Oh my soul

S - casting crows - Oh my Soul

Oh, my soul

Oh, how you worry
Oh, how you’re weary, from fearing you lost control

This was the one thing, you didn’t see coming
And no one would blame you, though

If you cried in private
If you tried to hide it away, so no one knows
No one will see, if you stop believing

Oh, my soul

You are not alone

There’s a place where fear has to face the God you know

One more day, He will make a way

Let Him show you how, you can lay this down

‘Cause you’re not alone

Here and now

You can be honest
I won’t try to promise that someday it all works out
‘Cause this is the valley

And even now, He is breathing on your dry bones

And there will be dancing
There will be beauty where beauty was ash and stone
This much I know

I’m not strong enough, I can’t take anymore

(You can lay it down, you can lay it down)

And my shipwrecked faith will never get me to shore

(You can lay it down, you can lay it down)

Can He find me here
Can He keep me from going under

Oh, my soul

You’re not alone

Jesus principle - teachable moments - loving the sinner, hating the sin

Jesus principle - teachable moments - loving the sinner, hating the sin

S- John 8 - NASB

2Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3The scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4they *said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5“Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”

O - Jesus here finds himself in a situation where he is being tested and he uses it as a teachable moment. That is the hallmark of his ministry, he went where the people were  and waited to see what the father was doing and took those moments to make them teachable to both Pharisees and citizens. In this situation the Jewish law enforcers brought him a woman who had committed adultery to test him, and so they said the law of Moses said we should stone her for her sin. Jesus understood their hearts and knew what the father wanted out of this moment which was to show God’s heart and intention for his people who are trapped in there sin.    You see the Law of Mosses was given because the Israelites couldn’t follow God, there sin kept separating them from God’s intent for his people.  God created man and woman and modelled marriage through Adam and Eve. Decades later through Abraham God began restoring his people from the effects of sin. Even though after long captivity in Egypt and the salvation of the Passover, and being witnesses of amazing and miraculous moments (parting of the Red Sea just to name one) , those moments were not enough to keep God’s people honoring the covenant of marriage. Sin still rained in their life.  Now again many years later, long  after God helped Moses write some laws that kept the Israelites in bounds, the heart behind those laws arre lost on them. In this scripture passage we see this example of those wanting to carry out the law of Moses without understanding the heart of God. This is why Jesus came. He witnesses that God hates sin But loves his people.  In this teachable moment Jesus shows God’s love of his people, but hatred of sin.  In this moment Jesus teaches the crowd that they are not to hate the sin  in her but rather represent God’s heart, and leave the judging to God in all situations.  Jesus did this effectively by showing the crowd their own sin, to recognize that they had no place condemning, that was gods role, not theirs. Now Jesus did not let the adulterous woman off the hook either. He simply said I do not condemn you to death, go and sin no more.

A - The application for me is to recognize I can be one of those in the crowd, who spends way too much time judging and condemning, when I need to seek the father’s heart, correct and even condemn the sin And spend all of my time and energy loving.   I need to trust God’s ultimate judgement and discipline of His creation. 

P - Dear heavenly father thank you for today’s lesson may it be used to scrub away the effects of sin in my own heart, and reveal the heart you have given me which is filled with your spirit. Lord I pray for forgiveness for all of those that I have condemned, chose to be the judge of, And simply did not love the way you love them. I pray in the future Lord you would show me each and every day how to love your people, help free those bound by sin, through what you would have do not my will.  I pray all of this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Sanctification - Gods job, not ours

Sanctification -Gods job not ours

S - Romans 14

1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God.” 12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

O- I think this is an critical clarification that Paul gives to us as Christians about how we are to behave, primarily amongst one another but also to others outside the church.  I understood that the message Christ delivered and the transformation that occurs in each one of us is different. We are all in the process of being sanctified by Christ that we are sanctified not necessarily through correction of others. So Paul tells us not to make that our day job because we will likely get it wrong. Here specifically  he speaks of some of the more familiar Old Testament habits of what to eat versus freedom in Christ that all is clean, will potentially drive a wedge between believers. And when believers start making it their day job to correct all that offend their values, Is when things go bad inside the church.

A-The application for me is of course to start with me. I need to make sure with my own family at home, my local family church , that I am first and foremost focusing on how God is working on me and not judging and correcting those around me. Now I have a role in how I raise my kids, even there I must put my trust In Christ that he is sanctifying them them by day.  In fact I can testify that I am at my worst when I spend my time judging and trying to correct, many times not helping their own walk with the Lord.  So what am I to do, I am to intercede through prayer, stop and discuss through conversation but not to judge or Condemn.

P-Dear heavenly father thank you for today’s devotion yet to be sealed to my heart. I pray Lord that you would continue to change my view of what is your truth in situations, so that I might see you and your work and others. I recognize and confess I have frequently judged incorrectly, because I was seeing  things through My own eyes. Lord help me to see the truth, and speak the truth in love. I pray all of this in Jesus Christ name amen

Servant Leadership

Servant Leadership

S-1 Thes 3

Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, 3 so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. 4 For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.

O- It is inspiring to watch Paul from a distance continue lead the churches he had planted. As he sends this letter to the Thessalonians, we see that though Paul is in Athens, he still gives great thought to the church families that he has raised, and left to continue his mission work elsewhere. What I see in Paul is a leader who deeply cares about those he has led, even those he has long since discipled, he takes the time to check in with them and provide assistance in corrections as needed, or as the Holy Spirit would lead him.  In this particular case, he does the servant leader thing and even sends Timothy his assistant at cost to himself, in order to encourage and strengthen the Thessalonians. This is truly inspirational leadership.

