CELEBRATION!
Reading: Psalm 109:30-31, 30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD; in the great throng I will praise him. 31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him.
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, January 22, 2012
January 28 2012
Our Weakness
Reading: I Corinthians 1:22-25, 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
I don’t know about you but I don’t get any real joy out of spending time talking about my weaknesses. I would rather hear about how I’m making a difference or how I look good in my caped suit as I swept down and saved the day. Hearing about my weakness, though??? Not an enjoyable thing, especially as a guy. We want to be the conqueror not the defeated… and typically, we want to do it ourselves. It is this characteristic that tends to war against the teachings of this passage. When our wife, children or friends have a question, it sure feels good to hear that you would be the one with the answer, the one that knows. Verse 25 is simply amazing, though, it’s almost like the Bible is saying, “Yeah, God’s foolishness is smarter than the smartest man in the world. God could do man’s greatest feats with His hands tied behind His back.” The thing is… as God’s child… you have access to that same wisdom and strength. The cost?... simply sacrifice your wisdom and strength, which is easy to say… not as easy to do, especially as a man. It’s easier to act, react, and function while using our own strength and thoughts based upon our own senses and perception. Will you choose to tap into God’s wisdom and strength today?
How can you set aside your own thoughts and smarts to rely on God’s thoughts today?
How can you set aside your own strength to rely on God’s strength today?
REVIEW
How were you able to set aside your own strength and thoughts to rely on God’s thoughts and strength?
How did that impact you and your day today?
Reading: I Corinthians 1:22-25, 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
I don’t know about you but I don’t get any real joy out of spending time talking about my weaknesses. I would rather hear about how I’m making a difference or how I look good in my caped suit as I swept down and saved the day. Hearing about my weakness, though??? Not an enjoyable thing, especially as a guy. We want to be the conqueror not the defeated… and typically, we want to do it ourselves. It is this characteristic that tends to war against the teachings of this passage. When our wife, children or friends have a question, it sure feels good to hear that you would be the one with the answer, the one that knows. Verse 25 is simply amazing, though, it’s almost like the Bible is saying, “Yeah, God’s foolishness is smarter than the smartest man in the world. God could do man’s greatest feats with His hands tied behind His back.” The thing is… as God’s child… you have access to that same wisdom and strength. The cost?... simply sacrifice your wisdom and strength, which is easy to say… not as easy to do, especially as a man. It’s easier to act, react, and function while using our own strength and thoughts based upon our own senses and perception. Will you choose to tap into God’s wisdom and strength today?
How can you set aside your own thoughts and smarts to rely on God’s thoughts today?
How can you set aside your own strength to rely on God’s strength today?
REVIEW
How were you able to set aside your own strength and thoughts to rely on God’s thoughts and strength?
How did that impact you and your day today?
January 27 2012
Thanks, Brothers
Reading: Philemon 1:4-7, 4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
I think that sometimes we take our Christian brothers for granted. When do we remember them, when we need a hand with something? When we have received unwelcome news? How often do we remember to pray for our brother or just give thanks to God for blessing our lives with them? Surely we’re thankful for them, aren’t we? It truly is a different feeling to pray thanks for someone rather than lifting them as a request. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s important that we pray for those in need, but I also feel a joy when I pray for someone “just because.”
I can recall a day that can be described as a “case of the Mondays.” Nothing was going right. I was miserable and in a foul mood. I knew I had to pray and as I started speaking the words, I found my thoughts drifting to my best friend. I prayed that his house would finally close escrow that he would have enough time with his girlfriend and I prayed that he would serve the Lord to the best of his potential. Wouldn’t you know it…as soon as I said Amen, the phone rang. It was my friend with great news – his house had finally closed and he was taking his girlfriend out to celebrate. He closed with “Isn’t God great?” “Yes He is.” I replied. I spent the rest of the day in a great mood. I pray that the next time you’re having a “case of the Mondays” that you will be able to turn to God in prayer and change that “Monday” into a great day.
Who can you pray for today and, specifically, how will you be praying for them?
End of the Day Review
How did you lift up your brothers in prayer today?
Did you see any results? How did God reveal Himself to you through doing this?
Reading: Philemon 1:4-7, 4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
I think that sometimes we take our Christian brothers for granted. When do we remember them, when we need a hand with something? When we have received unwelcome news? How often do we remember to pray for our brother or just give thanks to God for blessing our lives with them? Surely we’re thankful for them, aren’t we? It truly is a different feeling to pray thanks for someone rather than lifting them as a request. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s important that we pray for those in need, but I also feel a joy when I pray for someone “just because.”
I can recall a day that can be described as a “case of the Mondays.” Nothing was going right. I was miserable and in a foul mood. I knew I had to pray and as I started speaking the words, I found my thoughts drifting to my best friend. I prayed that his house would finally close escrow that he would have enough time with his girlfriend and I prayed that he would serve the Lord to the best of his potential. Wouldn’t you know it…as soon as I said Amen, the phone rang. It was my friend with great news – his house had finally closed and he was taking his girlfriend out to celebrate. He closed with “Isn’t God great?” “Yes He is.” I replied. I spent the rest of the day in a great mood. I pray that the next time you’re having a “case of the Mondays” that you will be able to turn to God in prayer and change that “Monday” into a great day.
Who can you pray for today and, specifically, how will you be praying for them?
End of the Day Review
How did you lift up your brothers in prayer today?
Did you see any results? How did God reveal Himself to you through doing this?
January 26 2012
Level Ground
Reading: Isaiah 26:7-9, 7 The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. 8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. 9 My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.
