Friday, August 26, 2011

Blessed Birthday Honoring God Revelation 4:11 11

Scripture: Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Observation: Verse 11 is what the twenty-four elders that surround the Lord’s throne say as they lay down their crowns before Him.  God created all things by His will.   He willed it and it happened. I am speechless.  God is so big, too big for me to understand in my human brain.   Majesty, Infinite, Matchless in every way.  Words not big enough to explain how wonderful is our God.

Application:  I am sometimes at a loss when I pray as to what to say to praise my glorious Lord.  Words do not seem to be enough.  I will memorize this verse and use it when I am at a loss for words and want to Honor and Praise my God.

Prayer: Lord I am not worthy, I am sorry that my will gets in the way of your will.  You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being.”  Lord bless my actions today. Let nothing come into my mind or out of my mouth that does not bring You honor or glory.   Thank you Lord for: your protection, my physical, sprititual, mental and emotional health.  As I reflect on my birthday, Lord thank you for my birth in the USA.  I am loved by so many ways: daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, coworker, and servant.   Help me Lord as I am blessed to be a blessing to others in Your mighty son’s name, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Hearing the Spirit, Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, and 29

Scripture: Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, and 29 7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who are victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.  11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Those who are victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.  17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who are victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each of them a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Observation:  “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” is repeated multiple times through this chapter.  We have ears and we need to hear the Spirit.  “Whoever” indicates, this message is for a certain group of people, those that hear the Spirit of God.  Simply, we as Christians need to listen.  The result of listening results in the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise with God.  God will give us hiddlen food made especially for us individually.  The bible repeatedly mentions food.  This food is for our sustenance physically and spiritually.

Application:  I need to listen to God.  I need to make space in my day and life to listen to God.  I need to recognize that when I Iisten, I am blessed with God’ presence, his fulfilling my needs both spiritually and physically. I need to hear what the Spirit says.  As I embark on my 3 day Fast, I need to focus on hearing the Holy Spirit, recording what I hear, and making a plan to do what I hear.

Prayer: Lord Almighty, forgive me for my lack of focus on you.  I spend so much time focused on the world.  Lord you are my Provider, my Savior, my Ruler.  Help me to hear your Spirit within me.  Help me to leave the din of the world and focus on your message to me.  Help me Lord to identify what I need to stop, start, and continue doing.  Thank you Lord, for loving and patiently guiding me.  Lord, I want your will in my life.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

1 John 2:3-6 Obedience shows God that we love Him.

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6 3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.4 Those who say, “I know him,” but do not do what he commands are liars, and the truth is not in them.5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Observation:  This sin was regarding loving other believers.  In verse 5, obeying God’s word equals that our love for God is truly complete.  Our obedience to the Word is how we know we are in God.   Jesus is the Word, and we must live in Jesus.

Application: These verses seem so simple and easy.  However continuously living in obedience is harder and harder. There are times I am doing the work, spending time in the Word, striving to listen, and knowing that I am missing something.  I am too busy, the world is pushing in and I am not allowing enough margin to hear so that I can obey.  Next week I am going on Spiritual Retreat.  I have not been in awhile, allowing my schedule to crowd in.  I look forward to what God will reveal to me.  I am looking forward to the time with anticipation.  I recognize it is obedience in taking the time to spend with him that is making me smile.

Prayer:  Lord forgive me for not making the time in my schedule for a spiritual retreat.  Lord you are my Savior and my God.  Lord help me.  Protect me.  I look forward to my time with you.  Lord, I want to hear you and I want to show my love to you by obeying what I hear.  Thank you Lord for loving me and convicting me.   I need to retreat, (away from home in silence) to spend time with you. 

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

1 John 5-7 There is no darkness in God

Scripture: 1 John 5-7 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Observation: There is no darkness in God.  He is all light.  If we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and are not living out God’s truth.  The flip side is that if we walk in Jesus’ light we have fellowshp with each other and Jesus.   His sacrifice set us free.

Application:  I need to remember to walk in the light.  Stop going back to the darkness.  As I work to maintain my weight, I am recently struggling with Pita Chips.  Once I start, I have a hard time stopping.   I am not out of control, but pretty close to the edge.   I do not have a healthy relationship with chips.  Like crackers and cookies, I need to be aware of how easy it is to over eat processed foods like Pita Chips, Bagel Chips, and Veggie Chips.  They might be healthier but they are still unhealthy if eaten in large quantity.

