CELEBRATION!
Reading: Psalm 117:1-2, 1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. 2 For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.
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?
Saturday, December 17, 2011
December 24 2011
He Left It All! Saturday, December 25, 2010
Reading: Isaiah 9:6-7, 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
We often times do not talk about what led up to this day with Jesus, and for good reason, because the Bible does not touch on the matter. But, can you imagine right before Jesus left Heaven to come to earth, what that scene would have looked like? To actually leave heaven in all of its splendor to, not just become a man, but to become a baby. I can imagine the streets of gold lined with angels with heads hung low as Jesus uttered words of encouragement as He walked by them on His way to the gate. Just as Jesus reached the gate and put His hand up to pull it open, He hears His name called and He turns around to see His Father. I can imagine them embracing and God whispering, “Son, I’m awfully proud of You. Now, go save the human race.” Then He came…
Today, we commemorate the day that Jesus left everything for you.
We get so caught up in the buying and gifts of today as well as celebrations and traditions that we often do not look beyond those things. What are you doing today to make the lives of others better?
Think outside the “gift box” today. We commemorate Jesus leaving all of Heaven’s splendor for you. What can you do today to celebrate that and leave your comfort zone to give to someone else?
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
REVIEW
Were you able to give to someone today, outside of your comfort zone?
How did this impact your Christmas day compared to others?
Reading: Isaiah 9:6-7, 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
We often times do not talk about what led up to this day with Jesus, and for good reason, because the Bible does not touch on the matter. But, can you imagine right before Jesus left Heaven to come to earth, what that scene would have looked like? To actually leave heaven in all of its splendor to, not just become a man, but to become a baby. I can imagine the streets of gold lined with angels with heads hung low as Jesus uttered words of encouragement as He walked by them on His way to the gate. Just as Jesus reached the gate and put His hand up to pull it open, He hears His name called and He turns around to see His Father. I can imagine them embracing and God whispering, “Son, I’m awfully proud of You. Now, go save the human race.” Then He came…
Today, we commemorate the day that Jesus left everything for you.
We get so caught up in the buying and gifts of today as well as celebrations and traditions that we often do not look beyond those things. What are you doing today to make the lives of others better?
Think outside the “gift box” today. We commemorate Jesus leaving all of Heaven’s splendor for you. What can you do today to celebrate that and leave your comfort zone to give to someone else?
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
REVIEW
Were you able to give to someone today, outside of your comfort zone?
How did this impact your Christmas day compared to others?
December 23 2011
Tested and True
Reading: I Peter 1:6-7, 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Can you imagine walking into the hospital where you are scheduled for open heart surgery? They prep you, wheel you on the bed down to the room where the surgery will take place and then the surgeon comes in the room. “Good morning. I’m Dr. Morris. I will be performing your surgery this morning. Before we go any further, did the nurses come in and have you sign the waiver forms?” “Waiver forms?” you ask. “Oh, well, yes… you see… I have never performed open heart surgery. Actually, I haven’t performed any surgery.” Talk about needing a new heart after that announcement. After you catch your breath, you barely get the words out of your mouth, almost choking, “NEVER? But, you obviously had to have done some surgery during your schooling… right?” To which he responds, “Well, actually, no… but you have nothing to worry about… I graduated with a 4.0 gpa and tested the highest in my class.” How would you respond? How would you feel about this guy performing surgery on you, let alone, open heart surgery? This passage says that our faith is even more important than that! You having to “suffer grief in all kinds of trials” is to serve the purpose of strengthening your faith so that you can perform open heart surgery on the souls of men. The more your faith is tested, the stronger you will become in your faith and the more the world around you will begin to trust that your faith is true and genuine.
What grief and trials are you going through right now?
How can you use those trials today to strengthen your faith rather than get discouraged that you are experiencing them?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to handle your grief and trials today?
What impact did your perception of your struggles and trials have on your faith and what God is trying to do?
Reading: I Peter 1:6-7, 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Can you imagine walking into the hospital where you are scheduled for open heart surgery? They prep you, wheel you on the bed down to the room where the surgery will take place and then the surgeon comes in the room. “Good morning. I’m Dr. Morris. I will be performing your surgery this morning. Before we go any further, did the nurses come in and have you sign the waiver forms?” “Waiver forms?” you ask. “Oh, well, yes… you see… I have never performed open heart surgery. Actually, I haven’t performed any surgery.” Talk about needing a new heart after that announcement. After you catch your breath, you barely get the words out of your mouth, almost choking, “NEVER? But, you obviously had to have done some surgery during your schooling… right?” To which he responds, “Well, actually, no… but you have nothing to worry about… I graduated with a 4.0 gpa and tested the highest in my class.” How would you respond? How would you feel about this guy performing surgery on you, let alone, open heart surgery? This passage says that our faith is even more important than that! You having to “suffer grief in all kinds of trials” is to serve the purpose of strengthening your faith so that you can perform open heart surgery on the souls of men. The more your faith is tested, the stronger you will become in your faith and the more the world around you will begin to trust that your faith is true and genuine.
What grief and trials are you going through right now?
How can you use those trials today to strengthen your faith rather than get discouraged that you are experiencing them?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to handle your grief and trials today?
What impact did your perception of your struggles and trials have on your faith and what God is trying to do?
December 22 2011
In the Way?
