December 31

Revelation 21:6 (NIV)
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

I (hopefully we) have read through the Bible in one year. It has been a great adventure and now we come to a climatic close. I had never kept up on journaling or blogging before this year. I have to admit that it was tough to find things to blog in keeping with this blog theme which is how this scripture of that day can be personally applied to my life. Yet when I sought the Lord, He would graciously give me something. I am convinced it is because I was thirsty for something. We have to STAY thirsty! We have so many other things to drink, entertainment being a big one that will fill our cup. Only the thirsty get the drink! Stay thirsty before Him! I say that to both me and you who are reading this. The Words in these 66 books are LIFE to us but we must stay thirsty in order to receive them. We may be able to understand and intellectually bite into many things in the Word of God, yet only those who thirst will have their souls nourished and lives changed by this awesome book! There is another portion of the spring, it is the Spirit. God gives the Spirit “without measure” to those who what? To those who come bearing His Word! It is the fantastic combination of the powerful Word of God along with the Spirit of God that brings life to us who are thirsty!

People ask me why doesn’t God work more miracles today. I will tell you one reason, because we aren’t thirsty! “He who is full loathes honey, but to him who is hungry, even the bitter tastes sweet.”

I am hungry for you Lord, thirsty for you! I want more of you, I am not satisfied with where I am or what I have. I am thankful for all you have given me, but I want more Lord! I want to know you more fully. I want to reflect you in a greater way! I need you more than ever God! I am hungry and thirsty for you! Fill me and give me drink from your hand. May all other “fillers” leave me wanting because only you satisfy me. Thank you for your challenge this year – and for the next!

December 30

I feel as though I just watched the world’s most shocking movie and as surreal as it is, it will happen! Where will I be on that day? Will my faith stand with the pressure of death or death to my family? Will I take the mark or will I die for Jesus? I will remain true to the Lord, there is no doubt, and I want to be in that army that fights although I don’t think it is going to be like we think it will be. As shock waves of dread go through my soul because of the immensity of it all, there is something that has risen, something beyond valiant and bold. What am I living for? Where am I going? I have given my life to the service of my King and it is obvious for all to see. Yet, I know within myself there still remains selfishness and self interest. Oh that it would vanish, but that may be the bloodiest war of all. Do I trust in Babylon (the system of the world) or do I trust in God? Of course God, but do I ever look to Babylon to… It seems to me, however long the saints would stay during this tribulation, it won’t be easy. Am I being prepared for suffering with the way I lead my life? Am I preparing others for tough choices of life and living with how I preach, lead and disciple? Denial of self is the preparation for every type of trial. Are we learning to deny ourselves? It is hard when you live in a country that has everything, and if you can’t afford it, charge it or apply for aid. Oh God, help me to be a man of self denial. I not only want to be ready to endure patiently trouble of every kind, but I want to live an example life. I am 50 and I feel I am so far away from that life! Yet, with your power, your strength, your love, I can become that man. Within me in your seed, your Spirit – I am that man!

December 29

Wow! That was an eye full this morning! In the midst of all of the stuff that is hard to understand I saw the verse God wanted me to see. I couldn’t shake it as I read on.

Revelation 10:10 (NIV)
10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.

This could mean something totally different in this revelation from John, but God’s word is alive and active, so it spoke to me. I have eaten from the hand of God. I have “eaten” His Word and I have “eaten” His will. Both have been sweet to my mouth, yet there have been things that have turned my stomach. There are things that the Lord has given me to eat which have turned by stomach sour, yet they tasted so sweet and were received (most of the time) with such joy! I think it is a principle of the Kingdom in which I need to accept. The sourness doesn’t stay forever, but turns to fulfillment. God is teaching me I suppose, to withstand the bitter, the uncomfortable, the trial. Do I have a choice? I think not. If I had a choice – I would choose God and whatever He sends. I have been enduring trails, my stomach is presently a little sour, but God is with me. My lot is to reign with Him, even through my trials. It does make you hesitant to eat. It makes you count the cost at least. But where else would I go? Whose will would I want to do? I am yours Lord – to do your bidding and perform your will.

December 28

Revelation 5:10 (NIV)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

As I read this I thought - I am a kingdom! I have the King sitting on the throne of my life and I am governed by Him. The next thought that came in was that if that was true that I could not be self determined or self willed. It went something like, “well that is the end of my…” If I have been made a kingdom then the rule of the king is enforced. This is elementary but stunning when you consider the implications.

Then as I read it again, I realized it could be taken in the plural as well. We (them) have been made into a kingdom. That of course means that collectively we will be ruled by the king and not any person. God is our King! Will we be ruled by Him who sits on the throne? Forget about coming into a new year, how about today? How about tomorrow? Again, this is elementary, but today it is hitting me with a --- “will you”?

I will.

December 27

Revelation 1:10 (NIV)
10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

“In the Spirit”. This is a very Biblical concept that we don’t hear a lot about. John saw a lot of coot stuff in the Spirit and my thinking is that if we never get in the Spirit we will never get a glimpse of the realities of the Kingdom of God in any depth. The problem with getting “in the Spirit” is that there is no formula or directions (so to speak). Rather than teach on this, I would just like to say I want to be in the Spirit more. I know that I can “walk” in the Spirit, but I think that this was different. John took some time and shut out everything and disappeared into the Spirit. It was him and God alone and I want more of that in my life. Not only do I want to see things and hear things that I presently don’t or that are rare, but I want everything that being in the Spirit brings in me. I want to touch the garment of God, behold His radiance, hear His Word to me and walk away with that radiance. Was John regularly “in the Spirit”? I don’t know. He did have a lot of time on his hands being exiled to Patmos, but I don’t know how often. What I do know is that it is too infrequent in my life, and I want more it!

December 25

Hebrews 12:12-13 (NIV)
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

I am not totally sure if what I am enduring right now is my own doing, an attack of evil (I doubt it) or simply discipline and training, but I don’t like it. I am in one of those places and trying to figure out how to make the necessary changes without overdoing it. Then I come upon this scripture. Really?! I have two choices, feel more deficient or focus on someone else. It’s not that people are “counting on me” but then again I think they are. For me it is - am I going to remain outward focused or inward focused or God focused? Here I see that I have work to do, so I have to look to the Lord for strength and relationship so my feeble arms and weak knees will be strengthened – I have got work to do. I would bet money Jesus had to make this decision when He was tired and disappointed, and then He went on for the sake of the call and the will of the Father. I will too.

December 24

Hebrews 9:8 (NIV)
8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.

So how do we get in? How do we get into the Holy Place? What is the Holy Place anyway? The Holy Place – the Holy of Holies, is where the presence of God dwelt. His Spirit was there! The Spirit of God, through the ceremonies of the law showed us that the way to God’s presence had not yet been disclosed. It wasn’t through doing things, nor through ceremony that access to the Spirit of God is granted. It is through faith in the finished work of Christ including His death and resurrection! Maybe this should be my sermon this Christmas Eve! The Spirit is saying, that WORKS and KEEPING RULES and CEREMONIES are not the way to God’s presence – and isn’t that what we all are after? I am! I love His presence! There is fullness of joy there!

His presence is with me all the time since now I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. God is showing me more than just don’t try to attain it by works, rules or ceremonies, (the only one I struggle with is the first one, although I was just asked about how we conduct our worship “ceremony” and if I thought that it is the magic bullet to bring His presence in a fuller way. Hmmmm…) and to trust in Christ’s work. God is saying to LIVE in the work of Christ! That is a grand subject I can’t write about here, but I will tell you one thing, Christ’s sacrifice was suppose to cleanse my conscious from sin. I think that goes further than removing guilt all the way to getting rid of sin consciousness and getting the righteousness consciousness, but I will save that for another day. The point is this – it isn’t a secret anymore! We know how to enter God’s presence! Get there Terry! Everyday – all the time!

December 23

Hebrews 3:19 (NIV)
19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

God is talking about rest. Ahh.. yes, rest. I feeling like I have been chopping vegetables in the kitchen and just cut myself with a sharp knife. I have been cut by the Word of God, but it is good to be laid bare by my God. To put it bluntly, (I hope this will help some of you) I don’t enter God’s rest because of unbelief! To explain this further, let me say this – I get stressed out, work to many hours, am anxious because of unbelief. That is a big pill to swallow, but I want to hear it – it brings life to me! Whether it is church, the ministry, the house or whatever… if I trust Jesus, I will be able to rest! I don’t have to prove myself over and over again and neither do I have to get it all done because if I don’t it won’t get done.

God, you are bigger than me and are able to do things better than me. I come to you – again – and say that I want to enter your rest. I do believe Lord, help my unbelief! I dedicate myself to your rest.

