Life Journal May 30, 2008
Today's readings: Proverbs 13-15, Romans 11

It's ALL About Him

Scripture

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

Romans 11.36

Observation

God created everything, is in everything, and exists only because of Him!

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

While I know that God created everything---it is still so easy to take life and all that we see and have for granted. . . .and sometimes even take credit for it. Bottom line is--everything comes from Him--from God.

Today, as I move through my day, I need to look around me and praise God for all of it. I walk through so many days not noticing the gifts He offers me every day. Instead I whine about unimportant things. How different my life would be if I focused on seeing Him in everything. Today may I see "my world" through different eyes.

Prayer

Creator God, forgive my self-centeredness--for only thinking of myself. When I look around me I don't think of all that You have given me--and the gift that is in it all. I get so caught up in my day-to-day life that I miss Your creation, Your gifts, Your blessings. May I see the world through new eyes today.

Life Journal May 29, 2008
Today's readings: Proverbs 10-12; Romans 10

Good News

Scripture

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. . . For "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!"

Romans 10.9, 13-15

Observation

Once we have believed it is important that we then share the Good News!

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

We believe and we go on with life. . .not worrying about sharing the Good News with others. Sometimes it is out of fear we don't share. Sometimes because we just don't think about it. Sometimes we don't share because we are sure that has to be someone elses responsibility. But how will they hear unless someone--we--tell them???

We worry about what to say, afraid that we won't get the words right or know all the right Scriptures. When all we need to do is trust the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us. For it is the Holy Spirit who prepares the heart to hear the Good News. Then we share our story--what difference God has made in our lives, how He has helped us, what He saved us from and to. No one can counter our personal experience with God. And, it is important that we also demonstrate His love in all that we do. We live out the Good News in a very real way by loving others (yes, even our enemies).

So, how can I live this out today? I will look for those "God appointments" when God gives me the opportunity to share His love and His light with others today. I will listen to the whispering of the Holy Spirit when I am to share, and then be willing to do it--remembering that it is not me who is talking but the Holy Spirit through me. Today, I will love more and judge less. Today, I will share myself with others.

Prayer

Father God, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit. May I be sensitive to the nudgings and whisperings of Your Spirit. Today may I be bold and not fearful to be Your instrument and in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today may I love more and judge less. Today may I live a life that brings You glory and honor.

May 11, 2008
I'll be back in two weeks!
Be blessed!

Life Journal May 9, 2008
Today's readings: 2 Samuel17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

Just Like Pete

Scripture

On the way, Jesus told them, "Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,

'God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there."

Peter declared, "Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you."

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, Peter--this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me."

"No!" Peter insisted. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" And all the other disciples vowed the same.

Matthew 26.31-35

Observation

Even the disciples deserted and denied Jesus.

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

Jesus predicts that Pete will desert him--Peter claims that there is no way. If we read verse 56 we see that "all the disciples deserted him and fled." And then a little further we read where Pete denies Jesus three times--just like Jesus predicted (verses 69-75).

I see myself in Pete. I proclaim loudly that I will never deny or leave Christ . . . . yet . . . . .I do, over and over. I deny Him everytime I doubt Him. I leave Him every time I choose to go my own way rather than His. I deny Him every time I turn my back on someone with a need--afterall, I can't help them all. I leave Him everytime I walk by a homeless person. I share the Good News within the safety of the Church--but do people on the outside know that I even know Him--let alone serve Him?

I look at Pete and think--not me--yet the reflection of myself is so clear--so glaring.

So, how will I be different today??? By looking and listening with my heart--by trusting God more and more, no matter how things looks--by being the person God has called me to be. And when I fail. . . . when I fall--I will, like Pete, weep bitterly and confess and turn and go the other direction--back toward the One who loves me.

Prayer

Father God, forgive me for all the times I desert You, walk away from You, deny You. Work in me today--change me--help me to be the person You have called me to be.

Life Journal May 7, 2008
Today's readings: 2 Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24

Keeping Watch

Scripture

[Jesus speaking] "However, no one know the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. . . .

"So, you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming."

Matthew 24.36, 42

Observation

No one, but God, knows when Christ will return--so we must always be ready.

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

Matthew 24 is Jesus' reply to his disciples when they ask Him: "What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?" Jesus then goes on to tell the things to watch for--here are just a few:

"may will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many."

"You will hear of wars and threats of wars. . . "

"There will be famines and earthquakes . . . "

All of these things have already taken place. So what does that tell us?? That we need to live as if Jesus were coming back today. Not become complacent thinking it isn't going to happen anytime soon. We get lulled into a sense of "everydayness"--that it isn't going to happen today. But we don't know.

So, today, I need to live my life as if Christ is returning today. How will that be different from any other day? Will it cause me to live boldly? To pursue Kingdom issues--rather than the mundane? To share the Gospel more freely? To love more? To not waste a minute with whining or complaining or negativity? Am I ready if Christ returns today?

The Word reminds me that I have no time to waste--I need to make it all count.

Prayer

Lord, come quickly!

