Sunday, July 30, 2017

God's enduring love

Enduring love
S - Isaiah 62

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
and her salvation as a burning torch.

 Isa 62:2

The nations shall see your righteousness,
and all the kings your glory,
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will give.

 Isa 62:3

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

 Isa 62:4

You shall no more be termed Forsaken,[fn]
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,[fn]
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,[fn]
and your land Married;[fn]
for the LORD delights in you,
and your land shall be married.

 Isa 62:5

For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your sons marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.

O- this reminds me of how God feels about me following the season I've walked. This comes at a time when Israel has then exiled to Babylon. It was a time of Greek trial and a test of the people of Israel. But God was always their lord and savior. His love never failed and he never turned away from them.

A- the application for me is to Simply experience that same unconditional love and mercy from God In My Season. Despite the tough season and whatever doubts that created in me, God never lost sight of me. His love endures forever and I am thankful how much he loves his people. The application for me is 2 Rejoice now and to remember in the future especially during times of Trials of who God is and how much he loves us.

P- dear heavenly father thank you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart. Lord I pray you help me to fully experience the fullness of Your Love for me. In Jesus name I pray amen.

Friday, July 28, 2017

Avoiding those who would lure you back to sin

Avoiding those who would lure you back to sin

S- 2Peter 2

They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.] And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

O-  Peter is speaking here of false prophets or people who will act like your friends , even act like Christians and then lead you away from God's ways.   Peter is telling us that as believers we have received great joy through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior ,  but that we are susceptible to being led a stray and therefore ought to be on guard for those that would lead us away froom our new found life in Christ.

A - The application for me is not to avoid sinful people,  God still wants to reach them and show them His love and mercy,  but in living in the world not to join those in their sin and wandering away from God's ways.   It a fair warning because we all like to be liked and when integrating into a new community like I am now,  I must be careful in my joining into a shipyard or navy culture where sin at some level is acceptable.  In the recent past I think this was more of an internal battle with powers and principalities in the spiritual real challenging me to give up my new way of living and go back to the old.  I perserverved and endured through that season but not with out scars and exhaustion.  Peters warning to me today is to avoid it all together.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.   I pray Lord that you would help me to see what you see in people and circumstances,  to avoid the sin, and love the sinner,  help guard my heart and mind from any tempation to go back to my old ways.  In Jesus Christ I pray,  Amen.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

The most effective habit - Growing your faith

The most effective habit - Growing your faith

S- 2 Peter 1
2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

Growing in Faith

3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

10 So, dear brothers and sisters,work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

O-  This is such a great revelation for me this morning.  Up until now I have had this 2 peter chapter as something I have been studying , meditationg and journaling on as a study of habits of highly effective Christians.   Today I recognize it as not many habits but one.   Grow your faith and God will give you more grace and peace which is the personal victory.   Verses 5-8 simply point out how to grow your faith all for the purpose of becoming more  productive and useful in the kingdom of god.

A -  The applicatin for me is again simple, because it is all encoming  in this chapter,  grow my faith, by striving for moral excellence,  growing in knowledge, mastering self control,   building patient endurance,  and becoming more godly.   With all of that I am to practice loving other Christians,  and learning to love all like Christ.

P - Dear heavenly Father,  thank you for what You have shown me through this scripture,  I pray you would help me to continue to grow my faith, and grow more into the man you are calling me to be.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Humble servant leader

Humbe servant leader

S -1 Peter 5
5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

“God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.”

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

O -   Sometime the words in the scripture are more than enough to descibe exactly what I need to know,  God opposess the proud, and gives grace to the humble,  just give your worries and cares to God,  for He cares for  you.

A -  I must continue to grow in the direction of living this out , a life of a humble servant, and servant leader,  who gives all I have to serve God and serve others.   I must only give my cares and worries over to Him whenever they get in the way of my ability to do either  one.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I am thankful Lord for this day you have given me, for you have taken all my cares and worries away,   I ask that you show me how I might serve you today, and how I might show your love to others who you have given me to work with.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen. 

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Living for God and suffering for being a Christian

Living for God and suffering for being a Christian

S -1 Peter 4
4 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 3 You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
...
Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

O -  What freedom we have in Christ,  freedom from the weight and consequences of sin.   We often are encouraged by this but forget the whole package deal -  we are now partners with Christ and shouldn't be surprised when we still face trials and suffering.  Christ was free from sin, and one with the Father and yet he faced trial and suffering and so will we.  Instead of being depressed by this we should understand the partners we are in our shared suffering knowing in the end He has made it through and won the victory. 