If you are anything like me, you may chuckle a bit at the thought of life being level and smooth. Life seems to be anything but level and smooth. But, that’s not what Isaiah is talking about. It would be comparable to climbing a mountain and coming to a point where there is a ravine for as far as you can seen from side to side. Your journey and goal is to get to the other side to continue climbing up the mountain. You start climbing down into the ravine. It’s rocky and difficult but then you look up and see a bridge that spans the ravine. The bridge doesn’t take away the rockiness or difficulty of the ravine and the area that you need to cross, it simply makes the path level and smooth, well, and a lot easier, for that matter. The problem tends to be that we want the result of a level and smooth path of life, but we don’t want to have to wait for it. Yes, I said, “Wait for it”. Notice, Isaiah said, “walking in the way of your laws, we WAIT for you”. Too many times, the waiting is too difficult so we tend to go ahead through the rocky ravine. But, what produces the ability to wait? Verses 8 and 9 give us the answers. When your focus is removed from the path and placed on “desiring”, “yearning” and “longing” for God and walking with Him. The waiting doesn’t seem nearly as difficult because you don’t want to experience the journey without Him. So, however long the wait, you just know that you don’t want to go without Him.
What rocky or difficult ravines are you traveling through right now?
Do you “yearn for [God] in the night; in the morning [your] spirit long for [Him]”? If not, how can you get to that place?
REVIEW
How was your path today?
Were you able to wait on the Lord and did you yearn for Him and long for Him? How did this impact your day?
Reading: Isaiah 26:7-9, 7 The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. 8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. 9 My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.
If you are anything like me, you may chuckle a bit at the thought of life being level and smooth. Life seems to be anything but level and smooth. But, that’s not what Isaiah is talking about. It would be comparable to climbing a mountain and coming to a point where there is a ravine for as far as you can seen from side to side. Your journey and goal is to get to the other side to continue climbing up the mountain. You start climbing down into the ravine. It’s rocky and difficult but then you look up and see a bridge that spans the ravine. The bridge doesn’t take away the rockiness or difficulty of the ravine and the area that you need to cross, it simply makes the path level and smooth, well, and a lot easier, for that matter. The problem tends to be that we want the result of a level and smooth path of life, but we don’t want to have to wait for it. Yes, I said, “Wait for it”. Notice, Isaiah said, “walking in the way of your laws, we WAIT for you”. Too many times, the waiting is too difficult so we tend to go ahead through the rocky ravine. But, what produces the ability to wait? Verses 8 and 9 give us the answers. When your focus is removed from the path and placed on “desiring”, “yearning” and “longing” for God and walking with Him. The waiting doesn’t seem nearly as difficult because you don’t want to experience the journey without Him. So, however long the wait, you just know that you don’t want to go without Him.
What rocky or difficult ravines are you traveling through right now?
Do you “yearn for [God] in the night; in the morning [your] spirit long for [Him]”? If not, how can you get to that place?
REVIEW
How was your path today?
Were you able to wait on the Lord and did you yearn for Him and long for Him? How did this impact your day?
January 25 2012
Use Your Gift
Reading: I Timothy 4:12-16, 12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
With young children of my own, I am constantly intrigued at Christmas and birthdays which gift they are going to really cling to and which gift they would just as soon do without. There are so many times that “you just know that they are going to love it!!!” Then they open it, and the last thing that their face communicates is absolute adoration for this gift. Even at a certain age, they would much rather play with the box that the gift came in, then to play with the gift. You begin to wonder “Then, what was the point of getting the gift?” Then, you have us, the adults. Have you ever received a gift, tucked it away, then found it a while later and completely forgot that you had it? My brother-in-law and I had about a five year string going when we would give the tie that the other one had given the previous year. I don’t think we wore the tie even one time. It just sat on the tie rack. Too many times we are the same way with our spiritual gifts from God. It may not be the most popular gift. We may experience fear in demonstrating that gift. We may not think we have time to use the gift, but, what Paul said to Timothy, to “not neglect your gift”, was a command to follow. A legitimate struggle for you could be that you don’t know what your gifts are. It’s difficult to open your gift and use it, if you don’t know what it is.
Challenge: If you don’t know what your gifts are, talk to your group and ask them to help you with developing a list of your gifts.
What are your gifts?
How can you use those gifts in your life without neglecting them?
REVIEW
What did you learn about your gifts today?
How were you able to use your gifts today?
Reading: I Timothy 4:12-16, 12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
With young children of my own, I am constantly intrigued at Christmas and birthdays which gift they are going to really cling to and which gift they would just as soon do without. There are so many times that “you just know that they are going to love it!!!” Then they open it, and the last thing that their face communicates is absolute adoration for this gift. Even at a certain age, they would much rather play with the box that the gift came in, then to play with the gift. You begin to wonder “Then, what was the point of getting the gift?” Then, you have us, the adults. Have you ever received a gift, tucked it away, then found it a while later and completely forgot that you had it? My brother-in-law and I had about a five year string going when we would give the tie that the other one had given the previous year. I don’t think we wore the tie even one time. It just sat on the tie rack. Too many times we are the same way with our spiritual gifts from God. It may not be the most popular gift. We may experience fear in demonstrating that gift. We may not think we have time to use the gift, but, what Paul said to Timothy, to “not neglect your gift”, was a command to follow. A legitimate struggle for you could be that you don’t know what your gifts are. It’s difficult to open your gift and use it, if you don’t know what it is.
Challenge: If you don’t know what your gifts are, talk to your group and ask them to help you with developing a list of your gifts.
What are your gifts?
How can you use those gifts in your life without neglecting them?
REVIEW
What did you learn about your gifts today?
How were you able to use your gifts today?
January 24 2012
Leave Responsibilities?
Reading: Matthew 19:29, And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
“Everyone who has left house… okay, I get that… or brothers… get that… or sisters… definitely get that… or father or mother… yeah, get that… or children… WHAT? Leave children?” And add on top of that… leave fields… which at that time was the way to provide for your family? Men, this isn’t a verse that is teaching us to shirk our God given roles and responsibilities. Rather, we can tend to, very easily, hide behind our “roles and responsibilities” as an excuse to not truly follow Christ. Men, following Christ is not merely attending church. We tend to fill our days with work (the “fields”) and running our kids to one event or the other. Let’s do the math… if the average Christian home has 2 children… and if every child in that home follows Christ… we are not changing the world. We are remaining status quo. Are we ready to make a difference in the world? Really… are we?