Reading: James 4:4b,6-8a, “do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Have you ever had those days when it just seems like everyone is in your way? You may be driving and in a hurry and someone pulls out in front you. Now you’re boxed in going 10 miles an hour under the speed limit, then you have to stop by the store briefly. You turn to go down the aisle and even though you could normally fit a Mac truck down the aisle, there just happens to be people who apparently decided to send out invitations to everyone that they know to meet them right there in that spot in the store and there will be no way to get through in the near future and they really don’t seem to interested in stopping their conversation to let you through. You finally get your things… and go up to the front to check out and it sure seems as if they made a special announcement over the store PA that you could win a million dollars if you check out right now and get in line in front of THAT guy. Sometimes it just seems like everyone is in the way of trying to accomplish what you want to accomplish… whether it’s a project at work, or buying a house, or even serving the Lord. In this passage, though, it says, “draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” There is no one in your way of getting closer to God… no one. No one can get in your way to Him, if they do, it is only because you chose to put them there. Being “a friend of the world” is a choice to put them in your way of your relationship with Him.
What have you perceived as being in the way of you drawing closer to God?
What can you do to adjust or even remove those things today and focus on your relationship with God?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to adjust or remove those things in your life that has been hindering your relationship with God… if so, how did you accomplish that?
How did those adjustments impact your relationship with God today?
Reading: James 4:4b,6-8a, “do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Have you ever had those days when it just seems like everyone is in your way? You may be driving and in a hurry and someone pulls out in front you. Now you’re boxed in going 10 miles an hour under the speed limit, then you have to stop by the store briefly. You turn to go down the aisle and even though you could normally fit a Mac truck down the aisle, there just happens to be people who apparently decided to send out invitations to everyone that they know to meet them right there in that spot in the store and there will be no way to get through in the near future and they really don’t seem to interested in stopping their conversation to let you through. You finally get your things… and go up to the front to check out and it sure seems as if they made a special announcement over the store PA that you could win a million dollars if you check out right now and get in line in front of THAT guy. Sometimes it just seems like everyone is in the way of trying to accomplish what you want to accomplish… whether it’s a project at work, or buying a house, or even serving the Lord. In this passage, though, it says, “draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” There is no one in your way of getting closer to God… no one. No one can get in your way to Him, if they do, it is only because you chose to put them there. Being “a friend of the world” is a choice to put them in your way of your relationship with Him.
What have you perceived as being in the way of you drawing closer to God?
What can you do to adjust or even remove those things today and focus on your relationship with God?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to adjust or remove those things in your life that has been hindering your relationship with God… if so, how did you accomplish that?
How did those adjustments impact your relationship with God today?
December 21 2011
Sow & Reap
Reading: Galatians 6:7-8, 7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
After planning out the garden that I intended to plant in our yard, I was thrilled when the plants started to grow. I remember seeing the two plants of cantaloupe growing, excited to have our own homegrown. After a while, two little cantaloupes appeared on the one plant; but, after looking more closely at the second plant, it had some little acorn squash on the vine. Up until that point, the leaves and vine looked the same and it wasn’t what was intended to grow there. Often, we think we can do the same with the choices that we make in life. We choose to not be holy. We choose to not remain pure in our thoughts, conversation and actions. We choose to allow our selfishness and/or our pride drive our decisions. And, yet, when we reap the consequences of those choices, we are surprised. It is at this point that God says, “[He] cannot be mocked.” We may be fooling those around us. Others may see the leaves and vines of our outward actions and think that we are a certain way, but we cannot fool God. God knows exactly what seeds we are planting in our lives. To stop this, we must pull up, by the roots, the plants of sin that we have sown. And turn your focus and attention on watering and fertilizing the seeds of God’s Word and His Spirit in your life that have been sown. If not, don’t be surprised at the time of reaping the consequences. God will not be mocked.
What seeds of sin and/or the flesh have you planted that need to be uprooted?
How can you uproot those plants from the seeds of sin that have been sown?
Challenge: Focus today on removing the seeds of sin and coming up with ways to focus on the good seeds that can or have been planted in your life.
REVIEW
What seeds of sin were you able to uproot today?
What good seeds were you able to water and fertilize today?
How did this impact you today?
Reading: Galatians 6:7-8, 7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
After planning out the garden that I intended to plant in our yard, I was thrilled when the plants started to grow. I remember seeing the two plants of cantaloupe growing, excited to have our own homegrown. After a while, two little cantaloupes appeared on the one plant; but, after looking more closely at the second plant, it had some little acorn squash on the vine. Up until that point, the leaves and vine looked the same and it wasn’t what was intended to grow there. Often, we think we can do the same with the choices that we make in life. We choose to not be holy. We choose to not remain pure in our thoughts, conversation and actions. We choose to allow our selfishness and/or our pride drive our decisions. And, yet, when we reap the consequences of those choices, we are surprised. It is at this point that God says, “[He] cannot be mocked.” We may be fooling those around us. Others may see the leaves and vines of our outward actions and think that we are a certain way, but we cannot fool God. God knows exactly what seeds we are planting in our lives. To stop this, we must pull up, by the roots, the plants of sin that we have sown. And turn your focus and attention on watering and fertilizing the seeds of God’s Word and His Spirit in your life that have been sown. If not, don’t be surprised at the time of reaping the consequences. God will not be mocked.
What seeds of sin and/or the flesh have you planted that need to be uprooted?
How can you uproot those plants from the seeds of sin that have been sown?
