CELEBRATION!
Reading: Psalm 135:1-3, 1 Praise the LORD. Praise the name of the LORD; praise him, you servants of the LORD, 2 you who minister in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God. 3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
Review the questions and answers from this past week.
What key victories did you experience this past week in your 7 battles?
How can you celebrate and rejoice in the victories of this week which would give glory to God?
Sunday, November 27, 2011
December 3 2011
Be a Blessing!
Reading: Matthew 25:35-40, "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.' “Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.' (the Message)
We don't have to wait for a natural disaster such as Katrina or the flooding in Tennessee or the earthquake in Japan to be willing to render aid to people who are hurting. We also don't have to wait for the church to ask us to help with a coat or a backpack drive to get involved in helping someone.
Josh Wilson in his song "I Refuse" say's, “I don't want to live like I don't care; I don't want to say another empty prayer; Oh, I refuse to sit and wait for someone else, to do what God has called me to do myself; I could choose not to move, but I refuse."
We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus. There are needs all around us if we are willing to see them. Be led by the Holy Spirit and be a blesser today! Romans2:13, says "merely hearing God's law is a waste of your time if you don't do what He commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God.” (the Message)
How can you be a blessing or make a difference to someone today?
Is there someone in particular God is laying on your heart and mind?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to be a blessing or make a difference to someone today?
What impact did that have on you and/or on the person that you helped?
Reading: Matthew 25:35-40, "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.' “Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.' (the Message)
We don't have to wait for a natural disaster such as Katrina or the flooding in Tennessee or the earthquake in Japan to be willing to render aid to people who are hurting. We also don't have to wait for the church to ask us to help with a coat or a backpack drive to get involved in helping someone.
Josh Wilson in his song "I Refuse" say's, “I don't want to live like I don't care; I don't want to say another empty prayer; Oh, I refuse to sit and wait for someone else, to do what God has called me to do myself; I could choose not to move, but I refuse."
We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus. There are needs all around us if we are willing to see them. Be led by the Holy Spirit and be a blesser today! Romans2:13, says "merely hearing God's law is a waste of your time if you don't do what He commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God.” (the Message)
How can you be a blessing or make a difference to someone today?
Is there someone in particular God is laying on your heart and mind?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to be a blessing or make a difference to someone today?
What impact did that have on you and/or on the person that you helped?
December 2 2011
The Temple
Reading: I Corinthians 3:16-17, 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. [NKJV]
“You are the temple of God”… “YOU are the temple of God!” Let that sink in for a moment. King Solomon, when he gathered all of Israel together at the completion of the temple, he blessed the people and then he stood in front of the alter of God, spread out his hands and prayed in front of the people, “…But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there.” (II Chronicles 6:18-20). Oh, that this would be our prayer, knowing that WE are now the temple of God. To think that the entire universe cannot contain Him, yet He chooses to live with and even live within us.
Let us as men, bow before God and pray together, today… “Will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple You have made! Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. May Your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which You said You would put your Name there.”
How do you need to cleanse and prepare your temple today to make it a “holy” dwelling for Him?
How do you want His Name to be presented today by your temple?
End of the Day Review
How did you present the Name and temple of God today?
What impact did this have on you and those with whom you came in contact?
Reading: I Corinthians 3:16-17, 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. [NKJV]
“You are the temple of God”… “YOU are the temple of God!” Let that sink in for a moment. King Solomon, when he gathered all of Israel together at the completion of the temple, he blessed the people and then he stood in front of the alter of God, spread out his hands and prayed in front of the people, “…But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there.” (II Chronicles 6:18-20). Oh, that this would be our prayer, knowing that WE are now the temple of God. To think that the entire universe cannot contain Him, yet He chooses to live with and even live within us.
Let us as men, bow before God and pray together, today… “Will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple You have made! Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. May Your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which You said You would put your Name there.”
How do you need to cleanse and prepare your temple today to make it a “holy” dwelling for Him?
How do you want His Name to be presented today by your temple?
End of the Day Review
How did you present the Name and temple of God today?
What impact did this have on you and those with whom you came in contact?
December 1 2011
Branch Basics
Reading: John 15:4-5, 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Recently, I heard a man say something that was amazingly simply and yet incredibly deep. He asked, “How hard does a branch have to work to produce fruit?” I immediately pictured an animation of a branch turning a shade of red as it pushed and pushed until all of a sudden, “Pop!” Fruit starts bursting out of the branch. The gentleman quickly followed up with, “The branch doesn’t have to work hard at all, it simply has to make sure to stay connected to the tree. That is its singular and only responsibility”. So many times, we make life so much for difficult than what it should be. We work so hard for the perception. When we lose our “leaves” (loss of a job, loss of a spouse, rebellious child, depression, etc.), we struggle; we feel inadequate; we are bothered with the thought of what others may think. Yet, when you drive past a tree, do you comment about how gorgeous that branch looks? Of course not… it’s all about the tree. Cut a branch off and the branch will die. The tree? It will continue to grow and feed the branches as long as it remains alive. Men, Jesus IS ALIVE! He will always produce and feed the branches but you as a branch simply have to make sure to stay attached to Him, to grow in Him. You will still have times that you lose your leaves but, in Him, you can trust that it is only a season, there will always be a spring… new leaves… new growth in your life. All you have to do is remain in Him.
Are you going through a time right now where you’ve lost your “leaves”? What are you struggling with?
How can you have a singular focus today of simply remaining in Him and focusing on growing in Him today?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to focus on simply remaining and growing in Him today?
How did that impact your day and your perspective on things?
