Saturday 2-20-10

Jeremiah 13:9-10 "9  Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.

10  This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing."

God had commanded Jeremiah to take a girdle and wear it, Jeremiah did so. Then God commanded him to take this girdle and bury it, and after many days God again commanded Jeremiah and he dug up the girdle, the girdle was ruined. So God is now comparing Israel to this girdle. As I read this my heart is heavy that my pride, love of sin, rebellion could one day make me worthless. Even so it is humbling right now to come before God realizing he has seen all my sin, none of it has been hidden from him. And what is humbling is that even though I am vile and gross sinner, God can still use me! Not only does it humble me but it makes me love God all the more for dying for me, for saving me out of sin, for convicting me and drawing me out from sin. Lord God may each day you show me just how utterly worthless I am without.. may my heart be in a continual broken state over my sin.

Please pray for Mauritania. It is a country in Africa, located on the west cost, just beside Western Sahara, and below Morocco. The country is 99% Islamic.. that 1% is 85% Catholic.. The Lord has been burdening my heart for the souls of Mauritania, please pray for God to raise up a labors to go to Mauritania!

Unto the lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world,

Friday 2-19-10

Jeremiah 7:22-24

"22  For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:

23  But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

24  But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward."

As I read this I saw how it still very much applies to my life. God is not interested in my "sacrifices" or my going through the motions of serving him. He does want me to obey him. He wants me to love him and for him to be my only God. He wants me to walk in his commands. Those who simply "go through the motions" do not listen to God's direction or calling, they will not obey him but rather seek after evil. May I be among those who go forward and not backward!

Jeremiah 9:23-24

"23 ¶  Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

24  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD."

These verse just once again brought out how God wants me to glory in him, to delight in him. Here he says not to glory in wisdom, or might, or riches, all these things will one day pass, and all these things will never ultimately satisfy. He wants me to glory in what will last forever: understanding and knowing the Lord God! It is not egotistical for God to want his children to glory in him, for he knows that the greatest pleasure, or delight a Christian could have is to be satisfied in God and to glorify him. So really God has my best interests at heart when he says to glory (or boast) in the fact I know him. My hearts cry is that I would be completely satisfied in God, for if God will not satisfy... what can?

Please pray for Gordon. He is a young man who was saved last year, and God is at work in his heart. All his other "friends" who had gotten 'saved' at the same time are back in the world. It must be difficult for him, seeing them fall back into sin. Please pray that God would continue to work in Gordon, and that Gordon would stand strong in Christ Jesus, that he would continue to grow in Christ each day.

May grace and peace be with you,

Thursday 2-18-10

Jeremiah 2:13  "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."

Just a short thought from what God was showing me today. In the early chapters of Jeremiah it shows how God's chosen people Israel forsook him and lusted and followed after their own desires and gods. I thought verse thought verse thirteen did a wonderful job of painting the picture of what was really going on. 

 As I read this I thought of how it applied to my life. When I sin I commit two evils, I forsake the living water that Jesus offers and what my Lord Jesus Christ has done on the cross to pardon and redeem me. And I attempt to find pleasure in "broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Oh that my heart would be broken at this verse. For how can I one who is redeemed, blood-bought, spotless child of God forsake him who drew me out of the bondage of sin? Oh Father may I see my sin as you a righteous and holy God sees it. May my heart be broken and my spirit contrite before you. May I not seek the temporary never-fulfilling pleasures of sin, but rather may I delight myself in you at all times.

May he find you spotless and clean when he comes for you,

Wednesday 2-17-10

As I was reading today several scriptures really showed me just how 'nothing' I really am. I mean God has really been using these past few days to show me his superiority and greatness. I knew before that God was a great and awesome God, however as I look at my puny, sin-filled life, God's greatness in simply saving me is brought forth so beautifully. I wanted to share some scriptures that God has used to start to humble me. My desire is that I would be so overwhelmed at God's greatness and magnificence that my pride would be choked out, and I would be humbled at the feet of my creator.

Isaiah 43:25  "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."

God is the one blotting out transgressions.. my transgressions that is. In times past I would read verses like this and think of how I could use it to teach or witness. There is nothing wrong with thinking of how one can use a verse, however I would miss the beauty of what Christ has done for me. I read this now and think how great and loving is my God that he would blot out my transgressions and not remember my sins. My pride, lust (adultery), selfishness, rebellion, lying, hate (murder), thefts, deception.. my heart grows heavy at the weight of my sin, yet praise to God that there is now no condemnation since I am in Christ Jesus!

