God loves to use ordinary folks!

Amos 7-9; Psalms 104; Titus 2

Scripture

12Then Amaziah told me, "Amos, take your visions and get out! Go back to Judah and earn your living there as a prophet. Don't do any more preaching at Bethel. The king worships here at our national temple." I answered: I'm not a prophet! And I wasn't trained to be a prophet. I am a shepherd, and I take care of fig trees. But the LORD told me to leave my herds and preach to the people of Israel. And here you are, telling me not to preach!

Observation

When God called Amos he was a simple shepherd that also took care of fig trees. He wasn’t educated. He didn’t have lots of speaking experience. But God chose him to speak out against the nation of Israel. It was not a popular job, especially not with King Jeroboam.

Throughout the Bible God takes plain ordinary men and women and does extraordinary things through them. In the Old Testament you could not get any more plain and ordinary than a shepherd. The profession was considered the lowest of the lowest by the people of that day. Yet look at how many “Shepherds” God called out for his service: Abraham, Moses, David, Amos, to just name a few. In the New Testament God called out lots of ordinary folks like fisherman and tax collectors (both probably smelled pretty bad to the people around them)!

Application

There is no limit to what God can do through someone like you and me if we will just say “Yes” to Him. He is in the business of making the ordinary … extraordinary, but He can only do it with folks that have a willing heart! God wants to use ordinary us in the place where we work and live to do extraordinary things.



Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for making me who I am. Thank you for allowing me to serve you. Thank you for loving me in spite of all my defects. Help me to be willing today to be used by you to touch someone else’s life and if you do, that would make this ordinary day extraordinary!



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Give me…Give me…Give me… Help me...Help me...Help me...

Amos 4-6; Psalms 86; Titus 1

Scripture

Psalms 86:11 teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Observation

Give me…Give me…Give me…Help me...Help me...Help me

...probably sums up most of our prayer time if we are honest! We ask God to take care of our health needs or we pray for the health of a friend or a loved one. We probably even spend more time asking God for help financially. Give me this…give me that…etc. But David’s prayer in Psalm 86 is very different than our normal “wish list” prayers. First in verse one of Psalm 86 he begins by approaching God in humility. “ Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.” Then David asked God to teach him so he would know how to live and then he asked God for an undivided heart.”

Application

Life is busy and complicated. We shoot up prayers to God as we rush about and most of them are filled with give me…give me…give me…and help me...help me...help me! We need to stop today and ask Him for an undivided heart. Then we can praise Him with all of our hearts!



Prayer

Heavenly Father, teach me how to live and walk in your truth. Give me an undivided heart for you!



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Kathy and I will be on vacation beginning this weekend until next Saturday, June 8th. I am not sure if I will be close to a computer so if you don't see anything new you will know the reason. I will continue to journal everyday and I hope that you are continuing to write in your journal everyday too. If you have stopped let me encourage you to start again and strive to develop and maintain this great habit!

Don't lose your head!

Amos 1-3; Psalms 80; II Tim. 4

Scripture

2 Timothy 4:5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Observation

Paul is fixing to lose his head, not literally, but he is getting ready to die. As he was chained in prison he tells Timothy to keep his head in all situations. It is incredible to think that while Paul was in prison, in terrible circumstances he was concerned about Timothy and how Timothy would handle similar situations. He says in verse five, keep your head in all situations and endure hardship. This reminds me of what Paul said in Philippians 4:13. In most translations it has Paul saying, “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.” But I think that the verse could also be understood to say, “I can endure all things through Christ that strengthens me”.

Application

I believe that what the Lord is saying to me today is that I need to keep my head on straight. I need to endure hardship (problems). And I need to focus on the most important thing … sharing my faith with others.


Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me not to whine and complain about difficult situations. Help me to think straight and keep my focus on what is most important. Bring people into my life today and help me to share my faith with them.



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But…not wholeheartedly


II Ki. 13-14; II Chronicles 25; II Tim. 3

Scripture

II Chronicles 25: 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.

Observation

Amaziah was king of Judah. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not with his whole heart. He killed all of the officials that had a hand in murdering his father, but he did not kill their children because Moses said, "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sins." So he obeyed God in that instance, but then continued to do evil. In reading about many of the kings that came to power during those days most of them were evil and did not follow the Lord. Amaziah half-heartedly followed God.

Application

God wants us to wholeheartedly follow Him. Over and over again in Scripture He reminds us that He wants 100% obedience and 100% of our hearts. Col. 3:17; Col. 3:23; Det. 6:5; Ps. 119:2; Pr. 3:5; Je. 29:13; Jl. 2:12


Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to love you with all my heart, all my soul, and all of my might. I pray that you will be able to smile on me today! May I please you with my attitude and my actions today.