Reading: John 15:4-5, 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Recently, I heard a man say something that was amazingly simply and yet incredibly deep. He asked, “How hard does a branch have to work to produce fruit?” I immediately pictured an animation of a branch turning a shade of red as it pushed and pushed until all of a sudden, “Pop!” Fruit starts bursting out of the branch. The gentleman quickly followed up with, “The branch doesn’t have to work hard at all, it simply has to make sure to stay connected to the tree. That is its singular and only responsibility”. So many times, we make life so much for difficult than what it should be. We work so hard for the perception. When we lose our “leaves” (loss of a job, loss of a spouse, rebellious child, depression, etc.), we struggle; we feel inadequate; we are bothered with the thought of what others may think. Yet, when you drive past a tree, do you comment about how gorgeous that branch looks? Of course not… it’s all about the tree. Cut a branch off and the branch will die. The tree? It will continue to grow and feed the branches as long as it remains alive. Men, Jesus IS ALIVE! He will always produce and feed the branches but you as a branch simply have to make sure to stay attached to Him, to grow in Him. You will still have times that you lose your leaves but, in Him, you can trust that it is only a season, there will always be a spring… new leaves… new growth in your life. All you have to do is remain in Him.
Are you going through a time right now where you’ve lost your “leaves”? What are you struggling with?
How can you have a singular focus today of simply remaining in Him and focusing on growing in Him today?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to focus on simply remaining and growing in Him today?
How did that impact your day and your perspective on things?
November 30 2011
Study What?
Reading: II Timothy 2:15, “Study to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Did you know that based upon Revelations 20:4-6 it is impossible for there to be a pre-tribulation rapture? Before you throw the devotional book down because you disagree… take some time to read the passage. Don’t just take my word for it. This devotional is not to convince you that there is or is not a pre-tribulation rapture. It is to serve a much deeper purpose and that is to encourage you to study and to know what the Bible says. Often, we study or read the Bible just to the point that we agree and then we stop. Our mentality is, “See? I found it… the passage that says what I agree with.” Why do we have such a difficult time with those who disagree with us and what the Bible says? Can you imagine what Christianity would look like if, instead of agreeing to disagree, or instead of constantly arguing with one another because of our disagreements, we actually decide to sit down and study it out to see what God has to say about the topic? Instead, we go by what we already know is in the Bible, instead of digging deeper in the Word or we go by what we have been told, and it just so happens that we agree with that. Proverbs 27:17, says, “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Sharpening iron takes some friction but in today’s Christian world we don’t push each other deeper into the Word to sharpen us because of a difference of opinion. As soon as there is friction due to a difference of opinion, we part ways. Men, let’s be men of the Word of God. Let’s, through our disagreements, sharpen our swords to become stronger warriors together. It will take a measure of humility to let the Bible simply say what it says, instead of making it be what you want it to be. I hope that when you read the first sentence, it made you want to pull out your Bible, read it and study it; instead of close the devotional book and be done with it. If you wanted to study, you’re already on your way and, if not, don’t study my words, study HIS.
How can you find or make time to study, not just read, the Word today?
Who can you seek out with whom to study a topic on which you may disagree?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to seek someone out with whom you may have disagreed and agreed to study the Word together on the topic in question?
Did you make time to study the Word of God today?
Reading: II Timothy 2:15, “Study to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Did you know that based upon Revelations 20:4-6 it is impossible for there to be a pre-tribulation rapture? Before you throw the devotional book down because you disagree… take some time to read the passage. Don’t just take my word for it. This devotional is not to convince you that there is or is not a pre-tribulation rapture. It is to serve a much deeper purpose and that is to encourage you to study and to know what the Bible says. Often, we study or read the Bible just to the point that we agree and then we stop. Our mentality is, “See? I found it… the passage that says what I agree with.” Why do we have such a difficult time with those who disagree with us and what the Bible says? Can you imagine what Christianity would look like if, instead of agreeing to disagree, or instead of constantly arguing with one another because of our disagreements, we actually decide to sit down and study it out to see what God has to say about the topic? Instead, we go by what we already know is in the Bible, instead of digging deeper in the Word or we go by what we have been told, and it just so happens that we agree with that. Proverbs 27:17, says, “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Sharpening iron takes some friction but in today’s Christian world we don’t push each other deeper into the Word to sharpen us because of a difference of opinion. As soon as there is friction due to a difference of opinion, we part ways. Men, let’s be men of the Word of God. Let’s, through our disagreements, sharpen our swords to become stronger warriors together. It will take a measure of humility to let the Bible simply say what it says, instead of making it be what you want it to be. I hope that when you read the first sentence, it made you want to pull out your Bible, read it and study it; instead of close the devotional book and be done with it. If you wanted to study, you’re already on your way and, if not, don’t study my words, study HIS.
How can you find or make time to study, not just read, the Word today?
Who can you seek out with whom to study a topic on which you may disagree?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to seek someone out with whom you may have disagreed and agreed to study the Word together on the topic in question?
Did you make time to study the Word of God today?
November 29 2011
The Gateway
Reading: II Corinthians 10:4-5, 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
Ever since 9-11, people have complained about airport security. Can you imagine, though, what it would be like in an airport if there was no such thing as a random check… that every single person that came through was pulled aside for a thorough, pat-down search? You would probably have to go to the airport about 5 hours early just to make your flight but, at the same time, airlines would probably go out of business. This is the exact dilemma that we tend to run into. We are required to pull each thought aside, “into captivity”, and do a thorough, pat-down search to see if there is anything hidden that could be used as a terrorist attack on your faith and righteousness, although, we do not have the “time” to do so. Yet, just like it took some time to get use the heightened security after 9-11, it works the same with the security of our mind and thoughts. It takes a while at first but it can and should become second nature after a while. Then, there may be times that the “threat” level is increased due to the temptations growing stronger.
Some may say, “What is the big deal? My thoughts aren’t hurting anyone.” But, men, the mind is the gateway to actions. You are the gatekeeper. You are the sentry that is standing guard and is responsible and will be accountable for what enters and exits. Any action that does not go through the gateway of the mind is called an accident. Accidents do happen. Anything that entered the mind and an action occurred as a result is not an accident and it is your responsibility. Where the mind goes, action will inevitably follow.
What are some things that have been getting past the check point of your mind?
How can you get rid of those potential security threats and do better at standing guard?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to clean out some of the security breaches of your mind?