What things are you holding on to and not forsaking to follow Christ completely?
What are some hindrances and things that make it difficult for you to let go of these things to follow Him?
How can you take steps today to let go of these things and follow Christ completely with all that you have to offer?
End of the Day Review
What steps did you take in your life today to let go of the things that have been holding you back from following Christ completely?
How can you maintain this to continue on following Him without picking those things back up?
Reading: Matthew 19:29, And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
“Everyone who has left house… okay, I get that… or brothers… get that… or sisters… definitely get that… or father or mother… yeah, get that… or children… WHAT? Leave children?” And add on top of that… leave fields… which at that time was the way to provide for your family? Men, this isn’t a verse that is teaching us to shirk our God given roles and responsibilities. Rather, we can tend to, very easily, hide behind our “roles and responsibilities” as an excuse to not truly follow Christ. Men, following Christ is not merely attending church. We tend to fill our days with work (the “fields”) and running our kids to one event or the other. Let’s do the math… if the average Christian home has 2 children… and if every child in that home follows Christ… we are not changing the world. We are remaining status quo. Are we ready to make a difference in the world? Really… are we?
What things are you holding on to and not forsaking to follow Christ completely?
What are some hindrances and things that make it difficult for you to let go of these things to follow Him?
How can you take steps today to let go of these things and follow Christ completely with all that you have to offer?
End of the Day Review
What steps did you take in your life today to let go of the things that have been holding you back from following Christ completely?
How can you maintain this to continue on following Him without picking those things back up?
January 23 2012
For You
Reading: Hebrews 12:2-3, 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Imagine you are with your band of brothers and while you’re talking with a few men, periodically, a different man comes up to you and says very excitedly, “He wants to see you.” Before you can ask, “Who”… He walks away, so you continue talking. Another comes up, “Can you believe it, He wants to see you?” “Who? Who wants to see me?”, you say, as he walks away. After a few more times, you become adamant, “Who wants to see me? And where is this person?” As soon as the words come out of your mouth, everyone in the entire place looks at you and begins to part the way. There at the end of the opening stands Jesus. He motions for you to come to Him. As you near Him, He motions for you to sit down, without saying a word. You look back at the other people who are now leaving to give the two of you some privacy. He pulls up a chair to sit down right in front of you. He sits down, looks you square in the eyes and says, “Hi,” with a gentle smile. Torn between excitement that it’s Jesus and a sickening feeling that you’re in trouble, you say “Hi” back. Then He calls you by name and says, “Do you know what I did?” Assuming He is talking about His sacrifice, you say, “Yes”. He then opens up His hands and lays them open in front of you and says, “No… do you know what I did?... Do you want to touch the scars?” You don’t really want to but you feel like you should. Then, He leans forward and looks at you until you are looking into His eyes and He gently says, “You… (he pauses and His smile grows as if He is thinking about it even more deeply) “You...,” He continues, “were worth it.” As that begins to sink in, He continues, “Every time that the whip hit my back, every time that my hand felt the vibration of the hammer hitting the nail, as I could feel the thorns digging into my skull, even the feeling of being forsaken by my Father… you were worth it… you were worth all of it.”
Men, today, let’s just fix our eyes on Him and let that sink in. You were His “joy set before Him.”
End of the Day Review
How did the realization that you were worth it to Him to make such a huge sacrifice affect your day?
How did it impact the way that you looked at Him or others today?
Reading: Hebrews 12:2-3, 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Imagine you are with your band of brothers and while you’re talking with a few men, periodically, a different man comes up to you and says very excitedly, “He wants to see you.” Before you can ask, “Who”… He walks away, so you continue talking. Another comes up, “Can you believe it, He wants to see you?” “Who? Who wants to see me?”, you say, as he walks away. After a few more times, you become adamant, “Who wants to see me? And where is this person?” As soon as the words come out of your mouth, everyone in the entire place looks at you and begins to part the way. There at the end of the opening stands Jesus. He motions for you to come to Him. As you near Him, He motions for you to sit down, without saying a word. You look back at the other people who are now leaving to give the two of you some privacy. He pulls up a chair to sit down right in front of you. He sits down, looks you square in the eyes and says, “Hi,” with a gentle smile. Torn between excitement that it’s Jesus and a sickening feeling that you’re in trouble, you say “Hi” back. Then He calls you by name and says, “Do you know what I did?” Assuming He is talking about His sacrifice, you say, “Yes”. He then opens up His hands and lays them open in front of you and says, “No… do you know what I did?... Do you want to touch the scars?” You don’t really want to but you feel like you should. Then, He leans forward and looks at you until you are looking into His eyes and He gently says, “You… (he pauses and His smile grows as if He is thinking about it even more deeply) “You...,” He continues, “were worth it.” As that begins to sink in, He continues, “Every time that the whip hit my back, every time that my hand felt the vibration of the hammer hitting the nail, as I could feel the thorns digging into my skull, even the feeling of being forsaken by my Father… you were worth it… you were worth all of it.”
Men, today, let’s just fix our eyes on Him and let that sink in. You were His “joy set before Him.”
End of the Day Review
How did the realization that you were worth it to Him to make such a huge sacrifice affect your day?
How did it impact the way that you looked at Him or others today?
Sunday, January 15, 2012
January 22 2012
CELEBRATION!
Reading: Psalm 111:1-4, 1Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. 2 Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. 3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
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 111:1-4, 1Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. 2 Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. 3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
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?
January 21 2012
Bible Study #4
Book Bible Study
Book: Philippians
(try to read the entire book of Philippians in one sitting, its only around 3 pages, depending on which Bible you use)
Date of Writing: 59-60 A.D.
(Look online or another source book as to what was occurring during that time period.)
Who was the author (Philippians 1:1)?
From where was he writing (Philippians 1:13-14)?
Who were the recipients of the book?
What were some characteristics of recipients (ch 2)?
Why written?
What were the major problems identified in writing?
What solutions were given?
What was the central meaning in that day?
What is the central meaning of today?
