Open The Mouth Of The First Fish You Catch, And You Will Find A Large Silver Coin

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Open The Mouth
Of The First Fish You Catch,
And You Will Find A Large Silver Coin 


           

Scripture

Matthew 17

²⁴ On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”

²⁵ “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house.

But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?”

²⁶ “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied.
“Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free!  

²⁷ However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

Observation

Simon Peter was a fishermen before he became a Christ Follower and I can just imagine what Peter thought when he heard Jesus (son of a Carpenter) tell him to go do this!

I can picture his face when he caught that first fish and looked in that fish’s mouth and found that large silver coin just like Jesus said he would.

I bet Peter always looked in every fishes mouth after catching that one!

Here is one of the lessons for us from this story and I am sure that there are lots more that you could come up with: When I have a relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ and I put God first then He will provide for each and every one of my needs.
           

Application

God has a million; no, no, God has a thousand million ways to take care of my needs.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for taking care of me and I know that you will supply all my needs from Your glorious riches, which have been given to me in Christ Jesus. So I give all praise to You, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, You have blessed me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because I am united with Christ. Philippians 4:19 & Ephesians 1:7 (Personalized)

Daily Bible Reading:  2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Get Behind Me Satan You Are Seeing Things Merely From A Human Point Of View, Not From God’s.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Get Behind Me Satan
You
Are Seeing Things Merely From A Human Point Of View, Not From God’s.

Scripture

Psalm 139

¹⁷ How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered!
¹⁸ I can’t even count them;
    they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
    you are still with me!
²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Observation

For me this morning’s daily Bible reading included Matthew 16 where we find Simon Peter getting both praised by Jesus and then immediately getting a stern rebuke by his Lord. When Jesus told his disciples that He would soon be put to death, Simon Peter took Jesus off to the side and scolded Him and Peter told Jesus, “Heaven forbid! This will never happen to you!” 

Jesus responded with an even sterner rebuke back to Peter, “Get behind me Satan You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

The way we see our situation is totally different from the way God sees things! All we can see is our circumstances. They can seem insurmountable!

Psalm 139 shows me what my Heavenly Father thinks about me. Maybe you also need to see your life from God’s point of view this morning? 

To tell you the truth I need to camp and meditate on Psalm 139 for a few days or maybe even an entire week. I have got to be able to see over all my circumstances and see God at work in all of this! 

Maybe life finds you in the same boat? 

I need to see my life and the lives of those around me from God’s perspective, from His point of view!

Application

I will pray Psalm 139 back to the Lord this morning. I will ask God to show me my situation, my circumstances from His perspective. How about you?

Prayer

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. 

You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your Spirit! 
I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. 

I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night — but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. 

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! 

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Lord, open up my spiritual eyes so that I can see and understand my circumstances the way that You see them! No matter what I am putting my trust and my faith in You! 


Daily Bible Reading:  2 Samuel 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16


=

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

May You Live To Enjoy Your Grandchildren

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

May
You
Live To Enjoy Your Grandchildren

Scripture

Psalm 128

⁶ May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.

Observation

Blessings come in all shapes and sizes, but having grandchildren has got to be one of the best blessings that God has ever come with! We don’t get to see them enough but every moment that Kathy and I get to spend with them is so good!

Sleepovers are getting harder to pull off as they get older but they are still a blast when Grandma makes it happen! And all 10 of them get along really well!

Watching our youngest granddaughter Amelie grow every day by leaps and bounds is a pure joy! We take care of her 3 days a week so that her Mom and Dad can work so we have the opportunity to see her right now more than all of her cousins. I wish that they all lived on our same block so that we could see them everyday!

I am proud of all of them. Each one is so unique and so very special. Each one is made in the very image of my Heavenly Father. Each one is a special masterpiece of our Creator God. Each one of them was created for a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Each one of them is a gift from God. They are to be treasured!

We are very blessed because we are alive and have lived to enjoy time with our grandchildren.

