Life Journal, February 12, 2009
Today's readings: Leviticus 18, 18; Psalm 13; Acts 19

Trust

Scripture

O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?

How long will you look the other way?

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,

with sorrow in my heart every day?

How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!

Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.

Don't let my enemies gloat, saying, "We have defeated him!"

Don't let them rejoice at my downfall.

But I trust in your unfailing love.

I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

I will sing to the Lord

because He is good to me.

Psalm 13

Observation

No matter how things may appear--or how I feel--God's unfailing love for me never does.

Application (How will I be different today because of what I have just read?)

Important truth--no matter how I may feel or what may be happening--I can trust in God's unfailing love for me. AND, I need to live in that truth . . . walk in it . . . claim it.

We focus too much on circumstances and "why me?" Instead the focus needs to be on God's unfailing love and how He has rescued me from death and His goodness to me. Those are the truths that I can count on.

Today I will walk in those truths.

Prayer

Father God, thank You for Your truth. Thank You for Your unfailing love--even though I do not deserve it--you pour it out on me extravagantly through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for the life You give me through that sacrifice. Forgive me for taking my focus off You and putting it on myself. You are all that matters. You are love and truth. Thank You.

Life Journal, February 11, 2009
Today's reading: Acts 18 (didn't do the Leviticus reading today)

A Worshiper of God

Scripture

Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.

Acts. 18.7

Observation

Titius Justus was known for worshiping God.

Application (How will I be different today because of what I have just read?)

Wow--wouldn't it be great to be known as "a worshiper of God." I mean when people said your name they would just automatically say, Melinda, a worshiper of God . . . . What a great thing to be known for and to have it be so much a part of who you are that people would immediately think that.

May I be known as a worshiper of God. How different life would be if that was our focus--not all the other stuff that we deal with.

Prayer

Father God, I want to be known as a "worshiper of God" more than anything else--well also a "lover of God"--but they go hand in hand. Help me to stay focused on what is important, not the unimportant. Thank you, God. To You may all glory and honor be given. Forgive me when I doubt or my faith stutters or I give up. I want to stand strong, Lord God, but I can't without You.

Life Journal, February 10, 2009
Today's readings: Leviticus 13, 14; Acts 17

What/Who Do I Worship?

Scripture

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. . . .

So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: "Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: 'To an Unknown God.' This God, whom you worship without knowing is the one I'm telling you about.

"He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples, and human hands can't serve his needs--for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

"His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him--though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone."

Acts 17.24-30

Observation

God is not an idol to be worshiped--but the Creator of everything who wants to be in an intimate relationship with us.

Application (How will I be different today because of what I have just read?)

We aren't very different than the people that Paul met in Athens. We have many idols that we worship--People. . . things. . . .ideas . . . . power. . . . money . . . . jobs . . . . church buildings . . . . tradition . . . . the list seems endless.

God doesn't come in first very often . . . and yet it is in Him that "We live and move and exist." We take Him for granted. We spend so much time on our idols that we don't have much time for Him. . .He gets our "leftovers."

Today, I will look for those things that I worship--some out of habit, some out of desire, some . . . just because--and I will set them aside and return to God--worshiping Him and Him alone.

Prayer

Father, forgive me when I put my eyes on anything other than You. The world pulls at us and we give in so easy--usually without a fight. Lord, help me to stand strong, to tear down any idols that I have in my life, and to worship You alone. Thank You for Your amazing love and patience.

Life Journal, February 6, 2009

Purpose

Scripture

"We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God--something the law of Moses could never do."

Acts 13.38-39

Observation

It is all about Jesus.

Application (How will I be different today because of what I have just read?)

As a follower of Christ, I am here for one reason . . . to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your [and mine] sins. Everything I do and say should point to that truth. If I live my life that way, without worrying about what others think or want from me, then I cannot go wrong and nothing else will matter.

Today, I will keep the main thing -- Jesus -- the main thing. I will not allow others to dictate what I say or do . . . only Jesus.

Prayer

Father God, too often I forget the one reason that I have life . . . it is because of You and the gift of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You. Today . . . and everyday . . . may my focus be only on You. May I point to You in what I say and do. Change me Lord. Use me. Forgive me when my eyes move off of You and onto myself. It is not about me. . .it is all about You. Thank You for loving me so faithfully and patiently. My hope and trust are in You. People will let us down . . . but You never will.

Life Journal, February 5, 2009
Today's readings: Exodus 39-40; Psalm 15; Acts 12

No Really

Scripture

5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.

9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.

11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”

12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. 13 He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”

15 “You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”

16 Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17 He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place.

Acts 12.5-17

Observation

God answers prayer.

Application (How will I be different today because of what I have just read?)

I love these verses. They are so typical of us--we pray for God to do something and then when He does we can't believe it. Even Peter--to whom it was happening to--thought it was a vision, not really happening.

How different would our lives be if we really believed that God does amazing miraculous things. No He doesn't do them all the time, but I believe He does them more often than we give Him credit for...often because we don't know what "might have been" without His help.

So today, I will look for the miraculous. Today, I will trust that God is at work--in my life and in the life of others.

Prayer

Father God, we pray, not really expecting You to answer--or at least not in some miraculous way. We miss so much limiting You--afraid to ask too much--because what if You don't answer our prayers our way. We pray for a safe journey and when we arrive safe--we think, well God didn't have to intervene, not even realizing all the times You did--saving us. Lord, Our faith is small. Help us to grow it. Help us to trust You. Help us to pray for the miraculous and then see it!

Life Journal, February 4, 2009
Today's readings: Exodus 37-38; Psalm 19; Acts 11

Helping One Another

Scripture

"During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudis.) So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem."

Acts 11.27-30

Observation

When others are struggling because of circumstances, we should be generous in our help.

Application (How will I be different today because of what I have just read?)

They helped as much as they could. They didn't save it for themselves, just in case they needed it--they helped those who needed it. How different would our world--my world--be if we gave out of our abundance--what God has so generously blessed us with--and helped . . . without judging whether they deserved it or not.

Instead we tend to hold onto what we have with tight fists--so we can't receive what God has for us. If we opened our hands--letting go of all that we hold on to--our hands would be ready to receive from God.

Today, may my hands be found open.

Prayer

Father God, You supply all my needs. You give me so much. I am so blessed by You. Today may my hands be found open--giving and sharing out of my abundance--praising You with all that I have.

Life Journal, February 3, 2009
Today's readings: Exodus 35-36; Acts 10

God Shows No Favoritism

Scripture

Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel--that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all."

Acts 10.34-36

Observation

God accepts ANYONE who confesses Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.

Application (How will I be different today because of what I have just read?)

We look for people just like us when we share the Good News . . . and to come to our church. People who we will be comfortable around. We want them to "fit" the mold that we believe is right. But today's Scripture reminds us that God wants everyone and anyone--rich or poor, red or yellow or black or white or brown or purple, language doesn't matter, -- nothing matters except the change that takes place in their hearts. When will we get it--so we can reach out with God's love and gift of grace to ALL?

Prayer

Father God, thank You that You love even me. I am no different than anyone else who seeks You, and claims You as my Savior and Lord. I am no better--I am a sinner saved by grace--just like anyone else who comes to You. May I never hesitate to share the Good News with someone just because they are "different" from me. May I never see someone as "not deserving" of Your gift of grace. May I share Your love and Your Good News and Your gift of grace . . . extravagantly--just like You!