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What you need to know about Worms!

Jonah 1-4; II Tim. 2

Scripture

Jonah 4:7 “ But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered.”

Observation

The story of Jonah the reluctant evangelist has an interesting lesson that if you are not careful you could completely miss! It is the lesson of the “Worm”! In chapter 4 verse 7 we find Jonah enjoying the shade of a vine that God had miraculously provided for Jonah to give him shade. Jonah is sitting outside the city of Nineveh watching (and hoping) that God would destroy the city. He is angry because the people responded to his message and the entire city repented and got right with God.

While Jonah is sitting outside the city waiting, God decides to teach Jonah a lesson. God miraculously provides a vine that Jonah really enjoys for one day. Then the next day God provides a worm. The worm chews the vine and the vine shrivels up. Then God provides a scorching east wind and the hot sun beats down on Jonah until he wants to die.

Application

The lesson of the worm is this.

God provides lots of good things for us to enjoy, but we should never let those “good things” take our eyes off of Him and doing His will. Jonah was more concerned with the pleasure that the shade of the vine provided than the spiritual well being of the people of Nineveh. Sometimes God has to “send a worm” to take away some of the good things that are getting in the way of our relationship with Him.


Prayer

Heavenly Father help me keep my eyes focused on you. You have provided Kathy and I with so much, but help us to keep our focus on you and doing your will and not on the things surrounding us. Thank you for all the new people at church yesterday. Thank you for what you are doing in the lives of so many of our church members. Help me to stay focused on the harvest.



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It's not going with you!

II Ki. 11,12; II Chr. 24; I Tim. 6

Scripture

I Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

Observation

Paul is saying that nobody ever sees a U-–Haul trailer attached to a Hurst. You come into this world with nothing and you are going out the same way. The only two things that you can take with you: people that you have had a part in them coming to know Christ; and good works that you send on up to Heaven before you die. Paul is encouraging Timothy to be content in life with what he has. If you have food and clothing then you should be content.

Application

As we pack up in a few weeks and leave the place that has been our home for three and a half years we need to remind ourselves to be content with the basics. If we have food to eat and clothes on our backs, and some kind of roof over our heads (I just added that one), we should be content. Most of the world struggles daily with finding those three things and for the majority of Americans these are not life and death issues.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you that Kathy and I have had plenty to eat. In fact, we enjoy way too much. Thank you that we do not lack clothing. Thank you for the next place we will call home. Thank you for being our Provider. You are an Awesome God. You have blessed Kathy and I with so much, way more than what we deserve.

Thank you for a wonderful Vacation Bible School. Thank you for every person that worked and served this week. Bless each one of them. Thank you for the children that attended. I pray that they will continue to be drawn to a personal relationship with You!



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Try This!

II Ki. 10; II Chr. 22,23; I Tim. 5


Scripture

I Timothy 5:1-2 “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.”

Observation

Paul suggest to Timothy that he treat older men like fathers, younger men like brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. Absolute purity does not give any wiggle room for messing around, having impure thoughts, actions or motives. Timothy was a young man and Paul was instructing him how to get along with members of the body of Christ. It seemed that some of the older men were looking down on Timothy because of his age and Paul also warned Timothy not to let that bother him.

Application

The Devil is always looking for a foothold in our lives and he usually finds one in our relationships. We can’t afford to mistreat people or allow bad or wrong feelings to build up between us. We need to be on our guard. When we are attracted to someone of the opposite sex. We need to remind ourselves. Treat them like a mother or a sister or if you are a woman like a brother or a father!


Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to treat older men like fathers, younger men like my brothers, older women like my mother, and younger women like my sisters. Help me to be gentle, wise and loving towards the people I encounter today.




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Preparation that Counts!

II Ki. 8-9; II Chr. 21; I Tim. 4

Scripture

2 Timothy 4:8 “ For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

Observation

Paul loved the athletic games and many times used illustrations from sports to describe the Christian life. But in this passage he contrast athletic training with spiritual training and says that our striving towards godliness has eternal rewards. He doesn’t say that physical training isn’t important, but he says that it is not the main thing! In other passages Paul talks about how he disciplines himself and keeps his body under control.


Application

This life is preparation for eternity so I need to focus on stuff that really matters. Spending time in his Word, time with the Lord in prayer, taking every opportunity to share the Gospel and building relationships with folks that are unchurched these are the things that have real value! Yes, and I do need to work on keeping this body of mine in shape because it is God’s Temple!


Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me not neglect the really important things in life. Bring people into my life that need you and give me the boldness and the love to share with them the Gospel. I want to keep your Word and time with you a priority. Help me to do that. Help me to strive for godliness, but help me not to be lazy and neglect keeping my body in shape. Thank you for being so good to me. Thank you for our church. Thank you for what you are doing through the VBS workers this week.



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Chariots of Fire


II Ki. 6-7; II Chro. 20; I Tim. 3

Scripture

II Kings 6:16 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Observation

Elisha prayed and asked the Lord to show his servant what was surrounding them. Elisha could see the horses and chariots of fire surrounding them. Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.


Application

When God is on our side we are always in the majority. We can never be out numbered. Heaven with all its angels is on our side. Psalms 121:1 “… where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”


Prayer

Heavenly Father, thanks for your Word and all of its promises. In Psalms 121 you say that you will keep me from all harm-- you will watch over my life and you will watch over my coming and going both now and forever. Thank you for your wonderful care. You are worthy to be praised!


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God’s Heart

II Ki. 4-5; Psalms 83; I Tim. 2

Scripture

I Timothy 2:3-4 “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Observation

God’s heart's desire is for everyone to be saved. He is not willing that any should perish (II Pet. 3:9). Paul says that we should pray for everyone even Kings and those in authority. Because God wants all men to be saved.

Application

Praying for the salvation of wicked world leaders like Castro so we can live in peace. Maybe there hasn’t been a change in Cuba because not enough people are praying for Fidel. To be honest my few prayers for Fidel Castro haven’t been for his salvation but for the end of his terrible rule.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for Fidel Castro and other leaders in Cuba. I pray that key leaders be saved so the Gospel can be preached unhindered.


Kathy reminded me that this past Sunday I forgot to share about “The Blessing”! If you want to know what is involved in blessing your children and your spouse click here!


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Jesus Came to Save Sinners Like Me!

II Ki. 1-3; Psalms 82; I Tim. 1

Scripture
I Tim. 1:15 “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.”

Observation

Paul looks back on his life before Christ and realized what a terrible sinner he was. He says in verse 13 that he was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man. He must of thought of his old life a lot.

Application

All of us have a past. We all have things in the closest. We are all sinners. We can praise God because as bad as we are Christ came to save us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thanks for saving a sinner like me. Thanks for sending Jesus to die in my place. Thanks for giving me eternal life. “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever AMEN.”



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Pray for our VBS workers and the children this week (June 19-23)!

Salty

I Ki. 22; 2 Chr. 18,19; Col. 4

Scripture
Col. 4:6 “Let your conversation be always be full of grace, seasoned with salt so that you may know how to answer everyone.”


Observation

Paul final words are a reminder that how we act is more important than our talk. We need to walk the talk. They need to match. The way we live our lives and our conversation both need to draw people to Christ.

Application

I need to hang around with positive people that are excited about Christ. I also need spend time with outsiders (unchurched) and be a positive witness in their lives.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me not to have a critical spirit. Help me to live a life full of grace and help me to be salty and not bland or offensive.

Are We Already in Heaven?

I Ki. 20, 21; 2 Chr. 17; Col. 3

Scripture

Col. 3:1 ‘Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.’

Observation

Paul is saying that if you have a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ then God already sees you in Heaven with Him. Our old lives are dead and our new lives are in Christ.


Application

Since Heaven is our permanent home and we are only passing through this earth. We need to act like citizens of Heaven. Put on Christ-likeness and put off the sins of this world.


Prayer

Father, help me to live like Heaven is my home. Help me to put Kingdom business first and don’t let me get wrapped up and consumed with stuff that really is only temporary.

Jesus 100% God 100% Man

Scripture
Col. 2:9 "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form."

Observation
In Paul's day a group of people called Gnostics were saying that Jesus was not both fully God and fully man. They had an inferior view of Christ. Much of Paul's writing in this letter is to refute this heresy. People knock on your doors today trying to proclaim the same message.

Application
Maybe you have thought the same thing and asked, "Well where in scripture does it talk about the Deity of Christ." Here you have one of the key passages.

Prayer
Father, thank you for coming to this earth in human form. Thank you Jesus for living a sinless life and dying for my sin on the cross so that I may be presented to God sinless, covered in your righteousness.

June 17th is Kathy Williams Birthday!

The Danger of Being Half-Hearted

I Ki. 16; 2 Chr. 15-16; Col. 1
Scripture

2 Chron. 16:9“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…”


Observation

King Asa’s heart was fully committed to God most of his life. He did some brave things to reform the worship of his people. But towards the end of his life he attempted to deal with his enemies using his own resources rather than relying on God to rescue him. A seer (prophet) came to him and told him that because he did not rely on God to take care of his enemies he would continually be at war with them.