Application

I will enjoy time with our grandkids every chance I get. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we are thankful for all the blessings that you have given us, but especially thankful for gifting us with grandchildren to enjoy. I pray for our children today. I pray that they bring up our grandchildren to love and to have a relationship with You. Help them to do their job of parenting well.  

Daily Bible Reading:  2 Samuel 3; 1 Chronicles 12; Matthew 15; Psalm 28, Psalm 128

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

When I Am Overwhelmed, You Alone Know The Way I Should Turn

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

When I Am
Overwhelmed,
You Alone Know The Way I Should Turn

Scripture

Psalm 142

³ When I am overwhelmed,
    you alone know the way I should turn.

Observation

Overwhelmed?

Do you have too many in-laws or too many out-laws putting their noses where they don’t belong?

Maybe the pile of bills sitting on your dining room table has you buried with seemingly no way out?

Maybe you are totally frustrated because your spouse won’t do his or her part and you have been left carrying almost the entire load of your family’s needs?

Maybe you have a loved one whose health has been compromised and you now spend all of your time taking care of him or her 24/7? It is all so overwhelming.

If you find yourself in an overwhelming situation there is only one way to turn, turn to Jesus.

This morning take time, maybe even some extra time and spend time with the only Person Who can give us hope. He understands the mess that we are in and He is already working to fix our mess!

There are some needs that I have in my life that only my Heavenly Father can meet.

It is the same in your life too!

Application

I will turn to Jesus and share with Him all my problems. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Your Word says,

“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you.”    

1 Peter 5:7

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Psalm 55:22

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” Ephesians 3:20

So even if things look overwhelming today and I can’t see any solution I will trust in You and I will turn to You … because “Nothing is too hard for You”!

   

 
Daily Bible Reading:  2 Samuel 2; 1 Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14


Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

“He’s Just The Carpenter’s Son”

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

“He’s
Just
The Carpenter’s Son”

Scripture

Matthew 13

 ⁵⁴ … When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” ⁵⁵ Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. ⁵⁶ All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

Observation

Who is Jesus Christ to you? Maybe you too have refused to believe in Him. Maybe just being around His followers is offensive to you.

Before I came to put my faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ I remember making fun of and ridiculing a fellow football player because he openly professed his relationship to Jesus Christ. 

I guess I was 17 years old when I did that but to this day I have never forgotten doing that and I have never forgotten the powerful influence of that football player’s witness for Christ. .

Even though today for the life of me I cannot remember his name, but I have always admired that guy’s courage and boldness and I am ashamed of what I did.

You see at age 19 I became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. At 17 years of age I scoffed at the name of Jesus, but not today! How about you?

Who is Jesus to you, just a Carpenter’s son or King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

Application

I will not be ashamed to talk to anyone about my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, even though I cannot remember that football player’s name I know that what He did got Your attention. He has rewards waiting for Him in Heaven for his bold and strong witness. Thank goodness 2 years later after making fun of that guy for his faith You changed my life. I pray for those around me who continue to live life scoffing at Christians just like I did.  Give them faith to believe! 

Daily Bible Reading:  2 Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

For Whatever Is In Your Heart Determines What You Say.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

For Whatever
Is In
Your Heart Determines What You Say.

Scripture

Matthew 12

… For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.
³⁵ A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.

Observation

Kathy calls me the million-dollar man. She isn’t saying that to flatter me even though she does make me feel like a million dollars because she brags on me so much! No, what she did was she added up all of the hospital bills since my heart attack and my surgery and all the repair jobs and treatments now have goes way over the million-dollar mark!

Too bad that while the doctors were in there fixing things that they couldn’t have worked on and repaired my old spiritual heart too.

Over the past few days I have been grouchy and difficult for Kathy to put up with. I blame it on chest pain, but the real problem is my spiritual heart, not my damaged physical heart!

