He Said To Peter, “Get Away From Me, Satan! You Don’t Care About The Same Things God Does. You Care Only About Things That People Think Are Important.”

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Job 22; Mark 7; Mark 8

He Said To Peter, “Get Away From Me, Satan!

You Don’t Care About The Same Things God Does. 

You Care Only About Things That People Think Are Important.”

Scripture

Mark 8

³¹ Then Jesus began to teach his followers that the Son of Man must suffer many things. He taught that the Son of Man would not be accepted by the older Jewish leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law. He said that the Son of Man must be killed and then rise from death after three days. ³² Jesus told them everything that would happen. He did not keep anything secret.

Peter took Jesus away from the other followers to talk to him alone. Peter criticized him for saying these things. ³³ But Jesus turned and looked at his followers. Then he criticized Peter. He said to Peter, “Get away from me, Satan! You don’t care about the same things God does. You care only about things that people think are important.”

³⁴ Then Jesus called the crowd and his followers to him. He said, “Any of you who want to be my follower must stop thinking about yourself and what you want.

Observation

What Peter tried to do when he took Jesus off by himself and rebuked Him might at first seem like a very good and caring thing for Peter to do. But he tried to tell Jesus not to do what the Heavenly Father had told Him to do.

But Peter wasn’t thinking about the well being of Jesus as much as he must have been thinking about himself. After all, what would Peter do without Jesus? It was that thought that must have caused Peter to take Jesus aside and rebuke the Son of God. Imagine telling God what He should and should not do, but we do it all the time too!

Well-intentioned people try to talk people out of becoming missionaries and they tell them all the reasons why going overseas to share the Gospel with the unreached is not the best thing for them to do. 

Reasons like:

It is too dangerous you could be killed. You are leaving those that love you behind to go live with people that you don’t even know. You are taking our grandkids away from us. Or “If you go live overseas you will never find someone to marry and we will never have any grandkids”. Or “If you get go live in that place you could get sick and die. They don’t have good hospitals or medical facilities there.”

Parents and grandparents of would be missionaries do this all the time. In reality they are only caring about what they think is important – their kids or grandkids! People in our churches do this all the time. They come up with all kinds of reasons why they can’t and you shouldn’t go overseas to reach the unreached.

God’s heart is revealed in Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Crystal Snow knows that God has called her to reach the people that live in the villages in the Amazon jungle. She is my hero. Just her wanting to go and live among those people so they can come to Jesus puts her way up there on my list of special people. I wonder how many “concerned” people have tried to talk her out of going. How will they hear unless someone is sent? How can someone go if we don’t help him or her to go?

 Let me know if you would like to help support Crystal? Even a small monthly gift will her help be able to go! Look her up on facebook right now!

https://www.facebook.com/crystal.snow.96

 Application

I will encourage people like Crystal as they say “yes” to God’s call on their lives.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me help those You have called to serve You overseas. Don’t let me do anything that would discourage them. I pray for Crystal that You would supply every penny that she needs to do what You want her to do among those tribal people living in the Amazon jungle. I know that You love them just as much as You love me. 

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“Don’t Be Afraid; Just Believe.”

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Job 21; Mark 5; Mark 6

“Don’t 

Be Afraid;

Just Believe.”

Scripture

Mark 5

 ³⁵ While Jesus was still there speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. They said, “Your daughter is dead. There is no need to bother the Teacher.”
³⁶ But Jesus did not care what the men said. He said to the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
³⁷ Jesus let only Peter, James, and John the brother of James go with him. ³⁸ They went to the synagogue leader’s house, where Jesus saw many people crying loudly. There was a lot of confusion. ³⁹ He entered the house and said, “Why are you people crying and making so much noise? This child is not dead. She is only sleeping.” ⁴⁰ But everyone laughed at him.
Jesus told the people to leave the house. Then he went into the room where the child was. He brought the child’s father and mother and his three followers into the room with him. ⁴¹ Then Jesus held the girl’s hand and said to her, “Talitha, koum!” (This means “Little girl, I tell you to stand up!”) ⁴² The girl immediately stood up and began walking. (She was twelve years old.) The father and mother and the followers were amazed. ⁴³ Jesus gave the father and mother very strict orders not to tell people about this. Then he told them to give the girl some food to eat.

Observation

Don’t ever forget this story! You and I are going to be in the same impossible situation as the synagogue leader was in. We are going to be faced with something that is totally impossible! Here are the words you and I need to remember from this story: “Don’t be afraid; Just believe.”

“Don’t be afraid; Just believe.” These words may come back to you when you are facing the death or sickness of a loved one. These words may give you strength when you lose your job or when you are struggling with a child that is making terrible choices with his or her life. 