A -  The application for me is to look back at the season I just went to and realize , Christ faced similar suffering and trials.   First my experience was like the 40 day and nights that Christ went into the desert, fasted and was tempted by the devil.  I too faced a similar internal suffering and faced many tempations and battles in my mind, and for my soul.   Later Christ faced great internal strife as he faced the cross and the feeling even of abandoment by God.    I feel I faced a similar crisis of faith where I wondered if  God abandonded me or somehow was irrellevant in relief of my suffering.    But in the end I feel great peace and joy as the I once again feel the presence of God, the guidance of the Holy spirit and the favor of my Father in Heaven. 

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for word today, may it be sealed to my heart.  I first off want to thank you for your promises shown true in my life through a season of trial and suffering.  Second I would ask Lord that you help me to be like Paul who learns to be satisfied in all things both times of plenty and times of few, times of great peace and times of great turmoil and yes even suffering.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Monday, July 24, 2017

Trust in the Lord

TRUST IN THE LORD
S -isaiah 40
“Shout that people are like the grass.
    Their beauty fades as quickly
    as the flowers in a field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fade
    beneath the breath of the Lord.
    And so it is with people.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fade,
    but the word of our God stands forever.”
...

Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the weak
    and strength to the powerless.
30 Even youths will become weak and tired,
    and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint.

O -  The Lord our God is beyond our ability to imagine all that is and does, and can do.   This is why we celebrate His glory because first off He deserves it, but second off we need to remind ourselves who is on our side, who is for us.   Our lives are subject to time and the elements, we get to enjoy this life but the elements will have its affect on our physical lives,  but the one thing ever stable and never changing is the word of God.   Not only is His word trustworthy, we have a God that enduring and powerful,  and gives help to us who are exhausted and weary.    With Him we can run and not grow weary.

A -  I am reminded today that scripture can serve so many needs in my life, one is often correction and direction giving me guidance on where I need to go and how I need to change.   Another is exampled in today's verses from Isaiah,  to remind us of the greatness of our God,   the kindness and everlasting love and gentleness He can provided.  My application then is just to be reminded who is on my side, and what that means to my worry and my exhaustion.

P - Dear Heavenly Father,  thank you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that your spirit would ever refresh and remind me of who you are, and that Lord you would help me run and not grow weary, and walk and not faint.  I want to soar on wings of eagles as I serve you in this place.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Living members of God's church

Living members of God's church
S-1 Peter 2
5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say,

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
    chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in him
    will never be disgraced.”
Once you had no identity as a people;
    now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
    now you have received God’s mercy.
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

O -  My only observation is how comforting this passage really is to me, that  God chose to create the new temple with us as His living stones, and Jesus as the Cornerstone.    We are to be seen to the world as God's church, and we interact with those who don't know him to be intermediaries between God and man.    We have been made residents of God's Kingdom and are now temporary residents of this world, and as such we should no longer live pleasing the worldly desires but those which are kingdom building.

A - The application for me is to recognize I am a new creation and a temporary resident here.  I have a purpose and a calling to represent the Church and Christ in all that I do.  To intercede for those that do not yet know God and to share a clear picture of his love, mercy, and kingdom.  

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for this mornings lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.    I pray Lord that you  show me where I am to work in this season ahead to represent you and share your love and mercy with others.   I pray all this in Jesus,   name,  Amen.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

The joy we have to look forward to

The joy we have to look forward to
S 1 Peter
6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
...

13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.

O - The scripture seems to be a lovely exhortation to the life of good christian living and what to expect and how to thrive.    Peter speaks to the people who now know the joy of salvation but will face trials ahead which will test and strengthen their faith.

A-  Peter also leaves us advice on preparing our minds and exercising self control to endure the trials ahead.   I am to live as obedient child to God's direction and will for my live,  in an effort to please God, and not fall back to satisfying my own desires.  

P - Lord my prayer is that you would help me build on the foundation of faith  you have given me through enduring trials and waiting patiently on the Lord.  Help me to restore and refresh my marriage, and relationships that lapsed during this past trials,  and help me live with a renewed spirit of joy and peace over your hand on my life.  I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.

Friday, July 21, 2017

Guard against pride, givening all the Glory to God

Guard against pride, givening all the Glory to God
S-2 Chronicles 32
24 About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the Lord, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown him, and he became proud. So the Lord’s anger came against him and against Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah humbled himself and repented of his pride, as did the people of Jerusalem. So the Lord’s anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime.