Challenge: Focus today on removing the seeds of sin and coming up with ways to focus on the good seeds that can or have been planted in your life.
REVIEW
What seeds of sin were you able to uproot today?
What good seeds were you able to water and fertilize today?
How did this impact you today?
December 20 2011
Title Not Necessary
Reading: Amos 1:1, The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
You may be thinking, “Uh, okay… is this verse a mistake? Did you really mean to use this verse for a devotional?” Well, in fact, yes. It’s not an exciting verse, necessarily, but imagine this with me.
You are not a pastor. You are not a teacher. You are not an evangelist, or missionary, or prophet. Yet, you are approached by Billy Graham and he tells you that he would like for you to write a book that will be placed in a compilation of books for all churches all over the world to use as a guideline and recommended reading. I don’t know about you but, after I regained consciousness and stood back up, I would be asking, “Why me? I’m just a regular guy. I have a regular job and a regular life. Are you sure you have the right guy?” Here in this verse we have Amos, a writer of one of the 66 books of God’s Word. GOD’S WORD! God was the One that approached him to write the book, not Billy Graham. Amos was simply “one of the shepherds”. We so often get it in our heads that God uses kings, prophets, priests, pastors, etc. We get so stuck on titles but God doesn’t see a title, He sees the heart of willingness.
Men, God wants to use you in incredible ways, even if you are just “one of the tree trimmers” or “one of the office staff”. God wants to use YOU! Simply, let Him.
Take some time and ask God what He has for you to do and how He wants to use you. (remember… it’s not a matter of “selling yourself short”… this is God we’re talking about… no limitations)
What do you believe God is leading you to do with His power, today?
REVIEW
Did you do what God was leading you to do with His power?
How did this happen and how did God use you?
Reading: Amos 1:1, The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
You may be thinking, “Uh, okay… is this verse a mistake? Did you really mean to use this verse for a devotional?” Well, in fact, yes. It’s not an exciting verse, necessarily, but imagine this with me.
You are not a pastor. You are not a teacher. You are not an evangelist, or missionary, or prophet. Yet, you are approached by Billy Graham and he tells you that he would like for you to write a book that will be placed in a compilation of books for all churches all over the world to use as a guideline and recommended reading. I don’t know about you but, after I regained consciousness and stood back up, I would be asking, “Why me? I’m just a regular guy. I have a regular job and a regular life. Are you sure you have the right guy?” Here in this verse we have Amos, a writer of one of the 66 books of God’s Word. GOD’S WORD! God was the One that approached him to write the book, not Billy Graham. Amos was simply “one of the shepherds”. We so often get it in our heads that God uses kings, prophets, priests, pastors, etc. We get so stuck on titles but God doesn’t see a title, He sees the heart of willingness.
Men, God wants to use you in incredible ways, even if you are just “one of the tree trimmers” or “one of the office staff”. God wants to use YOU! Simply, let Him.
Take some time and ask God what He has for you to do and how He wants to use you. (remember… it’s not a matter of “selling yourself short”… this is God we’re talking about… no limitations)
What do you believe God is leading you to do with His power, today?
REVIEW
Did you do what God was leading you to do with His power?
How did this happen and how did God use you?
December 19 2011
Reversal
Reading: Psalm 73:2-6; 9-14, 2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. 3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5 They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. 9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. 11 They say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?” 12 This is what the wicked are like— always carefree, they increase in wealth. 13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. [NIV]
Have you ever felt this way, where the world seems to have it easier? Often we think, “I’m a Christian… I love the Lord… therefore, I should be blessed and the world should be cursed.” Why does it seem like the ones that cheat, steal, manipulate the system, etc. seem to prosper and we have to work so hard to get anywhere or just to keep our head above the water? Why does it seem like they have it easier? Sometimes it just seems like everything is reversed. I love how the author of Psalm 73, Asaph, comes back around as he states, “16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.” “23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.” It is truly amazing what simply coming into His presence will do for our perspective… offering clarity to see the value in the eternal rather than the temporary.
Challenge: Take some time today to enter into His presence, preferably to start your day with the proper perspective. Spend some quality time, literally basking in His presence, thinking and meditating on Him. Ask Him to reveal the value of the eternal today rather than dwelling on the temporary successes of others.
End of the Day Review
How did you spend time entering into His presence?
How did that impact your day and your perspective on the eternal rather than temporary values?
Reading: Psalm 73:2-6; 9-14, 2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. 3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5 They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. 9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. 11 They say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?” 12 This is what the wicked are like— always carefree, they increase in wealth. 13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. [NIV]
Have you ever felt this way, where the world seems to have it easier? Often we think, “I’m a Christian… I love the Lord… therefore, I should be blessed and the world should be cursed.” Why does it seem like the ones that cheat, steal, manipulate the system, etc. seem to prosper and we have to work so hard to get anywhere or just to keep our head above the water? Why does it seem like they have it easier? Sometimes it just seems like everything is reversed. I love how the author of Psalm 73, Asaph, comes back around as he states, “16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.” “23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.” It is truly amazing what simply coming into His presence will do for our perspective… offering clarity to see the value in the eternal rather than the temporary.
Challenge: Take some time today to enter into His presence, preferably to start your day with the proper perspective. Spend some quality time, literally basking in His presence, thinking and meditating on Him. Ask Him to reveal the value of the eternal today rather than dwelling on the temporary successes of others.
End of the Day Review
How did you spend time entering into His presence?
