April 30, 2016

2 Samuel 6:  14  Wearing a linen ephod,David was dancing before the Lord with all his might,

They are moving the ark of the Lord. When the oxen pulling the cart stumble, Uzzah reaches out to steady it, and he is struck dead immediately. David is mad at God about that, and he delays bringing the ark in. After nothing bad happened for 3 months, David brings the ark home, dancing with it. His wife, Michal, sees him and is embarrassed. But David says he will dance for the Lord no matter what she thinks. 

I love the image of David dancing with all his might. I understand that. I wouldn't care either, if that embarrassed others. Their loss. When you feel it, like David feels it, you HAVE to dance. It's not about how you look. You need to honor the feeling, and nobody can make you feel it stronger than our God can. 

Prayer:  Lord, I want to feel You like David did. He was close to You in a way that few ever approach. I want to know that You are beside me, no matter what. I want Your guidance every day. Stand with me, Lord. 
Amen

April 29, 2016

Matthew 16: 27  For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

The disciples have finally found the understanding that allows them to see that Jesus is the Messiah. He starts to teach them about his death and resurrection. This is the end of all that, the Second Coming. 

I am pleased that he speaks of rewarding those who have been faithful. No judgment talk here, although I guess it's implied that judgment would precede the rewards. Maybe he judges us, but instead of punishment, we get understanding. Then, once we have been humbled by our shortfalls, we get rewards for the parts we got right. 

Prayer:  Lord, I look forward to sitting at Your feet. I guess I can take the truth of all the times I have fallen short, since I will know that rewards are coming. You have also seen all the ways that I have been a faithful servant. 
Amen

April 28, 2016

Matthew 15:   31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

Jesus has been busy. At the end of this chapter, he feeds the 4000. He has also healed the daughter of the Canaanite woman. This verse is a summary of his miracles, but the real point of all these miracles comes at the end of the verse. It's all about praising his Father. 

We don't have the benefits of seeing Jesus or following him ourselves. I am still amazed at God's power however. I want to praise Him. He has been with me during my recent illness, through my grief for my mother, and through all the years of Ron's suffering. I don't know how I could have gotten through those times without faith. 

Prayer:  I praise You, Lord. I praise Your constancy. I praise Your almighty power. I praise the love You have for Your people. Stay beside me. I will always need You. 
Amen

April 24, 2016

Matthew 11:  7 While John's disciples were leaving, Jesus spoke about him to the crowds: “When you went out to John in the desert, what did you expect to see? A blade of grass bending in the wind? 8 What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in fancy clothes? People who dress like that live in palaces!

Jesus says they came to see a prophet, but they saw that and more. He is very complimentary towards John, but then he says that everyone in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. 

I'm intrigued by Jesus's words. The people didn't go to see a celebrity or a spectacle. John was so rough, so wild. Jesus said that he was accused of being demon possessed. Then Jesus came, and they said he acted like a regular guy too much. There was no pleasing these people. It's a mystery to me why this was God's plan. I know John got everyone's attention, but doesn't it seem like 2 cousins with the same goals would have been more similar?

Prayer:  Lord, your words and works remain a mystery to me. I am glad that I only have to believe, not to understand. I'm still looking through this dark glass, but I trust that some day it will be all clear. Guide my path towards You. 
Amen

April 20, 2016

Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

Jesus is preaching with great authority. He uses examples people will understand. He says that trees can be recognized by their fruit. The ones with bad fruit are burned up in the fire. 

It's like people. Bad ones may act nice, but their actions--their fruit-- will show us that they are not true followers. And the good ones will bear good fruit. You can tell more from actions than from all their words. 

Prayer:  Lord, help me to be more discerning. Open my eyes to the truth behind people's actions. Help me to see the good actions of those who appear to be bad but aren't. Guide me to know when a seemingly good person demonstrates evil intent. I know that I could serve You better if I was more aware. 
Amen

April 19, 2016

Psalm 35:  10

My whole being will exclaim,
    “Who is like you, Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
    the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

David is in hiding in 1 Samuel. Saul has had the priest who gave him Goliath's sword and all his town executed. David has sent his parents to stay with the king of Moab for safety.  It looks pretty bleak. The people from Life Journal put in 2 Psalms which explain things in David's own words. His faith is strong, even in the face of devastating hardships. 