O-  Here we see Hezekiah a King that was favored by the Lord and was trying to do things right to lead God's people who becomes ill , prays to the Lord and is healed.   BUT .... he didn't respond correctly most likely a prideful act that did not give God the glory for his healing.   As a result God responded by coming against him, after which the King had to repent and was humbled.    Thankfully Hezekiah had a good relationship with God,  he both healed him and corrected Him,  this is our God willing to help us, but also like a good Father, will correct us.

A - THe application for me is to recognize that the Lord has healed me and help me through my last season.   I need to be sure I give Him all the glory for what has been done in my life.   I also need to keep my pride in check, because I am no better than Hezekiah, in that when I am weak I cry out and wait on the Lord to deliver me, but when I become healthy and strong I begin reaching beyond God's plan, and begin transferring confidence in my success from Him to me.   I must guard my heart and mind from pride and maintain a humble spirit.   I can do this if I daily stay close to Him,  seek His guidance in both pray and devotions, and  proclaim His goodness to all who are in my life.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.   Lord I know I am susceptible to pride, help me to experience the joy and peace of being in your will and walking with you,  while protecting my heart from the lie of pride in myself that is just waiting to be fed.    I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Start humble and with the right motives

Start humble and with the right motives
S-James 4
You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.

O-  I believe this word from James is designed for me to understand that as He previously spoke Faith is the foundation of living a life with and for God.    Once you begin to live a life of faith though you are susectible to a life which is doing just good enough or just bad enough that you think you need to do something on your own.  Your desires take over and you no longer want what you need to live abundantly with God,  but begin to covet what others have, and because you think it will make you happy.   Wanting what others have, or competing with others is the road to pride and bitterness.  When you have you become boastful of all you create for yourself, and when you are without you are coveting and competing with others for what they have.  

A -   The answer is simple and in these verses -  ask God for what you want and need,  and if you come with a humble heart and the right motives, He is good and faithful to provide.

P -  Dear heavenly Father, as I head into this season feeling once again a refreshing spirit ,  I recognize that if I don't maintain my humbleness of heart and keep my motives in the right place then I will find myself frustrated, exhausted and depressed once again.  Lord guide me gently in a new way, help me to maintain a humble heart that desires to you glorified, and those in my life filled with your love.  I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

The tongue brings forward from the well of what is inside

The tongue brings forward from the well of what is inside
S- James 3

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

O-  James' treatise on the tongue is always a good stopping point for me because I have so much trouble created by my own tongue, that I know I have much to learn and reflect on.   Today I observe that this small thing the tongue weilds great power and influence both for good and evil.   So it is important that we tether it to a mind and spirit that is led by the Lord and not by our sinful tendencies.

A -  The appplicaiton for me is to recongnize when my mind and spirit are God led my tongue speaks life, healing and truth into the people I interact with.  When I am led by desires and sins of this world,  my tongue is a wicked weapon that can inflict pain and damage on those I release it on.    I must continue to ensure the well that is within me is spirit filled, overflowing with God's love, and free from influences of the enemy so that out of this deep fresh water well, my mouth will speak life giving words.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's devotions,  may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray that you would help me root out any damage left in me that is spoiling the well of my heart , mind and soul that you would fill me with you love and everlasting kindoness, so that I may speak life into my wife,  my kids, my family,  my friends, my co workers and even my boss.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

“Love your neighbor as yourself.

“Love your neighbor as yourself.
S- James 2
8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. 11 For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder

O-  What God is saying here in this scripture is that it is easy for us to love our friends or love those who love us,  but we are to love our neighbors,  who work with us, live next door,  pass us in the supermarket, are our bosses, are our advesaries.   The laws and obedience to them are  gift from God, not a punishment.  When we follow them we receive the gift of peace and wholeness.   We we disobey even just one,  though we are forgiven by grace,  we are punished by our sin and its separation from God's best for our lives. 

A -  The application for me today is to continue to work on loving all those in my life as my self.  The falling short I have often done is surrounded by some great anger , disappointment or disapproval of someone in my home life,  at work, even in the church. I know the Lord is telling me start afressh and do not be quick to judge and comparmentalize who is for me and who is against me,    who I love to be around and who I want to avoid.   Instead he would have me love them all like good neighbors treating them as I would want to be treated.

