which is what happens when I remain in or return to my old ways.
     God gifted us with talents to be put to use for His kingdom. Jesus died and rose again to be with the Father who crowned Him King. One day He will return to gather His own and receive from us all we have accumulated as a result of our investing the talents He gifted us with. We need to empower Him to do with our lives what only He knows would yield the best dividend.

Prayer: I know that You know what’s best for me, so I totally surrender everything to You Lord. Please have Your way with me as I follow and obey Thy every direction. Teach me patience and grow me in wisdom that I may walk in Your power and live victoriously through the blood of the cross.

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 11-15

Observation: When Ahaziah, King of Judah was killed by Jehu, Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah forcibly ruled over Judah by killing the royal family and thus eliminating the rightful heirs to the throne - or so she thought. Athaliah’s plans were thwarted when the sister of the late Ahaziah hid Joash (Ahaziah’s son) from her for six years, at which point the child was proclaimed King at seven years of age. In his reign Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord but as many kings before and after him, he did not remove the high places that were used by the people to worship and burn incense to false gods. “² Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. ³ The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.” (2 Kings 12:2-3)
     Joash commissioned the repairing of the temple of the Lord. When he realized years later that it was not being done, he put his foot down and the work was carried out. When threatened by King Hazael of Aram, Joash paid him off with the nation’s sacred treasures, including those of the temple. He was assassinated by some of his officials, most likely in response to his killing Zechariah who had confronted him about his idol worshiping.
     Elisha after falling ill dies; but even in death this man of God exhibited the power of the Lord by bringing back to life a deceased body that was placed in his tomb temporarily due to a perceived threat from a band of thugs. What surprised me was the fact that when Elisha died, there wasn’t much display of grief or mourning, except for Jehoash King of Israel who wept over him as he was dying. I wonder what Elisha did or didn’t do to deserve such a lack-luster departure.

Application: What really stands out to me from today’s reading as well as past readings of the scriptures is the fact that so many leaders of Israel and Judah were either not able or not willing to take down the high places being used for idol worship.
     For me the message is that we all at one point or another, for one reason or another have neglected to take down a stronghold of the enemy. Whether in our own lives or in the life of a family member under our leadership, we need to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord and stop compromising with the enemy. We don’t want it to be written about us that, “So and so, was a strong believer in the Lord. The high places within his or her jurisdiction however, were not removed; arrogance, judging, gossiping, adultery, etc… giving credence to the powers of this world.” For it is written, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5). Because of our failure to bring down those high places, our children, their children after them, and those who look up to us will continue to take those compromises lightly or even accept them as normal practices. We can’t, for example, talk once to a son or daughter about living in sin, and call it good. If our children are doing something that’s inappropriate, we need to make sure they understand that such behavior will not be tolerated. That begins with our setting the right example by living right ourselves. Otherwise, it’s a high place that we’ve failed to take down.

Prayer: Please help me to tear down all the high places, that serve as strongholds of the devil. Grant me the boldness and the faith to do what is right in Thy sight – in every aspect of the word.

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 31-36

Observation: Egypt was once so beautiful that even God considered her trees more beautiful than those of the Garden of Eden or Garden of God. "The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it, nor could the junipers equal its boughs, nor could the plane trees compare with its branches — no tree in the garden of God could match its beauty." (Ezediel 31:8) The fact that it was God, and no other, that created all that Egypt was, was lost to her leader Pharaoh as well as her subjects. Consequently the Lord cut Pharaoh’s Egypt down to size reducing her to a desolate wasteland subject to foreign powers and death. In death she joins the rest of the enemies of God, the idolaters such as Assyria, Elam, Meshech & Tubal, Edom, Sidon and all of their forces.
     The term watchman, as used here, refer to God’s appointed chosen to forewarn His people of the coming judgment of God. They will be accountable for every soul lost that they failed to forewarn. "But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’" (Ezekiel 33:6) Those who were warned but did not heed the warning will be responsible for their own demise. Likewise, those the Lord had appointed to be shepherds will be held accountable for every sheep lost on their watch. The Lord Himself will then shepherd the lost and help manage their affairs, providing for all of their needs. He will protect the flock from the enemies within (the self seeking and evil shepherds), as well as from the enemies without (such as wild animals... including the elements themselves).
     Through His word given to Ezekiel, God foretells the devastation that is to befall Mount Seir, for the animosity and hatred she harbored against Israel. On the contrary, the mountains of Israel will be fruitful and strong; but its people, because of their misdeeds and idol worshiping ways, will be dispersed and ridiculed among the nations. Yet for His name’s sake, He will restore the people of Israel to their former glory.

Application: Everything good we have and receive in life comes from the Father, the Creator of all. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17) Forgetting or refusing to acknowledge Him as our Source and Provider, will without fail result in the removal of some or all of our blessings.
     If and when we’re given a role to perform in His Kingdom, we will be held accountable for the lives our roles were meant to help.
     Harboring animosity or ‘keeping a record of wrongs’ is unacceptable in the Lord’s eyes, for we are required by God’s word to forgive and to love others - not to hold a grudge; neither are we to judge. Not only are we not to judge, we certainly are not to worship other gods or idols - like money, possessions or status.

Prayer: Lord thank You for setting me apart for Your purpose. Help me to not only receive Your calling for my life, but to understand it and to honor it with all my being. Teach me also to let go of hard feelings that I may be harboring against another. Help me to forgive and to love people instead.

Scripture Reading: Leviticus 19-21

Observation: The Lord spoke to Moses to instruct the people to be holy as He is holy. He proceeds to lay out the details of the path they need to follow in order to achieve that objective, including much of what Exodus 20 (including the Ten Commandments) covered. Sexual immorality and perversion are forbidden and to be dealt with severely. Dishonesty and sacrilege are not to be tolerated, the consequence of the latter being death. Various unnatural sexual relationships are addressed, including incest and bestiality as well as their respective disciplinary consequence.
     The focus shifts to the rules of marriage for priests, if they chose it - and those regarding their family. What struck me at first as rude or unfair, is the prohibiting of handicapped people from participation in the offerings due to their deformity. But I realize that given the fact that by His love and power, God created and maintains the universe, He has the right to do what ever He chooses. Whatever God does or instructs us to do is, and will always be beyond reproach. We have to remember that His foolishness is higher than our wisdom - "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight." Remembering also that somethings won't be revealed until the end times. "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12) Besides, where the sacrificial process is concerned, not only were the animals that were used for sacrifices to be unblemished and without defects, it only stands to reason that those appointed to approach the sacred and holy places were to be also.

Application: Certain Old Testament laws may not be applicable (at least, not in the context of that time) since Jesus died for our sins; but in the reading of them, one can hear and see the heart of God. If we are determined to - with His help, we will see just where and how those laws can be reflected upon a true believer’s life in our generation.
     On yesterday’s* ABC world news broadcast, there was a piece on pastors of churches who had lost their faith in God. They're still preaching to their respective congregation (which is why they were appearing in shadow and their voices altered), but no longer believe in what they're professing. Their main gripe is with certain bible accounts that no longer make sense in their own minds. Hello! Not only is faith “...the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1), our own understanding can never grasp the depth, the length nor the width of God's holy word; not without help from the Holy Spirit. When ever we try to make sense of the Holy Scriptures with our own minds, we have left God behind. You might as well declare that you don't know God, and that He never knew you. "Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’" (Matthew 7:23)

Prayer: Grant me the wisdom and the understanding to know Your heart Lord, as I read Your word and listen to the revelation of Thy Holy Spirit ministering to my heart.

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 37-42

Observation: The Lord revealing through the prophet Ezekiel, how He will restore His people to their former glory and place. In the vision the Lord showed Ezekiel, a multitude of dried up human bones coming back together; flesh and sinews restored, the breath of life reinstated - signifying Israel and Judah returning to Him in faith and in power. The vision showed how the Lord was going to destroy Israel’s enemies. He wanted Ezekiel to document every detail of how His new temple was to be built. The purpose for the vision of the Lord's Temple, as described in this reading remains illusive given that it has never been built. Is it going to be constructed when Jesus returns? Is it the temple that the anti-christ will indwell, or is it something else completely?

Application: *Chapter 37 verse 4 says: “Then He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!'"” (Ezekiel 37:4) And again in the same chapter the word of God says: “Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'"” (Ezekiel 37:9) Seems to me that God wants to involve us in the process of activating His Kingdom here on earth. He could have simply said the word, and every bone in the whole valley would rise as living breathing human flesh and blood… bypassing the need for Ezekiel, or any other prophet for that matter. Instead He is letting us know that, although He has the awesome power and infinite wisdom to set in motion all that needs to take place in bringing about His will, He would rather use us as vessels of His love and power. We become then not spectators but partners, in the building up to and preparation of His glorious return.
     I believe chapters 40-42 describing Ezekiel's vision of the Temple of the Lord, in a manner of speaking, are symbolic of what the bible talks about as what will be revealed in full at a later time. I will never-the-less treat it with respect as a part of God’s love letter (Genesis to Revelation) to us – His children. For the world may pass away, but His purpose and plan (His Word) will remain and will be fulfilled. He will return His people to their proper and designated place.
     I need not become unraveled and impatient with God’s people (Israel) ‘not getting it’. It’s all going to come together just as He said it will. All I need to be concerned about is my relationship with the Father, and following Him in obedience and in complete surrender to His will.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for settling me down so I won’t lose my place in You.

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 21-25

Observation: Manasseh became king of Judah at twelve after the reign of his father Hezekiah. He was displeasing to the Lord by doing evil during the twenty five years of his reign. He did many detestable things in the eyes of the Lord, leading the people astray and shedding much innocent blood. After Manasseh's death, his son Amon, who also did evil during his short reign, became king. After the people rose up and killed Amon, his son Josiah was made king.
     King Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He tore down all the detestable elements of idol worship that was erected or placed in the temple. He got rid of the people responsible for these and all the high places; he killed the priests who led the people in worshiping other gods.
     In the process of renovating the temple of the Lord that King Josiah ordered, his high priest found the Book of the Law. After reading it, Josiah realized how wicked the people had been in their practices. Through the prophetess Huldah whom he had seeked for a word from God, King Josiah received the message that the Lord was going to bring disaster upon the land because of the wickedness of the people - but that he, Josiah, was going to be spared from seeing it come to pass in his lifetime.
     Josiah went to war against Pharoah Neco of Egypt, and was killed in battle. Josiah was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz who did evil in God’s sight, and reigned for only three months. Another of Josiah’s son Eliakim, whose name was later changed to Jehoiakim, then became king of Judah, but he also did evil in the eyes of the Lord. After Jehoiakim reneged on his commitment to pay king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon supplies as tribute after the king invaded Jerusalem, he was killed when the Babylonian king laid siege on Jerusalem. His son Jehoiachin ruled in his place but was another that would be king for only three months - at which point he and his whole family surrendered to the invading King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
     When Zedekiah (formerly Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle) became king, he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, and as a result was taken prisoner by the king of Babylon who had installed him as king of Judah in the first place. The temple of the Lord was looted and the people taken captives by the Babylonians. Years later Jehoiachin was released from prison in Babylon and was treated well dining with the king until his death.

Application: What puzzled me was why Josiah, the only decent king in a long line of wicked kings of Judah, was killed in battle. “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.” (2 Kings 23:25) So why didn’t God help him gain victory over his enemy? “While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo.” (2 Kings 23:29) John Gill's Exposition of the Bible offers this reason for Josiah's demise: "Josiah seems to have engaged in this action without consulting the Lord and his prophets."
     Sometimes we can be so taken by our own sense of 'right and wrong' that we overlook the key and most critical ingredient of our very existence - God. We can be so busy doing the Lord’s work that, in our zeal to please Him, we forget to seek Him about major decisions that come up. Going with our own plans without checking with the Lord is not only arrogant and foolish, but can often interfere with what He is doing - even through the lives of our perceived enemies.

Prayer: Lord please show me when I am going too fast and being too busy to realize that it is always about You. Help me to keep You first and to keep my eyes tightly focused on You Lord - always.

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4-5

Observation: The Thessalonians have been living their lives for God, which was good… but now Paul urges them to raise it up a notch. To do what they’ve been doing, and more.
     Another thing that Paul wanted to emphasize was for the Thessalonians to remember to flee immorality in all its form, and to embrace holiness. Loving others, earning your way and living a quiet and peaceful life, he reminds them, was key to winning the respect of those outside the faith.
     Believers know that death is but a transitioning point to life everlasting - so, excessive demonstration of sorrow for our dearly departed should never be an issue. One basic premise that stands out in today’s reading is that we, as Christians should be alert and not rest on our laurels.
     Patience, goodness and joy are to be embraced, while continuing always in prayer and thanksgiving. Paul stresses that we are to welcome the Holy Spirit to do His work in us, so we may discern right from wrong; holding fast to what is pleasing in the Lord's sight and rejecting what isn’t.

Application: 'Taking it up a notch' is what I get from the following verse: “Finally, our friends, you learned from us how you should live in order to please God. This is, of course, the way you have been living. And now we beg and urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to do even more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1) Sometimes I am tempted to feel good about my walk in the Lord, to the point of laying back and cruising a little. I’m reminded of my Dad putting in neutral and then turning the engine off (when on a downhill stretch), the car he was driving on a Sunday morning with my mother and two other family members in tow - all to save a few drops of gas. He didn't realize that in doing so, the steering wheel of the vehicle would lock up - restricting other normal functions; its brakes also incapacitated, the car with everybody in it, ended up in a ditch.
     In trying to save a little bit of gas, my Dad did what he had always done with the Land-Rover, a government issued medical vehicle, which was an older model vehicle that didn’t lock up when the engine was turned off. This was a safety feature in the newer models to minimize theft.
     As we grow, we change; what we did at one point may have been sufficient for that time, but would no longer be adequate today. Circumstances in our spiritual lives also change... and we may need to take it up a notch to adept to these changes.
     When I was growing up as a child, there was never any concern about my whereabouts when during the day, I would roam all over for hours on end playing with other kids in the neighborhood. It's a different world today than it was fifty years ago. Child molesters and murderers are more and more an issue in our society than we would like. Technology is always on the move. The Internet brings more information than we could have ever imagined, to most everywhere we are - at breathtaking speed. Some of it is good, but with the good also comes the bad: corruption, immorality and an overall perverted sense of values. Choosing to do good in God's sight is wonderful, and at a given point we get to do more, not only for our own spritual betterment, but for our children - and their children. We need to do more in our vigilance of what we expose our families to; the movies they watch, the sites they interact with on the Internet - even God's holy word, through the ubiquitous Christian network of TV ministries, can be misinterpreted. Lately, even buying groceries can be hazardous to our health is we don't pay attention to the contents of processed foods.
     What does ‘doing more’ entail? That’s where the Holy Spirit comes in; He will guide us into the changes that we will need to make as we look to Him, believe in His power and trust in His faithfulness. The Holy Spirit will reveal to us and enable the necessary transitions we need to make in our lives. Being content with where we are can be a prelude to stagnancy (inactivity, the act of being dormant) which unattended, often leads to regression. Doing more to get more in our walk is of course not to be mistaken with constantly wanting more than our lot. As Paul puts it, “… I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11) He's talking about external things - worldly stuff, like possessions and status. Our lives in the Lord should, on the contrary be about growing in Him... being more like Jesus.
     Respect and love for those who are working for our collective and individual betterment is also hereby strongly encouraged. "Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance." (1 Thessalonians 5:12) Likewise, those who need our encouragement and help must receive our support. "Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone." (1 Thessalonians 5:14)

Prayer: Help me Father, to change the things I need to change, in order to adopt and implement the growth and qualities Your Holy Spirit is directing me to.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 16

Observation: A king is here held up as the architect of right, as wisdom is a model that leads one to righteousness. Pride still is one of the quintessential foundations of wickedness, and is to be deplored. “¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. ¹⁹ Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” (Proverbs 16:18-19) Wisdom on the other hand is still a priceless commodity that is to be treasured and highly cherished.

Application: Proverbs once again fills the heart with wisdom. “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:33) It is clear to see that each and every believer can be better served by the intake and activation of wisdom in his or her life. “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!” (Proverbs 16:16) This passage is loaded with power, in the form of what we need to take us through life’s twists and turns – hills and valleys. Night or day, He’s word will guide the way.

Prayer: Your word is true and power-filled to strengthen and encourage us. Thank You for that and for Your faithfulness and mercy. I praise You this day Lord for Your love that never fails to meet our every need.

Scripture Reading: John 3-4

Observation: Jesus talks to Nicodemus about being born again (the Greek for again means 'from above'). "Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.'" (John 3:3) This most revealing verse sets up another of the bible's most powerful and most memorable verses… the cornerstone, if you will, of the Christian faith. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) He later talks to a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well about drinking in the Spirit of God and about her five husbands. When His disciples joined them at the well He told them, in response to their urging Him to eat something, “³² …‘I have food to eat that you know nothing about.’ ³³ Then His disciples said to each other, ‘Could someone have brought Him food?’ ³⁴ ‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.’” (John 4:32-34) As a result of His visit with the Samaritans, many were converted and became believers.

Application: The healing of the official’s son is as powerful a story as any in the bible, highlighted (to me at least) by the sentence: “The man took Jesus at His word and departed.” (John 4:50) That's really what faith is all about, isn't it? Taking God at His word (the spoken word - the Holy Bible, as well as His word to us personally... when He speaks to our hearts). And of course the other part to that verse is just as powerful - "... and departed" - which proclams, 'IT'S A DONE DEAL'. He said it, I believe it - I'm outta here!
     Another key point of this reading is that, for those who are genuinely interested, Jesus will take the time to explain His word in a way that we can understand and receive it. He talks freely to us all - even society’s outcasts; if we would only listen. The heart is what He looks at, not our status or place in society; giving those of us not born into nobility or privilege, an equal chance at redemption. We need to embrace His presence and open our hearts to Him and He will meet our needs and heal our hurts.
     The healing of the official’s son demonstrated the power of His spoken word, "Your son will live." It also validates our willingness to surrender all as a lightning rod that will manifest God’s faithfulness and power in our lives. (My thoughts on this story are further addressed in a section called Trusting God's Power Enough To Let Go) But like no other, the verse that without a doubt exemplifies God's love for humanity is John 3:16. Throughout all generations of man's existence, there won't ever be another demonstration of His love that speaks louder than sending His only begotten - Jesus Christ, that we may be redeemed and live with Him in eternity. We need to grasp the enormity of this gesture in order that we won't be condemned with the world.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for caring also for society’s unfavored. Thank You for the story of the official and his sick son, and for gifting us with the message of power and of faith in relation to the healing of his son. Thank You for sending Jesus that the world through Him, may receive life everlasting. Thank You Jesus for coming and dying on Calvary's cross, taking upon Yourself our sin... and conquering death once and for all.

Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 5-9

Observation: Of all the humdrum and tedious information in today’s reading of Israel’s genealogy, the very first couple of verses impressed upon my heart a powerful message about the consequence of compromise. “¹ The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, ² and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph).” (1 Chronicles 5:1-2)
     The rest of the day’s reading, though monotonous and tiring, is great record keeping as far as the genealogical and historical aspects of a people is concerned. The ability for such an undertaking could only come from the Lord.

Application: God has just reiterated to me, in a couple of ways, the importance of who I am in Him. Right off the top, He lets me know that sin is just not worth the effort, considering what I am giving up in my relationship with the Father. Compromising my place (as my birthright) in Him also amounts to jeopardizing where I spend all of eternity. As Reuben lost his birthright as the firstborn by him defiling his father's marriage bed, one drastic wrong choice can lose me certain privilages in the kingdom.
     The other key issue that I'm reminded from today's passage (about record keeping) is that, no matter how daunting a task may be, no matter how taxing or lackluster a calling looks like, He will not only enable but will put in us the passion and the urgency to do it. Our part is to say, "Yes Lord!"

Prayer: Forgive me Father for my sins. Help me to resist the temptation to commit evil, whether in deed or in thought. Teach me how I can remain in You, faithful and strong.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 96-98

Observation: Written by David, these Psalms encourage the reader to give God the praise and glory He so richly deserves. In it David lifts the Lord up with worship and inspires believers and non-believers alike, even non-living things - to honor and proclaim Him as Lord and God of all. He calls for God's people to rejoice and to "Sing to the Lord a new song." (Psalm 96:1)

Application: In today's word, I am reminded of the importance of exaltation and praise in honoring the Lord with our voices. “² Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. ³ Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.” (Psalm 96:2-3) These sentiments are critical to the power and effectiveness of our ministry and relationship with the Father.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for all that You are doing in my life – humbling me, strengthening me, growing me. Fill me with Your peace and with Your joy Father, and help me to remain obediently in You each and every day.

Scripture Reading: Daniel 7-12

Observation: Daniel describes his dream about the four beasts: the lion, the bear, the leopard and the iron beast. In his dream, he also envisioned The Ancient of Days as well as the Son of Man who was to rule all the world forever. Partial interpretation was given for Daniel’s dream, by an angel of the Lord. Partial, in the sense that all the particulars of the events as well as the precise times of their occurrence, won't be fully revealed until the end times.
     Daniel upon realizing that the allotted time for Israel being held in captivity will be 70 years, pleaded with God in prayer, on behalf of Israel, for forgiveness and for deliverance. The angel of the Lord Gabriel explains further to Daniel the meaning of his dream and visions, as well as the period of Israel’s captivity. A lot of it (Daniel's dream) had to do with the various wars and struggles for power between the North and the South – which some take to mean Syria and Egypt, with Israel always somewhere in the middle… and very much the Lord’s focus.

Application: With all that went on as far back as Adam, and all that goes on today, the message of today's bible passage remind me of two simple facts. First is that Jehovah, the true living God, rewards those who believe in and seek Him daily – as an angel dressed in white linen with a golden belt alluded to in a message from God: “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” (Daniel 10:12) Again in Daniel 12:3, the man of God spoke the word of God: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”
     The second is simply the flip-side of the first, which is that those who disobey and reject Him will not escape His judgment. “¹¹ All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey You. Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You. ¹² You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. ¹³ Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to Your truth. ¹⁴ The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything He does; yet we have not obeyed Him.” (Daniel 9:11-14)

Prayer: Thank You Lord for helping me see and understand the truth that is Your word. Its simplicity is baffling to the world but is revealed to Your sheep.

Scripture Reading: Numbers 5-8

Observation: Again, as in previous chapters of this book, the Lord speaks to Moses giving him the instructions of:

• how to deal with impurities and diseases, removing them from the camp where the Lord dwells among the people

• putting right, wrongs committed among the people - including restitution that are to be made to the victim

• dealing with those accused of marital infidelity

• consecrating those who would give their lives to serve the Lord as a Nazirite

• how ceremonial functions are to be conducted

• how the offerings were to be made by the leaders of the twelve tribes

• how the Levites were to be consecrated unto the Lord, in the place of Israel’s first born

Application: Two key points stand out particularly for me today:

1. How the Lord cares for His people; He cares about every detail of our daily struggles - as in righting the wrongs that others do to us

2. How He cares about our proper response to His love – as in our offerings and tithes as well as praise and thanksgiving; all to affect our receiving all that He has for us

     Everything the Lord does, He does to put us in a place of reaping the blessings of His love and power. He doesn’t do things because He needs anything from us, but rather that He loves us so much, He hates to see us suffer. We suffer when we are away from Him and missing out on His provisions and protection. The bible is His Word, through which and with the help of the Holy Spirit, He guides us daily. When we read and obey His word, we in effect release Him to bestow upon us blessings - such as the one He gave Moses to have Aaron and his sons impart to the people of Israel: “²⁴ The Lord bless you and keep you; ²⁵ the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; ²⁶ the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26) Can you imagine missing out on that one?

Prayer: Help me Father to remember how important it is to You Lord, that we hold up our end of our relationship with You. It is important because You want us to be blessed and have power in our lives – Your power and Your blessings that is meant to keep us safe and filled with Your joy. Thank You for caring for us and for guiding us to receive all that You have for us.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 19

Observation: No matter your social status, righteous-ness is far better than vulgarity - and having soul and zeal without knowledge is not good. Someone’s own wrong choices will bring unpleasant consequences; don’t blame the Lord for it! Exercising patience by letting something go (not reacting to it or not allowing it to get to me) is wise.

Application: Adhering to wisdom is always the best option, for if it is true wisdom (godly wisdom) … it would without fail lead to God. The Lord created wisdom so mankind can grow in, and help themselves to, the things of the Kingdom.

Prayer: Wisdom is wonderful O Lord, but wisdom without You is only worldly wisdom. Continue to grow me in Your wisdom Father. Thank You Lord for revealing Your truth and power to me and for guiding me in Your Word as I learn to trust in You more and more.

Scripture Reading: Hosea 1-7

Observation: It seemed odd at first to read that God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. It was immediately apparent tho' that it was because of Israel’s unfaithful-ness that God had to make a parallel scenario in order to show them the wrong of their ways. God used prosti-tution and children born out of wedlock as comparitive illustration of the people’s sinful nature and the conse-quences of their wickedness. After showing His love by revealing their immoral and offensive acts, the Lord demonstrated mercy and grace in restoring them to Himself. The Lord also professes His displeasure in Israel’s worship of idols - likening His wrath to a lion’s destructive power to tear its prey to shreds. The Lord is incensed by Israel and Judah’s adulterous ways - including their stubborness in not turning to Him for help and for guidance. "¹¹ Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, intent on pursuing idols. ¹² I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot to the people of Judah. ¹³ When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores. ¹⁴ For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them. ¹⁵ Then I will go back to My place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek My face; in their misery they will earnestly seek Me." (Hosea 5:11-15)

Application: Given free reign in our lives, wickedness - such as adultery, disobedience, blindness to the truth and unfaithfulness - will wreak havoc in our relationship with God as well as with others... bringing in its wake destruction and ultimately, death. It is only by the grace of the Father that we stand any chance of being redeemed… and that, by the blood of the Lamb.

Prayer: Help me Lord never to take my place in You for granted. Teach me to remain focused on You Lord, and please help me to see and understand what the devil is up to when he tries to deceive me. Under such circumstances, strengthen me Lord to resist the devil and to draw near to Thee.

Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 15-19

Observation: David started the process of moving the Arc of the Lord from Obed-Edom’s house to be housed in a tent until the one appointed by the Lord, David’s son Solomon, build a house for it. David wrote special songs to be sung during the transporting of the Arc. Celebration filled the streets and sacrifices were made continuously as all of Israel took part in the process. Israel was victorious in its battles against the enemies of its people as the Lord blessed and protected them.

Application: If I would put God first and give Him the praise and the glory for all that He has done, He will bless and fight for me and for my family as He did David and all of Israel. Bringing the Arc of the Lord back to the heart of its people symbolizes our commitment to bring His word back into our lives if and when we’ve wandered off in our sin and disregard of His love and mercy. We are to rejoice and be thankful for He is so good and so great. I also take the word about Israel using their personal gifts and talents to give the Lord praise and glory, to mean that I need to use what He has blessed me with for His honor.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your love and power. Show me how to use all that You’ve given me to give you praise and to lift Your name up high above all the earth.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 102-104

Observation: A prayer of anguish, seeks the Lord for consolation in a time of dire distress and suffering. The first of these chapters go on to proclaim that the mercies of the Lord is not lost in the mix, His compassion ever present. Amidst the agony and the grief, faith blossoms and hope is alive.
     David lifts up praise to the Lord and encourages the reader and the listener to remember the blessings of the Lord and the righteousness of His love for He knows how vulnerable we are. “¹⁴ For He knows how we are form-ed, He remembers that we are dust. ¹⁵ The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; ¹⁶ the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. ¹⁷ But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—¹⁸ with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.” (Psalms 103:14-18)
     The third of today’s three Psalms speaks of the power and might of God’s works and creation. It testifies to His never ending authority and unequalled supremacy.

Application: No matter what we go through, whether deservedly due to the choices we make or amidst the struggles and challenges of His design for our lives, He is ever faithful and full of compassion to deliver us from the storms of life and restore us to our place in Him... if we believe.

Prayer: Thank You Father for Your perfect plan and justice in growing me to be all that You want me to be.

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 1-2

Observation: Paul expresses his fondness of Timothy, whom he considers his son in the Lord. He encourages him with words of spiritual empowerment; reminding the young man he, Paul believes in to be a true and faithful man after God’s heart to embrace wisdom and discipline, patience and self control, long suffering and love.
     Paul compares service in the ministry to a soldier and to an athlete, placing emphasis on endurance. “³ Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer. ⁵ Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.” (1 Timothy 2:3-5)
     Paul also reiterates the worthless and even destructive nature of senseless argumentative attitudes. “Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.” (2 Timothy 2:14) Likewise he warns them against ‘unholy babble’. “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” (2 Timothy 2:16)

Application: Hardship comes in various forms. We often make the mistake of limiting hardships to persecution in the spiritual realm, and to financial matters in a worldly one. Battling our personal demons is a hardship that is real and complicated, since it isn’t usually recognized as such. Society often looks at emotional or physical weakness as nothing more than psychological or genetic in nature. It is very much a spiritual matter that requires the power of God’s Spirit to give us the strength and the wisdom to not only endure but to have victory over.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for setting me straight on hardships and what it truly represents. Please help me to endure my present hardship of emotional and physical stresses by looking and surrendering always to You Lord.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 105-107

Observation: Giving thanks and honor to the Lord for all that He has done, seem to be the theme and message of these Psalms, which were written predominantly (or by a common census) by David. The Lord is faithful and true, as He has proven from generation to generation. From the deliverance of His people from the hand of Pharaoh in Egypt to delivering them from their foes that fought against them; as well as from their own self-destructing ways due to their wickedness.
     The Lord, the Holy and most Wonderful God of Israel continually shows His love for them in delivering, protecting and providing for them in every way imaginable; but they seem to have a very short span of attention that caused them to forget all that He has done.
     Sin is the common denominator of all of Israel’s shortcomings, but faith through the love of God, is what always brings them back - with wisdom being its facilitator.
     “Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord.” (Psalms 107:43)

Application: In this reading, we are reminded of just how fickle and disloyal man can be, but that we posses the ability, through Him, to be a righteous people. If we would only retain the memory of His love and faithfulness, on a daily and consistent basis, we would fair much better in our walk and life in Him.

Prayer: Thank You Father for all that You’ve done for me in all the years of my life. All the tight spots that I got myself in, all the problems that came with life, the weaknesses of the flesh that landed me in hot water - You alone were there to save and protect me… and You’re continuing to do that today. Thank You Lord for Your undying love and faithfulness.

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 3-4

Observation: Paul foretells a time of self-centeredness, disobedience and wickedness and urges Timothy to steer clear of such. As in the second chapter (last week’s reading) Paul reiterates the necessity of enduring persecution and sufferings, adding that those desiring to walk in righteousness pretty much does so with a virtual target displayed on their backs. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12) He implores Timothy to nevertheless remain in the word, the source of true wisdom and love, and to ‘preach the word’ at all times. He hints at a time fast approaching, when he will be leaving this world - being done with his work here.

Application: I am to expect hardship or opposition when I commit to following Jesus and to drawing closer to Him each day... it’s part of the package when I dedicate my life to serving Him. Therefore I need not be concerned, for He will take care of His own. He will be faithful for He does not, nor will He ever abandon His sheep.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your encouraging and revitalizing word today. Help me to hold fast to Thy Word and to live and walk in It always.

Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 25-29

Observation: The Lord instructed David to assign all the appropriate duties for the various tribes and their people, giving them each their role and responsibilities.
     Musical instruments were used in various religious functions. “Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six in all, under the supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, using the harp in thanking and praising the Lord.” (1 Chronicles 25:3) It is becoming exceedingly clear that music as well as musicians like myself, were and are used powerfully by God in more significant ways than I ever imagined.
     Here is another word of the Lord that was very significant to my life and direction which emphasized strength and courage, in particular as this year (2006) was beginning. “David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.’” (1 Chronicles 28:20) I also love David’s prayer for God to keep Israel from losing their resolve and purpose. “O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire (the desire to make offerings willingly to the Lord their God) in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to You.” (1 Chronicles 29:18)

Application: I play a part in God’s kingdom. I’ve always known that, but never really understood the significance or importance of my role as a musician or singer. I’ve always tended to underplay a musicians role in God’s kingdom, but here I feel that the Lord is telling me that I matter just as another part of His body matters. I need to appreciate the gifts He has bestowed upon my life and not undermine its usefulness in the Kingdom.
     No matter what part the Lord has assigned for us, He will provide not only the 'know-how' but the courage and the strength to do it. "... Be strong and courageous, and do the work." His word will not tell us to 'be' something He hasn't made available for us to be. So the message today for me is, 'I am part of His overrall plan for His Kingdom here on earth'. I and the gifts and talents he's blessed me with. He has even given me the strength and the courage to accomplish that part. All I need to do is step up and receive the mission 'He set me apart' for (Jer 5:1) believing in His word and trusting in His faithfulness.

Prayer: Use me Lord, according to Thy purpose and plan. Help me to surrender completely to Thy Holy will that You may operate without hindrance in and through me.

Scripture Reading: Amos 1-4

Observation: The prophet Amos receives a message from the Lord. The word of the Lord is against the sin of many different countries and people. Not for their sinning once or twice, but over and over again. The Lord makes it clear that He was not going to let their wrong deeds go unpunished. He said about Damascus what He would say about the people of Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah and Israel. “This is what the Lord says: ‘The people of Damascus have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it. I will not let them go unpunished any longer!’” (Amos 1:3 NLB)
     Through out these chapters the underlying message is ‘enough is enough’. The people will not be permitted to go on sinning indefinitely.

Application: Because of His love for us, He will sometimes punish us so we can learn the only way we can, the things He wants us to understand and receive. His discipline is designed to teach and mould us so we can become what He destined for us to be. “From among all the families on the earth, I chose you alone. That is why I must punish you for all your sins.” (Amos 3:2 NLB)
     What we're going through right now - the struggles, the complications... are all meant for our good. It is for His purpose and for His special calling on my life that I am where I am. I cannot possibly think about passing on that.
     Today (eleven months after the original penning of this particular entry), as I review this journal and those of the next few days, I realize that once more the tough times (including being depressed and at times feeling defeated) that's been my lot again in these last few days, is part of the same shaping and molding that I am privileged to experience in the hands of the Master Potter. As I remain in Him, the Lord has enabled me to see it for what it is - my redemption, and has facilitated my surrendering it, thus claiming my place in Him. “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22 NASB) “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

Prayer: Thank You Lord for what You’re doing in me to prepare me for all that You purposed for my life. Help my family and I, be strong and courageous to stand firm in our faith in Thee. Grant us the ability to never shift our focus from You Lord, but to keep You first always in everything we do.

Scripture Reading: John 19-21

Observation: After flogging Jesus, Pilate wanted to free Jesus for he did not find any wrong in Him. The Jews gathered there were not having it, and shouted for Jesus to be crucified. Later that day, with two robbers crucified - one on either side of Him, Jesus was hung on a wooden cross until He died. Everything the scriptures prophesied came true, including the fact that not a bone was broken even though they pierced His side with a spear. “³⁶ These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of His bones will be broken,’ ³⁷ and, as another scripture says, ‘They will look on the One they have pierced.’” (John 19:36-37)
     Three days after Joseph of Arimathea laid the body of Jesus in a brand new tomb he had prepared for himself - Jesus, true to God’s word, rose from the dead, appeared to many of His followers, and performed many miracles before ascending to heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father.

Application: Today’s reading underscores the amazing love of the Father, His faithfulness to do what He promised He would, and the importance of our faith in Him - that we may do our part in remaining in Him. We won’t always know or understand what He is doing or allowing in our lives; but we can be assured that He is faithful to protect us, to deliver us and to provide for our every need. It is of critical importance that we be confident of His faithfulness. That's the basis of our faith in Him - the same faith without which we cannot please Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Prayer: Father God, You are so good. Your love is so magnificent and Your faithfulness endures forever. Thank You for sending Jesus. Jesus, thank You for coming that we may live. Help me to remember all that You have done that I may never take my life in You for granted.

Scripture Reading: Numbers 25-28

Observation: The Lord’s anger burned against those that had committed immorality with the women of Moab, bowing down to their gods. All the men who took part in these sinful acts were destroyed by the Lord, including the leaders of the Moabite people whose bodies were then laid exposed so everyone can see and be warned of the consequences of their sin. An Israelite man and the Midianite woman whom he had arrogantly brought into his family were both killed by Phinehas. For this passionate act of endearment to God's laws, Phinehas was looked at favorably by the Lord, who blessed him and his descendants after Him. God's fury blazed against the Midianite people as a whole for their hand in this affair, resulting in God telling Moses to destroy them.
     As the Lord commanded Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, a census was taken of the families of Israel of all twenty year old men and older. The Lord also gave Moses instructions of how the land that they were going to inherit was to be divided among all the people. Both Aaron and Moses died without entering into the Promised Land, due to their failure in not standing up for God in the rebellion at the waters of Meribah. God appoints Joshua to take over from Moses as Israel's leader.
     Before Moses died, the Lord gave him in precise detail to give to the people instructions on the process of offerings.