Prayer:  Lord I want to walk in your light.  I do not want to cointue in darkness.   Help me Lord to lean in on you, sense your presence.  Lord help me to be in control of eating at all times.  Help me to know that you always provide a way out so that I can stand up under it. (1Cor 10:13).  Lord I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Search me O lord and test my heart, see if there is any offensive way in me and lead me to the everlasting. (Psalm 139:14, 23, 24).  Lord I am glad and sing for joy, for you rule us with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.  (Psalm 67:4-5)

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Jesus prayed for us, John 17:20-21

Scripture: John 17: 20-22 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—

Observation:  Jesus is praying for us, all of us who believe in Jesus’ message.  Praying that we will be one with the Father as Jesus is one with the Father.  Jesus is praying for his relationship with the Father, we too will have the same unity.  In verse 21, there is a reason.  Jesus wants the whole world to believe in the salvation of Jesus.  God sent Jesus.

Application:  I need to seek God in prayer to be one with God as Jesus is one like God.  In this, all men will know that I am Jesus’ disciple. 

Prayer:  Lord Almighty, I am not perfect.  The many things I need to do in the world have distracted me from you.  Lord you are my salvation, my leader, my Hosanna.  I want to be one with you Lord.  I want people to see that I am a follower of Jesus.  I want them to believe because of my actions, my words, and my joy in you.  Lord thank you for your infinite love.  Thanks you for the blessings of this world.  Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord. 

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Philippians 3:14 We all need pruned if we want to win the Prize

Scripture: Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Observation:  Today on my prayer run as I was praying Philippians 3:14, I noticed many trees and bushes over grown and under trimmed.  Some of the bushes are now as big as small trees.  Some trees look like giant bushes since they have never been trimmed. Within each of them, I can see the beautiful tree that is waiting inside.    As I reflect on Philippians 3:14, I realize that there are many prizes in our life with Christ Jesus.  As we press on, we are not always sure what the next prize is around the corner. 

Jesus looks through our overgrown and under trimmed selves and sees the beautiful tree within.  He yearns for us to flee from the world and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).  Our prize is the beautiful tree that will emerge as we press on, discipline ourselves to keep running the race he calls us. 

Application:  I need to press on.  I need to listen and allow God to prune the sin from my life.   I desire to be more like Jesus.  To do this, I need to spend time with him in prayer, in scripture, in discipling others.  Action is required on my part.  I need to DO what God calls me to do.

Prayer:  Lord forgive me for always focusing on me and the world.   Lord you are the Author of my Life, Hope and Glory, King of Kings, the True Vine, and the Way.  Help me to know what I am to start, stop, and continue.  Help me to become more disciplined in my race.  Help me Lord to win the prize you have called me to in Christ Jesus.  Thank you Lord for all you have done in my life.  There are so many blessings, I am abundantly thankful. 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

John 10:37,38 Action speaks louder than words

Scripture: John 10:37,38  37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

Observation: The Pharisees accuse Jesus of blasphemy as he claims, “I am God’s Son”. (TNIV v36)  Jesus' response is even if you do not believe what he says, believe the works (the miracles and healing).  The works help with the understanding that God the Father is in Jesus AND that Jesus is in the Father.  For those that do not believe, it is hard to accept someone’s word. The fruit of our spirit, the transformation, the miracles and coincidences happen when we pray for God's blessing.   What people see has a larger impact than what we say.

Application:  I need to focus on my resting in God.  Be in His spirit.  Sharing my faith, being a witness as to what God has done in my life.  However, it is not always going to be my words.  It will be my actions and fruit of my obedience that will bring understanding to others.

Prayer: Lord forgive me for giving into the distractions of life.  Lord Almighty, Father in Heaven, Savior of the world.  Lord help me to see and hear.  Help me to do what you call me to do.  Help me to rest in you and follow your lead.  Help me to use my time wisely.  Help me to focus on the Best as opposed to the Good and Better.  Lord, thank you for the multitude of blessings I have in my life.  Lord, I praise you for your indescribable love.