solitude

After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray.

- Matthew 14:23a

 

When your children are screaming like banshees and your boss is blowing up your phone and your spouse wants dinner right now, don’t you wish you could get just get away for a moment alone? 

It’s ok to say yes, because Jesus did that too.

Jesus wanted to be alone to pray, to focus on Himself and His Father.

We can do that too, we can take any amount of time we need to just be with God.

Imagine how restored you would feel after just 10 minutes alone with God.

Make it a point to make time with Him a priority.

Jesus did. 

although

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

- Habakkuk 3:17-18

 

Habakkuk was a “minor prophet” we don’t really hear a lot about him.

From this verse though, we can tell that he learned to always rejoice in God, no matter what his circumstances were.

We can learn a lot from him.

Although I have bills to pay, although my car is making weird sounds, although I am under a lot of pressure, I will continue to praise and trust Him.

Like the chorus of a favorite song:

When You don't move the mountains
I'm needing You to move
When You don't part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When You don't give the answers
As I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You

Although my life is a crazy mess right now, I know that praising Him and trusting Him will result in my peace.

It is well with my soul.

wishing

You know what I long for, Lord; you hear my every sigh.

- Psalm 38:9

 

I have something that I am wishing for, praying for, wanting very badly. 

I’ve been wishing, wanting and praying for this “thing” for a long time now, but there have been roadblocks along the way. 

Today I’m closer to this “thing” than I have been in months and honestly I’m pretty worked up about it. 

I’ve been praying, my family has been praying, my friends have been praying for this “thing”. 

God knows this “thing”, He knew it before I knew it. 

He has placed the roadblocks to make me grow. 

Soon I will know about this “thing”, I will know if my prayer was answered or if I have more growing to do. 

I trust God, He knows what He is doing. 

good

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

- Galatians 6:10

 

We should always strive to do good.

But how often do we fail to do good for our own family? 

I see people that give everything they can to national charities because they feel they are helping, but they turn their back when the local food bank asks for a donation of time. 

Yes, we need to volunteer and donate money to the big charities (as long as they are legitimately doing what they advertise) but we also need to look closer to home.

How can you help out at your church?

What does your neighbor need done around their place?

When you go shopping can you pick pup a couple of extra things for the local food bank?

We have the opportunity to make a difference, let’s do it.  

treasure

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

- Matthew 6:20

 

What is important to you?

Your job?

Your family?

Your bank account?

Your church?

I have heard many times that if you want to know what truly matters in someone’s life, look at their bank account.

People have a tendency to throw all of their resources - time, money and energy – into the things that are the most important to them.

But what if our priorities are misguided?

What if we work so hard to give our family a better life, but all they want is a life with us?

Where is your treasure?

Bonus! See You At The Pole!

 Today is the annual See You At the Pole day. Since most of us are working remote, we won’t be gathering at the DGTC (building where I was based) this year, but instead, let’s all gather together at 7am via ZOOM to pray.  The link for the meeting is listed below the verse.   

 

For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.

– Matthew 18:20

 

We will gather in His name.

We will shout His praises, we will give Him glory.

How lucky are we that we can praise the one who made us, out in the open, where others can see us, hear us, and just maybe, join us.

How blessed are we that we do not walk in this world alone, but He is with us!

Gather with us at the Flag pole today.

Pray for our nation, our leaders.

Pray for those who are oppressed, for the sick, for the weak.

Pray for those who defend our freedom, for those who are far away right now, and for those who did not come home when their tour ended.

Pray without ceasing.

Join us, He will be there.

 

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don’t worry

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

- Matthew 6:25-27

 

This one pops up a lot.

I often have said in my little blog or commentary that if God repeats something in the Bible multiple times, then it must be something that He wants us to remember.

Pay attention!

God’s Word says do not fear 365 times – if you’ve been reading my commentary for a long time you know what I am saying next – that is one “do not fear” for every day of the year (and it rhymes!) 

Worry and fear will set you back in your walk with God.

Don’t let that happen – you are so important to God that He will take care of you.

And you really aren’t adding any time to your life with worrying  in fact, you might be shortening your life instead.

Don’t worry – God’s got this, God’s got you!

enemies

 Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

- Luke 6:28

 

This one is hard.

Not only are we supposed to forgive people that treat us badly, but we are supposed to pray for them too? 

Hope that their lives are blessed?

After the things they did?

In a word – yes.

You might find it hard to believe but sometimes praying for that person will change them.

If you have ever been in a situation where you have asked people to pray for you, and was at peace because you could feel their prayer, then you know prayer works!

If you have ever seen a miracle, the seemingly impossible made possible, then you know prayer is the answer.

So maybe if you pray for your bully, your bully will feel the prayer and you’ll see another miracle in the changes you see in that bully.

 

Tomorrow is See You at the Pole!

entrance

 

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

- Matthew 7:12

 

I admit that I am not a fan of rotating doors.

