SCRIPTURE
1 Samuel 17:47
All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
OBSERVATION
David made a choice not to rely on the usual weapons of his day in his battle against Goliath, but instead to chose the small but useful tools he was familiar with. This way everyone would know that it was a God-thing, and not a David-thing when Goliath lay defeated.
APPLICATION
God doesn't need much, just a willing person with a bold heart and a commitment to him. He can do great things with us, if we will only trust him and face life with Him. Far too often I have relied on my own skills rather then trusting in His.
PRAYER
Lord, you're big enough to destroy every Goliath in my life. Help me to walk into battle trusting you instead of finding comfort in the tools that man says are right for the job!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
SCRIPTURE
1 Samuel 15:13-14
13 When Samuel reached him, Saul said, "The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD's instructions."
14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?"
OBSERVATION
Saul did not obey fully what the Lord had commanded him to do through Samuel. But here he is trying to explain that he really did obey. In the next few verses, he gives the reason for his disobedience and even tries to make it look and sound good by saying that it was so that "sacrifices could be made to the Lord."
APPLICATION
Partial obedience is disobedience. Anything less then full obedience is disobedience in God's eyes. And further, you had better not try to justify yourself to God! He knows the whole truth and is not impressed by our attempts to make things look and sound better.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be FULLY obedient to those things you have called me to. Help me to be obedient at all times and in all circumstances, not just when it is convenient and not just to the degree that I am comfortable with—but ALL THE WAY! Amen.
1 Samuel 15:13-14
13 When Samuel reached him, Saul said, "The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD's instructions."
14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?"
OBSERVATION
Saul did not obey fully what the Lord had commanded him to do through Samuel. But here he is trying to explain that he really did obey. In the next few verses, he gives the reason for his disobedience and even tries to make it look and sound good by saying that it was so that "sacrifices could be made to the Lord."
APPLICATION
Partial obedience is disobedience. Anything less then full obedience is disobedience in God's eyes. And further, you had better not try to justify yourself to God! He knows the whole truth and is not impressed by our attempts to make things look and sound better.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be FULLY obedient to those things you have called me to. Help me to be obedient at all times and in all circumstances, not just when it is convenient and not just to the degree that I am comfortable with—but ALL THE WAY! Amen.
Monday, April 13, 2009
A Rash Oath
SCRIPTURE
1 Samuel 14:24
Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, "Cursed be any man who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!" So none of the troops tasted food.
OBSERVATION
Saul made a stupid oath that resulted in his own soldiers running out of energy in the midst of the battle. And later because of their hunger, they then committed sin when they began to slay animals and eat them without properly preparing them.
APPLICATION
Leaders must be careful because their decisions impact others. Father and mothers must be careful because their decisions impact their children. We can make promises too quickly. We can make blanket statements without thinking about their consequences.
We learn in 1 Samuel that this is not a wise thing to do!
PRAYER
Lord, help me to consider before acting. Help me to keep in mind that my actions impact the lives of my family in ways that I don't even anticipate and I thus must be more careful and intentional about what I say and do. Amen.
1 Samuel 14:24
Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, "Cursed be any man who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!" So none of the troops tasted food.
OBSERVATION
Saul made a stupid oath that resulted in his own soldiers running out of energy in the midst of the battle. And later because of their hunger, they then committed sin when they began to slay animals and eat them without properly preparing them.
APPLICATION
Leaders must be careful because their decisions impact others. Father and mothers must be careful because their decisions impact their children. We can make promises too quickly. We can make blanket statements without thinking about their consequences.
We learn in 1 Samuel that this is not a wise thing to do!
PRAYER
Lord, help me to consider before acting. Help me to keep in mind that my actions impact the lives of my family in ways that I don't even anticipate and I thus must be more careful and intentional about what I say and do. Amen.
Friday, April 10, 2009
SCRIPTURE
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
OBSERVATION
There are stongholds, and arguments and pretensions that actually set themselves against "the knowledge of God." Satan distorts the truth about God, he doesen't want us to "know" God. When we really "know" God, Satan cannot gain any strongholds in our lives. A stronghold in the mind is a collection of thoughts in agreement with Satan- thoughts that are lies against what God has revealed about Himself.
APPLICATION
This is one important reason why we must spend time in God's Word. He reveals Himself in the scriptures. When thoughts come in our minds, it could be just a little thought, "God can't love me." If you begin to agree with that thought, it will be just a matter of time before Satan gets a stronghold in your life that can keep you out of the intimate relationship you really have with God your Father through His Son Jesus Christ. I might have the thought but I don't have to agree with it, because it is Satan's lie. God has revealed exactly how He feels about me in His word. We have to take our thoughts captive and bring them into obedience
PRAYER
Lord, the truth about who you really are, the "knowing" you is so sweet. Keep my mind set on the truths I know about you and may I "know" you more and more!
