September 7 Reading (Ezekiel 29, Daniel 4, Jeremiah 52)
This is a crazy story of Nebuchadnezzar's conversion to faith in the Lord Almighty. We've experienced him offer lip service to God before (through Daniel's dream interpretations and the firey furnace scene) but this time was personal. The miracle wasn't some hebrew boy ... the miracle was seen and experienced in his own life! This did something to change King Neb's perspective ... the perspective that "he controlled the world." Pride is the biggest stumbling block that we have today ... and pride had taken it's toll on this King. So God humbled him by taking his ability to control his own actions ... he went crazy! And when God gave him his right mind back, King Neb bowed before the Almighty with a fresh perspective ... this time he realized that "God controlled the world" and not King Nebuchadnezzar.
What do we take from this? Well, we are not in control. Not of the economy. Not of our investments. Not of our income. Not of many things. God "does what he wants" and is all powerful and knowing. Instead of controling the experiences of life around, let's surrender to what God is already at work doing. What is God doing in your life? What is he doing in mine? Let's live there!! Let's spend time letting God lead (that's how he has designed us to be in the first place).
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
September 4 Reading (Daniel 3)
A familiar story from the exile ... as Tony Evans calls it: "Shadrach, Meshach and One Bad Negro!"
My favorite: " O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Praise the Lord for going INTO the furnace with these 3 and proving faithful in the midst of great struggle!! Praise your most AWESOME Name!!
This story never gets old.
A familiar story from the exile ... as Tony Evans calls it: "Shadrach, Meshach and One Bad Negro!"
My favorite: " O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Praise the Lord for going INTO the furnace with these 3 and proving faithful in the midst of great struggle!! Praise your most AWESOME Name!!
This story never gets old.
September 3 Reading (Ezekiel 32-33)
perhaps the most perplexing verse I've read in the scriptures ... "Although I had him [Pharaoh] spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumsized..." declares the Lord." This is tough to wrestle with ... why would the Lord have Pharaoh do this, only to punish him for it later? Could this be interpreted "I allowed him to spread his terror ...?" Or is it "I had him do it ..."? There is a huge difference.
Honestly, this can really challenge my inclination on predestination. I'm not sure what to do with this other than investigate a little deeper.
The role of the Watchman: Watch for danger, sound the trumpet, save the people. If the people (who hear the trumpet) don't respond, their blood is on themselves. If the watchman sees the danger, but doesn't sound the trumpet, then their blood is on the watchman!
Application :: I see the pastors of our society as the watchmen of our country and faith in general. If we see the danger of the sin around us, we MUST sound the alarm! If we do - and the people don't respond - that's not on us. But the greater danger is that if we don't sound the alarm, then everyone who is lost, will be on US! Did I really sign up for this?? Which takes me right back to my issue earlier in this post ... God's sovereignty and learning I'm not in control of JACK-POO! Help me God rest in that knowledge today and help me have the courage to sound the alarm!!
"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!"
"If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it. And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so."
perhaps the most perplexing verse I've read in the scriptures ... "Although I had him [Pharaoh] spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumsized..." declares the Lord." This is tough to wrestle with ... why would the Lord have Pharaoh do this, only to punish him for it later? Could this be interpreted "I allowed him to spread his terror ...?" Or is it "I had him do it ..."? There is a huge difference.
Honestly, this can really challenge my inclination on predestination. I'm not sure what to do with this other than investigate a little deeper.
The role of the Watchman: Watch for danger, sound the trumpet, save the people. If the people (who hear the trumpet) don't respond, their blood is on themselves. If the watchman sees the danger, but doesn't sound the trumpet, then their blood is on the watchman!
Application :: I see the pastors of our society as the watchmen of our country and faith in general. If we see the danger of the sin around us, we MUST sound the alarm! If we do - and the people don't respond - that's not on us. But the greater danger is that if we don't sound the alarm, then everyone who is lost, will be on US! Did I really sign up for this?? Which takes me right back to my issue earlier in this post ... God's sovereignty and learning I'm not in control of JACK-POO! Help me God rest in that knowledge today and help me have the courage to sound the alarm!!
"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!"
"If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it. And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so."
September 2 Reading (Ezekiel 37-39)
I wonder if bad times strike just for the sake of restoration. Having friendships restored is great ... but that comes after a period of silence. Something makes that process special. What about the steady friendships, the steady commitments, those that never never, never grow cold?
I love restoration, but can't we just stick with God consistenty, faithfully, and passionately?
I wonder if bad times strike just for the sake of restoration. Having friendships restored is great ... but that comes after a period of silence. Something makes that process special. What about the steady friendships, the steady commitments, those that never never, never grow cold?
I love restoration, but can't we just stick with God consistenty, faithfully, and passionately?
