Partnering with God

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7 One day the wife of a man from the guild of prophets called out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead. You well know what a good man he was, devoted to God. And now the man to whom he was in debt is on his way to collect by taking my two children as slaves."
2 Elisha said, "I wonder how I can be of help. Tell me, what do you have in your house?"
"Nothing," she said. "Well, I do have a little oil."
3-4 "Here's what you do," said Elisha. "Go up and down the street and borrow jugs and bowls from all your neighbors. And not just a few—all you can get. Then come home and lock the door behind you, you and your sons. Pour oil into each container; when each is full, set it aside."
5-6 She did what he said. She locked the door behind her and her sons; as they brought the containers to her, she filled them. When all the jugs and bowls were full, she said to one of her sons, "Another jug, please."
He said, "That's it. There are no more jugs."
Then the oil stopped.
7 She went and told the story to the man of God. He said, "Go sell the oil and make good on your debts. Live, both you and your sons, on what's left."

Observation: God cares about our everyday needs. No matter is too small and no person too insignificant for God's attention. There is no limit to the incredibleness of God in a hopeless situation.

In this day, a woman had virtually no chance of making money. Women were less than second hand people and she saw no way of being able to pay back the debt that her family owed now that her husband had died. The only solution presented to her was to sell her children into slavery. It is obvious that they were not at an age of being able to go and work for the money needed. This woman must have been distraught at what must have seemed to be a hopeless situation.

Application: So many times in life, we find ourselves in situations that seem hopeless. We only see one way out and it's not a good way. It's easy to get distraught and wallow in hopelessness. The hardest thing to do is to trust in God during these times. God provides solutions/alternatives. Yet this woman had to "do something". God didn't swosh in and fill the jars for her. Instead, she had to gather and pour. God partnered with her to use what she had to get her out of debt.

Prayer: Almighty God. Help me to always trust in you. To partner with you and to allow you to work in my life even when the situation seems hopeless. Amen

Grace

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:15-17 Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.

Observation: The purpose of Christ was one thing and one thing only...to save sinners. Paul writes to Timothy that he was the worst of the worst and he was probably right. If there was any one who was unworthy of the love of Christ it was Paul and yet the mercy of Christ was shown to even Paul. The explaination Paul gives for this mercy is so that Christ can use him to demonstrate his mercy and grace.

Application: There has only been one person who was sinless and that was Christ. We have all fallen short of the glory of God and there are a great many people in the world including myself who can say they were/are "Public Sinner Number One". We can also say (rightly so) that we are undeserving of the grace of Christ, and yet the grace of Christ is not about us deserving it or earning it. We can't. The mercy of Christ flows and is available to everyone. All we have to do is accept it. Then we can be "shown off" and the greatest testimony is from "public sinner number one" who is able to sing..."Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me."

Prayer: Almighty God, you love has washed over me and I thank you. I have done so much in my past that did anything but bring you glory. However, you can use even those things for your Kingdom. Use me as an example..."show me off" and I will give you the praise. In Christ, Amen.

Growing Up

Scripture: Ephesians 4:14-16No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

Observation: God desires for us to grow in spiritual maturity. He wants us to grow, to know and to tell it in love. The example he gave us for this is Jesus Christ. He is our example, our model, our source of everything we do and our nourishment.

Application: We must grow up. One of the places I believe the Church has failed is that it has produced a great many infants in life and never taught them how to grow. They are stil being spoon fed their spiritual nourishment. There comes a day when the mother stops nursing the child. It is a process adn it does not happen overnight, but Christians must realize that growth is change and change does not come by accident. We must work with God to grow ourselves through Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Almighty God, give me the strength and desire to continually want to grow closer to you. Even when it's hard to take time to pray or to read the Bible, or to journal...place a passion in me to be as excited about growing closer to you as anything else in my life. I love you Lord and only want to make you happy. In Christ.

Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)

Scripture: Ecc.9:7-10 Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don't skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange For the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it, For there's neither work to do nor thoughts to think In the company of the dead, where you're most certainly headed.

Observation: This writer is saying something very simple. We don't get much time here on earth...in this life. Don't wait to life, do it now because we are all headed for death. We are marching closer and closer to the day when people are gathering at the funeral home looking at us in the casket. Seize Life! Eat, drink, dress with pleasure. The days we spend are a gift from God and the writer states that it is all we get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive...so enjoy life.