Isaiah 53:5-6

"5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

He was wounded for my transgressions? He was bruised for my iniquities? He took my chastisement so that I might have peace? He received stripes that I might be healed? I have gone astray to my own way, and yet Jesus took on himself my iniquity? Who am I that my creator.. and my Lord die for me? These are to great me for me to comprehend!

Isaiah 55:11  "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

God sends his word out and promises it shall not return void, he says it shall accomplish what he wants it to, and it will prosper where he sends it. This verse was a great reminder of God's complete and absolute sovereignty! I know when I witness I want to see results right away, and if I don't I feel like a failure. However that is not the way God works, his (as we see in verses 8-9 in chap 55) ways and thoughts are high than mine. God is the one who works in hearts to convict and draw to himself, that is not and will never by my responsibility. I have the duty and yes, privilege of proclaiming to a lost and dying world the good news of Jesus Christ!

Love through Christ Jesus,

Tuesday 2-16-10

Isaiah  40:29-31

"29  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Earlier in chapter forty the parallel is made between man and grass. It showed just how insignificant, and short lived man really is. Then in later verses it showed just how great, mighty, powerful, and wonderful God is. Then we come to the end of the chapter and here we see the relationship between insignificant man and almighty and powerful God. Man is week and God is the sustainer, Man faints and God is the renewer of strength.

I can see so beautifully my condition without relying on God's strength and power, and also I can see my condition when I do rely on God for strength and power. I remember when I would try to do ministry, to serve, to do those things I knew I should, yet I did them in my own power. Sometimes I could do them, and even on occasion do them half-way-decently. Yet I could not persevere, I would become weary in doing good, I would become faint in obeying God. The reasons for why I would fail were two-fold I believe: first I was doing them for my glory, I was doing them so that I would be noticed; secondly because I was attempting to do those things by/in my own strength. My pride kept me from being used for God.

However, praise be to God! For he convicted me of my prideful behavior, and my self-reliance. I now seek to bring him glory in obeying him, and I truly have found strength when I wait on him. 

Please pray for Mark and Natasha Tolson. Here is an excerpt from their blog: "Our baby has what is known as “Body Stalk Anomaly.” Basically, all the organs from the mid-chest down have developed outside the body and have attached themselves to the wall of the placenta. This condition makes the baby incapable of living outside the womb." This must be extremely difficult for them, and most definitely need much prayer and support at this time.

God Bless,

Monday 2-15-10

Isaiah 26:13-14

"13  O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

14  They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish."

As I read verse thirteen I thought of Romans 6:12 which says "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." In the past years I had disobeyed God by letting sin reign or have dominion in my body. So while reading verse thirteen I can definitely agree with them that I have let "other lords beside thee have" dominion over me. However as we continue reading on we see that that these people were only going to make mention of God's name, that is they were only going to praise and lift up the true and only God of heaven. Likewise while sin has had dominion over me I am only going to praise and worship God. 

Verse fourteen is where it really gets exciting. It says six different times that these "lords" who have had dominion over them before "are dead", "shall not live", "are deceased", "shall not rise", "thou has destroyed them", and "made their memory to perish". This verse makes so perfectly clear that those "lords who had dominion" are nothing but a memory that is quickly fading. So applying this to my life then, sin is dead, sin shall not live, sin is deceased, sin shall not rise, God has destroyed sin, and God has made sins memory to perish! In other words if God is my Lord then sin is conquered by Christ's death on the cross (Romans 6:8-11)! 

Please pray for David Gates and his family. God laid them on my heart this morning, and throughout the day. They are currently finishing deputation and getting ready to leave for Egypt sometime this year. I know Mrs. Beth is pregnant and had been getting sick while they were traveling. Also whenever brother Gates sends me prayer requests he always asks me to pray for Joshua that he would get saved at a young age and that his life would be spent loving and serving God. Thank you for praying with me!