If you have ever been to a secure building, you will notice that there are several types of gates that you can pass through.

Some are card readers, some have keypads, some are open like turnstiles or sliders and some you scan your card, the door opens, you step in, that door closes and the next door opens. 

I am not a fan of enclosed spaces, so I will migrate to the turnstiles or sliders before I will use the double door ones.

But what if that “double door” is actually the narrow gate that Jesus is talking about?

Maybe we need to review our options, and realize which road is the one we really want.

That old saying about the road less traveled . . . maybe it is because only a few find it.

 

Wednesday is See You at the Pole!

a simple task

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

- 2 Chronicles 7:14

 

Did you hear that?

It is that simple!

Humble ourselves, pray, seek God, turn our lives from evil.

God will forgive, all we have to do is as simple as the outline above.

I read somewhere “Wise men still seek Him”.

How true.

How simple.

no you’re not

 

There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.

- Ecclesiastes 7:20

 

Keeping with my “stop sinning” theme this week, this verse popped out at me.

No, there is not one of us that is perfect.

Everyday we slip. 

Whether we cut someone off in traffic or let someone else’s foul mood and bad actions get us into a bad mood, there is sin everywhere, and we all step in it.

Some of us fall flat on our face in it (looking at myself here).

I would say that my worst sin is when I let other people anger me to the point of saying terrible things.

Each day I tell myself I won’t lose control, and yet almost every day I find myself mutter under my breath (sometimes out loud) and letting my anger take control.

I am not perfect, but I pray that God would take my anger and replace it with tolerance and peace.

I don’t think that I am righteous, I know I am a sinner that needs Jesus!  

the end

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel: ‘The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land! The end is now upon you, and I will unleash my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity; I will not spare you. I will surely repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’

- Ezekiel 7:1-4

 

Ezekiel was an Old Testament prophet, believed to have been preaching around 570 years before Christ.

I find it interesting that when ever there is a disaster, whether it was man-made (like terrorist attacks) or from nature (earthquake, fire, hurricane) or some other crazy phenomenon (COVID-19) almost immediately people think that it is the wrath of God. 

I don’t believe that it is the wrath of God.

I don’t believe that we serve a vengeful God – because He loved us enough to send His Son to die for us.

I think the Old Testament is history and lessons, but that God loved us enough to give us the chance to be redeemed.

Know that He is Lord, repent for your sins (and stop sinning!) and ask for forgiveness.

We don’t have to live in these crazy times alone, when we have God on our side.

 

 

daily bread addendum

 

*side note – next Wednesday, September 23rd is See You At The Pole 2020. It’s going to be different this year as many are still social distancing. 

See You at the Pole (SYATP) is an annual gathering of thousands of Christian students at a flagpole in front of their local school for prayer, scripture-reading and worship, during the early morning before school starts. This year the American SYATP events occur on the 23^rd  of September at 7:00 A.M. while gathering around a school flag pole.

The events began in 1990 in the United States, where public schools cannot sponsor prayers and some Christians see public schools as hostile to Christian students. It has grown by word of mouth, announcements at youth rallies and churches, and the Internet. It is now an international event; in 2005, over two million students in the U.S. participated, as well as students in Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Germany, Ghana, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Scotland, and South Africa.

. . .  

I know that not everyone that receives this email has the ability to gather with others.  But here is what I would like you to do. . .

Meet us at the pole.

Any flag pole.

Tell your friends, your family, your pets, and find a pole. Raise your voice to Him!

The power of many people praying together is amazing.

See you at the pole.

choices

Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

- John 8:10-12

 

We all have choices.

When this woman left the sight of Jesus, do you think that she went back to her life of sin, or did she heed His words and sin no more?

Jesus gives us options, follow Him and stay away from sin and we will have life eternal with Him.

Or we continue on our path of self-destruction.

Jesus came to this woman’s rescue, the people were going to stone her to death!

Jesus comes to our rescue every day, to keep us from suffering in sin.

How is it that we don’t see that the choice is clear?

Follow Jesus and leave the sin behind.

 

light bulb

 

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

- Isaiah 9:2

 

I’m sure that you have all seen in cartoons or comic strips when a character gets an idea, the lightbulb appears above his head.

I think that sometimes it happens to me!

OK, so not a real lightbulb, but I think that when something I have been struggling to understand finally makes it’s way to my brain, I feel like I brighten up, externally and internally. 

We have all walked in darkness, some of us tend to walk there quite often, and we need to remember that Jesus is the light, He will brighten any path we are on, we just need to ask Him into our lives. 

And let your light shine!

Bonus song reference – Light Shine Bright by TobyMac

Lights shine bright everywhere we go
Music for the people to illuminate the soul
Lights shine bright everywhere we go
Music for the people
Jesus music for the people

remember

I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.. 