What a shame to start out so well with God and finish so badly. He died a sick man who in his last days refused to even call on God to heal him and the scriptures say that he only depended on physicians. (See verse 12)


Application

God wants us to be fully committed to him. He wants to help us with our enemies whether the enemy is a person(s) or a terrible disease. Bottom line: He wants us to depend on Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to depend totally, 100% on you today. Help me to finish well. Thank you for your Word and the examples it provides for me every day.

Todays "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be Found on Line. Click Here!

Contentment in a “Have it Your Way” Kind of World!

I Ki. 15, 14; 2 Chr. 13, 14; Phil. 4

Scripture

Philip. 4:10-13 “I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Observation

Paul’s favorite church had once again sent financial assistance to him and he was taking the opportunity to thank them. He rejoiced at their generosity and then He quickly let them know that he had learned to be content whether he had enough food to eat or not. He was content whether he had lots of the stuff of life or he had absolutely nothing. What was his secret? It was his relationship with Christ! Because we live in a consumer mentality world (especially those of us that live in the USA) that works directly against Paul’s kind of contentment it is really important that we guard God’s Word in our heart to fight against those feelings of discontentment. Especially when our neighbor or best friend gets a new car or boat or big screen TV just like we have been wanting for years.

Application
Paul said, “I can endure all things through Christ who gives me strength”. This is a good verse to claim every time we sense a spirit of discontentment coming on. Another good verse to remember is found in Matthew 26:41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Prayer
Heavenly Father, give me the contentment of the Apostle Paul. Help me be content with what I have and what I don’t have. Help me appreciate everything I have as a gift from You. I really do love my old car Lord. Please help it to stay running.

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When Forgetting is a Good Thing!



I Ki. 13, 14; 2 Chr. 12; Phil. 3

Scripture
Philip. 3:13-14 “… But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Click on this verse and it should send you to a neat website that you can use for your Bible study)


Observation

Paul is in jail as he writes this letter and even though he has had a lot of time to dwell on the things in the past he says, “But the one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind”. He was forgetting about his being a Hebrew of Hebrews. He was forgetting about his education and preparation as a Pharisee. He was pressing ahead with one goal in mind. He mentions this goal in verse 10, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

Application

God has given Kathy and me some wonderful experiences over the past 36 years of our marriage and He has allowed some experiences that were not so wonderful. He has permitted us to live in several different cultures, in several different places of the world (Texas …which was probably the hardest to get used to, and then Mexico, and Spain). We have had the opportunity to work with the peoples of Mexico, Spain, North Africa, and Cuba since being appointed with the IMB in 1984. But our goal is not to be found by living in the past. Kathy and I must to press ahead towards the goal! Our goal is to know Christ better and better and experience the power of his resurrection!


Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us not to focus on things of the past! Help us to press ahead to the future. We want to know Christ! Help us to die to self and live for you. Thank you for the power to live this life that you have called us to. Thank you for bringing us to where we are at right now and help us to remember that our citizenship is in Heaven. Help us to forget the unimportant things and concentrate on the stuff that really counts.

Pastor Wayne Cordeiro's Daily Bible Reading for the Life Journal is available on line. Click here to read or listen to the daily scriptures!

The Importance of a Mentor

Journal Entry June 12, 2006
I Ki. 12; 2 Chr. 10, 11; Phil. 2

Scripture

Philip. 2:19-22 “If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon. Then when he comes back, he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. [20] I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. [21] All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. [22] But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has helped me in preaching the Good News.” New Living Translation

Observation

Paul is writing from jail. He is writing to one of his favorite churches. He is writing them exhorting them to rejoice in the Lord. Over and over again he says, Rejoice! Evidently he still has a group of disciples with him. In verse 19 of chapter two he begins to talk about Timothy. He says of Timothy, “He is tops” (Eddy’s translation), there is nobody like him. He then talks of Timothy’s character when he says, “Timothy has a genuine interest in your welfare” and doesn’t just think about himself”

Application
Timothy’s are rare. Paul had just one Timothy. Timothy was like his mentor Paul. Paul was selfless and so was his student Timothy. I think I need to model Christ likeness and selflessness to be able to mentor someone to become “a Timothy”. I need to invest extra time in men that have a desire to grow in Christ.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me live the kind of life that results in men like Timothy. Help me to be more concerned about others than I am about myself. Help me to pray specifically for more men to disciple and mentor. Thank you for the men that I am now working with and for what you are doing in their lives.