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,

Sunday 2-14-10

Isaiah 17:10 "Thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength"

As I read this verse this afternoon it flat out scared me! I mean it just floored me to think that I could forget the God of my salvation, that I would not be mindful of the rock of my strength. It is not my nature to think nothing of myself, for I am a pride-entrenched human being. But in all honesty I am nothing, I'm not just saying that, it's reality.. I have no merit, no power, no strength, no salvation, no hope, nothing on my own. I am truly nothing, and it scares me to think that I could forget the God of my salvation. The loving a merciful God who poured out his love on me, who saved me, who keeps me, who forgives me, who redeemed me, whom I will spend eternity with. It gripped me that I could become like a Demos who loved the present world and it's temporary trinkets rather then stand steadfast and endure and rely on God through hardship.

I do not want to be as a Demos who even though was discipled under one of the greatest Apostles, he did not finish well. He started out well, he was in the right place to receive training, he no doubt had all the marks of being a great man of God. Yet he forsook the rock of his strength he forgot the God of his salvation, he pursued this fleeting world. I want to be one who takes refuge in the rock of my strength, I want to be joyous about the God of my salvation, I want to finish well!

May grace and peace be upon you,

Saturday 2-13-10

Isaiah 10:15  "Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood."

Just moments before reading this verse I began to think about how when I teach from the bible or I proclaim God's word in any way. I am not just proclaiming something from a ordinary book, I'm not giving my opinion on something, I am proclaiming THE WORD of God. I stopped and thought about that for a second.. "The Word of God" What a claim to make, that the bible is "The word of God". Yet it is true, and how blessed I am to have it in my own language, in so many versions (most of which I wouldn't care to read.. but still), and in so many formats (printed, electronic, audio, ect.). 

As I read this verse humility really jumped out at me. My eyes were opened to look at humility in a new light. Humility is something that should flow from my life, for what power does an ax have if it lays on the ground and no one uses it to chop? or what good is a staff unless one picks it up? Likewise what use is my life unless God works in me and uses me? I have no power to overcome sin on my own, I have no power to read God's word, I have no power to pray, I have no power to serve, I have and am nothing without Christ Jesus. 

So you see humility should not have to be "squeezed" from my life, it should flow freely. For like an ax which is of no use, unless one wieldeth it, so am I of no use with God working in me and using me. It brings to mind what John the Baptist said "He (Jesus Christ) must increase, I must decrease." 

Please pray for David Velke and his family, they've been on my heart this week allot. They will be going to spend six months in Peru and as part of their training missionary training. I am not sure when they are hoping to leave, however there is no doubt some financial need as their family will have to be supported for six months. Please pray that God would provide, guide and protect them.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

Saturday 1-16-10

Job 36:11
11  If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

Here Elihu is rebuking Job telling him about how God blesses those who do good, and he goes on to say that the evil will be met with the sword and death. I believe Elihu was preaching nothing short of the prosperity gospel. True those who obey and serve God will spend their days in prosperity but that prosperity will not be money, house(s), car(s), or fame. The prosperity that the righteous will have will be in knowing Christ, not in worldly riches. The righteous will also spend their years in pleasures, the years they spend in pleasure will not be spent in a house on the lake, in a rocking chair, on the back porch as the sun fades away in the distant horizon. Those who obey and serve God will spend eternity in pleasure, for we will get to spend eternity knowing, and delving into the riches of who God is. I say with all honesty I cannot imagine anything greater then being with God forever.

Even as right now I am overwhelmed at the thought of heaven and all that will happen in eternity, there is a great heaviness that comes with all the joyful and splendorous thoughts. For at the same exact moment that I will be in God's presence enjoying him in all his glory. There will be billions upon billions of people who will be burning in a place of such agony and torment we call the place hell, forever separated from the most wonderful and precious treasure one could ever have.
Father may my every moment that I have upon this planet be spent as one who's treasure is not of this world. For there is no greater tragedy then to invest all I have in a place that is doomed for destruction. Lord God may you be all I long for from this moment forward until I graduate into eternity.

Please join me in obeying Christ's command in Luke 10:2 "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest." 

May grace and peace be upon you,

Friday 1-15-10

Job 31:1 

1 ¶  I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

As I was reading this verse really caught me, I had read it and heard it before. However I began to think about what it really meant and what it should mean to me.