Summarize the main theme:
What key words were used repeatedly?:
Book Bible Study
Book: Philippians
(try to read the entire book of Philippians in one sitting, its only around 3 pages, depending on which Bible you use)
Date of Writing: 59-60 A.D.
(Look online or another source book as to what was occurring during that time period.)
Who was the author (Philippians 1:1)?
From where was he writing (Philippians 1:13-14)?
Who were the recipients of the book?
What were some characteristics of recipients (ch 2)?
Why written?
What were the major problems identified in writing?
What solutions were given?
What was the central meaning in that day?
What is the central meaning of today?
Summarize the main theme:
What key words were used repeatedly?:
January 20 2012
See the Crowd
Reading: Matthew 9:36-38, 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
As we are to be imitators of Christ, how many times do we “see the crowds”? We fly past many people, almost every day but how often do we really see them? Now, let’s remember who Jesus was as He viewed these crowds. The people that He saw and had compassion on were the same people whose sins would be nailing Him to the cross. He could have very easily thought, “I’m already doing enough for these people. I don’t need to give anything more to them or be concerned any more about them. I’m going to be crucified for them. I think that’s plenty.” No, He had compassion on them. This is the creator of the universe. This is the Son of God. This is the King of Kings.
Can you see them? Can you see them as sheep without a shepherd? Can you see their needs… their real needs?
Challenge #1: Take time today, some real time, not simply a couple minutes, to see the crowds. Go to a location, purposefully, where there will be a larger group of people, and “see” them. Ask God to open your eyes and see them as He sees them.
What can you do to be a “worker in the field” today?
Challenge #2: Take time today get away to talk to God and ask Him to send workers into His harvest field.
REVIEW
What did you see today as you viewed the world through God’s eyes?
What work were you able to do in the “field” today?
Reading: Matthew 9:36-38, 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
As we are to be imitators of Christ, how many times do we “see the crowds”? We fly past many people, almost every day but how often do we really see them? Now, let’s remember who Jesus was as He viewed these crowds. The people that He saw and had compassion on were the same people whose sins would be nailing Him to the cross. He could have very easily thought, “I’m already doing enough for these people. I don’t need to give anything more to them or be concerned any more about them. I’m going to be crucified for them. I think that’s plenty.” No, He had compassion on them. This is the creator of the universe. This is the Son of God. This is the King of Kings.
Can you see them? Can you see them as sheep without a shepherd? Can you see their needs… their real needs?
Challenge #1: Take time today, some real time, not simply a couple minutes, to see the crowds. Go to a location, purposefully, where there will be a larger group of people, and “see” them. Ask God to open your eyes and see them as He sees them.
What can you do to be a “worker in the field” today?
Challenge #2: Take time today get away to talk to God and ask Him to send workers into His harvest field.
REVIEW
What did you see today as you viewed the world through God’s eyes?
What work were you able to do in the “field” today?
January 19 2012
Iron Sharpens Iron
Reading: Proverbs 27:17, As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Have you ever gone into your shed or garage after a long winter only to find that your best shears are rusted shut? As a man what do you do? Do you go buy a new pair? No! We pull out the WD40, clean them up and take the time to sharpen them so they are almost new again.
The same goes for us spiritually. We really can’t afford to place our walk with the Lord on the shelf and have no concern as to how it will play out. Our brothers in Christ are like the WD40 and the church is like our sharpening block. How many church services or Bible studies can you skip before you begin to become dull and Christ’s light in you begins to fade? Personally, I have found that before I skip a weekend I make sure that I’m confident that it will not matter. I convince myself that I will not be missing anything and just being gone one weekend won’t make that much of a difference. Unfortunately once I do (even though I’m sure I had a good excuse) my focus just isn’t quite right the rest of the week. It isn’t until the next weekend when I’m able to sit in that familiar seat at church surrounded by those that share the same love for God, that I feel “right” again. We need each other and the fellowship of other Christians to combat the world and its devices. United we stand, divided we fall and falling should never be a deliberate choice.
How can you give yourself opportunities to be sharpened by the Word of God and your Brothers in Christ today?
How will you act as the WD40 to other brothers today?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to be sharpened by the Word of God and your Brothers in Christ today, if so, how did that happen?
How were you able to act as the WD40 to your brothers in Christ today?
Reading: Proverbs 27:17, As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Have you ever gone into your shed or garage after a long winter only to find that your best shears are rusted shut? As a man what do you do? Do you go buy a new pair? No! We pull out the WD40, clean them up and take the time to sharpen them so they are almost new again.
The same goes for us spiritually. We really can’t afford to place our walk with the Lord on the shelf and have no concern as to how it will play out. Our brothers in Christ are like the WD40 and the church is like our sharpening block. How many church services or Bible studies can you skip before you begin to become dull and Christ’s light in you begins to fade? Personally, I have found that before I skip a weekend I make sure that I’m confident that it will not matter. I convince myself that I will not be missing anything and just being gone one weekend won’t make that much of a difference. Unfortunately once I do (even though I’m sure I had a good excuse) my focus just isn’t quite right the rest of the week. It isn’t until the next weekend when I’m able to sit in that familiar seat at church surrounded by those that share the same love for God, that I feel “right” again. We need each other and the fellowship of other Christians to combat the world and its devices. United we stand, divided we fall and falling should never be a deliberate choice.
How can you give yourself opportunities to be sharpened by the Word of God and your Brothers in Christ today?
How will you act as the WD40 to other brothers today?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to be sharpened by the Word of God and your Brothers in Christ today, if so, how did that happen?
How were you able to act as the WD40 to your brothers in Christ today?
January 18 2012
Good or Godly?