How were you able to maintain the protection of your mind and what steps did you take?
Reading: II Corinthians 10:4-5, 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
Ever since 9-11, people have complained about airport security. Can you imagine, though, what it would be like in an airport if there was no such thing as a random check… that every single person that came through was pulled aside for a thorough, pat-down search? You would probably have to go to the airport about 5 hours early just to make your flight but, at the same time, airlines would probably go out of business. This is the exact dilemma that we tend to run into. We are required to pull each thought aside, “into captivity”, and do a thorough, pat-down search to see if there is anything hidden that could be used as a terrorist attack on your faith and righteousness, although, we do not have the “time” to do so. Yet, just like it took some time to get use the heightened security after 9-11, it works the same with the security of our mind and thoughts. It takes a while at first but it can and should become second nature after a while. Then, there may be times that the “threat” level is increased due to the temptations growing stronger.
Some may say, “What is the big deal? My thoughts aren’t hurting anyone.” But, men, the mind is the gateway to actions. You are the gatekeeper. You are the sentry that is standing guard and is responsible and will be accountable for what enters and exits. Any action that does not go through the gateway of the mind is called an accident. Accidents do happen. Anything that entered the mind and an action occurred as a result is not an accident and it is your responsibility. Where the mind goes, action will inevitably follow.
What are some things that have been getting past the check point of your mind?
How can you get rid of those potential security threats and do better at standing guard?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to clean out some of the security breaches of your mind?
How were you able to maintain the protection of your mind and what steps did you take?
November 28 2011
Enjoy the Run
Reading: Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I remember when I was in 6th grade, our varsity baseball team was heading out to practice and I got to go with them that day. The baseball team usually practiced on a field a few miles down the road. On the way there, everyone walked but, after practice, the coach had the team to run back to the school. Well, I thought it was fantastic because I would be running with them, almost as if I was really practicing with the varsity baseball team. How cool was that? I ran and ran, like most kids who can run almost all day. A lot of the baseball team couldn’t keep running the whole way but I was so excited to be with them, I wasn’t even thinking about it. After we got back, the baseball coach was so impressed he asked me if I wanted to be on the varsity cross country team. I was ecstatic! We got to the first cross country meet and, there was no feeling of being ecstatic, it was cold, it was rainy, it was muddy and I couldn’t keep running. I came in dead last, in fact, I think they got a little concerned that I got lost in the woods that we had to run through. To say the least, I was not asked back. The same has held true over time… running sprints and laps in practice is grueling but put a ball in front of me and I could run for a couple hours. Why? It’s the mindset… because with a ball, its fun… just running is work. Running with the varsity team was exciting… running in the rain, mud and cold was work. Men, our race in life is the exact same way, we are to keep our eyes on Christ who actually found joy in the race that He had to run and it was a lot worse than rain, mud or cold. Yet, He found joy in it. I have a feeling no matter what happens today we can find joy in our life race. And, guess what? I can guarantee that it will not be as difficult because you, not only get to run with the varsity (“the cloud of witnesses”), you get to run with the King.
How can you find joy in your race today?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to find joy in your race, if so, how?
What impact did finding the joy in your race make in your life today?
Reading: Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I remember when I was in 6th grade, our varsity baseball team was heading out to practice and I got to go with them that day. The baseball team usually practiced on a field a few miles down the road. On the way there, everyone walked but, after practice, the coach had the team to run back to the school. Well, I thought it was fantastic because I would be running with them, almost as if I was really practicing with the varsity baseball team. How cool was that? I ran and ran, like most kids who can run almost all day. A lot of the baseball team couldn’t keep running the whole way but I was so excited to be with them, I wasn’t even thinking about it. After we got back, the baseball coach was so impressed he asked me if I wanted to be on the varsity cross country team. I was ecstatic! We got to the first cross country meet and, there was no feeling of being ecstatic, it was cold, it was rainy, it was muddy and I couldn’t keep running. I came in dead last, in fact, I think they got a little concerned that I got lost in the woods that we had to run through. To say the least, I was not asked back. The same has held true over time… running sprints and laps in practice is grueling but put a ball in front of me and I could run for a couple hours. Why? It’s the mindset… because with a ball, its fun… just running is work. Running with the varsity team was exciting… running in the rain, mud and cold was work. Men, our race in life is the exact same way, we are to keep our eyes on Christ who actually found joy in the race that He had to run and it was a lot worse than rain, mud or cold. Yet, He found joy in it. I have a feeling no matter what happens today we can find joy in our life race. And, guess what? I can guarantee that it will not be as difficult because you, not only get to run with the varsity (“the cloud of witnesses”), you get to run with the King.
How can you find joy in your race today?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to find joy in your race, if so, how?
What impact did finding the joy in your race make in your life today?
Sunday, November 20, 2011
November 27, 2011
CELEBRATION!
Reading: Psalm 138:1-3, 1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise. 2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 3 When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.
Review the questions and answers from this past week.
What key victories did you experience this past week in your 7 battles?
How can you celebrate and rejoice in the victories of this week which would give glory to God?
Reading: Psalm 138:1-3, 1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise. 2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 3 When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.
Review the questions and answers from this past week.
What key victories did you experience this past week in your 7 battles?
How can you celebrate and rejoice in the victories of this week which would give glory to God?
November 26, 2011
Bible Study #2
Topical Bible Study
Topic
With a Topical Bible study, it will be important to use either a Bible Concordance or go online for a Biblical word/topic search. Some Bibles even have a concordance in the back. You can select a topic in the Bible and look in the concordance for all of the passages in which that topic is discussed. You can then see a common denominator for the way that the word/topic is used in the Bible, then answer the following questions.
What questions do you have about the topic, prior to beginning your study?
Dictionary Definition:
(Circle the definition that best fits the direction of your Bible study)
Key Verses & Key Words associated with the topic:
What role did this topic play in the Old Testament?
What role did this topic play in the New Testament?
What role does this topic play in a Christian’s life?