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for this lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I confess I have harbor ill feelings in the past toward people I struggled to be around ,   I was wrong and I need your help to let go of those past offenses I have held onto.  Help me as I go forward to see people as you see them, and learn to love them all as neighbors.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Monday, July 17, 2017

Faith and Endurance

S- James 1
Faith and Endurance

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

O - James, is writing to the early church because whether it be the early church facing challenges of understanding and being God's new testament church, or God's people in the past following Abraham, and Moses,  that though a clear convenant has been made,  the road forward will always have challenges.  But James helps us all have God's perspective that we should rejoice in these challenges that test our faith, because it grows us in strength and endurance, so we might run the race put in front of us.   The reminder is that during these challenges where our faith is being stretched to the limits we are to seeks God's help , to ask for what we need, and He will not punish you for asking, but  we sure ensure God is not a back up plan , but that we have put our trust and faith in Him to be the author and perfector our faith.

A - The application for me is to recognize that God has brought me through this dry and challenging season where my faith and endurance were tested and at times I did not think I would make it through.  But His grace is sufficient, and He has started a good work in me that He is is not finished with.  As I move onto this season ahead, with renewed strength, tested faith, and endurance,  I need to remember that I still need to and can call on Him for wisdom and direction to guide my every decision and step.

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you give me clear vision , wisdom, and discernment of what to do, where to go, and how to operate in my time up at PSNS &  IMF, and the PACNORWEST in general.  I pray all this in Jesus name,  Amen.

When you stray , return to the lord and rest in Him

When you stray , return to the lord and rest in Him
S - Isaiah 30
“What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,”
    says the Lord.
“You make plans that are contrary to mine.
    You make alliances not directed by my Spirit,
    thus piling up your sins.
2 For without consulting me,
    you have gone down to Egypt for help.
You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection.
    You have tried to hide in his shade.

...

15 This is what the Sovereign Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me
    and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.

O-  These words from Isaiah are to a God's people after they had once again wandered away from Him, and were doing many things not good for their relationship with God and just plain not good for themselves.  Now this is from a people who have history of God saving them and giving them good direction and delivering on his promises, but over time they slowly fade away.   Isaiah is letting them know why they are where there at , and the only solution they have -  to return to the lord,  rest in Him - because in this quietness in Him,  you will hear God and only God,  and your confidence and strength will be restored.

A -  The application for me is just to recognize my self in this past season.   I felt I walked into the season with great favor and readiness and yet some how walked out of it exhausted and directionless.  I recognize I too just like the Israelites began to make my own plans contrary to God's,  I fought against God, who was not surprised about my circumstances (promotion, move to CSP etc) but that it did not line up with how I envisioned the whole tour in PH going.  I was working with alliances not directed by God's spirit, and doing things out of my own instinct without consulting God.     It is in this period between Pearl and Puget, in which I am jobless and homeless that I have begun to return to the rest in the lord, and in this quiteness He is restoring me,  both my confidence and my strength.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your rest and restoration.  I am thankful for your consistent and persistent love and grace as I walk this life.   My hearts desire is to stay aligned with you in all that I do, to learn and grow with you all the days of my life.  I pray ahead in this season that you would keep me close,  correct me quickly but gently, and help me to fullfil your purpose for me to love how you love the people you place in my life.   In Jesus, name Amen.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

A path after God's correction and discipline

A path after God's correction and discipline
S-Hebrews 12
 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way

12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal.

O -  I feel this is God's exhortation to us all after a season of trial and discipline.    We know He cares about us because He disciplines us, not because he removes all our pain and frustration.   He desires us to live a holy life, and while even amidst what we feel is the right thing,  when we begin departing from His holiness He disciplines and corrects us.  This is often painful , but as the scripture promises there is a peaceful harvest of right living in the end.

A -  The application for me comes in verses 12-16 - that I am to mark out a straight path after this season of correction and work at living in peace with everyone, work at living a holy life,  and watch out that I don't allow any poisonous root to grow into my life. 

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.   I pray this all in Jesus name, Amen.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Faith - an essential ingredient

Faith -  an essential ingredient
S - Hebrews 11
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
..... List of faith stories ! Abraham, Moses, Rahab

 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

O-   Faith is the mystery and the mandatory element to a good relationship with God.   With God there will always be things unseen that are available to Him,  things we do not understand, but know to Him,  and things that he has planned that are beyond our greatest hopes.    In the Hall of Faith the greatest of those in the bible who followed God's promises or direction by faith, did so not because of some keen knowledge or great understanding but because of the one action word that appears to be actionless -  Faith.    Faith is a decision to trust in the one true God. 