Application: Precision is the word that comes to mind when I read these passages. Whether it was to do with sacrifices, offerings or everyday rules in how they should live their lives, the Lord was very precise in His directions. We serve a God that is so great and who loves us so much that He sent His only Begotten to die on the cross of Calvary for our sins; we need to serve Him according to His will if we are to be blessed and receive all of our inheritance in Him. If and when we choose to obey Him, His written word is the blueprint of how we need to live. Obedience, as 1 Samuel 15:22 says "... is better than sacrifice" - and obedience is not obedience unless it is to the letter. In other words, obedience is not and can never be on our own terms.

Prayer: Help me Father to follow every word You speak into my heart. Teach me Lord to do according to Thy Holy will as I live for You each and every day.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 114-116

Observation: The writer of these Psalms gives glory and honor to the Lord and God of heaven for all the wonderful things He has done. The miracles and power of His love and of His faithfulness is lifted up in praise and exaltation, for He alone is the true living God. In contrast, the dead useless idols that man create may have a mouth, eyes and feet – but they cannot speak, see or walk. Useless and hopeless are their existence.
     The Lord God of Israel is faithful and forever loving to those who trust and obey Him. To them and their seed, He will be a blessing and a shield. “⁹ O house of Israel, trust in the Lord – He is their help and shield. ¹⁰ O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord – He is their help and shield. ¹¹ You who fear Him, trust in the Lord – He is their help and shield. ¹² The Lord remembers us and will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel, He will bless the house of Aaron, ¹³ He will bless those who fear the Lord – small and great alike.” (Psalm 115:9-13)

Application: Believers know that God is faithful. Everything about Him signifies His faithfulness. The desire or the goal of every believer is to be like Jesus. Being like Him is to be faithful – being faithful to the commitments we have made in living for Him. “¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. ¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people. ¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. O Lord, ¹⁶ truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have freed me from my chains. ¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering to You and call on the name of the Lord. ¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people, ¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the Lord – in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord." (Psalm 116:13-19)

Prayer: Thank You Father for Your faithfulness. Help me to be more like You each day. Help me to be true to my commitment; true to my vows as Your servant; true to my daily surrender.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 29-30

Observation: The word of God separates righteousness from wicked behavior, power from weakness, humility from foolish pride, and victory from defeat.

Application: The book of Proverbs is typical of God’s word in that while it is childlike in its simplicity, it’s so powerful and concentrated that you can’t effectively gain from its wisdom by reading it once or twice. As with God’s presence, we need to revisit its pages continuously and daily walk therein in order to benefit from all of its power and spiritual nutrients.
     Today’s reading reiterates a couple of points I struggle with daily. The issue of speaking just to be saying something has been a tough one for me to overcome. “There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.” (Proverbs 29:20) The other is about foolish pride. “Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.” (Proverbs 29:23) Both have a lot to do with each other and are critical to the nourishment and development of the spiritual man.
     When I recover from any one of my frequent visits to the pinnacle of my stupidity, I often find myself sharing the sentiments of Agur son of Jakeh: “I am the most ignorant of men; I do not have a man’s understanding.” (Proverbs 30:2)

Prayer: Thank You Father for revealing to me my hidden faults. Please help me to overcome them and to daily embrace Your Word and Your Holy Spirit.

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 1-2

Observation: Solomon begins chronicling his thoughts - from wisdom to pleasure, from hard work to material possessions; the rising sun and the universe in its perpetual path – all seem to him to be meaningless. Meaningless because however much we work (according to the writer), things remain on the same path; the benefits of all our toil and labor gets left to someone else when we die. He realizes though that wisdom is better than foolishness. "I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness." (Ecclesiastes 2:13)

Application: The word that stands out for me today is, “²⁴ A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, ²⁵ for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment?" (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25) I have at times wished for abundant wealth - not only for my own comfort but that I may boast about being successful. This I realize is wrong in so many levels, and that it is the work of the enemy during a time of economical famine. The above verses (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25) reminds me to keep it simple - for no matter what our state of financial situation may be, and how we're struggling to make ends meet, it is ultimately about no one and nothing other than the Lord - and He is more than enough to care for us on a daily basis. With each passing day, I am strengthened by His love and faithfulness in meeting our every need - oftentimes in ways that defy the world's sense of reasoning.
     Everything under the sun and beyond is His creation and under His power. “To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 2:26) Unless I’m missing a deeper meaning of what the writer describes as meaningless, I'm not sure I agree. Disagreeing with the Word of God, I realize, is not exactly what a believer does. I also realize that I may not be understanding the premise of this text, but it seem to me that everything we go through in life was, is and will always be about God. It is He who knows and will reveal to us, if He chooses, the meaning of all things. Therefore, we look to Him for all things.
     This reading also reveals to me that, as in the case of Solomon, the author of this book, wisdom is not in itself an ‘end all’ source and power that we may think it is – when it is applied independent of the Father. King Solomon, the wisest and the richest king since the creation of the world, died a miserable failure of a man, because he disobeyed God and forsook the ways of the Lord. Wisdom is truly powerful if it points to the Creator as the Alpha and the Omega. It is but one of the most powerful and desirable qualities in a believer's existence; and it is only of lasting value if and when it gloryfies the Father as the true living God.

Prayer: Help me to understand today’s reading Lord. Guide me that I may not disrespect Your word and that I may gain wisdom and guidance from those whom You have blessed and whose faith and lives You have honored to include their story in Your most powerful and most precious Word.

Scripture Reading: Job 7-8

Observation: After confronting God about his misery and pain, Job hears from Bildad. "Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers." (Job 8:20) What he says does make sense, if it wasn't for the fact that no one, including Job himself, understands what is truly going on.

Application: I need to remember Job anytime I’m tempted to blame rather than credit God for the struggles in my life. Even though blame and credit, may be fundamentally similar in meaning, credit, in my understanding, is assigning blame for something good that happened. As in Job's case, many if not most of our struggles, have been put in place by the Father to accomplish His purpose in our lives. It's a good thing - even though the experience may feel like anything but good.
     One other point that the Lord is revealing to me as I revisit this particular entry 5 years since its original penning; struggles that God allow in our lives, may not be limited to what happens to us - such as health issues, losing a loved one or not being able to find a job. Flaws and shortcomings in our character or personality can sometimes be just as challenging and just as overwelhming; and even though we may have been aggressively seeking the Lord for deliverance from them, He may for a season choose to let them be a thorn in our lives. As a matter of fact, character and personality issues can be more of a battle because consequently we tend to fall victim to self blame and self loathing. Financal hardship in a down economy, fractured relationships due to misunderstanding, health issues and the like... are common to more people, and as such, a little more bearable. It's not as bad when you know that other people are going through the same struggles you are. Unlike imperfections in our personal profile which always seem unique to us - 'seem' being the key word.

Prayer: Your Word O God is true and powerful. Let it nourish my body and replenish my spirit as I live each day for You. May your power and grace sustain me even in the face of hopelessness.

Scripture Reading: Job 15-16

Observation: Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends, continues to lambast Job - and Job again defends himself.

Application: So what is the lesson of Job's story? Not to get so righteous that God might pick you to be His crash-test model for the devil to pick on? Maybe Job's struggle is to serve as the epitome of all tests; the grandfather of all struggles to resist the forces of this world - so however tough our lot may be, we can be comforted by the notion that 'it's not as bad as what Job had to endure'.
     Even though Job's story generally speaking, is about faith, it is important to remember another aspect of it - not to read our own conclusions into people who are going through a situation. Having said that, I believe, if not primarily, certainly in part, that the Book of Job is about gaining God's trust. You see, the Lord knew everything there is to know about Job (as He does about all of us), and knows that he is not going to crack under whatever the devil was to bring on. God sees our hearts and can deduce our innermost thoughts and intentions, as well as our strengths and vulnerabilities; so when he prescribes or allows a particular obstacle course to be for me, He is saying, 'I know Inoke; he'll be alright - he can handle this'. That's an awesome vote of confidence from the Creator of life - which we can all agree is a great thing. May not seem that way at the time we're going through 'the struggle', but it's a wonderful testimony of His trust in our ability to remain in Him. Keeping in mind that God will not burden us with more than we can handle (and He knows exactly how much we can handle), will go a long ways in strengthening us for the journey. The bottom line is, He thinks highly of us enough to trust us with the challenge He allows into our lives - and loves us enough to want us to, through the same challenge, grow to be all that we can be in Him.

Prayer: In the midst of any struggle that I may find myself in, help me Lord to rise above the conflict to look to and cast my burdens on You.

Scripture Reading: Genesis 8-11

Observation: Because of sin, God destroyed all of mankind but spared Noah and his family – for he was righteous in the eyes of God. After the flood, Noah and all of his descendants began anew in populating the world.

Application: Because of righteousness, God saved Noah from being destroyed with everybody else. Given the duration of eternity and living forever in the presence of God, righteousness is certainly a worthwhile choice for me to live my life.

Prayer: I need to remember the story of Noah and his family as I live each day Lord. Please help me to never take lightly the importance of living righteously and walking with You daily.

Scripture Reading: Judges 1-6

Observation: Things went well for Israel as long as they did what God told them to do. The contrary was their reward when disobedience ruled their hearts. Instead of obeying God’s instructions not to spare any of the lives of the nation they were to destroy, they cohabited with them, intermarrying and eventually worshiping with them their gods. God’s anger was kindled against them and they were taken into captivity for eight years.
     In the third chapter of Judges the Lord left four nations in Israel's path, not to punish but to train them. “He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience.” (Judges 3:2)
     In today's final chapter, asking God for 'confirmation' stands out as a means of filtering out what is or isn't God's directives for our lives. “³⁶ Gideon said to God, 'If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised - ³⁷ look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.' ³⁸ And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew — a bowlful of water. ³⁹ Then Gideon said to God, 'Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.' ⁴⁰ That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.” (Judges 6:36-40)

Application: I need to be consistent in my walk and in my faith in Him, instead of giving in to lust, arrogance, judging, impatience, pride, etc. Obedience is a key factor to my having victory in these areas.
     The Lord allowing nations to be obstacles in Israel's path for training purposes tells me a lot about the battles that come our way. Even though problems we encounter are often consequences of our wrong choices, battles we fight are sometimes the Lord's way to grow and strengthen us for ultimate victory. In those instances, God allows struggles and complexities to confront us in order that we may acquire the tools to face and overcome whatever the world throws at us; and all without our loosing sight of Him. Knowing that certain difficulties we go through are God-appointed, helps keep me focused on the Lord without looking at or fearing the 'storm' - giving me strength for the day to day tasks, and the peace of mind that facilitates steadfastness.
     Like Gideon, we can ask Him for confirmation - specific confirmation at that, so as to be re-assured that He is the one talking to and guiding us. When we look to Him and seek Him daily, the Holy Spirit guides and helps us walk and remain in Him so we can make decisions and choices that please the Father. But since we have so much riding on our every step to follow and obey Him, we need to be sure that we're hearing from Him. Confirmation is sometimes the only way we can be certain that we're walking in obedience to His small still voice. When it's appropriate (the Holy Spirit will guide us as to when it's appropriate), asking Him to confirm His word to us is not only biblical, it's powerful.

Prayer: Humankind are so fickle and have such a short span of attention Lord. Help us to remember all that You do for us, that we may be encouraged to grow in faithfulness and obedience. Thank You Father, for revealing to us all that You have made available, so we may truly lack for nothing as we live for You daily.

Scripture Reading: Acts 25-26

Observation: Paul awaits his trial in Caesarea where he will present his case before Governor Festus who replaced Governor Felix; Felix was governor when Paul was first held. Paul has now been in prison for over two years. The chief priests and the Jewish leaders who were bringing bogus charges against Paul are eager to kill him and are planning to do so on the way to Jerusalem - if they can get Festus to have him transferred there. Their plan fails when Paul appeals to Caesar and refuses to be taken back to Jerusalem to face Festus there. He makes his case to the visiting King Agrippa and his wife. After hearing him the king thinks Paul crazy, but does not consider his deeds worthy of death. The king told Festus that but for the fact that Paul had appealed to Caesar – he would have been released.

Application: Paul was ready to take whatever ruling was handed down as a consequence of his faith in the living Christ. He lingered for over two years in jail, but he was no less hopeful and far from spirit-broken because he knew God is true and faithful.
     We may or may not be unjustly imprisoned as we live our lives in Christ – whether by actual imprisonment in a conventional sense, financial responsibilities, or any other social burdens; it is nonetheless an honor and a privilege to go to bat for the Kingdom when the opportunity presents itself. After all, our Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son for us; lest we forget - Jesus died that we may live in eternity with Him. Whatever we face and go through in Him, we as believers can say - as Jesus said of His impending crucifixion, "²⁷ Now My heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify Your name!" (John 12:27-28)

Prayer: Guide me Lord in the way that would bring You glory. Strengthen me to bear what I must in order that others may know You as You are known in my heart.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 32-34

Observation: Because God foresaw the wickedness that Israel was certain to return to after Moses’ death, He had Moses teach them a song that reaffirms God’s justice and reminds them who He is and what He’s done for them. The song makes clear that the Lord will not tolerate insolence and betrayal from a people He’s given so much to and embraced as His own. He will not only punish their disrespect but will show that when the dust settles, there will be none other than Him left to pick up the pieces – certainly no other god than Jehovah God – for there is none like Him, the true living God.
     Moses receives from God the word about his inevitable and imminent death on Mount Nebo in Moab, where he will only look upon the Promised Land but not enter it. Prior to his death Moses blesses Israel - namely the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Levi, Benjamin, Joseph, Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Dan, Naphtali and Asher. The sons of Joseph - Ephraim and Manasseh, were also given the status of independent tribes.
     Moses dies at 120 and Israel mourns thirty days for him, whom God had worked many powerful works and miracles through; like him there would be no other among man. Joshua through the power and wisdom of God takes over the leadership of Israel bringing them into the Promised Land.

Application: God sees everything – from beginning to end. That’s a fact; there’s no getting around that. If we believe in Him, we need to understand that about God - He knows everything, even before they happen. “When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their forefathers, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting Me and breaking My covenant.” (Deuteronomy 31:20)
     We should also understand the fallen nature of man – us. From one degree to another, we are likely to fall away from the very One that gave us life and provides for our every need. That’s just the way of the world we live in. That's the nature of man. Knowing that should keep us humble and dependent on God, for He's the only one that knows how to diffuse what the enemy is scheming to trap and destroy us.
     When we embrace the Father, we embrace God given wisdom, according to what He has made available to us. That is the very thing that will reveal to us our need to seek Him for protection from falling away, as we’re destined to - by the nature of the world we live in. Knowing what we are liable to do and what God already knows about us, can help us to preempt our fallen nature and change its outcome. We can do that by seeking help and receiving insurance of righteous living from the true living God, the giver of life Himself.
     We will fall periodically “… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) But through repentance we can regain our standing in Him; through faith, we can change the outcome the devil had in mind for us by remaining in the Lord and walking daily in His word. In so doing, we can prevent major regression from happening and cause His blessings to flow uninterrupted into our lives.

Prayer: Father, You know everything about me - please keep me from falling away.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 149-150

Observation: These two chapters wind up the book of Psalms by lifting up praise and glory to the Lord God of Israel. It beckons the children of Abraham, Isaac and Judah, to celebrate the Lord and praise Him everywhere and anywhere they might be. Praise Him using the trumpet, tambourines, cymbals, harps, strings, flute and even with their swords – praise Him in peace time as well as war time. His greatness and power endures forever. The final verse and sentence of the book, says it all: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” (Psalms 150:6)

Application: The scripture reading of a week ago today which was on the two preceding chapters of this book, led me to write a passage (under the heading of Breathe), which I will insert again below because I believe it equally applies to today’s emphasis on praise.
     Praise is as powerful a tool for our spiritual survival and well being as an oxygen tank is to a diver in the deep. We can go without praising Him for a while, just as a diver can go without an oxygen tank by simply holding his or her breath. But how long can that last before the life of the diver is jeopardized? How long can our spiritual effectiveness and ministerial power last before we become fish food? Praising the Father should be like breathing. Whatever situation we’re in, whether we’re enjoying all that life has brought us or whether we’re on the edge of defeat, praise should always be close to our hearts as the next breath of air is to our lungs. We do not stop breathing just because we are going through tough times; neither should we stop praising God simply because we’re being attacked or going through tough times. On the contrary, that’s when we need to take it up a notch. When Job was told that he was attacked and robbed, his family killed - he was overwhelmed with grief but yet he praised God. "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." (Job 1:21)
     One of the critical steps for those experiencing (for one reason or another) an elevated heart rate, is to breathe. The same applies when we go through spiritual instability or warfare - we need to keep the flow of praise and worship to our Lord unhindered and ongoing. As in our physical health, there are other steps to the process of stabilizing our spiritual equilibrium – such as daily devotion and remaining in the word, the Holy scriptures. And not unlike breathing, praise (as is thanksgiving) is immediately available to strengthen our focus and place in the Father.
     Praise should become such a part of our daily spritual existence that it becomes as natural as breathing.

Prayer: Lord, guide and comfort us during times of struggle and loss, and help us to weather the storms of life, never for a moment ceasing to praise You for Your great love, and to look to You for all our needs.

Scripture Reading: Acts 27-28

Observation: Under the care of an army officer, Paul is put on a ship that was headed for Italy, including a few other prisoners as well as the writer of this book – Luke. Paul cautions the crew against setting sail from Fair Havens where they had docked after already coming through some rough weather to that point. When they didn’t heed his warning and sailed on, the lives of their whole party was threatened by very adverse weather conditions. They had to toss out all the baggage and instruments on board to keep from going under. After receiving a word from an angel who appeared to him, Paul passes on the message reassuring everyone in the ship that they were going to run into a nasty storm but will live through it. After surviving the deadly storm, all of the occupants of the ship swam ashore. They were greeted and treated well by the people of the island of Malta, where their ship had run aground and broke apart. Paul amazed everyone when he shook off a snake that had affixed itself on his arm, and were unharmed. After healing the father of Publius - the chief official of the island, of fever and dysentery, everyone in the island brought their sick to Paul and were healed.
     Three months later, they boarded an Alexandrian ship and headed towards Syracuse. After spending three days in Syracuse, a day in Rhegium and seven days with believers in Puteoli they made their way to Rome.
     Three days after arriving and being greeted by believers in Rome, Paul presented his case and gave his testimony to the Jewish leaders of the community. They had no problems with him so Paul was free to teach from the Prophets and from the books of Moses.
     As powerful the works God performed through his life were, Paul still would have mixed reviews about the message of hope he brought to the people. “Some believed and some didn’t.” (Acts 28:24)

Application: As we live for Jesus and allow Him to minister through us, we need not be dismayed if people resist or reject our message. It happens all the time and it happened to the best of God’s messengers. “²⁵ But after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: ‘The Holy Spirit was right when He said to our ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, ²⁶ ‘Go and say to my people, You will hear my words, but you will not understand; you will see what I do, but you will not perceive its meaning. ²⁷ For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes – so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to Me and let Me heal them’’” (Acts 28:25-27)
     Remembering that it’s about Jesus and not about us, will go far to keep us focused on Him, embraced in His peace and strengthened as we embrace His joy.

Prayer: Lord, help me to keep my eyes on You. Thank You for helping me learn to let go and surrender all to Thee.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 1-2

Observation: As in Jeremiah 17:5-8, chapter 1 of Psalms is a reflection of the power of the proximity of a tree to a water source - referencing our dependence on the Word of God for our survival. “¹ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. ² But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. ³ He is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalms 1:1-3)
     Chapter 2 describes the absurdity of taking on or going against the Lord in battle. “¹ Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? ² The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.” (Psalms 2:1-2) The chapter also contains a prophetic announcement of the Son of God… “I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have become Your Father.’” (Psalms 2:7) In Paul's letter to the Hebrews, he made clear the fact that the Lord Jesus was being referenced here. "So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to Him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.'" (Hebrews 5:5)

Application: The joy and peace of living in the abundance of the Father and in the power of His Word is accurately compared to a tree planted by a water source. Like most plants that cannot survive without sufficient water, I need the daily nutrients of the Living Water on my life. His Word is the Living Water that gives life and prosperity for those who will drink from it. The more I read these passages, the more the Lord reveals to me other gems embeded within it. "He is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalms 1:3) We are to gather from God's word that, not only do the leaves (signifying 'health') not wither, but those who remain in Him (who wait on the Lord) will indeed bear fruit, and will reap the promises of the Lord for our lives.
     We can unknowingly take on (as in go against) the Almighty, when we are not ‘in the loop’. Studying His Word and listening to what He is saying to us on a daily basis – keeps us informed or ‘in the loop’, and prevents us from disobeying His will for our lives. On the contrary, going against His will might as well be going to war against the Lord. “Anyone who isn’t with Me opposes Me, and anyone who isn’t working with Me is actually working against Me.” (Matthew 12:30) We don’t wanna do that! Let's be a people who are well informed by staying in the Word.

Prayer: I am desperate Lord, for Your abundance and provision in my life and in my family. Please reveal to me anything that stands in the way of that and help me to rid myself of all that entangles and undermines my place in You.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 1-6

Observation: The Lord gives a vision to Isaiah that affirms the adulterous and faithless character of His people, Israel. The Lord describes in detail after disconcerting detail, the extent of their immorality and sin. The consequences of their wickedness the Lord openly lays out for all the people to see and hear, that they may turn from their sin and repent. He offers them the way out of their inevitable demise, and it is based on obedience to His commandments.
     Another vision reveals to Isaiah the people of the world coming to Jerusalem to worship in the Temple of the Lord and learn His ways. In it, the Lord breaks Jerusalem down because of the arrogance of its people starting with its leaders, but will at a later time rebuild her to her former glory. The women are next to draw the Lord’s fire as the filth of their immorality is exposed.
     Next, the Lord puts in a song, the story of a people He loved so much and personally nurtured, who in return forsook Him. As their reward He will cause their captivity in foreign lands.
     In another vision, Isaiah sees the magnificence and majestic presence of the Lord seated on the Temple throne. When Isaiah in that vision volunteered to be sent, the Lord sends him to give His people this message: “⁹ …“‘You will hear My words, but you will not understand. You will see what I do, but you will not perceive its meaning.’ ¹⁰ Harden the hearts of these people. Close their ears, and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn to Me for healing.”” (Isaiah 6:9-10 NLT)

Application: God’s love for His people, us the believers, is obvious even when He is threatening to pull the plug on us for our sinful deeds and deliver us into the hands of the enemy. I believe that to be true because as He prophesies our destruction and defeat due to our rejection of His laws, He is at the same time giving us a heads-up to come clean before He lowers the boom. “¹⁹ ‘If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; ²⁰ but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.’ For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 1:19-20)
     I believe the purpose of prophecy is two-fold:

1. To demonstrate the power and love of the Lord through His anointed, showing that He is the true living God and what He speaks will certainly come to pass.

2. The other is, as in the case of Nineveh, prophecies reveal to sinners the wrong of their ways and gives them a chance to hear, believe and repent of their sins – and thus head-off the Lords wrath.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your prophetic word at the beginning of this past year, of ‘be strong and courageous’ which forewarned my family and I of a year that would entail difficult situations and personal trials. Because of that Lord we were better prepared to take preemptive measures in looking to You and taking Your word to heart. I am so grateful for Your love in caring for us in intricate, as well as general and simple ways.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1-2

Observation: The genealogy of Jesus shows that there were 14 generations from Abraham to King David, 14 generations from David to the time of the exile, and 14 generations from the time of the exile to Jesus.
     Being forewarned by an angel of the Lord, Joseph, in the middle of the night takes Mary his wife and their new born baby, and escapes to Egypt in order to avoid King Herod's plan to kill baby Jesus. After Herod's death, an angel of the Lord once again appears to the couple to let them know that it was safe to return, but fearing the new ruler – Archelaus, Herod's son, they settled instead in Nazareth.

Application: In this reading we are told of the impregnation of Mary by the Holy Spirit prior to her being joint in matrimony to her betrothed. From this we recognize that His way can sometime buck the system - defying social acceptance, requiring that we listen and follow closely the ways of the Lord. To be certain that we're following the Father, it is critical to look to Him at all times, and not to the world. Looking to the Lord means keeping Him first; keeping Him first means remaining in His word and having a daily regimen of worship and fellowship with Him - the Creator and Lover of our soul.
     Investors in the stock market depend to a large degree on financial advisers, who in turn are very highly rewarded financially for their expertise in investment matters – and we all know how way off they can be. Not only do we have a much higher commodity in question here (our relationship with God - which effects the well-being of every facet of our existence, spiritual and otherwise), we as believers are privileged to have the wisest and most perfect adviser in our heavenly Father. There is none like Him - none who's right 100% of the time, none who is faithful as He, none who loves us so much to send His only Son Jesus Christ, that we may be saved. It only makes sense to seek Him for guidance and protection for our everyday lives, for He alone can expose all of the enemy's plans to destroy us, and He alone knows the way out of harms way for us and our family.

Prayer: Please help me Lord to keep You first and foremost in my life. Looking to You and keeping You first at all times keeps us from letting the world distract and even derail our faith in Thee. Help me not to lose sight of You.

Scripture Reading: Genesis 4-7

Observation: Cain brought some of the fruits of his labor, but Abel brought the ‘fat’ of the firstborn of his flock. As a result, Cain became an angry person with 'sin crouching at his door'. Abel on the other hand was pleasing to God.
     The Enoch that walked with God and was taken up by Him after living for 365 years was the son of Jared, who was the great-great-grandson of Seth the third child born to Adam and Eve – after Cain killed Abel. That same Enoch was the great-grandfather to Noah.
     The ‘sons of God’ (descendants of Seth**) sinned greatly by having immoral sexual relations with ‘human women’ (descendants of Cain**). This led to God cleaning house by bringing the great flood upon the land, and killing off all creation except Noah (the only righteous man in all the land), his family and two of every kind of living creatures - male and female. Noah receives instructions from God about the construction of the arc and what to do to preserve His creation, which Noah followed precisely. The whole earth was flooded over for forty days keeping Noah and all the occupants of the arc safely above water for 150 days.
     (**according to John Gill’s interpretation)

Application: I will do my best to put God first and to give Him my very best - off the top of all my blessings. Putting Him first means giving Him His share before anyone or anything else. When we fail to do that, we become vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. Following Abel’s offering of the ‘fat’ of his labor in contrast to Cain’s lackluster offering, the bible says this about God’s response: “⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.’” (Genesis 4:6-7)
     I need to remember to put God first and honor Him with my tithes and offerings, as well as acknowledging Him as my source and looking to Him consistently for guidance. Sin, such as fear, doubt and lust gets free access to our soul and heart when we fail to honor Him with the first fruits or the best of our labor. When that happens, it doesn’t mean that they – sin, will without restriction do their damage; we can still have control over them - for His word says, “… but you must master it”. (Genesis 4:7) I believe that when we fail to give Him His due and are faced with sin because of it, we need to do our best to stop its advance by overcoming it, and then go and right the wrong we did when we gave God less than our best.

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember the lesson of today’s reading. You deserve the best of all that I am for without You, I am nothing.

Scripture Reading: Job 3-4

Observation: Job suffers even though he was innocent of any wrong. He dreads the day he was born and wishes he had died at birth. His friend Eliphaz starts confronting him about his lack of faith and even challenges his sense of self righteousness. He argues that all of Job's troubles are due to the wrongs he's committed. This on top of being innocent and living a life that's pleasing to God.

Application: Just yesterday, I messed up and got a DUII for driving after drinking wine at a function. Unlike Job, I was guilty and deserve the humiliation I received - not to mention giving up my time and money that was required of me as a result. I need to take the medicine for my wrong and learn from my mistake. If Job suffered innocently and kept his ‘cool’ without cursing God, I can certainly weather the consequences of my actions.

Prayer: Father, please help me to be faithful to all that You called me to be, even in the midst of my chastisement. Thank You for Your faithfulness in loving me enough to discipline and guide me.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 3-4

Observation: John the Baptist, the subject of... "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him'"^[1] (Matthew 3:3) begins his ministry preaching repentance “... for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:2) John rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees for their insincerity and lifts Jesus above himself. "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Matthew 3:11) When Jesus insists on being baptized by him, John at first makes the argument, "I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" (Matthew 3:14) He reluctantly accepts, realizing his role and recognizing it to be an incredible honor.
     Jesus, like no man alive, knew the bible, which He quoted in responding to the devil's attempts at trapping Him. “³ The tempter came to Him and said, 'If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.' ⁴ Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'^[2]" ⁵ Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ 'If You are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw Yourself down. For it is written: “He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone."^[3]' ⁷ Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'^[4]" ⁸ Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ 'All this I will give You,' he said, 'if You will bow down and worship me.' ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'^[5]" ¹¹ Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him.” (Matthew 4:3-11)
     Jesus began calling to the ministry, those who would become His disciples, starting with Peter and his brother Andrew. He continued preaching the good news and started healing the sick and delivering the demon-possessed.

Application: I need to do more in arming myself with the word of God - the Holy bible. For it is with faith, and knowledge of His powerful word that the fiery darts of the enemy is effectively quenched.

Prayer: Please Lord, help me to study Your word in a way that will enable me to use It as You purposed It to be used by Your children.

^[1] (Isa 40:3); ^[2] (Deut 8:3); ^[3] (Ps 91:11-12); ^[4] (Deut 6:16); ^[5] (Deut 6:13)

Scripture Reading: Joshua 11-15

Observation: Joshua and all the people of Israel that he was leading, followed God’s instructions in defeating all the Kings of the territories that they encountered.

Application: I'm tempted sometimes to question the brutality with which Israel conquered the nations it encountered duing these biblical times - often killing even the women and children. "The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed." (Joshua 11:14) But it only exemplifies the urgency of obeying God ‘to the letter’ without letting our own understanding, or the lack of it, get in the way. The bible says that what we now see in part will, in the final days, be revealed in full. “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (Corinthians 13:12) I get to obey God now, no matter what it may look like on the surface.
     I had just turned 14 when President Kennedy was murdered. Growing up in Fiji, I didn't follow politics much, let alone that of a foreign country. I knew little about America - but like millions of people around the world, I was terribly saddened by the news of his death. I'm sure many have had questions about that dreadful afternoon in November of 1963. 'Why did this happen to one of the most loved leaders of the free world? Why did God allow this?' Then the truth about his many philandering escapades surfaced. But still, I wished that JFK would have lived out the full term of his life, let alone his presidency. It wasn't until the first few weeks in February of 2012 when the revelation of a once 19 year old White House intern, Mimi Alford (now 68) - about her 18 month tryst with the late President came out, that it hit me. Even though most of America, and indeed the world were in the dark about his many extra-marital affairs, God knew! God knows everything - even JFK's dark side that only now is being exposed in Mimi Alford's book - 'Once Upon A Secret'. In short, JFK was out of control... and God wasn't about to let it go unpunished. It made me realize, 'That's absolutely why we can never, and should never question anything that God does or allows to take place... including why we've been through hardships that we've encoutered or are still in the middle of'.
     My faith in His infinite wisdom compels me to obey His directives in my life, for it is not in His nature to have us do anything that is unjust or without reason. As obedience is a necessary part of our pleasing the Father (1 Samuel 15:22), faith in kind is crucial, if we are to obey Him with immediate obedience. We cannot get to obedience if we don't have faith.
     The Lord's direction in our lives are often very specific. “The LORD said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel, slain. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.'" (Joshua 11:6) As Joshua obeyed and followed the Lord's word - to the letter, we need to listen closely to, and obey each and every detail of His directives for our lives. Joshua did as he was told and was rewarded with victory after victory. “At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns.” (Joshua 11:21) When we obediently listen, believe and follow the commands He places in our hearts, we can expect the same power over the enemy in our every day life.

Prayer: Help me to trust You in everything and not to doubt You about anything. Even when justice seem to be on the line, Your will comes first Lord; for man’s wisdom (including man’s understanding of justice), is foolishness compared to You my Lord and my King.

Scripture Reading: Job 5-6

Observation: In chapter 5 Job continues to get counseled by Eliphaz, then replies in the proceeding chapter.

Application: I’ve had well-meaning friends who have tried to explain to me the reason for the dilemma I have encountered at one point or another. From these chapters, I’m deducing that I don’t have to always take the advice of others as gospel truth; especially when I may be going through a God approved and heaven sanctioned testing to get me where I need to be in Him - or to accomplish what the Lord wants, in or through me.
     My life in Him will at times go through rough terrain, even desperate and very dark places. Through it all, God is never far. He will never abandon me for He can never break His promise - and His promise is that He will never leave me.

Prayer: Lord, where ever You lead, I will follow.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5-7

Observation: The teaching of the beatitudes was the opening of the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ – Jesus’ first sermon.
     Verses 21-23 of the 7^th chapter of Matthew can be some of the most unsettling in the bible: “²¹ Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” (KJV)

Application: They’re unsettling not because I'm not confident of my heart's desire to serve and be close to the Lord. On the contrary; it is the danger of being over confident of our place in Him that may cause one to overshoot the fine line between heaven and hell which can often be blurred - and sometimes, outright invisible. How do I truly know if I'm walking on the right side of God's word? We need Him not only to show us the way but also to reveal to us our hidden faults, when we're out of step with the Holy Spirit - following our own agenda and doing our own thing.
     Matthew 5:48 say that we are to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect. Loving even our enemy is a step in that direction – a big step. Not judging others is another - and a direct consequence of our love.
     In order to be consistently reminded of His word and refreshed in our daily walk, we need to go to the well everyday. God’s word was never designed for us to have an occasional encounter with its power and truth. It was intended by God Himself to be for our daily consumption, “Give us this day our daily bread”. (Matthew 6:11) If getting our feed from God’s word once a week was sufficient, it would have read, “Give us this day our ration of bread for the week.” Anything less than a heart-felt daily indulgence of the Word suggests a lack of appreciation of the power of darkness and the havoc that it could inflict on our spiritual well being. It would also signify a misunderstanding of the full power of God’s word. It’d be like tying one of God's hands behind His back (as He cares for us), or like running a V6 engine on three cylinders instead of the full six; in which case the enemy has to come up with only four cylinders to overpower us. If we truly understood the magnitude of Satan’s evil intent to destroy us, we would be seeking the Father daily, for strength and for guidance, with a heart of thanksgiving for all He’s done, and promise to do to keep us safe.
     Highlighting two key points from today's reading - giving shouldn’t be for show and prayer does not have to be wordy. We need to also remember that with our heavenly father meeting our every need, worry or anxiety should not be an issue.

Prayer: I desperately desire to be more like You Jesus. Guide me and grow me as You change me from glory to glory, that I may be acceptable and pleasing in Thy sight.

Scripture Reading: Judges 12-15

Observation: God delivered the Ephraimites into Jephthah’s hands. When he died, three other leaders led Israel (Ibzan, Elon and Abdon) before Samson was born. Again the people of Israel turned away from God and Israel fell under the domination of the Philistines for forty years. It was to obtain the freedom of His people from the Philistines after this forty year period that Samson was born.
     Chapters 13-15 sure test my faith in the biblical account of Samson’s behavior and accomplishes. ‘The riddle’, (what was that about) and the thirty men he killed just for their 'rags' (under the power of the Spirit of the Lord no less) - their clothes were to be the rewards for those who solved ‘the riddle’; the lion he tore apart with his bare hands; the thousands of men he killed with the jawbone of a donkey; etc. But I guess it’s not such a stretch when you consider that in spite of the absurdity and bizzare nature of our behavior, God still bestows miracles and power upon our lives everyday. We need not forget that "... the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom" (1 Cor 1:25) - so how do I, with my own understanding (or the lack of it), expect to make sense of every single thing in the bible.

Application: Jesus was born in a lowly stable in order that all people can come to Him no matter who they may be or what status they may have. In Algebra they call it the 'LCD' (lowest common denominator) - a number that's divisible by all of a group of other numbers. Likewise, I believe that God uses people in uncommon situations, like Samson, in order that we may say, “I’m not that 'nuts' after all,” or “If God can give that much strength to Samson, He can certainly give me what I need to face what I’m going through”. In the same way, we need to recognize that if King David was given an acquittal (forgiven) for killing the husband of a woman he was lusting after - so he can be with her, and the apostle Paul a pardon for hunting down and killing early Christians for their faith, we can certainly get one too... no matter what we’ve done. We need not look at our lives and behavior with tunnel vision - thinking that it's about us. It's not - it's about God's love. God has a plan and a purpose for each one of us. Not so that we can go around killing people for their 'sneakers and blue jeans', but as we live for Him and dedicate our lives and that of our families to serving Him, He can and will bring to pass His perfect will in us.