– Lamentations 3:20-23 (NLT)

 

September 11th is a lot of things to a lot of people, some good and some bad.

For some it was the day that reality came crashing down when the United States was attacked on our own soil.

For others it is the day they lost a friend or a loved one because of that attack.

For me, it is the day that my 17 year old brother was hit by a truck and killed while walking home from school.

But there are happy memories too, there are birthdays and anniversaries, and interesting events in history.

In 1970 the Ford Pinto was introduced – dude!  My first car was a 1976 Pinto!!

The thing is, even on our saddest days, we have the love of God to see us through.

He is merciful, loving, kind and faithful and when we are feeling like we are at the end of our rope, He is there.

He is holding the end of that rope, waiting for us to let go and fall into His arms.

Even in our darkest hour, remember, we have hope.

less of me

He must become more important. I must become less important.

- John 3:30 (NLV)

 

“I have to look out for number one!”

I am sure that you have heard that before, perhaps even said it.

Most people say it when they don’t want to do something or if they are defending an action that they took.

Most people say it to mean that they are number one.

That is pretty self-centered, if you ask me.

God is number one and He is more than enough.

Song reference!

All of you is more than enough for all of me

For every thirst and every need

You satisfy me with Your love

And all I have in You is more than enough

You are my supply

My breath of life

And still more awesome than I know

You are my reward

worth living for

And still more awesome than I know

All of you is more than enough for all of me

For every thirst and every need

You satisfy me with Your love

And all I have in You is more than enough

You're my sacrifice

Of greatest price

And still more awesome than I know

You're my coming King

You are everything

And still more awesome than I know

More than all I want

More than all I need

You are more than enough for me

More than all I know

More than all I can say

You are more than enough for me

God is enough, and we definitely need more of Him in our lives!

know Him

 I want loving-kindness and not a gift to be given in worship. I want people to know God instead of giving burnt gifts.

- Hosea 6:6

 

First thing that popped into my mind when I read this verse was not a hymn or a praise song, but a secular song that was first recorded in 1958.

It’s been recorded by several artists, the most current being Amy Winehouse (I admit to having never heard that version!)

The lyrics I recall are “To know know know him, Is to love love love him, And I do”

When I google the song, I see the whole thing and think about how it can be revamped as a Christian song!

Ok – I am a little off track here, my point is that the God we serve does not require burnt offerings anymore (Jesus took that when He died for us), all He wants is for us to know Him. 

To really know Him.

Fully know Him.

I promise, to know Him is to love Him.

I do.     

Praying

Also, the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit Himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain.

- Romans 8:26 (NCV)

 

Quite often I find myself not really knowing how to pray.

I mean I pray all the time, I have conversations with God, but sometimes, I really just don’t know what to say.

Song reference!

I'm finding myself at a loss for words

And the funny thing is it's okay

The last thing I need is to be heard

But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak

Would you pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see

Your majesty

To be still and know

That you're in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In your holiness

Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You

Beyond the music, beyond the noise

All that I need is to be with You

And in the quiet hear Your voice

I'm finding myself at a loss for words

And the funny thing is it's okay

Sometimes, when we struggle to find the words to pray, perhaps we need to let the Holy Spirit intervene and then listen for the response.

Labor Day

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

— Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

 

Happy Labor day!

Hopefully you are reading this on Tuesday because you were able to take the day off and spend one last summer “hurrah” with your families.

But if you’re reading this on Monday, well that is ok too, it just means that you are working.

Make sure that you are working willingly – not grumbling about and pouting like a little kid.

Everything that you do should radiate outer joy because your joy should come from the Father.

If you look at your work, no matter how mundane or menial, as a task given to you by the Lord, you will see your perspective change.

You might not care much for your human boss, they are only human, but when you work for the Lord, you have the best boss ever!

Have a blessed day!

scattered

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

- Acts 8:4

 

I was born in Iowa.

I don’t have a lot of my family history, but I know, like many others out there, that my family came from another country (or several countries).  

Now I have been planted in Northwest Arkansas.

So here is where I read the Word of God, select a few verses and write my thoughts on those verses or borrow thoughts from someone else that has been planted. 

This is what God wants us to do – to go where He plants us, to grow where He plants us and to share His word with everyone we meet.   

Let’s do this together, let’s share the Word, wherever we go.

self control

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age

- Titus 2:11-12

 

I want chocolate.

Like all the time.

This is a huge problem for me because well, it makes me huge!

Chocolate is kind of a tiny example of something that as a human we need to have self-control around.

From the moment we are born we are being taught patience, whether it is waiting for our mom to feed us, waiting for the teacher to call on us in class or waiting for our turn in various queues in life.

Self-control is a valuable life lesson, and this lesson can help us in many ways, but it especially helps us to live the godly lives that our Father wants for us. 

When we say “no” to the things that will hurt us, we are saying “yes” to following God.

Trust me, we want to say “yes” to God.