What role does this topic play in the non-Christian’s life?
Is this topic relevant today and what role can and should it play today?
Your impression of a Biblical definition of the topic:
Were all of your original questions answered regarding the topic?
What role can this topic play in your life and how can you communicate that to others?
Topical Bible Study
Topic
With a Topical Bible study, it will be important to use either a Bible Concordance or go online for a Biblical word/topic search. Some Bibles even have a concordance in the back. You can select a topic in the Bible and look in the concordance for all of the passages in which that topic is discussed. You can then see a common denominator for the way that the word/topic is used in the Bible, then answer the following questions.
What questions do you have about the topic, prior to beginning your study?
Dictionary Definition:
(Circle the definition that best fits the direction of your Bible study)
Key Verses & Key Words associated with the topic:
What role did this topic play in the Old Testament?
What role did this topic play in the New Testament?
What role does this topic play in a Christian’s life?
What role does this topic play in the non-Christian’s life?
Is this topic relevant today and what role can and should it play today?
Your impression of a Biblical definition of the topic:
Were all of your original questions answered regarding the topic?
What role can this topic play in your life and how can you communicate that to others?
November 25, 2011
She’s Hot!
Reading: I Peter 3:1-6, 1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
Isn’t it amazing that when we read the Bible we tend to read and comprehend the things that sound the best to us. For instance, we can tend to read a passage like this “WIVES, likewise, be SUBMISSIVE TO YOUR HUSBANDS (oh, yeah… that’s right), that even if some do not obey the word (or do what she thinks I should do), they, WITHOUT A WORD” (wow… so far, loving this passage)… “Do not let your adornment be merely outward”… yeah, yeah, yeah… okay. We read and got what we wanted out of the passage but when it comes to verse 3 and 4, we can pass over it pretty easily because, pretty much, we can read it as, “Wives, do not be hot!” We can tend to gloss right over that because, hey, in our society today our wife is suppose to be “hot”. And, if she does or doesn’t look hot, you will notice those women who pass by you throughout your day. We may love the idea of her submitting… but do you love, admire and even “check out” her “hidden person of the heart”, her inner beauty? How do we expect to be the spiritual leaders that God has called us to be, if we place such a high value on whether a woman or our wife looks “hot”.
What do you notice about your wife or other women if you’re not married?
Ask God to help you see beyond the physical. How can you minimize the outward beauty and see the treasure and value of her inner beauty?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to focus on the inward beauty of your wife and minimize the notice of outward beauty in her or other women?
How did that impact your view and perception of your wife and other women?
Reading: I Peter 3:1-6, 1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
Isn’t it amazing that when we read the Bible we tend to read and comprehend the things that sound the best to us. For instance, we can tend to read a passage like this “WIVES, likewise, be SUBMISSIVE TO YOUR HUSBANDS (oh, yeah… that’s right), that even if some do not obey the word (or do what she thinks I should do), they, WITHOUT A WORD” (wow… so far, loving this passage)… “Do not let your adornment be merely outward”… yeah, yeah, yeah… okay. We read and got what we wanted out of the passage but when it comes to verse 3 and 4, we can pass over it pretty easily because, pretty much, we can read it as, “Wives, do not be hot!” We can tend to gloss right over that because, hey, in our society today our wife is suppose to be “hot”. And, if she does or doesn’t look hot, you will notice those women who pass by you throughout your day. We may love the idea of her submitting… but do you love, admire and even “check out” her “hidden person of the heart”, her inner beauty? How do we expect to be the spiritual leaders that God has called us to be, if we place such a high value on whether a woman or our wife looks “hot”.
What do you notice about your wife or other women if you’re not married?
Ask God to help you see beyond the physical. How can you minimize the outward beauty and see the treasure and value of her inner beauty?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to focus on the inward beauty of your wife and minimize the notice of outward beauty in her or other women?
How did that impact your view and perception of your wife and other women?
November 24, 2011
Give Thanks
Reading: Psalm 35:18, 18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.
Ephesians 1:15-16, 15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Even if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or have an extremely busy day ahead of you, or are going through a difficult time or are just plainly not in a good mood this morning, today is a day to thank the Lord and thank others. It is amazing what finding things to be thankful for can do for your perspective on your day.
What are you thankful for that God has done for you?
What attribute of God are you most thankful for today and why?
What will you do today to demonstrate your thankfulness to God?
What are you thankful for that someone else has done for you?
What attribute in someone else’s life are you most thankful for today and why?
What will you do today to demonstrate your thankfulness to others?
REVIEW
What did you do today to demonstrate your thankfulness to God?
What did you do today to demonstrate your thankfulness to others?
Reading: Psalm 35:18, 18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.
Ephesians 1:15-16, 15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Even if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or have an extremely busy day ahead of you, or are going through a difficult time or are just plainly not in a good mood this morning, today is a day to thank the Lord and thank others. It is amazing what finding things to be thankful for can do for your perspective on your day.
What are you thankful for that God has done for you?
What attribute of God are you most thankful for today and why?
What will you do today to demonstrate your thankfulness to God?
What are you thankful for that someone else has done for you?
What attribute in someone else’s life are you most thankful for today and why?
What will you do today to demonstrate your thankfulness to others?
REVIEW
What did you do today to demonstrate your thankfulness to God?
What did you do today to demonstrate your thankfulness to others?
November 23, 2011
Unconditional Love
Reading: I John 4:10-12, 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
I thought I knew what unconditional love was. I had heard about it all my life and knew God’s demonstration of that love. But, I never truly grasped it. I never truly understood it. I never truly experienced the real meaning until the first time I was able to look down on our little baby girl. There she lay. She had no ability to do anything for me. She had no experience to offer me. She had no help or assistance to give me. All she could do was produce extra work, sleep deprived nights, gross diapers, ears filled with cries and screams, constant bottle consumption, time taken away from alone time with my wife, and a lot of money spent on the million things a baby needs, and I loved it. I still remember the first time that I was able to stand over her crib and watch her sleep. I choked up with tears and my mind immediately went to the realization of God’s unconditional love for me as His child. Men, there is nothing you can do that will cause God to love you less.