A- The application for me is to try to be the servant and inspirational leader that Paul was. I can see myself needing to example his servant hood at home, in that in my leadership of my family I need to place their needs above mine. At work I need to be passionate about raising leaders and teams, but recognizing their very young and inexperienced, I need to be willing to send my best to help, even if it’s at the cost to me or my staff. Specifically so it is not lost in this journal the project teams at the shipyard are like the newly planted churches. They are full of young excited leaders who have a passion to do the right thing but not always the support and experience to be successful. I must constantly be checking in with them and sending the right people down to help, and approach that helps in a servant leadership manner. 

P- Dear heavenly father thank you Lord for today’s devotion, and even helping me break out of a bit of a journaling slump. I realize that I can be hard on myself, and that I have spent daily time with you, however I can see the slippery slope of not journaling as it is part of the process for me learning and growing closer to you. I thank you Lord for your grace, Help me to give myself the correct amount of grace so that I don’t place my own expectations on myself that drive me from your purpose and plan in my life. I pray all of this in Jesus Christ name amen.

speaking humbly, writing boldly

Writing boldly, speaking softly

S-2Cor10

1 Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! 2 I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

7 You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. 8 For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, 9 for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.” 11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.

12 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. 13 But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting beyond our measure, that {is,} in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, 16 so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another. 17 But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. 18 For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.

O-I almost got lost in Paul‘s dissertation here, not because it was it clear, but because I feel it mimics my own reality. What Paul is speaking to the church in Corinth is about who he is. Since Paul has established the church in Corinth, left, and sent letters back giving guidance I.e. 1 Corinthian’s.Here in second Corinthians we see Paul needing to explain to the people of Corinth that while he is with them he may appear humble and meek, yet in letters bold and pressing. His truth is that he is both , both kind and compassionate, and at bold in demanding. Paul goes on to explain this boldness doesn’t come from himself, therefore is not arrogance, but his strength comes from the Lord and therefore is righteous.

A-The application for me is to live a life like Paul, to be a leader like Paul, and to be a servant of Christ like Paul. I see Paul’s boldness in myself, not yet perfected, yet building into a Christ center leader who boldly can speak the truth, in love. The mistakes I’ve made in the past have been to expect people to recognize who I am and who I represent. When disrespected, or minimized I respond and elevate from my place of boldness to a place of anger in retaliation. It is this behavior I must stop, and follow Paul‘s example. Paul does two things in hears about things that upset him, he writes a letter in boldness impresses in direct me harshly at times but is able to prelude and post script it in a way that the corrected receive the correction in love. For me I must continue to practice my skills of articulating my thoughts in writing, more than reacting with my words in speech.I myself so follow Paul’s example and when in person, with kindness and love.

P-Dear heavenly father, thank you for today’s lesson, may it be sealed to my heart. I pray Lord that you would continue to help transform my heart and mind in to Jesus’ image, and particularly help me to pause when confronted with things that upset me help me to respond meekly and with love. But I also ask that you would continue to develop my writing skills so that I may communicate with boldness And righteousness.

Following the perfect Priest, the perfect Father, and Perfect leader in my life

S Hebrews 7:2 NLT

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.”

Hebrews 7:16-19 NLT

Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

O - Paul is teaching this very foundational principles to the Jews.  The argument is very likely necessary because they are in a culture dominated by the old testament covenant of priesthood, sacrifice, and intercession by man to God through the high priest and Levites.  But God had through the new covenant that  we now have a permanent priest,  and prince of peace, and justice who forever interceded on our behalf.  He is unstained by sin, and no longer needs to reconcile himself with God before interceding on our behalf.  He is therefore unmistakable, dependable, and fully trustworthy to follow.    In the past rulers of Israel and Priests alike had, even though repentant,  fallen away from God and lead and ruled the people astray from God's ways. 

A - The application for me is to have confidence in following Jesus, the one righteous, and unmistakeably perfect leader who I can depend on.   "Though my flesh and faith may fail" he will never fail.  So as I walk through this life looking to example myself after great leaders,  great fathers, and great husbands around,  I need to recognize that I have a relationship with The greatest leader, The greatest Father, and The greatest Groom that ever Is.   

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you Lord for your daily drawing me back to you and your ways.  May today's lesson be sealed to my heart.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.  

God's grace sufficient to cover our early mistakes

S - Genesis 27:20 (New American Standard Bible)

 ²⁰Isaac said to his son, "How is it that you have it so quickly, my son?" And he said, "Because the LORD your God caused it to happen to me."
O -  I think God revealed this verse to me not so I can use it to condemn others, or judge Jacob for utilizing the Lord's name as the cause of some untruth we have done. In fact the rightness of this act is not at all complicated,  Jacob lied,  and God is truth and therefore God had no part in what Jacob was saying or doing.  But despite that God was true to his promise to Abraham, and Jacob would receive God's blessing and covering, and he would make the nation of Israel from him, and from that nation would come the Messiah.  

A -  So what is the take away from this verse.   I believe it is grace.  God's grace is sufficient to  cover even the most deceitful acts of his people.  Jacob eventually would become a great leader, but notice at this early age he is still influenced by his mother, and his needs, but later is much more submitted to the guidance and leadership of the Lord.  And there it is for me, I must recognize that those younger men and women who have a calling on their life, will stumble, and head in the wrong direction.  I must remember that God's grace is sufficient to cover that.  Their calling is not slowly erased with each mistake,  but their character must be molded and shaped into a character God can work with.   As we venture out to do kingdom work, we must become more and more dependent on God to guide us, and less dependent on our ability to make it all happen ourselves.

P - Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for today's devotion, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you would help me to ensure my motives and actions are grounded in you, and not me deceiving others in your name.  I pray you  would help me to mentor and cover your upcoming leaders with your grace and love, and guidance.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.