Application: I once was asked the question, what would you do if you knew tomorrow was the day you were going to die? Here is the list of things that I think I would want to do...
1.Spend it holding hands with my wife.
2. Teaching my kids something about life that they will need.
3. Call my mom and all the people I love.

There is a Tim McGraw song entitled "Live Like You Were Dying." This is what the writer of this Scripture is telling us. We dont' have long and everyday we have is a gift from God to be enjoyed. Enjoy your life...thats why God gave it to us.

Prayer: Almighty God, thanks for this beautiful day. Even though it is cloudy...I will enjoy it for you have given it to me to be enjoyed. So many times we get caught up in the downside of life. Help me to always look for the upside and relish in it. For it may be the last time that I have the opportunity to do so. May those at my casket on visitation night be talking about how I lived life to the fullest! In your glory...Amen

Trusting in God

Scripture: Ephesians 3:7-8This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God's way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities.

Observation: God has a plan for your life work and you probably don't feel qualified to do it. There are always more people around who are more qualified or have better skills...yet, God never let's us down and makes sure that we are equipped to do what He wants us to do. It does not matter if we have the natural abilities or not...all we need is a willingness to go where God has called and He will handle all the details.

Application: As we start this new church, I feel so under qualified. I've been through numerous course/workshops/conferences. I've read all the books on new church development. I've met with so many new church pastors and yet, I'm still scared to death. Through this Scripture, I hear God saying that the way I'm feeling is okay and to have confidence in Him. He is the Master, the Creator and He will see to it that all who are involved in this will be equipped to do whatever it is He has called them to do. Peace is found there.

Prayer: Almighty God, thank you for this call and I trust in you to give whatever is needed to accomplish your mission. In Christ. Amen

God Has Us Where He Wants Us

Scripture: Ephesians 2: 7-10Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

Observation: Once we have accepted His offer of salvation. Accepted the cross and resurrection was payment for our sins, we find ourselves in the place that God wants us to be. A place where He can shower us with his grace and love. We must remember that we play a very, very little role in our salvation. God does all the work. It is a gift and in which all we do is accept it and enjoy it. Why did God do this, because we are created to join Him in His Holy Work.

Application: God created us with gifts, and a purpose to fulfill. He gave us everything we need including saving us from ourselves and this world. It was not just so we could "live the good life" and it was not so that we would have a life of ease. It was so that we could/would join Christ in the work he started. That of making disciples. That is our design...its what we were created to do and if we don't we will never find the satisfaction and joy in life that all of us are so desperately looking for.

So, each day I am going to remember that I am a child of God and I am created with gifts and graces that only I have. I am going to make the effort each day to join God in whatever great task He calls me to so that I can share his love with others.

Prayer: Great God, you are so wonderful and you love me so much. I thank you for your grace and kindness and I ask that your Spirit give me strength to follow where ever you may lead.

Designed with a Purpose

Scripture Ephesians 1:11-12 (The Message) It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

Observation: There is a plan! Long before we even became Christians, God has his eyes on us and designed us. He has a purpose for us and we all have a purpose in life. It's not for us, but for God and it's only through Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.

Application: There was a time in my life when I was struggling. Knowing there was more for me than I was achieving. Even though I was achieving a great deal by the worlds standards, I was empty and could not figure out how to fill that hole. I realized it one night as I fell to my knees and and asked Christ back into my life. I have never been empty again. As I began to search for what God desired for my life, I began to hear the call to the ministry. It is there that I have found my purpose that God designed for me.

Every person created has been designed with a purpose. It is in God's great and wonderful plan. Each of us have different gifts and passions that are given by God and his desire is for us to use them for him. That is where true happiness lies, true satisfaction.

How Can I Help?

Scripture: Romans 15: 1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"

Observation: Paul uses this verse to reiterate that Christians are supposed to be there for each other. Helping in the needs of those around us and seeking to find a place to help.

Application: What would the church look like if people took on the attitude of "How can I help?" instead of the most common, "What's in it for me?" Somewhere along the lines, most Christians have forgotten or (even worse) never been taught about the selfless nature of our faith. We worry too much about is the time of the service convenient for ME? Is the church offering programs that will benefit ME? MY Sunday school should take priority! I don't like this or that!
Our faith is contrary to what the world views as normal...The world says that it's all about ME! Christianity flips that and says the "last shall be first and the first shall be last." That makes little sense to the world and so we have a very hard time with doing it in the church (much less demonstrating it in our lives outside the walls of the church.)