Don’t be afraid. Just believe. These will be words that Jesus will use over and over in our lives if we are walking close to Him. 

Do you hear them now? You will soon enough. Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33

 Application

I will trust in Jesus when troubles come my way. I will trust in His words, “Don’t be afraid; Just believe.”

 Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that Jesus is walking with me as I go through this life. He has promised to help me along the way. He has not promised that I would be trouble free. I know that this world is filled with trouble. I also know that Jesus has overcome this world. Praise God. He lives.

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He Said To His Followers, “Why Are You Afraid? Do You Still Have No Faith?”

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Job 20; Mark 3; Mark 4

He Said To His Followers,

“Why Are You Afraid?

Do You Still Have No Faith?”

Scripture

Mark 4

Jesus’ Followers See His Power

³⁵ That day, at evening, Jesus said to his followers, “Come with me across the lake.” ³⁶ So they left the crowd behind and went with Jesus in the boat he was already in. There were also other boats that went with them. ³⁷ A very bad wind came up on the lake. The waves were coming over the sides and into the boat, and it was almost full of water. ³⁸ Jesus was inside the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow. The followers went and woke him. They said, “Teacher, don’t you care about us? We are going to drown!”

³⁹ Jesus stood up and gave a command to the wind and the water. He said, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and the lake became calm.

⁴⁰ He said to his followers, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ They were very afraid and asked each other, “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the water obey him!”

Observation

It is the same question Jesus continues to ask us today, “Why are you afraid? Do You still have no faith?” 

We are on the top of Cedar Mountain in Brevard, North Carolina today visiting our friends, Dave and Ann Tucker. We are expecting a storm today. Winds could reach 65 miles per hour and it is expected to be a snowstorm. 

Now I am familiar with thunderstorms and I love to watch God’s power as they pass through our neighborhood and I especially love thunderstorms when we are staying at the beach. But a snowstorm up in the mountains is not something that I am real cool with if you know what I mean. It wasn’t really in our vacation plan!

Am I scared? Nope. The same Creator of the summer thunderstorms also creates the winter snowstorms. The thought of Kathy possibly having to drive in the snow … now that is an entirely different subject!

We are all going to go through storms in our lives. Storms give us the opportunity to have our faith tested. In the midst of our storms Jesus will ask us the same question that He asked His disciples, “Why are you afraid? Do You still have no faith?”

Application

I will hunker down today with our friends through this storm and I will trust in my God to deliver us. How about you?  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are always showing us that we can trust You. Help those reading this blog trust You today. Give me the faith to trust You during all the storms that come my way. You are mighty. You are our fortress. Nothing is too hard for You.

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The Minds Of These People Are Now Closed, They Have Ears, But They Don’t Listen. They Have Eyes, But They Refuse To See.

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Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27; Acts 28

The Minds Of These People Are Now Closed,

They Have Ears, But They Don’t Listen.

They Have Eyes, But They Refuse To See.

Scripture

Acts 28

²⁷ Yes, the minds of these people are now closed.

    They have ears, but they don’t listen.
 
    They have eyes, but they refuse to see.

Observation

 It is our job to share the Gospel and it is God’s job to give people the ability to understand and receive the Gospel. Only God saves people. 

Paul understood that some of the people that he shared the Gospel with would not accept it. Many of the Jews he shared with never could accept the fact that the Messiah had come. 

It is no different today. Some of the people that we witness to will say “yes” to Jesus and others will say “no”. Our job is to share. God’s job is to give the understanding. It is God’s work to open up their hearts and minds and give them spiritual understanding. 

I believe praying for people and asking God to save them is huge. I believe that my salvation was a result of my grandmother’s prayers. We have been given the task of intercession. God listens to our prayers and He works in the lives of those who we pray for.

Application

I will pray for one of my lost friends as we travel today. I will pray that God gives him spiritual understanding and I will pray for his salvation.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to pray for my lost friend all day today. Keep him on my mind so that I can continually lift him up to You. You are more than able to save him because You saved me! I know that You love him just as much as you love me. Give him the spiritual understanding. Open up his heart and his eyes to the things of God.



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I Began Telling People To Change Their Hearts And Lives And Turn Back To God

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Job 17; Acts 24; Acts 25; Acts 26

I Began Telling People 

To Change Their Hearts And Lives

And Turn Back To God

Scripture

Acts 26

^20 “I began telling people to change their hearts and lives and turn back to God…”

Observation

Once we give our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ we are all given the same main task, “begin telling people to change their hearts and lives and turn back to God.” It is the Good News! 

