Today’s Reading: Isaiah 1; Isaiah 2; Isaiah 3; Titus 3
Scripture: Isaiah 2:11-12
11 The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled
and the pride of men brought low;
the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
12 The LORD Almighty has a day in store
for all the proud and lofty,
for all that is exalted
(and they will be humbled)...
Observation: Pride and arrogance are some of the prime stock in trade in our secular culture. But a day is coming when the arrogant will be put in their place.
Application: It is difficult to deal with arrogant people. Our world is full of them. But it is important to remember that there is a day coming when the Lord will settle the score. The "proud and lofty" will be humbled.
Bottom line: Humble yourself now before the Lord. Do not be one with an appointment for lowering.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that You receive the meek and resist the proud. Help us to eliminate all traces of arrogance from our hearts. May we be those who humbly seek Your face and surrender our lives totally to You.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Friday, June 30, 2006
Title: The Plumb Line / Topic: God's Standard
Today’s Reading: Amos 7; Amos 8; Amos 9; Psalm 104; Titus 2
Scripture: Amos 7: 7-8
7 This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Amos?"
"A plumb line," I replied.
Then the Lord said, "Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel...
Observation:
[Once again the press of my schedule does not allow me to journal as fully as I would like to. Please receive these brief thoughts and add your own.]
This is an important truth: God has a "plumb line," that is a standard to which His people are held. There are things that are "true to plumb" -- they are straight and true and on the level.
Application: Our lives must seek to adhere to God's plumb line.
Prayer: Lord, help us understand and uphold Your righteous standards in all we think, do, and say.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Amos 7: 7-8
7 This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. 8 And the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Amos?"
"A plumb line," I replied.
Then the Lord said, "Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel...
Observation:
[Once again the press of my schedule does not allow me to journal as fully as I would like to. Please receive these brief thoughts and add your own.]
This is an important truth: God has a "plumb line," that is a standard to which His people are held. There are things that are "true to plumb" -- they are straight and true and on the level.
Application: Our lives must seek to adhere to God's plumb line.
Prayer: Lord, help us understand and uphold Your righteous standards in all we think, do, and say.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Title: The Simple Truth / Topic: The Basics
Today’s Reading: Amos 4; Amos 5; Amos 6; Psalm 86; Titus 1
Scripture: Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
Observation/Application: Due to the press of my schedule, I am unable to take time to journal as I would like. This verse struck me as I read it and I will meditate on it.
Prayer: Lord, help me to walk with You in simplicity and singleness of purpose.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
Observation/Application: Due to the press of my schedule, I am unable to take time to journal as I would like. This verse struck me as I read it and I will meditate on it.
Prayer: Lord, help me to walk with You in simplicity and singleness of purpose.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Title: True Word / Topic: The Bible
Today’s Reading: Amos 1; Amos 2; Amos 3; Psalm 80; 2 Timothy 4
Scripture: Amos 1:1 & Timothy 19-22
Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa — what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
2 Timothy 4:19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
Observation: Today's reading begins with a reference to an earthquake and ends with mentions of a sick friend and winter. This reminds me of the fact that the Bible is true. What I mean is that I believe in the historicity of the Bible. The events and people written about in the Bible are real. The people lived and did what the Bible tells us. The events actually happened as reported. There was an earthquake -- apparently a sizable one because it is used by Amos as a reference point for his prophetic word. Those people experienced real life just as we do. They had earthquakes from time to time just like us. And those events became markers in their lives. I can remember very well where I was when I felt the Loma Prieta earthquake that brought freeways and bridges down in the Bay Area. Can you?
And Paul's friends got sick just like our friends sometimes do. And he wanted Timothy to come before winter. Maybe he simply missed Timothy and wanted his company sooner rather than later. Or maybe he was worried about the coming cold weather and wanted him to bring the cloak mentioned in verse 13 of this chapter! Either way, we can relate to Paul's situation. It rings true.
Application: The word of God is believable and rings true because it is true. Everything I read sounds quite reasonable -- nothing out of the range of plausibility. That encourages me with the veracity of the Word of God. I can trust the word to tell me the truth. About life. About people. About myself. About God.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for giving us Your word. I love the way You had it written. It is a masterpiece. Simple and basic so a child can understand. Yet complex and deeper than any sage could ever fully fathom. Lord, You are truly amazing! Thank You for giving us such a rich and blessed book.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Amos 1:1 & Timothy 19-22
Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa — what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
2 Timothy 4:19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
Observation: Today's reading begins with a reference to an earthquake and ends with mentions of a sick friend and winter. This reminds me of the fact that the Bible is true. What I mean is that I believe in the historicity of the Bible. The events and people written about in the Bible are real. The people lived and did what the Bible tells us. The events actually happened as reported. There was an earthquake -- apparently a sizable one because it is used by Amos as a reference point for his prophetic word. Those people experienced real life just as we do. They had earthquakes from time to time just like us. And those events became markers in their lives. I can remember very well where I was when I felt the Loma Prieta earthquake that brought freeways and bridges down in the Bay Area. Can you?