Men, there is nothing that your brother in Christ has done to you that would surpass the gravity of what you have done to God in forcing His hand to send His Son to have to suffer and die for you. Unbelievable, unconditional love. So, how can we withhold unconditional love amongst our Christian family?
Who have you been withholding unconditional love from and why?
How will you be sure to demonstrate unconditional love to “love one another”?
REVIEW
How did you demonstrate unconditional love to “one another” today?
How did this impact your relationship and your perception of your Christian family?
Reading: I John 4:10-12, 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
I thought I knew what unconditional love was. I had heard about it all my life and knew God’s demonstration of that love. But, I never truly grasped it. I never truly understood it. I never truly experienced the real meaning until the first time I was able to look down on our little baby girl. There she lay. She had no ability to do anything for me. She had no experience to offer me. She had no help or assistance to give me. All she could do was produce extra work, sleep deprived nights, gross diapers, ears filled with cries and screams, constant bottle consumption, time taken away from alone time with my wife, and a lot of money spent on the million things a baby needs, and I loved it. I still remember the first time that I was able to stand over her crib and watch her sleep. I choked up with tears and my mind immediately went to the realization of God’s unconditional love for me as His child. Men, there is nothing you can do that will cause God to love you less.
Men, there is nothing that your brother in Christ has done to you that would surpass the gravity of what you have done to God in forcing His hand to send His Son to have to suffer and die for you. Unbelievable, unconditional love. So, how can we withhold unconditional love amongst our Christian family?
Who have you been withholding unconditional love from and why?
How will you be sure to demonstrate unconditional love to “love one another”?
REVIEW
How did you demonstrate unconditional love to “one another” today?
How did this impact your relationship and your perception of your Christian family?
November 22, 2011
Was It Worth It?
Reading: I Corinthians 2:9, 9However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"
I’m sure we have all been asked or have asked someone at some point, “Was it worth the wait?” But, with heaven, it’s typically not the waiting, it’s the living beforehand. Can you imagine someday when we are ushered into heaven and into the presence of our Lord? The Bible says that, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” I truly believe that a large part of the tears that will be shed on that day that He will wipe away our tears will be from regret. Paul told the Corinthians that you can’t even begin to imagine what God is preparing for us. I love the song, “I Can Only Imagine”, but I believe that there is one thing that I know. I know I will begin to ask myself, “Was it worth it?” Now that I’m here and can see all the incredible things that God had prepared for me, was it worth it? Was it worth constantly going back to and holding on to the sin that Jesus had already defeated for me? Was it worth the selfish decisions that I made day after day? Was it worth all the work that I did for temporary gain and monetary values that mean nothing here? Was it worth not sharing His message due to embarrassment or working harder to bring more people with me to this splendor and truly experience His glory? Was it worth it? Really… was it worth it?
Men, today, we have the ability to minimize our regret in the future.
Challenge: Today, constantly, all throughout your day, ask yourself, “Is this worth it?” with the reality of heaven in our focus.
What are some things that you may need to do differently, to make it worth it?
REVIEW
Did you constantly ask yourself throughout the day, “Is this worth it?”
If yes, how did this influence your day and what adjustments did you need to make from your typical day?
Reading: I Corinthians 2:9, 9However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"
I’m sure we have all been asked or have asked someone at some point, “Was it worth the wait?” But, with heaven, it’s typically not the waiting, it’s the living beforehand. Can you imagine someday when we are ushered into heaven and into the presence of our Lord? The Bible says that, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” I truly believe that a large part of the tears that will be shed on that day that He will wipe away our tears will be from regret. Paul told the Corinthians that you can’t even begin to imagine what God is preparing for us. I love the song, “I Can Only Imagine”, but I believe that there is one thing that I know. I know I will begin to ask myself, “Was it worth it?” Now that I’m here and can see all the incredible things that God had prepared for me, was it worth it? Was it worth constantly going back to and holding on to the sin that Jesus had already defeated for me? Was it worth the selfish decisions that I made day after day? Was it worth all the work that I did for temporary gain and monetary values that mean nothing here? Was it worth not sharing His message due to embarrassment or working harder to bring more people with me to this splendor and truly experience His glory? Was it worth it? Really… was it worth it?
Men, today, we have the ability to minimize our regret in the future.
Challenge: Today, constantly, all throughout your day, ask yourself, “Is this worth it?” with the reality of heaven in our focus.
What are some things that you may need to do differently, to make it worth it?
REVIEW
Did you constantly ask yourself throughout the day, “Is this worth it?”
If yes, how did this influence your day and what adjustments did you need to make from your typical day?
November 21 2011
Keep‘em Spinning
Reading: Galatians 5:22-23, 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (NIV)
I don’t know about you guys… but there are times that I really struggle. I feel like I have just got a plate spinning nicely up on a stick. Then, someone comes along to say, “Hey, you are suppose to have this plate spinning too.” So, I start spinning that plate. Meanwhile, the first plate starts to wobble, so I quickly try to get the first one spinning faster again before it falls off. Then, I just get the 2 spinning together, not as fast as they should be spinning, but, hey, they’re spinning… and someone else comes along and says, “Oh, no… you’re suppose to have this plate spinning too.” Now, I’m starting to feel a bit of pressure. This keeps happening until I have 9 plates spinning and I feel like I’m running back and forth between plates and the only thing that I’m doing is just trying to keep the plates from falling… I’m not really spinning them well. Sometimes those 9 plates are similar to the fruits of the Spirit. You hear someone say that you should be spinning the plate of “love”, so you start to spin and someone else says that you should be working on the joy of the Lord, so you start to spin that plate. One by one, you are told that you should be working on having peace, being patient, being more kind, demonstrating goodness, maintaining faithfulness, being gentle and, for goodness sakes, be self-controlled. And, now, you’re spinning all 9 plates… but, you see patience slipping, so you run over to get that spinning again, and so on. Men, this passage states that it is a FRUIT! It is a result of the Spirit of God within you. These things are merely a gauge as to how much you are living in the Spirit… one plate. All you have to do is focus on the one plate of living in the Spirit and HE spins the rest. What a relief!