December 22

We have everything we need for our lives through the knowledge of Him, but the knowledge can be ineffective and unproductive if I don’t make every effort to add character qualities to my life. Fortunately I already have these character qualities although they may be hiding, and you do to if you have exchanged your life for the life of Jesus Christ. Still, I am taken by the command TO ME that is nearly befuddling! I am charged with adding love to brotherly kindness which was added to godliness, which is added to perseverance, which is added to self-control, which is added to knowledge, which is added to goodness, which is added to faith? That is all me? I am tired thinking about it! How do I concentrate on all of that?!

As Paul might say, thanks be to God that His Spirit is at work in me to empower and strengthen me to do all of that adding! If I look back over my life I see that these things have been added in great degrees. I haven’t come close to attaining any type of perfection or even a “good amount” of these characteristics, however, I am confident that He who began a good work in me will continue to conform me into the image of His Son. My part is cooperation, which is effort.

December 21

Peter was writing “…in this you greatly rejoice…” and “are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…”, to a people who were suffering. Notice that he said that they “are” filled and “do” rejoice, it was not a directive, it was a statement of fact. When I read that I felt like, “hey, I want that – ahh… I have that – ahh… where is it?! I do have joy, there is no doubt to that, but it seems too conditional for me. It comes when things go good or when I am really in the Spirit. Hmmm…. I guess I should always be in the Spirit!

There was one more thing that jumped out at me;

1 Peter 4:1 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

I am still trying to wrap my mind around this one, but I will tell you this, it is true! There is suffering involved in so many things in this life in order to attain something. It seems to me at the very least that this means that if I want to be done with any sin, it will take some suffering and I have to be willing to suffer. OSL has some suffering built into the discipleship course, and it helps you overcome things and change! Willing to suffer…

I have been willing for years to suffer physically to bring about a good result Lord, I want to be done with things in my life that have plagued me, do what needs to be done Papa – I trust you.

December 20

Those who follow the blog are going to see a common theme running through many days. God wants to speak to OUR lives as we read the Word and not just give us knowledge, or in my case as a teacher, not just something good to teach – although He does that too!

“…when you encounter various trials…” “…each is tempted… by his own evil desire…” We have got to stop (only) thinking about this as “sin” stuff. (The things we most think of when sin is mentioned). For me today, when I read that, I thought about the trial of depressed thinking when things are going wrong. Yesterday, after striking out Christmas shopping for 3 hours, I came home to 2 window leaks, a wet carpet and a wet couch. Then I was told that the main house computer didn’t work and we are out of toner. Compared with eternity, it’s nothing, but I wasn’t comparing it with eternity at that moment. It wasn’t a trial not to cuss or not to commit adultery or not to get drunk, it was hard to keep my head out of water. Honestly, I am a little tired and it pushed me over the edge of hopelessness. What was I going to do? Go out and shop more? No!!! That was stressing me out. Do nothing! I did try to fix the computer, but I had to reckoned that tonight nothing was going to be solved and I should eat dinner and enjoy my wife’s company. We watched a chick flick that was clean, went to bed not worrying and I woke up feeling renewed and wanting to get close to God. I always want to fix it, get out of it, escape, not do it, do more… How about just accept it sometimes and move on! It happened and even though I should of…. (sealed the windows last summer…) I didn’t and so what. I’ll get them next time. My evil desire is kicking myself until I am bruised. Jesus was already bruised for me– stop it Terry!

December 18

Titus 1:1 (NIV)
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—

The knowledge of the truth leads to godliness. I have been “doing” a lot lately. Do you know what I mean? I have been busy for God and have felt, well… a little tired. That tiredness actually produces (in me) more distance than closeness. It’s not like I am not close to God, or have become immoral, but I am not as close as I want to be, mainly because I am tired. So when I read this passage this morning it was as if I was reproved by the Spirit who was saying, slow down, and just “be” in me! It isn’t how much you do that leads to godliness, it is sitting at the feet of Jesus and just being with Him, because that knowledge, that time with God will lead to the godliness (think beyond morality), that I desperately want.

Help me to slow down Lord! I want to get things done for you, but I see it is a trap to get me away from you. Jesus, can you help me? It seems impossible, but I know that you can. I love you Lord.

December 17

“Turn away from godless chatter”. “Have nothing to do with godless myths…” “Command certain men not to… they promote controversies rather than God’s work…”

The Spirit of God is not interested in speculations and traditions or anything else that takes you away from the work of God. There are those things in Christianity that occupy people’s time, energy and their focus that promote controversies and end up dividing people. We spend our time trying to figure out things that are not clearly laid out to us and we take our focus off of God’s work. I am not saying that one should study Bible prophecy (end times) or the significance of numbers and things like that, but I am convince that whatever gets in the way of God’s work which is advancing the Kingdom of God, must be at the very least secondary. Things that promote controversy that are not foundationally Biblical, but opinions, tradition, myths… need to be put away as a childish thing.

December 16

Philippians 3:16 (NIV)
16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

I have attained something already! It is in me and in you! Paul is saying – the Spirit is saying, that we have already attained what we are aiming at, and it is up to us to a large extent, whether we live up to that level or not. What we have attained goes so far beyond moral living, so far beyond being a good Christian, so far beyond western thinking of religious servitude – it blows my mind! The depth of relationship, the authority and power that we have, the identity and rights as children of God we have are amazing. For me, when I think about living up to what I have attained (by the work of Jesus), I think about living in my true identity. Oh to walk, talk, think, behave, hear, see, pray, teach, love… as I already am! Lord, draw me deeper – take me to the next level – again. Reveal to me who I am in You!

December 15

Ephesians 5:11-14 (NIV)
11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

There is so much revelation in this passage that I was going to write about, but I am reminded of the purpose of this year’s blog – What did God speak to me. I have be about exposing darkness. Not talking about darkness to others necessarily, but exposing darkness because I am light. There are different ways to expose darkness. The way we all think of right off the bat is confrontation. This has to be done with much wisdom, but it clearly must be done at times. I just have to make sure that it is God’s timing to do it. The other ways are more subtle. They include my way of life exposing darkness. It is supposed to be such a stark contrast that conviction will fall. Similarly the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life brings light and conviction. Another way is teaching. My teaching must be able to expose and confront the darkness that tries to hide in all of us so that Jesus light can shine and people have a chance to get rid of that darkness.

Shine through me Lord! May I fearlessly confront and teach and may my life be one of purity, set apart for you.

December 14

Colossians 1:9-12 (NIV)
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

I didn’t get through one chapter of today’s reading when God spoke to me the life I need. I need the Word of God and the fellowship with the Spirit of God! I want to live worthy, pleasing God, bearing fruit, growing, being strong, enduring with joy and being thankful. The key is to be filled with knowledge of His will through spiritual wisdom and understanding. That certainly means I have to be in the Word of God, but it is more than that. It is reading the Word with the Spirit as my instructed/illuminator. It is spending time “praying in the Spirit” for understanding and wisdom. It is so much more than studying a text book, it is reaping the life, unveiling the mysteries, going deep with God and having His mind. Thank you for Your Word Lord. Teach me and reveal to me the depth of it, especially who I am in you and what my inheritance is! Keep pouring it out on me Papa, be patient with me, I want more!

December 13

Did you see that Paul told the crew “I told you so”. I thought that was funny, although some people might take that to mean they could say it too.

The first point of today’s reading was that Paul knew that disaster was coming. I want to be that connected with God so He can tell me things like that! Although I think I am that connected, and I think He doesn’t hide things from me, I haven’t got a lot of those warnings before – at least to my knowledge. At times I have gotten a few warnings, that little gnawing in my soul, and now that I think about it, God has warned me before more than I would like to admit. I just didn’t heed it, or doubted it was Him. He wants to guide me through life, why wouldn’t He “guide” me then? It takes time and focus to be guided.

The second thing that amazed me is that Paul was able to seek and HEAR the Lord in the midst of the storm. Wow! That is so hard for me. Seeking and hearing Him at church or when things are going well is nearly easy, but in the midst of turmoil of any kind, I find it hard to hear Him. There is too much of me talking and thinking and it is hard to quiet myself – how about you? Lord take me to place where I can hear your voice in any circumstance. I suppose that starts with listening all the time. Help me Lord, mold me, fill me with You!

December 11

It sure seems like Paul's life was preaching the gospel doesn't it? Everything else was to facilitate what his mission was. No matter what the cost and no matter what it took, he was bound and determined to complete his mission. It is said that Paul was rich because he made big tents. Maybe so, but there sure seems like there was plenty of want as well. It's funny what we get out of scripture sometimes. This is what I get, Paul was 100% in - all in! That is the way I want to live - all in - and not worrying about the worldly stuff.