Squeeze a lemon and what do you get – Lemon juice! Squeeze Eddy and what should you get – the Fruit of the Spirit, but lately it has been lemon juice.

It is easy to blame people, it is easy to blame an illness and/or even physical pain, or even blame our rotten behavior on our circumstances, but the truth is that when I act ugly, when I act mean and hateful, and when I am short and cutting with others, it is because I have a spiritual problem!

What it shows me is this: I am selfish. I am a sinner, and when the old Eddy comes out it means that Eddy’s desperately wicked heart is in control!

 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9

Here is the first that I want Kathy to remind of this week when I say anything that does not edify or build her up:

Careless words stab like a sword, but wise words bring healing.    Proverbs 12:18 

 Application

I will ask the Lord to help me to only say things to Kathy that build her up and not tear her down, or hurt her feelings. Maybe you need to do the same with your spouse, kids, and/or co-workers? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, when I speak to people this week and especially to Kathy may it be evident that Your Holy Spirit is controlling me. What I want to come out is the Fruit of the Spirit, which is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:1-2, 10

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14



Daily Bible Reading:  1 Samuel 30,31; 1 Chronicles 10; Matthew 12

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Come To Me, All Of You Who Are Weary And Carry Heavy Burdens, And I Will Give You Rest.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Come To Me,
All Of You Who Are Weary And Carry Heavy Burdens,
And I Will Give You Rest.

Scripture

Matthew 11

²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” NLT

28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” MESSAGE

Observation

I don’t believe that you are honest if you tell me that you don’t ever get tired and weary? Liar – Liar – Pants on fire!

We all get weary! We all sometimes feel worn out!

Jesus says to you and He says to me this morning, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

That is exactly what I am going to do with this tired worn out old body of mine this morning - I am going to Jesus. I need some rest. How about you?

Application

Today I am going to keep company with Jesus. I am rolling all my burdens over onto Him. How about you?

Give your burdens to the Lord. He will carry them. He will not permit the godly to slip or fall. Psalm 55:22

 Prayer

Heavenly Father, this is the day that You have made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.               I will take You at Your Word when You say to me “come and I will give you rest. I know that in You I will find rest for my soul. Help me to enjoy being with Your people today at church. Bless Your church today as we meet all over this world to worship You and glorify Your Name! Bless Pastor Bruce and Heather and use them to lead us. Meet their deepest needs. Give them the strength and wisdom for the day ahead of them. 

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Samuel 28,29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

So Don’t Be Afraid; You Are More Valuable To God Than A Whole Flock Of Sparrows

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

So Don’t Be Afraid;
You Are More Valuable To God
Than A Whole Flock Of Sparrows

The Bible says that I am valuable to God whether I feel valuable or not. Some days are just not very good days and yesterday was one of those not so good at all days! Worked on my son’s car most of the day, but I am no where close to getting it running yet and I then came into the house and the kitchen sink was backed up. So after using a guaranteed success or your money back drain opener without success, then snaking out the drain without success, I went to sleep with the kitchen a mess and with the guaranteed liquid drain opener sitting in the stopped up pipe hoping by morning it would have done the job.

Scripture

Matthew 10

³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Observation

I don’t feel very valuable this morning. It is a good thing that I am not supposed to live my life based on my feelings!

The Bible says that I am valuable to God whether I feel valuable or not.

Some days are just not very good days and yesterday was one of them. Worked on my son’s car most of the day, but I am no where close to getting it running yet and I then came into the house and the kitchen sink was backed up. So after using a guaranteed success or your money back drain opener without success, then snaking out the drain without success, I went to sleep with the kitchen a mess and with the guaranteed liquid drain opener sitting in the stopped up pipe hoping by morning it would have done the job.

It didn’t do anything!

So this morning back to Home Depot to try something else.

Finally, after making a pretty good mess in our kitchen … Success!

When you struggle to get a simple sink unclogged it doesn’t make you feel very useful or very valuable, but I am. 

And so are you!