How did that impact your day and your perspective on the eternal rather than temporary values?
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
December 18 2011
CELEBRATION!
Reading: Psalm 119:12-16, 12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. 13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
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 119:12-16, 12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. 13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
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?
December 17 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?
December 16 2011
Praise & Adoration
Reading: I Chronicles 29:10-13, 10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
It seems like this is one area in which we don’t feel comfortable and/or we don’t know how to praise and adore God. There we don’t do it. I struggled for years with this, thinking that praising God was simply saying, “Thank you”. But, it is so much more than that. True praise and adoration is exactly what David does in this passage. If you look at what he says to God in verse 11, don’t you think God already knows these things about Himself? So, why would praise and adoration be important then? Jesus himself, in teaching us to pray, started off with praise and adoration, “Hallowed be Your name... your kingdom come…. your will be done.” When God knows what we are thinking and He knows everything that is in our heart, why would we have to verbally praise and adore Him? Romans 10:11 says, “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Again, why is this important if He already knows our heart and our thoughts?
Men, it is no different than offering a sacrifice or our money to Him… He doesn’t need it. If you do not already practice praising and adoring God, you should try it. You will be amazed at what it will do for you when you verbally acknowledge God, His greatness, His truth, His love, His faithfulness, etc. and you will begin to realize how much He truly means to you.
Take some time right now and write out praise and adoration toward God and then speak it to Him. Try to include that throughout your day.
End of the Day Review
Were you able to take time throughout your day and praise and adore God?
How did you go about praising Him?
What impact did that make on your day?
Reading: I Chronicles 29:10-13, 10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
It seems like this is one area in which we don’t feel comfortable and/or we don’t know how to praise and adore God. There we don’t do it. I struggled for years with this, thinking that praising God was simply saying, “Thank you”. But, it is so much more than that. True praise and adoration is exactly what David does in this passage. If you look at what he says to God in verse 11, don’t you think God already knows these things about Himself? So, why would praise and adoration be important then? Jesus himself, in teaching us to pray, started off with praise and adoration, “Hallowed be Your name... your kingdom come…. your will be done.” When God knows what we are thinking and He knows everything that is in our heart, why would we have to verbally praise and adore Him? Romans 10:11 says, “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Again, why is this important if He already knows our heart and our thoughts?
Men, it is no different than offering a sacrifice or our money to Him… He doesn’t need it. If you do not already practice praising and adoring God, you should try it. You will be amazed at what it will do for you when you verbally acknowledge God, His greatness, His truth, His love, His faithfulness, etc. and you will begin to realize how much He truly means to you.
Take some time right now and write out praise and adoration toward God and then speak it to Him. Try to include that throughout your day.
End of the Day Review
Were you able to take time throughout your day and praise and adore God?
How did you go about praising Him?
What impact did that make on your day?
December 15 2011
Brazen Branches
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.
We have a Bradford Pear tree that is located only about 5 feet in front of our house. When we first moved in, we had to have a dead tree removed and each tree service that we spoke with stated that it would be essential to cut the Bradford Pear tree back. I learned that they are very well known for their branches breaking because the branches become disproportionate in size and location and tend to break from being too big for the location in which it is growing. This typically happens after the tree has matured for many years.
This verse reminds me of how similar we can be to the Bradford Pear tree. We find our strength and growth in God and His Son. But, as time goes on and as we have matured in Him, somehow we forget what our purpose is and we somehow begin to believe that we have something to do with our growth. But, men, God will not allow us to attempt to become bigger than He is. Unfortunately, the bigger we get with pride and arrogance that somehow we had something to do with our successes and growth, He will have to remind you that He is your life source and, unfortunately, it may be through being broken. Be careful not to be bigger than the tree itself.
Men, be honest, have you lost sight of where your successes and growth have come from? (before we quickly brush it off to be done with the devotional for today… really think about every aspect of your life… have you?)
If so, in what ways have you lost sight of that and how has that been demonstrated in your life?
How can you stay connect to Christ and let Him receive all the glory, praise and honor in your life for your successes, status or accomplishments?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to give all the praise, honor and glory to God today?
In your mind, heart and spirit, were you able to maintain a sense of humility that you are the result of what God is doing in your life, rather than YOUR accomplishments?
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.
We have a Bradford Pear tree that is located only about 5 feet in front of our house. When we first moved in, we had to have a dead tree removed and each tree service that we spoke with stated that it would be essential to cut the Bradford Pear tree back. I learned that they are very well known for their branches breaking because the branches become disproportionate in size and location and tend to break from being too big for the location in which it is growing. This typically happens after the tree has matured for many years.
This verse reminds me of how similar we can be to the Bradford Pear tree. We find our strength and growth in God and His Son. But, as time goes on and as we have matured in Him, somehow we forget what our purpose is and we somehow begin to believe that we have something to do with our growth. But, men, God will not allow us to attempt to become bigger than He is. Unfortunately, the bigger we get with pride and arrogance that somehow we had something to do with our successes and growth, He will have to remind you that He is your life source and, unfortunately, it may be through being broken. Be careful not to be bigger than the tree itself.
Men, be honest, have you lost sight of where your successes and growth have come from? (before we quickly brush it off to be done with the devotional for today… really think about every aspect of your life… have you?)
If so, in what ways have you lost sight of that and how has that been demonstrated in your life?
How can you stay connect to Christ and let Him receive all the glory, praise and honor in your life for your successes, status or accomplishments?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to give all the praise, honor and glory to God today?