Prayer: Help me Father to learn from those who have gone before that You are faithful and that You have a plan and a purpose for my life. Grant me wisdom and faith O God so I won’t be distracted by my own limited understanding of Your word.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 18-22

Observation: In the Living Bible version, Isaiah 19:25 says, “For the Lord will bless Egypt and Iraq because of their friendship with Israel. He will say, 'Blessed be Egypt, my people; blessed be Iraq, the land I have made; blessed be Israel, my inheritance!'” What a seemingly unlikely scenario, especially concerning Iraq - but God’s word will always be true; the reading for today though is mostly about destruction and misery. The only way out from all their troubles, which they did not get and was right in front of them all along, was but a small part of one verse of today’s five chapters. “… But you did not look to Him who did it, or have regard for Him who planned it long ago.” (RSV - Isaiah 22: 11)

Application: When things go wrong and problems or disaster confronts us, we need to keep our eyes on God, repent of any sin we may have and ask for help - He will make even the impossible happen. Egypt and Iraq alongside Israel will be a blessing to the world… imagine that. There is nothing too great and nothing too small for our God. We certainly do not need to go through the pain, suffering and defeat that the people told of here went through - which brings to mind a verse in the Book of Proverbs: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

Prayer: Father, help us never to be so hardhearted that we don’t see Your saving grace right in front of our eyes. Keep us humble Lord that we may not stray from You.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 147

Observation: In Psalm 147:10 & 11, we are told that “His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.”

Application: Fearing God is knowing that He is righteous and just and that His Word is true. It is taking Him at His word. When we pour our heart out to someone we love, it hurts when we’re not taken seriously. Likewise, it’s a slap in His face when we do not take Him seriously after He pours His heart out to us through His Word.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for Your word. Help me to take You at Your word and to put all my trust and faith in what You say.

Scripture Reading: Joshua 21-24

Observation: When the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh built an altar unto the Lord, they were almost attacked by their brother tribes. War was averted when they explained that their altar was not for burnt sacrifices or offerings but to serve as a symbol of their relationship with God.
     When Joshua was old and about to die, he summoned all of Israel and their leaders and had them reaffirm their faith and love for the Lord their God, telling them to destroy all the idols they owned.

Application: It shocked me that Israel, after all the Lord their God had done for them, still had idols in their possession. I realize that it's hard to teach old dogs new tricks - so to speak, since they've been in a rut as slaves in Egypt for generations; still, all they've witnessed God doing in their midst in protecting them and providing for their needs since being set free, should have been enough to do away with those other false gods. Whether it applies here or not (it's certainly true in our present day world), idols may include material possessions, relationships, jobs, social status etc... the significance or influence of which they back then, as we today may well underestimate. These idols don't get to a place of prominence overnight, but by a series of wrong choices. After sometime, they can get so embedded in our everyday decision making that we become oblivious to their role. Since we're ultimately responsible for the choices we make, we need to stay connected to God's word and seek Him consistently to reveal to us our hidden faults and weaknesses that allow the entrance and subsequent power of these agents of deception.
     What I come away with from reading about the altar that was erected by the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, is this: Even though we don't need to explain to others the reasons for everything we do, I believe there are certain instances when it is important that we do. Talking to others, whether it is family, friends or church, can provide valuable insight and prevent costly consequences. Letting others into certain decisions we make not only prevents misunderstanding, but may serve as a witness of our faith, and a testimony of our relationship with the Father.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your message this morning. Help me to take to heart and live each day the power of Your most faithful word.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 12-14

Observation: In his commentary, King David goes to bat for the weak and against the wicked. While steadfast in his faith, he pleads with God to rescue him from anguish brought on by his enemies. “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Psalm 13:2) He writes about the fact that there are none righteous, as he longs for Israel’s salvation. “The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.” (Psalm 14:1)

Application: If anyone knows the joys and power of walking in righteousness as well as the pain and suffering of the consequences of sin, David does. He's been to the deapths of hell in as far as human weaknesses is concerned, and he's been referred to by God Himself as "... a man after My own heart." (Acts 13:22) So when he advocates godly living, we need to pay attention... for he's seen both sides. "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation." (Psalm 13:5)

Prayer: I know that all things work together for good to them who love You Lord, to them who are called according to Your purpose. Thank You for the trials that You purposed for my life at this time that I may be all that You want me to be. Let me learn from them as King David did.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 11-13

Observation: Jesus preaches in Galilee and the surrounding area saying, “²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) KJV
     In chapter 12, Jesus heals the masses casting out demons and confronting the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, while in chapter 13 the Lord speaks to the people in parables.

Application: A believer’s goal is to be more like Jesus. If that's the case, than we are to pay attention when Jesus said of Himself, “… for I am meek and lowly in heart”. (Matthew 11:29) I need to be meek and lowly in heart if I am to be like Him. Thesaurus' synonym for meek is humble, gentle or modest; and to be lowly in heart is to be humble or modest. I think I'm getting the picture.

Prayer: Jesus, I need You. Come into my heart and help me to be more like You each day.

Scripture Reading: Genesis 20-23

Observation: Abraham feared that others would kill him for his beautiful wife that he had her tell everyone she was his sister. The more God opens my eyes and grows my understanding of His word, the more I realize how the great men and women of God in the bible were very much like average folks of today. They were not perfect people who possess incredible powers that aren’t available to us today. They dealt with issues of faith and made mistakes like we do. The only thing that made them stand out was the faith that they eventually grew in God to possess.
     Abraham’s wife Sarah dies and Abraham buried her in a piece of property he bought from Ephron, a Hittite, for 400 shekels of silver. Despite their offer for Abraham to have the piece of land for free, he politely refused choosing instead to pay for it in full.

Application: “Jehovah-jireh” means ‘The Lord will provide’. (Genesis 22:14) He is the provider for all of our needs; material as well as spiritual needs. He can meet our needs through others blessing us with a gift - but sometimes, God would rather have us pay for what we need than accepting it gratis. We don't know if, by letting Abraham use the property for free, the Hittites would not have gone back on their word and reclaimed the property at a later time, either due to changes in their relationship or new leadership that won't honor their agreement. We do know that since he paid for and had the deed to the property, Abraham was in a better position to use it at any time of his choosing, keeping it in the family for generations. Sometimes the Lord would have us pay the full price so we can bless others who, out of politeness or cultural protocol, may be offering it for free. Of course there are times when we are to accept gifts from others, blessing them for giving it as much as it blesses us as recipients. It is in keeping our eyes on Him and our ears attentive to His small still voice - without letting pride be an issue, that will help us determine whether to accept something as a gift, or insist on paying for it 'full price'.
     The bible (from Genesis to Revelation) is the word of God. It is so perfectly assembled and designed to teach us, among a whole body of valuable lessons, that deep down inside, we are no different from its personalities. Abraham, David and the apostle Peter for example, each also had moments of fear and doubt. Remove all the trappings of the materialistic and cultural realm of our existence, and you’ll find that faith alone remains as the common denominator that links us all to the Father.

Prayer: I am so grateful for Your love and for Your faithfulness. I love You Lord.

Scripture Reading: Judges 5-6

Observation: In the second chapter of today's reading, I learn one of the most important word that God is teaching us – confirmation. “³⁶ Gideon said to God, 'If You will save Israel by my hand as You have promised- ³⁷ look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You said.' ³⁸ And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew — a bowlful of water. ³⁹ Then Gideon said to God, 'Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.' ⁴⁰ That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.” (Judges 6:36-40)

Application: Like Gideon, we can ask Him for confirmation - specific confirmation, so we can be reassured that He is the One who is talking to and guiding us. When we look to Him and seek Him daily, the Holy Spirit guides and helps us walk and remain in Him so we can make decisions and choices that please the Father. But since we have so much riding on our every step, we need to be sure that we're hearing from Him. It's not at all that we don't trust the Holy Spirit, but rather that the world is full of misleading influences; voices whose primary goal is to lie, steal and destroy what the Lord is building in us. And sometime right when we're getting comfortable with where we are in the Lord, He beckons us to raise our game. Confirmation is sometime the only way we can be certain that we're walking in obedience to His small still voice. Asking Him to confirm His word to us is not only biblical, it's powerful.

Prayer: Thank You Father, for revealing all that is available to Your church, so we truly lack nothing as we live our lives for You daily.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 15-17

Observation: A verse I had high-lighted some time ago, encourages me today more than ever: “I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (Psalms 16:8) Another that truly expresses my heart, "Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to You for refuge." (Psalm 16:1)
     David keeps the line of communication with God open and active. Whether he is seeking, worshiping, praising, or thanking the Father – he is constantly in communication with the Lord his God.

Application: God’s word is showing us here that King David talks to God often. A good majority of the Book of Psalms is where we find his written communiqué with God. Even tho' there's no way to account for the undocumented times he talked to and with God, it is safe to assume that it was frequent.
     Talking to God should be like thinking. May they be good or bad thoughts, we never work at thinking, we just do it. As a matter of fact, we should limit the times we think and increase the times we talk to God. That should eliminate a good majority of stinking thinking.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for wisdom, knowledge and understanding, that helps me see and know what You are showing me in Your word. Help me to think less and talk with You more.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 29-33

Observation: Over and over again, these chapters emphasize the point that those who erred, did so as a result of not seeking God first; they instead went to others for help. They are described as obstinate or rebellious people, going by their own plans and not God’s.

Application: Disobedience is the key culprit to our going our own way and thinking that God doesn’t see. Disobedience is the result of our not focusing on Him. When He no longer is first in our lives, then something or someone else will certainly move in to fill the void; that’s when everything starts to fall apart. In spite of our sinful ways, He will forgive us and reclaim us as His own - if we repent of our sins and return to Him.
     In the 33^rd chapter, we are riminded that the rewards of righteous living are beyond compare. “¹⁵ He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil – ¹⁶ this is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him. ¹⁷ Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar.” (Isaiah 33:15-17)

Prayer: My prayer this morning Lord is that we'll never take our eyes off of You. If we do, please be swift to come to our rescue and help us return our focus to You Lord.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 14-16

Observation: When Jesus came walking on water, Peter expressed his fascination with the power of the Lord in a child-like innocence. “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water.” (Mathew 14:28) Either Peter wanted the thrill of walking on water, or he wanted to confirm that it was really Jesus coming towards them; having Jesus empower him to walk on water would satisfy both. Even though Peter had reservations about the person coming towards them being Jesus, he got out of the safety of the boat (out of his comfort zone) and stepped into uncharted territory. This was one example that demonstrates the paradox that is Peter. He believes enough to get out of the boat, but by looking at the storm falls short of the faith it takes to go the whole way. I don’t think Peter ever thought anything through before acting on or speaking it.
     When the disciples showed concern about their lack of food, Jesus scolds them (Matthew 16:8-11) for having so little faith that they already forgot about the feeding of the 4000, not to mention the 5000 before that. Once again Peter puts in his two-bits - even though this time it was by the revelation and power of the Holy Spirit that he answered Jesus’ question... “Who do you think I am?” (Matthew 16:15) Peter's answer was unequivocal - “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)
     Peter once again proves to be somewhat of a walking contradiction; Jesus had just commended him highly, calling him ‘a rock’ (Matthew 16:18) that will not be overcome. On the very next breath Jesus calls him ‘a stumbling block’ (Matthew 16:23) for trying to stop Him from accomplishing what He came to do.

Application: We may at some point in our spiritual life exude righteousness - but at another, total failure. Still, God can use us in powerful and meaningful ways.
     The Bible is full of examples of imperfect men and women who became so influential in the lives of believers for generations. It is the very nature of man, including his imperfections – that minister in powerful ways to those God has called to be His. In retrospect, even those condemned with the world have been ministering in a powerful way (whether they knew it or not) that the path they chose leads to destruction.
     We should never underestimate the power of God to finish the good work that He started in each of us. Keeping our eyes on the Lord, minimizes the power of the storm and enhances God's influence in our lives.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for finishing the good work that You started in me. Help me to be patient, not only with my own development but with other people’s growth as well.

Scripture Reading: Genesis 24-27

Observation: Arranged marriages have been going on since the beginning of the ages it seems. Abraham, as he was nearing the end of his life, orchestrated the marriage of his son Isaac to Rebekah a woman from his own family clan.
     In a previous chapter of Genesis, we read that Abraham, Isaac’s father hid from the Egyptians the fact that Sarai was his wife. “¹¹ As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are. ¹² When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. ¹³ Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you."” (Genesis 12:11-13) He feared for his life, since he had an attractive wife. Now in chapter 26:7 Isaac was doing the exact same thing. “When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," because he was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful."”
     God had just reaffirmed the promise He had made to his father Abraham that not only will he possess the land, but that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars. Yet like his father, Isaac feared for his life. In a way I want to say, “What’s with these people?” For as it is written, “¹² I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, ¹³ that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor?” (Isaiah 51:12-13) Then again I can definitely relate to their fears and concerns.

Application: I am strongly persuaded that the Lord is showing all of His children – past and present, Jews and Gentiles alike, that even prominent people of the bible had issues. We are not alone in our struggles with trusting God. Even though the Lord's blessings and power accompanied Abraham and Isaac, two of God’s most revered, doubt and fear were still something they had to deal with. God is so good in His infinite wisdom to convey to us that it is our heart that He sees and cares about - not our shortcomings.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for showing me that You love me no matter what I may look like on the outside; that You will do what You purposed to do with my life, if I just trust in You to follow and obey Your word. Thank You most precious and most awesome Father - for You are my refuge and my great reward.

Scripture Reading: Job 13-14

Observation: Job’s patience is wearing thin. He gets even more confrontational with his friends as well as with God. I wonder what would have happened if Job had asked, “What’s going on Lord? Why is this happening to me?” I'm certain that in his many ramblings, he may have done that – but what if Job continued seeking and asking God for answers to those questions until He relented and showed Job what was going on - or at least, enough of an answer to satisfy his curiousity; including the fact that God considers him the best example of a righteous person? I'm not sure if that would have made any difference though.

Application: Job, as well as his friends may have been guilty of ‘spiritual tunnel-vision’ - seeing things only in the realm of crime and punishment. Job's friends thinking that he must have done something to warrant the troubles he's been having - and Job himself taking the defensive posture of 'I didn't do anything to deserve this'. We need to remember that our own wisdom and understanding is foolishness to God. The only sure way to safeguard against ‘spiritual tunnel-vision’ is taking everything to God (repeatedly if we have to) and trusting Him to answer our queries and meet our needs.
     If our own parents were to ground us or one of our siblings - without saying why, wouldn’t we ask them doggedly the reason for the punishment... rather than adopting an accusatory or hard-line anger based stand? Then again, I'm not the one going through heart wrenching and extreme devastation... and don't wish to.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to remember to look at the big picture. And if the big picture is not apparent or visible, then Lord according to Thy Holy will - please reveal it to me.

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1-5

Observation: Salvation is the most precious gift (imperishable at that) our heavenly Father through Christ, have given us. In response to God’s salvation, Peter urges us to be holy as He is Holy.
     The shedding of the characteristics of sinful flesh is hereby further encouraged, so that we may approach the Son of God, the Living Stone that was rejected by the builders.
     Peter reminds us of our duty and responsibilities to one another as members of Christ’s body… the church, submitting to our elders and shepherding those in our care while casting to Him everything we can’t handle, for He is able to care for us.

Application: In an inconsistent world of ‘on again, off again’ relationships, and the ways we try to prolong life, such as vacuum pack machines and frozen body parts - we are born again with a new life that retains it’s original and perfect form.
     We, like the believers of earlier times have been chosen and called out of darkness, so we are to be like Jesus in that He, when treated unjustly did not respond in kind.
     We are to have respect and be considerate with each other as husbands and wives. Believers are to also love one another and live in Christ-like humility, compassion, gentleness and respect - willing to suffer injustice as He did.
     The virtues as believers that Peter is urging us here in chapter 4 to embrace -

• being done with past lifestyles

• the requirement to love and to be gentle

• enduring and rejoicing even under adverse or undeserved conditions

… all so others may see Christ in us and we may be rewarded with unspeakable joy when His glory is revealed.

Prayer: Help me Father to love others even when they mistreat and abuse me. Teach me to forgive and to have compassion for people regardless of their faith and circumstances or social status.

Scripture Reading: Genesis 28-31

Observation: After Isaac’s wife Rebekah, orchestrated the deception that landed Jacob all of Isaac’s blessing that was supposed to be for his older brother Esau – she talked Isaac into sending Jacob away to her brother Laban’s house. On the way there, Jacob had a dream involving a very long ladder. In his dream God promised him and his innumerable descendants, the land he was sleeping on. He later married two of Laban’s daughters, working 7yrs for each of them. Jacob flees Laban and returns to Canaan. Laban caught up with Jacob but is not permitted by God to do anything more than talk to and sign a peace pact with him.

Application: Everything about Jacob's life reveals one particular characteristic to me - determination. Rebekah, Isaac's wife, was determined to obtain all of her husband's blessings for her younger son Jacob instead of Esau - the older and rightful heir to them; but she was deceptive in the way she went about it.
     Later, when Jacob was in his uncle Laban's employment, he worked 14 years for Laban's daughters... seven more than he intended, due to his uncle's deception. After Jacob found Leah in his bed instead of her younger sister for whom he had labored faithfully for seven years, he was determined to have Rachel for a wife - so he labored another seven.
     When God makes a promise to us, He will never fail to fulfill it, even though life may take us through many detours. Some detours are consequences of our own misdeeds, and some are His way of growing us - even if they're the result of other people's wrong choices where we're concerned. But if we keep our faith in Him, He will protect and guide us to receive all that He has promised us; whether it is by the less than perfect compulsions of those around us, as in Rebekah's case - or by righteous determination, as with Jacob.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your promise in fulfilling Your plan and purpose for my life. I am so grateful for Your love and faithfulness, and for finishing the good work You started in me.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 21-23

Observation: A Psalm rejoicing in victories through God’s power is followed by one that writhes in disgrace and the feeling of being abandoned. Both these Psalms precede the victorious and most famous of all of them – the 23rd Psalm. While they all seem to outline the roll-a-coaster life and time of the author - King David, the 23rd captures the heart of the man.

Application: If there’s one thing that the book of Psalms teaches me, in particular those authored by King David, is that I can, not only be vocal but be explicit with my circumstances in communicating them to the Father. Not because He is not already aware of everything that goes on in my life, but because it offers up to Him all of me – my heart, my soul, my all.
     David's 23rd Psalm, I believe is the quintessence of the Father's statement about the author himself. “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart.” (Acts 13:22) The most well known Psalm not only describes the heart and soul of David, it is the embodiment and core of a true believer's faith.
     "¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, ³ He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. ⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." (Psalm 23)

Prayer: My sins O Lord are ever before me¹ , but so is Your love² , my Lord and my God.
     ¹ Psalm 51:3; ² Psalm 26:3

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40-44

Observation: Through His prophet Isaiah, the true God of all creation goes to great lengths to outline for us the obvious and unmistakable differences of His power and faithfulness, compared to the ridiculous emptiness of man-made idols. The reading are also clear and unambiguous in its prophetic announcement of the coming Christ – ‘… a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles’ (Isaiah 42:6), while confronting the spiritually deaf and blind among God’s own people – Israel.
     In chapters 43 and 44, God, addresses Israel's unfaithfulness and ingratitude, but shows them His mercy and His love.

Application: Chapter 40 verse 3 declares, “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God’” - while the 31st verse wraps up the chapter with, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” As significant as these verses are - in their prophetic and healing power, they would land on deaf ears if we placed 'idols' such as worldly possessions or our own interests before God.
     In this reading, the one word that constantly comes to mind is, ‘unambiguous’. It is obvious and clear that God is so good, so faithful - and idols of any kind are not just wrong or bad, they are ‘less than nothing’. I need to seek God daily in order that His Word may be revealed so as to enlighten and empower my life. Pride and hardheartedness will cause blindness and deafness that will prevent us from receiving God’s truth and blessing. Sin in general will always be a hindrance in our seeing and hearing the truth.

Prayer: Thank You Father for Your love and mercy and for Your forgiveness and grace. Create in me a soft and humble heart that my life may not only be mold-able but be acceptable and even pleasing in Thy sight.

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 8-10

Observation: A clear distinction is outlined between the old covenant and the new. The old, even though it served a purpose (and still do), was not sufficient in providing long term salvation and freedom from sin. "⁷ For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. ⁸ But God found fault with the people and said: 'The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. ⁹ It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them,' declares the Lord." (Hebrews 8:7-9) [in reference to Jeremiah 31:31-32]
     The new covenant that was put into effect when Jesus was crucified on the cross of Calvary surpassed the old in every way. Jesus knew and accepted His role in coming into the world. "⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: 'Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me; ⁶ with burnt offerings and sin offerings You were not pleased. ⁷ Then I said, 'Here I am - it is written about Me in the scroll - I have come to do Your will, O God.''" (Hebrews 10:5-7) [in reference to Psalms 40:6-8]

Application: Death is part of the enforcement or activation of a will. "¹⁶ In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, ¹⁷ because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living." (Hebrews 9:16-17) In the same way, there has to be a death to sin, a death to the old self in us, before His perfect will for us can be released to accomplish His plan and purpose for our lives. Jesus' death brings the promises of God front and center - to be activated in our lives when we choose to die to sin and live for Him. In that respect, death is very much a necessary part of life.
     Sometimes when I contemplate the path that God has placed my feet to travel, and the obstacles He has given me the strength to come through and overcome, I realize that when I need it, He is never too far to replenish me spiritually as well as physically... and today He is doing just that for me and my family. "³⁵ So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. ³⁶ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." (Hebrews 10:35-36)

Prayer: Thank You Lord, thank You most precious Father, for Your faithfulness and forever abiding love. You are so good my God, my great reward. Help me never to forget all that You have blessed me with, all that You have done for me.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 1-3

Observation: Moses speaks to the people about all that the Lord has brought them through. How He directed them through the wilderness to enter territories and countries that was either theirs for the taking (with God's help) or for them to simply pass through without interfering with the order He has put in place. Moses recounted all that took place along their journey and reminded Israel of God's faithfulness and power, but also revisited upon them their own misgivings and unbelief causing even Moses to doubt the Lord's word. "²⁰ I said to you, 'You have now reached the land that the Lord our God is giving us. ²¹ Look! He has placed it in front of you. Go and occupy it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don't be afraid! Don't be discouraged!' ²² But you responded, 'First, let's send out scouts to explore the land for us. They will advice us on the best route to take and decide which towns we should capture.' ²³ This seemed like a good idea to me, so I chose twelve scouts, one from each of your tribes." (Deuteronomy 1:20-23 NLT)
     It seemed that before he died, Moses wanted to remind all of Israel of all that the Lord had done and all that they were guilty of to warrant God's discipline and out-right fury being unleashed upon them.

Application: To think that even Moses doubted and did not take the Lord at His word about the land He had given them to occupy. That just shows how vulnerable we can be when we do not continually seek the Lord and spend quality time in His word. Life is like a wilderness, full of challenges and distractions. If Moses struggled with faith issues, we certainly will - so we need to look to Him and spend time in His word.
     When we walk with the Lord, often times things will not be what they seem. Even when we believe that God has sanctioned a direction or is okay with a decision we've made, we could be on our own. We may very well be hindered by a blind spot because we didn't take the cautionary action of double-checking with the Lord. "⁴¹ Then you confessed, 'We have sinned against the Lord! We will go into the land and fight for it, as the Lord our God has told us.' So your men strapped on their weapons, thinking it would be easy to conquer the hill country. ⁴² But the Lord said to me, 'Tell them not to attack, for I will not go with them. If they do, they will be crushed by their enemies.' ⁴³ This is what I told you, but you would not listen. Instead, you again rebelled against the Lord's command and arrogantly went into the hill country to fight. ⁴⁴ But the Amorites who lived there came and battered you all the way from Seir to Hormah. ⁴⁵ Then you returned and wept before the Lord, but He refused to listen. ⁴⁶ So you stayed there at Kadesh for a long time." (Deuteronomy 1:41-46 NLT)
     Not only can we get our rear-end kicked when we fail to follow and stay close to God, we may be stuck in an environment not of our choosing until the time He deems right to advance us to a destination He has promised us. Arrogance, hard-heartedness and ignorance are all likely precursors to disobedience; disobedience will often prove to be expensive and painful - not to mention, time consuming.

Prayer: Teach me Your ways O Lord and lead me in Your righteousness. Help me to walk in obedience and humility that I may receive all that You've promised me.

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 1-5

Observation: Solomon takes over the reign over Israel from his father David. He excels in wealth and power after asking the Lord for wisdom to lead God's people, which pleased God. He then takes on the task of building God's temple by following the precise measurements given to him by the Lord. He contracts with Hiram king of Tyre for the timber and other materials for the construction of the temple. Hiram also provided the skilled laborers to accomplish such a tremendous task.
     After the Temple of the Lord was completed, Solomon brought in the Arc of the Covenant and other dedicated furnishings set aside by David his father. There were celebration and sacrifices that went on for days and weeks, giving honor to God.

Application: When God directs us to do what He set us apart for, it is important to realize that we alone are the appointed ones to accomplish that specific function or task. I may be one of many musicians in His family of believers, but the particular task that He set me aside to do is as unique as I am as His created. No matter how big or how small, it is absolutely vital that we treat it with the uttermost respect and dedication of heart and spirit to bring Him praise and glory.
     Focusing on Him will facilitate our asking for the right things from the Lord to accomplish the work He has commissioned us to do - instead of what brings us personal gain. "¹⁰ 'Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of Yours?' ¹¹ God said to Solomon, 'Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king, ¹² therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.'" (2 Chronicles 1:10-12)

Prayer: Thank You Father for what You have set me apart for. Thank You also for preparing me for the task You have blessed me to receive. Grant me the strength, faith, wisdom, understanding and knowledge to fulfill Thy purpose and plan for my life.

Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1-3

Observation: In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul continues to build and encourage the faith of believers there. Verse 4 confirms that opposition we face in our lives as we commit to follow Jesus is not a bad thing, but rather a badge of honor to be worn proudly (yet not arrogantly) that others may also be encouraged to remain steadfast in the faith. "Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring." (2 Thessalonians 1:4)
     Paul reminds the church at Thessalonica that the second coming will at the appropriate time be made known to believers everywhere according to His word, and they are not to fall for the deception of Satan's followers. He asks for their support in prayer against their common foe, the devil, and warns them against idleness and idle people. Paul reinforces not only the value of earning your way, but also the importance of leading by example. "⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We did this, not because we did not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow." (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Application: A theoretical brick wall is as stubborn as an opposing force can be… yet at the same time, it can be the best and most unambiguous source of direction, when we weren't even conscious of the fact that we needed direction. It tells us without any doubt... 'not this way' or 'not now'. Opposition that comes against us in general, while walking in faith, can be one of the most underestimated source of power and growth that we will ever encounter.
     Paul stressing to the Thessalonians not to be deceived by false doctrine, is all about focus. It underlines the importance of keeping our eyes on Him, of talking to Him, and spending time in the word everyday.
     Mooching on others, for lack of a better term, or trying to get something for nothing is neither beneficial nor appropriate. It demonstrates a lack of compassion and respect, and an abundance of self-centeredness and laziness.

Prayer: Help me to keep on doing the things that keep me focused on You. Reveal to me anything that alienates me from Your presence. Guide and strengthen me to reject and discard the devil's attempts at weakening or destroying my faith in Thee.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 117-118

Observation: The 117th Psalm is the shortest chapter in the bible but it's long in substance. "¹ Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. ² For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever." (Psalm 117)
     The 118th Psalm goes on to exalt the Lord God and sing the praises of His faithfulness and love. "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." (Psalm 118:1) In Matthew 21:42, the Lord Jesus quoted these next verses, as it clearly refers to Himself. "²² The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; ²³ the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes." (Psalm 118:22-23)

Application: Reading the 117th Psalm onto the first verse of Psalm 118, exemplifies the 'two-way street' principal of our relationship with the father. His love toward us is everlasting - that's one direction; we give thanks and praise to the Lord - that's the return direction. Our relationship with God can never be a one way street, which signifies a live participant on one end, and a non-living or disengaged one on the other. He is alive and is about life; we in turn need to show as we respond with praise, thanksgiving, obedience and love for His word, that we are also alive in Him - for He has done great things for us. "¹⁴ The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. ¹⁵ Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: 'The Lord's right hand has done mighty things! ¹⁶ The Lord's right hand is lifted high; the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!'" (Psalm 118:14-16)
     All He ever requires from us is acknowledgement. Acknowledging Him as God and creator of all the universe is our rightful duty and privilege. True acknowledgement of His love and power requires our surrender, obedience, devotion and worship of the Living God of all - Jehovah Jireh.

Prayer: Holy Spirit stir in me a spirit of praise and thanksgiving that I may live every day to praise You Lord for Your mighty power and to thank You for Your forever enduring love and faithfulness.

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 12-16

Observation: Through out these five chapters, God speaks through His prophet Jeremiah about the wicked practices and stubbornness of His virgin daughter - Israel, and the consequences thereof. "Speak this word to them: ‘Let my eyes overflow with tears night and day without ceasing; for the Virgin Daughter, my people, has suffered a grievous wound, a crushing blow.'" (Jeremiah 14:17) Their sin surpasses even the great immorality and corruption of their fathers before them. Jeremiah receives further word for Israel from the Lord detailing their sin and revealing disastrous times that is to befall them - famine, drought, enslavement and death.
     To the people of Israel Jeremiah himself makes the case for humility and repentance while they still can: "¹⁵ Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the Lord has spoken. ¹⁶ Give glory to the Lord your God before He brings the darkness, before your feet stumble on the darkening hills." (Jeremiah 13:15-16) On the other hand, the Lord practically seals their doom by saying in effect, 'You can't teach old dogs new tricks'. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil." (Jeremiah 13:23)

Application: The wicked ways of Israel in the time of Jeremiah is again rampant in today's world. It is clear that man cannot institute the changes that need to take place in order to save mankind from a similar fate. The reprieving factor is Christ and Christ alone: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) We cannot change our spots - neither can we do right when all we've ever known is doing wrong.
     Matthew 19:26 says, "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" We can escape our otherwise inevitable doom. All we have to do is 'make the choice'. Give it up to Him and He'll do the rest. How difficult is that? But then we're dealing with man and his 'spots'.

Prayer: Lord please show me the spots that need to go. Reveal to me my hidden faults Father and help me to repent of all my sins. Change me through and through that I may be acceptable and pleasing in Thy sight.

Scripture Reading: Acts 1-2

Observation: The apostle Luke, the writer of the Book of Acts, picks up where he left off in the Gospel According to Luke. The Book of Acts is the account of the actions of the disciples after the Lord Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven to be at the right hand of the Father. Today's reading depicts the disciples coming together, receiving the Holy Spirit, preaching the word and performing miracles. "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:4) "Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles." (Acts 2:43) This was the Father's promise to them which the Lord Jesus had spoken to them about. As a result many became believers, baptized and were added to the body... who paved the way for the Christian church of today.

Application: Waiting on the Lord is about trust. God always delivers on His promise - so waiting on Him should never be a question of whether He will show to deliver us or whether He will meet our needs. "⁴ On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 1:4-5) Receiving the Holy Spirit, the most powerful weapon God has made available to His church, hinged upon the disciples' ability to listen, remember and obey Jesus' instruction while He was yet with them - which was to wait. If they did not listen, they would not have remembered; if they did not remember, they would not have obeyed - and would not have been filled with the power of the Holy Spirit of God.
     If He promised it, He will deliver it; He will always be faithful to His promise. His Word is His promise and His promise is all powerful. We need only to read His Word to know all about His promise. Understanding that waiting is a key element of our faith in Him is just as important as knowing that He is faithful.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for the gift of Your Holy Spirit.

Scripture Reading: Romans 5-6

Observation: The dictionary gives the meaning of justified as something or someone that is necessary, defensible, right, and acceptable. We have been justified through faith. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Roman 5:1)
     Romans 6:6-7 speaks directly to me today: "⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - ⁷ because anyone who has died has been freed from sin."

Application: The weaknesses and shortcoming in me have been crucified with Jesus. That is part of the process of justification. We have been made whole, simply by believing - and believing through Jesus. Believing something though is one thing; accepting or receiving it in order to put it into practice in our daily life is another - for it is written "... faith without works is dead." (James 2:20) With acceptance comes surrender. Total surrender means 'walking away', as in leaving behind what is surrendered.
     So, what it comes down to is, justification depends on faith; it is contingent upon our believing that Jesus died for our sins. However, as we just read from James 2:20, faith is useless without works - meaning, if we are to gain the full benefit of justification, then we need to put into action our faith in the Lord Jesus by letting go of the old (which we put to death on the cross when Jesus died for our sins) and putting on our new selves in Him when He, on the third day, rose again.

Prayer: Lord, I have been struggling for a long time now with the sin of my old self. Thank You for showing me that if I'm struggling with something, then I still have that 'something' in my possession. Help me to accept that I have crucified all of my old self when I died with You on the cross, and that I have been resurrected to new life when You rose from the dead.

Scripture Reading: Joel 1-3

Observation: The Lord speaks through His prophet Joel, of the devastation that is to come against His people, when everything - from their food and drink to their very worship of the Lord their God, is shattered. A time like no other before it or since, will devastate the land and its occupants; the devastation to be, equal only to the brutality and power of the invading forces.
     Even as this dark and gloomy scenario is at the heels of their generation, the Lord offers Israel a way out; the only true escape from all that is to come. He pleads with His people to return to Him and be rescued from the coming destruction. "¹² 'Even now,' declares the Lord, 'return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' ¹³ Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity." (Joel 2:12-13)
     Not only will the Lord not bring this devastation upon them, if His people return to Him, He will bless them and punish all the misdeeds of their enemies. Sounds like a no-brainer to me… but then we're dealing with a stubborn and wicked people; I am certainly no better, when it comes to my weaknesses.

Application: His love knows no boundary and His mercy endures forever. I am so blessed that the Lord my God loves me just as I am. I need to not only remember His great love for His people but to be grateful every day for His provision and protection - for there is none like Him.

Prayer: Thank You Father for what is evident of Your amazing love for Your people.

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 5-7

Observation: Believed by most to be Paul, the writer of these chapters, like a loving father, teaches the Jewish Christian believers the infant and adult stages of faith. Infancy requires milk for they cannot handle solids, whereas adults can and should move on to solids. He goes on to discuss the priesthood referring to the linage of Melchizedek of which order Jesus was, as was Abraham before Him. "For it is declared: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'" (Hebrews 7:17; Psalms 110:4) The difference between Jesus and any other priest before Him is Jesus' priesthood is forever - requiring no other to replace Him. Jesus, on account of His being perfect and without sin, becomes a priest forever. "The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God." (Hebrews 7:18)

Application: The part of today's reading that reiterates an important point to me is God's promise to Abraham. "¹³ When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself, ¹⁴ saying, 'I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.' ¹⁵ And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." (Hebrews 6:13-15)
     Besides the fact that there is no other greater than the Father, the above passage made clear to me that God's promises are forever true, for He is faithful. Like His promise to Abraham, the Lord's promises will always withstand the test of time. It also emphasizes the need for us to be patient and trust in God to fulfill His word. For if we wait patiently on Him, He will never ever disappoint or abandon us.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your perfect sacrifice. Thank You for Your love and for Your faithfulness. Help me Lord to be patient and to learn to wait on You for the things You have planned, purposed and promised for my life.

Scripture Reading: Numbers 33-36

Observation: The Lord instructed Moses to document Israel's entire journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. The times and places Israel camped during the forty years of their journey through the wilderness did Moses document. The Lord also told Moses to instruct the people to drive out the people inhabiting the land that the Lord has given them, and in some instances to destroy all of its inhabitants. Failing to do so will result in those same inhabitants causing Israel grief in the future. The land, the boundaries of which the Lord gave to Moses, is to be distributed equally to all the tribes according to the Lord's instructions. All other instructions including towns for the Levites, refuge cities for those who killed accidentally and the marriage of Zelophehad's daughters did the Lord give to Moses. Zelophehad had no sons so after his death, all his inheritance would go to his daughters as long as they married within the tribal clan of their father.

Application: Premeditation in the taking of someone's life was treated with the uttermost disdain by the word the Lord gave Israel; this in the midst of telling Israel to destroy every person including women and children, of the idol worshippers that inhabited the land that the Lord has given the people of Israel. To some this may be the ultimate contradiction in principles, but to the faithful, this clearly draws the line between God's will and plan for His people and the wickedness of unbelief and disobedience which leads one to worship false idols - including worldly possesions. It exemplifies the love of His all-knowing, all-powerful and caring Spirit for His people. He knows all things and knows the beginning and the end of every situation in our lives; and nothing, not our understanding of right and wrong, not the world's standards, not our friends, not our enemies, not even our families - can separate us from His love.
     His love is committed to protecting us from the enemy. So if He says that a certain individual or a certain group of society is a threat to our safety and a liability to our relationship with God, and that we need to cut them completely out of our lives, than that's what we need to do - and do right away. It exemplifies the need for God's people to know where the line is between His principles and those of the world.

Prayer: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Thank You Father.

Scripture Reading: Amos 5-9

Observation: The Lord tells Amos, a simple farmer, to prophesy against Israel for their idol worship and mistreatment of the poor. Their disregard for the Lord the God of their forefathers will bring them ruin, disaster, famine and death - taking them into exile and losing all the richness of the blessings they once had. In the midst of the warning of the approaching doom, the Lord provides them with a way out. If the people would only repent of their wicked ways and return to the Lord their God, they would be saved.
     The Lord detests complacency and false security or trusting in false gods. "Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come!" (Amos 6:1)
     When all is done and the wicked are destroyed, the Lord will keep His promise to His servant David and restore His people once and for all, to prosperity in their own land.