One of the best words found in the Bible is the word, “Repent!” Sometimes you see people holding up signs that have in big letters “REPENT”at football games, or behind home plate at a baseball game, or sometimes you see guys holding up a sign saying, “REPENT” at a street corner. 

Now all of that is well and good, but I think that Jesus wanted us to share our faith one on one with people as we do life together with them. He wants us to share with our family, our friends, our neighbors, and our co-workers, as we talk to them everyday. The best way to reach my neighbor for Jesus is probably not with a big, “REPENT” sign stuck out in my yard! 

The Apostle Paul, even when on trial for his life did not hesitate to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. He let King Agrippa and Governor Festus know that they also needed to change their hearts and lives and turn back to God.

 Application

  I will look for opportunities to share my faith with folks while we are traveling and visiting friends in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Help me to share my faith with people as I encounter them over the next few days. Give me boldness and strength and Your love for the people I meet. 

I pray for Don Kennedy. I pray that You bless Him as he travels all over Mexico ministering in Your Name. Protect him and use him for Your kingdom. Thank You for his wonderful family that we are getting to spend time with today and tomorrow. Bless his wife Edith. Thank You that we get to spend time with her and her girls and Edith’s little grandson Carson. 

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In Only A Few Years I Will Go To That Place Of No Return

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Job 16; Acts 21; Acts 22; Acts 23

In Only A Few Years 

I 

Will Go To That Place Of No Return

Scripture 

Job 16

²²  “In only a few years
    I will go to that place of no return.

Observation

 Job didn’t have the advantage that we have today in America. We have God’s Word easily available via radio, television, email, Internet, bookstores, copies of the Bible in most hotel rooms and evangelical churches almost on every corner.  We are saturated with the Gospel. Job didn’t have all of that … and yet he was a man of tremendous faith!

Are we taking advantage of everything available to us to share the Gospel? Are we taking advantage of all the opportunities to grow in Christ?

We better take the opportunities while we have them. Pretty soon we will go to that place of no return!

Of course, for all of us Christ Followers that place is a place that we now know a lot about. Job didn’t get to know what we know. He never got the glimpse into Heaven like we have been provided through God’s Word the Bible.

Application

I will look for opportunities today to share my faith! 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have blessed us with so much. Help us to take advantage of all of it to help others come to a personal relationship with You.

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I Want To Finish The Work That The Lord Jesus Gave Me To Do – To Tell People The Good News About God’s Grace.

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Job 15; Acts 19; Acts 20

I Want To Finish The Work

That The Lord Jesus Gave Me To Do – 

To Tell People The Good News About God’s Grace.

Scripture

Acts 20

²⁴ I don’t care about my own life. The most important thing is that I finish my work. I want to finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.

Observation

 Just in case you didn’t know - our most important work is to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.

One year ago today - I had a heart attack and all of my doctors say that it is a miracle that I am alive!

 It is a milestone for me to live out one year!

It seems surreal that I have died at least four times since having the heart attack. I quit breathing 3 or 4 times in the hospital and had to be revived. Then I collapsed on July 27^th and I would have died but I was brought back to life by a defibrillator that had been implanted in my chest one month earlier. 

I don’t remember those hospital experiences but I will never forget how quickly I collapsed in July. It is a constant reminder to me about how quickly life on this earth can and one day will come to an end.

So I know that there is sure no guarantee that I will make it until the end of 2012 or 2013.

Kathy and I will celebrate our 43rd wedding anniversary on November 1^st and I am looking forward to celebrating it with her! I messed last year’s anniversary up with a heart attack! Hopefully this one won’t get messed up!

I have some unfinished work and that unfinished work is to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.

Application

I will look for opportunities to share the Good News while we are traveling the next few weeks.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me focus on the unfinished work of telling people the Good News about Your grace. 

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Crucified With Christ!

Crucified With Christ!

Deuteronomy 16; Deuteronomy 17; Deuteronomy 18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2
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Scripture

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”


Observation

Have you ever thought much about this verse? Paul is saying that just like Christ was crucified on the cross that his life was also nailed to the cross. He was dead. I believe that he was talking about being a living sacrifice. It is not about me; it is all about Him.


Application

Where do I need to die to self?


Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me be like Paul. Help me to die to self and live for Christ!



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“Don’t Be Afraid, And Don’t Stop Talking To People. I Am With You, And No One Will Be Able To Hurt You.” Many Of My People Are In This City.”

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Job 13; Job 14; Acts 17; Acts 18

“Don’t Be Afraid, And Don’t Stop Talking To People. 

I Am With You, And No One Will Be Able To Hurt You.”