In your mind, heart and spirit, were you able to maintain a sense of humility that you are the result of what God is doing in your life, rather than YOUR accomplishments?
December 14 2011
Your Roots
Reading: Colossians 2:6-8, 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
As we understand that it is up to us how rich and prepared our soil is for the seeds that God is planting in our hearts and lives, we see how rich and plentiful the soil and fruit is in other Christian’s lives. As we do, we want to share soil with them because we see the results. Many times these are pastors, teacher or mentors. Men, what happens when one tree that is already established has another growing right next to it? Exactly… the tree that has just started growing or grows in the shadows of the larger tree does not get nearly the nutrients or “Son-light” that it needs. More dangerous still is the fact that the roots become intertwined. The reason that this is so dangerous is because when the larger tree is uprooted or cut down and removed, guess what happens. That’s right… the others come with it that have been clumped together. Men, this is exactly how church splits occur… this is exactly how people fall away from the Lord when a pastor or someone who you respect has fallen into sin. These verses are extremely invaluable to you and to our churches today. If you truly have received Christ Jesus, walk in HIM, not in anyone else. Let your roots sink deeper and deeper into Him and nothing or anyone else. This is when you will be established and strengthened and you will become an “oak” of faith. I have seen too many fall flat on their face, not to rise again for many years, with many hurts and scars because they chose to use someone else’s soil and let their roots grow into a man, instead of Christ.
Where are your roots? Do you want a test? If the godly man you admire the most fell into sin or left or said something hurtful to you, would it affect your relationship with God and your walk with Him, if so, how much would it?
Really evaluate it… it’s not too late to be transplanted into Christ. How can you start that process today?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to evaluate whether your roots are established in Christ?
How were you able to grow and strengthen your roots in Him today?
Reading: Colossians 2:6-8, 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
As we understand that it is up to us how rich and prepared our soil is for the seeds that God is planting in our hearts and lives, we see how rich and plentiful the soil and fruit is in other Christian’s lives. As we do, we want to share soil with them because we see the results. Many times these are pastors, teacher or mentors. Men, what happens when one tree that is already established has another growing right next to it? Exactly… the tree that has just started growing or grows in the shadows of the larger tree does not get nearly the nutrients or “Son-light” that it needs. More dangerous still is the fact that the roots become intertwined. The reason that this is so dangerous is because when the larger tree is uprooted or cut down and removed, guess what happens. That’s right… the others come with it that have been clumped together. Men, this is exactly how church splits occur… this is exactly how people fall away from the Lord when a pastor or someone who you respect has fallen into sin. These verses are extremely invaluable to you and to our churches today. If you truly have received Christ Jesus, walk in HIM, not in anyone else. Let your roots sink deeper and deeper into Him and nothing or anyone else. This is when you will be established and strengthened and you will become an “oak” of faith. I have seen too many fall flat on their face, not to rise again for many years, with many hurts and scars because they chose to use someone else’s soil and let their roots grow into a man, instead of Christ.
Where are your roots? Do you want a test? If the godly man you admire the most fell into sin or left or said something hurtful to you, would it affect your relationship with God and your walk with Him, if so, how much would it?
Really evaluate it… it’s not too late to be transplanted into Christ. How can you start that process today?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to evaluate whether your roots are established in Christ?
How were you able to grow and strengthen your roots in Him today?
December 13 2011
Your Soil
Reading: Mark 4.3-9, 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.”
Anytime that I read this passage or heard this passage taught, I had the perception that the seed is tossed on the soil and it being rocky, or thorny, or dry, etc. is just what it is, there is no consideration for it being made that way or a possibility that it could be any different. If you are going to prepare the soil, of course, it should be good soil for seed… but these soils were not. Why? The preparation of the soil, the nature of the soil, the richness of the soil is completely up to us, the soil. We have the right and the ability to choose which soil we are. We have the choice to let go of the “rocky” hardness of our heart from the bitterness of past hurts. We have the choice to eliminate the thorns and weeds of our sin that can choke out the good that God is attempting to grow in your life. We have the choice to dig more deeply into God’s Word so that the world cannot snatch away through lies, deceit and human reasoning the seeds that God is planting in your life. You have the choice to work at being the good soil, constantly ready for the seeds that God is attempting to plant in your life. Although hurts, temptations and other influences are a part of our life; we must maintain a focus that the singular purpose of the soil is to be ready for the seeds that God is sowing.
How is your soil? Evaluate the soil of your heart… are their rocks of unforgiveness or weeds/thorns of sin that have grown, if so, what are they?
How can you prepare the soil of your heart for the seeds that God will be planting today?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to cultivate your soil and eliminate the enemies of maintaining healthy soil, if so, how?
Were you able to see and understand the seeds that God was planting in your heart today? What were they and how did you respond?
Reading: Mark 4.3-9, 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.”
Anytime that I read this passage or heard this passage taught, I had the perception that the seed is tossed on the soil and it being rocky, or thorny, or dry, etc. is just what it is, there is no consideration for it being made that way or a possibility that it could be any different. If you are going to prepare the soil, of course, it should be good soil for seed… but these soils were not. Why? The preparation of the soil, the nature of the soil, the richness of the soil is completely up to us, the soil. We have the right and the ability to choose which soil we are. We have the choice to let go of the “rocky” hardness of our heart from the bitterness of past hurts. We have the choice to eliminate the thorns and weeds of our sin that can choke out the good that God is attempting to grow in your life. We have the choice to dig more deeply into God’s Word so that the world cannot snatch away through lies, deceit and human reasoning the seeds that God is planting in your life. You have the choice to work at being the good soil, constantly ready for the seeds that God is attempting to plant in your life. Although hurts, temptations and other influences are a part of our life; we must maintain a focus that the singular purpose of the soil is to be ready for the seeds that God is sowing.