A - The application for me is to look to transform my heart and mind to be more like Moses, Abraham,  David,  Paul in that despite circumstances surrounding me that are seen and know, I would put my trust and faith in God and His plan for me.  His grace and love are why I trust Him,  His abilities and power I do not understand, but will follow Him because of who He is my Father, my savior, my God.

P - Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.   I pray Lord that you grow my faith more and more so that I might walk with peace and confidence in who you are even in the most difficult and challenging of times.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Christ, the real deal

Christ, the real deal
S - Hebrews 9
24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. 25 And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal.26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

O -  The author of Hebrews (and the Holy Spirit) makes so clear the difference in the old convenant and the new,  the old priest and the new.   God when passing on the design for the tabernacle to Moses knew he was replicating on earth what is in heaven, but also knew it would never be as perfect as it is in heaven.    He knew he used earthly priests, and animal blood to represent what would need to occur in heaven.   But the beauty of Christ, shedding his blood once and for all to pay the price for all mankind,  shows how perfect and complete our High Priest in heaven is.  We can have confidence that once and for all it is finished.   

A -  The application for me is to help me maintain the perspective that i have right at this moment,  that Christ work is complete,  His work in me continues, but I will never again lose relationship with Him, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.  It is through this relationship that I will be able to live in a world that is still broken, with a enemy that is very real, and persistent in pursuing to distract and seperate me from God.   

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for what you have done for me,  once and for all dieing for my sins, and allowing me to have this close relationship with you.   I feel so undeserving at times, and I know I didn't earn one cent of what Christ did for me.  Thank you Jesus, Amen.

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

The glory of the new Convenant

The glory of the new Convenant
S- Hebrews 8

But this is the new covenant I will make
    with the people of Israel on that day,says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their minds,
    and I will write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.
11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors,
    nor will they need to teach their relatives
    saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’
For everyone, from the least to the greatest,
    will know me already.
12 And I will forgive their wickedness,
    and I will never again remember their sins.

O-  Wow the new convenant IS really good (in comparison to the old )  .    The old convenant was written on tablets and passed by word of mouth and guarded by various people in authority.  The new covenant is written on each of God's childrens heart and is guarded by the Holy Spirit.    The laws were written on tablets, and codified in books of the old testament,  but the new laws are written on God's children's minds and refreshed by His spoken and then written word.
The old high priest were like us,  susceptable and worn by sin,   the new High Priest Jesus,  was susceptable, and defeated sin and death.   The old convenant only a few stood in the presence of God in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle.   In the new Testament,  we are the temple, and God lives in us.

A - The application for me is again to rejoice in the glory and grace of God, as His new convenant with us is so giving and in my case undeserved and unearned.   I am thankful because I don't deserve it,   I serve and love Him because He is worthy of my praise.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart. 

Monday, July 10, 2017

Jesus our one true high priest

Jesus our one true high priest
S-Hebrews 7

7 This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. 2 Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.” 3 There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors—no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.
...

20 This new system was established with a solemn oath. Aaron’s descendants became priests without such an oath, 21 but there was an oath regarding Jesus. For God said to him,

“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow:
    ‘21 but there was an oath regarding Jesus. For God said to him,

“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow:
    ‘You are a priest forever.’”d]"

22 Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God.

O - I don't think I really understood why Jesus was a priest like Mechizek, untill I read the devotions this morning from Hebrews.   We see the parallels of who Melchizek was in the fact that when Abraham was living out God's promise to him he offered  a tithe to Mel to honor the lord, and at the time there were no priests to intercede for God's people.  This didn't occur until later with Moses, and Aaron and the Levites.  But Mel was the original priest who represented the king of justice and peace, and pre-sembled Jesus as a priest forever.    We know the priests and the old law was not successful in reconciliation in complete with God, so God sent his son to be the eternal Priest who guarantees a new convenant with God, one in which we have a perfect priest to intercede for us and one in which we have a priest who understands our struggles but is not weighed down by sin and death. 

A -  The application for me is just to rejoice in the increased knowledge of who Jesus is.  I am more and more amazed at God's plan and love for us, and at what a tremendous role Jesus plays in restoring our relationship with God the Father.'

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your wisdom and grace.   Thank you holy spirit for revealing God's truth to me this morning and increase the hope and joy that is in my heart to both follow and live for you.   I pray all this in Jesu name, Amen.