Here Job states that he made a covenant with his his eyes, so that he would not fall the prey of lust. Quite a noble and good thing to do, however this wasn't just some little promise to himself that he was going to break. A covenant back in those days was a very serious thing in fact back in Judges 11 a man sacrificed his daughter because of a vow he made with his mouth. I mention that to help me realize that covenants are important things and to help me understand the fullness of what Job is saying here. Job took a stand against sin before the temptation ever came, he reminds me of Romans 13:14 "make no provisions of the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."

This verse and really just chapter 31 in general challenged me in some ways. First it challenged me to take stock and make sure that I'm not living in any sin (not to say that I don't sin each day.. haha don't misinterpret what I'm saying). Secondly it challenged me to not become dormant in fighting sin, for there is much to be said about a man with integrity. Lastly it challenged me to put up hedges and barriers in my life that would help to keep me from falling into sins deadly grasp. 

Please be in prayer for Haiti, I am sure you know what has gone on there in the past few days. God has laid it on my heart to prayer for revival in that country through this tragedy. From the numbers I've heard the estimated deaths so far are, above 100,000. 80% of the people are Roman Catholic, and according to some facts I've dug up over half of the population practices voodoo.

God Bless,

Thursday 1-14-10

Job 23:10-12

10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11  My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12  Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

This is some beautiful and rich scripture. I just want to share a few observations:

1. Job attests to the fact that God is completely sovereign. Job said "he knoweth the way I take" it's not like God is just waiting to see what Job is going to do, Job states for a fact that God knows what Job is going to do. 

2. God allows suffering and persecution. Here right after Job states that God is sovereign he says that "he hath tried me". Job knows that it is God who allowed all this to happen, it's not as if God took the day off from being God and then everything just went wrong. In fact Job accepts the suffering stating that he "shall come forth as gold."

3. Next Job states clearly that God is the one who has kept him from evil. So here we see that God is able to keep and preserve those whom are his.

4. Here is what really gets me and convicts me, Job said that God's word was more important to him then the food he needed to keep alive. Here I think Job gives the principle that is very important to every Christian, that is this. That reading God's word is more important than reading anything else, talking with God through prayer is more important than talking with family or friends, taking joy and pleasure in God is more important than attempting to find happiness elsewhere.

Please be in prayer for Judson Masters, he had surgery earlier today to fix a cleft lip. From the last I heard he is doing well, however his arms are in constraints to keep him from messing with the wound/stitches/ect. Please pray that there would be no complications and everything would go smoothly as they take him home soon. Also pray that God would provide the rest of the money necessary for the Master family to be able to leave soon for North Africa.

Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith,

Wednesday 1-13-10

Job 19:25

25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Job had practically everything taken from him, oxen, donkeys, camels, more importantly children, his status position, his wife (she didn't die but still), his friends. Job even said it would have been better if he had not been born, yet in the middle of all this I think he realizes that he hasn't lost his greatest treasure. his most prized possession was not lost in all this, in fact his greatest possession allowed all this to happen to him. In verse twenty-five he says that his redeemer liveth, even though all else failed him, even though God was allowing him to be persecuted (vs. 22) he still trusted that God was who he says he is. 

Job went through a lot, and yet even in the middle of the fire comes forth beautiful words. "I know that my redeemer liveth". My prayer is that when the storms of tribulation and trial come I will be like Job and even more so that I would glory in the fact that God is God! One questions plagues my mind.. is my most prized possession above all else Jesus Christ?

On my heart very much so at this moment is the Howeth family. Ethan Howeth came out of surgery several hours ago and from the last word I heard was doing well. However please continue in prayer for him, God has definitely performed a miracle in healing him this far however he needs prayer now more than ever. Also please continue to pray that all the financial needs will be met, God is more than able to provide!

Fight the good fight of faith,

Tuesday - Friday 12-15-09 - 12-18-09

Quick recap of devotions for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

~ Tuesday ~

1 Kings 3:28 "And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment."

As I read this the thought came: "Do I have godly wisdom". Honestly no I don't. However God has blessed me with the opportunity and privilage to be around men of God who truly have godly wisdom. I need spend more time with them, asking them questions gleaning from the wisdom that God has given them. I can look back and see the times where I have wasted amazing opportunities to glean and learn from godly men.

I need to be on the look out for opportunities to learn from men of God who have godly wisdom. Instead of barging head-first thinking I have all the answers I need to seek counsel from those who have wisdom.