Application:                    Complacency

     Complacency is a tool the devil uses when we're in a good place in the Lord. It is when we start being comfortable and resting on our spiritual laurels that we begin to take God for granted and not remember the good things He has done. Thanksgiving is one of the antidotes for complacency. Praise is another, as well as worship that come from the heart; they discourage overconfidence and inoculate against taking God for granted.

     As the Lord was about to punish Israel severely for their unrighteous acts, Amos twice pleaded with God on their behalf: "² When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out, "Sovereign LORD, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!" ³ So the LORD relented. "This will not happen," the LORD said. ⁴ This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: The Sovereign LORD was calling for judgment by fire; it dried up the great deep and devoured the land. ⁵ Then I cried out, "Sovereign LORD, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!" ⁶ So the LORD relented. "This will not happen either," the Sovereign LORD said." (Amos 7:2-6)
     Just like God relenting when Moses interceded on Israel's behalf, the above account makes me wonder sometimes if this was in any stretch of the imagination, indicative of a kink in God's armor. Was God not able to reason the way Moses and Amos did in these situations? I never really bought into that idea, but I did question why God couldn't see that for Himself. This morning I believe the Lord showed me what the true picture is. God knows more than we can ever imagine or understand what the results of His actions would be. He doesn't need Amos or Moses or anybody else to consult Him about the consequences of His actions. What He is always about is our welfare... not only Israel's, but all of mankind. As we read these accounts in the bible, He is conveying to us the heart of a true believer; like that of Moses and Amos. He is showing us why He chose men such as these, to communicate with and use powerfully. When we choose to 'stand in the gap' for the sake of others, we are able to move God's heart.

     Putting on the fruits of the Spirit such as love, kindness, godliness, patience… to walk in them, is a powerful way to live in the Lord, but they do have rules. When we do not abide by those rules, our blessings will be hindered from reaching us. I believe that that is why we sometimes fail to acquire all that the Lord has for us. "²¹ I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. ²² Even though you bring Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will have no regard for them." (Amos 5:21-22) I believe it comes down once again to our heart. We can make all kinds of sacrifice in our daily life; we can fast and claim all the fruits of the Spirit that we can think of... if our heart is not surrendered in total obedience, our ministry will not bear fruit as it should. "But Samuel replied: 'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.'" (1 Samuel 15:22)

Prayer: Lord, teach me true thanksgiving and true worship that I may grow in my appreciation of all that You mean to me. Grow me to have compassion for the less fortunate and a heart for the lost. Help me to walk in Your ways and to abide in Your word - Amen.

Scripture Reading: Micah 1-7

Observation: The Lord declares through His prophet Micah that the sin and wickedness of the people will not go unpunished. From the leaders to the 'so-called' prophets, to average citizens themselves - everyone will be held accountable for their deeds in forsaking the Lord their God and pursuing their own agenda.

Application: God's wrath prophesied against them is the result of a people that either never believed from the beginning or they took their eyes off of the Lord. Separation from God begins when we take our eyes off of Him and look at either the storm or the hype and lies of our supposed accomplishments. In order to sway us, the devil would wait patiently for the right time to whisper into our vulnerable persona those same lies. As far as the enemy is concerned, it is all about timing. He doesn't have any truth or substance to offer us, so he has to depend on our being ripe for his picking.
     With the people of God, it is all about focus. Focus reminds us of God's goodness and power, what He's done for us in the past, His faithfulness and love. Focus tells us to remember to praise Him, honor Him and thank Him for all He is to us. Focus also reminds us to seek Him daily... especially when we're weak, for He is the only one that can save us. We also need to remember to give Him the glory when we're victorious.
     When we take our eyes off of Him is when Satan gets his opportunity to twist the truth and deceive us with his silver forked tongue. And when his hook is in, he will never let up. The only power that can break the devil's hold on us is that of the Holy Spirit. But the Spirit of God does not force Himself on anyone. We have to go to Him, repent of our sins and ask Him to come and rescue us.

Prayer: Help me Father to always keep You first. Keep me focused on You Lord, every moment of every day. Teach me to walk in Your mercy and in constant remembrance and gratitude of all that You've done for me.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 111-113

Observation: Psalms of praise, exaltation and worship to the Almighty - for His righteousness, mercy, faithfulness and love endures forever.
     The righteous will be blessed; his or her family will be protected and provided for. "¹ Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments! ² His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed." (Psalm 112:1-2)

Application: To live a righteous life, we need to believe in God's faithfulness; we need to believe that He is just, for that is exactly what He is - just. He cannot be just and faithful if He doesn't honor His Word - and He does. His Word says that those who turn against Him and those who disobey Him will be punished; they will reap the rewards of their wicked ways. So it follows that those who believe in Him know that if they do wrong, they should be afraid of the consequences of their sins. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise." (Psalm 111:10)

Prayer: Grow me in wisdom Lord that I may never take Your Word for granted. Grant me understanding that I may never depart from Your way. Instill in me knowledge Father that I may know to forever embrace Your precepts.

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 1-4

Observation: Jesus Christ the Son of God is highlighted here in these chapters as the ultimate High Priest, the Holy One of God. Believers are reminded over and over again of what prophets and servants of God have spoken of in the past through the Holy Spirit, concerning the Holy One - Jesus. "⁸ But God says about his Son, 'You are God, and You will rule as King forever! Your royal power brings about justice. ⁹ You loved justice and hated evil, and so I, your God, have chosen You. I appointed You and made You happier than any of your friends.' ¹⁰ The Scriptures also say, 'In the beginning, Lord, You were the one who laid the foundation of the earth and created the heavens. ¹¹ They will all disappear and wear out like clothes, but You will last forever. ¹² You will roll them up like a robe and change them like a garment. But You are always the same, and You will live forever.'" (Hebrews 1:8-12)
     The reading goes on to emphasize the place of rest God promised those who believe and obey His word, the same rest denied those whose hearts were hardened by sin. "⁷ So, as the Holy Spirit says: 'Today, if you hear His voice, ⁸ do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, ⁹ where your fathers tested and tried Me and for forty years saw what I did. ¹⁰ That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways.' ¹¹ So I declared on oath in My anger, 'They shall never enter My rest.''" (Hebrews 3:7-11)

Application: God's place of rest is what I receive in today's reading. Entering into His rest is, I believe symbolic of a soft heart; a heart that is pliable in His hands - a heart based on faith and surrender, a heart that lends itself to obedience. Christians believe that God created man and that He created the universe. If we truly believe that to be true, then we have to believe that His word is true; believing that His word is true means that we also believe that He is faithful, for that is what His word says. If that is so, than His rest is where we can live and remain, for that's what His peace is all about; peace, after all, is synonymous with rest.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your 'peace that passeth all understanding'. Help me to embrace Your peace and remain in it - in the comfort of Your rest.

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11-13

Observation: Paul reiterates the power of faith as demonstrated by the early men and women of God. Even though they had such strong faith some of them died before the promise of God was realized in their lives. "¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:15-16)
     The apostle Paul goes on to encourage the recipients of his letter (including the church of today), to have the right appreciation for the Lord's discipline, as well as personal battles in their everyday lives. "⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, ⁶ because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.'^{* 7} Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" (Hebrews 12:4-7)   ^* Proverbs 3:11-12
     Towards the end of the 12th chapter and through out the 13th, Paul covers a variety of key issues - stability and surrender among them. "⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'^{** 6} So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6)      ^** Deuteronomy 31:6

Application: It is with good reason that the 11th chapter of Hebrews is known as the 'faith chapter'. As a matter of fact, the whole of today's reading is about faith and surrender. Surrender in the midst of tough times and struggle - knowing that He is never far from us when we're facing all kinds of opposition, tempting us to throw up our hands in frustration and defeat. But He will never leave us; He will never forsake us! "Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:3)
     We have been given the accounts of these great people of faith, from Abel to Abraham to Isaac to the prostitute Rahab - to aid us in our walk and lives in the Lord Jesus, who Himself endured the most severe and humiliating test of faith of all of mankind. "¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2) Our Heavenly Father has not only given us the road map to eternal salvation and heavenly peace (which goes through Calvary), He has also given us all the supplies and all the protection that we will ever need for the trip. We need not be concerned for anything that is necessary for the journey.

Prayer: Help me Father to keep my eyes on You and to hold fast to the promises of Your faithful Word. Thank You for Your faithfulness! Teach me O Lord to know what to let go of and what to embrace, allowing nothing and no one to take Your place in my heart.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 119

Observation: The 176 verses (the longest in the book) of this Psalm, generally accredited to David - exalts the Lord God for His thoroughly tested promises and forever enduring love. It also recognizes man's faults and the desires of the righteous to follow and obey His laws and abide by His precepts.

Application: The cry of my heart today is echoed in many of these verses:
     "⁵ Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying Your decrees!"
     "³⁹ Help me abandon my shameful ways; Your laws are all I want in life."
     "⁴⁹ Remember Your promise to me, for it is my only hope."
     "⁶⁷ I used to wander off until You disciplined me; but now I closely follow Your Word."
     "⁷¹ The suffering You sent was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to Your principles."
     "¹⁰⁵ Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
     "¹⁰⁷ I have suffered much, O Lord; restore my life again, just as You promised."
     "¹⁰⁹ My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying Your law.
     ¹¹⁰ The wicked have set their traps for me along Your path, but I will not turn from Your commandments."
     "¹³³ Guide my steps by Your word, so I will not be overcome by any evil."
     "¹⁴⁷ I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in Your words."
     Sometimes I feel that God has either forgotten me or is taking His time delivering me from a hurdle for which I've been seeking Him for some time. "¹²³ My eyes strain to see Your deliverance, to see the truth of Your promise fulfilled." I know though that no matter what things may look like, He is always faithful and constantly has my best interest at heart.
     The Word of the Lord is pure and true; I will meditate in His Holy Word daily, bask in Its beauty and trust in Its power.

Prayer: Thank You Father for Your precious Word. Grant me the understanding to know Its truth and the strength to abide by It daily that I may receive and be all that You promised me to be.

Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 1-3

Observation: The prophet Habakkuk strongly makes his case to the Lord about the fact that the enemy is doing all this evil, and He's not doing anything about it. The Lord answers Habakkuk telling him, in so many words, that he 'ain't seen nothing yet'; that he will witness unbelievable events the Lord will bring to pass to bring justice and freedom to His people - the faithful. The Lord also told him to document what He is telling him about things that are coming; that while they may be a ways off, will surely come to pass. The wicked will perish and the righteous will be exalted. To his question of what he should tell the people, the Lord said: "³ For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. ⁴ See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright - but the righteous will live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2:3-4)

Application: There were times, and will be again, when the Lord seems afar and unmindful of what is happening in my life. But He is always watchful and caring about everything that happens to us and things that are about to effect our lives. His plan is greater than what we can fathom, for the big picture is often too daunting a task for us to take in sometimes. I think that He wants to spare us the detail of the awesome nature of His will for fear that it would be overwhelming. "¹⁵ You trampled the sea with Your horses, churning the great waters. ¹⁶ I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. (Habakkuk 3:15-16)
     Trusting in God and believing in His faithfulness is daunting enough without worrying about the details of His rescue plan and His every provision. "¹⁷ Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, ¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. ¹⁹ The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights." (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Prayer: Your faithfulness O Lord is only equaled by Your power and love. Thank You for all that You did in the old testament days as well as the new, for through them You are blessing me today in growing me by teaching me Your ways.

Scripture Reading: James 1-3

Observation: The apostle James holds up trials and struggles in a believer's life as a good thing and something not to be begrudgingly but joyfully faced. Listening is crucial in our understanding of the truth… much more so than speaking - for when we're speaking, we're not listening. Backing up with action what we hear and believe is just as important. Also in his letter James reminds us that judging others according to their appearance and status is wrong.
     James talks about faith being dead without works… and outlines the fact that the devil also has faith in the existence of the true living God. The devil nevertheless lacks in the works department. Abraham on the other hand, completes his faith by putting it to work in offering up his only son Isaac as God told him to do.
     Teachers and other anointed men and women of God, due to their higher calling, will be held accountable by the Father on a stricter level than most. As Luke reminded us, "But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48)
     The tongue can be and often is an unruly part of our body if we don't keep a close watch of its role.
     James links humility directly with wisdom and understanding, which comes down from the Father who is pure and true. "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." (James 3:13)

Application: Like the weights on a barbell in a workout routine that serves as resistance, the purpose of which is to enhance the physical conditioning of the user, trials strengthens and builds up our faith and our conviction. "² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4) It all hinges on knowing God and believing in His Word. If we believe that God is true, than we believe that His Word is infallible. If so, than we also know that "…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) So whatever comes our way, even though it may be contrary to what we were hoping for, must be working to grow us according to His purpose and plan for our lives. As a personal trainer helps get a trainee stronger mentally as well as physically to handle the challenges of life, the Holy Spirit will guide believers through the trials and struggles that may come so as to better equip us for whatever the world throws at us. So, it's all good!

Prayer: Thank You for caring for my wellbeing and personal growth to be my spiritual and all around personal trainer. Besides many other reasons, I love You so much because You care for me and all of my needs on a very personal level.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 7-9

Observation: In these chapters Moses urges the people of Israel to obey the commands given to them by the God of their forefathers to whom He has promised the land that they are headed to inherit. The instructions they are to adhere to are very clear and unambiguous:

• annihilate the people who presently occupy the land that God has given Israel

• destroy them utterly - including their gods, their altars, and Asherah poles

• the silver and gold of the idols they created Israel is not to covet - neither are they to bring into their houses

• follow the commands, the decrees and laws of the Lord that they may be blessed and their numbers will be increased and so will their livestock - but the contrary will be visited upon their enemies

• remember all that the Lord their God has done for them all through out their deliverance from slavery in Egypt

• remember to give God the glory and praise when they come into the blessings of their inheritance in the Promised Land, and not think that it was by their own abilities that they achieved it

• destruction will be their reward if they forget or put aside the Lord their God Moses reminded them that it was only through his intervening on their behalf that they were spared the destruction the Lord was about to inflict upon each one of them.

Application: Unlike many scripture passages that I have read during my daily journaling that had two or more powerful topic or subject matter that you can go with, today seem to be about one main theme - remembering the Lord our God when we've come into our inheritance. "¹⁰ When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. ¹¹ Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day. ¹² Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, ¹³ and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, ¹⁴ then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." (Deuteronomy 8:10-14)
     When we're being taken through the wilderness and being delivered from one struggle after another - as believers, it's not so hard to give all honor and praise to the Lord our source and our refuge. It's one thing to give Him all the credit and to bow down and worship Him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Creator of all the Universe - when we can still taste the sweetness of victory by His hand over our enemies; it's another to continue to give Him all praise, honor and thanksgiving after having settled into the blessings of His promises. Seeing the Lord God as the source of all our good fortune can often be blurred by the excitement the changes life brings... we are nevertheless reminded in these verses to be extremely careful not to lose sight of who it is that have brought us through our struggles and have given us a place of rest and everlasting peace. If we think that He is going to just let us disrespect Him by forgetting all that He has done for us and turning our backs on Him - than we don't know Him that well. In Deuteronomy 8:19, we can consider ourselves forewarned of the consequences of such ignorance and such arrogance. "If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed."

Prayer: Thank You Lord for all that You've done and all that You will do to fulfill Your promise in my life. Help me never to lose focus on who You are as my source and shelter. I am nothing without You Lord, and I never ever want to live my life without You, not even for a day - not even for a moment.

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 25-28

Observation: When Amaziah became the king of Judah, another rule that was half-committed to God the Creator unfolded. Even though over the years of his reign, King Amaziah was in part successful, the evil of his ways eventually came home to roost. Among the plunder from his battle against the Edomites, he brought home their false gods and bowed down to them. Things went downhill from there; against the advice of God's prophet, Amaziah king of Judah challenged King Jehoash of Israel, who captured him and routed Judah's army. Amaziah was later killed by his enemies in Lachish where he had fled.
     Amaziah's son Uzziah who succeeded him, reigned for 52 years and walked in the ways of the Lord. Uzziah was very innovative with the tools of war and became very powerful. But as with many others before and after him, he let power corrupt and eventually destroy him when the Lord struck him with leprosy. After his death, his son Jotham became king. He pleased the Lord and was successful in battle during the sixteen years of his rule, during which time he amassed great fortune for Jerusalem and all of Judah. Ahaz who succeeded him also was ruler of Judah for sixteen years; but unlike Jotham he did not walk in the ways of the Lord - even sacrificing his own sons in his worship of Baal. A bloodbath followed when Israel attacked Judah and massacred its people; those he did not kill, he took prisoners. Israel had gone too far, and was soon confronted by God's prophet Obed. Because they were their own relatives, Obed strongly advocated for their release, which Israel did.
     As if to exemplify the epitome of human incompetence, Ahaz turned to Assyria instead of to the Lord his God, for help against his enemy - Edom. He paid the king of Assyria with valuable items - even went as far as worshipping their gods; but instead of helping, the king of Assyria abused and oppressed Ahaz. This of course resulted in Ahaz's further decline in status and power, which in turn led to more of his wicked ways. Ahaz was killed when the Lord's anger was unleashed; he was not buried in the royal cemetery as was the protocol. Hezekiah his son then reigned after him.

Application: After being so blessed and powerful one minute, the kings over the people of God were reduced to nothing as a consequence of their arrogance and disobedience. "You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom, and now you are arrogant and proud. But stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?" (2 Chronicles 25:19) I believe that this same arrogance and disobedience takes place today. The ememy often uses the same scenario to trap and derail many believers today. Just because one battle may have fallen our way, whether it be the outcome of an argument, an end-result that favored our prediction, or any world acclaimed victory, we should never arrogantly assume all our opinions thereafter are above scrutiny.
     We need to constantly look to God and walk in His ways every minute of every day, in order to be protected from the devil's deceptive ways; as well as from ourselves. We certainly need not look to false gods of this world - fame, fortune, weapons, etc... for the power and blessing that only Jehovah God can provide. "¹⁴ When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. ¹⁵ The anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, 'Why do you consult this people’s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?'" (2 Chronicles 25:14-15)

Prayer: Help me Lord to communicate with You out of my need to remain in Your ways, every moment of my life. Consume me Father that I may embrace You with every breath I take. Guide me Lord and strengthen me. Thank You Father.

Scripture Reading: Zephaniah 1-3

Observation: The Lord, through His prophet Zephaniah threatens to clean house and sweep all the unfaithful and all wickedness out of existence and into eternal damnation. Graphic description of the destruction that is to come is given to warn and alert the people, of God's wrath due to the nature of their sin. Arrogance and disobedience will be repaid with the devastating justice of the hand of the Lord.
     While destruction and ruin befalls the unrighteous, the faithful will be spared and protected from all the calamity that will come. In addition, the Lord will annihilate the enemies of His people but the remnant of Israel, He will restore.

Application: As in many other stories and accounts in the bible, today's reading not only shows the wrath and justice of the Lord, but demonstrates His great love. It does that by warning us of the consequences of our ways and by giving us the opportunity to repent and worship Him alone. When we do, He will restore us to our proper place in Him… a place of peace, joy and His everlasting love.

Prayer: You are so merciful O God, to afford us frequent opportunities of salvation and freedom. Thank You for Your great love for me and for Your unfailing grace and faithfulness to all who trust and obey Thy Word.

Scripture Reading: Acts 11-12

Observation: Peter was confronted by the believers in Jerusalem about befriending and communing with the Gentiles in Caesarea. After explaining to them what had happened (from his vision when he was in a trance, to the three men sent from Caesarea to find him) Peter convinced them that the Lord has given the green light for Gentiles to also receive the kingdom.
     The very first time believers were referred to as Christians was in Antioch, where their number grew exponentially as Christ was preached to the Greeks there. After witnessing this for himself, Barnabas who was sent there by the church in Jerusalem, went to Tarsus to bring Saul back with him to teach and support the new converts in Antioch.
     King Herod, who had James the brother of John put to death went further and arrested others, including Peter. Angels of the Lord broke Peter out of jail, strengthening the faith of all the believers - including Peter himself. Herod's arrogance and oversized ego caused the Lord to strike him dead by the hand of one of His angels. At this point there was no stopping the spreading of God's Word and power through the ministries of the apostles and witness of new converts.

Application: I don't know why the Lord chooses to allow for some in His flock like James, to be killed, and for others like Peter, to be sprung out of jail. I do know that He knows the beginning and the end of everything and possesses the power to give as well as take life. It's all His to do with as He chooses, but most importantly He is love - the love that is reflected in all that He does in the lives of those who believe and are called His children. I'm sure if James were to speak to us today, he would not only support his life being sacrificed and cut short when he died, but would not have it any other way. I believe it was Billy Graham that said, "Even if I lived to know and understand everything, I would still like to die when it's my time in the Lord to go." That means right now, next year or a hundred years from now - He calls the shots.
     Peter being broken free from jail, the miracles he performed in healing the sick and raising the dead to life - all go to support the faithfulness of the Lord to cover our backs and empower us with the Holy Spirit when we commit our lives to serving Him. I need to remember that my life in Him will involve, in theory - chains being broken, being set free from prison, separation, or even death. Death to wrong relationships, misguided lifestyles and lukewarm faith. In all things He is exalted. As Peter told the disciples to “Tell James and the others about this,” (Acts 12:17) we should tell about the powerful things He is doing in our lives.

Prayer: Thank You for Your perfect plan for my life and for investing so much in me. Help me to grow everyday in my faith and trust in Thee to bring to pass all that You promised. May your power and grace sustain me even in the face of hopelessness.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 10-12

Observation: Moses recounts the details concerning the writing of the Ten Commandments the Lord wrote with His finger on the second set of tablets, as well as the arc of the covenant he was instructed to build. He told Israel of all that happened at the time - including Aaron's death, the Levites part in the nation of His people, the direction and commandments of the Lord that they are to be sure to follow if they wanted all to go well with them. Moses reminded them of all that the Lord did in securing their freedom from slavery, meeting their daily requirements and punishing the wicked. The Lord is providing for them a land of plenty that they are to possess for an inheritance and He will help them in the maintenance of it as well as their daily sustenance - if they remained loyal and obedient to His ways. The contrary will result in death and the destruction of all that they've been blessed with. "Then the Lord's anger will burn against you, and He will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you." (Deuteronomy 11:17)
     Moses instructs the people to ingrain the commands and directions the Lord is giving them upon their hearts and in every facet of their lives and that of their children. In doing so, they will be victorious in all their endeavor and be blessed in the land of their inheritance.
     The people are not only to go in and take the land and possess it but also to destroy all vestiges of idols and the worship of them. A place of worship where offerings and tithes can be made to God was to be chosen by the Lord. Although they were allowed to eat the meat of their sacrifices, they were forbidden to eat or drink the blood thereof. Likewise they were forbidden to imitate the ways of worship of those they dispossessed.

Application: The part of today's reading that especially ministers to my heart encourages us to take measures in keeping His word close to our hearts. "¹⁸ Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ²⁰ Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates, ²¹ so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth." (Deuteronomy 11:18-21) In order to be consistently reminded of His word and refreshed in our daily walk, we need to go to the 'Well' everyday. God's word was never designed for us to have an occasional encounter with its power and truth. It was intended by God Himself to be for our daily consumption. In Matthew 6:11 when Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" would have read somtehing like, "Give us this day our ration of bread for the week", if getting our feed from God's word once a week was sufficient.
     Anything less than a heart-felt daily indulgence of the Word suggests a lack of appreciation of the power of darkness and the havoc that it could inflict on our spiritual wellbeing. If we truly understood the magnitude of Satan's evil intent to destroy us, we would be seeking Him daily, for strength and for guidance, with a heart of thanksgiving for all He's done and promise to do to keep us safe. It would also signify a misunderstanding of the full power of God's word. It'd be like tying one of His hands behind His back (as He cares for us), or like running a V6 engine on three cylinders instead of the full six; in which case the enemy has to come up with only four cylinders to smoke us.

Prayer: Teach me how to walk in Your word everyday and how to communicate it in a palatable but uncompromising way to the world as we live for You. But most of all teach me to look to You, to listen, understand and to obey Your directions.

Scripture Reading: Genesis 32-35

Observation: It's been years since Jacob saw his older brother Esau and since he received through deceptive means the blessings that rightfully was Esau's. As they're about to meet, Jacob sends messengers with gifts ahead of him to try and win his older brother’s favor. Later that night, he wrestles and overcomes a man of God acquiring from him the name Israel to replace Jacob.
     Esau is ecstatic to see his brother Jacob and receives him with open arms. God continues to guard over Jacob and all of his clan. The Lord talks with and blesses Jacob (Jacob later calls the place Bethel meaning ‘House of God’) and officially gives him his new name - Israel.

Application: As Jacob does his best to diffuse the anger of his older brother Esau, God may also move us to preempt through peaceful means, the angry forces coming at us. We may have been at fault in creating the animosity that people feel against us, but we should not rule out the possibility that God permitted it so as to fulfill His purpose and plan in our lives. And as God reminds Jacob of the blessings He promised his grandfather Abraham which He will certainly bring to pass, He is faithful to do the same for us.

Prayer: I pray Lord that I will be tender-hearted and pliable in Your hands. Help me to listen that I may hear, receive and obey all of Your directions for my life.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 23-25

Observation: The teachers of the law and Pharisees get a tongue lashing from Jesus via the 7 woes. A key verse that speaks to His return is Mathew 23:39 which says, “For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’”.
     The word generation in Mathew 24:34, “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” I believe refers to the word race as in the Jewish race.
     Verse 36 of the same chapter touched on a critical point that I never realized before: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Some manuscripts do not have ‘nor the Son’. It could be that by ‘Son of man’, Jesus was referring to Himself - meaning before His death and subsequent rising from the grave. It would be different after He rose the dead to be one with the Father - at which point He would know everything the Father knows.
     In chapter 25, Jesus utilizes three of His famous parables; the ‘Ten Virgins’, the ‘One, Two and Five Talents’, and the ‘Sheep and Goat’ parables. In the first parable Jesus emphasizes the stealth-like coming of the Kingdom of God. The key issue here is ‘Be Ready’. The second highlights the urgency of realizing the talents or gifts He’s given each of us and utilizing them for His Glory. The third stresses the significance of loving our neighbor; for those who show genuine love for others will be separated from those who don’t - as a farmer separates sheep from goats.

Application: The description of the Pharisees of this world in this reading, should be plain and evident enough that it is rejected by every believer. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!” (Matthew 23:13-15,23,25,27,29) The only reason why the Pharisee ways should be studied, is for the purpose of distancing ones self from its corrupt nature.
     Jesus makes it abundantly clear that what He is telling us in these verses will come to pass. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” (Mathew 24:35) The time of its coming to pass is so well guarded that only the Father knows of it.
     If a friend of mine calls me up to borrow my car and I was okay with that but couldn’t care less about the details, I might say, “Sure, you can use my car,” and leave it that. But if I really wanted to help him out and make sure he gets to use my car, I would say, “You got to get the keys to the car from me ‘cause I have the only set. Neither my family nor my friends have a key to my car, so be sure to be ready to receive the keys when I come by today. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you exactly what time that would be but it’ll be sometime today.” It is out of our need and by our choice that we come to the Father, through the only way in - Jesus; and it is His great pleasure to give us the kingdom.
     God wants so badly to have us be a part of His kingdom that He reiterates the fact that He alone knows the end time and that we need to be ready. He knows how we are. If He told us when the end time will be, we’ll probably party-it-up with the world until the very last minute. Slipping through by the skin of our teeth is not what He wants for us. He wants us to be holy as He is Holy. This to me accentuates the importance of our being ready for the return of our Lord. Regardless of when He comes (which could be sooner than we think), the process of preparation should have already begun or at the very least, need to start - for of His return, we "... do not know the day or the hour." (Matthew 25:13)
     God set us apart for a purpose – and He’s provided us the ability or talent, to help accomplish His purpose for our lives. Developing our talents and using it for His Glory begins with surrendering to Him, and is crucial to our getting ready for the end times. The 'sheep and goat' parable exemplifies our neighborly responsibility to love others. Like the 'sheep/goat' parable, the '10 virgins' parable is part and parcel of the preparation process. Loving and having compassion for others is not the easiest thing in the world; generally speaking, it won’t happen overnight if we are to get it right. So if we are to be ready, we need to get on the ball. Since it appears that ‘being ready’ involves a sliding scale - the sooner we get started, the better prepared we will be.
     Believing in God the Father and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior qualifies us to be part of the Kingdom which puts us in preparation mode for His return. Nevertheless, some will be better prepared than others - which explains the need to get the process of getting ready started right away.

Prayer: Teach me Lord to be ready for Your return. Help me to work and develop all that You have gifted me for Your name‘s sake that I may hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” May I not neglect those who are hungry, thirsty, lonely, imprisoned or sick. May I have genuine love and compassion for all people.

Scripture Reading: Ruth 1-4

Observation: Ruth, Naomi’s daughter-in-law stuck with Naomi through good times and bad. She braved the new unknown community of her late husband and was determined to make good; not so much for her own sake but for her mother-in-law. She was loyal, hard working and humble - all the characteristics of someone God can use... and did. She became the great-grandmother of King David of whom Jesus was a direct descendant.

Application: Loyalty is a virtue to be treasured. It is birthed by faith, validated by hard work and graced by humility. But like precious stones tossed in a pigpen, loyalty can be misplaced. And when that happens, it is unfortunate at best and destructive at worst. Not so in Ruth’s case. We can learn a lot from Ruth’s dedication and steadfast devotion.
     Mothers-in-law have often been the butt of jokes, signifying the sometime complex nature of in-law relationships. Here we have one that defies such stereo-typing. Ruth’s choices earned her a place of honor and privilege as a direct link to Jesus in the genealogy of the Christ. Can we afford to pass up an opportunity to be related to Jesus in the most personal of ways, by being less than loyal to those God has put in our lives? Our wives, our husbands, our children, our parents and yes even our in-laws – are among those God can place in our lives to serve His purpose. If we choose righteous loyalty, as Ruth did - it releases God’s hands to bring us into a place of privilege and nobility.

Prayer: Father help me to be faithful as You are faithful, and to be loyal to my family and loved ones as You are to Your children.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 51-55

Observation: The Lord God calls His people Zion to awake. He reclaims His own and gives notice to those who have mistreated them in the past that He will re-establish Jerusalem. He reminds us who we are in Him, and more importantly – who He is: “¹² I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass, ¹³ that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor?” (Isaiah 51:12-13) Put simply, He is saying to us, “What’s with you people? Don’t you get it?”
     The prophetic and powerful message of chapter 53 is all about Jesus and what the Father sent Him to do. To the Jews in particular who believe in the Old but not the New Testament - how can there be any doubters, with such compelling evidence of Jesus the coming Messiah?
     I don’t want to receive blessings from the Lord, materialistically speaking and otherwise, just for the sake of getting stuff. But if it His will to bless me with whatever He wants to bless me with, I will not only receive it but will thank and praise Him for it. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32) But if there is a promise that I have hung my hopes on to receive all that God planned for my life, it would have to be the 2nd verse of chapter 54: “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.”
     His ever faithful love and protection over me and my household is affirmed in, “‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me,’ declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17)
     The Lord in Isaiah 55:7-11 puts into perspective where we (in our imperfection) end and His mercies begin: “⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. ⁸ ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ⁹ ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ¹⁰ As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, ¹¹ so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’”

Application: Remembering who He is as the Giver of life, Creator of the universe and Lover of my soul, and the fact that I am created and set apart by Him, confirms the outcome of my battles against any enemy to be none other than total victory. The obvious prerequisite to the above of course is total obedience and surrender to His holy will and plan.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for all that You are. Help me to never lose sight of Thy awesome power and my heritage in Thee.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 30-32

Observation: David sings the Lord’s praises; at the same time he’s crying out to Him for deliverance from destruction. The Lord answers and delivers him forgiving his sins when David acknowledges them – and he praises God for His love. As usual David wearing his heart on his sleeves holds back nothing from the Lord.
     A week ago today the Lord gave me a word of reaffirmation and strength: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14) Again today He sustains me, through a verse I high-lighted on the 14 of August of 2000: “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” (Psalms 31:24) It ministered powerfully to me then, as it does today.

Application: The fact that King David is probably the most transparent of all biblical personalities, and the fact that God always refers to him endearingly, tells me that being totally open with the Lord is a good thing. He knows everything about us anyway. Besides, if there are details about our lives that we need not rehash or dwell on - the Holy Spirit will show us to let it go, trust Him with it and move on. I believe that with King David - whether he’s going after Goliath, taking on the most formidable armies in battle, dancing in the nude or crying out to the Lord with all of his foibles showing, it’s always about his heart – and his heart has always been for the Lord his God.
     My strength is renewed this morning, not only by King David’s sincerity and devotion to God, but in particular the above verse of Psalm 31: “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” (Psalms 31:24) It’s reinforcement all over again, proving God’s faithfulness and love to meet my needs. He will never let us bear more than we are capable to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). I am also reminded that He will never encourage us to be anything that He hasn't made totally available for us to have - simply by claiming it and receiving. Today if we hope in the Lord, He is saying to you and me, "Be strong... take heart!"

Prayer: Thank You Father for Your faithful provision for my walk in You. Your word of encouragement is so empowering and uplifting. I am so grateful Lord, that You meet all of my needs and that of my family, every single day.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 5-6

Observation: Paul is not tolerant of the wicked behavior within the body of believers in Corinth. In verse 12 of chapter 6, Paul says, “‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be enslaved by anything.” Sexual immorality is treated as a direct assault on God’s Holy Spirit, since our body is His temple and any sexual activity directly involves the body.

Application: When we surrender to God through Christ, we gain the 'peace that passeth all understanding', the 'joy that strengthens', the 'forever enduring love of the Father', forgiveness for our sins and life eternal - but we give up our body for Him to indwell. We become a body within a body (of believers), a church within a church (His bride).
     Immorality has no place in the church. Much like an evil practice or presence in the family or household, it has to be purged. Tolerating wickedness and not confronting it, especially when it involves our own physical or spiritual environment, is just as much a sin as the actual act itself. Eli the priest found that out the hard way (1 Samuel 2:27-36).
     Our lives, which include our physical bodies, were bought with a price - and are thus no longer our own to do with as we please. Before we were even born we were set apart (Jeremiah 1:5) for a higher purpose; that makes the best this world has to offer pale in comparison (due to its inferiority).

Prayer: Please Lord, help me to be always sensitive to what goes on in my family so I may respond according to Your will. Keep me from being so desensitized to the ways of this world that I would compromise Your ways rather than ‘rock the boat’.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 33-35

Observation: Psalm 33 (presumably authored by King David) celebrates the joy of the Lord and encourages singing and rejoicing in Him anew every morning. Verses 20-22 reinforces my faith and is yet another affirmation of His faithfulness: “²⁰ We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. ²¹ In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His Holy name. ²² May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.” (Psalm 33:20-22)
     The next Psalm finds David the King exalting the Lord his God and singing His praise: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8) Closing today's reading, the 35th Psalm reveals a slightly defensive yet determined King who's kept his eyes squarely on the Lord: "Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.” (Psalm 35:23)

Application: King David describes an awesome and faithful God full of mercy and power. He is all that and more. I need to get past my corrupt nature by repenting and asking for His forgiveness - resuming with a posture of praise and exaltation. The message I’m getting from today’s reading is that when we hit a bump on the road, we go to Him about it, thank and praise Him for His faithfulness in tending to our needs - and we move on. Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” And again in verse 15 of the same chapter: “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry.”
     We should stop letting the devil lie to us in his attempt to keep us from the Father. When we have a problem, or any kind of issue at all, going to the Father should be spontaneous. We should do it so often and so consistently that it becomes a natural response – like scratching an itch. We don't have to think about it; we certainly don't ignore an itch - we immediately respond by scratching it. Anything and everything that comes up, let’s take it to Him. Let’s constantly look to Him about everything in our lives, and make that response automatic and a natural one.

Prayer: Thank You Lord, for Your mercies that’s new every morning. Thank You for revealing to me my faults and mistakes and showing me the way to proceed from here.

Scripture Reading: Genesis 48-50

Observation: As Jacob nears his death he calls his children including Joseph’s children to bestow upon them each the blessing of their rightful inheritance. He starts with Joseph’s two sons Ephraim and Manasseh then he calls all of his other sons. As he had requested and as Joseph had promised, Jacob’s body was taken out of Egypt to Canaan where he was buried with his ‘fathers’ in a cave on a piece of land Abraham had bought to bury his wife Sarah. Jacob’s body was accompanied by all of his children; the procession included all of Egypt’s prominent dignitaries as well as Pharaoh’s officials.
     Just before Joseph dies at 110, he makes his brothers swear an oath to carry his bones to the Promised Land, where he told them God was going to lead them to as free people.

Application: When Abraham bought the piece of land from Ephron, a Hittite, for 400 shekels of silver, he was looking ahead. He could have taken the Hittites’ offer to use any piece of their land he chooses without having to pay for it, since they regarded him as a mighty prince. I believe God was leading him to buy it instead, knowing that it would come in handy for those in his family that were to follow. If Abraham had not bought it outright, the Hittites could have reneged on their aggreement or later had a change of heart - when Isaac and Jacob needed it. Getting something for free isn’t always the best deal. Being given something for nothing as a by-product of one’s popularity or rise to fame can be as fleeting as fame itself. Besides, even though they may be offering their services or certain product for free, God might want us to bless them by paying for it.