Reading: I Timothy 4:7b-8, “Train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” [NIV]
I use to be one of those people who always had a smile on my face. In fact, I would have people ask me if there was ever a time that I wasn’t smiling. Smiles and laughter are infectious. I loved and still love to make people smile. It is an amazing feeling to see someone who appears to be having a bad day and being able to walk away having seen a smile overtake their face. But, I reached a point when God began to convict me. Smiling isn’t bad and making people smile, of course, is not bad. But, the overwhelming message that God would not let me shake from my thoughts was… how long does a smile last? Everyone thinks you’re nice and a good person when you’re happy and cheer other’s up. Not everyone enjoys someone who talks about God. All of a sudden the smile that you wanted to put on someone’s face becomes and awkward glance and an overwhelming feeling of discomfort. Yet, God knew in His loving way of convicting me… if I were to be and act godly, He can create a joy in the other person that could last a lifetime, whereas the smile that I would try to share, may only last a moment.
We have all known individuals who are not Christians, yet they appear to be a really good person. What makes us different? Unfortunately, it appears, not much is different. Demonstrating godliness can simply be being good and including God. For example, making someone smile but, further, talking to them about the joy that the Lord has given you. Buying someone a coffee but, further, letting them know that God laid it on your heart to do. Ask them how their day is going but, further, asking how you can be praying for them. To be godly… you must include God. Let’s not strive to be good today… let’s strive to be godly, because, as Paul said, you have to train yourself to be godly.
How do you feel God is leading you to be godly today and how can you include Him in everything today?
End of the Day Review
Did you strive to be godly today, to include God? If so, how did you do that?
How did this change the normal routine of your day and the way that you went about things?
Reading: I Timothy 4:7b-8, “Train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” [NIV]
I use to be one of those people who always had a smile on my face. In fact, I would have people ask me if there was ever a time that I wasn’t smiling. Smiles and laughter are infectious. I loved and still love to make people smile. It is an amazing feeling to see someone who appears to be having a bad day and being able to walk away having seen a smile overtake their face. But, I reached a point when God began to convict me. Smiling isn’t bad and making people smile, of course, is not bad. But, the overwhelming message that God would not let me shake from my thoughts was… how long does a smile last? Everyone thinks you’re nice and a good person when you’re happy and cheer other’s up. Not everyone enjoys someone who talks about God. All of a sudden the smile that you wanted to put on someone’s face becomes and awkward glance and an overwhelming feeling of discomfort. Yet, God knew in His loving way of convicting me… if I were to be and act godly, He can create a joy in the other person that could last a lifetime, whereas the smile that I would try to share, may only last a moment.
We have all known individuals who are not Christians, yet they appear to be a really good person. What makes us different? Unfortunately, it appears, not much is different. Demonstrating godliness can simply be being good and including God. For example, making someone smile but, further, talking to them about the joy that the Lord has given you. Buying someone a coffee but, further, letting them know that God laid it on your heart to do. Ask them how their day is going but, further, asking how you can be praying for them. To be godly… you must include God. Let’s not strive to be good today… let’s strive to be godly, because, as Paul said, you have to train yourself to be godly.
How do you feel God is leading you to be godly today and how can you include Him in everything today?
End of the Day Review
Did you strive to be godly today, to include God? If so, how did you do that?
How did this change the normal routine of your day and the way that you went about things?
January 17 2012
Vapor
Reading: James 4:13-15, 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
Okay, men, is it just me or did something magical happen when we hit 30 years old to cause the hour glass of time to go from a little trickle to an all out gush. When you’re a kid, time cannot move fast enough and now that I have kids, I’m constantly looking for the “pause” button. How did this happen? But, our lives are truly like a vapor. It is a blink and it’s gone. If you won a prize and the prize was the ability to fill a shopping cart at your favorite store (yes, you can use Cabella’s for the illustration) with as much as you can get within a 15 minutes period, what would you do? Would you treat this particular trip to the store like you might when you go with your wife to one of her favorite stores, shuffling your feet, rolling your eyes, creeping around the store at a snail’s pace wondering when the pain will end? I highly doubt it. I am sure that we would get as much value as we possibly could in the short time that we had. Men, this life is no different. The shopping spree prize would be pointless if you couldn’t take any of the things with you outside of the store. We have a brief time on this earth, why do we spend so much time on things that just plainly do not have value and we will not be able to take with us anyways?
How can you focus on things that have eternal value and spend your time doing those today? What are some of those things?
The challenge today is… it’s only today… but, keep track of everything that you spend time doing today; write down what you did as you are doing it and how much time you spent.
End of the Day Review
After reviewing the list of things that you spent time doing and how much time you spend doing them, how much time was spent of things that have eternal value?
How much time was spent on things that do not have eternal value?
What was the difference and what are your thoughts?
Reading: James 4:13-15, 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
Okay, men, is it just me or did something magical happen when we hit 30 years old to cause the hour glass of time to go from a little trickle to an all out gush. When you’re a kid, time cannot move fast enough and now that I have kids, I’m constantly looking for the “pause” button. How did this happen? But, our lives are truly like a vapor. It is a blink and it’s gone. If you won a prize and the prize was the ability to fill a shopping cart at your favorite store (yes, you can use Cabella’s for the illustration) with as much as you can get within a 15 minutes period, what would you do? Would you treat this particular trip to the store like you might when you go with your wife to one of her favorite stores, shuffling your feet, rolling your eyes, creeping around the store at a snail’s pace wondering when the pain will end? I highly doubt it. I am sure that we would get as much value as we possibly could in the short time that we had. Men, this life is no different. The shopping spree prize would be pointless if you couldn’t take any of the things with you outside of the store. We have a brief time on this earth, why do we spend so much time on things that just plainly do not have value and we will not be able to take with us anyways?
How can you focus on things that have eternal value and spend your time doing those today? What are some of those things?
The challenge today is… it’s only today… but, keep track of everything that you spend time doing today; write down what you did as you are doing it and how much time you spent.
End of the Day Review
After reviewing the list of things that you spent time doing and how much time you spend doing them, how much time was spent of things that have eternal value?
How much time was spent on things that do not have eternal value?
What was the difference and what are your thoughts?
