9-7-10 A Path to Follow

Proverbs 7:1-2 My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

It seems like the writer of this REALLY wants you to get what theyre saying in this book. For such a seemingly simple book, there is so much to grab hold of So much to suck up And you will live In this statement the writer is saying that if you dont keep the commands, you will not live You will die. This shows how valuable this book is Not to mention the entire Bible.

I have realized in my life that even though I believe the Bible fully, I dont always live what Ive learned from it. The Bible is my map, and Ill follow it.

God, I need you. I want you. Please teach me the importance of your word. Teach me to be a good steward. I love you Jesus.

9-8-10 Complex Simplicity

Proverbs 8:13, 8:17, 8:21, 8:35 To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Bestowing wealth on those who love me For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.

Here they go again, seeming so simple yet having so much depth... All these questions having such straight forward answers. What is the fear of the Lord?... Hating evil. You want love from Jesus?... Love him. Want to find Jesus?... Seek him. Want to be wealthy?... Love God. Do you want life to the full extent?... Find him.

Sometimes it seems so obvious, I just look past it. I cant just say these things and not live them out.

Let me follow you God, from here until the end.

9-13-10 Power packed

Luke 30:19 It is like a mustard see, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.

It has little to do with this chapter but, Ive just realized in this verse the vast amount of power God conceals. Its amazing that God could make something as small and intricate as a mustard seed and make it grow in to a giant tree.

God brings me to my knees and I will follow him.

I love you God. Take my heart.

9-15-10 Our Mission

Revelation 20:15 If anyones name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

God is a just God. He is a loving God. Over and over God gives people opportunity to turn and live, a people who turn their back on their creator and his love and his sons love. The devil has been destroying lives for thousands of years. What testimony God must have against the devil and his hordes, raping, pillaging, scaring people throughout history.

So Jesus comes to seek and save what was lost. He even goes in to Hades to preach the good news of forgiveness and redemption. Then he gives this assignment to his followers Go and make disciples of all people. I think Im starting to get the importance of this assignment. Its not about a global church or sweet fellowship or even a good life. Its about saving humanity, one life at a time.

Lord give me strength.

10-6-10 Transformer

Luke 19:8 Look Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and it I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.

What a transformation. What motivates a man to give away half of his possessions? What an effect Jesus life had on those he passed be. In a moment, a mans life which was out of order came in to order. Was the man convicted because he saw miracles? Did he sense the holiness of Jesus? Was he inspired by anointed teaching? Yes, in his presence priorities are brought in to line. The Pharisees taught the scribes wrote but Zachaeus was transformed be Emmanuel, God with us.

The anointing breaks bondage. The oil of His presence does in a moment what 100 years of teaching will never do.

Come and walk among us Lord.

10-13-10 Save Yourselves

Acts 2:40 He warned them; and pleaded with them, Save yourselves from this corrupt generation. Those who accepted his message were baptized.

In verse 37 they asker Peter, what shall we do We recognize our great sin. Peter replied, repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sin. We know the rest of the story as its told throughout the New Testament, but it starts with repentance and obedience. Discipleship is complex not simple, but the first steps are simple. Heres the nugget. Peter said, repent and be baptized and then you will receive the gift of The Holy Spirit.

Even after the gift, it says in verse 42, they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching. How simple it seems today in comparison to Peters day.

Lord help us to make disciples.

10-20-10 Praise

Acts 12:23 Immediately because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of The Lord struck him down, and he was eaten be worms and died.

Wow, such a strong and quick response from God. How many times past and present have people not given praise to God? Herods life testifies against us when we dont give praise to God for what he does and who he is and we live. In Gods great grace and kindness He tolerates the arrogance we allow in our lives. Is god the maker of all things? Is His timing perfect? Can we trust Him? Will He do what He said He would? The answer is yes.

Whether it is Jobs friends, or Job or Herod or Peter or me. Our perspective is always limited and His is always vast and limitless, seeing the beginning from the end.