Prayer: Remind me Lord to check with You whenever I’m being offered to take the easy way out. Help me Father to take everything to You so I can do what’s right, and even if tempted – that I won’t give in to wrong choices.

Scripture Reading: Job 25-26

Observation: Bildad gets his turn at Job, though brief, was nevertheless assuming and judgmental in nature. Job’s answer was thick with sarcasm at first yet later agreeing in principle with Bildad’s acknowledgment of the awesome power and nature of God. As he focused on God and how great and awesome He is, I believe Job became calmer in his response and demeanor - firming his stand and faith in God.

Application: As his friends continue to pile their unflattering commentary on him, Job seems to be - temporarily at least, settling down. I believe that one of the reasons that is the case is that instead of complaining and being defensive, He chooses to emphasize the wonder of God’s creation and power to see and know all things. Focusing on God’s mercy, power and faithfulness, will not only take me through uncharted waters but be my source of peace and calm in the midst of the storm.

Prayer: I pray Lord for the presence of mind and spirit to continually reflect on Your goodness and power even in the middle of life’s battles.

Scripture Reading: Mark 5-6

Observation: Jesus casts out a legion of demons that had possessed and tortured a man in the region of the Gerasenes for a long time. The people of that area lose a herd of pigs when Jesus allows the demons to enter them. They asked Him to leave their area because they feared for their safety and that of their possessions/livestock but failed to realize that the power of God had graced them.
     When a woman who was suffering from constant bleeding touched the cloak of Jesus; immediately Jesus knew it and released her from her illness. He later raises back to life, a deceased twelve year old girl - but even then, He wins no respect and honor from His own. King Herod now suspects John the Baptist (whom he beheaded sometime earlier) to have been reincarnated as Jesus.
     Jesus feeds the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes. Later He walks on water which terrified the disciples in a boat in the middle of the lake; but He calms them and quiets the storm.

Application: The saying ‘can’t see the forest for the trees’, is true here with the villagers who lost their herd of pigs. We can miss the big picture of God’s power at work in our lives if we are focused on ourselves.
     The story about the woman with a bleeding issue distinguishes between:

1. coming to God out of habit, or by being swept along with the crowd - and purposefully seeking Him

2. talking to God in general terms - and being personal and open with the Father; the difference for example, between asking Him (again, in general terms) to forgive us for our sins - and being specific with what we’ve done wrong

     In each of the above scenarios, He honors both, but those who desperately and purposefully seek Him in faith will get His immediate attention.

Prayer: Lord help me not to be so absorbed with ‘me’ to miss what You’re about and what You’re doing in me. Coming to You Father is the greatest honor and privilege. Teach me to always come with true purpose and the right intent.

Scripture Reading: Exodus 1-4

Observation: Israel looses favor with the Lord their God and is enslaved and mistreated by the Egyptians. Nevertheless Israel continues to be fruitful and to multiply. Under the threat of death Moses is born to be adopted by the daughter of Pharaoh. His predestined life takes him to Midian and eventually to a confrontation with God where he is assigned his mission as the hand of God in rescuing His people from the Egyptians. It took some convincing but Moses finally went along; I’m not sure how God took that. Verse 24 of chapter 4 says that, “At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him.” I don’t know if one had anything to do with the other.
     After further study, my understanding today (couple of years later) about God wanting to kill Moses, is that it might have something to do with his leaning towards his wife’s opinion about circumcision (which she didn't believe in) instead of obeying God in the matter. Moses’ Midianite wife herself circumcised their son Gershom when Moses’ life was on the line, and was in no shape to do it himself.

Application: Our lives have been mapped out, designated, predestined, set apart, predetermined or preordained by the Father to serve Him doing exactly what He created us to do. We can fight it, we can hide from it, or we can turn it down flat; He will prevail, regardless. We might as well go along for He is the One that created the universe and hung the stars and moon and the planets in their place. Little ol’ you and me are not going to hinder His great plan from working out as He purposed; not without dire consequences. Remember Jonah? Besides, what could possibly equal His will for our lives… let alone improve on it.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your call on my life. Help me to embrace Your will for my life for there is none like You and there is no path for my life like the one You have chosen for me.

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 7-11

Observation: God gives Jeremiah a message for His people Israel - telling them that they are a disobedient and wicked nation who will experience the wrath of His anger. The God of their forefathers is enraged, infuriated, and exasperated with Israel for their insolence, their stubbornness and all of their wicked ways.
     I am gathering from the 11^th chapter of Jeremiah, that there are times when we need to cease praying for situations or people and surrender them to God. "Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to Me in the time of their distress.” (Jeremiah 11:14)

Application: Jeremiah 9:23-24 says, “²³ This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, ²⁴ but let him who boasts boast about this: That he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.” In these verses, the line is drawn between righteous and unrighteous boasting. The same line can get so fine (at times blurry) when it separates celebrating the power of God and prideful self righteousness... such that the only way to get it right is by allowing the Holy Spirit in our hearts to guide how we live our lives.
     Prosperity and leadership is linked to our communicating with the Lord. “The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the Lord; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered.” (Jeremiah 10:21) I recall what the Lord gave me a little while back… 'communicating with God or taking things to Him is not only right, it should be automatic'. An issue or a problem comes up - right away, we need to take it to Him, to inquire of the Lord what we should do and how we should handle it. I equate it to ‘scratching an itch’ – it should become that natural and that immediate. The more we do that, the more natural our response becomes in turning to Him, and the more we prosper. This will not only ensure that He remains our Lord and our God, but that we are taking our issues to the right source of all our needs - our Provider, our Great Reward; also that we give Him the respect deserving of the most awesome, the most loving and truly faithful God that He is.

Prayer: Please Lord, show me where I might not be in line with Your word, boasting of the wrong things, and where I might be neglecting to communicate with You. Help me to correct my ways and do what is right in Thy sight.

Scripture Reading: Mark 7-8

Observation: What we eat or drink (what goes into our body), may make us sick but it does not make us unclean. It is what comes out - that is, what we say or think… which originates from the heart, that can make us unclean. Jesus continues to teach the people telling them that it’s wrong to ignore God’s laws for their own man-made traditions. Again Jesus shows how distance and time have no bearing to His power when He told the mother of a demon possessed girl to go home to her miraculously healed and well little girl. Jesus also heals a dumb and deaf man in the region of Decapolis.
     Jesus feeds the four thousand with seven loaves of bread and a few small fishes. Seven basketful of food were later recovered after the multitude had been fed and fully satisfied. After all of that, His disciples still struggled with their faith in Jesus by focusing on the wrong things. After healing a blind man at Bethsaida Jesus takes time out to minister to and have a personal conversation with His disciples. He tells them why He came and why He must die. Peter was having none of that (Jesus dying), but Jesus reprimands his worldly approach. Jesus then beckons the crowd to join them, at which point He proceeds to teach them why not only must He suffer but that each believer should "... take up his cross" to follow Him. (Mark 8:34)

Application: As great as the miracles that Jesus performed was, He is far greater. As Jesus said in John 14:12, “… anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” We need to keep our eyes, not on the works but on the Son of Man. It is what He's about that we should not lose sight of. The theme from the previous two chapters of Mark that I read last week is carried on here - not being able to see the forest for the trees. If we focus on the works or miracles and not on the Man, we are doomed to be sidetracked by the "greater things than these" that Jesus Himself spoke of that "anyone who has faith" will do.
     In these times of 'off the charts' incredible advances in technology that have impacted not only our communication and the obtaining of information, but the preservation and prolonging of life itself that the medical community is privileged to, it is dangerously easy to not give the Father and Creator of all things - the proper respect and credit for it all. After all, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)

Prayer: You are far greater and far deeper than any thing or any one. Lord, help me to see the ‘forest’ in spite of the ‘trees’; to embrace You, Your love, Your faithfulness and power.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13-14

Observation: ‘The Love Chapter’, as it is known, chapter 13 of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians always delivers.
     “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:3)
     “⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹² Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-13)
     The 14th chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians talks about the gifts of prophecy and of speaking in tongues. “³⁹ Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” (1 Corinthians 14:39-40)

Application: What else can one say about chapter 13? The Love Chapter promotes love as the key to spiritual excellence. As important as the other 'fruits of the Spirit' are, we have to be aware of the power, significance and magnitude of ‘love’, for “... the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13b)
     Every thought, every word, every deed that comes out of me need to pass the love test. The question I should ask myself then becomes – “Is it or is it not influenced by love?” The more we apply this test - to be sure we are rooted in love, the more we respond appropriately (resisting or denying entrance to loveless thoughts, words and deeds), the more it becomes second nature to do what pleases the Father. Like anything else - the more we love, the easier and more natural it is to love.

Prayer: Lord, teach me what I don’t know or what I haven’t quite yet gotten a firm grip on. Help me with the things that I do know but am not applying or am dragging my feet on or just out right refusing to take seriously. Please help me not to take You or Your word for granted. Thank You for Your love and for revealing to me my faults and my weaknesses.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 45-47

Observation: These are Psalms about the love between the Lord and His bride, His reign and ultimate rule over all the earth and about God’s faithfulness - even when the world deserts us.

Application: Our commitment and dedication to God should be total and unequivocal. As in the case of Lot and his wife, we need to look forward and not at what we’ve left behind. “¹⁰ Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father’s house. ¹¹ The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your Lord.” (Psalms 45:10-11)
     “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalms 46:10) I find this verse supporting what God told us six weeks ago, when we were looking to and waiting on Him to guide us on the path He has apportioned us. His exact words were, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14) And as if to further support these verses, Psalms 46:7 reads: “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Nothing we do bears witness of His faithfulness more than our being calm and collected while under the pressures brought by the world.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for confirming what You’ve put upon our hearts to do. Help us to keep our eyes on You and to let go of all that we’ve left behind when You called us to follow You.

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 17-21

Observation: Some of the most wonderfully powerful word God spoke through His prophets are here in the book of Jeremiah. The Lord talks at length about the Sabbath and how the people are to respect and do no work in it. The potter reshaping a flawed mold in his hands is compared to the Lord changing His mind on what He bestows upon us, relative to how we respond to His commandments.
     The Lord has Jeremiah deliver a scathing prophesy to Judah and all of Jerusalem for their wickedness by smashing a clay jar in front of them. “¹⁰ Then break the jar while those who go with you are watching, ¹¹ and say to them, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter’s jar is smashed and cannot be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. (Jeremiah 20:10-11) Jeremiah has a change of heart towards Judah when he discovers their plan to do away with him. He turns from seeking God’s mercies for them to outright calling for their destruction. "O LORD Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause." (Jeremiah 20:12)
     Right after proclaiming God's power and love for His people, “Sing to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked” (Jeremiah 20:13), he flips into a depressive and defeated whiner. “Cursed be the day I was born!  May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!” (Jeremiah 20:14) This back-and-forth, within five consecutive verses is why some (like Pastor Wayne Cordero) refer to Jeremiah, lovingly I'm sure, as the ‘bi-polar’ prophet of God.

Application: The Lord has forewarned us as to what our fate will be when we don’t honor and obey Him. “⁵ This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. ⁶ He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.'” (Jeremiah 17:5-6) He has also given us a glimpse of the blessings that await us for doing what is right in Him. “⁷ But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. ⁸ He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8) It should be, as they say, crystal clear. Somehow His people never took Him or His messenger seriously, ultimately paying the price for their misdeeds.
     When we’ve done wrong in His eyes, I believe that God gives us some leeway to reconsider the direction we’ve taken and the choices we’ve made. But then there comes a time when that option runs out and His judgment comes to bear. Like the potter that changes his mind when he finds a flaw in the mold, God can and will relent from His previous direction to punish us if we repent of our ways and return to Him. He can also repent of His previous plan to bless us, and instead chastise us for our iniquities, if we abandon His ways.
     We need to get the fact that He alone is God and what He says, goes. He created us and He can take us out. We play by His rules or we don’t play.

Prayer: Help us never to forget that You alone are our God. There is none like You Father. Thank You for Your love and kindness in giving us so many breaks when we deserved to be trashed.

Scripture Reading: Exodus 13-16

Observation: The Lord lays down the first set of rules for His people since leaving Egypt; consecration of their first boy child unto the Lord, and setting aside a special day to eat nothing that contains yeast, as a commemoration of their freedom from slavery.
     The crossing of the Red Sea in such a display of God’s power was not only to save them from the hand of Pharaoh but also to demonstrate for generations upon generations to come that He alone is God. But the people soon forget how great and awesome their God is. They grumbled about the water at Marah. They grumbled about not having the food they use to have in Egypt. Even when the Lord heard their grumbling and met their need, they didn’t fully comply with His instructions.

Application: We need to be aware that our deliverance from long term enslavement can have undesired repercussions. It is important to expect that bad side-effects may occur, but it is critical to know that God’s goodness and power is sufficient to see us through. At the end of the day, it is still about the condition of our heart and our faith in the Almighty. Keeping our eyes on the Lord and putting it all on Him will absolutely, without any doubt, smooth the rough waters and calm any storm.
     If He initiated it, He will finish it. There’s a saying - ‘You break it, you own it’. God broke the chains of bondage of His people, and set them free from slavery. He owns that back then as He owns our situation today - where He’s broken us free from enslavement. He broke the power of sin in our lives when He sent His only begotten – Jesus Christ. We need to give Him full authority of what He owns – our lives; and let Him guide and take care of us for He knows exactly what our situation needs. Before we were formed He knew each and every one of us – His children, and has set us apart before we were even born. (Jeremiah 1:5)

Prayer: Thank You Lord for setting me free. I know that there will be times when I may slip and forget that I’m free. Please be near to remind me that whom You have set free is free indeed.

Scripture Reading: Job 33-34

Observation: Elihu gets to the essence of his message or speech. He uses Job’s own words to make his argument. He maneuvers his way around like a well seasoned lawyer claiming to speak for God in one instance and complimenting Job’s other friends to rally them behind his propositions in another. Elihu’s basic premise is that Job is out of line when he (Job) thinks, or his words suggest that he has done no wrong and therefore deserves none of what is happening to him. For corroboration he turns to the others there who are older than him and presumably therefore wiser.

Application: Sometimes to hear from God, we need to listen to others. Our hearts though has to be focused on Him and desiring of His wisdom... for His plan, and not anybody else’s - to be made known to us. If we are to hear Him and receive His answer, we need to get past our frustrations as well as our judgment of those whom God may be speaking through. To know who God is and isn’t using to speak to us, comes back to focusing on Him; and focusing on the Lord sometimes means asking Him straight out if what we're being confronted with is His will. Obviously, God had not sanctioned Job's friends to speak on His behalf. Maybe God would have stopped Job's friends from speaking any further, ending that whole exchange a few steps sooner, if Job had pressed the Lord about the validity of their argument. Then again, maybe this was just the way it was suppose to play out.

Prayer: Teach me to listen for Your small, still voice. Help me to remain focused on You and to never allow anyone or anything to ever take Your place – not even for just a second.

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 1-3

Observation: The first chapter of today’s reading talks about being comforted by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul also describes in this letter the near death experience he and those with him went through in Asia. Paul expresses his concern for those (the Corinthians) he is shepherding.
     He compares the old covenant to the new. The old being hindered by a veil of the hardening of the heart. With the new, Christ removes the veil and frees us to understand and receive God’s word.

Application: In our walk in Christ, we will encounter trying times that will test our resolve but will serve to strengthen our commitment. Struggles will always give way to comfort, if we stand firm in our faith. We may encounter extreme pressures in our ministry or calling, but if we rely on Him and surrender all to His control, He will bring us through no matter what the situation may be. He is faithful to do it. “Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:9) Even though the world around us may be closing in on us, threatening to imprison us - we shouldn't be discouraged for in Him we have freedom. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

Prayer: The power and faithfulness of Your word is evident in the lives of those who have gone before us. Thank You for the record of their lives that serves to enlighten, encourage and strengthen every believer today.

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 5-9

Observation: After King David of Judah is anointed King over Israel as well, the Lord enabled him to go on a victorious spree of battles against his enemies. He took on and defeated the Jebusites who had occupied Jerusalem, the Philistines at Baal Perazim and at the Valley of Rephaim, Hadadezer son of Rehob, as well as the Syrians of Damascus. David was victorious in all of his conquests because he obeyed God and looked to Him for guidance.
     King David honored the word he had given Saul’s son Jonathan and showed kindness to Saul’s sole surviving relative, Mephibosheth – Jonathan’s son, who was crippled in both his legs. He restored to him all the property and land that had belonged to Saul - his grandfather. David set Mephibosheth up well; treating him like his own; having him eat with him at his table and having people farm his land for him.

Application: When the Lord calls us and anoints us to fulfill His plan for our lives, we can be confident that He will bring it to pass. No matter what the obstacles be that may come before us, He is faithful to bring us through it and accomplish His purpose for our lives. "⁸ Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth." (2 Samuel 7:8-9)
     There were times when David was fearful and apprehensive about what confronted him - in which case he would seek his God for guidance. Other times he would never doubt the victorious outcome of his battles against his enemies. Regardless of the situation, the key to his victories was that his heart was always for the Lord his God - even when he faulted.
     I believe that I’m presently facing and conquering, what I would consider to be my two-headed 'Goliath' – joblessness and waiting on the Lord. It was daunting at first but the Lord has shown me His faithfulness in never abandoning those whom He has called. Since I have learned to settle down and put my faith in Him, things have gone much smoother and effortless. I’m sure that like David, there will be situations that will once again test my resolve and try my faith; but I will try to remember what David did - constantly turning to God for guidance, thanking and praising Him for His love and deliverance.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for this time of pause that I can utilize to draw closer to You. I’m so grateful Father, for Your guidance and presence, growing me and feeding me with Your power and love.

Scripture Reading: Job 35-36

Observation: Elihu puts on the brass knuckles this time and goes for the jugular. Powerful, but misled. He pulls no punches as he spells out to Job and to others listening in on this exchange, that in spite of what anybody thinks, God is not only the Creator but is very much a hands-on Ruler of all the Universe. Impressive, but wrong... not because his understanding of who God is was flawed - but because, like others who blamed Job for his own dilemna, did not bother to check with God about any of it.

Application: We take so much for granted. The rain, the sunshine, the thunder and lightning – we take the world’s theories and explanation of how it all takes place - and stop there. We forget that it was God who not only engineered it all, but is the One who maintains every little detail of its functions and existence - who could bring it all to a devastating and merciless end if He so chooses. Just keeping the planets and galaxies from colliding into each other is worth at least an hour on our knees in daily praise and thanksgiving and the study of His word. Not recognizing the Creator, for being blinded by the amazing creation all around us, is the epitome of 'not seeing the forest for the trees'. Just because we can prove that gravity is what keeps us earthbound and the planets orbiting safely in their course, does not negate the critical role of the One who created it all – including gravity. On the contrary, it is all the reason why we need to thank and praise the Lord God, exalting Him above all the universe He created.
     In their eagerness to 'defend' God, Job's friends neglected to check with Him about the situation at hand; a simple "What's going on here Lord?" - would have gone a long ways in seeing Job's situation from a better perspective. Unfortunately, it takes a tragedy sometimes to bring us face to face with facts that in our rush to judgment, may no longer be within our sight and reasoning... Romans 8:28 is one such fact.
     Job’s situation was no ordinary struggle, but it stresses the significance of focusing on the Giver of life, and being aware that things can and often change – and as in Job's case, changes can be extreme. As a dancer who performs numerous revolutions focuses on one stationary spot to maintain his or her whereabouts, we need to remember that in the tornadic upheavals of life, to keep our focus on Him who never changes. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)
     In the midst of it all, I will rejoice in the fact that I serve an awesome and faithful God, and will try my best to bring each and everything to Him before criticizing others or casting blame where it does not belong. Like most things that are critical and complicated, but worthwhile - it's easier said than done. But, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) NKJV

Prayer: Thank You Father, for Your forever enduring love. Help me to never take any part of Your wonderful creation for granted. Remind me every day Lord, of Your magnificence and power that I may know true gratitude and worship – for there is none like You.

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 10-14

Observation: Hanun and the Ammonites disgraced the delegation that King David had sent to express his sympathy for Hanun’s father’s passing. This was a result of Hanun listening to his advisers who fed him wrong information about David’s intentions. As a result David’s army led by Joab goes to war against Hanun and all who aided him. They were utterly defeated by Joab and King David.
     David is ensnared by Bathsheba’s beauty and falls head-on into the trappings of immorality and disgrace. After David has Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, killed in battle, the prophet Nathan came to tell him of God’s displeasure about what he had done. Nathan delivers to David the details of his punishment which begins with his and Bathsheba’s son dying.
     David’s son Amnon falls in love with his half sister Tamar. He ends up raping her and was killed two years later by Tamar’s brother, Absalom. David who was mourning his dead son now longed for his other son Absalom who fled because of his taking Amnon’s life.
     After some coaxing, David allows Absalom to return; but for two years refuses to see him face to face. At the end of that time and after Absalom’s repeated attempt to reconcile with his father, David embraces him.

Application: As Hanun suffered for listening to his advisers without double checking the validity of their information, we can experience similar consequences when we neglect to inquire of the Lord about the authenticity of unverified counsel. Even when God speaks to us, it’s not a bad thing to ask Him for confirmation, as Gideon demonstrated. It isn’t a sign of faithlessness but of wanting to get it right. Since there are so much cross-talk and spiritual interference in the world, we need to be sure that we’re hearing from God and not from our own or anybody else’s interpretation of the truth.
     Would David have been better off if he had been well acquainted with his weaknesses? I believe that he would have - if he knew what to expect. Not only do we need to seek God to reveal to us our hidden faults, we need strength and wisdom from the Father to enable us to resist those same flaws. When David set his eyes upon Bathsheba’s beauty, red flags would have been wagging away to warn him of danger. They would have been reasoning with him that what he was contemplating wasn’t worth it, besides being just plain wrong in the eyes of God and man.
     Our relationship with God is the most important part of our existence. We can ill-afford not checking and double-checking with the Father, critical information about situations, as well as emotions and feelings within us. It takes minutes, if not seconds, to talk to Him in our spirit, about everything and anything – before we commit or surrender our values.

Prayer: Thank You Holy Spirit, for Your presence and guidance. Help me to remember that You’re always there to help when I need it, and that all I need to do is ask and believe. Thank You for being so faithful.

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 32-36

Observation: Jeremiah prophesies according to what the Lord tells him. King Zedekiah of Judah rejects Jeremiah’s prophesies about the King of Babylon destroying Jerusalem and taking Israel and Judah captive because of the people’s wickedness and disobedience. Even though disaster was at Israel’s doorstep, God promises to restore them after a period of 70 years, until which time they will be held captive in Babylon.
     God foretells the coming of the Messiah who will be “… a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; He will do what is right and just in the land.” (Jeremiah 33:15)
     God tells Jeremiah to let King Zedekiah know that though King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon takes him and his subjects captive - when its time, he will die peaceably and not violently.
     Disobedience and outrageous unfaithfulness were the underlying factor of God’s wrath in punishing His people; especially in light of all He had done to free them from a life of bondage and slavery under Pharaoh of Egypt - demonstrating His love through the miracles and power they themselves were witnesses to.

Application: The saying ‘history repeats itself’ could have been said about Israel as they repeatedly chose to ignore the lessons of their past. Today, we do the same when we forget what God has done for us - and as a result, walk right back into unrighteous acts.
     To keep from igniting God’s wrath in our lives, we need to “… always be thankful”. (Colossians 3:15) To be genuinely thankful, we need to be convinced of His goodness and love. To be convinced of His goodness and love, we need to remember what He has done for us in the past. As George Santayana said more than half a century ago, ‘Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it’.

Prayer: Keep us O Lord from forgetting all that You have done to give us abundant life. I am so grateful Lord for Your love and mercy. Thank You for all Thy creation, all Thy blessings, and all Thy faithfulness.

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 15-19

Observation: Absalom turns against his own father, King David. He conspires to turn the people against the King and amasses a following that causes David to abandon Jerusalem and flee. David awards Ziba all that he had given Mephibosheth – the grandson of Ziba’s master - the late King Saul. It was because of the provisions Ziba had brought for King David and his men when they fled Jerusalem, as well as Mephibosheth’s turning against David, that he did that.
     Shimei, as if possessed, curses David. The King suspecting that he was in a way possessed by the Holy Spirit in condemning him for his wickedness, lets it go unpunished.
     One of the most prominent ‘turncoats’ - Ahithophel, serves as Absalom’s adviser. Another who advised Absalom, Hushai, was not loyal to him but was a spy for David. As both advisers rendered their opinions on what Absalom should do about King David, Hushai’s was accepted over Ahithophel - which led him to take his own life.
     Absalom’s death so devastated King David that Joab angrily confronted him about showing more respect for Absalom his enemy than for those who risked their lives to protect the king. And thus were the confrontation, anger, division and death brought about by King David’s sin.

Application: All the chapters of today’s reading dealt with one thing in particular – the consequences of sin. King David’s sin, when he lusted and then coveted another man’s wife, caused an innocent man (Uriah) his life. David’s subjects, including his own family also paid the price for his incredible arrogance.
     When faced with the temptation to give in to lusts of the flesh (or any sin for that matter), we need to bear in mind the cost of our wrong choices. The penalties can be severe and long lasting, especially when compared to the insignificant and temporary thrills of sin.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be mindful of David’s pain and sorrow of losing so much because of sin. Grant me wisdom that I may learn from his mistakes.

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 37-41

Observation: Jeremiah was being bounced back and forth between prison and freedom due to King Zedekiah’s officials hating him for his prophesies; those believing in Jeremiah’s innocence would come to his defense winning his release. When asked, he was nevertheless forthright with his prophesies. King Zedekiah feared that after the city was captured, he would be handed over to the Jews who had deserted to the Babylonians. Jeremiah reassured him of that not being the case, if he surrendered peacefully to the Babylonians. When the attack came however, Zedekiah tried to run for it - but was captured; his eyes gouged out, the nobles of Judah killed and his sons slaughtered in front of him.
     Jeremiah was freed by the Babylonians to do and go as he pleased in the land. Gedaliah, who was put in charge by Nebuchadnezzar over the people remaining in Judah, along with the Jews and Babylonian soldiers who were with him, were assassinated by Ishmael and the ten men with him. Gedaliah was warned about Ishmael but had not given the warning credence. Johanan and his men, after hearing of Ishmael’s rampage, came after him but Ishmael escaped to the Ammonites. Likewise, Johanan (one of those who had warned Gedaliah about Ishmael), fled to Egypt fearing the eventual retribution by the Babylonians for Ishmael killing Gedaliah, their appointed guardian over the remnant of Judah.

Application: As we proceed in our quest to follow and obey God’s direction for our lives, unexpected and even uncomfortable change of events might arise, as it did with Jeremiah. Staying steadfast and remaining committed to God’s path for our lives will bring us through any obstacle or complication. We will see the hand of deliverance of our God if we do not shrink back.
     Update: Monday, April 02, 2007 - After receiving a call this morning from my good friend and fellow musician Bryan Lloyd notifying me of his intentions to quit his work at the Columbia Gorge, which in turn can bring to an end my involvement with the hotel (I had been subbing for him once or twice a month... which has been a great help for me) – the above word is absolutely what I needed, and will receive. Change of circumstances will work when we reamain in Him.

Prayer: Thank You for helping me keep focused on You. Father, renew my strength in You that I may continue to hope and trust in Your unfailing love.

Scripture Reading: Exodus 29-32

Observation: Moses is further instructed by God of the process in which the holy sacrifices, sin offerings, burning of the incense, construction of the altars and stands, anointing oils, and apparels for the priests, were to be made. God-appointed craftsmen for creative functions and design are included in His instructions. Last but not least, God emphasizes the importance of observing and respecting the Sabbath, as it was God’s day of rest after creating the heavens and the earth. All of the above, including the Ten Commandments, God wrote with His finger on two tablets of stone and gave to Moses.
     In the meantime, the people grew impatient and corrupt as they adulterated each others faith by having Aaron create out of their jewelry, an image of a calf to serve as their god. God saw and was so outraged by their wickedness that but by the pleading of His servant Moses, He would have annihilated the people He had just delivered from the hand of Pharaoh.
     When he saw for himself what the people did though, Moses could not contain his fury and disdain for the people’s corrupt behavior that he broke to pieces the tablets of stone containing God’s writing. Through the Levites, who had responded to Moses beckoning to one side those who were for the Lord, 3000 of the people were killed by the sword. Moses again approached God but was partly successful when he tried to diffuse God’s anger. Instead of destroying all of the people, God (through a plague) killed only those who were seriously guilty of this sin.

Application: The power of sin and wicked behavior should never be underestimated. For those being led or shepherded, we need to be aware of the devil’s infiltrating the body of Christ in the most subtle of ways. Once detected, the faithful need to take serious preventive measures to squash incoming evil forces by aggressively seeking and acquiring God’s help and intervention.
     Leaders need to be in control of their emotion no matter how aggravating and disappointing the breach of faith may be that is being perpetrated by those being shepherded. Interceding in prayer for those in trouble is always good – while destroying God’s work, as in the case of Moses breaking the tablets, is always bad. At the end of the day, it is always God who is the head of us. He is the guide and dispenser of wisdom and justice for all believers. According to His purpose and plan for our lives, God will be faithful in anointing us with the gifts and abilities necessary to serve Him according to His holy will. “¹ Then the LORD said to Moses, ² "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, ³ and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- ⁴ to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ⁵ to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.”” (Exodus 31:1-5)

Prayer: Cause me O Lord, not only to flee the presence of evil but to diligently seek and acquire Thy help in protecting my spiritual well being and that of those You have placed in my heart to care for.

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 42-46

Observation: Jeremiah is approached by the people, the remnant of Judah, including its leaders, to seek God for direction concerning what they should do in the face of all that has happened. They vow that they will do what ever God would have them do. Ten days later, Jeremiah tells them that the Almighty in very specific terms warns them not to go to Egypt as they were planning to do, but to remain in the land for He will protect them. True to their fallen character but not to their word, they disregard the word that was delivered them by Jeremiah, not believing it was from God. Their disobedience sets them up for a massive chastisement which will result in their destruction as well as losing their country of refuge, Pharaoh’s Egypt - to the Babylonians.
     The Lord their God promises that the line of Jacob, He will restore via those who were taken in captivity. In the meantime, He will discipline but not totally annihilate His people Israel.

Application: Depending on how we respond to God's directives, there are many variables that determine where we end up. When we obey Him, circumstances and forces, including people with authority over us, will unavoidably fall in line to release His blessings and power in our lives. On the other hand, disobedience inevitably will lead to a configuration of influences in our lives that confirm and bring to pass an undesirable fate. It is because of His great love for us that He holds us accountable for the choices we make. "'Do not fear, O Jacob my servant, for I am with you,' declares the LORD. 'Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.'" (Jeremiah 46:28)

Prayer: Create in me a heart of obedience and surrender that it may go well with me and my house. Help me Lord, to remember all You have done and all You will do so I won’t treat Your word with indifference, let alone with contempt.

Scripture Reading: Exodus 33-36

Observation: Moses communes with God who instructs him on how to construct and adorn the tabernacle of the Lord. He makes his plea that God look kindly on him and His people in spite of all they’ve done; to go with them instead of sending them off accompanied by an angel. Moses himself did wrong in destroying the first pair of tablets of stone when he lost control of his anger due to the wickedness of the people. The tablets were later replaced and the commandments rewritten by God. The Lord relents and agrees to show His presence as they went on their way to the Promised Land.
     God sternly instructs Moses that they do not mix it up with the people of other beliefs; never to intermarry with them, which the Lord knew would inevitably lead to their worshiping and bowing down to their idols. He tells Moses the various roles of the people and what they are to provide for their offerings and sacrifices, as well as their contribution towards the construction of the tabernacle of the Lord. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, Moses meets with the Lord his God on the mountaintop. He returns with a glow on his face, causing fear among the people. They get under way with their prescribed duties, following precisely the instructions of the Lord.

Application: As in the previous chapters of this book, we are reminded of the serious nature of worshiping the true living God in all of His faithfulness, power, and love. Given the fact that He gives us everything we need, protects us from the enemy, empowers us, and loves us endlessly – it is no surprise that He is angered with us when we turn from Him to follow other gods. He is such a loving and merciful God who continually gives us second chances; His kindness seemingly knows no bounds. As those who’ve fallen by the power of His wrath personally experienced, He is longsuffering but at the end of the day, He is faithful and just. Ultimately, it is His faithfulness that rewards our obedience but punishes our disobedience, and it is His justice or just-ness that earns our respect and holy fear of Him. He is and will always be true... first to Himself, and to all of humanity.

Prayer: Thank You for Your patience Lord, as You groom and prepare me to serve You according to Your purpose for my life. It is a little scary Lord, but I know that You will go with me. For that O Lord I am eternally grateful.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 1

Observation: Wisdom is overwhelmingly the focus of the book of Proverbs; it is clear though from the beginning where God’s place is in the whole subject of wisdom. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7)
     Warning against violence and the ways of the wicked is emphasized, for the end of them is the very destruction they planned to bring against the innocent. Solomon, the author of the book, presents wisdom as the third person. ‘She’ (wisdom) confronts the simple minded and threatens those who will not take ‘her’ to heart - with trouble… and even death.

Application: Wisdom is to be sought after, just as a flotation device is a must-have in the event of a disaster at sea. The greater the wisdom amassed, the better; the bigger the floatation device (from a body vest to an inflated raft or lifeboat), the greater the chances of survival. It all begins with the fear of the Lord, for not only did He create the universe, He also provides the day-by-day maintenance and sustenance of it. Taking the proper precautions to guard against disasters at sea begins with the fear, in the form of respect, for nature’s unbridled and unpredictable power. Seeking after wisdom reflects our faith and respect for the true living God.

Prayer: I have seeked You Lord for wisdom and I have witnessed its power and blessing as You have granted me my request for such a precious virtue. Thank You for Your faithfulness Father in meeting my needs. Continue to bless Your servant with knowledge and understanding that I may discern Thy ways and that I may walk in Thy righteousness O Lord.

Scripture Reading: Luke 7-8

Observation: The centurion exhibits great faith by trusting in the power of the Son of God, Who is not a respecter of time or distance. Jesus was amazed at such faith, which unleashed God's power to heal the centurion’s servant. He also brought back to life a widow’s only son which helps further spread His fame through out the land.
     He sends John’s disciples back to him after they’ve witnessed for themselves Jesus’ healing powers. He instructs them to relate to John all they’ve seen, which He tells them, will serve as the answer to John's inquiry of whether Jesus is the Messiah.
     Jesus forgives the woman who was condemned by the Pharisee. She had continuously kissed Jesus’ feet and wiping them with her own tears, as well as anointing Him with perfume. Jesus then tells the people the analogy of the sower sowing seeds in different types of conditions to signify the word of God being planted in hearts with varying degrees of reception.
     Jesus likens a lampstand being the appropriate place for a lamp, to God’s gifts in our lives being displayed openly for others to see: “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” (Luke 8:16)
     Even Jesus’ own family, His mother and brothers, have to take their proper place under God. “He replied, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.’” (Luke 8:21)
     Jesus quiets the rising storm that caused panic among His disciples, and later delivers a possessed man from a legion of evil spirits. The power within Him then causes a woman burdened with a bleeding issue for twelve years to be cured when she took the step to touch the hem of Jesus’ cloak believing it would heal her. He then brings a dead girl back to life – which astonished her parents, and amazed the whole community.