January 16 2012
He Notices
Reading: Matthew 10:29-31, 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
What do you spend time noticing throughout the day, the sport’s section of the paper, the internet, the stock market, emails you received, the list of things you have to get done, your family? What turns your head and makes you take note? Most of us take great care and notice in our hair and the way that we look. Let’s face it, some of us are pretty vein in our appearance. But, even the most vein amongst us, I am sure, have never taken the time to count every single hair on your head. I may take that back considering some of our less densely populated heads of hair; but, imagine how tedious and seemingly pointless it would be. But, that is the exact point that is stressed by Jesus in these three verses. God cares about you, even with the tedious and seemingly pointless. How many of you have seen a penny on the ground in the past year? How valuable was that to you? Were you quick to scoop it up and tuck it away, excited about the financial turning point that this penny would make in your life? But, a bird that is worth less than a penny is valuable to the One who owns more wealth than the entire world could provide. He notices you and He’s noticing you today?
What tedious and seemingly pointless things are you going through today?
Challenge #1: Every menial task that you are doing today, live in the remembrance that God notices and cares.
Challenge #2: If God cares that much about the small things about you, he also does about others, take time to care about the menial things in those around you. If God, who oversees the entire universe, cares about those things, so can you today.
REVIEW
How did living in the remembrance that God is noticing you and the little things in your day affect your day?
How were you able to take time to care about the small things in other people’s day?
Reading: Matthew 10:29-31, 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
What do you spend time noticing throughout the day, the sport’s section of the paper, the internet, the stock market, emails you received, the list of things you have to get done, your family? What turns your head and makes you take note? Most of us take great care and notice in our hair and the way that we look. Let’s face it, some of us are pretty vein in our appearance. But, even the most vein amongst us, I am sure, have never taken the time to count every single hair on your head. I may take that back considering some of our less densely populated heads of hair; but, imagine how tedious and seemingly pointless it would be. But, that is the exact point that is stressed by Jesus in these three verses. God cares about you, even with the tedious and seemingly pointless. How many of you have seen a penny on the ground in the past year? How valuable was that to you? Were you quick to scoop it up and tuck it away, excited about the financial turning point that this penny would make in your life? But, a bird that is worth less than a penny is valuable to the One who owns more wealth than the entire world could provide. He notices you and He’s noticing you today?
What tedious and seemingly pointless things are you going through today?
Challenge #1: Every menial task that you are doing today, live in the remembrance that God notices and cares.
Challenge #2: If God cares that much about the small things about you, he also does about others, take time to care about the menial things in those around you. If God, who oversees the entire universe, cares about those things, so can you today.
REVIEW
How did living in the remembrance that God is noticing you and the little things in your day affect your day?
How were you able to take time to care about the small things in other people’s day?
Sunday, January 8, 2012
January 15 2012
CELEBRATION!
Reading: Psalm 112:1-3, 1Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. 2 His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
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 112:1-3, 1Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. 2 His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
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?
January 14 2012
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?
January 13 2012
A Good Name
Reading: Proverbs 22:1, A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.
What do you think of when I say the names… Clint Eastwood… OJ Simpson… Abraham Lincoln… Lee Harvey Oswald… Billy Graham… Bill Gates. It’s amazing the power of a name. The principle in this verse is becoming more and more estranged from where the world is continuing to head. People don’t care what you think of them as long as they are able to get their riches. Today, it doesn’t seem to matter how you get your riches, just as long as you get them. But, just remember, in the context of this verse, that you bear the name of Jesus Christ. It is not simply your name with which you are constantly developing a reputation.
As we reviewed the list of well known people and had thoughts and impressions of those individuals, what would people think of the name, Jesus Christ, if it were based on your reputation?
Write out a list of things that you would like people to think of when they think of your name:
Challenge: Value wearing the name of Jesus today and the impression you are leaving with others, in your demonstration of His name in your life.
Challenge: Review the list that you wrote above with the mindset of what you can do to demonstrate these attributes today to everyone, not just the people whom you care what they think, even those you may never see again.
REVIEW
How were you able to demonstrate wearing the name of Jesus today?
How did you live out the attributes that you would like people to think of when they think of your name?
Reading: Proverbs 22:1, A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.
What do you think of when I say the names… Clint Eastwood… OJ Simpson… Abraham Lincoln… Lee Harvey Oswald… Billy Graham… Bill Gates. It’s amazing the power of a name. The principle in this verse is becoming more and more estranged from where the world is continuing to head. People don’t care what you think of them as long as they are able to get their riches. Today, it doesn’t seem to matter how you get your riches, just as long as you get them. But, just remember, in the context of this verse, that you bear the name of Jesus Christ. It is not simply your name with which you are constantly developing a reputation.
As we reviewed the list of well known people and had thoughts and impressions of those individuals, what would people think of the name, Jesus Christ, if it were based on your reputation?
Write out a list of things that you would like people to think of when they think of your name:
Challenge: Value wearing the name of Jesus today and the impression you are leaving with others, in your demonstration of His name in your life.
Challenge: Review the list that you wrote above with the mindset of what you can do to demonstrate these attributes today to everyone, not just the people whom you care what they think, even those you may never see again.
REVIEW
How were you able to demonstrate wearing the name of Jesus today?
How did you live out the attributes that you would like people to think of when they think of your name?
January 12 2012
Enough is Enough
Reading: 1Peter 4:3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
At what point in our lives do we say “wow…what was I thinking”? Is it looking at our hair and clothes in old high school photos? Is it watching the video online of the thing you did in college? What things have made you think “what was I thinking”?
Of all the truly embarrassing moments in our lives, in how many of them are we ashamed to call ourselves Christian?
It’s time to be honest. If you were on a game show and hooked to a lie detector where would you place God amongst things such as possessions, drinking with friends, flirting with the opposite sex, money and other “joys” of this world? Would you deny any knowledge of God if someone offered you a million dollars to do so? I would hope your answer is no. We are Christians. Not elite in the way that we consider ourselves better than anyone else, but elite in the fact that we have the knowledge and ability to spread the Word of God. It’s never really easy being a Christian, but I don’t think it’s necessarily supposed to be. I am a Christian man and I will fight for my God. I will fight for my brothers. I will wield the double edge sword known as the Word of God. I have spent enough time living the life of a pagan. Now I will live the life God intended for me.