December 10

Acts 20:24 (NIV)
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

Just this morning 2 evident flaws of my life showed themselves in glaring fashion. As I read this passage I couldn’t pass this verse without thinking I wish I could do that. I know that I can, but it just seems so hard. When things are going well we Christians can quote a verse like this with a smile on our face and preach it like Charles Spurgeon. However when you are hit in the face with a 2 x 4 about things in your life (not moral sins), this verse takes on longing. If I could live, really, think like this, I wouldn’t be so bummed about other things. If my life, my house, others opinions, or anything else didn’t matter so much, I would be so much freer to serve the Lord.

Help me to die to my life Lord. I am vexed by my own care, which seems good until it crushes me under it’s weight. I am undone before you today. I long to serve you with all I have. Help me dispose of these weights so I can be unleashed all the more. I will finish my race Lord – I am confident you will complete it with me. I give myself to you freshly today – I can’t run my life, there is too much worry in that. You are my source, my everything – I yield to you.

December 9

“In view of God’s mercy…” What mercy? The mercy that took us, who didn’t seek Him and save us! That is why we lay down our lives! We have to look back at our before state to understand His mercy. For some that is a forgotten thing and it shows in their life. I was ignoble, a nobody, born to nobodies who didn’t have much. Toxic waste was in the soul of my ancestry and that is where I came from. Insecurity ruled me along with other major character flaws. I was empty, afraid and yet sought after by a merciful God. I was a nobody from nowhere with nothing to offer a holy God when He saved me. What else can I do but be a living sacrifice. Plus, the benefits are great!

December 8

I am “richly blessed” because I have called on the name of the Lord! That is my position – richly blessed! Thank God I am grafted in! Thank God I inherited such a great inheritance!

“Consider the sternness and kindness of God.” I will! God is so good to me! Do you know how many times I “fell” away from Him in my life? Plenty! Whether it was a “religious” departure, (meaning that I remained religious but cold in my heart towards God – doing works with no relationship) or a sinful departure for a season, from the time I was saved it has happened more than a couple of times. Yet God has been so gracious to me and brought me back by His kindness. His sternness towards me because of my unbelief has been felt, but He always graces me with revelation that draws me toward belief and therefore His kindness is activated. How good is God!!!! You are so great Lord! You are the kindest – bestest of all! Love you!

December 7

Faith comes apart from doing! I don’t have to do to get anything from God, I have to be! This is a tough concept, but if we do out of “being” then we are in faith and have everything, but if we try to get the promises from God because of how we act, then it isn’t faith and I won’t receive anything! So what in the world is wrong with me that I continue to work so hard? I don’t do it to attain anything, I do it because it is expected. I still haven’t figured out who expects it except for me and satan. Doing clouds my faith! Oh God help me “be” in you and never try to attain anything by my effort. I want everything you have for me Lord! I have it! I call it forth in my life!

December 6

Romans 1:11-12 (NIV)
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—
12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

It occurs to me that there is a reason to get together and this is it. There isn’t a time that I talk to Pastor Dave and don’t go away from a conversation not being challenged or having something taught to me. I want to be that kind of man. I want to impart things to people, both spiritually and knowledge. That means I have to do it on purpose! The other thing is that when we get together, we are mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. That has some assumptions in there, but the point to me is that I am an encouragement. When I get together with Pastor Jerry, he always encourages me. I walk away with more than I came with. Isn’t that how I should be? I want to be these things Lord. Bring me to that place, increase my influence, delight in me God and give this ability more and more!

December 5

“The authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.”

It is obvious that something was going down in that church. It was an interesting read today. The point that I heard loudly was that my authority at the church, in my family, in my life was meant for building up and not tearing down. Things sometimes need to be corrected, however it all must be done for building up! People need to go away having the high probability of thinking that I was building them up. You can’t help it if some people take things wrong, but you can help people to take it right by having the right attitude, having love and by communicating concern for their soul. In the end, I have authority, and I am supposed to use it. I MUST use my authority to ensure the building up of the church, my family and my own life.

December 4

A funny thing stood out to me. Paul changed his mind about traveling to Corinth. He made a plan and then changed it. God really encouraged me that if the great apostle can change plans, so can I. It really brought a freedom to me. I can choose and if I see that it is not the plan of God, and can choose God and be o.k. with it. Freedom!

Paul talks a couple of times about “not” losing heart and also being on the brink of death, in fact it sounds like he wanted to die, however what pushed him on was NOT his own life, it was the life of Christ in him and the life of Christ in others. His ministry was such a focal point of his life, that thinking about what God was doing through him was what kept him going! My life must not be lived for me. That is a trap! It depresses me. I am convinced that this is the reason so many youth have lost heart, they have no greater purpose than themselves. When I focus on my life as it relates to me, I will lose heart. So Lord, I focus on you, I focus on others, I focus on my life as it relates to you and to others. After all, isn’t my life hid in you? Maybe my stress comes from the times that I “un”-hide myself and look at everything instead of looking at you. Makes sense…

I saw the definition of rich in chapter 9 – having enough to be generous with others.

December 3

If there is no resurrection, then we should party and we are to be pieties more than other men. Paul makes his case about the resurrection to those who either don’t believe or have some real doubts of the possibility of being resurrected. His point is that without the resurrection of Jesus – this is a bad fairy tale that has caused him some real grief for nothing. Extrapolated to us who do believe what does this mean? This life is NOT what Christianity is primarily about! The more the devil can convince us that this life is what Christ died for (which He did die for our abundant living), the less we will be most concerned with advancing the Kingdom of God and bringing people to salvation. We will fall into the trap of helping people improve in this life as our focus, and our focus, my focus, must be on bringing people to salvation and then maturity! I will only live another 40 years or so, but I will be alive for eternity (I can’t conceive of that – so put the number at 1000 so I can wrap my mind around that for comparison’s sake). Do I want to live for the next 40 years as its own purpose, or live for the next 40 years for the next 1000 years? That is an easy answer. It is all about focus.

Oh God, don’t let me focus too much on this life. I want to be focused on the next life and this life will be lived with that focus! I want to bring people to salvation, give me opportunity Lord.

December 2

I think sometimes people including myself give excuses instead of truth. In chapter 13 and verse 7 it says love always, always, always, always. I love you but..., or I love them but I don’t trust them or I don’t think they can or..., is NOT love. Do you get what I mean? Either I have got to always, always, always, always, or I am not walking in love. There is no in-between, either I am loving and because of that protecting, trusting, hoping, persevering, or I am letting others be hurt (by myself or others), doubting, expecting nothing and losing patience or giving up on people. When I became a man, my love was like a man’s love, mature and I left the childishness of selfish interest, selfish ambition and the like. So I am hit between the eyes that I have not left all my childish ways – BUT I want too! God help me to love like a mature man – because I am one – and want to be more like one! Help me Papa! Reprove me and show me your way of love.

December 1

Today’s reading was a long one. There is so much there and I thank God for this book! The thing that stuck out to me was a recurring theme that ran throughout chapters 5-7 and really the whole book. Clearly we are not our own. Clearly we are to sacrifice ourselves for our brothers and for Christ. How? Verse 7 of chapter 5 tells us:

“Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed…”

This is an incredible instruction to me. It capsulates, in the middle of talking about someone who is have sex with his step-mother and what to do with him, God’s thinking about our born again state. I am supposed to get rid of the old yeast (works of the law, works of the flesh-worldliness) so I CAN be a new batch of bread without yeast (yeast representing sin). So I have to get rid of the stuff (yeast) that is messing me up and making my flesh (sin nature) rise. However the next half of the verse tells me that I AM ALREADY A NEW BATCH! God has already created me new! Not only does that tell me that I don’t ‘have to’ sin, it tells me that I am not created to sin – it is AGAINST my nature! Get that in me Papa! I am able to get rid of the old yeast BECAUSE Christ has been sacrificed and because I have accepted HIS life (and death) and become NEW. It is my nature to get rid of the old yeast – that is what I do! When I start thinking like this, it becomes a whole lot easier than the thinking; “I am just so caught in my past – or – I have always been like that”. I am a NEW MAN!

November 30

I "have been enriched in every way"! Yes! I have all that I need! I lack nothing! I lack no spiritual gift! Paul is speaking to me - God is speaking to me - I am speaking it to me! It is the truth of God that needs to be confessed over and over - hearing it again and again until I believe it and have complete trust in this truth! That means zero doubt.

I was chosen so God could display His glory through me. Ordinary, lowly, uneducated, without much talent I came into the Kingdom and now proclaim the Kingdom. His awesome gifts are in me and I am His instrument! That even confounds other Christians!