Application: The centurion understood the order of command and expressed it to Jesus (God), the highest of all chain of commands. Likewise, we are to realize that He has the authority and the power to meet ALL of our needs without the restrictions of distance or time. Even now, more than two thousand years from the time Jesus walked on this earth, His word still heals, still delivers, still comforts. Taking Jesus at His word is such a feat that it even amazes the Son of God. “⁷ ... say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it. ⁹ When Jesus heard this, He was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, ‘I tell you, I have not found such faith even in Israel.’”(Luke 7:7-9)
     As He brought back to life the only son of a widow, Jesus shows just how much compassion He has for us, demonstrating His power and awareness of our situation and the condition of our hearts.
     As John inquires of Him whether or not He was the Messiah, Jesus refers him to His ‘resume’: “²¹ At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. ²² So He replied to the messengers, ‘Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.’” (Luke 7:21-22) We always check out the background or resume of speakers, authors, movie directors, actors or prospective employees, before we commit ourselves to their work. As a matter of fact, that’s the problem I’ve been running into in my search for employment in the computer science field. I have the education, the Degrees – but I don’t have the experience in the field. Jesus welcomes such inquiries because He has the ‘goods’. God’s record is all over His word - from Genesis to Revelation. As a matter of fact, it’s all over every part of life’s existence - period. All we need to do is look around, above and below; we’ll have all we’ll ever need to back up the claim that He can do all that we believe Him for. He created all of this; He can certainly deliver us from trouble and meet all of our needs.
     Jesus saw the heart of the woman who kissed His feet and wiped them with her tears. It’s not that He cared that His feet was wiped or that He was anointed with perfume. He can command all of heaven’s angels to do that 24/7 and they will obey. He saw and was moved by her heart. It is our heart that He sees and knows.
     The verse that speaks to me in particular today is the ‘lamp on the stand’ analogy. John Gill explains it this way: “Even so it is the will of Christ, that what evangelical light and knowledge He bestows on any person, they should not hide it, nor their gifts and talents, or keep it back from the view of others, but should hold it forth both in their preaching, and in their practice.” (John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible) I need to remember that the gifts He’s blessed me with, needs to be held up for people to see, to be blessed by, and glorify God for. That is part and parcel of our being humble before the Lord; it (the gifts and talents He's blessed me with) need not be forced, but be always done in Him and through Him. When it's done right, our exalting the Father through our God-given talents, rains the devastating and descructive power of heaven upon the enemy. False humility on the other hand, is often a direct counter-attack from the devil.
     I need to be ready to go with whatever He puts on my plate - for no matter how daunting the task may be, He will always provide. I need to keep my eyes constantly on Him, while obeying Him with whatever He speaks to my heart.
     Culture, tradition, profession, worldly possessions, even Church and family, cannot and should not precede God’s word. We need to hold on loosely to these, as well as people, that we may easily let go when He wants us to.
     ‘If they could see me now’ is a phrase we think of when we’re in a place of joy and fun, hoping our friends and family could see us and experience what we’re experiencing. Our loved ones who have gone on to be with the Lord may very well be saying that when they see how we’re struggling with their departure. Holding on loosely to God’s gifts and blessings in our lives (including families and friends), helps us have that insight and that peace.
     I am reminded of an episode that unfolded on national television a while back. A man who was fleeing the authority ran into a house and held the owner and his son captive, while the police surrounded the area. The man caring primarily for the safety of his 4 year old son, asked the man holding them hostage to let his son go. The man complied and the father of the child opens the garage door and told his son to run to the safety of his mother, who was then outside with the police. The young boy did not want to leave his father’s side and kept running back to him. Finally the father had to push him out and quickly close the garage door, which on one hand might tear him up, but on the other helps him deal with the situation a whole lot easier knowing that at least his young son was safe. Losing a loved one can tear us apart, unless we know where they’re going and how much safer and better they will be when they get to the other side.
     Jesus calming the storm, delivering the man from demon possession, curing the woman from a bleeding issue, and raising the dead girl back to life – only adds to His ‘resume’… which is always there for us to examine so we may know just who it is we’re dealing with, and surrender to His love, power and will.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your unequaled and incredible resume of compassion and power. Help us to take You at Your word and trust in Your record that we may experience the same power and authority in our lives through Jesus - and let that shine through us so others may see and know You, the true living God.

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 10-13

Observation: Queen of Sheba comes to see for herself what everybody’s been raving about - King Solomon’s relationship with his God and the wisdom he possessed. She brought with her never before seen gifts of treasures, and an entourage to match, in honor of Solomon. She also came with questions and riddles to test the King. She was soon persuaded of the validity of the stories she’d heard… and then some.
     Solomon spared no expense in his elaborate designs in decorating his palace and kingdom. His love for foreign women though became his Achilles’ heel. The Lord had specifically told him not to intermarry with them, which he ignored. From that point on - it was downhill all the way, because his heart had turned away from the Lord and instead was towards the gods of his foreign wives and concubines.
     A man of God prophesies against Jeroboam, king of Israel, and backed up his prophesy by splitting, through an invisible hand, the altar Jeroboam was making offerings to his god on, and scattered the ashes that was on it. Jeroboam froze where he stood, his hand shriveled when he motioned for the man of God to be seized. Realizing his mistake, he asked the man of God to intercede on his behalf for God to restore his hand to its normal state… which he did.
     An old prophet in Bethel got wind of this occurrence and contacted the man of God in person by intercepting his path. The old prophet lied to the man of God by convincing him to come back and eat bread and drink water with him – saying that God had authorized it. As a result, the man of God was killed by a lion and was buried in the old prophet’s own tomb (probably out of a guilty conscience for having lied to him). King Jeroboam did not heed the warning brought by the man of God and kept on doing evil, which led to the total destruction of his kingdom.

Application: Blessings and powers that God bestows upon our lives can and often attract attention and praise from the world. We need to be on the lookout that this doesn’t take us off of our focus - into self-centeredness and pride. Pride can quietly fester and grow right beneath the surface, to burst into full force at a later time when circumstances are ripe. I believe Solomon was feeding that pride issue with the elaborate over-the-top extravagance he paid to his gold shields, ivory throne, etc. That would be a dangerous path to take, for it can easily lead to the need to live up to our own created image and to ‘believe our own press’ - so to speak. Local women would not suffice Solomon anymore; foreign beauties would be more satisfying to his ego. As wise as he was, Solomon got tangled up in his own web and eventually succumbed to the tools of the devil – pride and immorality, which led to his downfall.
     We can deduce from Solomon’s experience that wisdom without God is no match against the devil. Godly wisdom can and, as in this case, did deteriorate to corrupted wisdom – when we take our eyes off of the Lord.
     As the man of God in this reading was used to deliver His word to Jeroboam, which was then followed up with powerful works – we can likewise be used by the Creator to show the world His truth and His power. We should be always aware though of those who, impressed by what they see in us, are out to deceive us for their own purposes; some even coming in the name of the Lord. Keeping our eyes constantly on God is of immeasurable importance. When we know for certain what the Lord has spoken to our hearts, no one, I mean absolutely no one – should have Cart Blanche in causing us to change our course, without Lord's say-so. Their saying, ‘Thus sayest the Lord’ does not make it so. We need to take it to the Lord and always check with Him as to what we need to do. Failing to do so amounts to turning our backs on the Creator, the Lord our God - which can lead to remaining in the wilderness, or even death.

Prayer: Please Father, do not ever let me take my eyes off of You. Help me to put You first and keep You first always that I may constantly look and talk to You about any alteration or change in direction from what You have designated for me.

Scripture Reading: Luke 11-12

Observation: Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, and how to have their prayers answered by persistent determination. If we do that for one another, going out of our way to accomodate a nagging request, He certainly can and would do it for us when we seek Him with purpose and resolve.
     Jesus drives out a demon from one who was possessed - which brought up lessons about a divided house falling, and the stronger man binding the strong man of a house, gaining control of it. Jesus is the stronger power and not the same as Beelzebub as some were saying.
     Jesus reminds the people about Nineveh being spared after repenting when Jonah warned them of the consequences of their wickedness; He also brought to mind when people came from all parts of the world to observe and were amazed by Solomon’s wisdom. His point being that He (Jesus) is far greater than these and yet unbelief rules the hearts of many.
     Jesus deals with the hypocrisies of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, when they’re more worried about the condition of the outer man rather than the soul and spirit within; they’re concerned about impressing others with their status rather than doing what’s right.
     We worry about our daily existence, not trusting God to provide for our needs, yet He does not forget even a single sparrow that’s sold for pennies. He teaches the people that fretting about our day-to-day survival does not make sense when neither the ravens nor the lilies are troubled by the same concerns, for the Lord our God cares for them. Be concerned instead with being ready for His return and with doing what He wants you to do while He tarries.
     He teaches that because of Him, there will be division - even among family and friends, for His word is like a sharp double edged sword that cuts between our new life in Him and the old, separating us from unbelievers; even from loved ones who will not surrender to Him. The knack of forecasting the weather is useless if we don't have the understanding to comprehend the times we’re living in. Jesus uses the analogy of two opposing parties settling their issues before getting to court, to teach us that working out our differences before things get beyond a point of no return is wise.

Application: I believe that there are times when praying about a need, surrendering it and trusting God to hear and answer us will suffice. But there are situations where our consistent seeking of His assistance and provision is necessary.
     Sometimes we just need to hold up Jesus next to the things and people we respect or hold in high regard, to realize the absurdity of not giving Him His just dues. All the world cannot and will not stand up against the Creator of the Universe, the Alpha and the Omega, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The same applies for what we struggle with in our daily lives – provisions, fear, doubt, depression, disasters, etc. None can compare with the Lord our God and His ability to provide and protect us from any and all forces that may come against us. Like the old hymn says, we just need to ‘trust and obey’.
     We are to avoid holding on tightly to possessions and relationaships. If divisions and separation occur between friends or even loved ones, it’s okay - as long as we’re trusting and obeying the Lord in our lives. He may be setting us apart to be holy and undefiled by wrong doctrine or influences. Without our trusting and obeying Him, we can interfere with His process of bringing about change… either in our life or in the lives of others.

Prayer: You are so faithful Lord. Thank You for taking care of every situation surrendered and every need submitted.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 72-74

Observation: The 72nd Psalm was written (according to some) by Solomon, and about the coming Christ. Others believe it was by David and about Solomon, but whoever it was written by – I agree with those of the opinion that these were prophesies about Jesus the Messiah - that was to come. It just attributed way too much power to the intended focus of the Psalm to be about any other. “⁵ He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. ¹¹ All kings will bow down to Him and all nations will serve Him. ¹⁷ May His name endure forever; may It continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through Him, and they will call Him blessed.” (Psalms 72:5,11,17)
     The writer of Psalms 73 and 74, like those that follow (through the 83rd Psalm), are attributed to Asaph. In the 73rd the writer refers to his almost being overcome by the ways of the world. “² But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. ³ For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalms 73:2-3) This I can definitely relate to.
     The 74th Psalm struggles with the wicked getting away with their evil deeds, and seeks to remind the Lord of them, as Asaph rallies the Lord to action on behalf of His people. “²² Rise up, O God, and defend Your cause; remember how fools mock You all day long. ²³ Do not ignore the clamor of Your adversaries, the uproar of Your enemies, which rises continually.” (Psalms 74:22-23) As if reminded by His Spirit, or maybe in an attempt to encourage God (as if God needed encouraging), the author declares what the Lord has done. “¹² But You, O God, are my king from of old; You bring salvation upon the earth. ¹³ It was You who split open the sea by Your power; You broke the heads of the monster in the waters." (Psalms 74:12-13)

Application: We need not look or focus on the ways of the world or the successes of the wicked. If we do, it will only serve to take us off of our game, which is to abide in Him and walk in His peace - rejoicing evermore. If we find ourselves detoured into envying the ways of the wicked, checking back in with the Lord our God who is our Sheppard, our source and our strength, will help us reclaim our bearing. “¹⁶ When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me ¹⁷ till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.” (Psalms 73:16-17)

Prayer: Keep me Father from being distracted by the flash and the glamor of this world. Help me to never lose sight of Your power, and of the fact that You set me apart before I was even born. Thank You for Your purpose and plan for my life, which is far better than anything this world has to offer.

Scripture Reading: Luke 13-14

Observation: In referring to the Galileans that Pilate killed and the fig tree that didn’t bear fruit, Jesus teaches the people that repentance is to being saved as righteousness is to bearing fruit. You cannot have one (being saved and bearing fruit) without the other (repentance and righteousness).
     Jesus confronts the hypocrisy of the Pharisees when they objected to His healing people on the Sabbath, likening it to them rescuing one of their farm animals on the Sabbath if the need arose. He compares the Kingdom of God to a tiny mustard seed that grows into a powerful tree, and to a little yeast that’s mixed in with some flour that would raise the dough significantly. He uses other parables to tell the people that if they don’t get it right and be ready, they’re not going to be ‘in the number when the saints (like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) go marching in’… to quote an old spiritual chorus. Chapter 13 wraps up with Jesus specifically giving notice to God’s chosen people – the Jews, when He said, “Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Luke 13:35)
     Jesus uses the analogy of a lavish banquet being ignored by its planned recipients, to portray the rich and powerful members of society holding in high regard their status and prominence more than the kingdom of God.

Application: We all fall short of His glory and therefore all, every one of us, need to repent of our sins to be saved. True Christianity produces fruits; if we don’t have anything to show for our faith – no love for others, no compassion for the poor, no forgiving of each other’s faults, etc… we are as useless as salt that’s lost its saltiness.
     To follow God, we need to learn to listen to His voice and know when His word trumps the law, for "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" (Luke 6:5) – and not the other way around. This can be a slippery slope where many have fallen victim of misguided theories, such as anti-establishment - leading to anarchy and self destruction. When we come to Him, we need to surrender all - including our misconceptions, from which the Father will set us straight... if we let Him. Entering in through the narrow door exemplifies doing it right - doing it by His word and through His leadership and guidance.
     No one knows when Jesus will return, but watching for the time when Israel starts embracing Him as Lord, might be a clue that it’s at the doorstep of civilization.
     It is better to display true humility than to be humiliated; to associate with the poor and lowly than with the rich and powerful, because of their status. We need to love Him more than our own, and hold Him in the highest esteem - if we are to be used by Him. Making Him the highest priority in our lives is our part, if we are to have peace and joy with Him through all eternity. Choosing Him may be a ‘no-brainer’, but one needs to understand absolutely the verifications of such a choice before one takes on the undertaking of being His disciple. Once we embark on that journey, losing our saltiness or the flavoring the Holy Spirit creates in us is not an option. If we do, we become useless – good only to be discarded.

Prayer: Help me to never compromise Your Spirit in me that I may remain flavorful so You may use me to reach others for Your kingdom.

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 19-22

Observation: Elijah the prophet runs for his life when threatened by Jezebel, wife of King Ahab of Israel. He is awakened by an angel of the Lord twice after falling asleep under a juniper tree, and after being fed both times Elijah is strengthened to take on the 40 day and 40 night journey to Horeb, the mountain of God. The presence of the Lord passed by, not in the great and powerful wind, not in the earthquake, and not in the fire, but in a gentle whisper. “¹¹ The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. ¹² After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” (1 Kings 19:11-12) The Lord gave Elijah directions on what to do next. He found Elisha who, moved by the Holy Spirit, became Elijah’s assistant.
     Ben-Hadad, King of Syria, with the backing of thirty-two other kings, and full of arrogance, moves to attack Ahab, King of Israel. He bites off more than he can chew when the Lord gets involved siding with Israel and decimates the enemies of Israel; but against the Lord’s will, Ahab allows Ben-Hadad to go free.
     A situation of greed arises when Ahab just had to have a certain vineyard, which was owned by Naboth a Jezreelite. Naboth was later targeted and killed by Queen Jezebel of Israel for refusing her husband’s desire to posses the vineyard. The prophet Elijah receives a word from the Lord to confront Ahab and Jezebel with their misdeeds and prophesy to them of the consequences of their actions. Because Ahab humbles himself in the Lord’s eyes, he is spared of his just recompense which was deferred to the time of his descendants - after his death. Jezebel was not so fortunate.
     Three years of peace between Israel and Syria passed before King Ahab is enticed by his own shady past into going after Ben-Hadad; the Lord allows it to bring to pass His will to end King Ahab’s rule and life. Even though he didn’t remove all the high places, King Jehoshaphat of Judah did right in the eyes of the Lord and reigned for twenty-five years. On the other hand, King Ahaziah who succeeded his father King Ahab angered the Lord by worshiping Baal; he reigned for only two years.

Application: Today’s reading is really about two types of individuals (at least to me): Elijah, a righteous man who walked in obedience to God, and King Ahab, who tried to manipulate God by seeking His way when it suited him, and doing evil the rest of the time; King Jehoshaphat of Judah who did what was right in God’s eyes and King Ahaziah, who like his father and mother before him, displeased God by worshiping Baal and doing evil.
     In each situation the righteous are rewarded with power and longevity, and the wicked’s compensation were ultimate defeat and humiliation. All through out the bible, there are cases after cases of righteous lives of the faithful abounding with power through the blessings of God, as well as wicked and immoral behavior provoking and unleashing the wrath of God upon the perpetrators.
     The bible is the word of God that clearly depicts the lives of godly, as well as evil men and women, for people of today to learn from; how the righteous are rewarded and how the wicked are taken down. In it we have all the blueprint we will ever need to live power-packed victorious lives in Him while avoiding the pitfalls that can easily befall us.

Prayer: Thank You for Your love in providing for Your children. While we were yet unborn, You gave us Your holy word through which we may find life and power.

Scripture Reading: Luke 15-16

Observation: The Pharisees criticize Jesus for keeping company with society’s undesirables. In response, Jesus relates to them the parable of the once lost then found sheep, as well as the woman who first loses a silver coin and later finds it again; in each case, there was much rejoicing. He tells them the analogy of the prodigal son to drive home the point of heaven rejoicing more over one sinner that repents than for the many that were already saved.
     In the parable of the manager who starts padding his downfall-to-be (because he was about to lose his job) by dishonest means, Jesus warns the people that ‘creative accounting’ though ingenious it may be, is wrong and will not cut it. We as believers should have the same enthusiasm for the things of the Kingdom as the unbelievers have for worldly things. He teaches them that truth and honesty does not depend on its size but on its consistency (faithfulness). Serving two masters equally is impossible, especially when it involves such diverse interests as righteousness and worldliness. He points out that the old covenant has its place, but that the new is now in effect. As someone once said, “The new covenant is to the old as fulfillment is to promise”. Also, the covenant between a husband and a wife is to be respected and honored - not to be dismissed unreasonably.
     The beggar who spends eternity with God and in the company of the likes of Abraham, draws a stark contrast with the rich unmerciful man forever doomed to eternal suffering in hell.

Application: Knowing how heaven celebrates over one sinner that repents, should give us a clue of how important it is to live our lives in a way that would lead people to the Lord. Wherever He places us, we are to serve Him doing what is before us (what He puts on our plate) with integrity and without reproach, so He may be glorified in us.
     Again, we are reminded that Jesus is the new covenant, and as such, He trumps anything that was before without losing respect for the old. “¹⁶ The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. ¹⁷ It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.” (Luke 16:16-17)
     Let us work to build treasures in heaven, for we will no longer have that option when we pass from this life to the next. Physical death is simply a doorway to the next life. That may it be, death is nevertheless a point of no return, when our eternal destination is sealed – to be revealed by the Creator. We can hope at that point that we’re going to spend eternity with Jesus, but He is the only one that can make that call. As Matthew relates part of Jesus’ sermon of the Mount: “²¹ Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23) If there was ever a passage that warns against a believer resting on his or her laurels, this is it. We need to continue to run the good race, until such a time when we're called to leave this world.

Prayer: Teach me Father to have love and compassion in my heart for all of society, and to live my life as a testimony to Your every word. Help me to reach out to the lost and befriend the poor – for it is especially for such that You came.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 8-9

Observation: Solomon proclaims from the roof tops that wisdom is a much more worthy tool for our arsenal in our walk and in any level of warfare (whether it be spiritual, psychological or physical), than we realize. Indeed, he professes, that she is far more valuable and far more precious than any gem or treasure, and is what will connect us to God to walk in His ways.

Application: Wisdom is not necessarily silent, nor is understanding timid. Knowledge is bold. They are consistently beckoning the simple and wise alike to drink of their fountain, to get their fill of their spread for they are the finest in the land. Ignorance and folly are also vying for our attention. They are always promoting their agenda, which is ungodliness and death; we get to choose which path to take. It’s a no-brainer for sure, but we’ve got to choose – and most of the time we don’t, because we either put it off or we don’t take it seriously enough, or we don’t believe we need to, or we just don’t care.
     The world's way of dealing with life is, “If it feels good, do it.” Whether we know it or not, that is a choice… not a good one – but it’s a choice we make. If getting wasted drunk, or stoned, or having an extra-marital affair feels good... go for it. It’d be one thing if we were surrendered to God’s control and will, in which case He will be influencing all our actions, thoughts and words. The statement then would be, “If our heart tells us it’s right, do it”. It’d be another thing all together if we were distanced from the Father; we would be working on a much inferior plan and agenda that would inevitably lead us to death and destruction. Godly wisdom, when we choose to embrace it, will tell us that God’s way is the only true and right way.
     When it all began, wisdom was there - and she’ll be there when this world comes to an end. She is infinitely linked to the Creator, for she is His handiwork. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

Prayer: Thank You Lord for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Continue to grow me in Your wisdom Father that I may truly know You, and to become more and more like You Jesus.

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 19-24

Observation: The Lord speaks to Ezekiel the message to be given to His people Israel, and to His chosen Judah; a lament for their leaders. The Lord God tells how He reared and cared for them, nurturing them for His purposes. But due to their stubborn disobedience, they would be captured and taken into captivity.
     While in captivity, the Lord would confront the people about their detestable practices and wickedness which have brought them to the pit of despair and humiliation. The Lord had vowed to deliver them from bondage and uphold them as His special people destined for a land of plenty. They forsook Him and turned to other gods - defiling God’s laws, igniting His anger and bringing upon themselves the wrath of His fury. As much as the Lord would have them return to Him, the people continuously rejected Him for the false gods of their own making.
     Ezekiel further hears from the Lord to say to the people that in spite of all they’ve done and all their wickedness, they will know that He is Lord – even if it means destroying the righteous with the unrighteous. “… and say to her: ‘This is what the Lord says: I am against you. I will draw my sword from its scabbard and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.’” (Ezekiel 21:3) Some translate the ‘righteous’ in the above verse to mean... those righteous in their own eyes. The Lord will allow, and even aid the enemy of His people to destroy Jerusalem and take into captivity its people. The Lord their God is determined to bring upon them the consequences of their evil ways and to teach them His ways.
     The people have really done it this time; they've frezzled His last nerve (so to speak)... such that He would consume them in His anger, for their detestable deeds of prostitution; the very object of their lust will come home to roost. “ ¹⁶ As soon as she saw them, she lusted after them... ¹⁷ and in their lust they defiled her. After she had been defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust.
     ²² I will stir up your lovers against you, those you turned away from in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side." (Ezekiel 23:22) All of this, to let them know the wrong of their ways, and to teach them that He alone is Lord.

Application: What is it with us that we can not seem to get it? Do we have to be pounded and smashed into smithereens to understand that there is no other God but the Creator, Jehovah God? What speaks to me in today’s reading is the incredible extent of the ignorance and stubbornness of man. If I am to learn anything from this reading, it is:

1. to never underestimate the power and scope of man’s immorality, and

2. to know that as good and forgiving as He is, God will go to any length to bring upon our lives our just rewards in forsaking His ways for the ways of the world

Prayer: Lord, I never ever want to be on the receiving end of Thy fury. Renew my heart daily to follow Thy precepts and desire Your ways. Grant me the wisdom, the knowledge and the understanding to surrender to and love You more each day.

Scripture Reading: Leviticus 13-15

Observation: These three chapters in the book of Leviticus cover Israel's skin diseases, such as leprosy, and uncleanness such as discharges. The Lord explained to Moses and Aaron how to be rid of these impurities, and how to keep others from acquiring them.
     I am struck by three things in today’s reading:

1. The ugliness of the infections

2. The raw nature that God dealt with the subject

3. The love and concern God has for His people

Application: These are a people who seem to always fall away from the true living God - who time and time again have delivered them from their enemies, provided for their every need and who love them like no other. Despite their unfaithful nature He shows His compassion for them by caring for the smallest things that might confront them, such as mildew in their homes as described in Leviticus 13:47-59.
     We, in this generation, are living in a time when leprosy is a thing of the past. Back then, it was a devastating, not to mention humiliating situation when one was infected with such a disease, from which there was no known cure. As we read in these accounts, God’s people were protected from the ravages of such dehumanizing conditions. With the medical breakthroughs we’re blessed with today, we have cures for illnesses and infections past generations had to endure. We are nevertheless struggling with issues of our own, may it be physical ailments such as cancer and AIDS, social ills such as poverty, hunger, crime and addictions, or global threats such as natural disasters, global warming and nuclear annihilation.
     We need a God who cares and loves us deeply to have sent His very own Son that we may have eternal life. We have that in our Heavenly Father, Creator of the Universe, and Lover of our soul. Like a Father would tend to his child’s bruises, the Lord our God is eager to tend to our every need - if we would just call on His name, run to Him and worship Him as Lord of our lives.
     The threats that confront the people of the world may have changed in certain aspects, but the devastation they wreak upon humanity has never diminished in power. On the contrary, they have only intensified as the end draws near.
     As the Lord prescribed cures for the diseases in the time of Moses, part of the process involved the afflicted announcing to others their affliction, as well as being forced into isolation for a period of time. "⁴⁵ The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' ⁴⁶ As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.” (Leviticus 13:45-46) Jesus came that we may receive life everlasting. He endured the harshest of conditions; He bore our infirmities, our diseases, our sins - upon himself who knew no sin; was crucified on Calvary hill, outside of the city. He did all that for us, so we won’t have to. All we need to do is believe in the name of Jesus and believe that God the Father sent Him to die for our sins that we may be made whole, and live with Him in eternity. That’s true love!
     Some may ask, “Why is the bible (Old Testament in particular) so boring; so painfully, and unnecessarily detailed?”
     There are two reasons, I believe, why God spoke in very particular and detailed accounts to his servants of old. As Moses wrote down what God told him, we realize just how specific He is in guiding us to do what He wants us to do in order that we may be saved.

Listen and Obey

     He is a God of specificity. When God spoke to Noah about the ark that he was to build, He was very specific. When He spoke to Solomon about the temple that he was to build for Him to indwell, He was again very precise in the whole process of constructing it - the measurements, the material... etc. I believe this is emphasizing the importance of listening and obedience… which is not possible, at least not effective, without faith.
     It could have been much easier, not to mention - quicker, for God to snap his fingers, and Noah would have the ark all done and ready to sail. One lightning bolt from His fingers and the temple would rise from the ground, and one wave of Moses’ rod and the people’s diseases would be cured. Instead, God painstakingly went through the intricate instructions of what His people needed to do to walk in His ways.
     We need to respect His word enough not to discount any of it; not to skim through any part we may not agree with, or even bypass altogether parts that may bore us. For there's always the chance that through verses like, “The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot” Leviticus (14:14) and personal instructions such as, “This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high” (Genesis 6:15) God may speak specific information into our lives. It might be, if for no other reason than to see if we’re truly listening.

Road-blocks

     “⁹ He said, "Go and tell this people: 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' ¹⁰ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."” (Isaiah 6:9-10) The Lord God has set apart all whom He has chosen. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” (Jeremiah1:5) For those He didn’t, He has put in place road-blocks, if you will, that will keep them from seeing the light and perceiving the truth. Some of these road-blocks come in the form of God's word not making sense when they read them. They will think of It as ‘contradicting’, ‘too much information’, or ‘too childish in its simplicity’, and thus fall away.

Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Jesus. Jesus thank You for coming and bearing my sins, my infirmities and for enduring such humiliation and pain so I won’t have to. Thank You O Lord my God, for Your amazing grace, Your awesome love.

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 25-30

Observation: The Lord spoke through His prophet Ezekiel to prophesy against the nations that ridiculed and took advantage of Israel when she was being disciplined for her misdeeds. The Lord’s word predicts the downfall and destruction of the enemies of Israel and Judah, causing forfeiture of their goods, their lands, their freedom, and even their very lives. Tyre in particular, for its insolence and arrogance, caught the brunt of the Lord’s fury; Moab, Seir, Ammon, Edom, and Philistine were also among those that were prophesied against for their part in disrespecting God’s chosen and discounting the ways of the Lord. It seemed that Tyre had so much going for her, resulting in a greater depth of arrogance on her part, that she had a longer way to fall than most. Sidon was up next to be forewarned of the Lord’s discipline against her.
     Israel and Judah, who had not turned to the Lord for help but looked instead to Pharaoh, King of Egypt - leaving a distinct bad odor in the face of the true living God. For that Egypt was going to be demoted into a wasteland, with its people dispersed into and held captive by other nations. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon seems to be the sole benefactor of Egypt’s predicted downfall when the Lord professes that he will acquire Egypt’s wealth. The people of Egypt were to be restored to their homeland forty years after this predicted downfall.

Application: When God allows hardship to befall anyone, especially one of His own, we need to be careful not to rub it in their faces, for we in many instances are likely to be no less deserving of similar adversity. We better just bite our tongue, learn from their mistakes and pray that we’d never be put under the microscope for each and every little mess-up we’re guilty of.
     It would also be a good idea to check with the Lord about a situation or a problem that, say a fellow believer is running to us for help in. It’s always good to seek Him about everything anyway - especially when it might involve what the Lord has allowed or put in motion, to accomplish His plan and purpose. If there’s a part for us to play, who better than the Lord, to show us what that part should be? One thing we don’t want to do is get in the way of His plans.

Prayer: Thank You Father for today. Teach me to look to You for everything, even when it involves what I might consider to be obvious in as far as what I am to do. Help me to not delight in someone else’s misfortune or demise.

Scripture Reading: Leviticus 16-18

Observation: As in preceding chapters of Leviticus, the Lord further articulates the steps that Moses was to take in approaching the Most Holy; as well as the process for the people of Israel to atone for their transgressions and presenting offerings to the Lord their God. The eating of blood was a serious issue that was prohibited, the committing of which would result in excommunication. Sexual relations with close relative, such as mother, sister, and nieces are an abomination.

Application: As the Lord communicated to Moses what his role was and what he needed to tell the people as to what they should do, the head of the family is to hear and receive from God operational directives for him and for the family. I, as the head of my family, am accountable to God for my family living and prospering in the Lord.
     The eating of blood and incest relationships were not tolerated then, neither should it be now... or ever. Likewise, there are boundaries, the crossing of which the Lord will simply not tolerate; idolatry or the worship of other gods being one - blasphemy against the Holy Spirit not withstanding. “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” (Mark 3:29)
     As I re-read this day's journal, I realized the significance of a particular part of verse 29 of chapter 16. “... you must deny yourselves and not do any work.” (Leviticus 16:29) It dawned on me that 'denying one's self' is, at least in part, what fasting is about. Fasting in turn can also be expressed in the form of honoring Sundays or Sabbaths as a day set aside for resting, and not indulging in activities we normally do any other day of the week – such as work. Sometimes the urge to do some kind of work, for whatever reason, on the day of rest can cause us to disobey God's instructions. “It is a sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.” (Leviticus 16:31) Sometimes, God's instructions can be very specific and personal - in other words, just for us. In my case, it was caffeine. He specifically instructed me some time ago, to stay away from caffeine... or to deny myself of it. For me "... it is a lasting ordinance". I, at various different times, have taken this word from God, lightly - resulting in consequences not to my liking. I have since made it a priority to follow the Lord's directives for my life to the letter. Making it a priority though does not always mean 'mission accomplished'... but I'm working on it.

Prayer*: Help us O God to listen and obey Your commandments to us as a body, as well as Your word to us individually. Reveal to us our hidden faults that block us from hearing directives specifically designed for our personal lives.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 11-12

Observation: Honesty, humility, wisdom, integrity, righteousness, understanding, nobility, kindness, generosity, discipline, knowledge, goodness and good works are elements of virtue encouraged in these chapters. On the other hand dishonesty, pride, ignorance, wickedness, ruthlessness, cruelty, evil, perverseness, indiscretion, deceit and laziness clearly are to be resisted – if we are to live for God and receive all that He has for us.

Application: Early this morning I was heating up a plastic bottle of honey in the microwave so I can get the crusted part out easier. I left it in for too long and it exploded inside the microwave oven spraying all over the inside. I had to use a sponge with soap and water to clean out the mess, but in the process I ended up with a much cleaner interior than I started with before the explosion. We had let the mess of other food products stain and corrupt the inner parts of the microwave, and it was not going to change anytime soon. A mishap brought about a much needed cleanup of the dirt and grime that had become acceptable or at the very least - tolerable.
     We need not see every bad thing that happens in our lives as set-backs. When we’re in step with God’s will and purpose for our lives, and something out of the ordinary happens that shakes us to the core, it’s always a good idea to let it play out. If we try to fight it to the extent of forcing our will upon it and allowing anger or fear to displace our focus, we can miss the blessings that it’s purposed to reveal.

Prayer: Forgive me Father for the messes that have accumulated in my life over the past years and have become acceptable and even normal. Thank you for Your word that reminds me of the corrupt nature of the dirt and grime I’ve allowed to fester and to be encrusted in my heart and in my mind. Help me change as I let go of the old and let You cleanse and purify me from within.

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3-4

Observation: Paul stresses in his letter to the believers at Colosse to remember to daily adorn their new identity in Christ, and to shed their old selves in the world. Verse 5 of the 3rd chapter clarifies further a question I had about ‘high places’ and what it would signify in today’s world. Knowing that high places is all about idolatry, the verse sheds light on what idol worship is. “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5)
     In this reading, God's holy word is also reminding us that as God’s chosen, we are to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient and forgiving; to be grateful, but especially, to love. “¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:12-17) He wraps up his letter by emphasizing the importance of prayer, vigilance and thankfulness.

Application: To think of the worship of high places simply in terms of bowing down to physical idols or statues and burning incense to them, would be missing the point. Even though we can still find the existence of man-made statues and idols, the high places referred to here, for us in this modern world especially, point in particular to false gods of our own social making; money, career, fame, possessions, sports, to name a few… even family members and religion itself can be potential candidates for such a role. In a way, these are more dangerous than statues, for they can sneak in to take our hearts hostage without our being aware of their dominance - many under the guise of 'God's will'. Which brings to mind a frightening scenario highlighted by the Lord Jesus Himself: "²² Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name drive out demons and in Your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’" (Matthew 7:22-23) For Satan is the master of deception and will cause many to be blinded to the depth of their imprisonment and folly.
     We sometimes see love, patience, joy, etc... as goals to be acquired individually; in truth all the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Colossians 3 really support each other, while opposing the concept of false gods. We can’t be fully one of the above without at least a portion of the others. The same goes for the cautionary or preemptive measures Paul reminds us of – prayer, vigilance and thankfulness. One cannot be effective in their vigilance without talking to God about it in prayer; neither can one enter into an effective and powerful prayer life without expressing one’s gratitude for all He’s done. So we find that all of these entities if you will – thankfulness, wisdom, faith, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and love, are each critical components of each other.

Prayer: Lord, keep me from looking to the world or to any other entity as my source, for You alone are my Source and my Redeemer. Help me to be all that You want me to be. Thank You Lord for all that You’ve done for me through Christ.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 87-89

Observation: The 87th Psalm, though the shortest of the three chapters for today’s reading, takes on a joyous mood of celebration. The tone soon turns to a desperate plea for God’s mercy in the 88th Psalm where the Psalmist was somewhat baffled by the absence of the Lord’s presence and power to deliver him from the oppressor.
     The third Psalm was one of praise and exaltation for the Lord’s great love and faithfulness. In it, the longest of all three Psalms, mention is made of David and his line – including that of Jesus the Messiah Himself - compared here perhaps, as some interpret, to the sun. “³⁵ Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness — and I will not lie to David - ³⁶ that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun.” (Psalm 89:35-36)

Application: Though celebration may be cut short at times by the conflicts and struggles we face in life, praise and exuberance will always save the day if we recall the countless blessings and goodness that His love and faithfulness has wrought. Even one thing that God did for us... if we stop and take in just one thing that He had given us or did for us in the past, we will experience an immediate transformation in our spirit that would cause depression and sadness to give way to peace and joy; and we know that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Prayer: Thank You Father for all that You’ve done and all that You will do, for You are faithful and true. Your immeasurable love endures forever.

Scripture Reading: Luke 23-24

Observation: Jesus was led to Pilate by the crowd who falsely accused Him. Pilate questioned Him, and found no wrong in Him. Jesus was then sent to Herod who, along with his men, ridiculed and mocked Him before they returned Him to Pilate (Luke 23:11). The crowd all the while did fanatically pursue a sentence of death-by-crucifixion for Him. Pilate insisted that there was no cause to kill Him. In the end, the crowd won out and Barabbas instead was released while Jesus was handed over to those who would crucify Him.
     Jesus cautions the women that were there in support of Him, that if these men can do this to the Son of God, they would do worse to them. After being crucified between two thieves Jesus committed His spirit to God the Father before He took His last breath. A man from Arimathea - Joseph, got permission from Pilate to take the body of Jesus down from the cross, which he then wrapped and placed in his newly dug out tomb.
     As He had told His disciples, and as it was prophesied by the prophets of old, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and appeared to many, before ascending to heaven to be at the right hand of the Father.

Application: Jesus went through all the pain and suffering that He did, because of God’s love for us and because He wanted to save us from eternal damnation. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
     Even though the will of the Father to provide a doorway to life everlasting for all mankind through the blood of His only begotten Son is the true and lasting message of this reading, I come away with yet another revealing fact about the world we live in that made such a sacrifice of love so necessary. The power of the multitude can be compelling if we’re not grounded in Him. "But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed." (Luke 23:23)

Prayer: Thank You Father for sending Your only begotten Son to die for our sins. Jesus, thank You for coming and giving up Your life that we may receive life everlasting. Thank You Lord God for Your love and mercy… that endures forever.