In what area of the 9 fruits of the Spirit are you lacking right now?
What can you do today to focus, not on that fruit, but on living and walking with and in the Spirit today?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to focus on living and walking with and in the Spirit of God today?
How were you able to see it help produce or enhance the fruit of the Spirit?
Reading: Galatians 5:22-23, 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (NIV)
I don’t know about you guys… but there are times that I really struggle. I feel like I have just got a plate spinning nicely up on a stick. Then, someone comes along to say, “Hey, you are suppose to have this plate spinning too.” So, I start spinning that plate. Meanwhile, the first plate starts to wobble, so I quickly try to get the first one spinning faster again before it falls off. Then, I just get the 2 spinning together, not as fast as they should be spinning, but, hey, they’re spinning… and someone else comes along and says, “Oh, no… you’re suppose to have this plate spinning too.” Now, I’m starting to feel a bit of pressure. This keeps happening until I have 9 plates spinning and I feel like I’m running back and forth between plates and the only thing that I’m doing is just trying to keep the plates from falling… I’m not really spinning them well. Sometimes those 9 plates are similar to the fruits of the Spirit. You hear someone say that you should be spinning the plate of “love”, so you start to spin and someone else says that you should be working on the joy of the Lord, so you start to spin that plate. One by one, you are told that you should be working on having peace, being patient, being more kind, demonstrating goodness, maintaining faithfulness, being gentle and, for goodness sakes, be self-controlled. And, now, you’re spinning all 9 plates… but, you see patience slipping, so you run over to get that spinning again, and so on. Men, this passage states that it is a FRUIT! It is a result of the Spirit of God within you. These things are merely a gauge as to how much you are living in the Spirit… one plate. All you have to do is focus on the one plate of living in the Spirit and HE spins the rest. What a relief!
In what area of the 9 fruits of the Spirit are you lacking right now?
What can you do today to focus, not on that fruit, but on living and walking with and in the Spirit today?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to focus on living and walking with and in the Spirit of God today?
How were you able to see it help produce or enhance the fruit of the Spirit?
Sunday, November 13, 2011
November 20 2011
CELEBRATION!
Reading: Psalm 138:4-8, 4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth. 5 May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great. 6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me. 8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.
Review the questions and answers from this past week.
What key victories did you experience this past week in your 7 battles?
How can you celebrate and rejoice in the victories of this week which would give glory to God?
Reading: Psalm 138:4-8, 4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth. 5 May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great. 6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me. 8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.
Review the questions and answers from this past week.
What key victories did you experience this past week in your 7 battles?
How can you celebrate and rejoice in the victories of this week which would give glory to God?
November 19 2011
Search Me!
Reading: Psalm 139:23-24, 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Okay, men, it is that time to focus on yourself, again. The devotionals are focusing on doing, performing, thinking and so on; but, today, is a fine tuned look at yourself.
Find a place in your house and let everyone in the house know that you cannot be disturbed. Find something that you can lay on the ground; a towel, a chalk drawn circle, or anything that will help you to have a visual as you focus on yourself. Don’t just let this be something you do quickly and in passing. Take some quality time and actually schedule it into your day.
While in the circle or on your towel or whatever you have chosen to use, pray what David prayed in Psalm 139, “Search me, O, God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.” Beg God to reveal your sin to you. Beg Him to help you fix everything inside that circle. Don’t let anything in your thoughts or prayers be about other people. Don’t let anyone be your excuse for your sin or anything else that God reveals to you. Focus solely on yourself and the sin, temptation, struggles and repairs that need to occur in you and you alone. Then repent to God for those sins revealed and, then, present yourself to Him.
Write down key points that God revealed to you to keep yourself aware:
REVIEW
How did God speak to you?
What did you do with the things that God revealed to you?
What did you do with those things today?
Reading: Psalm 139:23-24, 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Okay, men, it is that time to focus on yourself, again. The devotionals are focusing on doing, performing, thinking and so on; but, today, is a fine tuned look at yourself.
Find a place in your house and let everyone in the house know that you cannot be disturbed. Find something that you can lay on the ground; a towel, a chalk drawn circle, or anything that will help you to have a visual as you focus on yourself. Don’t just let this be something you do quickly and in passing. Take some quality time and actually schedule it into your day.
While in the circle or on your towel or whatever you have chosen to use, pray what David prayed in Psalm 139, “Search me, O, God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.” Beg God to reveal your sin to you. Beg Him to help you fix everything inside that circle. Don’t let anything in your thoughts or prayers be about other people. Don’t let anyone be your excuse for your sin or anything else that God reveals to you. Focus solely on yourself and the sin, temptation, struggles and repairs that need to occur in you and you alone. Then repent to God for those sins revealed and, then, present yourself to Him.
Write down key points that God revealed to you to keep yourself aware:
REVIEW
How did God speak to you?
What did you do with the things that God revealed to you?
What did you do with those things today?
November 18 2011
His Presence
Reading: Psalm 139:7-12, 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”
I don’t know about you but when I am driving down the road and I glance to the side and see a police car, my heart begins to race. Then it transitions into another physical response by running through a checklist: what’s my speed, do I have my seatbelt on, do I have my cell phone in my hand? But, when you see in your review mirror that he’s not pulling out after you and you’re at a “safe distance” you relax and stop thinking about making sure you’re doing everything right. Now, imagine, he DID pull out and began following you. How do you drive and how do you perform in that situation?
God says that He is with you wherever you are. Everywhere! Yes, with you as you sit down in front of your TV or your computer… with you in the dark, with you in your car, with you when you think no one else is with you or looking, or would ever know.