Shall I not keep going? I have the mind of Christ - I know what God holds in secret to the world - I have secret wisdom! O.K., I'll stop ----- for now. Thank you Papa that you

November 29

"In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power." In what way? What it looks like to me is stuff was happening and things were breaking loose and people hated Paul and The Way (Christians) and... There was stuff going on! I don't have to use this as the only model, but it sure speaks to me about having things run UN-smoothly! Why do I always want everything to feel so good and fit so well into my plan? I crack myself up! The Kingdom of God is FORCEFULLY advancing and that means that it won't be a smooth as silk all the time - or even most of the time. Do I want easy and comfortable or do I want the advancement of the Kingdom? Advancement.

November 27

Paul wanted to go to Bythnia to preach the gospel. He also wanted to go to Asia but was restrained by THE SPIRIT OF JESUS! What? Jesus stopped Paul from going somewhere and preaching the gospel? YES! It was Paul’s heart to go everywhere and preach to everyone, but Jesus had another idea – go preach to who I send you! That really speaks to me. The point is that I have to be focused on what God wants and not what I would like to do. It is the difference between asking God to bless the day you planned and asking Him what His plan is for the day. Ministry is supposed to be directed by the Spirit of God for Kingdom purposes. Sometimes that means not doing what would seem natural and logical to do.

November 26

Beginning with the Spirit and then going to the law (or works). I think that applies to all of life doesn’t it? I was thinking of financial provision and how it comes from God. I was going to give a little more to missions today because I love supporting missions and other ministries. However I heard the Lord say not to give any more than such and such as my normal offering. At first I doubted that it was God telling me that, but now after today’s reading, I am convinced it was God. He saw something in my heart that needed to be “nipped in the bud”. I must have been, ( because I was unaware of it) giving to get the blessing. That is works my friends! Although I know that giving puts me in the position for receiving more, that CANNOT be my motivation! Otherwise I am caught in the trappings of works to ‘get” from God. That is not how God operates – especially in my life! I have to continue to believe and trust that He will supply all I need because of His promise and His faithfulness, not because of anything that I do.

By the way – Paul equates trying to earn God’s favor (keeping the law) with losing your joy.

November 25

So Paul and Barnabas preached the word and it was received pretty well. Then they preached again and they were persecuted. The interesting thing to me is that when they left that region because of the trouble that the jealous Jews had stirred up, they shook the dust from their feet, (as a sign to the people, and I think as a sign to themselves that they weren’t going to carry that rejection in their soul) and were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. They were basically run out of town and that had joy!? God spoke to me and said that these two knew how to operate on a different level. They knew how to let go of bad things in ministry and move on AND they knew the secret of having joy in trials. The thing that stood out to me was that they had joy, and I think it is because they were NOT results focused, they were Kingdom focused. They were thinking about the Kingdom and not about their particular ministry. Their eggs were in Jesus basket!

On a different note – Paul was very human and God worked with his humanity and doubled the missionary team. They left with the grace of God so that means there were no hard feelings and only that of love between all of them. There was an opinion about ministry partners and Paul and Barnabas couldn’t agree – and something good happened through it. Disagreements should NEVER provoke us to jealously or strife, but should ALWAYS end in love – otherwise jealousy and strife will follow you in an unnatural (supernatural evil) way.

November 24

Giving to the poor is something that many Christians are doing these days. Social justice is high on many people’s list of important ministries. I have heard people say that giving to the poor and needy should only be done if you can preach the gospel to them or if they can have some sort of spiritual benefit that includes a personal opportunity to come to Christ. While I agree that is it a wonderful thing and important for people to have direct ministry, here in today’s passage I learned something. Giving to the poor is an offering to the Lord. Without any by-product of the giving being mentioned, giving to the poor is mentioned three times as something that Cornelius did that was godly. Even if you never mention Christ when you are giving, you are doing a wonderful thing in God’s eyes. I don’t mean to say that we shouldn’t minister the Word of God and give hope to the needy, I do think that and deeply desire to do it! What I am saying is that the act of giving is, in and of itself a work of God in us! It produces God’s character and is a production of God’s character in us. The point to me is give. Give when you can preach, give when you can talk about God, give when all you can utter is a “God bless you”, and give when you can’t say a word. Giving is a wonderful thing.

November 23

God had a plan! His plan included Saul soon to be named Paul and Ananias was within the plan of the salvation, Holy Spirit filling, healing and baptism of this man, who would become the writer of most of the New Testament. I am amazed at the ancillary part of Ananias, yet what he did was play a part in the salvation of the one of the greatest apostles! It is amazing how God can take a seemingly insignificant person (Ananias wasn’t to God) and use him to bring about something so huge that he couldn’t even dream it! God wants to do the same with me! I, like Ananias can only question in sincerely humility, but in the end, must obey the Word of God to my heart in order to be a part of something that is so much greater than me that I could never dream of!

November 22

Stephen’s face looked like an angel – and that was before his enemies! How about my face – angelic or could care less, or somewhere in between? God has been speaking to me about being more loving to people – strangers and friends alike – as I am away from church. It’s easy at church isn’t it? Easy to give a smile and show your love. Away from church is different. Someone came into my house the other day and I didn’t get up and hug her. The Lord rebuked me. It is those simple things that display Him in me. Even more than that is showing respect, honor and love to those who don’t like you. If I am to have my face look anything like an angel, then I have got to reflect Jesus in my face. I want others to see Him in me.

Come to think of it, the older I get, the more I look like my mom (genetics). Shouldn’t it stand to reason then, the older I get in Christ, the more I look like Him? (Look – both the way I appear and the way I look at others).

November 20

I was reading the “Daily Bible” today for my reading and I read the commentary which I usually don’t. I don’t usually read it because I don’t want to get “tainted” by the views of the author/editor. I want God to speak to me without any other voice telling me what the passage is saying. As I was reading the commentary today it talked about “special demonstration” and “special power” used by (only) the apostles. It absolutely floors me that smart people who love God believe this way. The contrivance of people to purport that the first 15-20 years of church history (the book of Acts), were “special” because God somehow only needed or wanted to work miracles then (during that time) is crazy! If we look at the scripture, we see that there was NO mention of miracles and the supernatural dying off or going extinct or disappearing – EVER! What we do clearly see is that it is taught and believed to be NORMAL life. Peter specifically said that the gift of the Holy Spirit, which was causing this great “sign” to all who saw (wind, tongues of fire appearing, people speaking in tongues, people understanding the tongues in their own language), would be poured out on those who believed! He specifically mentioned “to those who are afar off" as being recipients of this gift. US! These works of God that brought glory to the Father in the OT, in Jesus life, in church life are still bringing glory to the Father in our lives today! I not only believe that one has to reinterpret the Bible to suit themselves (tickle their itching ears), but one would have to commit intellectual suicide not to acknowledge that down through the millennia God has used miracles trillions of time. He hasn’t shut the supernatural door! He still works wonders and signs and miracles and healings and salvations to ALL who are afar off. ME! Thanks Papa – increase your miracle power through my hands and ministry! Increase my faith! Increase your glory!

November 19

Luke 24:38 (NIV)
38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?

Luke 24:45 (NIV)
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

The mind. If you can understand this, you will get one of the keys to the Kingdom. It really hit me as I was reading this today – the mind doubts and the mind understands – but only after it is opened. There is a sermon in here, but today, for now, it stays with me. The point of the Holy Spirit wakening me to this phenomena is that my mind is so important. What I put into it is so important AND yielding it to the Lord so He can open it so I can understand more! Yielding it has got to include reading His Word so I SEEK to understand. I do want to understand Lord – open my mind to understand all the more!

November 18

I read this passage like a text book today – does that ever happen to you? I got the information and then sat there thinking; “what is God saying to me today?” This is a book of life and needs to be read for the life it brings. So I read again, looking for the life God has for my day.

Jesus was forsaken. He said it while on the cross. “Why have you forsaken me?” He was talking to His Father. His Word to me today --- I will never leave you or forsake you. In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, Jesus will never forsake me. That is His decision and I know it well. However, it sure does my soul well to hear it again. He won’t leave me to be on my own. Thank you so much Jesus, keep reminding me for I can be forgetful of these simple truths. Not that my memory is erased but that don’t reckon this truth from time to time when I feel alone or pressed.

November 17

What a passage to read for my birthday! The false charges, the hatred, the beating, the rejection of all Jesus is had to have been so emotionally tough for Him. This was a road that He had to travel, but what an awful road! I just taught on this in OSL last night and I must say that I am moved when I think of what my Jesus has done for me. He didn’t just take a bullet to the head, he suffered in every way possible. The physical suffering was no doubt indescribable and the mental and emotional torture was astoundingly tormentous. He did it – for me – I am forever in His debt.

