283 Psalms 145 - 147; Matthew 12.1 - 12.21
What do you think about God? How do you feel about God? When do you think you are the closest to the Lord? I am of the school of thought that we as individuals or as a nation will never grow past our vision of God? David certainly struggled with His thoughts about God, but he voiced those to the Lord. Here we find David praising God for His goodness,
Psalms 145:14-17 (MSG)
14 God gives a hand to those down on their luck, gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.
15 All eyes are on you, expectant; you give them their meals on time.
16 Generous to a fault, you lavish your favor on all creatures.
17 Everything God does is right— the trademark on all his works is love.
How do these verses resonate with your soul? Can you find something in these verses to identify with and then praise God for those things? It is fitting for God's children to praise their Father. It is good for our soul and for the Kingdom of God. Take time right now to praise your savior, your God, and your friend.
The religious control freaks were at again when they saw the disciples eating from a field of grain. They were "breaking the Sabbath" according to their view of the Sabbath. Jesus corrects them and then says this,
Matthew 12:6-8 (MSG)
6 "There is far more at stake here than religion.
7 If you had any idea what this Scripture meant—'I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual'—you wouldn't be nitpicking like this.
8 The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath; he's in charge."
Christ prefers a flexible heart over an inflexible ritual. God always refers a soft heart as to a hard heart. Perhaps today you can work on your nitpicking. At times we all do it so ask God to help you have a more flexible heart.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
282 Friday, October 9, 2009
282 Psalms 141 – 144; Matthew 11
God please hear my prayer. God come quickly to my rescue. Lord I have pleaded for mercy. Hurry with your answer Lord I am at the end of my rope. Throughout these Psalms you hear David's cry to the Lord.
Psalms 143:1 (MSG) 1 A David psalm Listen to this prayer of mine, God; pay attention to what I'm asking. Answer me—you're famous for your answers! Do what's right for me. David kind of puts God on the spot by saying, "you're famous for your answers!"
What have you been asking God for in these recent months? Did you stop asking? Why? Prayer is listening to God, but it is also for asking. We need help because we are finite and tend to get tied up in our little world.
Ask God to help you believe in prayer. Ask God to help you to listen to Him and for you to keep coming to Him.
What do you need from God? Listen to these wonderful words from Christ Himself,
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)
28 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest.
29 Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
30 Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
What do you identify with the most in these verses? Here are your choices: 1)Come to me 2)get away with me 3)recover your life 4) take a real rest 5)walk with me 6)work with me 6)learn the unforced rhythms of grace 7)keep company with me 8) live freely and lightly.
Which phrase attracts you? Why? Lean into your Savior in this area for this day.
God please hear my prayer. God come quickly to my rescue. Lord I have pleaded for mercy. Hurry with your answer Lord I am at the end of my rope. Throughout these Psalms you hear David's cry to the Lord.
Psalms 143:1 (MSG) 1 A David psalm Listen to this prayer of mine, God; pay attention to what I'm asking. Answer me—you're famous for your answers! Do what's right for me. David kind of puts God on the spot by saying, "you're famous for your answers!"
What have you been asking God for in these recent months? Did you stop asking? Why? Prayer is listening to God, but it is also for asking. We need help because we are finite and tend to get tied up in our little world.
Ask God to help you believe in prayer. Ask God to help you to listen to Him and for you to keep coming to Him.
What do you need from God? Listen to these wonderful words from Christ Himself,
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)
28 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest.
29 Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
30 Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
What do you identify with the most in these verses? Here are your choices: 1)Come to me 2)get away with me 3)recover your life 4) take a real rest 5)walk with me 6)work with me 6)learn the unforced rhythms of grace 7)keep company with me 8) live freely and lightly.