I wonder what the Church would look like if all Christians; if all of my church; if my Sunday school; if I asked the question..."How Can I Help?"

Opinions

Scripture: 1 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. Romans 14:1

Observation: We are to welcome all of God's family with open arms...even those who don't see things like I do. Even when you KNOW their opinions are not from their faith but still are very strong. I am to treat them gently.

Application: Most of the people in our society have the idea that we are always right. I told some seminary friends one time (as a joke) that their life would be so much better when they realized that I was always right. Even though I said that as a joke, so many times, Christians have a tendency to impose what we think is right on others. They have their opinions, I have mine...mine are the correct opinions and why can't they see it. Maybe if I shout a little louder they will understand and then a wedge is introduced into the relationship.

We must remember it's not the opinion that is most important...it's the relationship.

Prayer: Lord, one of the hardest things to do is to put self aside. To realize that we are not better than the other person. I pray for a spirit of humbleness and ask that you give me the wisdom to not put myself first. Give me the compassion to treat others as Jesus treated them...gently. Amen

Favorite Proverbs Chapter 29

15 The rod of correction imparts wisdom,
but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace;
he will bring delight to your soul.

19 A servant cannot be corrected by mere words;
though he understands, he will not respond.

20 Do you see a man who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

23 A man's pride brings him low,
but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

Favorite Proverbs Chapter 28

11 A rich man may be wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.

13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

25 A greedy man stirs up dissension,
but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.

Favorite Proverbs Chapter 27

1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
someone else, and not your own lips.

5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.

10 Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father,
and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you—
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.

19 As water reflects a face,
so a man's heart reflects the man.

21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but man is tested by the praise he receives.

23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;24 for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in,26 the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.27 You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls.

Favorite Proverbs Chapter 26

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you will be like him yourself.

18 Like a madman shooting
firebrands or deadly arrows

19 is a man who deceives his neighbor
and says, "I was only joking!"

22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to a man's inmost parts.

Favorite Proverbs Chapter 25

5 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.

Favorite Proverbs Chapter 24

3 By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;

4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.

11 Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

14 Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul;
if you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

29 Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me;
I'll pay that man back for what he did."

Favorite Proverbs Chapter 23

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.

5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

12 Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.

14 Punish him with the rod
and save his soul from death.

23 Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and understanding.

Favorite Proverbs Chapter 22

6 Train ^[a] a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.

11 He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious
will have the king for his friend.

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

Seeing the Fingerprints

Scripture: Romans 11-14 (The Message) But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!

Observation: It is easy to get caught up in the day to day activities of life. We are constantly pulled in a million different directions and it's so very easy to become oblivious to God. However, God is still at work in the world and if we are not paying attention, we will miss it. Every moment is a gift, every sunrise a blessing and if we sleep through them or are worried about everything everyone else is doing, we will miss some incredible blessings.

Application: Each and every day, the Lord is doing some mighty incredible things. Every where we look, a miracle of God is present. However, we so often miss them because we are not paying attention; we are pre-occupied with our own life; or we have become so accoustomed to the great things we forget to look for them any longer. It's a challenge to see great things of God when my day has gone to pot. It's hard to recognize the fingerprints of God when I've had a bad day. Sometimes, I don't even want to see them...I just want to wallow in my grief. What a shame at what I am missing.

So how am I going to be different from this passage? I want to look for the things in life that are the handy work of God Almighty. Even when my day is going bad.

Prayer: Gracious and giving God. I thank you for the wonderful profession you have called me to. I thank you for my wife and my kids. I praise you for my incredible in-laws...the brothers and the sisters I never had

Favorite Proverbs Chapter 21

13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
he too will cry out and not be answered.

23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.

30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the LORD.

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the LORD.

Favorite Proverbs Chapter 20

13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
stay awake and you will have food to spare.

19 A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid a man who talks too much.

22 Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!"
Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

Favorite Proverbs Chapter 19

2 It is not good to have zeal without knowledge,
nor to be hasty and miss the way.

11 A man's wisdom gives him patience;
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will reward him for what he has done.

18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope;
do not be a willing party to his death.