There is another interesting thing that I saw. Judas Iscariot somehow came to his senses and realized that he did wrong. However the religious leaders had no such revelation. The man who Satan himself indwelt had a revelation, but the Pharisees were worried about breaking God’s law by accepting blood money back into the treasury – that it came from! Religion twists you like no other sin – stay away from it – it’s dangerous!

November 16

Jesus is getting jacked up! He is getting strung up for what? Doing good! He is suffering and about to suffer something terrible and it is not His fault. Yet, He knows that He must go through this suffering in the body and soul to become the sacrifice of sin for the world (spiritual). He is being wronged so He could make things right! Convicted yet? I am! How many times do I allow myself to be wronged or accused and condemned or anything else for the sake of something greater from the Father? How many times? Being like Jesus is a high calling and a tough thing. No wonder He said that we have to die to ourselves. To be wronged for the greater good – the will of the Father – is difficult to anyone who cares about His life. God, help me die all the more to myself and live for you.

November 15

There is nothing that I can produce or do on my own! Even when my church doubles or triples or whatever, even when my salary is restored and my earnings doubled, it is not because of me, my standing on the Word, my faith, my faithfulness or anything else. It is ONLY because I am connected to the vine and the blessings come from the vine. The danger with blessings and growth is that you become deceived to think that you brought it about. I did this or put this strategy into place or preached this Word, but all production in my life comes from the vine and my connection with the vine – Jesus Christ.

Twice Jesus talked about our joy being complete. It seems to me that He wants us to have joy! How do we get it and how do we get a complete joy? The simple lesson that God impressed on me is this, remain in Jesus and ask for the stuff that He wants us to have. Whenever I think stuff I think supernatural, and being in relationship with Him and really being one will bring the joy I so desperately need. With that comes the wonder of relationship and asking and receiving because of that relationship. Joy, joy joy!

November 14

Another Sunday jewel! Jesus washed the disciples feet. This doesn’t affect us too much because it isn’t that strange to us – although a little strange. To them it was incredible! The thing I saw was right before Jesus did the washing.

John 13:3 (NIV)
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;

If we know who we are and who God has called us to be, then we will do ANYTHING no matter how low or high it may be.

November 13

When I have the faintest hint of the fear of man, of what people will say or the price I will pay for doing such and such, I am going to be diving into unbelief. I realize that I am not a Pharisee, however it is a principle that God showed me. Consideration of man before God is a trap that sends you towards unbelief. First you are really trusting man more than God for the outcome, and you certainly are not fearing God which produces faith. Whatever consideration of man I have must be what God would have as well – my heart and His heart have to line up. I really want to stretch and believe for things that I have never seen before and God has showed me today one of the keys to getting there. Don’t be a people pleaser, be a God pleaser.

November 12

There are two things that spoke to me. First there was the “worthless” servant. Did you get that? Worthless! What did he do to be called worthless? He didn’t do anything with the gift that God gave him. He is lazy, unmotivated, unaware of the impact he could have, and even if he was aware, he was unwilling to do anything beyond normal living. He just lived his life and did nothing with what God have him. Hmmm….

The second thing was that righteous people are known for what they do and not what they don’t do. It wasn’t there moral way of life (not doing all those things a Christian shouldn’t do) that was a factor in this parable, (although the righteous would certainly live morally), it was what they DID. They did have mercy, they did help the needy, they did care, they were hospitable. For me it is not how good I preach or lead worship that God is making me aware of, it is how I treat the individual and care for their needs. I will start by supplying a Thanksgiving dinner to someone needy. God help me to have a lifestyle in which I give to you through the people on this earth.

November 11

Jesus is stunning the Pharisees with blow after blow. First He answers all of their questions with words of wisdom, then he talks about them in parables, and then he goes into what we call the 7 woes. Jesus is not out to win friends, He is here to preach the truth! Although this truth has been truth (about the Pharisees) since the beginning, it is now time to let it loose. (Timing) He is not afraid – Jesus make me like that.

I was talking to a friend of mine about some hard decisions he had to make at the church he pastored. He had to tell another church which was renting their building to leave. I said, “that would be awful, I would hate to do that”. His reply was, “I am Kingdom focused, so whatever it takes to expand the Kingdom of God, I am willing to do – no problem.” I want to be more like that, more like Jesus.

Please notice what Jesus said at the end of the woes, He said He LONGED to gather Israel in His arms. What He said to the Pharisees was not because He hated them, it was because He loved His people. His motivation is always love. Jesus make mine love too! Don’t let me rise up in some fake righteous indignation to reprove people, let it be for the sake of love only.

November 10

Jesus talked about believing (acting out what has been revealed to you) while you still have the light. Darkness will come in the future so do it now! That was interesting to me. He seems to be saying that even though they had the revelation about Him that NOW was the time to act on it and not later. Later was going to bring darkness, which I believe was a swayed public opinion which made it much harder to believe (the acting out of what has been revealed).

When God gives me a revelation in regards to my life, family, ministry or anything else, I need to act on it immediately. Those times when I haven’t, that instruction got a little cloudy and much easier to refuse. The further you get away from the revelation or instruction or opportunity, the harder it will be to step into. Terry – act on it immediately! Don’t wait! When it is from the Lord, then do it!

November 9

“I came to serve, to give my life as a ransom for many.” Our lives can’t ransom anyone’s life like Jesus’ could. However our lives can make an impact! John and James were going to be baptized like Jesus, but I don’t think that was talking about the kind of death since John didn’t die a martyr. It was a baptism of different proportions of sacrifice. It was thinking long and hard about the phrase, “to give his (my) life”. What does that mean? I think that I have given my life – at least most of it. Then the recurring theme this year came to me; minute by minute give your life away. What time I wake up, what I do, when I go to work, what I do for a work out, what I do when I go to work, when do I answer the phone and when do I study for the next teaching – I must give every aspect of my life to Him who has sent me to serve and give my life as a gift to the church.

Lord, I know I do sacrifice but I feel like I fail most days on the minute by minute thing. I feel like the minutes rush towards the meeting that night or the dinner time at home. I start out well and well intentioned, but I end being pulled by demands. I am asking for your strong intervention – I want to be like you, maximizing all that you have given me.

November 8

Jesus delayed on purpose so on his arrival, Lazarus was dead. He delayed 2 days and Lazarus was dead for 4 days and probably more because the Jews didn’t bury people right away. The fact of the matter was that Jesus did delay and that delay meant more suffering. In fact Lazarus had to die twice for this God glorifying act. That is a bummer! Dying of any disease isn’t easy – I was thinking about the suffering he must have gone through and how hard it may have been. God didn’t rescue him from his suffering, but Jesus did raise him from the dead. God didn’t save Mary and Martha from their suffering/mourning either. That is what I was thinking about while I read. In fact I think this fact really hit Jesus and he broke down in tears twice! Even though He knew He was about to raise Lazarus up from the dead, He was overwhelmed with the thought of all the suffering. He doesn’t like us suffering, but He knows it is necessary at times. His heart aches when we suffer.

Thank you for your constant revelation Papa.

November 7

I usually don’t blog on Sunday, but there is something that just has to be said. Jesus said, “I will heal and cast out demons today and tomorrow and the 3rd day I will reach my goal.” Jesus had goals in ministry. I don’t think it was a number, but rather time. My time must be my Father’s to do with. Not even a threat of death would persuade Jesus to move on early. Don’t let anything persuade me to move on early Lord, not until my goal (your goal) has been reached.

November 6

Will I ever read the account of Martha and Mary without hearing God’s voice instructing me to choose the “better” option? I guess it is a character flaw of mine that is very resistant to the Holy Spirit. I would like to explain it away by stating that hyper Type-A people like me get things done, invent things, start businesses, etc…, but the words of Jesus seem to indicate that there are better things, like sitting at His feet and listening to Him. That was Mary’s choice, the question is will it be mine or will go I go out and work for God? For me, I choose God – again! It is easier to work and accomplish, not because I don’t like being with Him, but because I like accomplishing. I am afraid that for many in the body of Christ, they don’t spend time with Jesus because they are uncomfortable with it.

Our prophetic call jumped out at me. We are obviously all called to evangelize and heal the sick – right? How about when we enter a house “saying” “peace on this house”? How about that? That is crazy radical. I determine whether a house receives a blessing of peace or not! How about my own house? If it is crazy and the kids are going wild and out of control (never my children – it’s just an illustration), maybe, just maybe if I would wear my mantle of prophet, speak peace (command), the household would “chill”. I don’t use my privilege enough! God help me to see all my benefits in you!