And Paul's friends got sick just like our friends sometimes do. And he wanted Timothy to come before winter. Maybe he simply missed Timothy and wanted his company sooner rather than later. Or maybe he was worried about the coming cold weather and wanted him to bring the cloak mentioned in verse 13 of this chapter! Either way, we can relate to Paul's situation. It rings true.
Application: The word of God is believable and rings true because it is true. Everything I read sounds quite reasonable -- nothing out of the range of plausibility. That encourages me with the veracity of the Word of God. I can trust the word to tell me the truth. About life. About people. About myself. About God.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for giving us Your word. I love the way You had it written. It is a masterpiece. Simple and basic so a child can understand. Yet complex and deeper than any sage could ever fully fathom. Lord, You are truly amazing! Thank You for giving us such a rich and blessed book.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Title: Wimpy Action - Wimpy Result / Topic: Radical Living
Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 13; 2 Kings 14; 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3
Scripture: 2 Kings 13:18
18 Then he said, "Take the arrows," and the king took them. Elisha told him, "Strike the ground." He struck it three times and stopped. 19 The man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times."
Observation: It's a great story. And it illustrates a great truth. Notice that Elisha tells Jehoash, King of Israel, to take some arrows and hit the ground with them. The king does tap-tap-tap and stops. Elisha rebukes him. His choosing to fulfill Elisha's instruction with a token response will cost him. His future victories will be few because he did the tap-tap-tap. I wonder what victories have be forfeited by people who just didn't go for it with gusto when God requested something of them. I wonder if we limit God's expression of victory through us when we worship with less than total abandon. I wonder.
Application: I think it makes sense to give it everything we've got when we do anything for God. We should be passionate, intense, intentional, sold out, radical, demonstrative, and extreme, with no-holds-barred. What would be unleashed by such a manner of living? It would probably blow us away!
Prayer: Lord, help us to get out of our comfort zone and go for it. I ask for unleashed and unfettered worship and enthusiastic prayer and praise that raises the roof -- literally taking the lid off the blessings that we can receive. Help us, Lord -- we need a breakthrough!
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 2 Kings 13:18
18 Then he said, "Take the arrows," and the king took them. Elisha told him, "Strike the ground." He struck it three times and stopped. 19 The man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times."
Observation: It's a great story. And it illustrates a great truth. Notice that Elisha tells Jehoash, King of Israel, to take some arrows and hit the ground with them. The king does tap-tap-tap and stops. Elisha rebukes him. His choosing to fulfill Elisha's instruction with a token response will cost him. His future victories will be few because he did the tap-tap-tap. I wonder what victories have be forfeited by people who just didn't go for it with gusto when God requested something of them. I wonder if we limit God's expression of victory through us when we worship with less than total abandon. I wonder.
Application: I think it makes sense to give it everything we've got when we do anything for God. We should be passionate, intense, intentional, sold out, radical, demonstrative, and extreme, with no-holds-barred. What would be unleashed by such a manner of living? It would probably blow us away!
Prayer: Lord, help us to get out of our comfort zone and go for it. I ask for unleashed and unfettered worship and enthusiastic prayer and praise that raises the roof -- literally taking the lid off the blessings that we can receive. Help us, Lord -- we need a breakthrough!
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Title: Not Bitter But Better / Topic: Joyful Ministry
Today’s Reading: Jonah 1; Jonah 2; Jonah 3; Jonah 4; 2 Timothy 2
Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:24-25
24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct...
Observation: This is a good and simple word for leaders: Don't be a person who quarrels. Some people like a good debate, and in the right place (limited though it may be), I suppose it is OK. But Paul instructs Timothy not to get a quarreling mentality. He urges kindness, gentleness, and patience. Of special note is the phrase "not resentful." There are lots of things that people say and do that could be reasonable cause for resentment to anyone in ministry leadership. But Paul hits the nail on the head with the call to eliminate resentment from the life of a leader. If, as a leader, you allow resentment to remain in your heart, you will be a miserable leader and have a joyless experience.
Application: Put these words into practice. Live apart from those who always engage in arguing. Don't go there. And walk in constant forgiveness toward anyone who attacks. Don't get bitter, but be open to offering a gentle word to help that person find his way. Stay sweet, and life will be sweet.