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Protecting and restoring from spiritual dullness and indifference

Protecting and restoring from spiritual dullness and indifference
S- Hebrews 6
 11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. 12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

O-  This letter to the church in Jerusalem is a word of encouragement and exhortation to the young church because God knows what it means to walk this walk here on earth, it comes with trials and distractions, if not spiritual attacks even.   The advice is to keep on loving others,  it will help fend off becoming spiritually dull and indifferent.   We are to follow the example of those like Paul who knew both great rich's and success and great trials and defeats, yet ran the race in such a way as to win.

A -  The application for me is to recognize, that I made it through the 21 mile wall in this marathon called life.   I was at the point of breaking and wanting to quite, and hung on to the promises God had been planting in my heart over the last ten years.   The word of exhortation for me today is to keep loving others, and in areas were relationship had been tested and tried through the "wall" go back and inject love in order to restore resilence and life to what may be only barely surviving.

P - Dear Lord, thank you for your daily restoration of what has been a long season of dryness.  I am feeling refreshed and energized as I begin the process of plowing my heart, loosening the hard soil in my heart,  and preparing it for the seeds of righteousness you want to plant and cause to grow.   I pray that you help me with restoration and investment in my relationship with my wife.  She has sacrificed so much for me in this past season, and I know we need you to help restore her spirit, and our relationship to the point it is overflowing with you love.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Learning Obedience through suffering

Learning Obedience through suffering

S-heb 5

7 While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. 8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. 9 In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.10 And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

O-  My first observation is just to be thankful that we have a high priest, Jesus, who understands what we go through yet,  perfectly represents and sacrifices on our behalf to the father.   The second revelation I had was relative to my own struggle with God,  and why he allowed for me to go through a season of suffering.   I now better understand his perspective,  because he even allowed his own son, who committed no sin, to suffer.  But in this suffering was perfecting obedience to God the father.  

A -  The application for me is the same.   Times of suffering will come and go, and the only question that remains is what is my response.   I need to be like Jesus,  cry to the father, plead with the father, share my suffering with Jesus,  but in the end "Thy will be done".   It is only through this obedience that I can truly follow God's great plan for my life.

P - Dea heavenly Father, thank you for revealing to me today what it means to grow in relationship with you through suffering.  I confess I have questioned you and if you are even neccesary in my life through times of suffering.  I now understand you are drawing me closer to you in these seasons, and while I don't enjoy them in the end I end up closer to you.

Friday, July 7, 2017

Plow the hardness of my heart, and plant seeds of righteousness

  S-Hosea 10:12
I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,
    and you will harvest a crop of love.
Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,
    for now is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come
    and shower righteousness upon you.’

O -  Wow, this verse is for me today,  I have come through a long rough season in which the battle was internal and for my soul.    The battle was first physical - at work,  with dissappointing news about jobs and promotions,  then it was followed by   a internal spiritual battle which lasted long after the physical battle was done.   The results of this season is both a resolution of committment to the lord and my calling,  but along the way quite a bit of hardening of my heart has occurred.  Now is the time to plow up the hardness of my heart,  seek the Lord, and plant seeds of righteousness in for growth in this next season.

A - The application for me is to spend this time between CSP and Puget on vacation reflecting and planning for the seeds I will plant.   I need to reflect on what hard spots I have allowed to be planted in my heart: 
1.  The Lord -  The hard spots for me have been the questioning of why God let me go through this much mental pain,  and allowing the hardness of my heart to be believing that if I do nothing , nothing bad happens proving God is not relevant in my life.
2.  My wife - I have allowed her to become hard spots in my  heart with regard to the home and hording.  I have allowed the enemy to drive seperation in our relationship,  the hard spots causing me to see here as a problem and not God's gift to me. 
3.  My children -  I had allowed their shortfall in personality, or growing up to harden a  part of my heart because they were not making it easy for me.  I wanted the kids that just did well at school and were happy at home.   The hardness in my heart was my shying away from the participating in their development in school and extra curricular activities like volleyball, dance and singing.  
4.   My vocation -   the hardness in my heart here got down to believing what I actually do matters.  I began to stop tracking goals,  projects and tasks.

So what is my application -  I need to plow these areas to be sure the ground is not longer hard, and begin replanting seeds of righteousness in these areas.   I then need to seek the lord to know what to plant and allow him to grow it in me.

P -  Dear heavenly father, thank you for sticking with me, and holding me up through this past season,  I truly felt I wouldn't make it, and know I only did because of you.   I thank you for this refreshing and plowing season,  I pray you would help me be fruitful in this season.  I pray all this in Jesus name, amen.