Many Of My People Are In This City.”

Scripture

Acts 18

⁹ During the night, Paul had a vision. The Lord said to him, “Don’t be afraid, and don’t stop talking to people. ¹⁰ I am with you, and no one will be able to hurt you. Many of my people are in this city.” ¹¹ Paul stayed there for a year and a half teaching God’s message to the people.

Observation

This was a word from Jesus to the Apostle Paul but it is also a word for us today.
“Don’t be afraid, and don’t stop talking to people. I am with you, and no one will be able to hurt you. Many of my people are in this city.” 

I believe that these are the words from Jesus to our church today! I know that Jesus would say, “Many of my people are in this city.” 

It is so exciting to see new people coming every Sunday to our church looking for our Savior. Paul worked with those new believers for 1½ years before leaving them and going somewhere else.

Application

I will help follow-up the new Christians that become part of our church. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me not to be afraid to talk to people about You. Give me the boldness to help grow these new believers in their faith. I pray for others that have this same burden. Help us to develop a ministry to the new believers that will help them to grow in their faith. 

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About Midnight Paul and Silas Were Praying And Singing To God

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Job 11; Job 12; Acts 15; Acts 16 

About Midnight 

Paul and Silas Were Praying And Singing

To God

Scripture

Acts 16 

²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing songs to God. The other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was an earthquake so strong that it shook the foundation of the jail. All the doors of the jail opened, and the chains on all the prisoners fell off. ²⁷ The jailer woke up and saw that the jail doors were open. He thought that the prisoners had already escaped, so he got his sword and was ready to kill himself. ²⁸ But Paul shouted, “Don’t hurt yourself! We are all here!”

²⁹ The jailer told someone to bring a light. Then he ran inside and, shaking with fear, fell down in front of Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he brought them outside and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?”

³¹ They said to him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and all who live in your house.”

Observation

Paul and Silas had just been severely beaten with rods and thrown into the darkest part of the prison. Their feet were placed in wooden blocks and they were also chained.
They suffered all of that so a jailer and his family could hear about the Good News about Jesus and find salvation. 

You and I must be willing to suffer too and allow our suffering to help other people encounter our Savior. 

When they were beaten and tossed into the deepest darkest part of the jail they responded with praying and singing songs to God. God used their suffering to birth a new church at the house of the jailer! Praise God.

Application

God has allowed suffering to come into my life. (Nothing compared to what Paul experienced) Now He expects me to sing and pray and bring people to Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am praying to You today. You know who I am praying for. My heart is full on singing. You are so powerful. You are so wonderful. You are so worthy of praise!

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“God Opened A Door For The Non-Jewish People To Believe!”

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Job 9; Job 10; Acts 13; Acts 14

“God Opened A Door

For 

The Non-Jewish People To Believe!”

Scripture

Acts 14

27b…“God opened a door for the non-Jewish people to believe!”

Observation

Open doors … I am glad that someone opened the door so I could believe! It is interesting that for someone to come to Christ – doors have to be open. Can’t go through a closed door. 

Have you ever walked into a sliding glass door thinking it was open? Your nose is probably still mad at you!


Jesus is the Gate or door into Heaven (John 10). But we have to open up the door of our hearts to let Him come in. The Bible says that Jesus is standing at the door of our hearts and He is knocking. He wants to come in. He wants fellowship with us. (Rev. 3:20) He wants to be our friend. 

Even more important He wants to be our Savior. He is the only way (door) to God. There is no other way (door). (John 14:6) 

Won’t you open the door of your heart and let Him in. 

Application

I will pray for people to open up the doors of their hearts today so that they can be saved.   

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray that You give people understanding today so that they can ask Jesus to come into their hearts. I pray for people to be saved today. I pray that today people in our church would make huge decisions that move them to a closer relationship with You. You are the Door. You are Savior. You are LORD. 

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Friends Should Be Loyal To You In Times Of Trouble, Even If You Turn Away From God All-Powerful.

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Job 6; Job 7; Job 8; Acts 12

Friends Should Be Loyal To You

In Times Of Trouble,

Even If You Turn Away From God All-Powerful.

Scripture

Job 6

¹⁴ “Friends should be loyal to you in times of trouble,
    even if you turn away from God All-Powerful.

Observation

Who needs a call from you right now? Is there a friend that was coming to church, but now they have dropped off and have returned to his or her old way of life? If someone comes to mind, then they need a phone call or a visit from us today.

Job’s friends were not any help to Job at all. All they wanted to do was give Job advice. What he needed were friends that would just be there for him. 

Application

Someone has come to my mind that needs a phone call from me today. How about you? 