Which phrase attracts you? Why? Lean into your Savior in this area for this day.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
281 Thursday, October 8, 2009
281 Psalms 137 – 140; Matthew 10
It is not fun but it is necessary to have a physical exam. Just as we need a physical we also need a "spiritual exam." Listen to Psalm 139,
Psalms 139:1 (MSG)
1 A David psalm God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. David prays that would investigate his life.
The point in the Psalm is that God already knows what is happening in your life, therefore get it right. Here is how David ends the Psalm,
Psalms 139:23-24 (MSG) 23 Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; 24 See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Would you make this your prayer today? Ask God to give you a good “going over”. Remember if you find something wrong in your life, confess it and give thanks that God forgives you!
We are now into some heavy stuff. People can get really confused over these verses found in Matthew. Here are some of the tough sayings of Christ,
Matthew 10:34-37 (MSG)
34 "Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut—
35 make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God.
36 Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies.
37 If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me.
When God says He is to be first in our life, He really means it. We are to love God so much that our love for others pales in comparison. This life is really not about us--you or me. This life is about God! This life is about His Son who gave everything to have us restored. Are you a Christ-centered follower of Christ? Do you live your life to please God in everything that you do? Read this chapter carefully and ask God to help you love Him in a new and deeper way.
It is not fun but it is necessary to have a physical exam. Just as we need a physical we also need a "spiritual exam." Listen to Psalm 139,
Psalms 139:1 (MSG)
1 A David psalm God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. David prays that would investigate his life.
The point in the Psalm is that God already knows what is happening in your life, therefore get it right. Here is how David ends the Psalm,
Psalms 139:23-24 (MSG) 23 Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; 24 See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Would you make this your prayer today? Ask God to give you a good “going over”. Remember if you find something wrong in your life, confess it and give thanks that God forgives you!
We are now into some heavy stuff. People can get really confused over these verses found in Matthew. Here are some of the tough sayings of Christ,
Matthew 10:34-37 (MSG)
34 "Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut—
35 make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God.
36 Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies.
37 If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me.
When God says He is to be first in our life, He really means it. We are to love God so much that our love for others pales in comparison. This life is really not about us--you or me. This life is about God! This life is about His Son who gave everything to have us restored. Are you a Christ-centered follower of Christ? Do you live your life to please God in everything that you do? Read this chapter carefully and ask God to help you love Him in a new and deeper way.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
279 Tuesday, October 6, 2009
279 Psalms 135 – 136; Matthew 9.18 – 9.38
I can be laughing and having a good time and then some news comes my way and I can become a major downer. I am no different than anyone else. God has called us all to focus on the right things in this life. Life is hard enough to do when thinking good thoughts. Here is a sample of how we can get out of our funk,
Psalms 136:1-3 (MSG)
1 Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits.
2 Thank the God of all gods, His love never quits.
3 Thank the Lord of all lords. His love never quits.
When you read this whole Psalm you will find that the through line is that "His love never quits." Today, focus on the unrelenting pursuit of God's love toward you. Ask God to help you experience His love today and for the rest of the week. Make sure you turn today into a feast of thanksgiving. It would be good if you could get alone and read this Psalm out loud. It is hard to stay in a funk when you are giving thanks!
Sometimes our only hope is to touch or to be touched by our Savior Christ. Here is a woman that was locked on to the hope of Christ releasing His power of her healing.
Matthew 9:20-22 (MSG)
20 Just then a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped in from behind and lightly touched his robe.
21 She was thinking to herself, "If I can just put a finger on his robe, I'll get well." Jesus turned—caught her at it. Then he reassured her: "Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you're well."
22 The woman was well from then on.
She was pinning her hopes on a touch…if she could just touch Christ. What are you pinning your hopes today? Ask God to help you to touch Him today and release His power in and through you.
I can be laughing and having a good time and then some news comes my way and I can become a major downer. I am no different than anyone else. God has called us all to focus on the right things in this life. Life is hard enough to do when thinking good thoughts. Here is a sample of how we can get out of our funk,
Psalms 136:1-3 (MSG)
1 Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits.
2 Thank the God of all gods, His love never quits.
3 Thank the Lord of all lords. His love never quits.
When you read this whole Psalm you will find that the through line is that "His love never quits." Today, focus on the unrelenting pursuit of God's love toward you. Ask God to help you experience His love today and for the rest of the week. Make sure you turn today into a feast of thanksgiving. It would be good if you could get alone and read this Psalm out loud. It is hard to stay in a funk when you are giving thanks!