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
OBSERVATION
There are stongholds, and arguments and pretensions that actually set themselves against "the knowledge of God." Satan distorts the truth about God, he doesen't want us to "know" God. When we really "know" God, Satan cannot gain any strongholds in our lives. A stronghold in the mind is a collection of thoughts in agreement with Satan- thoughts that are lies against what God has revealed about Himself.
APPLICATION
This is one important reason why we must spend time in God's Word. He reveals Himself in the scriptures. When thoughts come in our minds, it could be just a little thought, "God can't love me." If you begin to agree with that thought, it will be just a matter of time before Satan gets a stronghold in your life that can keep you out of the intimate relationship you really have with God your Father through His Son Jesus Christ. I might have the thought but I don't have to agree with it, because it is Satan's lie. God has revealed exactly how He feels about me in His word. We have to take our thoughts captive and bring them into obedience
PRAYER
Lord, the truth about who you really are, the "knowing" you is so sweet. Keep my mind set on the truths I know about you and may I "know" you more and more!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
SCRIPTURE
2 Corinthians 9: 6-11 & 14
OBSERVATION
"because of the surpassing grace God has given you" Here is this talk again about this "grace" given by God. We're given this "grace" so we can be givers, generous on every occasion.
APPLICATION
There are a lot of ways to walk in this "grace of giving" It might be spending some of our time with lonely people, it could be as simple as opening our homes, it might require our finances or be inconveinent. Its always about our heart but God provides the grace.
PRAYER
Sweet, Holy, Father-my daddy, let your grace abound in me, make me a giver.
2 Corinthians 9: 6-11 & 14
OBSERVATION
"because of the surpassing grace God has given you" Here is this talk again about this "grace" given by God. We're given this "grace" so we can be givers, generous on every occasion.
APPLICATION
There are a lot of ways to walk in this "grace of giving" It might be spending some of our time with lonely people, it could be as simple as opening our homes, it might require our finances or be inconveinent. Its always about our heart but God provides the grace.
PRAYER
Sweet, Holy, Father-my daddy, let your grace abound in me, make me a giver.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Disney's Gift at Reinvention
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<div style="padding:5px 0; text-align:center; width:480px;">Watch <a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1906578">Disney Templates</a> and more <a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/videos">funny videos</a> on <a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/">CollegeHumor</a></div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder">
<div style="padding:5px 0; text-align:center; width:480px;">Watch <a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1906578">Disney Templates</a> and more <a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/videos">funny videos</a> on <a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/">CollegeHumor</a></div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder">
SCRIPTURE
2 Corinthians 8: 7 & 10 But just as you excel in everything- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. vs 10; you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
OBSERVATION
Paul encourages us to "excel" in the grace of giving and then in verse 10 he sees even deeper than just the act of giving but recognizes they were the "first" to give but also to have the "desire" to do so.
APPLICATION
So many times I think about the people at Koinonia who give their time in service to others. I know they do it because they love kids, or they genuinely care that people are welcomed, or they have a heart to help others experience worship. Whatever passion motivates their service, they are so many times the "first" to give. They do seemingly small things, like this Easter many of them will be giving up their seats with their families and serve multiple services, just because they have put "others first" and most amazingly, they do it with the "desire" Paul writes about.
PRAYER
Father, increase this "grace of giving" in me, help me be one of the "first" to give and grow the "desire" to do so, in my heart. Thank you for all those on my team who are teaching me.
2 Corinthians 8: 7 & 10 But just as you excel in everything- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. vs 10; you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
OBSERVATION
Paul encourages us to "excel" in the grace of giving and then in verse 10 he sees even deeper than just the act of giving but recognizes they were the "first" to give but also to have the "desire" to do so.
APPLICATION
So many times I think about the people at Koinonia who give their time in service to others. I know they do it because they love kids, or they genuinely care that people are welcomed, or they have a heart to help others experience worship. Whatever passion motivates their service, they are so many times the "first" to give. They do seemingly small things, like this Easter many of them will be giving up their seats with their families and serve multiple services, just because they have put "others first" and most amazingly, they do it with the "desire" Paul writes about.
PRAYER
Father, increase this "grace of giving" in me, help me be one of the "first" to give and grow the "desire" to do so, in my heart. Thank you for all those on my team who are teaching me.
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