Prayer: Lord, help us to be so joyful in You that the sourness of others cannot penetrate our hearts. May we expect and even welcome attacks as signs that we are doing something good for God. Make us better and better as leaders and help us to keep our hearts clear before You and others.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:24-25
24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct...
Observation: This is a good and simple word for leaders: Don't be a person who quarrels. Some people like a good debate, and in the right place (limited though it may be), I suppose it is OK. But Paul instructs Timothy not to get a quarreling mentality. He urges kindness, gentleness, and patience. Of special note is the phrase "not resentful." There are lots of things that people say and do that could be reasonable cause for resentment to anyone in ministry leadership. But Paul hits the nail on the head with the call to eliminate resentment from the life of a leader. If, as a leader, you allow resentment to remain in your heart, you will be a miserable leader and have a joyless experience.
Application: Put these words into practice. Live apart from those who always engage in arguing. Don't go there. And walk in constant forgiveness toward anyone who attacks. Don't get bitter, but be open to offering a gentle word to help that person find his way. Stay sweet, and life will be sweet.
Prayer: Lord, help us to be so joyful in You that the sourness of others cannot penetrate our hearts. May we expect and even welcome attacks as signs that we are doing something good for God. Make us better and better as leaders and help us to keep our hearts clear before You and others.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Another Delay
The week we are entering is the most demanding week of my year due to our Fireworks Booth sales. My blog will be irregular for the next 7 to ten days. Thanks for understanding. Please keep me in your prayers.
Pastor Mike
Pastor Mike
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Title: Pass The Faith (Please) / Topic: Spritual Heritage
My posting was delayed today. I invited anyone to post their own devotional thoughts and Carl made an excellent post. I would love to see more posts like that. Thanks Carl. I hope you feel better.
-- Pastor Mike
Today’s Reading: Joel 1; Joel 2; Joel 3; 2 Timothy 1
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:2, 4-5
2 To Timothy, my dear son... 4 ...I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Observation: I love the relationship between Paul and Timothy. It has a wonderful winsome quality to it. There is clear affection, appreciation and respect that is mutually shared. And I want to draw attention to verse 5. Timothy was the recipient of a heritage of faith and faithfulness. He had Lois, his grandmother, and his mom, Eunice, of whom Paul traces the roots of Timothy's "sincere faith." What a great blessing it was for Timothy to have a grandmother and mother who were women of faith. And it was also a boon to Paul who was able to take the good deposit of faith that was put into Timothy by these women and develop it with training and further mentoring. What Eunice and Lois started, Paul was able to take to the next level.
Application: The lesson for me is to live faithful and encourage faithfulness in all our lives. Our children and others who watch are witnesses to the reality (or unreality) of God as reflected in how we live. Eunice and Lois lived in such a way that Timothy observed their faith and grew to believe himself.
Bottom line: Keep the faith. But don't stop there. Pass the faith along. The future generations depend on us who are older to burn brightly for the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the example of Eunice and Lois in the life of Timothy. Help us to likewise live to a standard of excellence in our faith that clearly demonstrates Your wonderful character, and also irresistibly draws others to find and follow You for themselves.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
-- Pastor Mike
Today’s Reading: Joel 1; Joel 2; Joel 3; 2 Timothy 1
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:2, 4-5
2 To Timothy, my dear son... 4 ...I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Observation: I love the relationship between Paul and Timothy. It has a wonderful winsome quality to it. There is clear affection, appreciation and respect that is mutually shared. And I want to draw attention to verse 5. Timothy was the recipient of a heritage of faith and faithfulness. He had Lois, his grandmother, and his mom, Eunice, of whom Paul traces the roots of Timothy's "sincere faith." What a great blessing it was for Timothy to have a grandmother and mother who were women of faith. And it was also a boon to Paul who was able to take the good deposit of faith that was put into Timothy by these women and develop it with training and further mentoring. What Eunice and Lois started, Paul was able to take to the next level.
Application: The lesson for me is to live faithful and encourage faithfulness in all our lives. Our children and others who watch are witnesses to the reality (or unreality) of God as reflected in how we live. Eunice and Lois lived in such a way that Timothy observed their faith and grew to believe himself.
Bottom line: Keep the faith. But don't stop there. Pass the faith along. The future generations depend on us who are older to burn brightly for the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the example of Eunice and Lois in the life of Timothy. Help us to likewise live to a standard of excellence in our faith that clearly demonstrates Your wonderful character, and also irresistibly draws others to find and follow You for themselves.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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