How can you separate yourself from the things of this world today?
How can you take a hold of your sword, the Word of God, today and use it?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to separate yourself from the things of this world today?
How were you able to take a hold of the Word of God and use it in your life today?
Reading: 1Peter 4:3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
At what point in our lives do we say “wow…what was I thinking”? Is it looking at our hair and clothes in old high school photos? Is it watching the video online of the thing you did in college? What things have made you think “what was I thinking”?
Of all the truly embarrassing moments in our lives, in how many of them are we ashamed to call ourselves Christian?
It’s time to be honest. If you were on a game show and hooked to a lie detector where would you place God amongst things such as possessions, drinking with friends, flirting with the opposite sex, money and other “joys” of this world? Would you deny any knowledge of God if someone offered you a million dollars to do so? I would hope your answer is no. We are Christians. Not elite in the way that we consider ourselves better than anyone else, but elite in the fact that we have the knowledge and ability to spread the Word of God. It’s never really easy being a Christian, but I don’t think it’s necessarily supposed to be. I am a Christian man and I will fight for my God. I will fight for my brothers. I will wield the double edge sword known as the Word of God. I have spent enough time living the life of a pagan. Now I will live the life God intended for me.
How can you separate yourself from the things of this world today?
How can you take a hold of your sword, the Word of God, today and use it?
End of the Day Review
How were you able to separate yourself from the things of this world today?
How were you able to take a hold of the Word of God and use it in your life today?
January 11 2012
Why Fear Failure
Reading: Romans 8:14-15, 14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
Why do we fear failure? When was the last time you saw a young boy jumping out of a tree house afraid of failing, heck no he knows he can do it. Don't misunderstand me I'm not counseling fool hearty acts. I'm just pointing out that worrying is a learned response. In today's world we learn early on that failing is a bad thing. From Kindergarten on we either pass or "fail", we get an 'A' or an 'F'. Even as adults we get an annual evaluation, someone else's judgment of how you are doing in your job. But is this the way God intended it to be? Teddy Roosevelt was quoted as saying "the only man that does not make a mistake is the man that does nothing". Thomas Edison when ask stated "I have not failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that it did not work". In Jesus' day how did they learn then? Well they didn't go to school, at least not as we do today. There was no social guidelines on what someone needed to learn to be a success. Jesus worked under his father in a sort of apprenticeship program. I'm sure that as he grew up he had many mistakes, but they were not looked at as failures. I can see it now the first time the young Son of Mary made his first wooden chair, maybe a little wobbly because one of the legs was a little short. Did his father tell him; "what a failure he was", "that he was never going to amount to anything if he keeps turning out work like that"? No I'm sure he just patiently showed him how to shorten the other three legs. In the bible we see that all of the greats, Moses, David, and Peter all failed at one time in their life. Did their heavenly Father brand them a complete failure no He patiently showed them how to succeed in his way. Maybe we should not be so worried about making the grade or being the big success at work. But instead look at our failures as ways God may be teaching us how He wants us to succeed, not how the world wants us. What "failures" have you had in your life that may have just been mistakes that under God's apprenticeship program are ways He may be using to showing you His ways? If you fail at one thing does it really mean you are a "total failure"?
End of the Day Review
How did you choose to do what is right today, no matter what?
What were the struggles with accomplishing this and how did this alter your day?
Reading: Romans 8:14-15, 14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
Why do we fear failure? When was the last time you saw a young boy jumping out of a tree house afraid of failing, heck no he knows he can do it. Don't misunderstand me I'm not counseling fool hearty acts. I'm just pointing out that worrying is a learned response. In today's world we learn early on that failing is a bad thing. From Kindergarten on we either pass or "fail", we get an 'A' or an 'F'. Even as adults we get an annual evaluation, someone else's judgment of how you are doing in your job. But is this the way God intended it to be? Teddy Roosevelt was quoted as saying "the only man that does not make a mistake is the man that does nothing". Thomas Edison when ask stated "I have not failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that it did not work". In Jesus' day how did they learn then? Well they didn't go to school, at least not as we do today. There was no social guidelines on what someone needed to learn to be a success. Jesus worked under his father in a sort of apprenticeship program. I'm sure that as he grew up he had many mistakes, but they were not looked at as failures. I can see it now the first time the young Son of Mary made his first wooden chair, maybe a little wobbly because one of the legs was a little short. Did his father tell him; "what a failure he was", "that he was never going to amount to anything if he keeps turning out work like that"? No I'm sure he just patiently showed him how to shorten the other three legs. In the bible we see that all of the greats, Moses, David, and Peter all failed at one time in their life. Did their heavenly Father brand them a complete failure no He patiently showed them how to succeed in his way. Maybe we should not be so worried about making the grade or being the big success at work. But instead look at our failures as ways God may be teaching us how He wants us to succeed, not how the world wants us. What "failures" have you had in your life that may have just been mistakes that under God's apprenticeship program are ways He may be using to showing you His ways? If you fail at one thing does it really mean you are a "total failure"?
End of the Day Review
How did you choose to do what is right today, no matter what?
What were the struggles with accomplishing this and how did this alter your day?
January 10 2012
You Can Still Win
Reading: Proverbs 24:16, “16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.”
The competitors were getting ready to start the 600 meter dash at the 2008 Big 10 Track Championship. They took their marks, the gun fired and they were off and running. It would be 3 times around the 200 meter track. The first two laps yielded obvious first and second place runners in a dead heat. As they were coming up on their final lap, the favored runner was just starting to take the lead… but… suddenly, the crowd let out a gasp as the leader tripped on the shoe of the second place runner and tumbled to the ground. All 3 of the other runners jump clear from falling without missing a stride. In an instant, the runner jumped up and started running again. It would be a near impossibility, to start running from falling down with only 200 meters left to go in a race that has already been at a sprinter’s pace. The announcers begin discussing the new leaders of the race… and, midsentence makes a surprising discovery that the runner that had fallen was moving up closer and closer to the 3rd place runner… then, the crowd began to get louder and louder as they realize that it may be possible to catch the first two runners. The announcers become more and more animated as the runner who fell is now nearing the front of the pack… the entire place erupts in cheers as the runner crosses the line first. What an amazing come back!