 Prayer

Heavenly Father, I need to love and care about people a lot more than I do. It is easy to care and think about those that are lovely, but the unlovely are tough to love. Help me love the unlovely today. Help me make the phone calls I need to make to encourage them even though it seems that they don’t want any help. I pray that You do a mighty work in their lives so they can experience life the way it was meant to be.

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The Disciples Were First Called Christians At Antioch

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Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10; Acts 11

The Disciples

Were First Called Christians

At Antioch

Scripture

Acts 11

26b … The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

Observation

I understand that the label “Christians” was at first given to those believers in Antioch as a way to try to mock them, making fun of them by calling them “little Christ”. I am not sure if that story is accurate but the disciples evidently liked the description and the title or the nickname “Christian” stuck for those that decided to follow Jesus. 

It made me think this morning about what my neighbors might be calling me. What does your neighbors, your friends, and your extended family call you when you are not around? I wonder if they call me “a little Christ”. 

How does our family describe us? Do they see us as “Christ-Followers”? How about our neighbors and friends? Do they see a difference in us? Do they see Jesus when they see us? 

Kathy and I spent time with an old high school friend last night. This friend grew up with me in my neighborhood. We were best friends. He was my best man at our wedding (43 years ago on November 1st). We played high school football together at Hillsborough High School (1969). Last night Kathy and I went to a Hillsborough High School football game and sat with Mike and some of his family. I wonder if he saw Jesus in us. I wonder how he describes us when we are not around? 

I hope our family, our neighbors, and our friends see us as “Christians”, “little Christ”
There is always the danger that people like my friend Mike could see us as “religious” and that would not be good at all! The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were religious. Muslims are religious. Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses are religious.

Application

This week I will find and spend time with at least one person that needs a closer relationship with Jesus. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help others see Jesus in Kathy and I. Don’t let us let You down. Lead us to someone who needs a closer relationship with You and help us to be able to move him or her closer to You. You led Peter to Cornelius in Acts 10 showing us that You can direct Your children to people that need Jesus. I am willing for You to do that with me! 

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They Were Scattered Everywhere, And In Every Place They Went, They Told People The Good News.

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Job 3; Job 4; Acts 8; Acts 9

They Were Scattered Everywhere, 

And In Every Place They Went, 

They Told People The Good News.

Scripture

Acts 8


⁴ They were scattered everywhere, and in every place they went, they told people the Good News.

Observation

The church in Jerusalem had grown to an incredible number very quickly. But the believers were all in Jerusalem and they all seemed to be doing very well. With the death of Stephen everything quickly changed and the church was forced to leave Jerusalem and flee to the surrounding cities where they could escape persecution!

Jesus said, “Go”. He didn’t say, “Stay”. 

The Gospel is not the Gospel without the “Go” and the Good News is not the Good News without the “Go”. 

We have been given orders to share the Gospel. We have been told to share the Good News. We can’t do that unless we … GO.

Application

I will go and I will help other people “Go” to share the Gospel both overseas and right here in our neighborhood. 

 Prayer

Heavenly Father, Your Gospel is going to go out to this lost and dying world no matter what. You will make sure that it does because You have said that it would. I want to be a part of what You are doing in this world. Don’t let me miss opportunities to help spread Your Word. Don’t let our church miss out. Give me the health I need to be able to “go”.

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How Can We Accept All The Good Things That God Gives Us And Not Accept The Problems

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Job 1; Job 2; Acts 6; Acts 7 

How Can We Accept All The Good Things

That God Gives Us

And Not Accept The Problems

Scripture

Job 2

⁷ So Satan left the meeting with the Lord and gave Job painful sores all over his body, from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head. ⁸ Job sat on the pile of ashes where he was mourning and used a piece of broken pottery to scrape his sores. ⁹ His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your faith? Why don’t you just curse God and die!”

¹⁰ Job answered, “You sound like one of those fools on the street corner! How can we accept all the good things that God gives us and not accept the problems?” So even after all that happened to Job, he did not sin. He did not accuse God of doing anything wrong.

Observation

Lots of books have been written about “Why Bad Things Happen To Good People” … here we find Job’s answer to that question, “Why not?” Job had incredible faith in his God. 

You and I need to have that same kind of faith. 

Jesus says in John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
Hate to be the one that tells us this but in your future you will be faced with many trials and sorrows! 

The Good News about all of that trouble is this: we can have peace through it all if we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!

So how is your attitude today about all the troubles you are experiencing – how is my attitude? 