It's hard to be faithful when you are surrounded by those who want bad things for you. It's hard to stay faithful when things seem to be getting worse, not better. It's hard to stay faithful when there are so many competing distractions. I hope I will always feel close to the Lord, that I will never doubt His goodness and concern for me. I nearly chose Psalm 17:  8 

Keep me as the apple of your eye;
    hide me in the shadow of your wings

Prayer:  I want to stay close to You, Lord. I want to always feel Your presence with me. I want to follow You regardless of the circumstances of my life. Be with me, and guide my way. 

Amen

April 18, 2016

Matthew 5:  42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Jesus has given the Beatitudes, the light under the bushel and so much more. This is a hard one, as hard as turning the other cheek or giving your coat as well as your shirt to someone who asks for it. 

Jesus is not easy. He is mild, but he takes the rough path when he could easily skate around it. It's so tempting to slip away from those who want something from you. Most will just back down, and you can forget that they asked. But if Jesus says it, and we are Christians, we must do it. 

Prayer:  Guide me, O Lord, to be there for those in need. I have an abundance, and I need to cheerfully give from it. Help me to serve you better.
.Amen

April 17, 2016

Psalm 59:  16.

But I will sing of your strength,
    in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
    my refuge in times of trouble

David is threatened. His enemies want to kill him. He is hiding, after the near miss when Saul almost killed him with a spear. God watched out for David so many times. David doesn't forget. 

I am so pleased with the spring weather we are having. We have spent time together outdoors for the last 2 days. This morning it is easy to sing of God's strength and love. I know I will later need His strength, when there is trouble. 

Prayer:  Lord, You are almighty. I look out at Your creations and rejoice. I ask for help for those who grieve and who suffer from illness and injury. I pray for Your whole world, so in need of Your loving kindness. Be with us, Your people. 

Amen

April 15, 2016

Matthew 2:  2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

The Wise Men are speaking to Herod. They have traveled to find the new king, so they assume he will be found in the palace. Herod is alarmed. He finds out the details of the Messiah's birth and sends them to Bethlehem. But they don't come back to report to Herod as he asked, because they know he intends to harm Jesus. 

It's amazing to think of this whole interaction. Foreigners follow a star to find the Messiah, and the king doesn't know one has been born. Yet he is sure that he can eliminate the threat. Didn't he have a clue about the kind of power he was trying to overcome?

Prayer:  I would also like to go to worship our Lord and Saviour, just like the Wise Men. I don't see any star to follow, so I will try to find him in Scripture. Guide my quest, Lord. Help me to find and service Your only son. 
Amen

April 14, 2016

1 Samuel 15:  9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves[b] and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

It seems awful that God asked Saul to destroy everyone and everything living. But God is God, and Saul accepted all the blessings God gave him, including the power to destroy His enemies. Then he let the opinions of people change his plan. They saved the best. When Samuel called Saul out, Saul says they just wanted to sacrifice the best. But he knew that wasn't the truth. 

How could he think God wouldn't know the truth?  You can't have faith and doubt that God knows everything you do and think. It seems worse to say you believe and then try to hide things from God than just to admit that you don't believe. Who do you think that you are fooling?  It must be other people.  

Prayer:  I want to look You in the eyes and acknowledge my sins. I want to have a faith that is present in every part of my life. I pray for greater faithfulness. I know that You have the answers to every trouble in my life and in this world. Make me more aware of the ways I fall short, so that I can strengthen my relationship with You. 
Amen

April 13, 2016

2 Corinthians 13:  8 For we cannot do a thing against the truth, but only for it. 

Paul is preparing for a visit to Corinth. He is concerned about what he will find. He will be forced to deal with those who have fallen away from faith. He will tell them the truth, no matter how ugly it is. He wants them to recognize and deal with their sins before he gets there. 