How is your soil? Evaluate the soil of your heart… are their rocks of unforgiveness or weeds/thorns of sin that have grown, if so, what are they?
How can you prepare the soil of your heart for the seeds that God will be planting today?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to cultivate your soil and eliminate the enemies of maintaining healthy soil, if so, how?
Were you able to see and understand the seeds that God was planting in your heart today? What were they and how did you respond?
December 12 2011
Heavenly Forgiveness
Reading: Ephesians 4:32, 32Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. [NASB]
Matthew 6:12, Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
I John 3:16, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. [NIV]
Often, it is difficult to imagine how it will be in heaven? Can you try to imagine, though, how forgiveness will look in heaven? You will have Uriah the Hittite in the same place that King David will be, when David slept with Uriah’s wife, got her pregnant and, then, if that wasn’t enough, he set him up to be killed “in battle”. If it weren’t for the fact that the Bible says that we will be changed to be like Christ in heaven, I can just imagine Uriah, sitting in his golden chair across from David, with the squinting look and the “I’m watching you” gesture… for all eternity. Then, you have Stephen who will be in the same place as Saul who stood there holding the coats of the men who were stoning him to death. But, then there’s you… standing there in heaven with whip in one hand and hammer in another, with head hung low out of shame for beating Jesus and nailing Him to the cross as a result of your sin. Yet, Jesus would walk over to you and say, “Oh, you don’t need those here. I forgave you a long time ago. No need to keep holding onto it.” Imagine the level of forgiveness that we will be able to experience… but, what about the forgiveness that you will need to give to those who hurt you severely but are also in heaven? According to these verses, we shouldn’t be waiting until heaven to forgive those people and love them… today, you can offer pure, heavenly forgiveness to those who have wronged and hurt you.
Who has hurt you to a level that makes it difficult to truly forgive them?
Why would being in heaven make a difference in your purity of forgiveness?
How can you apply that same outlook and forgiveness today to those who have hurt you?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to forgive those who have hurt you and how were you able to demonstrate that forgiveness?
How did you feel after offering pure, heavenly forgiveness?
Reading: Ephesians 4:32, 32Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. [NASB]
Matthew 6:12, Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
I John 3:16, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. [NIV]
Often, it is difficult to imagine how it will be in heaven? Can you try to imagine, though, how forgiveness will look in heaven? You will have Uriah the Hittite in the same place that King David will be, when David slept with Uriah’s wife, got her pregnant and, then, if that wasn’t enough, he set him up to be killed “in battle”. If it weren’t for the fact that the Bible says that we will be changed to be like Christ in heaven, I can just imagine Uriah, sitting in his golden chair across from David, with the squinting look and the “I’m watching you” gesture… for all eternity. Then, you have Stephen who will be in the same place as Saul who stood there holding the coats of the men who were stoning him to death. But, then there’s you… standing there in heaven with whip in one hand and hammer in another, with head hung low out of shame for beating Jesus and nailing Him to the cross as a result of your sin. Yet, Jesus would walk over to you and say, “Oh, you don’t need those here. I forgave you a long time ago. No need to keep holding onto it.” Imagine the level of forgiveness that we will be able to experience… but, what about the forgiveness that you will need to give to those who hurt you severely but are also in heaven? According to these verses, we shouldn’t be waiting until heaven to forgive those people and love them… today, you can offer pure, heavenly forgiveness to those who have wronged and hurt you.
Who has hurt you to a level that makes it difficult to truly forgive them?
Why would being in heaven make a difference in your purity of forgiveness?
How can you apply that same outlook and forgiveness today to those who have hurt you?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to forgive those who have hurt you and how were you able to demonstrate that forgiveness?
How did you feel after offering pure, heavenly forgiveness?
Sunday, December 4, 2011
December 11 2011
CELEBRATION!
Reading: Psalm 134:1-3, 1 Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. 3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
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?
How did this impact you today?
Reading: Psalm 134:1-3, 1 Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. 3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
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?
How did this impact you today?
December 10 2011
Bible Study #3
Character Bible Study
Bible Character: Titus
What are the key Scripture passages associated with this character?
II Corinthians 2:13; 7:6-14; 8:6-23; 12:18; Galatians 2:1-3; II Timothy 4:10; the Book of Titus
Give a brief description of what was going on sociologically during that historical time (A.D. 49-65) and possibly about the area in which he was living:
What were a few of his greatest strengths?
How did he use these strengths for God?
What impact did it make?
What were a few of his greatest weaknesses or struggles?
Did they acknowledge these weaknesses or struggles and/or confess them, if so, how?
Describe his key encounter(s) with God?
Who were his key friends and were they a help or hindrance?
How did he influence others?
What is a key lesson from his life that you can apply to your life?
End of the Day Review
How?
What?
Character Bible Study
Bible Character: Titus
What are the key Scripture passages associated with this character?
II Corinthians 2:13; 7:6-14; 8:6-23; 12:18; Galatians 2:1-3; II Timothy 4:10; the Book of Titus
Give a brief description of what was going on sociologically during that historical time (A.D. 49-65) and possibly about the area in which he was living:
What were a few of his greatest strengths?