~ Wednesday ~

1 Kings 8:22 & 54 "And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:" vs. 54 "And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven."

I want us to note in vs. 22 that Solomon began his prayer standing, yet when he finishes praying in vs. 54 he was on his knees. As you read in chapter 8 you will find that Solomons prayer is asking God to restore Israel if (rather when) they sin against him. There is much we could go into here but for the sake of time let me put it briefly.

When was the last time the reality of my sin drove me to my knees?

When was the last time the grossness of my sin drove me to my knees before a holy God?

When was the last time my inability to save myself driven me to my knees?

I think that as Solomon prayed and began playing scenarios through his mind, the harshness of sin began to hit him. He realized just how unholy we are and how holy, righteous, and loving God is.

~ Thursday ~

1 Kings 11:14 & 16 "For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father." vs. 16 "And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father."

How dangerous it is to not have heart that is perfect with the Lord. How dangerous it is to not go fully after the Lord. Here we see Solomon perhaps the wisest man to ever live and yet according to verse 16 Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord. All of the "good" things Solomon did ultimately didn't matter, because his heart was not perfect with the Lord.

It is not enough to appear to seek after God, or seek after him half-heartedly. I can look back and see how I "went not fully after the Lord", my heart was turned away from God it was caught up in my lusts and desires for the things of this world. These verses really helped me to take stock and make sure that I am going fully after the Lord.

Real quickly I want to look at the danger of not having a perfect heart with the Lord, the danger of not going fully after the Lord. Here is the danger that we find in verse 14: "His heart (turned away) after other gods." How deadly this sin of not having a perfect heart that is set on God is. Oh may my heart never turn from fully seeking after God, may I have a perfect heart before the Lord my God.

~ Friday ~

1 Kings 13:24 "And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase."

To bring you up to speed on this story: Here God had commanded a man of God to prophecy to the king and return home without eating or drinking. The man refused the kings offer to be rewarded and to dine with him. On his way home though he was deceived by an old prophet who claimed to have seen an angle who told him to invite this man of God to eat and drink with him. The man of God went to the old prophets house and ate and drank with him. He left there and went to go back home, God had a lion kill him for disobeying.

When God gives me a command he really does intend for us to keep it, it is not just a suggestion. So often though it seems as if that is what I do, I do not take seriously what God has called me to do.

May I keep from not taking to heart what God calls me to. May I seek to obey with all that I have. May my heart be perfect before the Lord.

May the Lord make his face to shine upon you,

Monday 12-14-09

2 Samuel 19:1-2

1 ¶ And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.

As I read these verse the love that David had for Absalom becomes very evident. There is not doubt that David loved Absalom very much.

It struck me though, I mean I knew that Absalom was David's son yet Absalom was the son who had murdered another one of David's son, Absalom was the son who had attempted to usurp the kingdom, Absalom was the son who would have killed David in order to become king.

Yet through all of that David loved Absalom. Verse two says that "victory was turned into mourning" what seemed glorious for the people in that a enemy to the kingdom was defeated was a great tragedy for King David.

As I thought about how much King David loved his son, even though Absalom caused him much grief. It brought to mind how much more God loves me, oh how I have cause him grief and pain, yet God became a man (what a wondrous thought in and of it's self) and hung on a cross and died for me.

How David's love for Absalom pales in comparison to the love that God has and is.

Love through the infallible Christ Jesus,

Monday 111-20-09

1 Samuel 7:3 ¶ And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

Wow, what a great verse! I just want to pull out a couple things that really stood out to me.

"If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts"

Here the children of Israel have forsaken the Lord, they have gone after "strange gods". They must now forsake these "strange gods" and with their whole hearts return unto the Lord.

They must needs to prepare their hearts, or put the Lord overall so that there is no room for 'second place' in their hearts and lives.

They needed to "serve him only", so crucial to not only return to the Lord with all their hearts but to continue to seek him by serving him.

Finally it is the Lord who is going to deliver them out of the hands of the Philistines. I will never rely or trust on Christ if I think that I have some capability to deliver myself. I am nothing, I have no ability to flee from temptation, I have no ability to live a Christ honoring life, I have no ability to preach the gospel, however I can do all these things not by own power but God who actually does them through me.

Seek first the kingdom of God,