As sick as I have been this past year it is nothing compared to what Job went through. I have never found myself sitting in a pile of ashes scraping the sores all over my body with a piece of broken pottery. I have never lost everything like Job did. He lost his children, he lost all of his possessions, and he lost his health - all in a short amount of time! 

Yet, his response to all of his misfortune was summed up in this one statement to his not so understanding wife, “How can we accept all the good things that God gives us and not accept the problems?” 

Amazing Faith!

 Application

I will remember Job’s faith as I deal with the trials and sufferings this world brings my way.
Today, I will ask God to show me if my attitude needs an adjustment – how about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I have not experienced anything in my life compared to Your servant Job. Help me have the right attitude when I deal with issues and problems in this life. Give me the faith I need to be able to trust You with the details of my life. 

I pray for our church today. I pray that You would give everyone in leadership the ability to lead us where we need to go. I pray for those that made decisions this past Sunday. I pray that they would grow and become vibrant, healthy believers. Thank You for the health that I have today. You are a Mighty God. You are so worthy of praise!

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Put Me To The Test! I Will Pour Out A Blessing So Great You Won’t Have Enough Room To Take It In!

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Malachi 3; Malachi 4; Psalm 148; Acts 5

Put Me To The Test!

I Will Pour Out A Blessing So Great

You Won’t Have Enough Room To Take It In!

Scripture

Malachi 3

¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

Observation

Is there anywhere else in the Bible where God says, “Try it? Put me to the test”? 

I don’t think so! 

Isn’t it interesting that when God talks about our giving back to Him a tenth of what He has given us He does it with a no risk guarantee! 

He promises that if we accept His challenge and begin to give back to Him 10% then He will bless us so much that we won’t have room to take it in!

Are you afraid that God won’t keep His promise if you begin to “tithe”? 

    For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give--large or small--will be used to measure what is given back to you." Luke 6:38 

Maybe you have your finances in such a mess that you have made it impossible to “tithe” – why don’t you begin with 4%, then increase your giving to 5%, then 6%, until you reach 10%; but don’t stop at 10%, go to 11%, then 12% etc. 

Why? You might ask, “Why should I do that?” 

The answer is simple. You can never out give God. The more you and I give the more we will be blessed and the more we will receive. You and I cannot out give our Heavenly Father!

Application

I will ask God to show me where I can put Him to the test in the area of my giving back to Him. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help Kathy and I not be afraid to give as You lead us to give. We are blessed. You have always provided for us. I pray for others that may have read Malachi 3:10 and Luke 6:38 today and I pray that they will put You to the test. Give us all the faith we need to trust You more with the resources that You have placed at our disposal. You have given us more than we need so that we can be a blessing to others. You are a generous God. You have provided us with so much! Worthy is Your Name!

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So Be On Your Guard, And Do Not Be Unfaithful To The Wife Of Your Youth

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Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1; Malachi 2; Acts 4

So Be On Your Guard,

And Do Not Be Unfaithful

To The Wife Of Your Youth

Scripture

Malachi 2

¹⁴ You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.

¹⁵ Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.

Observation

I was 17 years old when God brought Kathy into my life! She is the reason that I have a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. I started going to church with her when we started dating and that is how I came to know Christ. We got married when we were just 18 years old! She definitely is the wife of my youth!

It is my intention to stay faithful to Kathy until the day I die. Of course, having someone like Kathy as your wife makes it a lot easier to stay faithful. Nothing against the wife you have but God really blessed me when He brought Kathy into my life. She was a “keeper” from the moment I met her!

Kathy and I plan to take a trip up to the mountains in a little over a week to celebrate our 43^rd wedding anniversary and to celebrate my still being “alive” one year after my heart attack (October 24^th, 2011). I enjoy and love Kathy more now than ever – even more than when we were dating in high school!  

Application

Today, I will tell Kathy know how much I love her and I will tell her what a wonderful gift she is from God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me keep my marriage covenant with Kathy. Help me to stay on my guard to protect our relationship. I pray for others that struggle keeping their marriage covenant. Help them to stay faithful to the wife of their youth. 

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Blessed Is The One Whose Delight Is In The Law Of The LORD, And Who Meditates On His Law Day And Night

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 Nehemiah 11; Nehemiah 12; Psalm 1; Acts 3

Blessed Is The One

Whose Delight Is In The Law Of The LORD,

And Who Meditates On His Law Day And Night

Scripture

Psalm 1

¹ Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,

² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.

³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

Observation

I love it when I ask someone how they are doing and their reply is, “I am blessed!” It is so true for those that follow the Lord Jesus Christ! We are blessed! 