November 5

God give me miracles! Work signs and wonders by my hand! Glorify yourself and your Son with healings and deliverances! Those who doubted couldn’t argue with the eyes of a blind man being opened. BUT, they still wouldn’t believe. YET, there were plenty of others who saw and heard and did believe!

The familiar shepherd passage stuck out to me, especially where Jesus said that the hired hand flees when the wolf comes. Am I a hired hand? Will I flee in the face of opposition? I don’t want to – that is for sure. Then I began to think about it… I am not a hired hand, I am one with the shepherd! I have the shepherd’s heart for the sheep and within me is the propensity and ability to stand up to the wolves and lay my life down for the sheep. Jesus, I want to be like you – able to say it so straight that people want to kill me, but willing to lay my life down for the sheep.

Acts 4:29-30 (NIV)
29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

November 4

Do nothing to honor myself but do everything to honor God. That is easily said but hard to do. I do want to honor God with my life – so much! Yet there is that “guy” in me that wants some honor too. I am not talking about the healthy honor that one deserves because of his position in life, I am talking about that the desire for others to approve of you and give you accolades for being funny, working hard or witty and things like that. As I read today I just got the sense that God was stressing to me, “honor me in all you do”. That means that I must lay down my life, even more than I have, and give every moment to the honor of the King. I want to Papa, and I will – strengthen me to do just that.

Did you notice that Jesus went to the feast when it was the right time? He delayed but then left at the right time. At the feast they tried to arrest him and wanted to kill him, but it wasn’t the right time. We can have the right idea at the wrong time. We also should take heart that when we are doing the unpopular thing at the right time, God has got our back! When my life is given to God, I am immortal, until the right time.

November 3

There were 2 things that really popped out to me today and I am not sure if I have the answer to my first question. Why did Jesus have Peter get the coin for the temple tax out of a fish? Was it that he knew the fish had swallowed a coin and with the Father's help would bite on Peter's line? I was thinking, he had a treasury, He could have pulled it out of the treasury. It was a cool miracle, but Peter had to work for it. Hmmm... One thing it says to me for sure, God cannot be predicted! He will supply how He supplies and we cannot formulize Him for one second. It is all about obedience to His Spirit and trusting God for the results. God help me do whatever you tell me to do, even if I think it is dumb.

The second thing was in the story of the unmerciful servant. When the servant that had been forgiven a million dollar debt (I wonder how he got that?) was choking out his fellow servant, the other servants were "greatly distressed". Unforgiveness greatly distresses everyone around us along with the Lord. God started a pattern in my life many years ago that I would inventory any bitterness on a daily basis and forgive. It's a good pattern. God bring anyone to mind that I need to forgive today and I will release them.

November 2

Sometimes I think that the disciples are so dull! I think that I would have been saying, 'are you going to do the multiply the loaves thing again!!!!' However, then I think of all the times that God has come through for me and when the chips are down, I myself have doubted that God will come through - again - again. We are cut out of the same chord, me and the disciples. We have short memories, but as they grew and especially as they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they became different - me too!

Have you noticed that Jesus has used many different methods of healing so far? I don't think that is coincidence. I think we would clone the method and use that method as a formula instead of the power of God. He spit on people and stuck His fingers in ears and told people to go home and it was done. For me, it is about doing the will of the Father. Not just the big "W" will, as in mission, but it is the moment by moment obedience that He requires. Scary but comforting. He wants to lead me moment by moment.

November 1

Here they go again grumbling against Jesus. They are amazed at what He says but then they start thinking that they know Him, that He is just a regular, maybe even less than regular guy. It is no wonder that pastors are aloof and distant from their congregants. They fear that if people got to know them, they would lose respect. Unfortunately, I have had it happen to me. People love my humanity and transparency, but it has proven to be too much for some people. I am reminded by the passage that we have already read that says that Jesus didn't give himself to any man, for He knew what was in a man. There is a delicate balance of not giving man an opportunity to trounce on your identity yet remaining vulnerable. Jesus was so compassionate and open to the plight of man yet He knew His source - it wasn't man - it was His Papa. Although He faced personal let down and disappointment from man He knew His mission and He knew His Papa in whom He trusted in wholly. God, I want to be like your Son in this. Help me remain open and vulnerable, yet trusting in your for who I am.

October 31

Jesus was "moved with compassion" because people were lost and aimless with nobody to take care of them. That was a statement of His heart for the people and against the religious leaders of the day. Jesus was a lover! His heart was moved by people's plight. Hmmm....

He sent the disciples out, surely for a training exercise right? Well...half right. He wanted more people to know about the good news so he had to multiply his ministry. If we really believe that we have something that people need, we will multiply our ministry too! I just can't touch enough people! It is frustrating to me to be honest. The ONLY way to touch more people with the message of the Kingdom and the power of the Kingdom is to multiply myself. God, help me make good disciples who will go to the white fields.

October 30

The demoniac "came to meet" Jesus. The man didn't know Jesus was coming, but the demons in him did. I was wondering who was coming to meet Jesus, the man or the demons? Either way, someone had an appointment with Jesus, and the man who Jesus and His Father cared deeply about had an appointment with freedom. It does seem that the demoniac was the only one who received ministry - just one guy.

The Lord was talking to me about appointments. Some troubled people are sent to me by God himself, so I can minister the freedom they need and that Christ has bought for them. When I arrive in a territory or place, maybe I should be looking for my appointment. Maybe I should keep my eye out for that person who needs what I have and then give it to them. Maybe so...

October 29

I have never seen the word ‘understand’ in the parable of the sower. What a discovery! He who understands it! That brings things into clarity to me with people who “know” the Word but don’t get it. There is something about the condition of a man’s heart that enables understanding. If I think about it like it the heart is ground, it means it is well watered and cultivated. Honestly, I feel more watered and cultivated than ever and I do believe that God is giving me more understanding than ever. For me, OSL and this blog have made me stretch beyond ‘normal’ and I am more prepared for understanding (knowledge and insight with application) than ever. Lord, I don’t want to stop here – I haven’t arrived! Please give me more understanding and insight into your wisdom and the mystery of the gospel.

In the “Lamp on a Stand” parable, Jesus reveals a truth that is exciting to me and even has something to do with the above revelation. “Whatever is concealed is meant to be brought into the open”. That is exciting! God wants me to understand and uncover the concealed things! That is His will! So Jesus says, “consider carefully” and goes on to give us a Kingdom principle of whoever has, more will be given to him. God wants me to have even more IF I will consider carefully and gain understanding. Powerful!

October 28

A Proverb jumped into my mind today during the reading, “Labor not to be rich, but have wisdom to show restraint.” Jesus is talking to 2 different groups. The first group is the people or barely gets by and the second group is the people who have plenty. To the first group He is saying, don’t worry or even think about it, serve God (do what God says) and you will be taken care of. Then I see this other group of the “haves” and Jesus is saying to them, so what that you have! Give it away and serve God. Both groups can get obsessed and the peril of riches is to concentrate on them instead of concentrating on God. I have to work hard at my job, “unto the Lord”, and bring Him glory because I aspire to be a great boss or employee, but it ends there. God’s basic philosophy is found in verse 29 and 34 of Luke 12. Don’t involve your heart in riches. Involve your mind (wisdom to provide for your family), involve your faith (knowing God’s promises and believing He will bless), but don’t let your heart get involved. Don’t treasure riches or just making it through, put it down on your priority list under advancing the Kingdom of God and knowing God’s heart for you. Oh Papa, help me to do just that! Thank you for the revelation, now help me to live it!

October 27

John was in a tough spot (prison) and he was doubting – been there. What was Jesus response? To tell the crowd what a great man John was, the greatest ever born! That is what God does to me when I doubt – that is His character! He looks at my life and my heart as a whole. I am not judged by one action or even a couple. If I am about my Father’s business, I will do the same. I will call people what they truly are, (or are becoming) which means I have to see the furniture, the baseball bats, the houses in the forest.

Jesus graciously received from the woman who cried on him and pour perfume on him. He just let her give and pour herself out. I am not good at that! It is hard to be in that position. I feel much more comfortable on the giving side. I can think of a few carnal reasons for that. (Like I am the giver fulfilling a need). This lady wasn’t fulfilling a need though – just blessing Jesus! Jesus help me become a good receiver.

Here is a question for those who are reading along with me. How can light be darkness? Luke 11:35

October 26

When Jesus changes your life, you will do what He says to do! The invalid did just that even though he knew that he was doing something against the society and the religious order of the day, (which didn’t help him a bit). When I think about Jesus having a party with the tax collectors and this man carrying his mat, I know that I must do what Jesus says, even when it breaks the “normal” thinking of religious people. That just can’t be my concern. I have got to be willing to break down the religious norms for Jesus and take whatever grief people give me. People dissect the Word and come up with all kinds of philosophies of life, church, etc…, but the Word leads me to Him who has life and I must live the life (that would never contrast with the Word) that He tells me to.