How did he use these strengths for God?
What impact did it make?
What were a few of his greatest weaknesses or struggles?
Did they acknowledge these weaknesses or struggles and/or confess them, if so, how?
Describe his key encounter(s) with God?
Who were his key friends and were they a help or hindrance?
How did he influence others?
What is a key lesson from his life that you can apply to your life?
End of the Day Review
How?
What?
December 9 2011
He’s Got It
Reading: Exodus 15:22, 24, 27 22 Then Moses led Israel from the red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink? Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. Exodus 17:1-2, 1 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin… They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” - NIV
Many of us already know the story of Israel leaving Egypt and journeying to their new home, the “Promise Land”. Israel had between 2-3 million people. The daily needs of water supply, especially traveling in desert regions, became a pre-planned necessity. Typically, Israel was found grumbling and complaining about the apparent lack of planning. Constantly, they were saying, “Okay, Moses, you brought us out here and obviously, you must not have had a real clear plan or just didn’t think through what it would be like to move 2-3 million people and what our needs would be.” God could have very easily given them a map and said, “Okay, to move 2-3 million people you should be able to travel 30 miles and you can see the building marked on your map that indicates the rest area, which includes a food and drink station.” He’s God… He could have done that. But, if He did, would they have learned to look to God to meet their needs? Instead, they were able to witness God’s hand meeting their specific need. He already knows when you’re walking in the desert of life, men, and that you will need His refreshing. We don’t need to see our rest area marked on our life’s map but we do need to look to Him and trust that He’s got it. He wants you to see Him meet your specific need.
First, just like the Israelites saw God’s power in previous events, what has God done for you to show His hand in your life?
In what “desert” are you walking through and how will you look to God to meet your needs and trust Him that He’s got it?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to look to God to meet your needs today?
How did God show Himself to you through your needs?
Reading: Exodus 15:22, 24, 27 22 Then Moses led Israel from the red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink? Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. Exodus 17:1-2, 1 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin… They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” - NIV
Many of us already know the story of Israel leaving Egypt and journeying to their new home, the “Promise Land”. Israel had between 2-3 million people. The daily needs of water supply, especially traveling in desert regions, became a pre-planned necessity. Typically, Israel was found grumbling and complaining about the apparent lack of planning. Constantly, they were saying, “Okay, Moses, you brought us out here and obviously, you must not have had a real clear plan or just didn’t think through what it would be like to move 2-3 million people and what our needs would be.” God could have very easily given them a map and said, “Okay, to move 2-3 million people you should be able to travel 30 miles and you can see the building marked on your map that indicates the rest area, which includes a food and drink station.” He’s God… He could have done that. But, if He did, would they have learned to look to God to meet their needs? Instead, they were able to witness God’s hand meeting their specific need. He already knows when you’re walking in the desert of life, men, and that you will need His refreshing. We don’t need to see our rest area marked on our life’s map but we do need to look to Him and trust that He’s got it. He wants you to see Him meet your specific need.
First, just like the Israelites saw God’s power in previous events, what has God done for you to show His hand in your life?
In what “desert” are you walking through and how will you look to God to meet your needs and trust Him that He’s got it?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to look to God to meet your needs today?
How did God show Himself to you through your needs?
December 8 2011
Facing the Sun
Reading: Hebrews 12:2, “2Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” [NASB]
On my way to work every morning, I pass a huge field of sunflowers. It is truly amazing to see, all of the sunflowers standing at attention with their bright yellow faces of flowers aimed directly at the sun as it rises, almost as if they waited the whole night just for that moment. The amazing thing about sunflowers, though, is that they follow the sun the entire day to absorb as much sunlight as they can. My mind immediately wondered what the world would look like if all of the Christians acted the same way. How amazing it would be to see Christians greet the day as if they spent the whole night in anticipation of seeing the Son and all throughout the day their faces are constantly following the Son as if their life, their energy, their very existence depended on it.
May we as a Band of Brothers be like that field of sunflowers, instead of all facing our own way doing our own thing… may everyone that passes us be able to see that we, as a huge field of Christian men, are standing together with our eyes fixed on the Son.
How can you be sure to fix your eyes on the Son today, throughout the entire day, as if your life, your energy your very existence depends on it (because… as a Christian man… it does)?
How can you encourage other brothers to be unified with you, today, with your focus on Christ?
REVIEW
Were you able to keep your focus on the Son today?
Were you able to encourage other brothers to be jointly focused on Christ today?
If so, how did this impact your day?
Reading: Hebrews 12:2, “2Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” [NASB]
On my way to work every morning, I pass a huge field of sunflowers. It is truly amazing to see, all of the sunflowers standing at attention with their bright yellow faces of flowers aimed directly at the sun as it rises, almost as if they waited the whole night just for that moment. The amazing thing about sunflowers, though, is that they follow the sun the entire day to absorb as much sunlight as they can. My mind immediately wondered what the world would look like if all of the Christians acted the same way. How amazing it would be to see Christians greet the day as if they spent the whole night in anticipation of seeing the Son and all throughout the day their faces are constantly following the Son as if their life, their energy, their very existence depended on it.
May we as a Band of Brothers be like that field of sunflowers, instead of all facing our own way doing our own thing… may everyone that passes us be able to see that we, as a huge field of Christian men, are standing together with our eyes fixed on the Son.
