06/19/09 John 10:1-11

Write the verse that speaks to you.

SCRIPTURE - "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
At these words the Jews were again divided. Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"
But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

OBSERVATION: The key part to me of the verses I have higlighted above is that Christ is the gate. Christ does not close us in the pen to be caught or killed as theives or preditors would, or that we are locked out from the rest of the flock. Those that go through the gate, that is Christ, have freedom and protection.

APPLICATION: We are not restricted by being Christians, we are free by being Christians.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you keeping us safe from preditors and theives. Keep us close to your voice so that we can hear and see danger when it approaches.

YES: I am comforted by being a Christian that is free.

06/18/09 Romans 12:9-21

Which verse speaks to you?

SCRIPTURE - Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 1f it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NIV)

OBSERVATION - The guide for relationships with love. It appears to me to be straight forward, with little room for interpretation.

APPLICATION - In order to follow the items above, it's important to keep the Lord close to your heart in prayer. Knowing your own feelings and knowing what your "buttons" are that people can push to get a reaction will help you keep the negative responses supressed. Don't allow others to affect your emotions, but take them to the Lord in prayer and then act in the way that Christ would want you to.

PRAYER - Lord, forgive me for not teating everyone with love and respect. Be with me to see you in everyone regardless of how they live. Keep my responses that of love instead of knee jerk reacations that would not reflect the love of Jesus Christ.

6/17/09 2 Corinthians 6:2

SCRIPTURE - For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. (niv)



OBSERVATION - God is always with us, talking to us, and gently guiding us. He doesn't go away when we mess up, no matter how big the mess is.



APPLICATION - This verse reminds me of the Footprints in the Sand poem. If you haven't read it, take the time in quiet meditation to read it and reflect of your own footprints along life's journey. I remember those times myself that I thought for sure that I am truly on my own here in this big world. If I wanted to be successful, I would need to do it myself with positive thinking and mental imaging. (Does that sound like a lot of self help books?) It didn't take me long to realize that it is the Lord that provides everything including that small one dollar tip. The Lord has always found favor in all of his children, it's just a matter of if we walk with him.

PRAYER - Lord thank you for being there for me every day. Thank you for all the blessings you have provided me, from my wife, to my pastor, to my friends and to all the blessings that you know I need. Thank you Lord.

YES - I do not walk this journey alone. Grab someone along the way and show them how satisfying it is to walk with the Lord.

6/16/09 Mark 4:35-41

Select the verse that speaks to you.

Scripture - That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, lets go over to the other side. Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, Teacher don't you care if we drown? He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, quiet! be still! Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to the disciples, why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? They were terrified and asked each other, who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him! (NIV)

Observation - The disciples lost touch with their faith when the storm surrounded them. Jesus was asleep. How could anyone sleep through this? Did he not care that they were about to die?

Jesus was aware, but not concerned. He gave the word to stop and be calm, and it happened.

Application - I can relate with the disciples. When the skies are blue and things are peaceful, my faith is strong. (so I think) Then I feel as though things are crashing in around me and I put more faith in myself to get out of the situation than trusting that Jesus will calm things. Is this a lack of faith or fear and natural instinct that swells the fight or flight reaction? I believe it is both lack of faith and natural instincts that draw us away from Christ. In the midst of the reactions that are natural within us when things go wrong, we need to remember to pray and thank God for this experience that will make us stronger in our faith.

Prayer - Lord, thank you for the times that you challenge me and my faith. Draw me closer every day that I will remember to pray and talk to you when the skies get dark and stormy.

Yes - In everything (good and bad) give thanks to the Lord.

06/15/09 Psalm 78:1-8

Pick the verse that speaks to you

SCRIPTURE - O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things for of old what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded out forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their forefathers - a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. (NIV)

OBSERVATION - We are told in the scripture above to listen, learn and share with following generations praiseworthy deeds of the LORD in his power and the wonders he has done.

APPLICATION - First step is listen and learn. Take the time to study scripture, attend Bible studies and time of fellowship to learn how the LORD has done wonders worthy of praise in the past and in the present. Share what you have heard and learned with others. Live in the praises of the Lord and teach our children, so that they will do the same in their life.

One of my favorite examples would be saying grace. My mother and father taught me our family prayer from my maternal grandparents. In turn we have taught our children our prayer, and they have taught others that have shared a meal with us. The best thing is they do it on their own without being prodded by their parents.

PRAYER - Lord, thank you for giving me the opportunity to share what I have learned about your wonders and the people you have placed in my life to share my experiences of you, with.

YES - Sometimes I take for granted the freedom that I have to talk about my faith. I will take every opprotunity to share how the Lord has touched my life, in celebration of this freedom.

6/13/09 1 Samuel 10:17-24

SCRIPTURE:
(Please share the verse(s) speaking to you)
They inquired further of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” So the LORD said. “Behold,, he is hiding himself by the baggage.”
OBSERVATION
This passage described how Saul is appointed by God to be king. Saul is hiding in the baggage when he is found and appointed.
APPLICATION
You can run but you can not hide should be the title of this passage. Could this not be true for times in our life. We think we can hide from God but if God appoints us for a task we must not hide for we will be found. But what is more if we are appointed by God for a task we will be given what it is needed for the task.
PRAYER:
Lord forgive me for when in fear I have hid from your work and calling. Pull me from my hiding place and let me know you have equipped me for any task I am sent in your name.
YES:
I will not hide in the baggage.

6/12/09 Numbers 13:25-14:9

SCRIPTURE:
(Please share the verse(s) speaking to you)
The people who live in the land are strong and the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. (Numbers 13:28 NAS)
OBSERVATION
When the ancient Israelites made it to the promised land they sent spies to scout the land out. The scouts report was grim. There were fortified cities and giants living in the land. The promised land looked a little less than promising.
APPLICATION:
The spies saw how the odds were against them as humans and neglected to hear how God had promised to be with them. God had been with the for 40 years in the desert, seems they think God might neglect them now.
We do the same. We look into situations and see difficulties and problems. We forget the God who has been with us in the difficulties of the past is the same God who will be with in the difficulties in the future. In other words we look for difficulties and not possibilities.
PRAYER:
Lord teach me to have faith in you in all situations. Let me know that you are the possibility the overcomes all difficulty.
YES:
I will seek the promised possibilities in life