Matthew 10:31 “So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

 Application

I will live out this day knowing that God is on my side and that I am highly valued by Him. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am worn out and the day isn’t even started yet. Give me strength today. More important than strength, help me to maintain a good attitude. Help me live out this day focused on the people around me. Help me to pay attention to them.

I pray for my family, my kids and my grandkids. Help them to live lives that please You. Work in their hearts. Help them to be open to spiritual things. Give them a desire to be in Your Word.

Thank You for opening up that drain. You knew that I had reached my limit. You are good. All the time!

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Samuel 27; Psalm 141; 1 Chronicles 9; Matthew 10



Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Follow Me And Be My Disciple

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Follow Me
And
Be My Disciple

Scripture

Matthew 9

⁹ As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

Observation

Headlines read this morning, “Music world stunned by death of Prince”! It is reported that in his lifetime, he sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time.

He had quite a following. How sad and what a shame that his life ended so tragically. Were you a follower of his? 

Let me share with you someone way better to follow!

The call of Jesus Christ is not for us to go to church, even though going to church is a good thing to do. His call to us is not for us to clean up our lives even though changing our bad habits would benefit everybody. 

No, what Jesus Christ is saying to you and saying to me today is this, “Follow me and be my disciple.” 

The call of Jesus is for us to learn from Him and for us to be like Him and for us to enjoy our relationship with Him. Discipleship is a call to be with, know and enjoy the Master.

Jesus Christ like “Pop Superstar Prince” also died. Jesus was buried and placed in a tomb, but after 3 days in that tomb Jesus Christ came back to life. 

Jesus Christ is calling you and He is calling me to follow Him. Will we make the commitment to be His disciple?

Application

I am a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be the best disciple of Christ that I can be. Don’t let me mess up. Don’t let me let You down. Don’t let me yield to temptations. Don’t let me do stupid sins.

I pray for anyone that might be reading this blog that is still trying to decide on becoming a follower of Jesus Christ help them say, “Yes” today. Give them courage. Give them boldness. Show them. Reveal to them that everything that You say in Your Word is true and give them the faith to believe and become followers of Jesus.

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Samuel 25,26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Because You Believed, It Has Happened

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Because
You Believed,
It Has Happened

Scripture

Matthew 8

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!

¹³ Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

Observation

It was the faith of this Roman soldier that amazed Jesus Christ! Wouldn’t it be something if your faith and my faith amazed our Heavenly Father?

Are there people in our lives that we want to see transformed? Are there circumstances in our lives that we want to see turned around? Are there prayers that up to this point are still unanswered? 

Of course there are, God created us and designed us to be dependent on Him. To live life the way God intended for it to be lived requires us to have faith in Creator God and look to Him for help with each and every challenge we face. 

The Bible is full of examples of men and women of great faith:

Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways before Him. Job 13:15 HCSB

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19

…. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Application

I will ask the Lord to give me the kind of faith in Him that makes Him smile! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, everyday it seems that You give me more and more and more opportunities to exercise my faith. Things don’t seem to be getting easier as I get older. Everything seems to be getting harder and more complicated. I guess that helps me to have more faith in You and less faith in myself. Help me to have the kind of faith that makes You smile and not frown. I want to amaze You with my faith like this Roman soldier did. Help me to trust You today with the things in my life that seem and are so out of my control and that seem to be heading in a bad direction for those I love. You are Sovereign. You are All-Powerful. Nothing is too hard for You. You will answer my prayers. You are on my side!

I pray for my son Hugh today on his birthday. I pray that You bless him. Bless his family. Help him to live his life in a way that pleases You. 

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Samuel 24; Psalm 57,58; 1 Chronicles 8; Matthew 8



Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Ask Yourself What You Want People To Do For You, Then Grab The Initiative And Do It For Them.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Ask Yourself
What You Want People To Do For You,
Then Grab The Initiative And Do It For Them.