Jesus and His Kingdom sometimes, many times, sets things on their heads. He has a way of looking at things that is different. The sermon on the mount is different from the status quo of thinking, such as happy (blessed) is the poor in spirit, or turn the other cheek, or the fact that there are people who are great and who are least in the Kingdom of Heaven, or that murder and adultery take place in your heart and that hypocrites (2 faced people – actors) are the ones that want every religious thing they have done to be announced or noticed. I could go on but you get the point. I must not make the Kingdom of God like this world or what this world thinks. It is so different! Don’t let me logically approach things with this world’s logic, speak to me Lord and show me your logic and your Kingdom principles – especially the ones that make no sense to this world. (Like give your way out of poverty).

October 25

Miracle after miracle has been read about in the last 2 days. After many of the miracles the Word says something like, ‘and they believed in him”. Reading about all the miracles in the last 2 days and seeing what they produced, faith, makes me want to see more and more miracles so more people would have more and more faith! People brought the sick and demonized and mentally ill people to Jesus and He healed them all! He read the scroll in Nazareth which said that is why He came! How do I get so off track on this? It isn’t as if I never pray for miracles, I do, but it sure seems like Jesus’ life was a walking miracle waiting to happen and mine isn’t – yet! I am after it, thirsty for it, ready for God’s glory to be shown. I must keep reading, building my faith, praying and stretching my faith until it becomes common place. I want my (our) church built on God’s glory, not some slick program, on His power and not great applicable sermons. I really think we are on our way, but I want more Lord!

October 23

Jesus said that we have to live on every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. I coupled this with John's response to the Pharisees who had been sent to question him, which was something like Jesus did many times. They asked a pointed question and he answered them with a point fairly unrelated to the answer they were looking for. God is teaching me to not answer man (or the devil) according to their questions but according to His Word that He gives me. It is not just the written Word that we answer with (although it is mucho important to know the written Word and answer the tempter and anyone else with it - even your own questions) but with what God is speaking to our spirits. That means I have to slow down my response until I hear from Him. That is a formidable task no doubt, but it is a must!

Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit in order that the devil would tempt him. God doesn't tempt any man according to scripture, but He definitely sends us there. Crazy huh? Not really - it is our training ground and proving grounds. Temptations change as you mature, but they are still there and God's Word is powerful and active and able to get us through the desert. I have got to learn more, memorize more and be prepared for the temptation seasons ahead. Why not prepare now?

October 22

It is not a stretch to say that John wasn't out to win friends. He did want to influence people though. He wanted people to repent and I think that was preparation for Messiah. My heart, when it is steeped in sin, isn't ready for a Savior.

John wasn't afraid of man. He wasn't trying to grow a church or anything else. He was doing what he was told, call out mankind on their sin! Although that is part of my calling as well, through our methods are different - some of the time, my primary task is to shepherd, but it is also prophet. That is the way I process - black and white. God is speaking to me saying be bold! Don't be afraid of the result of your words when I tell you to speak them. Don't be afraid of the standards that you raise when I tell you to raise them. Be afraid to not... John's job was to point people to Jesus as their Messiah - to ready them to receive the Kingdom of God as it would come - spiritually. I don't have to model his method or verbiage, I have to model is heart and his obedience to his call. Unashamed and unafraid.

October 21

Angels can speak to us in dreams huh – so does that mean demons (fallen angels) can too? I believe so. Then there are the dreams after you ate too much pizza and have, just a working out of your mind in our unconscious state. All of this is intriguing, but is there something to it?

Joseph had a dream visitation in yesterday’s reading and two in today’s reading. Interesting as it is to think about, with all the ramifications, (changing the direction of his life by keeping Mary and marrying her, protection of their family by moving, returning to the land, etc…) the fact that God speaks in dreams is a concrete truth. The question I asked myself is do I look for them? Do I dream and wake and ask God if that was from Him and seek an interpretation? It would seem to me that if He communicates this way, then I should. I am not talking about dreamology and studying all of the things in your dreams, that is New Age non-sense, but if “old men shall dream dreams”, maybe I should be more attentive and even ask the Lord to speak to me in dreams.

October 20

That was a packed day of good stuff! There is something here, Zechariah’s response, which I have mused over for quite some time. Mary’s response was different of course and this has ruminated in my mind for a long time. God showed me today that the shepherds responded with great faith as well and immediately went to go look for Jesus. So the priest was the doubter huh?

Zechariah was told that he was going to have normal relations with Elizabeth his wife, and even though they were old, she was going to conceive a baby. He didn’t believe it and challenged Gabriel. Mary was told that something was going to happen which was 100% miraculous (Joseph too) and they believed. God is calling me to believe in both situations, especially when I have NOTHING to do with the provision. I like being a part of it – being involved – o.k., o.k., earning it… kinda’. Maybe it is… ahh, who cares why, the important thing is that I trust God completely, and say with Mary, whatever you want to bring about Lord, go for it!

October 19

Genealogies are generally boring reading, but Jesus’ genealogy has so many interesting features. I noticed in Luke’s genealogy that Jesus was a descendent of Levi. There also are two prophets, Amos and Nahum in the lineage. So priest and prophet and then of course from the line of David, King!

Amazing to me is the mention of women. I personally get so encouraged when I see great men and women struggle with flaws or just blow it. I don’t delight in their blowing it, but it gives me hope to be great (er) because I know that I blow it. It is the factor of humanity that I often overlook in great men and women of God that I magnify in myself. It is as if God says to me, “see, they are human and flawed too, I can use you like I use them.” Here in this story of Jesus in Matt. are four woman; Tamar (a prostitute), Rahab (a prostitute), Ruth (a Gentile – Moabite – not in covenant), and Bathsheba (who David committed adultery with). There is some humanity! Yet God in His infinite grace used these women, and NAMED them as being His vessels, to bring about great things! God loves curve balls and I think that these four women represent God’s love for me! He took a no name guy from an unbelieving family and is raising up and godly heritage for generations to come! Thanks for using me Papa!

October 18

“Light shines in the darkness”. In fact, it shines best in the darkness. You can hardly see a flashlight when it is day time, but at night – that’s another story. You know what God said to me, He said I need to find some darkness and shine my light – I am the light!

The other thing that struck me is that we ALL have received grace and blessings from God. I really don’t care who the writer was targeting, (most of the time that really matters for interpretation) because we ALL have received grace and blessings. Obviously those who are IN Christ have received way more grace and countless more blessings – but everyone on this earth should be thankful – but me all the more because I KNOW where the grace (undeserved favor) and the blessings (material, spiritual, relational…) comes from! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!!!!

October 15-16

Here the author of the Daily Bible, which we have been using to chronologically read through the Old Testament, gives his synopsis and then talks about the Apocrypha.

My synopsis is this – WOW – does God love us or what! We spent most of the last months learning about God’s judgment and Job’s troubles, but we ended with the rebuilding of the temple, the wall, the city of God and the re-institution of the law and the sacrifices. I am more convinced than ever that God just wants someone to be His friend and walk with Him. As well, I am convinced that we have to walk in the manner of life that HE has chosen. It really isn’t unlike our human relationships. Who wants to be in relationship with a person who keeps cheating on you and ignoring the fact that you are there for them, to help them, to fellowship with them and to deliver them. The covenant teaching we are hearing in Boot Camp is really bringing this home at a whole new level.

We now embark on the answer – the answer to the Jews question – after 400 years of silence for the most part – where is the deliverer? He is coming – His name is Jesus! I can’t wait to read the New Testament and get a deeper revelation into God! I hope you will read through with me!

October 14

“The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who could handle the bow.” Just a few verses later two of Ephraim’s sons were killed when they were defending their livestock (or possibly seizing the men of Gath’s livestock). The two contrasted to me. Out of the hundreds of names that were written, the sons of Ulam were singled out as being brave warriors. I want to be named as a brave warrior – able to hand the Word of God and believe in faith for provision, miracles and one who is brave enough to come to the Lord, listen to His voice, and DO it. That is how you get brave – by DOING. God, I am your warrior and I will be brave – I choose it now!

October 13

There are a couple of interesting mentions in this passage, not the least of which are other people groups in the lineage. Interesting huh? Then there was the mention of the wicked kid, Er, Judah’s firstborn, that was so wicked, God put him to death – heavy!

Then comes Jabez. I knew it was in this passage, but I was so sweetly reminded by the Lord to continue to pray as he did. Every time he was called by his name, he was reminded that he was a painful problem, yet he knew who to go to for help. He received it and so will I. God grant to me prosperity and enlarge my ministry. May your hand be with me and keep me from harm and free from pain.