Scripture Reading: Leviticus 22-24

Observation: The Lord continues to give Moses instructions on each sacred offering and sacrifice that the Israelites are to perform in honoring the Lord their God. This includes all the particulars about the health and physical condition of, not only the animal being brought to the altar, but also that of the person who brings it; who is and who is not to approach the holy places of the Lord.
     I was somewhat taken aback by the direct nature the Lord dealt with undue or improper bodily discharge, yet understanding that the best way to confront the wounds of our social diseases, is for the Lord to tear away the ineffective band-aid dressings the world puts on them and address the exposed ugliness beneath. “If a descendant of Aaron has an infectious skin disease or a bodily discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is cleansed. He will also be unclean if he touches something defiled by a corpse or by anyone who has an emission of semen.” (Leviticus 22:4)

Application*: God not only cares about what we do but how we do it. He cares and is aware of everything that goes on in our bodily functions and social behavior as He is our spiritual responsibilities and duties. There are specific steps that the people of God need to be aware of in order to appropriately give Him the praise and honor due Him - releasing His blessings in our lives to flow unhindered.
     Without faith we cannot please God, and without obedience, we might as well forget faith. Obedience on the other hand, is only possible if we listen. His word, the holy bible, more often than not, is the way He communicates with us. Whether it is to do with holy sacrifices in the days of Moses, or in receiving Jesus Christ as the unblemished sacrificial Lamb of God in today's church, He wants us to get it right.

Prayer: Guide me O Lord to participate and take up my part in Your Kingdom here on earth. Communicate to me O God what You would have me do to bring honor, praise and glory to Your most awesome and faithful name.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 14-15

Observation: Once again, Proverbs mixers no words as it distinguishes between:

• the wise and the foolish

• the righteous and the wicked

• the diligent and the idle

• the truthful and the liar

• the discerning and the mocker

• the good and the bad

• the prudent and the simple

• the rich and the poor

• the kind hearted and the heartless

• the patient and the impatient

• righteousness and sin

• gentleness and harshness

• prudence and recklessness

• happy heart and heartache

• knowledge and folly

• pride and humility

• the disciplined and the unruly

Application: In a book full of wisdom and power, it’s not easy to narrow things down to a verse or two, but there are some that seem to specifically stand out for me today. “He whose walk is upright fears the Lord, but he whose ways are devious despises Him.” (Proverbs 14:2) This verse seem to pit those who fear the Lord as a stark contrast to those who despise Him. Fear of God is respect for His ways and His word. When we do not respect the Lord, our walk will mirror that disrespect or lack of proper fear of the Almighty.
     One that has always nagged me, but in a good way: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1) Even though I knew that this verse applied to all people I interact with, I somehow felt that my wife and children know and understood me, so it's okay to 'lose it' with them. The truth of course is... just because they are family doesn’t give me the right to be any less gentle.
     The final verse of today’s reading sheds a new light on honor as it pertains to humility: “The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 15:33) We often throw around the word ‘honor’ 'cause it works well in a sentence, or for rhyming purposes in the lyrics of a song or poem. Do we really understand the meaning or essence of the word? The dictionary describes honor to mean ‘honesty, fairness or integrity in one’s belief or actions’. In the same verse, the bible talks about humility as its prerequisite. “... humility comes before honor.” ‘A lack of false pride or arrogance’ is the dictionary’s description of humility. So when we talk about honor, we're really talking about honesty, fairness, integrity - as well as a lack of false pride and arrogance. These are definitely qualities well pleasing to God.

Prayer: Guide me O God that I may walk in humility and honor. Teach me to espouse all the values of Your Kingdom and help me express it in my daily life.

Scripture Reading: Leviticus 25-27

Observation: The Lord speaks to Moses on Mount Sinai, describing in detail what the people of Israel are to observe concerning the Sabbath year and the year of Jubilee. The Sabbath year was the seventh year which they were to set aside. On that year they were to do no work on their land but to lay it dormant. They can however eat what grows of its own. At the end of seven cycles of Sabbath years is the Jubilee year, putting it on the fiftieth year. That’s when all that they had bought before the Sabbath year, gets returned to its original owner - as well as all debt owed being forgiven. The costs therefore of items or possessions bought and sold are to be calculated with the Jubilee time-line in mind. The more time left before the next Jubilee, the higher the price.
     The Lord also lays out to Moses the laws and commands that the people are to follow, as well as the blessings or consequences of their observance or disregard of them.

Application: In the days of Moses and the Israelites, God was so up close and personal it seems, in that He was right there. He talked with them, or at least with His representative Moses; He made His presence known... and seen - as with the pillar of cloud by day and the column of fire by night. When the people followed and obeyed His commands, things went well; when they did evil or forsook the Lord, they reaped the consequences of their disobedience - in many cases, God's response was immediate.
     Was it easier to believe back then? In a sense, yes. How can you not believe, when He is so 'there'... literally? Then why did they mess it up so much? I believe it was that they did not have the testimonies and history of God's people or believers, warts and all, that went before them. At least, not as later generations do. Today we have aiding us in our walk, the whole bible of powerful testimonies – including their stories and struggles through slavery in Egypt and the powerful works of God to deliver them.
     The holy bible is the word of God, and through the Holy Spirit, God speaks to us every time we go to it. When we open it, read and meditate on it, we will hear what He is saying to us today; laws and direction for our daily lives, power and joy to strengthen our resolve to be steadfast in our walk, peace and blessings as we lean on His faithfulness - all of it, at our fingertips. It all comes from Him through His holy Word, through our prayers, and through the power of fellowship with like-minded believers. That, is how He remains up close and personal today.

Prayer: When I come to You, as Moses came to You at Mount Sinai, You are there to be found O Lord. You are there to speak to my heart and to encourage and strengthen me for the journey You have assigned me to take. Thank You O God for each and every word You bless me with.

Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 1-4

Observation: Bible genealogy from Adam to David and his descendants is the focus of this reading.
     The Lord our God is in the business of answering the prayers of the faithful. “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:10)

Application: God honors our prayer and will grant our request according to our faith, for without faith we cannot please Him (Hebrews 11:6). He is the same yesterday, today and forever... (Hebrews 13:8) so what He did in honoring Jabez's prayer back then, He will do for us today.

Prayer: Thank You for all that You have granted me according to my faith as I pray to You for my needs. You are so faithful, from everlasting to everlasting.

Scripture Reading: Daniel 1-6

Observation: As Judah was taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon - Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (new names that the king gave to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah), rose to prominence due to their faith in God. From the beginning they refused to adhere to the ways of their captors; like choosing not to eat the rich food they were entitled to as part of the chosen group of men to be in the service of the king. “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.” (Daniel 1:8) They went on to be dream revealers, advisors and powerful men of faith in King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon. Through the power of the Lord their God, they defied the burning heat of a blazing furnace and soothed the savage beasts in a lion’s den.

Application: Today’s reading reiterated to me what He put upon my heart a few days ago, which was that His temple, my body - needs to be treated with care and self control. Following the above verse about Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego selecting for themselves vegetables rather than rich food and wine, Daniel 1:14-15 states, “¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. ¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.”

Prayer: Thank You for confirming Your word to my heart Lord. Please help me to hear and obey Your word and walk in obedience therein.

Scripture Reading: John 4:46-54

Observation: The second time Jesus came to Cana, a royal official came from his home in Capernaum to ask Him to please come and heal his dying son. Jesus told him to go home for his son will live. The man took Jesus at His word and left. Along the way, his servants who were sent by his family in Capernaum, met and informed him that his son was going to live. After explaining to the folks at home what the Lord did in healing his son, he and his whole household were convinced of the power of God and became believers.
     The main points of this reading are three-fold:

1. Bring it to Jesus

2. Take Him at His Word

3. Reinforcement is Confirmation

Application:

1. Bring it to Jesus

   1. Bringing our need to Jesus will immediately get the enemy’s attention, because it's exactly what he (the devil) does not want. He would rather we take it to a witch-doctor, psychiatrist, drugs, alcohol… anything or anyone else but Jesus. Otherwise, he wants us to do nothing, in the hope that it’ll just go away. I'm not suggesting that there's never a time when we should consider talking to a phychiatrist - and certainly talking to our church leader(s) or a medical doctor about a problem we're having is a good thing. Jesus should nevertheless be first on our 'go to list', knowing that He will then point us in the direction we should go with it. As with the official, He will oftentimes take care of it Himself.

   2. I once sold membership to a very reputable company; a company that's been in business for over 30 years, and is publicly traded on the NYSE. For a monthly fee of $16, a member can get legal counsel (court representation when necessary), for legal issues. The problem was, a good number of members do not bother using the service for the basic more common legal issues such as, getting answers to questions about the law; letters (addressing legal conflicts) written on their behalf, having your living will drawn up... all by reputable attorneys in their community, free of charge. They're waiting for the big stuff, that for many of us fortunately don't happen all that often - being accused of fraud, embezzlement, murder, ... etc. They drop their membership believing they're wasting their money; and they would be right - not because the company didn't do what it promised, but that they didn't think the smaller issues were important enough to bother the company with... many even forgetting they had the service in the first place. After a while even a minimum monthly fee for a great service they seldom use, stops making sense. Christians often forget that the Creator of the universe, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the true Living God - is their provider and their protector. When we don't run to Him for every issue we face on a daily basis, big and small, we start to lose the value of having such an awesome God like we do. As the saying goes, 'we don't use it, we lose it.'

   3. My 'most awesome car’ analogy goes like this: You have the car of your dreams - whatever you can imagine. Bullet-proof body, 500 miles to the gallon, 32 cylinder engine, most beautiful thing on wheels with all the extras you can think of... right there parked in your driveway. Every morning though when you go out, you walk right past it and get into your broken down, oil-leaking, smoke-billowing wreck of a second car, and drive that - all to keep from disturbing your 'awesome car'. That's exactly what we believers sometimes do with the awesome God we serve. We'd rather go through our daily lives not seeking Him for guidance and protection, but instead going on our own flawed capabilities. When we do go to Him in prayer, we underestimate the importance of, or neglect all together, thanking and praising Him for all He's done for us.

2. Taking Jesus (God) at His word

   1. When Jesus said, “Your son will (future tense) live” (John 4:50), the unwritten condition or prerequisite was, the official believing in the words Jesus spoke - releasing its power to heal his son; for without faith we cannot please God. (Hebrews 11:6) It’s almost like Jesus was saying, “Your son will live – pending (contingent on) the release of your faith.”

   2. “'Go,' Jesus replied, 'your son will live.' The man took Jesus at His word and departed”. (John 4:50) 'Departed' here means, he went on with his life; with one exception - he let go of his concerns about his dying son, and obeyed... his obedience being immediate. Not only do we need to be obedient, we need to be obedient with immediate obedience, so as not to give the enemy any ground. “And do not give the devil a foothold”. (Ephesians 4:27)
           The above nine words... ("The man took Jesus at His word and departed") in my opinion, is what it’s really all about for Christians; taking God at His word is Christianity in a nutshell. Let’s not forget that God’s word is the bible, Genesis to Revelation - but as the written word, it's just ink on paper if it doesn’t penetrate our very being. Wayne Cordeiro puts it this way, “When God’s word enters your mind, it’s information, when it enters your heart it’s inspiration, but when it enters your spirit and resides in your being, it’s incarnation”; another word for incarnation is personifi-cation, embodiment or manifestation.
           Leaving it all at Jesus’ feet and departing is key to the healing power that Jesus spoke into being. A basketball player when asked what his team's plan was in the upcoming NBA finals said, "We're going out there and give it all we got. We're leaving everything on the floor." The official could have continued to insist on Jesus coming with him; at the very least, he could have stuck around to see more miracles performed by Jesus so he can be encouraged and strengthened for the long journey home. In other words, he could have tried to do it on his own terms; instead he left everything at Jesus' feet and departed; in doing so he was saying – “It’s a done deal. Jesus said it, I believe it… I’m outta here.”

   3. The walk home as represented in this reading, is the walk of faith. We all at one time or another, in our Christian life, have taken that walk - and will again. That's the walk that happens between taking God at His word, and personally witnessing the manifestation of the power of His word - which can be seconds or it can take years. Currently, my family and I are going through a faith walk that's over ten years in the making; He's never failed to guide, strengthen and provide for all our needs. God knows everything, including what we go through in that walk; and He cares – deeply. He sees when we’re strong, when we’re weakening, and when we can hardly take another step - and will respond to our needs accordingly. He will never abandon us nor will He let us ‘bear more than we are able’. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

3. Reinforcement is Confirmation

   1. On our faith walk following taking Jesus at His word and "departing", the enemy will be attacking, ambushing, stealing, lying – doing his best to break us down and cause us to doubt God. Just when you’re about to run out of ‘spiritual gas’ though, God will send reinforcement that will sustain you until you can witness in person what you believed God for in the first place. Reinforcement may come through a friend, a relative, a story in the news, a bumper sticker or by good old divine inspiration. A commander of an army sends his soldiers on a mission that he is convinced will bring them closer to victory. In the event that the soldiers run out of supplies and are bogged down, the commander will send what they need to reinforce their mission. Not only is he sending reinforcement because he believes in that course of action, he's doing it because he ordered the mission in the first place. When we hit a tough patch in our walk of faith and God sends reinforcement, we are to receive that not only as supplies to meet our physical needs, but more importantly it's confirmation that we're going in the right direction.

   2. Here, the man’s servants are the bearers of the reinforcement or confirmation. "While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living." (John 4:51) The news of the official’s son being healed confirms what the official took Jesus’ word for - “Your son will live.” If that's you today, God is saying to you, "Keep going - you're doing fine. You'll make it, cause I'm with you."

Conclusion: We can come to Jesus just as we are. We don’t have to have all our ducks in a row, our ‘i’s dotted and our ‘t’s crossed. We don’t even have to be Christians to start taking God at His word; we can come to Him with our needs wherever we are, then He through His love will meet our needs, convict our hearts and draw us to Himself. The official and his household became believers only after the fact. "Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, 'Your son will live.' So he and his whole household believed." (John 4:53)
     A 'one-two punch' is a term borrowed from the sport of boxing. First you hit your opponent with a good shot; while he's still reeling, you follow up with a second. Here we have a ‘one-two-three punch’ if you will, guarantying a knock out:

1. Bringing it to Jesus

2. Taking Him at His Word and departing (surrendering)

3. Remembering that Reinforcement is confirmation

Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 10-14

Observation: With David among them, the Philistines battled against Saul’s army. David was there because Saul wanted to kill him, driving him into the arms of the Philistines. When the defeat of the Israelites was inevitable and after his sons were killed, Saul took his own life by falling on his sword.
     After Israel under Saul was defeated by the Philistines, the people crowned David to be their king - uniting and mobilizing the country behind him. The famous Three as well as The Thirty (which in both groups were 33 of the bravest fighting men of Israel), were also behind him. There were others whose names and record were included in this book that were well respected men of courage and skill, each of whom David assigned to appropriate positions of leadership.
     When it was all said and done, David’s army was one of the greatest that’s ever been assembled. He then commissioned to have the Arc of the Covenant brought back to a place of prominence and respect among the people. Nevertheless, he was intimidated by the power of God after the Lord struck Uzzah down for touching the arc as he tried to steady it. So instead of taking it to the City of David, he stored it under the care of Obed-Edom the Gittite. Obed-Edom was blessed beyond his wildest dreams, during the three months the arc was under his roof. The Philistines came after David when they heard he was anointed king of Israel. With God’s blessing, David went to battle against the Philistines and defeated them – not once, but twice… spreading even more his fame and power to all the lands and to all the nations.

Application: With all that went on and that took place in these chapters, three verses narrows it all down for me. The first two deals with disloyalty: “¹³ Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, ¹⁴ and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14) A point later reiterated in Paul’s letter to the Romans chapter 6 verse 23, talking about the consequences of our fallen nature: “For the wages of sin is death.”
     The third verse on the other hand, promotes the power and faithfulness of God when we remain and walk in Him. “And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord Almighty was with him." (1 Chronicles 11:9) The consequences of our choices cannot be any clearer. One may argue that it was practically impossible for Saul to fight against his wicked and corrupt nature once it took hold in him. We need not forget that "... with God all things are possible". (Matthew 19:26) The key is to surrender to the Father, and continuously go to Him for help in changing the heart, thereby defeating the evil in man before it gets out of control.
     As in technology, the world is constantly changing; but with every good thing there's a devious scheme coming around the corner to attract, trap and take down the unsuspecting. Believers themselves (some may say, 'in particular') are not immune to the lure of corruption and immorality. Software defending against the viruses that attack our computers and ravage our hard drives, need to be upgraded regularly to keep up with the changing tactics of the enemy. Likewise, we as believers need to keep raising the bar on our defenses by seeking the Lord more diligently and by serving Him more faithfully.

Prayer: Keep me hungry O Lord, for more of You. Grow me Father in wisdom and understanding that I may be aware always of the trappings of the enemy and the changing allure of his evil design.

Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 4-6

Observation: Paul counsels Timothy to be careful not to be deceived by false teachings, but rather to adhere to godliness utilizing the gifts God has bestowed upon his life. Paul instructs him on various functions of the church and what the roles of men and women (including widows) are to be. He also informs Timothy of the slippery road that is related to money. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Paul encourages him to instead go after the things of the Spirit. “¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:11-12)

Application: Again as I read from God’s word, I realize the importance of focus... and of never taking our eyes off of Jesus. Focusing on God will help guard our hearts against deceivers and destroyers of the faith.
     I believe that money is one of Satan’s most powerful weapons. It is therefore key to our spiritual survival that we through the power of God, work to diffuse its sting by keeping money in its appropriate place. Where is that place? God knows – and He alone can show us how to keep everything in our lives in their proper perspective.

Update: Five and a half years since first logging this journal, the Lord is showing me an otherwise seldom emphasized verse; a verse that addresses my family's present situation - financial and otherwise. "But godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6) I realize the critical importance of godliness, and have to the best of my ability been seeking the Lord in that regard - and am grateful for the growth He has afforded me. Recently though, I have been slow in embracing the joy of the Lord and have been quick to blame my circumstances for my lack. He has a plan for my life; He has me here for a reason. I need to be content, even joyful, for His faithfulness and for all the blessings I have in Him. Taking my eyes off of the Creator and making it about worldly status and money caused me to lose my place and took me off of my game - which is to "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him." (Psalm 37:7) In the process, I've been less than content with the Lord's promise and more fearful of what the future holds. I need to re-examine the basis of my faith and trust in God's faithfulness, with the understanding that ultimately it's about - not this life, but the one hereafter.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for meeting all our needs, including the money we need to pay bills and buy necessities. Help me to keep my focus on You, and You alone.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 20-21

Observation: Righteousness even if poor is better than vulgarity. Having soul and zeal without knowledge is not good. Our own wrong choices bring unpleasant consequences; don’t blame the Lord for it! Exercising patience by letting something go (not reacting to it - not allowing it to get to me) is wise.

Application: Adhering to wisdom is always the best option, for if it is true wisdom (godly wisdom) … it would without fail lead to God. The Lord created wisdom so mankind can grow in and help themselves to the things of the Kingdom. He created it to bring all of mankind to the knowledge of His word and love, that we may walk in faith in His Son Jesus Christ. The real benefit and purpose of true wisdom is the acknowledgment and worship of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Father, please grow me in wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Thank You for Your faithfulness.

Scripture Reading: John 10-12

Observation: Jesus teaches the people telling them in essence what He will reiterate a few chapters later - that He is the gateway to the Creator. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me.’” (John 14:6) Over and over again He reminds those who would listen that He is the true Sheppard; His sheep know His voice and He will lay down His life for His sheep. Many believed and became followers of Jesus, but many others refused to receive Him rejecting His message. These of course, were all prophesied generations before, when prophetic word were given to His anointed.
     Jesus brings back to life, Lazarus – the brother of Mary and Martha, all of whom Jesus loved dearly. Martha assumed Jesus was talking about the resurrection when He told her that her brother Lazarus will rise again. “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.’” (John 11:25) The Jews not only plan to kill Jesus but also Lazarus, because he (Lazarus) was yet another confirmation to many of the power of the Lord and validation of Him being the Son of God.
     Mary anoints Jesus with expensive perfume, drawing criticism from deceptive and fraudulent Judas, who in turn gets rebuked by the Lord while acknowledging Mary’s action as fitting and appropriate. Jesus later enters Jerusalem and is received and greeted as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
     When the time neared for Jesus to be taken by those seeking His life, He was troubled but did not shrink back from the purpose of His coming. “²⁷ ‘Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify Your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’” (John 12:27-28)

Application: I have at many a juncture confronted situations that I was tempted to pray away, side-step or bull-headedly fight against. As long as I believe that what is taking place is from or allowed by the Lord, I need to let it play out. Doing so helps bring to pass all that He purposed for me; the Lord’s name in the process will be glorified in my life.
     Presently*, we are facing possible foreclosure on the house due to a couple of missed payments, various other bills that’s been past due, dental problems for Theresa with no way of covering it and no job prospects in the immediate future for either of us. Sure I’m tempted to wish it all away, but I am reminded of what the Lord Jesus said when faced with a much dire scenario of death; “‘Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.’” (John 12:27) If I am to believe that God set me apart (Jeremiah 1:5) and is in control of my life, I have to believe that everything I face is part of that plan. I have to walk in confidence that He is well aware of all that I am going through, and that He will not let me down, for “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
     We need not forget that everything He puts in place in our lives is designed for our good and for His glory. (Romans 8:28)

Prayer: Thank You Lord, not only for knowing us before we were even formed, but for knowing all that we go through each and every day. Guide us to know and to do our part, and help us to trust and believe in You to do the rest... for You are faithful.

Scripture Reading: John 13-15

Observation: As time neared for Jesus to return to the Father, He spent time with His disciples teaching them about what is to come and what to expect. As He always had from day one, He led by example as He washed their feet. Jesus singles out Judas Iscariot who on cue leaves to carry out his evil deed of betraying Jesus. He reveals to Peter just how fragile man’s faith is, as the Lord foretold Peter's denial of Him... not once, but thrice. Jesus continues teaching them, up until Judas and his cohorts came to seize Him.

Application: After Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, He tells them to do likewise for one another. The combination of humility, obedience and love will always result in blessings. “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:17)
     A while back, I erred when I preached that Jesus said that the world, believers and non-believers alike, would do greater things than He did. John 14:12 directly contradicts this: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” I stand corrected, for the Lord was referring to "... anyone who has faith in Me", meaning those in the faith. In the following two verses Jesus gives us the ticket to one of the most awesome power available to mankind. “¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴ You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)
     We say we love Him; the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. “If you love Me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15) Obeying His Word is not just a symbol of obedience, but also of faith - our faith that His Word is true as He is true, for He is “…the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
     As I was going through the toughest time of my transitioning from one stage of my walk (seeking Him for answers) into another (getting specific directions to wait on Him), one of the most helpful verses that inspired and encouraged me was, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) God is saying that He has given us the peace we need to do the things He has spoken to our hearts to do. And His peace is sufficient, for He doesn’t do as the world does - meaning, He is not limited by the world’s pattern and timing or schedules. True to His word, the Lord has been meeting all of our needs; payments for the mortgage, utilities, medical or the food on our table, He is providing. His peace helps us to relax and see how faithful He truly is.
     Jesus was giving us the answer to all of our problems, the remedy to all the obstacles that we will face in life, when He reiterated the importance of taking our needs to Him. “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” (John 15:7) One may ask, “Does that mean that I can win the lottery if I asked Him?” If you remain in Him and His word remain in you - and He knows that winning the lottery would help fulfil His will for your life, I believe He would allow it. But if it is something that would not be a help but a hindrance to your life (and for most of us it is) – then ‘no’, He’s not going to let that happen. His Word is faithful to love and protect us, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16); so if something we ask for will cause our downfall or separation from Him, of course He will not allow it. Statistics on many lottery winners speak for themselves.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for loving me so much You would never allow directions with destructive consequences to be the path for me. Help me and my house to remain in You and walk in Your righteousness every day.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 23-24

Observation: Solomon’s words of wisdom provokes us to respect hard work, diligence, wisdom, honesty, accountability, fair-play, discipline and clear headedness.

Application: Knowing and remembering that wisdom is more powerful than physical strength, that knowledge is more potent than brute force - is key to unleashing that same power and bridling it to work more effectively. “A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength.” (Proverbs 24:5) True wisdom exalts righteousness, promotes faith and glorifies the true living God - the Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Please Father, guide me to live for You each and every day. Help me to make right choices and to abide by Your precious Word in everything I do, think and speak.

Scripture Reading: Titus 1-3

Observation: A letter from Paul to Titus reminding him of the fundamental principles of the faith they have in the living Christ. He reiterates the reasons why he – Paul, had to leave him back there on the island of Crete. As he had asked him to do previously, Paul writes to inform Titus once again of the process of appointing elders to the church in every town. Paul also instructs him on how he should prepare and handle himself so that others may be influenced by his actions as well as his faith.

Application: The procedure that Paul advocates that Titus should espouse in electing those to be elders in every town, speaks volumes of the way we need to live for Christ as we become serious players in His Kingdom. His instructions not only covered how elders should live their lives, but the very basis for every believer’s faith and commitment to righteous living and devotion to the living God who gave up His only begotten Son for us all. “¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope — the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14)
     I should not be too quick to pat myself on the back for doing my best to live righteously. All I’ve done is simply my part in living my life for the Lord; truth be told… ‘it’s about time’. I need to be careful not to be self righteous or arrogant in my ways - for, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

Prayer: Thank You Lord for the path You have called me to follow, the calling You set me apart for before I was even born. Thank You for instilling in me the values I need, to attain and hold fast to all that You have for me. Teach me true humility that I may walk in submission to Your every command.

Scripture Reading: Philemon

Observation: Paul writes a letter from prison to Philemon, his brother in the Lord. It is a letter of encouragement and salutations, but mainly about Onesimus, and how he Paul, would like Philemon to receive him as a friend and a brother in the Lord. Paul puts himself on the line for Onesimus, trusting in Philemon’s heart and faithfulness in the Lord. “So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.” (Philemon verse 17)

Application: I believe that the message I am to receive from today’s reading is not only putting ourselves on the line for our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord (as the Holy Spirit guides us), but also the understanding of the ‘new birth in Christ’, and the powerful changes that it incurs. “¹⁰ I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. (or... I think of him as my own son because he became a believer as a result of my ministry here in prison - NLT) ¹¹ Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.” (Philemon verses 10-11) When we become born again we are new creatures in Him and are truly useful in His kingdom.
     I believe that we are to support one another, as the Holy Spirit guides us; to encourage and to aid each other know Him more, especially when it involves new or young believers in the Lord – even if we have to put our reputation on the line.

Prayer: Lord I pray for Vern Stokesberry; that You would help him surrender to You Lord, all that he is and to trust You with every part of his life. Please help me to do my part in You, in facilitating his progress to submit completely to You Lord Jesus. Keep me from trying to do more than You want me to.

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 6-10

Observation: Solomon, king of Israel finishes the Temple of his God and dedicates it with all Israel celebrating with songs and sacrifices to the Lord their God. As he dedicates the Temple, Solomon makes a lengthy plea for God to forgive the people He calls by His name, when they repent of their sin and return to Him. The Lord agrees to do just that: “If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) But the Lord adds that His Word will only hold true if the people worship and follow Him and Him alone. "¹⁹ But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, ²⁰ then I will uproot Israel from My land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for My Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.” (2 Chronicles 7:19-20)
     After Solomon’s reign, Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king of Israel. Unlike his father Solomon (in the earlier years of his reign) and his grandfather David, Rehoboam did not do right by the Lord’s commands and suffered the consequences. He ended up escaping to Jerusalem to live there in exile.

Application: As believers, we are beneficiaries and recipients of God’s promise, but only as long as we are His loyal and obedient subjects; as long as we play by the rules – His rules. All the wonderful blessings and power that we have in Him, is contingent on our devotion and adoration of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. There is no other way that we can inherit His goodness and power. We are to be His people if we are to experience His goodness and love. Nothing else matters but our heart and our surrender; not all the money in the world with all its dazzling array of worldly treasures and glamour can, and neither should it, take the place of our faithful Lord and loving Father.

Prayer: Keep me close to You always Lord. Help me to focus my heart and all that I desire on You and You alone. Strengthen me against anything or anyone that would try to lure my worship and my love away from Thee O God.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 26-27

Observation: Like other chapters in Proverbs, these emphasize in very simple terms, the significance of gaining and applying wisdom in our every day life. They do come down pretty heavy on the simpleton (fools - to be precise) and the prideful (arrogant).

Application: The Lord has given to every believer the power to acquire wisdom, knowledge and understanding. It’s in His Word for the taking, if we only believe and receive. Walking daily in His Word and remaining in Him is what brings all of the power of His gifts (not just wisdom, knowledge and understanding), but all His gifts - including humility, alive and active to help us live and walk daily in Him.
     Today, three years since I entered this day's journal, the verse that spoke critically to me deals with the need for humility. “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.” (Psalms 27:2) Direct hits tend to hurt more. No pain, no gain I guess.

Prayer: Thank You for Your gifts Lord. Help me to receive all that You have for me. Teach me how to not only receive it, but to use it according to Thy Holy will.

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 11-15

Observation: Rehoboam king of Judah after retreating to Jerusalem, mustered up an army to fight against Israel, but was warned by the Lord not to proceed with those plans. Rehoboam heeded the word of the Lord and worked on rebuilding his defenses instead. Soon after his strength was replenished, Rehoboam and all of Judah turned their backs on the Lord. As a result, Egypt attacked and practically destroyed Rehoboam; but because he and the people humbled themselves and repented of their ways, the Lord kept them from being totally ruined. In all his reign Rehoboam did not truly give his heart to the Lord.
     After his death, Rehoboam was succeeded by his son Abijah who ruled for only three years but who was obedient to the Lord, and consequently was successful in his battles against his enemies. His son Asa became king after his death; Asa pleased God when he commanded the people to reject false gods and worship the Lord. The Lord rewarded him with victory over his enemies. “¹ The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Obed. ² He went out to meet Asa and said to him, ‘Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.’” (2 Chronicles 15:1-2)

Application: With turmoil, anger and dissention bubbling among many in my workplace, the word of the Lord spoken to King Asa through Azariah particularly ministers to my heart this morning. “⁶ One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. ⁷ But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” (2 Chronicles 15:6-7) In these times of uncertainty and chaos, I believe that staying focused and remaining steadfast is the path for all who trust in the Lord.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for this word. Help me Father to be strong and to keep You in first place.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 140-142

Observation: David authors the Psalms of today’s reading - which pleads with the Creator for power to battle the attacks of the wicked, and conveys his desire for the blessings of the righteous.

Application: I have experienced wonderful victories and made great strides in my walk in the Lord, with the assurance that I am in the shelter of His love. Having said that, I find myself repeatedly falling into the same traps I know God has given me safe harbor from.
     For some time now, apart from my worship and prayer time in the morning and evening, I've been committing a third spot in the afternoon to seek and acknowledge the Lord with prayer and thanksgiving. At 5 minutes before 3pm, the alarm on my watch reminds me to put aside whatever I'm doing and go before the Lord; it's been powerful to say the least. Yet I can't seem to avoid the pitfalls of my flawed existence such that I'm often left feeling like I've made no advances at all. I realize that that's just the devil lying to my mind to take me off my game; after time and time again of embarrasing failures though, in the very areas I've desperately seeked the Lord for help in, it gets very frustrating.
     To counter the defeats I've been experiencing, the Lord showed me the answer to my perpetual dilemna with issues I've 'seeked and prayed to the Lord for' - over and over again. The antidote was actually something He gave me some time ago in the form of an analogy - 'Driving the straight and narrow'. It goes like this: When you want to make a left or right turn, you steer your vehicle in the direction of the turn. But when you're on a straight road, you don't just keep the steering wheel locked in the 'straight ahead' position and not allow any movement at all. The reality is, we're constantly adjusting and re-adjusting the steering in very minute shifts to compensate for the drifts in the direction of the vehicle due to the elements of the conditions out there. Whether it's the bumps on the road, the wind brought on by a passing semi-truck, or a faulty wheel alignment, there are constant forces out there working against any vehicle to be 'drift-free', even on an 'arrow-straight' road. What the Lord was saying to me was clear as the day is long - when my walk on the straight and narrow veers ever so slightly off center, I am to respond immediately to correct that shift and bring it back to 'front and center'.
     Driving down any road will not end well if I don't keep my eyes on the perimeters of my path. The same goes for my life in the Lord; I cannot possibly stay on track spritually, without keeping my eyes on God. It is only when I look to Him that I can identify and respond appropriately and with immediacy to any and all change of direction affecting my walk in Him. To achieve that, the Lord was putting upon my heart that I need to pray. Pray? Haven't I been doing that already - three times a day... at least? As if that was such an accomplishment, in view of all He has done for me. He's saying to me to, not so much to get on my knees or get prostrate before the Lord pray, but to just think of Him and talk to Him pray... to connect with Him and let Him know He's first and that I desperately need Him. And as much as possible, to do it at the top of every hour I'm awake. This is supported by Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians when he said, "Pray continually." (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Where ever I am or whatever I'm doing at the moment my watch chimes the beginning of the new hour, I am to look to Him in my spirit and pour out whatever's in my heart - lifting up thanksgiving, praise; seeking Him for guidance, strength, forgiveness for my wrongs. The Holy Spirit will guide if I listen and obey. It takes just seconds (seldom more than a minute), but it's invaluable. It is an acknowledgment on my part, of His power and love, as well as it is of my vulnerabilities.
     Just the other day, as I was backing up my van to load up the equipment after a performance, I mistakenly stepped on the accelerator pedal instead of the brake, and almost ran down a young lady in the process. Fortunately, unlike many other similar situations involving drivers in my age group and older, I had the presence of mind to pull my foot off the accelerator and slam on the brakes. I could have easily pressed harder on the pedal I thought was the brake - which would have been very ugly. I strongly believe that not only was the Lord honoring my prayers in seeking His protection, He is communicating to me the result of obedience and a prayer-filled life.
     What does this all have to do with today's reading? "Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet." (Psalms 140:4) "I call to you, LORD, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you." (Psalms 141:1) "Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me." (Psalms 141:9) Like others in these three chapters, these verses talk about how great people of faith like King David, depended on God every moment of every day; and they remind me of the very real threats that are out there everyday - every hour, if not every minute. We need to be certain we're within the perimeters of the path that God has purposed for us to be on. For the times when bad things happen to us even within those perimeters, we will be protected by His love and faithfulness... and comforted by His peace.

Prayer: Thank you Father for Your provisions in our everyday lives, both physically as well as spiritually. Help me to always listen and obey Your word to my heart, for only You know precisely what we need to be all that You set us apart to be.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 7-11

Observation: Most of the 57 chapters of this book contain God's prophesies given through His servant Isaiah concerning Israel and Judah, their enemies as well as their deliverer - the Messiah from the line of Jesse. “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

Application: To those who would receive Him, there is no mistaking, the clear unambiguous references of the prophesies about the Lord Jesus. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) I believe God uses the power of prophetic word to build upon the sprouting faith of a believer by connecting the promise to its fulfilment.
     There is one other observation I wanted to make from today's reading. As I'm sure is true with most Christians who read the bible, I have read verses that only while revisisting at a later time, have impacted me in a totally new and powerful way. One such verse is God's word to Ahaz through His prophet Isaiah: "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." (Isaiah 7:9) It might be because of the rough patch my wife and I are going through presently, but this time around I saw this verse about faith from a different perspective. I believe it to be saying to me today, "Be confident of your faith! Pay attention to your stance." Sometimes our vulnerabilities stem not only from our forgetting about the tools or weaponry we have in the Lord, but from not using them right. Here, the Lord was reminding me to apply faith with conviction - the only right way to apply it; anything less would render our faith powerless... much like shooting blanks as opposed to real bullets.
     The Holy Bible is the ultimate road map for life – more precise than the most accurate GPS; more bullet-proof than any armor that the world has or will ever have. The prophesies and wisdom of God’s Word is there to instruct and guide, as well as shield us from destruction.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for faithfulness in following Your guidance and diligence to read and meditate on Your Word each day.

Scripture Reading: Romans 7-8

Observation: In this reading of Paul's letter to the believers in Rome, he compares dying with Christ to a married woman being released to marry another if her present husband were to die. “⁴ So my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. ⁵ For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.” (Romans 7:4-5) Romans 7:15-25 talks about ‘doing the wrong we don’t want to do and not doing what we want and know is right to do’ - which is something I certainly can relate to. The perpetual battle to break away from the old self, can at times be very discouraging.
     Chapter 8 reminds me that I've been set free through Christ’s death on the cross, and that I need to let go of the old me - daily. “⁹ You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.” (Romans 8:9-11)

Application: Before opening God's word to read today's assigned reading, I went to the Lord in prayer confessing my struggles with the sin of my old ways... such as self-centeredness. I surrendered it all at the foot of the cross, taking Him at His word when He said, “You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.” (John 14:14)
     Amazingly (in response to my prayer - I believe), one of the sub-headings in this morning’s scripture reading was “Struggling With Sin”. Being reminded that the apostle Paul (responsible for 2/3s of the New Testament), also dealt with conflicts and struggles with the flesh was reassuring in that I was not alone; that even highly regarded ministers of the word such as Paul had the same battles with the ways of the flesh. We need to remember to apply what obviously worked for him - keeping our eyes on Jesus. "²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 8:24-25)
     As I rejoice in God's love and faithfulness this morning, it's wonderful to know that our prayers are heard and answered. Even though His answer can be immediate (as it was for me this morning), at times it can take a while... but He's never too early or too late to answer a believer's prayer of the heart.