Just look at the promise that God gives us in Psalm 1. For all of us that don’t hang out with the wicked, but instead delight and meditate on His Word day and night, we will be like a tree planted by stream. We will be strong and healthy! We will prosper. 

We are blessed! 

Today as you and I go to worship lets remember this passage and thank God for the lives that we get to live! 

We are blessed! 

Application

I will thank my God today for all His blessings. I recognize that except for the Grace of God and His working in my life I could have spent my life hanging out with the wicked and living a life of mere existence!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am blessed. Thank You for giving such a good life. Help me guide others to a relationship with You so they can also experience everything that You have for them. 

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“Do Not Let All This Hardship Seem Trifling In Your Eyes – The Hardship That Has Come On Us, …”

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Nehemiah 9; Nehemiah 10; Acts 2

“Do Not Let All This Hardship

Seem Trifling In Your Eyes – 

The Hardship That Has Come On Us, …”

Scripture

Nehemiah 9

³² “Now therefore, our God, the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyes—the hardship that has come on us, …”

                       

Observation

Whatever you are going through today; no matter how difficult your circumstances are, always remember this:

God is good.

Today you might be dealing with a broken relationship, children that are making bad choices, serious health issues, open opposition in your ministry, financial worries or the death of a loved one – always remember this:

God is good.

Not one of our hurts gets by Him. He feels them all. The Bible says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.”  1 Peter 5:7

He is the Great and Awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love!   

Application

I will pray for those going through difficult times today. I will pray to my God who loves and cares about them and who hears my prayers.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am burdened for my friends who are going through so much pain and suffering. I cry out for them. I pray that you touch them and heal them. I pray that You help them as they go through these difficult times. You are a Great and Awesome God. You love us. You keep Your covenant of love. Thank You for hearing my prayers. You are worthy of Praise!

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Telling People About Me Everywhere – In Jerusalem, Throughout Judea, In Samaria, And To The Ends Of The Earth.”

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Nehemiah 7; Nehemiah 8; Acts 1

Telling People About Me Everywhere –

In Jerusalem, Throughout Judea, In Samaria, And To

The Ends Of The Earth.”

Scripture

Acts 1

⁸  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

 Observation

Did you watch the debates last night? Wouldn’t it have been great if one of the two guys sharing in the debate had a strong relationship with Christ that gave them the power to be a witness for God even as they shared about why they thought their man should be President of our country? 

What would the debate have been like if Tim Tebow was Mitt Romney’s running mate and Tim Tebow would have had the chance to address the nation about what changes were necessary to make our country a better place to live in. Trust me … you would have heard the name Jesus! He would have used that moment to bring glory to God!

If President Obama wins then God allowed him to win and if Mitt Romney wins the election it is only because God allows him to win. How about our praying and asking God to let the one win that is going to bring God the most glory! 

Whether President Obama wins or Romney wins this election, our job as Christians will still be the same – we are to be His witnesses, telling people about Jesus everywhere! 

Application

I will pray for God to allow the man who will bring Him the most glory to win the election.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are Sovereign. You are All-Powerful. Nothing is too hard for You. I know that this election and the person who wins this election will fit right into Your plan for the future of our country. We have been blessed as a country way more than we deserve and I believe it has been because of the Christian leadership we have had in our past. I know that every nation that forgets You and forgets what You have done for them comes under Your judgment. So I pray for strong Christian voices in places of leadership in our government that will bring us back to a right relationship with You as a nation – a nation that truly believes – “in God we trust.”

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Don’t Put Your Trust In Human Leaders; No Human Being Can Save You.

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Nehemiah 5; Nehemiah 6; Psalm 146; Luke 24

Don’t

Put Your Trust In Human Leaders;

No Human Being Can Save You.

Scripture

Psalm 146

³ Don't put your trust in human leaders;
    no human being can save you.

Observation

As we hear the debate tonight between Vice President Joe Biden and Paul Ryan keep in mind this scripture found in Psalm 146. No matter who wins the election or who loses the election our trust needs to be in God and not in human leaders! They will disappoint you!

I think we should vote for those whom we think would do the best job of running our country and then we need to place our faith in trust in our God that created everything!

  

Application

I will watch the debate. I will pray for both men. Then I will trust in my God and not in politicians. 

  Prayer

Heavenly Father, I do pray for Vice President Joe Biden and for Paul Ryan. I pray that they would seek You out and that You would provide these men the wisdom that they need for the jobs that they are in. I pray for the President of our country and I pray for the person to win the Presidential election that would bring You more honor and glory. I know that You raise up leaders of nations and You also take them down. You are All-Powerful. Nothing is too hard for You. 

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“Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise.”