Scripture

Matthew 7:12

“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get. MESSAGE

“Always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that sums up the teaching of the Torah and the Prophets. CJB

Observation

If we just put into practice this one small verse it could save our marriage, our job, our business, our relationships, and it could turn our lives completely around!

Why don’t we do it?

Because we are selfish! The core problem in our marriage, where we work, maybe with your company, with our relationships that have gone south is “Me – Myself – and I”. We have an “I” problem.

Lets change that today and put into practice Matthew 7:12!

Look around and lets do some things for other people that you would have liked for them to do for you. (And lets do it without ,,,,, grumbling!)

Lets not worry about what we will get in return!

Application

I will look today at how I can put this verse into practice. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, don’t let me be concerned today about me, myself, and I. Help me to focus on the needs of those around me and not on myself. You know everyone of my needs and You have millions of ways of taking care of me. Don’t let me grumble today. Put joy in my heart. Show me what I need to focus on today. Help me to live out what I read each day in Your Word. Remind me, as many times as needed that life is not all about “me”.

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Samuel 23; Psalm 31; Psalm 54; Matthew 7

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Your Heavenly Father Already Knows All Your Needs. Seek The Kingdom Of God, Above All Else, And Live Righteously, And He Will Give You Everything You Need.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Your Heavenly Father Already Knows All Your Needs.
Seek The Kingdom Of God, Above All Else, And Live Righteously,
And He Will Give You Everything You Need.

Scripture

Matthew 6

²⁵ “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

³¹ “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
 
³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

³⁴ “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Observation

Yesterday, as I talked with 2 different couples that were homeless, one of the couples was sleeping in their car, and the other couple had been sleeping on the ground. I shared with them Matthew 6:33. I told them that if they would put God and His Kingdom first in their lives that God would take care of their needs.

Their immediate and two very obvious needs were shelter and jobs. But there were other needs probably way more urgent that only God could see and that only God could meet. 

I shared with these couples that I believe that when we put God first in our lives, when we walk in obedience to what God has written in His Word that God has an umbrella of blessing that He places over us. When we choose to disobey God and we continue in sin it is a choice that takes us out from under His umbrella of blessing and that my friend is not a fun place to find ourselves.

As I talked to people yesterday at Mission Tampa and told them about the abundant life that they could experience if they would surrender their lives to Jesus Christ I realized that only God could open up their hearts and only God could give them understanding to the Gospel message. If I could reach in and change their hearts and change the direction of their lives I would do it in a heartbeat, but I can’t.

So why do I keep telling people about the Good News of Jesus Christ? Why do I keep urging people to turn from sin and self and turn to Christ? Because I know that some of them will and I know that some of them will be transformed from a life of self-destruction to a life filled with meaning and purpose.

And I know that they have no hope without a relationship with Jesus Christ and by the way my friend neither do you.

Application

I will continue to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with every person that I can. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, there are so many people heading in the wrong direction. So many people are living lives without purpose, without meaning, and without You. Give me the ability to share my faith in a way that people can understand the Gospel message. Help me to live in a way that draws people to Jesus and does not push them away. Keep me from stupid sins, sins that would mess me up and leave me ineffective as Your witness. I pray for those I talked with at Mission Tampa yesterday. Help those who are homeless get off the streets. Protect them. Help them to put You first in their lives so they can experience the life that was intended for them when they were created by You.

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Samuel 22; Psalm 17; Psalm 35; Matthew 6

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

In My Desperation, I Prayed And The LORD Listened

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

In My Desperation, I Prayed
And
The LORD Listened

Scripture

Psalm 34

⁶ In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
    he saved me from all my troubles.
⁷ For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
    he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

Observation

Let me go and get my notes out from yesterday’s sermon! Pastor Bruce preached from Luke chapter 8 and talked about 2 people that desperately sought the help of Jesus. 

