Pray for Others

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-3 [The Message]

1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.

Observation(s): Paul speaks to Timothy in context about faith and not losing our grip on it in the previous chapter. He admonishes Timothy to pray unceasingly for everyone he knows, particularly for our leaders, the organizations they represent so that they manage the affairs of people well so that Timothy and the faithful can continue to live with purpose humbly and reflectively as G-d would want them to live.

Application(s): I pray, but how often is it about me and not others! Here Paul is telling me to pray in order to keep a firm grasp on my faith otherwise I might end up like one of Timothy’s contemporaries who became faithless and blasphemous. As well when I pray it should be for my leaders who make difficult decision day in and day out, especially in my government. I should pray so that I may go about the purpose and direction that G-d has called me for–to live simply and reflective.

Am I praying? Do I think of others as I pray? Are my prayers of supplication or something else? Do I pray so that faith will remain, have I made that connection?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding me that it is not all about me when I talk to you. I need to pray for my leaders as well. So today I ask that You give insight, perseverance, and open mindedness to all our leaders around the world, in our nation, in our communities: faith, local, etc. I ask the same for my family, especially Mechelle and the boys, as I am not in their presence. And yes Lord if there is any left over can I have a little as well to face the day. Thank you, I love you.

Holy, Holy, Holy

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:8, 9 [The Message]

“…Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you before I’m taken from you? Ask anything.” Elisha said, “Your life repeated in my life. I want to be a holy man just like you.”

Observation(s): Astute! A young man knows when he sees something unique, and life transforming and a role model that he can look up to.  Elisha wants to emulate his mentor who is righteous. Likewise Elijah is generous and a giver right up to the end (though he knows he will not be there much longer).

Application(s): Elijah modeled right living and was fierce for his G-d.  He never wavered, he listened and followed Him no matter the consequence.  His protege, Elisha, saw this uniqueness and wanted to follow suit.  Am I as tenacious as Elijah? Do I model that “loyalty” to my sons, neighbors, etc? Like Elijah am I willing to be generous to my “students”? Like Elisha am I vulnerable enough to let G-d work in me and through me so that I may be called righteous?

Prayer: Lord, I love and I thank you for all that you do for me.  Give me the Spirit so that I may do your will as I shepherd my kids and share You with people that I meet.  I want Your Son’s “life repeated in my life”, I want to be “holy…just like You”.

Sticking by Him

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 15:2-4, 16:8-9

Ch 15:2-4

…God will stick with you as long as you stick with him. If you look for him he will let himself be found; but if you leave him he’ll leave you. For a long time Israel didn’t have the real God, nor did they have the help of priest or teacher or book. But when they were in trouble and got serious, and decided to seek God, the God of Israel, God let himself be found.

Ch 16:8, 9

But you asked God for help and he gave you the victory. God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him.

Observation(s): If we commit ourselves to search after G-d He will not fail us. He will be there with us. If we fail to commit He will move away from us.

Application(s): Am I searching? Am I spending time with Him? Am I committed?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for never failing to be there. Draw me closer to You so that I may do Your will.

Crazy Love

Scripture: Song of Solomon 7:10; Philippians 1:10, 11 [The Message]

I am my lover’s. I’m all he wants. I’m all the world to him!

Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.

Observation(s): He [Christ] is in pursuit of me.  I am His and I am all He wants.  I am precious to Him.   Because of this love that He has for me I am told to live a life of a “Lover”, a life that will make my Creator proud–a life that attracts and points Jesus to every person I interact with, so that all may give their praise to Him.

Application(s): Both writer’s of these texts share how crazy in love our Creator is with us.  Solomon says that He is in pursuit of us and loves us with a passion unknown.  Paul says because of His love that we are to live our lives in such a way that our lives will point to Him and magnify Him so that all my give Him praise.

Am I just as in love with the One who created me? Do I pursue a relationship with Him just as He pursues one with me? Do I do my personal best in living an exemplary life that points others to Him?

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for pursuing me.  Thank you for loving me.  Give me your Spirit so that I may have that same spirit of love and by example point others to You–especially my children, my wife and those that I interact with this day.

Selfless or Selfish:Rested or Restless?

Scripture: Ephesians 6:23-24 [The Message]

Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ. Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ.

Observation(s): G-d wants us to have the gift of peace and belief.  His grace is absolute, His mercy unending to all who love Christ.

Application(s): Am I restless or at peace? Am I hopeless or filled with His faith? Do I love Him? In an age where people profess love and belief in individual, the common good, you name it–truly we are cynics in this world, or are really big fakers (liars).

My self-centeredness prevents me from loving and experiencing love.  It also prevents me from believing which can not give me the peace I so desparately need.  If I cannot experience His love and peace, can I truly experience His unmerrited favor (grace) without acceptance and love for the One who gives it.

Prayer: Lord, you are King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Keep me from falling.  Give me your Spirit so that I may do Your will.  Selfless not selfish is the need for the day.  I need Your peace, love, and mercy.  Forgive me where I’ve separated myself from you.  And allow my life to be used in a way that shows peace, love and grace to all that I come in contact with, especially my family, friends, neighbors and the random people on the street that I do not know, but have been put in my path to interact with.  Thank You.  Oh yeah, and I love You.