Life Journal May 6, 2008
Today's readings: 2 Samuel 11,12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23

The Perfect Sacrifice

Scripture

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.

You do not want a burnt offering.

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.

You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Psalm 51.16-17

Observation

The only thing God wants from me is my heart--broken and poured out for Him.

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

Yesterday I read about the Great Commandment--"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." [Matthew 22.37-40] I talked about how loving God this way--and then loving others--required sacrifice on our part. Today, the Psalm tells us what the sacrifice is that God wants--a broken spirit . . . a broken and repentant heart.

The sacrifice God wants is--us. He wants us to recognize our need for Him, to be broken over our sin, to not just confess our sin--but to repent (turn and go in the opposite direction), and to completely turn our lives over to Him. That is the sacrifice that God wants--the only one that will satisfy Him.

This calls for serious self-examination . . . with the help of the Holy Spirit. It requires me to stop denying my sins--to confess them--and to realize my need for a Savior. It means that I must humble myself--lose all pretense of "having it together" and acknowledge that without Jesus Christ in my life, I am nothing. It is time for me to lay my life--all of it--at His feet--as a living sacrifice--willing to do whatever He calls me to do--without whining, complaining, or feeling sorry for myself. Today, I can take that first step.

Prayer (Based on Psalm 51)

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.

For I recognize my rebellion;

it haunts me day and night.

Against You, and You alone, have I sinned;

I have done what is evil in Your sight.

You will be proved right in what You say,

and Your judgment against me is just.

For I was born a sinner--

yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

But You desire honesty from the heart,

teaching me wisdom even there.

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Oh, give me back my joy again;

You have broken me--

now let me rejoice.

Don't keep looking at my sins.

Remove the stain of my guilt.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Renew a right spirit within me.

Do not banish me from Your presence,

and don't take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

and make me willing to obey You.

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.

You do not want a burnt offering.

The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit.

You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

So, today, Lord, I once again offer You my heart.

Take it, make it Yours.

Life Journal May 5, 2008
Today's readings: 2 Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 20; Psalm 20; Matthew 22

The Most Important Commandment

Scripture

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?"

Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."

Matthew 22.34-40

Observation

If we obey the two most important commandments--loving God and loving others--we will not break God's laws.

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

Most of us who have been around the church much are familiar with the "Great Commandment"--love God and love others. Sounds easy enough. We hear it and think, 'okay, easy enough--I can do that.' But, we don't live it out then.

Loving God with all our heart, with all our soul and all our mind--means setting aside ourselves--not living a self-centered life. It means putting God first in all things. It means thinking of Him first. It means dying to myself--pouring myself out for God. It means giving my all, holding nothing back, for God. I don't think many of us do that--I know I don't (even though I would like others to think I do).

Loving others as we love ourself. Again, we have to set aside ourselves and our desires. It means putting others ahead of ourselves. Loving others just as God loves them--flaws and all.

It's funny, these two commandments seem so easy--and we like to think that we live this way--but we are so far from it. We are self-centered, loving God and others just enough that we can feel good about ourselves (once again self-focused!).

So, how will I be different today? I'm not sure. I want to be different, I want to change, I want to love God and others more. But, it takes more than words. . . . words are easy. . . .it takes me being willing to open myself up more to God, dying a little more to self, to not be so self-centered, to not think of myself first--but to think of God first. I want to love God with my whole being, with all that I am, but I remain self-centered. I want to love others as I love myself, but instead I judge, lose patience, and find myself critical of others.

There is only one way I can be different today because of what I have just read--I have to give another piece of myself to God . . . . and give it, and give it, and give it, until finally I don't take it back anymore. I have to ask Him to do the hard and painful work in my life that it takes for me to have room for more of Him. I have to be willing to die a little more today, so that He can live in me more and more. And, I have to live it out--treating others with the love and respect that I want, whether I get it or not.

Today, hour-by-hour, moment-by-moment, I have to turn my life over to God, trusting Him . . . and Him alone . . . . to be in charge of my life. Today, I have to love Him more than I love myself. And in doing so, I then walk in the new freedom that comes from Him reigning in my life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I confess today that I don't love You as much as I should--I love You, but not to the point of true sacrifice. I love You to the point that it looks good, but doesn't require true sacrifice on my part. I love You as long as the cost is something that I am willing to pay......so there is truly very little cost. You gave Your Son, Jesus Christ, for me--You poured out Your love and Your heart for me--and this is how I say thanks--I withhold my love, my devotion, my sacrifice. Forgive me Father. I don't want to live that way--I want to belong to You completely. I know that means I have to die to myself and my wants and my desires--I cannot do it on my own--only with Your help and the work of Your Holy Spirit in my life can I be the person You want me to be. Fill me, Lord, with Your Holy Spirit. Fill me with Your love. Take my life. . . . and keep it. And when I try to take it back, don't let me. Lord, I want my life to completely reflect You. I don't want to settle--I want to serve You. Lord, help me--grow me--fill me--take me, I am Yours. Today may I love You more and demonstrate it by loving others.