Here are a few things that I wrote down yesterday from what Pastor Bruce shared in his message:

1. Only when we are desperate will God respond. 2. God displays His greatest glory when you and I are dependent on Him. 3. Jesus already knows your mess (your disaster) and He already knows how to fix your mess! 4. Disasters bring us to our knees and make us willing and available to do what God wants us to do. 

King David of the Old Testament, Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood found in the New Testament, all three had this in common they were all desperate people that turned to God for help and God helped them. 

Let’s not be hardheaded. Let’s not be stupid. Let’s ask for God’s help with whatever situation we find ourselves in today. 

Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20 Amplified

Application

I will pray to the Lord and He will save me from all of my troubles. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I will bless You every chance I get; my lungs expand with Your praise. I live and breathe You! When I am desperate, I call out, and You get me out of tight spots. Your angel sets up a circle of protection around me while I pray. 

You keep an eye on me because I am your friend and your ears pick up every moan and groan. I get into trouble often even still but You are there every time. You are my bodyguard, shielding every bone; not even a finger gets broken. When I cry for help You are listening and You are ready to rescue me. (Taken from Psalm 34 and Personalized into a prayer)

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Samuel 20,21; Psalm 34; Matthew 5

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

No One Can Live Only On Food. People Need Every Word God Has Spoken.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

No One
Can Live Only On Food.
People Need Every Word God Has Spoken.

In just a minute I will be heading to church and I am looking forward to having someone else teach the Bible study class that I normally teach. I am excited and ready to hear the Word of God. After that I will go over and hear Pastor Bruce preach God’s Word. If you and I are not taking time to read God’s Word every day we are starving our souls! We become an easy target for Satan and all of his tricks. You and I were not designed to go without spiritual food!

Scripture

Matthew 4

⁴ But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Observation

Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say: ‘No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.’” CEV

In just a minute I will be heading to church and I am looking forward to having someone else teach the Bible study class that I normally teach. I am excited and ready to hear the Word of God. After that I will go over and hear Pastor Bruce preach God’s Word. 

I have spent a few minutes already this morning reading from 1 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, Psalms, and Matthew.

If we are not taking the time to read God’s Word every day we are starving your souls! And we become an easy target for Satan and all of his tricks. 

You and I were not designed to go without spiritual food!

No one can live only on food. 

If you and I are not in God’s Word on a daily basis … then we are not living … we just exist! 

We could even be fat on the outside but starving on the inside!

Application

I will enjoy reading and hearing the Word of God today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me love Your Word like Job did when he said, “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.” Job 23:12 I pray for Wayne Varnes as he teaches for me today and for Pastor Bruce as he preaches. Give these men Your Words to share with us. Help me to hear from You today through these men. I pray for our church as we go out to “Feed the City”. I pray for open and receptive hearts of those we meet. 


Daily Bible Reading:  1 Samuel 19; 1 Chronicles 7; Psalm 59; Matthew 4

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

You Are My Master! Every Good Thing I Have Comes From You

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

You Are My Master!
Every Good Thing
I Have Comes From You

Scripture

Psalm 16

² I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
    Every good thing I have comes from you.”
³ The godly people in the land
    are my true heroes!
    I take pleasure in them!

Observation

Lets look around. Lets take a good look. Every good thing that you and I have comes from the Lord. He is my Master!

Can you say the same thing this morning? Is He your Master?

I agree with the next verse too. The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them! Recently I have had the privilege of meeting some new couples at our church that have decided to make Jesus Christ Lord of their lives and Lord of their marriages. They are my true heroes. I take great pleasure in being around them!

Isn’t it time that you made Jesus Master of your life, Boss of your marriage? Isn’t it time to put Him first?

Want to be a hero to your children and your grandchildren? Live a godly life! Stay away from sin. Stay away from stupid things that become your master and mess up your life.