The amazing thing about that runner is… they did not stop for one second to think about whether to get up… or whether to continue the race… and, men, the beauty of running our race with Christ… even when we fall, we can still win… not just finish… but WIN! Praise the Lord!!!
Men, what has tripped you up? What has caused you to fall?
Are you ready to jump back up and get into the race?
How can you do that today or make sure that, if you do fall today, to jump back up and keep running the race for Christ?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to get back up and get back in the race today?
How were you able to accomplish that and keep running?
Did you feel like you won today?
Reading: Proverbs 24:16, “16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.”
The competitors were getting ready to start the 600 meter dash at the 2008 Big 10 Track Championship. They took their marks, the gun fired and they were off and running. It would be 3 times around the 200 meter track. The first two laps yielded obvious first and second place runners in a dead heat. As they were coming up on their final lap, the favored runner was just starting to take the lead… but… suddenly, the crowd let out a gasp as the leader tripped on the shoe of the second place runner and tumbled to the ground. All 3 of the other runners jump clear from falling without missing a stride. In an instant, the runner jumped up and started running again. It would be a near impossibility, to start running from falling down with only 200 meters left to go in a race that has already been at a sprinter’s pace. The announcers begin discussing the new leaders of the race… and, midsentence makes a surprising discovery that the runner that had fallen was moving up closer and closer to the 3rd place runner… then, the crowd began to get louder and louder as they realize that it may be possible to catch the first two runners. The announcers become more and more animated as the runner who fell is now nearing the front of the pack… the entire place erupts in cheers as the runner crosses the line first. What an amazing come back!
The amazing thing about that runner is… they did not stop for one second to think about whether to get up… or whether to continue the race… and, men, the beauty of running our race with Christ… even when we fall, we can still win… not just finish… but WIN! Praise the Lord!!!
Men, what has tripped you up? What has caused you to fall?
Are you ready to jump back up and get into the race?
How can you do that today or make sure that, if you do fall today, to jump back up and keep running the race for Christ?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to get back up and get back in the race today?
How were you able to accomplish that and keep running?
Did you feel like you won today?
January 9 2012
The Cookie Jar
Reading: Colossians 4:6, 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
John 13:35 – “35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Men, I have a confession, I use to sneak a lot of cookies after coming home from school when I was a kid. I know and understand now why mother’s wisely put cookies in a glass cookie jar… because it is very difficult to get a cookie without someone knowing about it. Over time, though, I mastered the art of opening our glass cookie jar. I would have to, first, gently wrap my fingers around the glass knob on top of the lid… and without moving it at all side to side… quickly lift the lid straight up as fast as I could. Aaaaahhhh… no sound… now, nothing is in my way of the fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies. Then, the task of putting the lid back down on the glass jar. I would put my fingers on either side, between the jar and the lid, and slowly let the skin of my fingers slide out while holding the side of the jar to deaden the sound. Once again, a cookie nab without getting caught. Now, I went through all of that not to teach you how to steal cookies. Rather, how much of all that effort do you think that I would go through if there weren’t chocolate chips in those cookies or, if I got into the jar and realized that my mom had put carrots or broccoli in it? Yeah… I would not be telling you of my mastery of breaking into the jar. Men, if there is no sweetness in our churches, if there’s no sweetness coming from our mouths as Christians, how do we expect the world to want to come to church or want what we have? What Paul and Jesus are saying in these passages is… we should actually be mostly chocolate chips with a splash of cookie. Let’s practice today being FULL of grace with some salt seasoning. By the way, the salt of the truth is essential. It’s the perfect blend of cookie and chocolate.
How can you prepare yourself to be full of grace today? (if you wait until a situation, it is too difficult to be ready to give grace, prepare ahead of time)
Love is infectious, how can you demonstrate love to one of your brothers today?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to be full of grace today, with some salt seasoning, if so, how were you able to demonstrate that?
What results were you able to see, if not in others, possibly in yourself?
Reading: Colossians 4:6, 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
John 13:35 – “35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Men, I have a confession, I use to sneak a lot of cookies after coming home from school when I was a kid. I know and understand now why mother’s wisely put cookies in a glass cookie jar… because it is very difficult to get a cookie without someone knowing about it. Over time, though, I mastered the art of opening our glass cookie jar. I would have to, first, gently wrap my fingers around the glass knob on top of the lid… and without moving it at all side to side… quickly lift the lid straight up as fast as I could. Aaaaahhhh… no sound… now, nothing is in my way of the fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies. Then, the task of putting the lid back down on the glass jar. I would put my fingers on either side, between the jar and the lid, and slowly let the skin of my fingers slide out while holding the side of the jar to deaden the sound. Once again, a cookie nab without getting caught. Now, I went through all of that not to teach you how to steal cookies. Rather, how much of all that effort do you think that I would go through if there weren’t chocolate chips in those cookies or, if I got into the jar and realized that my mom had put carrots or broccoli in it? Yeah… I would not be telling you of my mastery of breaking into the jar. Men, if there is no sweetness in our churches, if there’s no sweetness coming from our mouths as Christians, how do we expect the world to want to come to church or want what we have? What Paul and Jesus are saying in these passages is… we should actually be mostly chocolate chips with a splash of cookie. Let’s practice today being FULL of grace with some salt seasoning. By the way, the salt of the truth is essential. It’s the perfect blend of cookie and chocolate.
How can you prepare yourself to be full of grace today? (if you wait until a situation, it is too difficult to be ready to give grace, prepare ahead of time)
Love is infectious, how can you demonstrate love to one of your brothers today?
End of the Day Review
Were you able to be full of grace today, with some salt seasoning, if so, how were you able to demonstrate that?
What results were you able to see, if not in others, possibly in yourself?
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