Sometimes our only hope is to touch or to be touched by our Savior Christ. Here is a woman that was locked on to the hope of Christ releasing His power of her healing.
Matthew 9:20-22 (MSG)
20 Just then a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped in from behind and lightly touched his robe.
21 She was thinking to herself, "If I can just put a finger on his robe, I'll get well." Jesus turned—caught her at it. Then he reassured her: "Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you're well."
22 The woman was well from then on.
She was pinning her hopes on a touch…if she could just touch Christ. What are you pinning your hopes today? Ask God to help you to touch Him today and release His power in and through you.
Monday, October 5, 2009
278 Monday, October 05, 2009
278 Psalms 127 – 134; Matthew 9.1 – 9.17
I was told that if you have time to kill then work it to death. I also just received a book in the mail from a friend on "burnout." So what is a person to do with their time? There are those who are work alcoholics and then there are those who are just flat lazy. To stay in the middle is not easy to do. At the center of this tension we have to look to the Lord. Here is what Solomon has to say,
Psalms 127:1-2 (MSG) 1 A pilgrim song of Solomon If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. 2 It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?
When we are in a trusting relationship with the Lord we can sleep better at night. We have come to the point in our lives where we should realize we can only do so much and then we have to turn it over to the Lord. You and I can only work in the garden, but we cannot make the plants grow. Pray today and ask God to help you be discerning in your schedule and time commitments.
In the N.T. reading we find Jesus up to His grace ministry. Here is what he did,
Matthew 9:2-8 (MSG)
2 They were hardly out of the boat when some men carried a paraplegic on a stretcher and set him down in front of them. Jesus, impressed by their bold belief, said to the paraplegic, "Cheer up, son. I forgive your sins."
3 Some religion scholars whispered, "Why, that's blasphemy!"
4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, "Why this gossipy whispering?
5 Which do you think is simpler: to say, 'I forgive your sins,' or, 'Get up and walk'?
6 Well, just so it's clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both... ." At this he turned to the paraplegic and said, "Get up. Take your bed and go home."
7 And the man did it.
8 The crowd was awestruck, amazed and pleased that God had authorized Jesus to work among them this way.
Jesus can heal and forgive anyone. Christ is the anointed one of God who was sent to do these things in our lives. Which is easier for you, to receive forgiveness or healing? Why? What do you need today?
I was told that if you have time to kill then work it to death. I also just received a book in the mail from a friend on "burnout." So what is a person to do with their time? There are those who are work alcoholics and then there are those who are just flat lazy. To stay in the middle is not easy to do. At the center of this tension we have to look to the Lord. Here is what Solomon has to say,
Psalms 127:1-2 (MSG) 1 A pilgrim song of Solomon If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. 2 It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?
When we are in a trusting relationship with the Lord we can sleep better at night. We have come to the point in our lives where we should realize we can only do so much and then we have to turn it over to the Lord. You and I can only work in the garden, but we cannot make the plants grow. Pray today and ask God to help you be discerning in your schedule and time commitments.
In the N.T. reading we find Jesus up to His grace ministry. Here is what he did,
Matthew 9:2-8 (MSG)
2 They were hardly out of the boat when some men carried a paraplegic on a stretcher and set him down in front of them. Jesus, impressed by their bold belief, said to the paraplegic, "Cheer up, son. I forgive your sins."
3 Some religion scholars whispered, "Why, that's blasphemy!"
4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, "Why this gossipy whispering?
5 Which do you think is simpler: to say, 'I forgive your sins,' or, 'Get up and walk'?
6 Well, just so it's clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both... ." At this he turned to the paraplegic and said, "Get up. Take your bed and go home."
7 And the man did it.
8 The crowd was awestruck, amazed and pleased that God had authorized Jesus to work among them this way.
Jesus can heal and forgive anyone. Christ is the anointed one of God who was sent to do these things in our lives. Which is easier for you, to receive forgiveness or healing? Why? What do you need today?