How can you be sure to fix your eyes on the Son today, throughout the entire day, as if your life, your energy your very existence depends on it (because… as a Christian man… it does)?
How can you encourage other brothers to be unified with you, today, with your focus on Christ?
REVIEW
Were you able to keep your focus on the Son today?
Were you able to encourage other brothers to be jointly focused on Christ today?
If so, how did this impact your day?
December 7 2011
Checkup #2
Reading: Philippians 1:3-6, 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It has been 2 months since the men’s conference. It’s time for another checkup. Now is when it typically becomes a little more difficult. The seeds of the old sin can start taking root again, if we are not careful. Here’s our check-up.
What decision did you make for God at the Conquest men’s conference?
Do you have 2 or 3 men that you have been talking to about your decision(s)?
When is the last time that you spoke to someone about your decision(s)?
Have you struggled over the past month with the same sin or the decision you made at the conference? If so, in what ways have you struggled?
Also, what steps can you take to get back on track with your decision?
If you have found complete victory from your sin or struggle from the conference, in what ways can you help others who may be struggling with the same thing?
End of the Day Review
If you have still been struggling, how were you able to take steps today to get back on track?
If you have found complete victory, how were you able to help someone today who may be struggling with the same thing?
Reading: Philippians 1:3-6, 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It has been 2 months since the men’s conference. It’s time for another checkup. Now is when it typically becomes a little more difficult. The seeds of the old sin can start taking root again, if we are not careful. Here’s our check-up.
What decision did you make for God at the Conquest men’s conference?
Do you have 2 or 3 men that you have been talking to about your decision(s)?
When is the last time that you spoke to someone about your decision(s)?
Have you struggled over the past month with the same sin or the decision you made at the conference? If so, in what ways have you struggled?
Also, what steps can you take to get back on track with your decision?
If you have found complete victory from your sin or struggle from the conference, in what ways can you help others who may be struggling with the same thing?
End of the Day Review
If you have still been struggling, how were you able to take steps today to get back on track?
If you have found complete victory, how were you able to help someone today who may be struggling with the same thing?
December 5 2011
Fear?
Reading: Hebrews 13:5b-6, “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
We live in a society that is full of fear mongering, which means,“the use of fear to influence the opinions and actions of others towards some specific end”. Why has it become so prevalent? Well, fear tends to produce a natural reaction of an exaggerated response to protect yourself from the potential danger. The reality? There is a lot of power in producing fear in people to get a desired response. We are surrounded by fearful things. Look at how far that we have come. When I was young, there were four of us kids and we all crammed into a Plymouth Champ, which seemed to be a little bigger than a smart car is today. I, being the youngest, would often sit in the hatch back. Also, our cribs were covered in lead-based paint, there were no childproof lids, it was fun to ride in the back of a pickup truck, we drank out of a garden hose, we shared drinks with our friends out of the same bottle, we ate white bread and real butter and drank and ate things with real sugar in it. We ate mud pies and toads peed on our hands. We picked candy up off of the sidewalk and still ate it… and ya know what? We are still alive to tell about it. We were able to go down the street to play and there weren’t cell phones for our parents to get a hold of us every second. We weren’t afraid of doing things that might give us cuts, scrapes and bruises. But, over time, fears have squeezed us into a tighter and tighter box. The devil is a fear monger. The world is full of them as well. They know that with fear comes control and there is only One under whose control we are to remain; and the beauty of that is, under His control, we know that He always has our best interest in mind, unlike the world and the devil.
In what ways are you experiencing fear, today? What are you afraid of?
How can you rest throughout your day in the fact that He has promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you?
End of the Day Review
What things happened today that would normally cause or produce fear in your?
Were you able to remember that He is with you even in those situations, if not, why; if yes, how?
Reading: Hebrews 13:5b-6, “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
We live in a society that is full of fear mongering, which means,“the use of fear to influence the opinions and actions of others towards some specific end”. Why has it become so prevalent? Well, fear tends to produce a natural reaction of an exaggerated response to protect yourself from the potential danger. The reality? There is a lot of power in producing fear in people to get a desired response. We are surrounded by fearful things. Look at how far that we have come. When I was young, there were four of us kids and we all crammed into a Plymouth Champ, which seemed to be a little bigger than a smart car is today. I, being the youngest, would often sit in the hatch back. Also, our cribs were covered in lead-based paint, there were no childproof lids, it was fun to ride in the back of a pickup truck, we drank out of a garden hose, we shared drinks with our friends out of the same bottle, we ate white bread and real butter and drank and ate things with real sugar in it. We ate mud pies and toads peed on our hands. We picked candy up off of the sidewalk and still ate it… and ya know what? We are still alive to tell about it. We were able to go down the street to play and there weren’t cell phones for our parents to get a hold of us every second. We weren’t afraid of doing things that might give us cuts, scrapes and bruises. But, over time, fears have squeezed us into a tighter and tighter box. The devil is a fear monger. The world is full of them as well. They know that with fear comes control and there is only One under whose control we are to remain; and the beauty of that is, under His control, we know that He always has our best interest in mind, unlike the world and the devil.
In what ways are you experiencing fear, today? What are you afraid of?
How can you rest throughout your day in the fact that He has promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you?
End of the Day Review
What things happened today that would normally cause or produce fear in your?
Were you able to remember that He is with you even in those situations, if not, why; if yes, how?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)