Application

Every good thing I have comes from Jesus Christ. Godly people will always be my heroes.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as I look around my home this morning I have to say to You, I am so blessed. Not because of anything I can brag about, but because I recognize that everything little thing I have that is good comes from You. The best things in my life are not possessions, not things that break, gather dust, or get in my way at night, no for me the best things in life come equipped with smiles, they are relationships, friendships, they are people, especially people who have decided to live their lives committed to You. You have provided Kathy and me everything we need to live godly lives. Everything good thing we have comes from You. We are blessed!

I pray for my best friend Hugh Roberts today on his birthday. Thank You for bringing Hugh and Millie into our lives and allowing us to be their friends. Bless Hugh with good health. Continue to use Hugh and Millie to spread the Gospel and to further Your Kingdom disciple men and women they reach for Jesus. Let Hugh catch a big bass today on his birthday! At least bigger than the one that his son John catches!

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Samuel 18; 1 Chronicles 6; Psalm 11; Matthew 3; Psalm 16, Psalm 116; Proverbs 16 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

May The LORD Richly Bless Both You And Your Children

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

May The LORD Richly
Bless
Both You And Your Children

After I finish writing this blog I will go and look to see who clicked “like” or who made a comment about what I shared yesterday. Putting up what I journal each day on Facebook helps me keep focused on spending time each day with the Lord. And if what I share encourages one person then I feel like the effort was well worth it. In just a minute I will look to see who looked at my blog yesterday and I will pray for each person and I will pray for his or her family. I could very well have the privilege of praying for you!

Scripture

Psalm 115

¹⁴ May the Lord richly bless
    both you and your children.
¹⁵ May you be blessed by the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

Observation

After I finish writing this blog I will go and look to see who clicked “like” or who made a comment about what I shared yesterday. Putting up what I journal each day on Facebook helps me keep focused on spending time each day with the Lord. And if what I share encourages one person then I feel like the effort was well worth it.

In just a minute I will look to see who looked at my blog yesterday and I will pray for each person and I will pray for his or her family.

Most of the time I pray that the Lord richly blesses you and your family. If I know of specific need in your life then I pray for that specific need or needs.

I know that God hears my prayers for you. I know that He will respond to my prayers. How do I know? – Here is why …

    This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

Application

I will continue to pray for God to bless each and every person that takes the time to look at what I share. I know that this is something that brings Him joy!

Prayer

May the Lord richly bless both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth. May the Lord give you the desires of your heart. May the Lord answer all of your prayers. May He make all of your plans successful.  Psalm 115:14-15; Psalm 20:4-5 (Personalized)

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Samuel 17; Psalm 9, 15, 115; Matthew 2;Proverbs 15

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Listen! Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Listen!
Obedience
Is Better Than Sacrifice

Scripture

1 Samuel 15    

²² But Samuel replied,
“What is more pleasing to the Lord:
    your burnt offerings and sacrifices
    or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
    and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

Observation

Saul disobeyed God’s command to completely destroy the Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.”

Instead of obeying what God said, “Saul kept the best of all the animals and Saul even he even spared the life of king Agag in total disobedience to what God had said.

Saul made up excuses for his disobedience and told the prophet Samuel that he had saved the animals to use them as burnt offerings and sacrifices.

This act of disobedience cost Saul his throne. 

Disobedience is so very costly. Moses, because of his disobedience did not get to go into the Promise Land. King David, because of his disobedience, brought death and destruction to his family. 

You and I can walk in obedience. We can please the Lord. It is a daily choice that you and I need to make!

“But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23

Application

I will strive to walk in obedience to what God has shown me in His Word. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have given me examples in Your Word of men and women that walked in obedience to You and how You blessed their lives. You have also given me examples of what happens when men and women decide to walk in disobedience to You. Help me to never forget any of those examples. I don’t want to live in disobedience. I don’t want to experience the pain and suffering that comes with that kind of life style. Help me to walk in obedience. Help me to keep my sins confessed. I want my family to be blessed because of the choices that I make and not cursed. Don’t let me mess up.  

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Samuel 15,16; 1 Chronicles 5; Matthew 1; Psalm 14, Psalm 114, Proverbs 14

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!