Sunday, October 4, 2009
277 Sunday, October 4, 2009
277 Psalms 120 – 126; Matthew 8.18 – 8.34
What floats your boat? What gets you cranked up? What moves you? Here is what moved David,
Psalms 122:1 (MSG) 1 A pilgrim song of David When they said, "Let's go to the house of God," my heart leaped for joy.
For Israel the Temple represented the presence of God. It is different today, however the truth is the same and that is worship is good for the soul. David was excited about the "house of God" because that is where he went to worship. What gets you pumped up? Hopefully you can relate to some degree with David's view of worship. If you cannot relate with David then ask yourself, "why?" Perhaps you have allowed yourself to become narrow in definition of worship. Maybe you need to do a different routine. There is another thing that could be going on and that is you have really never tried it. Try it you'll like it. David tells us in another Psalm to, "taste and see that the Lord is good." Please taste and see that it is good to worship God?
Do you ever feel insecure? Do you ever feel inadequate? Here is a question to sum up the other questions, "do you ever feel human?" Most of us are in touch with this vulnerable side of life. What is an answer to that feeling. Let us look to Scripture,
Psalms 125:1 (MSG) 1 A pilgrim song Those who trust in God are like Zion Mountain: Nothing can move it, a rock-solid mountain you can always depend on.
We must trust God in our lives from moment to moment. We must practice this trust in the good times and the tough times. When we say we trust the Lord what does that look like? In our N.T. reading we find the disciples in a tough spot.
Matthew 8:23-25 (MSG)
23 Then he got in the boat, his disciples with him. 24 The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat—and he was sound asleep! 25 They roused him, pleading, "Master, save us! We're going down!"
Jesus was not pleased with their reaction. Christ says to them,
Matthew 8:26 (MSG) 26 Jesus reprimanded them. "Why are you such cowards, such faint-hearts?" Then he stood up and told the wind to be silent, the sea to quiet down: "Silence!" The sea became smooth as glass.
Perhaps job number one today is to trust the Lord. What does that look life for you?
What floats your boat? What gets you cranked up? What moves you? Here is what moved David,
Psalms 122:1 (MSG) 1 A pilgrim song of David When they said, "Let's go to the house of God," my heart leaped for joy.
For Israel the Temple represented the presence of God. It is different today, however the truth is the same and that is worship is good for the soul. David was excited about the "house of God" because that is where he went to worship. What gets you pumped up? Hopefully you can relate to some degree with David's view of worship. If you cannot relate with David then ask yourself, "why?" Perhaps you have allowed yourself to become narrow in definition of worship. Maybe you need to do a different routine. There is another thing that could be going on and that is you have really never tried it. Try it you'll like it. David tells us in another Psalm to, "taste and see that the Lord is good." Please taste and see that it is good to worship God?
Do you ever feel insecure? Do you ever feel inadequate? Here is a question to sum up the other questions, "do you ever feel human?" Most of us are in touch with this vulnerable side of life. What is an answer to that feeling. Let us look to Scripture,
Psalms 125:1 (MSG) 1 A pilgrim song Those who trust in God are like Zion Mountain: Nothing can move it, a rock-solid mountain you can always depend on.
We must trust God in our lives from moment to moment. We must practice this trust in the good times and the tough times. When we say we trust the Lord what does that look like? In our N.T. reading we find the disciples in a tough spot.
Matthew 8:23-25 (MSG)
23 Then he got in the boat, his disciples with him. 24 The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm. Waves were crashing into the boat—and he was sound asleep! 25 They roused him, pleading, "Master, save us! We're going down!"
Jesus was not pleased with their reaction. Christ says to them,
Matthew 8:26 (MSG) 26 Jesus reprimanded them. "Why are you such cowards, such faint-hearts?" Then he stood up and told the wind to be silent, the sea to quiet down: "Silence!" The sea became smooth as glass.
Perhaps job number one today is to trust the Lord. What does that look life for you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