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Nehemiah 3; Nehemiah 4; Luke 23

“Today

You

Will Be With Me In Paradise.”

Scripture

Luke 23

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Observation

Have you talked to a Jehovah Witness lately? I ran into a lady yesterday at the bus stop who was a Jehovah Witness (my heart doctor told me that I can’t drive any more so I sometimes take the city bus). She got upset when I emphatically shared with her that Jesus Christ was God. Sadly she is probably not going to change her mind about Jesus and I definitely am not going to change my mine!

The criminal on the cross realized that Jesus was God. The thief realized that although he was a sinner he was in the presence of Someone who had never sinned. Jesus was perfect. He was sinless. Only God is perfect. Only God could live on this earth for 33 years and remain sinless. Only God could provide the Perfect Sacrifice! Jesus when He walked this earth was 100% Man and 100% God.

Jehovah Witnesses and many other religions cannot grasp the Deity of Christ!

Application

I will look for an opportunity to share my faith the very next time I get on a city bus or while I am waiting for one to arrive! 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for the lady that thinks she is doing good handing out her little tracts about what she believes. She is very sincere. But You and I know that she is sincerely wrong. Give me the ability to communicate the Gospel well with people like her. Give me people to share the Good News with. Give me boldness and give me Your love for them.  I pray for those within our fellowship that are struggling right now with different issues. I pray that You give them strength. I pray that You guide them and I pray that You answer their prayers. 

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Heaven And Earth Will Pass Away, But My Words Will Never Pass Away.

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Ezra 9; Ezra 10; Psalm 131; Luke 21

Heaven And Earth

Will Pass Away,

But My Words Will Never Pass Away. 

Scripture

Luke 21

³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Observation

Since God’s Word will never pass away I think it is a very smart thing to memorize verses and guard them in our hearts. 

Here are two verses that I am working on this week:

Psalm 143:8 “Let me hear thy loving kindness in the morning:
For I trust in thee,
Teach me the way in which I should walk;
For to thee I lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8

Psalm 5:3 “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;
In the morning I lay my requests before you
And wait in expectation!” Psalm 5:3

 Application

I will memorize 1 Timothy 4:15 this week! 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to guard Your Word in my heart. Help me memorize 1 Timothy 4:15 and at least one new verse every week. Everything around me may fall apart but Your Word will remain forever. 

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Give To Caesar What Belongs To Caesar, And Give To God What Belongs To God

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Ezra 7; Ezra 8; Luke 20

Give To Caesar

What Belongs To Caesar,

And Give To God What Belongs To God

Scripture

Luke 20

²⁴ “Show me a silver coin. Whose name and picture are on it?”
They said, “Caesar’s.”

²⁵ He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

Observation

Are you tired of all of the political ads that we are being bombarded with these days? We could live under a king or a dictator and then we wouldn’t even have the opportunity to vote for the lesser of two evils! 

In other words, it could be worse!

The religious leaders were trying to trick Jesus into saying something wrong. They couldn’t trick God! You and I can’t either. We need to give to our government what our government says is theirs and give to God what is God’s – Everything!

Are we holding back? My God is a very generous God! How about yours? 

 Application

I will be generous to someone today.   

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for our President today. I pray that You would guide him. I pray for Mitt Romney today. I pray that You would guide him. Work in their hearts to do what is right in Your eyes. Help me to be generous today just like You are. 

I also pray for Pastor Bruce. I pray that you would speak through him. Be glorified today was we worship You. 

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Zacchaeus Was Short He Could Not See Over The Crowd

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Esther 9; Esther 10; Luke 19

Zacchaeus

Was Short

He Could Not See Over The Crowd

Scripture

Luke 19

² A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.  

¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Observation

I really wonder how short Zacchaeus was!

One of the lessons I find in this story is this:

You and I are never too small, never too insignificant, or never too dishonest to be found by Jesus. He came to search out and find people just like you and me. Maybe you are not up a tree this morning, but Jesus can find you. He will find you.

Will you do like Zacchaeus did when Jesus found him? Zacchaeus surrendered his life to Jesus and became a follower.  He found me a long time ago and I said, “yes” to Him. How about you?

Application

Zacchaeus was not liked by the people around him he was a dishonest tax collector. Jesus seemed to be drawn to the unlovely/disliked people of this world. I will ask God to bring a person into my life like Zacchaeus that needs to see and experience the love of Jesus through me.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Zacchaeus needed a relationship with You through the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that You would use me in the life of someone that needs to be saved. I was lost and You sent someone into my life. I pray that You would let someone come into my life that needs to be saved. Give me the ability to communicate the Good News with them in a way that brings them to You. 

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