I’m Messed Up, and I’m Growing

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:29; Ephesians 4:15-16 [The Message]

Ecc. 7:29

Yet I did spot one ray of light in this murk: God made men and women true and upright; we’re the ones who’ve made a mess of things.

Eph 4:15-16

God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

Observation(s): G-d is our Creator. He made each of us complete and whole-secure in our attachments to Him and to one another-though we have screwed up our lives. He desires in each of us a maturity to know the truth and to tell it in love just as Christ did; He is our example and our source. By following His way we will do His will being recreated, re-energized, transformed into His character.

Application(s): Am I healthy? Am I filled with His love? Am I growing daily? Do I know the truth and do I tell it love? Do I accept that I separate myself from the One who created me? Am I willing to accept that I am a child of G-d, screwed up and all?

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for loving me. Thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for the nourishment, the breath and blood flowing from You to me which builds me up and makes me whole and complete in You-a Perfect Creature in your sight. Give me Your Spirit as I grow closer to you and mature and accept the truth. Help me to always share your words in a loving way with my family and those I meet face to face. Your will, not mine.  Amen.

Doing my Personal Best means I must be a Responsible Citizen

Scripture: Proverbs 21:14; Romans 13:9, 10 [The Message]

Proverbs 21

14 A quietly given gift soothes an irritable person;
a heartfelt present cools a hot temper.

Romans 13:9b, 10

Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.

Observation(s): My attitude towards others must have a basis in love. Paul says that the fulfillment of the law is love. Every commandment that was given at Sinai equates to LOVE. Proverbs speaks to modern readers and says that a gift given anonymously from the heart will calm and relax the angry and temperamental.

Application(s): Do I provoke anger and flare tempers? Does my attitude and behavior exude love? Do I honor G-d with my personal best?

Prayer: Father, you know me better than I know myself. Forgive me where I have not sought peace and love in my personal interactions with family and friends. Give me your Spirit so I may love like You, unconditionally.

Old Life, New Life

Scripture: Romans 6:1-5 [The Message]

1-3So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we’ve left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn’t you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!

3-5That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country.

Observation(s): Will I be forgiven if I keep on sinning? No, according to Paul. When we leave sin behind we enter a new life. Paul compares our baptism to the selling of a house. Can we continue to live in an old house if we’ve packed up and moved out. That is what baptism into Christ means. We leave the old life behind; we enter a new life of grace, “a new house”. Our baptism further compared to the death of Christ. Lowering into the water is the burial of Jesus and the raising from the water the resurrection of Jesus. We are able to see things in a different perspective–”enlightened” as we head in a new direction that is grace-centered.

Application(s): Do I continue to separate myself from G-d? Do I believe that I can continue to make excuses for sinning and that I will be “let off the hook”? Am I a new creature in Christ? Am I connected? Am I headed in the right direction? Is my faith grounded in His grace?

Prayer: Lord, you know my fallibilities–Let your grace fill and lift me up when I separate myself from you. Give me your spirit to stay connected, even when I fall down. Thank you. I love you.

Prayer:

The OP is Good, AM I willing to Follow

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:14, 16-17; 1 Kings 3:9

14God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God’s original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth. This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ.

16-17May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.

1 Kings 3:9

9 “Here’s what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?”

Observation(s): G-d loves us immensely.  He picked us from the beginning not just because of Plan B, but because of the HS indwelling and His word that we get a picture of who He is.  May we be given a heart, and tongue that is filled to multiply our work to reach out those who do not know Him and.  In turn in 1 Kings may I have a heart that is listening and know the difference between good and evil.

Application(s): Do I recognize that G-d calls me? Do I accept His gifts? Am I willing to open myself to His leading? Do I have a G-d listening heart so that I might see good and evil and be discerning?

Prayer: Lord, I have strayed time and time again from you because of my self-centered ways.  I feel so unworthy, but you have called me from the beginning.  As you recorded in Jeremiah you knew me before you shaped me in the womb you had a plan for me.  Give me your Spirit, allow me to be your vessel.  Give me your heart.  Open my eyes and ears so that I lead your “people” my family, friends to You.

Convicted

Scripture: Matthew 27:3-4 [The Message]

3-4Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, “I’ve sinned. I’ve betrayed an innocent man.

Observation(s): Jesus is betrayed by a so-called friend and disciple, Judas.  Judas who many say wanted to usher in Jesus’ rein realizes his mistake of betrayal and goes back to the priests and returns the blood money that he took for Jesus’ betrayal.  Recognizing his guilt he acknowledges his betrayal of an innocent man.

Application(s): Like Judas do I betray people, my credibility, thoughts, beliefs, etc. for my personal gain?  Like Judas am I convicted of the Truth (of self) and attempt to remedy my betrayal.  Like Judas do I show remorse for my mistakes?

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for the Gospel that convicts me of my sinful nature–keep me from self and give me a spirit to seek You daily and live out your humility, compassion and love for my family and those who cross my path.