I'm drawn to the truth. I don't want to perpetuate any lies, especially about God. That's why I have spoken out publicly against Trump's candidacy. He says he is a Christian, but he violates the most basic tenets of Christianity. I feel obligated to call that out. 

Prayer:  Lord, I want to represent You well. Help me to see and to say the truth. Guide my life to Your service. 
Amen

April 10, 2016

2 Corinthians 10:   3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

Paul is kind of irritated with the people. They say that his letters are more impressive than he is in person. He replies that his words in letters must carry the weight of his actions in person.

I am thinking about this election, and the hateful climate promoted by Trump and some others. As Christians, we don't fight that way. We show people how much better their lives could be through our loving example. 

Prayer:  Lord, I pray to be a better example of Your love in action. I want to serve You better. Show me how to wage war as a Christian. 
Amen

April 9, 2016

2 Corinthians 9:  7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

Paul says we should give generously, not sparingly. He tells us that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. He says we will be blessed abundantly if we do this. 

I'm so pleased that I am able to turn the inheritance from my parents into blessings for those in need. I am able to give generously without fear of the impact on my family's needs. That's a huge blessing to me and to the others whose lives i can touch. 

Prayer:  Lord, guide me to cheerful giving in Your name. Bless those who are in need through my gifts. I am so blessed myself by all You have done for me. Praise be to God. 
Amen

April 7, 2016

Psalm 66:  19

but God has surely listened
    and has heard my prayer.

The Psalmist is full of praise. He tells everyone on Earth to acknowledge God and all He has done for us. He talks about the trials and triumphs of life on Earth. He recounts the acts of worship that God's people engage in. 

For me, it is the reminder, through looking at past years in Life Journal, that this is the second anniversary of Sherri's good news. I had prayed that the 2 tumors the doctors had found would be all there were, and I felt reassurance that my prayers would be answered. It was so, and my praise for my Lord and God has never been greater. 

Prayer:  Lord, You are with me all the time, but there has never been a time that I felt closer to You than this one. I am always Your humble servant, and I long for more closeness to You.  Stay by my side. 

Amen

April 6, 2016

Ruth 4:  15  He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

This concludes the story of the best daughter-in-law in the Bible. Ruth has followed Naomi back to Israel after becoming a widow. She has been careful to follow Naomi's directions, and now she is married to Boaz. She will be the great-grandmother of David!

You never know how things will turn out. Ruth had nothing going for her. But she was a loving daughter-in-law, and look how great things became for her. She has a nice new husband and a baby boy too. 

Prayer:  Lord, be with Your people today as You were in Bible days. Look out for us when things are at their worst. I praise Your ultimate wisdom and seek Your guidance for the future. 
Amen

April 5, 2016

2 Corinthians 5:  . 7 For we live by faith, not by sight.

Paul is talking about death. We aren't at home now, in this body, because our true home is with our Creator. We know that, and we long for the day when we go home, but for now, we must live as though we are already with God. We do our best to serve Him no matter where we are. 

It's hard to live by faith. Sometimes it feels so far away. I go through the motions, I know how this should feel, but I am not feeling it. I need to remember that this is just a rehearsal for my real home in heaven. 

Prayer:  What, Or Lord, do I feel so far from You?  Let me live by faith. Guide me to Your loving presence in my daily life. Help me to see You in this troubled world. 
Amen

April 2, 2016

2 Corinthians 2:  17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

Paul isn't so happy. He has looked for Titus without finding him. He is concerned about the grief someone has caused the Corinthians. He ended the chapter with these words. 

I watched a piece on Joel Osteen yesterday. He has the biggest church in America. He doesn't take any salary from that. He never asks for money on television. I am not sure about his ministry, but that part is impressive. Nobody should be selling God for a profit. 

Prayer:  I don't want any profits from speaking about You, Lord. I would like to feel that I am sent by You, and that I am representing You well. Show me the way. 
Amen