September 1 Reading (Ezekiel 33-36)
I'm reminded again that the Lord is angry with his people for the fact that they: defiled His great name, and that they relied on their sword/strength over His power and might. How true is this of us today? Do we honor His great name enough? Do we give God enough credit for His work in our life? Do we rely on His strength and power? Or do we trust in our own understanding and logic more? The "pride" if Israel, lead to its fall.
Does this strike you? [the Lord speaking to Ezekiel about his followers] "(they) sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain." Do I listen, but do not act? I'm afraid my "action" button hasn't been hit enough lately in the practical everyday opportunities that God has given me.
I want this:
I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."
That's good stuff! Remove that bad - put in the AWESOME!!
I'm reminded again that the Lord is angry with his people for the fact that they: defiled His great name, and that they relied on their sword/strength over His power and might. How true is this of us today? Do we honor His great name enough? Do we give God enough credit for His work in our life? Do we rely on His strength and power? Or do we trust in our own understanding and logic more? The "pride" if Israel, lead to its fall.
Does this strike you? [the Lord speaking to Ezekiel about his followers] "(they) sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain." Do I listen, but do not act? I'm afraid my "action" button hasn't been hit enough lately in the practical everyday opportunities that God has given me.
I want this:
I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."
That's good stuff! Remove that bad - put in the AWESOME!!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
August 31 (todays reading includes parts of 2 Kings 25, Jeremiah 40, 42, 42, 43, 44)
By the way, did you hear Buddah is back? The reincarnated Buddah came out of the jungle today ... I read about it on Fox News.com. I thought the idea of Buddism is reincarnate to higher levels and then join the divine ... so why would Buddah (the holiest buddist ever) be back in human form? Things to ponder.
The drama in Judah's existence continues as the Babylonian appointed governor is assasinated and those left behind enquire of God - only to do the exact opposite of what God tells them to do. Therefore, they suffer the consequences. Determining God's will is challenging. Honestly, I am REALLY struggling with that. Judah's heart seemed in the right place ... "Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do." The answer from God was "stay". They rejected that option and left for Egypt. Is this MY word for the day? Stay?
What is more intriuging to me is that later we see that God sends a prophesy about those from Judah who left (against the word of God) and have now settled in Egypt. "He will come and attack Egypt, bringing death to those destined for death, captivity to those destined for captivity, and the sword to those destined for the sword." So what's the point. If we are all destined for something, then we should just live our life the way we want and then take what we get ... what we are destined for. I don't know ... I'm torn with how I feel about this area.
By the way, did you hear Buddah is back? The reincarnated Buddah came out of the jungle today ... I read about it on Fox News.com. I thought the idea of Buddism is reincarnate to higher levels and then join the divine ... so why would Buddah (the holiest buddist ever) be back in human form? Things to ponder.
The drama in Judah's existence continues as the Babylonian appointed governor is assasinated and those left behind enquire of God - only to do the exact opposite of what God tells them to do. Therefore, they suffer the consequences. Determining God's will is challenging. Honestly, I am REALLY struggling with that. Judah's heart seemed in the right place ... "Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do." The answer from God was "stay". They rejected that option and left for Egypt. Is this MY word for the day? Stay?
What is more intriuging to me is that later we see that God sends a prophesy about those from Judah who left (against the word of God) and have now settled in Egypt. "He will come and attack Egypt, bringing death to those destined for death, captivity to those destined for captivity, and the sword to those destined for the sword." So what's the point. If we are all destined for something, then we should just live our life the way we want and then take what we get ... what we are destined for. I don't know ... I'm torn with how I feel about this area.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
August 30 (Lamentations 3, 4)
Take this in today ...
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to hose whose hope is in him, to hte one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
"Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?" This trips many of us ... we want a God that is all good all the time. We need to grow up and understand consequences of SIN stink but there is nothing we can do about it but stop SINNING and beg for God's protection ... still, it will rain.
Justice ... we all want it. We tell our kids that life isn't fair and then we demand fairness everywhere we turn ... are we really this shallow? What have I done recently to make the right real injustices of our world? What did I do to help the man at McDonald's Sunday who was looking through the trash for bottles and cans? NOTHING! How can ... who am I to demand justice when I'm not offering it to those around me?????
You O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
Take this in today ...
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to hose whose hope is in him, to hte one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
"Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?" This trips many of us ... we want a God that is all good all the time. We need to grow up and understand consequences of SIN stink but there is nothing we can do about it but stop SINNING and beg for God's protection ... still, it will rain.
Justice ... we all want it. We tell our kids that life isn't fair and then we demand fairness everywhere we turn ... are we really this shallow? What have I done recently to make the right real injustices of our world? What did I do to help the man at McDonald's Sunday who was looking through the trash for bottles and cans? NOTHING! How can ... who am I to demand justice when I'm not offering it to those around me?????
You O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
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