Today, take Jesus with you everywhere you go. Everywhere! Although God IS everywhere… today… welcome Him with you everywhere you go and involve Him in everything you do.
Go through your schedule of your day, how can you involve God all throughout your day? (be specific)
What would you normally do today that you would need to change, with Jesus looking over your shoulder? (be honest… He already knows)
REVIEW
What did you do different today with Jesus right by your side?
How did this affect you?
Reading: Psalm 139:7-12, 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”
I don’t know about you but when I am driving down the road and I glance to the side and see a police car, my heart begins to race. Then it transitions into another physical response by running through a checklist: what’s my speed, do I have my seatbelt on, do I have my cell phone in my hand? But, when you see in your review mirror that he’s not pulling out after you and you’re at a “safe distance” you relax and stop thinking about making sure you’re doing everything right. Now, imagine, he DID pull out and began following you. How do you drive and how do you perform in that situation?
God says that He is with you wherever you are. Everywhere! Yes, with you as you sit down in front of your TV or your computer… with you in the dark, with you in your car, with you when you think no one else is with you or looking, or would ever know.
Today, take Jesus with you everywhere you go. Everywhere! Although God IS everywhere… today… welcome Him with you everywhere you go and involve Him in everything you do.
Go through your schedule of your day, how can you involve God all throughout your day? (be specific)
What would you normally do today that you would need to change, with Jesus looking over your shoulder? (be honest… He already knows)
REVIEW
What did you do different today with Jesus right by your side?
How did this affect you?
November 17 2011
Refer Back
Reading: Matthew 22:34-39, “34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” [NIV]
Have you ever heard the saying or read a t-shirt or coffee mug on which it was printed, “Rule #1: I am always right. Rule #2: if you have any questions, simply refer back to rule number 1”? God knows us so incredibly well… He, in His infinite wisdom, already knows exactly what we need to get us where we need to go and how to get there. I look at these verses in the same way as the previous saying, because once you get to command #2, “love your neighbor as yourself” all you have to do is refer back to command #1. Command #2 is simply a reminder. Because if you truly are loving God with all of your heart and all of your soul and all of your mind, it does not leave room for anyone else, except for God. Yet, God knows that if you do that you will, without a doubt, love your neighbor as yourself… because He will produce that in you. So, loving your neighbor as yourself is a great gauge as to your level and holistic love for God. So, let’s test that a little bit.
Do you love your neighbor as yourself?
… even the guy at work that drives you up a wall? …even the person that cut you off on the road? …even the neighbor that is constantly loud or has annoying pets or children? Do you love them as you love yourself?
How do you demonstrate your love for yourself?
How can you demonstrate your love for your “neighbor” today?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to demonstrate your love for your “neighbor” today?
What was their response?
How did it impact you or make you feel?
Reading: Matthew 22:34-39, “34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” [NIV]
Have you ever heard the saying or read a t-shirt or coffee mug on which it was printed, “Rule #1: I am always right. Rule #2: if you have any questions, simply refer back to rule number 1”? God knows us so incredibly well… He, in His infinite wisdom, already knows exactly what we need to get us where we need to go and how to get there. I look at these verses in the same way as the previous saying, because once you get to command #2, “love your neighbor as yourself” all you have to do is refer back to command #1. Command #2 is simply a reminder. Because if you truly are loving God with all of your heart and all of your soul and all of your mind, it does not leave room for anyone else, except for God. Yet, God knows that if you do that you will, without a doubt, love your neighbor as yourself… because He will produce that in you. So, loving your neighbor as yourself is a great gauge as to your level and holistic love for God. So, let’s test that a little bit.
Do you love your neighbor as yourself?
… even the guy at work that drives you up a wall? …even the person that cut you off on the road? …even the neighbor that is constantly loud or has annoying pets or children? Do you love them as you love yourself?
How do you demonstrate your love for yourself?
How can you demonstrate your love for your “neighbor” today?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to demonstrate your love for your “neighbor” today?
What was their response?
How did it impact you or make you feel?
November 16 2011
All Your Soul
Reading: Matthew 22:34-38, “34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.” [NIV]
Usually we can easily understand “love the Lord… with all your heart… and mind” but love the Lord with all your soul? Now, remember this is the greatest commandment... within 66 books… this is the greatest thing to know and follow… so, pretty important. That being the case, let’s dig into it a little bit. The Greek word in this passage for “soul” is “psuche”, which means “breath, life, lives, person, persons, soul, souls.” It is who you are… you as a person. We have 3 parts: body, soul and spirit. As an illustration of the roles that these 3 parts play, as a car, the body would be, obviously, the body; the soul would be the interior and the engine; and the spirit would be the steering wheel, the accelerator and the brake. The soul is what makes you run or, in another sense, what makes you tick. It is your personality, your rationale, your legacy, your very being.
How can you love God with ALL of your being? Remember, this isn’t your thoughts or your heart… this is in everything you do, in everything you say, in all that you are, how can you love God with ALL of it? How can you live that out today?
How can you give yourself reminders throughout the day to accomplish this?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to demonstrate your complete and total love for God with all of your soul?
What changes or adjustments did you have to make to help you with accomplishing that today?
Reading: Matthew 22:34-38, “34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.” [NIV]
Usually we can easily understand “love the Lord… with all your heart… and mind” but love the Lord with all your soul? Now, remember this is the greatest commandment... within 66 books… this is the greatest thing to know and follow… so, pretty important. That being the case, let’s dig into it a little bit. The Greek word in this passage for “soul” is “psuche”, which means “breath, life, lives, person, persons, soul, souls.” It is who you are… you as a person. We have 3 parts: body, soul and spirit. As an illustration of the roles that these 3 parts play, as a car, the body would be, obviously, the body; the soul would be the interior and the engine; and the spirit would be the steering wheel, the accelerator and the brake. The soul is what makes you run or, in another sense, what makes you tick. It is your personality, your rationale, your legacy, your very being.
How can you love God with ALL of your being? Remember, this isn’t your thoughts or your heart… this is in everything you do, in everything you say, in all that you are, how can you love God with ALL of it? How can you live that out today?