Prayer: Thank You Lord, for Your word this morning. You are so good and so faithful. I am so grateful that You are my God. I love You.

Scripture Reading: Romans 13-14

Observation: Love is at the core of chapter 13, which emphasizes that all of God’s commandment is about loving our neighbor. "Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:10) The chapter wraps up with Paul giving the believers in Rome the sure remedy to facilitate loving others. “…clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Romans 13:14)
     I was convicted by verses 10-13 of chapter 14 which says, “¹⁰ You, then, why do you judge your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. ¹¹ It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘Every knee will bow before me every tongue will confess to God.’” ¹² So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. ¹³ Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.” (Romans 14:10-13)

Application: This past week, my family and I were watching a TV program called ‘Wife Swap’ where a wife and mother of one family switch places with the wife and mother of another for a period of two weeks. They do everything for the new family that they did with their own, other than being intimate with the husbands. We were appalled at what seemed like a Christian woman having a meltdown when she found herself in the home of a non-believer whose house was filled with cult-like paraphernalia. I felt that she had made the choice to be in this program; she should either back out of it immediately, or go through with it as best as she can - looking to God for strength and for guidance. Instead she flipped out on national TV, giving ammunition to the anti-Christian audience as well as disappointing many who shared my views on the matter. In truth, I acted as her judge and jury and swiftly condemned her.
     There may have been a trace of truth in the way I felt, but clearly today’s bible reading reminds me that I am not to judge my brother or sister in the Lord. If anything, I should have gone to God with it - or simply prayed for her, and her family who seemed very confused about the whole situation. I’m finding that just when I thought I was standing, a fiery dart of the devil finds me. I am so grateful to the Word for revealing to me my hidden faults. I know for a fact that if it wasn’t for His Holy Word, it’s no telling how far down the wrong path of judging I would have gone before I realized my sin.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for Your faithful guidance and the powerful truth that is Your Word. Please forgive me for judging another. I repent of my sin. Help me to love others and to remember that I’m not perfect. Thank You so much for Your love that’s constantly grooming and growing me.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 128-130

Observation: These Psalms may be short (22 verses combined), but they are long on blessings. They reward the righteous who fear the Lord with hope and prosperity, and target the oppressors (the enemies of God's people) with humiliation and defeat. The fear of the Lord and the hope in His power and faithfulness is encouraged and revered.

Application: As I started reading today's scripture passages, I immediately sensed the blessings of God's word flowing through me and into my very soul. "¹ Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. ² You will eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours." (Psalm 128:1-2) Just when I'm feeling somewhat over-whelmed by the task of daily worship and study of God's word, He sends me this refreshing and encouraging word of His mercies and of His faithfulness. He is indeed my great reward for His love endures forever. His word assures me that the hate mongers will receive their just rewards. I don't need to concern myself with their activities.
     I believe that the Lord is prodding me to remain in Him - to abide in His word. His specific word to my heart has been to wait - and today He's letting me know that when it comes to waiting on Him I'm in good company. David writes, "⁵ I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. ⁶ I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning." (Psalm 130:5-6)

Prayer: I am so grateful Father that You know everything about me. You never let me deal with more than I can handle and You're quick to come to my aid giving me courage and strength for the journey. Thank You so much for loving me and for caring for all of my needs and that of my family.

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 5-6

Observation: The first chapter of today's reading warns against being nonchalant in how we approach the house of the Lord and about what we say and commit to God. It strongly discourages the use of many words when speaking to or about God. True to the book's theme of the general meaninglessness of many aspects of life, daydreaming and excessive use of words are added to its column of senseless behaviors; so are our love for money and possessions. To borrow a phrase - 'We didn't bring anything into this world and we won't be taking anything out of it'.
     It seems wrong to work hard and accumulate wealth and never get to enjoy it, but that's the way it is - unless God allows it. The humiliation and frustration of it portrayed to be far worse than a stillborn baby who never saw the light of day and therefore knew no better. Struggling for food and other comforts of life is pointless, the writer explains, since we seldom get what we feel is adequate; so at the end of the day futility is mostly our reward.

Application: All through out today's reading, the message that comes through for me loud and clear is one that I've dealt with and am constantly working on - the use of words. I have understood this issue mostly as it pertains to our interacting with other people. "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry..." (James 1:19) The 2^nd verse of chapter 5 of today's scripture reading makes it clear that the same applies to our relationship with the Father. "Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few." (Ecclesiastes 5:2) Not only are we to keep our words to a minimum as it relates to people in general, we are hereby reminded to at the very least apply the same standard when we're communicating with God. I know and tressure this basic principle of 'less is more', and embrace the fundamental doctrine that - as someone once said, 'listening = caring', but sometimes I feel I haven't gotten very far with it; which is why I'm taking very seriously today's reminder of the importance of being a man of a few words.

Prayer: Please help me receive and obey with immediate obedience Your word for me today. Teach me how to be a man of a few words without compromising what You want to say through me.

Scripture Reading: Acts 13-14

Observation: In Antioch Paul and Barnabas were set apart by the Holy Spirit to minister to the people of Salamis in Cyprus and the neighboring areas. They were embraced by some and opposed by others, but through the Holy Spirit they performed powerful works and won many to the Lord. From Paphos in the south of Cyprus, they traveled to Perga and then to Pisidian in Antioch where they were invited to preach the word. As the crowd who came to listen to them grew, the Jews were jealous and maligned them. Paul and Barnabas proclaimed that the good news that they bring is also being made available to the Gentiles. Again, some received their message and believed, including the Gentiles who were overjoyed at their being accepted; but than there were those who would never accept the message - ganging up to stone Paul and Barnabas. They escaped to Lyconia and its surrounding areas when they found out about the plot to do them harm.
     Paul healed a crippled man in Lystra, which set off a frenzy of adulterated worship directed towards them. They strongly rejected this instructing them to worship the true living God, Creator of heaven and earth. Later Paul was stoned by a mob that had formed against them, and was dragged from the city. He recovered from that incident and returned to the city, but soon traveled on to Derbe where their ministry won many to the Lord. Upon returning to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, they encouraged the disciples saying, "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)

Application: As we walk in faith on the path that the Lord has placed our feet on, we will encounter some who will embrace God's message that we bring, and others who will want to suppress and condemn us. That's just the way it is. Hardships are part of the package of growing in the Lord. It's not a pleasant thought at face value, but like most things that are worthy of the struggle to acquire them, the Kingdom of God… much more than any other, is worthy of the suffering to be endured.
     The Lord specifically spoke to me six years ago to wait on Him. Waiting hasn't been easy but it's been rewarding like nothing else before. He has always given me the strength and the courage to not give up when things got really tough... and they did. As a result, my family and I have grown greatly in our faith and trust in the Lord. Like I shared with my older son a few days ago, faith and surrender does not grow when things are calm and the outlook is sunny - as it does when we are put through the wringer and go through tests. Faith becomes conviction after enduring hardships. As it is with iron, trust develops into surrender when we've been through the fire. That's when rigid and hard hearts can become moldable.

Prayer: Thank You Father for the trials and tests that's instrumental in Your forming, shaping, molding and grooming me to be all that You want me to be. Help me to never shrink back from the challenges that I face as I grow in You.

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1-3

Observation: A letter from the apostle Peter to believers spread about through out the world, reminds them and us - of the God we serve and of His love and power that is for us to embrace and own. He talks about the new birth we have in Jesus, the hardships and obstacles we will encounter for our spiritual growth, the redemptive power of the blood, and the cornerstone of our faith - Jesus Christ. "And the Scriptures also say, 'He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that will make them fall.' They stumble because they do not listen to God's word or obey it, and so they meet the fate that has been planned for them." (1 Peter 2:8 referencing Isaiah 8:14 when the Lord was speaking to Isaiah)
     Peter urges us as believers to love and respect others, our brothers and sisters in the Lord in particular, doing right by those who have been appointed over us - even when mistreated. The roles of husbands and wives are to be observed with honor and respect, having self control in speech as well as deeds, and being Christ-like in every aspect of our lives. Finally, Peter compares Noah's ark and the flood that destroyed the sin that was widespread in the world to water baptism cleansing us from all our sins.

Application: What caught my attention right away in today's reading - which may be because of what my wife and I are presently going through, is the part about trials. "⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:6-7) Yesterday, through the Holy Spirit I stumbled onto a piece of gem. When we've been through the fire, that's when trust develops into surrender…faith into conviction.
     Fire is often synonymously used in the bible with hardships and trials. The toughest metal can and will surrender its hard and tough characteristics when put threw the fire for a long enough period and hot enough temperature - thereafter to take on its new shape and purpose… or until a reassignment process is deemed necessary. That's what happens when we go through adversities; we grow in patience and faith, and we learn to surrender to God's will and purpose for our lives. Turning away from God can force a reassignment process that will hi-jack our faith and steal our blessings.

Prayer: Thank You for teaching me how to surrender and how to trust in You and in Your faithfulness, by the trials and hardships that I face and go through in life.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 13-15

Observation: Moses forewarns Israel of any false prophet attempting to lead them astray to worship other gods, and instructs them to deal with such detractors with the most severe of punishments - death. They are to be purged from among them, even if it means burning down a whole village that has been corrupted by such evil. The Lord their God is the only one they should serve and obey.
     The different species of animals, birds and fishes that they can and cannot eat are described in detail. Next in line in the order of instructions for Israel to follow if they are to receive all the blessings of the Lord, are the ways that tithes are to be offered unto the Lord. Then the year of Jubilee is next addressed when after a period of seven years, all debts are cancelled and debtors given a clean slate - so as to help the poor among them. The same would apply to servants and slaves who are to be set free on the seventh year, unless they would rather stay on with their masters' families.

Application: What the Lord is putting upon my heart in particular this morning I believe, is the urgency of remaining in Him; not falling for any misleading theories and concepts contrary to His word, even if it comes through a friend or family member. I feel also a tug to remember the principle of tithing as a powerful expression of faith in His faithfulness to provide for all our needs.
     All in all, as the end of what has been a trying but rewarding year approaches, and things may get tougher before they get better, I am strongly of the persuasion that today's message is about abiding or remaining in Him. Having been through years of schooling during my youth, and again more recently to acquire my Associate degree in Computer Science, I am well acquainted with the fact that finals are always going to be tougher than the midterms. I also know that the final stretch of any worthy challenge is not the time to quit. On the contrary - that is when we should hunker down and give it all we've got, for it could also be the time the enemy brings on all that he's got. The difference is, we as believers can always count on the Lord our God to carry us through to victory.

Prayer: Thank You for Your word this morning Lord. Thank You for reminding me of what I need as this tough year winds to a close. I am so grateful that I can count on You always, especially when things get tough.

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4-5

Observation: In this last couple of chapters of Peter's letter to believers in Asia and its surrounding areas, he encourages patience in going through trials and sufferings for the sake of their faith. He reminds everyone that, in essence, we've had our fun and done what the flesh wanted. We can live for the Spirit now and have life with God… that's true and lasting fun, instead of death with the prince of darkness.
     Prayer is advocated as being key to power. It is what gives us strength to deliver us from the enemy; and even though all of God's gifts are encouraged… including hospitality, humility, self control and joy - love still rules. "⁷ The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:7-8)
     In this reading, God is once again reminding us that strength and stability develops in us as He allows us to go through tough times; as we're put through the fire. "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." (1 Peter 5:10)

Application: As physical strength is a result of exercise and diet, spiritual muscle is a result of going through trials and facing oppositions as well as a daily diet of God's Word.
     Too often we equate problems or obstacles in our paths as a bad thing that's out to destroy and take us out. We forget that sometimes it's exactly what God purposed for us to go through in order that we may learn and grow. Trials can provide the best spiritual conditioning we can hope for that would lead us to righteousness and maturity in the Lord. Having a strong faith and being able to surrender our lives to God are in large part contingent on trying times and opposition we encounter in our everyday life. That is when we truly realize the faithfulness of God, the reality of His power and love, and the validity of His Word.

Prayer: Thank You so much for all that You do for me everyday. Your blessings are extraordinary, but so are Your purpose and plan in my life when You allow tough times to occur so as to grow me in specific areas that would benefit me in my relationship with You. Knowing that You're always near to keep me from going under is precious to me and is the key ingredient of my being able to stick it out. Thank You for that.

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 7-8

Observation: These two chapters like most of the book of Ecclesiastes (to me at least), speaks out loud what a believer sometimes thinks or feels but never admits for fear of it being true. "In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness." (Ecclesiastes 7:15) "There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: righteous men who get what the wicked deserve, and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 8:14) Though it may go to considerable length in popping many of the believer's core faith bubbles, the text would remind us of what is ultimately true and final at the end of the day. "Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow." (Ecclesiastes 8:13)

Application: Our lives as believers are full of 'crosstalk'. Mixed signals and half truths will cross our daily walk in the Lord; I believe that the Lord is showing us here that He is well aware of all that we sometimes struggle with. To me, certain parts of the Book of Ecclesiastes are the Lord saying to us, "Isn't that what you sometimes feel is going on? I know what you're going through and I can sympathize with the issues you struggle with." Though our faith may sometime take us through an obstacle course of doubt and fear, it will nevertheless bring us back to the true and lasting foundation of our belief: "Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God." (Ecclesiastes 8:12)

Prayer: Your wisdom O Lord is above all that men can even imagine. You have put everything in its place to help us go through our every day life here on earth. You have hidden the power of Your Holy Word from this world's wise and revealed it to those who seek You in truth and in Spirit. Thank You Lord for Your wisdom, for Your love and for Your faithfulness.

Scripture Reading: Acts 15-16

Observation: The preaching of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior had just barely started in Antioch when already there was conflict in the message being taught to the new believers there. This was due to some men from Judea who were teaching that believers needed to be circumcised in order to be saved. Greatly perturbed by this, the church at Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas to meet with the church in Jerusalem to resolve the issue. Along with Peter and James, they convinced the gathered assembly there to write a letter rejecting such a theory. The letter was then delivered by Paul and Barnabas and a group of men to the churches in the area - including Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the believers there.
     There was a minor disagreement between Paul and Barnabas concerning Mark, causing them to part ways - but the gospel continued to be preached and the number of new believers continued to grow daily. After leaving with Silas and going through Syria and Cilicia, Paul had a vision of a man beckoning him to help the believers in Macedonia. From this point, Luke the writer of this book starts including himself in the group with Paul - who responded to the vision. After baptizing a woman by the name of Lydia and her family, Paul and Silas were flogged and thrown in jail. This was due to their casting out a spirit that possessed a slave girl who predicted the future - ending that money source for her owners. While they were singing hymns and praising God, the power of the Lord broke the chains off of Paul and Silas, as well as all the prisoners held with them. When he saw that the prison doors were broke open, the guard, thinking that the prisoners had escaped, attempted to commit suicide. Paul stopped him and instead led him and his family to receive the Lord Jesus.
     The officials who threw them in jail rescinded the charges brought against Paul and Silas when they realized they were Roman citizens; at which point they were politely released from prison and asked to leave the city.

Application: As we live to serve the Lord in the ministries He places us in, we will encounter various oppositions and obstacles that may threaten to stop and even kill us. Sometimes the Lord will allow these forces to come against us; not to defeat us but to strengthen us, as we stand our ground. Other times He will simply block their advances destroying their intentions and thus strengthening our resolve to trust the Lord and remain in Him. Either way, He will not allow any burden we carry to be more than what we can bear. "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) All the while remembering that we as His disciples are to wear with pride the bruises and stripes we endure for the Kingdom. This is the lot of every believer, to at one time or another, struggle or suffer pain and even humiliation - for the One who loves us so much that He gave up His only Son so we may be saved.
     As disagreement between Paul and Barnabas (about Mark) caused them to go separate ways, we may have issues that come between us and other believers. Sometimes God will bring about His will in ways that we may not understand. He may want us to take a different path from the one we had originally planned - for whatever reason that only He knows. We need to keep moving and keep our eyes constantly focused on Him.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for the various obstacles that You saw fit for me to go through in these last few months, and indeed these last few years. I am especially grateful for Your Holy Spirit giving me the courage and the strength (not to mention the faith), to weather and take me through the storm.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 134-136

Observation: King David lifts up the Lord to be praised and enthusiastically encourages all people to praise the King of kings, night and day - for He is worthy. The writer outlines the wonderful things the Lord has done; the victories He has won for them and the blessings of His love that endures forever. He continues to glorify the Lord of lords by contrasting the power of the living God to the futility and worthless nature of man-made idols. He reminds Israel of all that He has done in delivering them from bondage - all the while reiterating and highlighting the eternal love of the Father. From the first verse to the last, each of the twenty-six verses of the 136th Psalm reminds us of the Lord's undying love. "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1)

Application: A good memory is a valuable tool. Remembering what the Lord has done for us in the past reinforces our faith in His word today and establishes our confidence in His promise for tomorrow.
     We are not all blessed with a good memory, but even if we were, the devil can and often twists our sense of recollection of events to compliment his agenda. Praise gives God the honor and the glory for all the blessings we receive and prevents the enemy from perverting the true record and accounts of His love and power. Praise disarms the enemy's weaponry and neutralizes his plans of destroying our relationship with the Father. Knowing that His love endures forever fuels our desire to praise Him both day and night.

Prayer: From everlasting to everlasting, there is none like You Lord. May the praise of Your Holy name never cease to be expressed and come forth from my mouth, from my heart and from my life. Grow me in Your humility that I may worship and praise You appropriately - in all that I do.

Scripture Reading: Zechariah 8-14

Observation: The Lord speaks through His prophet Zechariah to let His people know that He will return to make His home in Jerusalem and jealously care for His people. He will again be the Lord their God to save them from their enemies. He encourages them to be truthful and to be strong; not be afraid but to worship Him.
     In the 9th chapter of Zechariah is one of the most revealing prophesies in the bible about the Lord Jesus. "Rejoice greatly, O Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9) Another telling prophecy makes mention of the compensation for Judas Iscariot's wicked deed. "And the Lord said to me, 'Throw it to the potter - the handsome price at which they priced me!' So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter." (Zechariah 11:13)
     The 12^th chapter clearly makes reference to the incident on Calvary, when a soldier drove his spear into Jesus' side, to make sure He was dead. "They will look on Me, the One they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son." (Zechariah 12:10)
     The Lord continues to describe all the wonderful things He will do for those who believe. He vows to restore them to their proper place, depicting the devastation He will bring to those who reject and forsake Him.

Application: One has only to read the prophesies that the Lord spoke through Zechariah in these verses to understand that not only is His Word true in its prophetic power and pricision, but that we're presently living in the end-times... as His word clearly reveals here and throughout the bible. We are rapidly approaching the day the Lord returns to gather His people home. In particular, I believe these prophesies speak to His people Israel, who may believe in the God of Moses, Abraham and Isaac but forsake the Son of God - Jesus Christ, the Messiah. It does not make sense to believe in the Old Testament and not in the New, when the Old goes to great lengths in setting up and forecasting the New. As James M. Arlandson puts it: "The Old is to the New what promise is to fulfillment."

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your truth and for helping me see it as Your revelation allows me to. Teach me to understand Your Word, enough to tell others about it that they may also know that You are the true living God.

Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1-3

Observation: In his second letter to believers, Peter addresses the importance of acquiring goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. He counsels them that in addition to their faith, these qualities will keep them from being ineffective and unproductive in their lives in God. Peter does all he can to keep the gospel truth fresh in the hearts of believers all over - even beyond the limitation of his own lifespan. He reminds us that God has a track record of destroying evil doers and delivering righteous people from the same fate - from Noah's days to Sodom and Gomorrah... and beyond.
     Peter stresses that doubters will question the Lord's second coming - considering it to be unlikely. The reality is, until He deems appropriate, God will delay to give the world time to repent and be saved.

Application: As it was with believers that have gone before us, it is our solemn duty and responsibility to do our best to assure those coming after us an easier time of remaining in 'The Way'. "¹² So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. ¹³ I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, ¹⁴ because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things." (2 Peter 1:12-15)
     Some of us are called to blaze trails where none existed before; others to build on foundations that have been previously laid. Whatever our role in God's kingdom is, we as believers are a team. "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12) I believe for example, that my ministry is more for those who already believe. Someone else has laid the groundwork; I am to nurture, to water and care for the developing shoots - to help remind them of their commitment to follow Christ, and stir their recollection of the promises of the Father. To care for them much like I've been, and still am being nurtured and cared for.
     Having been blessed countless times in calling to rememberance God ways, I highly value and am truly grateful for the work of others (from the men and women of the bible, to believers of today), that fascilitate that process.

Prayer: Teach me Lord how to minister to people in a way that they can, not only receive but also retain Your word in their hearts. Help me to gently and lovingly do the work that You have purposed for my life.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 137-139

Observation: Ascribed to David, the prophetic word of the 137th Psalm predicts Israel's captivity in Babylon where they will grieve when they remember Zion - their homeland. The prophecy reveals a struggle of mental as well as physical dimensions putting in jeopardy all that the people know of Jerusalem their home. The prophesy also talks about their animosity towards their captors.
     Also of David, the following Psalm 138 praises the Lord for His goodness and His faithfulness. It gives God the glory and the honor for the victories of His people, for bringing to pass all He has promised and for finishing all that He started.
     The 139th Psalm which again is attributed to David talks about God's full knowledge of our every move and thought. It speaks of the omniscience (having total knowledge), omnipotence (all powerful) and omnipresence (ubiquitous presence) of God. To Him alone is attributed the wonderful works of all creation; in particular that of man - His knowledge of him even before his birth.
     Amidst all his accolades of God's greatness, the writer seems to drop the ball in Psalm 139:19, "If only You would slay the wicked, O God! ..." as if to say, 'If You would only do this my way'. Did it lose something in the translation or is David showing a kink in his armor? Maybe I'm just making more of it than there is.

Application: Often times we are handicapped by our inability to fathom God's omni nature - His ability to know and do everything and be everywhere. Thinking that He doesn't know or He doesn't care about the little things in my life keeps me from seeking Him about it - but He does. "¹ O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. ² You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. ³ You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. ⁴ Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O Lord. ⁵ You hem me in - behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me." (Psalm 139:1-5)
     I need to talk to Him about everything and anything that affects my life - praising Him for the blessings and victories, and seeking Him for help and guidance with obstacles and attacks that may arise. Since He knows about each and everyone of them, it only makes sense to bring it to Him - whether in thanksgiving or in seeking Him for help.

Prayer: Thank You O Lord for showing me this morning something I knew but didn't truly appreciate. Thank You for reminding me and reiterating the fact that You know everything about me. Thank You Lord for letting me know also that I can and should come to You about everything. Thank You Lord for consistently growing me in You and for finishing the good work that You started in me.

Scripture Reading: Malachi 1-4

Observation: The Lord through Malachi talks about what we all need and expect from people - respect; especially from those who know us. He outlines the ways that His people have been denying Him the respect due Him, such as offering Him defective sacrifices and offerings. Malachi speaks the word of the Lord about the covenant with the Lord that the people have broken and profaned. The Lord expresses His distaste for divorce and for man's double standards. "¹⁵ Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are His. And why one? Because He was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. ¹⁶ 'I hate divorce,' says the Lord God of Israel, 'and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,' says the Lord Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith." (Malachi 2:15-16)
     The purification of our hearts is compared to the process of refining precious metals through fire, distinguishing His flock from the wicked who will then bear the judgment of the Lord. The Lord equates our turning away from His ways to our not giving to Him of our tithes and of our offerings. He dares us to prove Him on it, so He can turn our lack into fullness. Again He informs us of where we've dropped the ball and may not have realized it. In the 4th and final chapter of this book the Lord dismisses the final days of the wicked as one of burning heat and devastation. It goes on to say that those who remember and follow His decrees will walk in triumph over the ashes of the evil doers.

Application: The word that speaks to me in particular today is 'respect'. Obedience is about respect; faith is about respect - the fear of the Lord is also about respect. We don't give much credence to someone or something we don't have much respect for. We will heed the warning of rough seas and seek out safe harbor if we respect the power of the ocean and a storm that would be above our capacity to sail it. When we allow our relationship with each other to deteriorate into a divorce or separation, we no longer maintain the respect necessary to sustain it - whether it is with a spouse, a relative or a friend. God needs - no, demands that same respect from us. In light of our daily existence being dependant on His power and His mercies, He certainly has earned that right; after all, He created this whole universe.
     Denying Him the respect He alone is entitled to, while giving the wicked the reverence they do not deserve, is the epitome of misplaced respect and our dropping the ball. When we give more time and attention to the things of this world and not so much to our time spent in His Word and talking to Him in prayer, we have dropped the ball. Still, the Lord is a merciful God and will forgive those who would repent of their ways and return to Him.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your goodness. Your wonders never cease to enthrall me. Teach me to remember all that you've done; to embrace all that You're doing, trusting in Your faithfulness to do what You promise to do. You alone deserve the gratitude and worship of the entire universe.

Scripture Reading: 1 John 1-3

Observation: John testifies according to all he and others have seen and experienced with the Lord. "⁵ This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:5-7)
     He teaches that sin should not be part of our lives in the Lord; but when we do sin, to repent and turn to Him for forgiveness. He is faithful to honor His Word and forgive us. Remaining in the Lord Jesus is walking in righteousness. Walking in righteousness is obeying His commands. Obeying His commands is loving others. Loving others is obeying His commands which will help us to walk in righteousness, so we can remain in Him. Doing so gives us stability.
     The enemy - who is the anti-Christ, is out to get us. His agents are out in force, but the Holy One has anointed us and given us power over the evil one. Being in the Son gives us the Father. We are to remain in Him; sin has no part in Him.

Application: It is clear that if we are to be in Him, we cannot possibly be attached to sin for sin has no part in Him. Having committed sin in our lives in itself is not the issue, "… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23) so much as it is turning from our sin to God. "⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives." (1 John 1:9-10)
     I believe therefore that it is not about the sin in our lives but about wanting to change and repenting of those sins. It is neither about never ever falling back into sin, but about our desire to do what is right in Him and being more like Him. It all begins with our faith in His only begotten Son - Jesus Christ. We will occasionally fall, that's inevitable - but it is the conviction of our hearts and our faith in the Almighty that will pick us back up when we turn to Him for help.

Prayer: Thank You for Your great mercies O Lord. Help me never to take advantage of Your forgiving love however unknowingly that might come to be. Be swift to convict my heart revealing to me my sins O God that I may be quick to repent and seek Thy forgiveness.

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 5-9

Observation: In Jerusalem, Nehemiah the prophet of the Lord hears and reacts to the outcry of the people concerning the unjust and abuse that they were suffering under their present system of government. He talks sternly to those manipulating the system to their advantage and caused them to return all they took from the people - promising to do right by the people and by the Lord their God. Nehemiah leads by example in not taking advantage of the people, even refusing to take what he as governor was entitled to.
     Many attempted to distract Nehemiah from the mission God had put in him to do. Regardless, he stayed focused on the task of building the wall. He never relented one bit until it was completed - in a miraculous 52 day period of time. Through it all he often fasted and prayed, keeping his eyes on the Lord his God to help strengthen and empower him for the task at hand. He then, with God's help populated the scantly peopled city.
     The people later gathered to hear the reading of the Book of the Law of Moses which they had requested Ezra the scribe to open and read for them. After the people heard and understood the reading of God's commandments that was given to Moses, they were instructed not to be sad but to rejoice and celebrate for the special occasion that it was. "Nehemiah said, 'Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'" (Nehemiah 8:10)
     The people later gathered to renounce their wicked ways and repent of their sins confessing them unto the Lord. Eight Levites stood in front of the people and led the people in worship and praise lifting up their adoration of the Lord their God; seeking Him for forgiveness and deliverance from the hardships they were facing.

Application: There are going to be forces that will come against our efforts to obey God. We need to be reassured of His power and His faithfulness to protect us and provide for all that we need to accomplish the task He’s given us to do. Nehemiah was confronted with various attempts at distracting him from finishing the rebuilding of the walls of the city of Jerusalem. At each encounter, he categorically rejected the proposals by others which would be contrary to what God had told him to do. part and parcel of Nehemiah's type of focus is our steadfast faith and commitment to His commandments. Likewise, our resolve to seek Him for guidance and strength at every point of opposition is crucial, as is the conviction of our hearts as to His faithfulness.
     There are tools in place and available at our disposal that can and will help us through the tough terrain of our path and mission in Him. Fasting is certainly a powerhouse of a tool that has always worked for the men and women of God of the bible, including Nehemiah. Ignoring or discounting the usefulness or essence of any tool in our arsenal amounts to not applying the four-wheel drive capability that could get us out of trouble when our 4X vehicle is stuck in a ditch. Part of the successful application of such a tool is not only knowing about its capability and power but remembering that we have it at all. The way to do that is through His word. Reading what God's word says about those tools, and hearing the testimonies of those who have benefited greatly from utilizing them, assures us of their authenticity and power.

Prayer: Presently with us Lord, it feels much like what Nehemiah was facing with the oppositions he was getting from those who wanted him to fail. He kept his eyes on You Lord and finished the task You gave him to do. Please help us to do what he did and complete the mission You have assigned us. Thank You for Your faithfulness and love in caring for our needs.

Scripture Reading: Revelation 1-6

Observation: Today's reading is about visions given to John concerning the end times which he was told by the Lord to write down. It deals with the strengths and weaknesses of the seven churches in the province of Asia and how they are advised to address them. "¹⁹ I am the One who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference. ²⁰ Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. ²¹ I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on His throne." (Revelation 3:19-21 NLT)
     The heavens with all of its power, magnificence and mystery opened for John's viewing. Beings with eyes all over, four-legged ones with wings and one with a human face are part of John's vision - which was accompanied by the worship of the Lord filling the air. There was no one worthy to break the seals for a scroll held by One occupying the throne. Finally, the Lamb of God - the only worthy One, broke the seven seals of the scroll. This, among other remarkable events, released the four horses with their riders of the apocalypse.

Application: I believe today's reading is showing us that we need to get off the fence and live fully committed lives for the Lord. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!" (Revelation 3:15) Doing some things right while neglecting others will not suffice.
     Many in the church today seem resigned to settle for the middle of the road or for what we stubbornly cling to as truth. Listening is learning, learning is growing, and growing is what we as Christians should be about - growing in the Lord. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:22)

Prayer: Thank You Lord for the things You are teaching me each day. Continue to grow me in every way, so I can be all that You intended me to be.

Scripture Reading: 1 John 4-5

Observation: The apostle John stresses the importance of checking the authenticity of every spirit and making sure that each spirit is of God (one that acknowledges that Jesus has come in the flesh), and not of the devil (one that does not acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God).
     Loving each other is a natural and true consequence of our loving God. “And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:21) If we say that we love God, it must be true that we are obedient to His commands. “This is love for God: to obey His commands.” (1 John 5:3)
     Jesus came by God’s testimony through water baptism, through the blood on Calvary and through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. John puts the “You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it” (John 14:14) scripture verse in another way: “And we can be confident that He will listen to us whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will.” (1 John 5:14)
     The apostle unambiguously professes that if we consider ourselves part of God’s family than the practice of sinning should no longer be a part of our existence; neither can we continuously blame it on the devil. “We know that those who have become part of God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot get his hands on them.” (1 John 5:18 NLT)
     Finally the reading ends with a powerful closer: “Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” (1 John 5:21 NLT)

Application: There are way too many gems in today’s reading that spoke to my heart in specific ways, to focus solely on one.

1. I am to love my fellow man if it is true that I indeed love God, because that is what He requires me to do. (1 John 4:8,20,21)

2. Loving God also means obeying His commands. I can’t say that I love God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind and with all my strength – and not be attentive to obeying His every command. (1 John 5:3)

3. He will always answer our prayers, even if the answer is sometimes 'no'. He will say 'yes' to what we ask Him if what we ask of Him is in line with His will. (1 John 5:14)

4. When we become part of the family of God, every facet of sin needs to be expelled from our daily walk. (1 John 5:18)

5. Other than God, I need to distance myself from everything and anything that can possibly be elevated to first place in my life: sexual immorality, lust for possessions (including money), pride, arrogance … to name a few. (1 John 5:21)

Prayer: Father, help me with the key elements noted above. Thank You for teaching me Your ways O Lord. I am so grateful for the growth You have enacted in my life to draw me ever closer to You my God.

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 10-13

Observation: Because of Israel's sin God had allowed the enemies of its people to not only rule over them but to enjoy the bounty and profit of their work. The people of God got the message and returned to Him signing a pledge to follow and obey His commands and decrees, starting with Nehemiah the governor - on down to whoever was old enough to understand. The article that was signed dealt with things like keeping the Sabbath holy, up-keeping of the Temple, providing for those dedicated to the work of the Lord – such as the priests and singers, being faithful in their tithing and offerings, and not inter-marrying with foreigners.
     Ten percent of each town and village are chosen to come and live in Jerusalem. Their names, like all names that signed the pledge and other incidents of historic importance, were written down and kept a record of. The new wall of Jerusalem was dedicated following a process of spiritual purification and celebration. Things kinda fell apart when Nehemiah left town to return temporarily to Babylon. On his return, he soon put things right and severely reprimanded those who were responsible. Nehemiah closely guarded against the profane and irreverent treatment of the Sabbath.

Application: The keeping of the Sabbath to me means keeping sacred all that the Lord has declared sacred – and that includes our minds and our hearts. Secondly, just like the condition of the Temple of the Lord was important to Israel as a people, my body needs to be kept in as good a condition as we can have it - for it is His temple. As He helps us rebuild and replenish His temple, we need to make every effort to remember the details of His work in our lives, so others may benefit.
     The third element of today’s reading that clearly impacts my heart is the question of tithing. In it Nehemiah writes that we can use our tithes to help people in need – especially those in the body. “On that day men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the gifts, the first part of the harvest, and the tithes. They were responsible to collect these from the fields as required by the law for the priests and Levites, for all the people of Judah valued the priests and Levites and their work.” (Nehemiah 12:44) Tithing is like any other part of our worship and faith walk in the Lord. To borrow a sports phrase, we need to set ourselves up right in order to catch the ball and not drop it. If it means praying about it consistently, meditating on it regularly, or acting on it immediately… we need to do what ever it takes to keep its significance from getting lost or dropped.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for the things You are implanting in me. Please let Your word remain in me not to ever fall away. Help me to set myself up to receive all that You want for me to have. Thank You for all that You planned and purposed for my life.

Scripture Reading: 2 John

Observation: A letter from John to a sister of faith encouraging her to keep on doing good, for it is bearing fruit in some of her children. He reiterates the critical importance of steadfastly walking in accordance to God’s commands, which is primarily to love one another. He stresses that many will try to teach false doctrines, but that the only truth is one founded on Jesus coming in the flesh.

Application: As was and is, with the letters from Paul to the believers in Asia and the world, John’s letters serve to encourage and build up the faith of Christians. They remind them and us, of God’s love and commandments; that we may continue in them - reaping the rewards of His grace. We likewise as older brothers and sisters to our younger siblings in the Lord, need to care and love them enough to check on them periodically. As new-born believers, they can be going through the most trying and vulnerable stages of their Christian lives; a time when they can be most susceptible to the enemy’s attacks. As indicative here of the length of John’s second letter (one chapter with 13 verses), we don’t have to be wordy or long winded about it to show someone that we care, and to give them the spiritual shot-in-the-arm that they may desperately need.
     A friend of mine called me about a devastating experience that happened to him a few hours earlier when his girlfriend with whom he had just made wedding plans a few days before, just up and left him. He called me at about 10am Saturday morning after a sleepless night, totally distraught. With God’s help I was able to reason with him to put aside his suicidal tendencies and surrender it all to the Lord. Both my brother (whom I had called for advice) and I prayed individually for him, and as my friend gave it all up to the Lord, he was amazed to see the power of God taking effect immediately. A few hours later, I decided to call Bryan to let him know that it was a done deal, and for him to start thanking the Lord for taking care of the situation. He cut me off in mid sentence by saying, “Yes, it is a done deal. She called me and told me she was sorry for doing what she did and that she was coming back.” Our joy was somewhat short-lived when he called me some time later to say that he had called her to terminate their relationship once and for all. He felt that since she didn’t call him again or show up, that her heart was not in it. He thought it was best to make it easy on her and bring it to an end, at least until she had some time to think things over. He sounded much more settled and able to handle the situation calmly and with faith that God has this in His control. In his own words, he’s "... letting this go and trusting God as Abraham did with his son Isaac". My friend has since gotten married to someone else and living happily together.
     God sometimes will require us to give up something dear to us. If she had just come back and they both simply pick up from where they'd left off a few hours earlier, things could have quickly deteriorated back to where things were (possible worse) - after the novelty of God’s faithfulness wears off. But when our faith has been put through the fire and we’re required to give up something much more tangible, it’s much harder for the enemy to wash away the taste of such a victory when we discover that God’s word is true. He will deliver what He promised when He said, “Whatever you ask in My Name I will do for you.” (John 14:13) And dared us to take Him on His word when He said, “… prove Me …” (Malachi 3:10) Keeping in mind that His answer may not always be what we want at the time, but that it will always prove to be the best path for us in the long run.