Your timing is perfect and your ways beyond human assessment. How majestic is you name.

10-28-10 Whispering Explosions

Mark 1:10 he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

Usually when we use the words, being torn open were referring to something that is super brutal, something that gets your blood pumping. They could have just said, he saw heaven open but they didnt. Heaven was TORN open to show how mighty and awesome God is, how powerful he is. But at the same time, the portion directly following says, the spirit descending on him like a dove. So it goes from this offensive sounding attack to a dove. A very generic sign for peace is a dove holding an olive branch. Why a dove?...Because it is a very non-aggressive animal, and its filled with beauty.

I believe they said this to show the raw power of God but also to show that God is peace. God is the storm and God is the calming of the storm.

Jesus, you alone are the power in the wind and the peace in my spirit. I love you. Thank you. Amen.

11-4-10 We Are the Cause

Mark 16:18 They will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.

God has given power to all of those who follow him.

This is a power that all I need to do is take hold of it. This will be the time where that happens.

God, youre so awesome. Thank you for leading the perfect life as a man. I love you. Amen.

11-10-10 Whats Your Focus?

I Corinthians 7:29 What I mean is The time is short Live as if Those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

Paul is giving us the proper perspective with which to embrace life. Hold loosely to life. Jesus said I have come that you would have life to the fullest, but if you try to hold on to your life you will lose it. If you hold loosely or give it away your life you will gain it back multiplied back to you.

Paul may be giving us a good counseling perspective. Dont sweat the small stuff. Live and love but serve like the end is near and God is the center of our focus.

Lord, help my focus to be tuned toward the right things.

11-17-10 The Battle

2nd Corinthians 10:4 The weapons we fight with have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.

One of out assignments as believers is to demolish strong holds. Paul goes on to say that the strongholds are arguments and pretensions. Every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God is or can be a stronghold. The battle is in our mind the way we think and how that affects the way we act. So the spiritual weapons we have are given to help us change out minds and our actions.

We have the power to change but the battle is fierce, thats why its called a stronghold.

Lord help us deal a death blow to strongholds of thought.

11-27-10 Breaking Power

Matt 27:18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

Pilate, even though he was not submitted to God, knew what this was all about between the Pharisees and Jesus. This was not about doing the right thing or discerning whether or not Jesus was the real deal. They had seen Him do great miracles. He taught with great wisdom and authority. Im sure that there was very little doubt that Jesus was blessed by God. Probably little doubt the He was sent by God. Maybe some doubt about whether or not He was the Messiah. But suffice it to say, they were not motivated by doubt but by envy. Even if Jesus had a better way to care for and lead the people, the Pharisees didnt seem to care. All they cared about was their power and leadership. How dare you come in here and take my authority. It is interesting how powerful the need is to maintain power.

Leaders have such a great challenge to lead with an open hand to God. It is not my authority or my title Lord it is yours.

Have your way with me.

12-1-10 The Sinful Nature

Romans 8:26 But the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express The Spirit intercedes for the Saints in accordance with Gods will.

How can we deal with the sinful nature? How do we avoid being deceived by sins allure? This verse answers, in part, this age old question. We have a wild card. It is by the mercy and grace of God that His Spirit comes to our rescue. What do we need for today? The Spirit knows. So, how so we lean back into the arms of protection that the Spirit provides. We read and trust and follow His words of instruction. Dont worry Pray. Think about whats good on The Word

I must respond to what the Spirit has already taught me so that He can move me to the next level of victory.

Lord help me to trust and obey.

12-12-10 A Just God

Heb 6:10 God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people continue to help them.

God is a good father! He will always remember the good you do. But as a good father, He is always moving us toward the goal. Heb 12:4 says a loving father disciplines his child. Its good to know that God will not forget out effort, but its even better to know He will not stop or be satisfied there. God compels us to press on, finish well, dont shrink back.

I am so grateful we have a compassionate High Priest. But Im more grateful that we have an award winning, driving coach who will lead us to win the play offs.

Lord forgetting what is behind, I press on.