How can you give yourself reminders throughout the day to accomplish this?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to demonstrate your complete and total love for God with all of your soul?
What changes or adjustments did you have to make to help you with accomplishing that today?
November 15 2011
All of Your Mind
Reading: Matthew 22:34-38, “34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.” [NIV]
The mind can sometimes be the most difficult of the three (heart, soul and mind) to give over completely. It seems to be that way because the mind, of all things, seems to be the place that is yours exclusively. We tend to think that we are the only ones that know what is in our mind and we alone are the ones that have the key to open it. We might be able to look at our wife and yet, be thinking about another woman at the same time. We may convince ourselves that our wife has our body, our heart and our life but your mind is yours to live vicariously. This is why God says that He wants all of your mind. He is not even asking you to share 50/50 between He and your wife. He wants it all. Once again, it is because He knows that when you give it all to Him, you will also have the right thoughts about your wife, material possessions, your church, your friends, etc. Love Him with all of your mind and He will help to make your thoughts pleasing to Him. In turn, you will have right thoughts about others. Although, it will be like the elephant in the room, because He already knows your thoughts, “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” (Psalm 139:2) Will you choose to love Him with all of your mind?
What thoughts have you been allowing in that is a clear symptom that you have not truly given God all of your mind?
What can you do today to make a conscious effort to love God with all of your mind? (please remember it is just as important to focus on filling your mind in with good things as you are in removing the bad thoughts)
End of the Day Review
How were you able to take steps to eliminate the bad thoughts in your mind and replace them with thoughts that are truly given over to the Lord?
Do you sense that you were successful today in loving God with all of your mind, if so, how?
Reading: Matthew 22:34-38, “34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.” [NIV]
The mind can sometimes be the most difficult of the three (heart, soul and mind) to give over completely. It seems to be that way because the mind, of all things, seems to be the place that is yours exclusively. We tend to think that we are the only ones that know what is in our mind and we alone are the ones that have the key to open it. We might be able to look at our wife and yet, be thinking about another woman at the same time. We may convince ourselves that our wife has our body, our heart and our life but your mind is yours to live vicariously. This is why God says that He wants all of your mind. He is not even asking you to share 50/50 between He and your wife. He wants it all. Once again, it is because He knows that when you give it all to Him, you will also have the right thoughts about your wife, material possessions, your church, your friends, etc. Love Him with all of your mind and He will help to make your thoughts pleasing to Him. In turn, you will have right thoughts about others. Although, it will be like the elephant in the room, because He already knows your thoughts, “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” (Psalm 139:2) Will you choose to love Him with all of your mind?
What thoughts have you been allowing in that is a clear symptom that you have not truly given God all of your mind?
What can you do today to make a conscious effort to love God with all of your mind? (please remember it is just as important to focus on filling your mind in with good things as you are in removing the bad thoughts)
End of the Day Review
How were you able to take steps to eliminate the bad thoughts in your mind and replace them with thoughts that are truly given over to the Lord?
Do you sense that you were successful today in loving God with all of your mind, if so, how?
November 14 2011
All My Heart
Reading: Matthew 22:34-38, 34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
Do you remember the first time that you told a girl that you love her with all of your heart? The feeling at that moment and leading up to it seems very overwhelming. It feels almost like you’re about to explode from trying to contain this feeling that you have for her. It goes further… it produces actions.
But, let’s focus on the word “all” for a moment. “I love you with all my heart.” If I were to walk into my kids bedroom and say, “I want you to pick up all of your toys immediately.” If I were to come back in a little while and there are still toys on the floor and they are now off playing, I can just imagine the exchange, “I thought I told you to pick up all your toys.” “We did,” they respond. I most likely will look at them dumbfounded as they continue, “We may not have picked up those toys but we picked up all of them.” I would immediately feel like both my wife and I or the school has completely failed at teaching the basics to my children. I can just hear myself saying, “All means all.” When you told a girl that you love her with all of your heart, most likely you were attempting to communicate that there is not room for anyone else in your heart. This is exactly what God is wanting from us… to love Him so much that there is not room for anyone else. He knows that if we love Him with all of our heart, then that same love will spill out into others and it will be a more true and genuine love than we could even attempt to possess. Remember, all means all. Do you love God with ALL of your heart?
What things have crowded into your heart with which you are now in love that are infringing on your total and complete love, your all?
What can you do to change that today and love God with “all” of your heart?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to make some changes in your life today to have your heart be totally given to God?
How did that impact your day and your love for Him?
Reading: Matthew 22:34-38, 34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
Do you remember the first time that you told a girl that you love her with all of your heart? The feeling at that moment and leading up to it seems very overwhelming. It feels almost like you’re about to explode from trying to contain this feeling that you have for her. It goes further… it produces actions.
But, let’s focus on the word “all” for a moment. “I love you with all my heart.” If I were to walk into my kids bedroom and say, “I want you to pick up all of your toys immediately.” If I were to come back in a little while and there are still toys on the floor and they are now off playing, I can just imagine the exchange, “I thought I told you to pick up all your toys.” “We did,” they respond. I most likely will look at them dumbfounded as they continue, “We may not have picked up those toys but we picked up all of them.” I would immediately feel like both my wife and I or the school has completely failed at teaching the basics to my children. I can just hear myself saying, “All means all.” When you told a girl that you love her with all of your heart, most likely you were attempting to communicate that there is not room for anyone else in your heart. This is exactly what God is wanting from us… to love Him so much that there is not room for anyone else. He knows that if we love Him with all of our heart, then that same love will spill out into others and it will be a more true and genuine love than we could even attempt to possess. Remember, all means all. Do you love God with ALL of your heart?
What things have crowded into your heart with which you are now in love that are infringing on your total and complete love, your all?
What can you do to change that today and love God with “all” of your heart?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to make some changes in your life today to have your heart be totally given to God?
How did that impact your day and your love for Him?
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