October 12

Boy, that passage will preach! So many things, but what stood out to me was first things first and then first things second. We set things in order and leave, but when we come back we have to set things in order again! If we aren’t alert, intentional and vigilant, things go downhill. Nehemiah left and his enemy took residence in the temple where THE TITHES were kept! That is crazy in its application! Have I let someone in, an enemy that is ruining my finances? Lord tell me if I have! Whether or not I have, the fact remains that I can NOT go to sleep in any area of my life, or my family, or my church! That seems a little overwhelming for me, but that just means that I MUST have the strength of my God!

October 9

Many times I have heard reports of unhappy people in the ministry. Sometimes it is said, “they are ready to leave the church”. This is all the work of an intimation spirit who has been sent to persuade me to please the people. Even when the complaints or concerns are correct and something does need to be corrected, apologized for or changed, most of the time it comes with a spirit of intimidation. As I read this passage I was so encouraged to refuse to be intimidated and be focused on the work instead of talking to the people who are certainly against my work. I must be gracious with people who mean well or who are humbly approaching me and are a part of my ministry, but there are others who are not a part and to those a stiff arm must be given. This is not just talking about people to me, but an attitude, a spiritual presence and even in my own mind. There must be a steadfastness to completing the work that God has given me.

October 8

I love the book of Nehemiah! It is such a great book and will surely be a point of study at Wednesday night Life. I will try to stick to how to apply what I read to my life. There is repentance and building going on with opposition which I am sure will be a topic for future days. Here is what I got today.

Out of all of the men mentioned today there are two that stand out. The first, which I don’t want to be like, are the nobles that wouldn’t work under certain supervisors. They didn’t want to submit, so they didn’t work. The second was a man that ZEALOUSLY did the work of the Lord. Everyone else, besides the nobles, was working and getting the work done, but only one guy was working zealously. That’s what I want to do – work with zeal! God make me like Baruch!

October 7

When we marry with people (not just marriage – but enter into agreements – partnerships, etc…) who serve other Gods, they will certainly lead us astray from God.

Ezra led and people followed. In fact, Ezra led by weeping, repenting, throwing himself down before God and the people just began to gather. I was once challenged to take people with me to worship the Lord – where I am not leading or playing. The point was that people need to experience me in worship (as I experience the Lord and they do as well) to release them in worship by my example. There is a power in a leader just doing it and THEN calling people to it.

October 6

Ezra had God’s blessing and he got what he sought. It took him 6 months to travel to Jerusalem which seems like a lot to me, but it evidentially was fast! There is no doubt that God commands His blessings toward us and gives us success but not without any trouble.

Ezra 7:10 (NIV)
10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

Ezra did what we teach in OSL; come, hear and do. He was a man that was founded on the rock and it is obvious that God commanded His blessing towards him – and why should we expect anything else with a better covenant! God – I want it all – all your blessings – with all that means!

October 5

There were 2 things that were missing that allowed all of the shortcomings and evil that the Lord was rebuking Israel for. #1 was that they didn’t honor the Lord. They didn’t value Him and what He had to say or how He wanted things done. #2 was that they didn’t fear the Lord. Not only didn’t they value God, but they were not afraid of the consequences of what they were doing. They even went so far as to say that God wouldn’t do anything any way! Value and fear – God may I never lose them, may they never diminish, may they only grow and catalyze me to DO the Word.

October 2

“Prisoner of hope”. Wow – that really hit me today. Thinking about it… a prisoner is one who is captive, one who is held behind bars and is limited by his captor. He can’t come and go as he wants because of the prison that he is in. He doesn’t have the key to get out because only the jailer has the keys to the prison – it’s like he can’t get out.

Hope is not our thinking of “I hope it happens”, like you are wishing something. Hope is a surety that something will happen. So when these two words are put together with of, which denotes possession, it is a great picture of where I want to be. To be locked up in surety sounds wonderful to me. It seems like I am too often locked up in “wish” or “doom” and not enough hope. I have got to find that prison and check in! What do I have to do to be sentenced to that jailhouse? Whatever it is, I will find it and commit whatever act I need to in order to be incarcerated by hope.

October 1

Just coming back from captivity is enough to over joy anybody who has reckoned their captivity. BEFORE any prosperity was returned, the opportunity for prosperity and blessing was given and that fact gave the people joy. Humm… apply it!

I am claiming Psalm 128. It isn’t new to me, but it sure seems like it! I do fear the Lord and I am standing on the promise of blessing and prosperity – my heart is filling with faith this morning! My wife will be fruitful and my sons will be olive shoots – birthing other olive trees – around my table!

September 30

Give thanks to the Lord huh?! That requires a heart that can look to its rescue rather than to its trouble. In Psalm 116 it says, “I will sacrifice a thank offering to you.” To me that means that I will give the offering before and after the deliverance. God increase my faith by convincing me of your great love for me!

In Psalm 118 it says, “In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” There definitely has been some anguish in my heart of late - trouble of great proportions. I can’t say that I am totally free from it yet, but I am crying out to the Lord. I know He will answer. This Psalm is filled with hope – filled with confidence – in the Lord! I so need to hear God’s answer and to reach out and receive the fact that He will answer me! He will set me free. I think it will happen in the present circumstance and God will come through for me, but more importantly I think freedom will come to my heart. There is a testimony that is brewing – but it ain’t easy!

September 29

How much do I really tell my kids? I think I tell them about all the miracles that I have seen and know about. I think I do share with them about God’s greatness and how He comes through time and time again. What I am challenged with today is the fact that I don’t work a lot of bona fide miracles. I want a life a miracles, like Jesus! Should I expect less? Answer: I do expect less. Reason: If less happens then I am not disappointed.

When the Spirit gets a hold of me, I cannot help but desire more miracles, a walk of miracles, a flow of miracles, a miraculous life! It is something that I want desperately if I let the Spirit have my total life. I want miracles and common to be in the same sentence. There are many reasons for this, the greatest being to bring glory and honor to the Lord, but there is another in my mind; so your children see the glory of the Lord and come to expect it as normal living. They in turn will teach their children and so on.

September 28

Again I am reminded of what God really wants. Honestly, I don’t think that I am that far from some of the mistakes of the Israelites. O.k., maybe that is a little too harsh of a judgment, but it does seem that I have to be reminded again and again what is important to God and it isn’t religious service or church service or Christian disciplines. It is the weighty measures that flow from His heart, and the fact that He deeply desires them to flow from my heart. Taking care of the widows and the fatherless, (think about the single moms and the boys with an every 6 month dad) administering justice and mercy has always been what Jesus wants of us. I think fasting is easier than mercy because true mercy means your heart is fully engaged and pouring out, even vulnerable at times. It’s the heart that flows into action, not action because we can discipline ourselves to be good little Christians.

September 26

This is a worthy passage to ponder and let God speak to us about its meaning to us.

Haggai 1:5-11 (NIV)
5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.
6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.
8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord.
9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.
10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops.
11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands.”

September 25

Zerubbabel started building the temple after the work had stopped and the prophets of God were with him – helping him. There is nobody that is exempt from getting their hands dirty and building the temple. Prophets were supposed to minister and prophecy, but here we see them joining in the physical labor. May I never think I am above any task that God gives me, and may my heart desire to join the labor force instead of exalting myself.

I noticed the reply to the question – what are your names? We are servants of God! They banded together in unity without distinction. They were one – period!

September 24

Daniel, after getting “slain in the Spirit”, or something like that, gets another vision. Did you notice what happened to his friends who didn’t see the angel did? They ran away because they “sensed” a fearful thing (really in was awesome/fearful – that is a big difference from sensing you life is about to end fear). So Daniel was overcome by the angel’s presence so much so that he fainted. Why is this so debated in the church today? If an angel’s powerful presence can make a man of God familiar with visions faint – face down, how about when the Spirit of God shows up in a “heavy” or “more tangible” way? Then Daniel was trembling – again, why do we debate this? Trembling when in the presence of God or when one is overcome by God would seem natural to me.

God encouraged me with this truth. Daniel sought out truth from God (about the vision) and God answered immediately. When we seek God’s truth, he will give it to us. Daniel’s answer was delayed and so is ours at times, but God wants to reveal things to us! The trick for us is to “set our minds to gain understanding and humble ourselves before our God.”

I can’t leave without saying this – “when He spoke to me, I was strengthened..” Think about it.

September 23

There is this fine line between human choice and divine influence. I think it is a blurry line for the most part. Today’s reading is clear – again – that God has influence! Here is an ungodly king of an ungodly kingdom (they worship many gods but remain ungodly because only the one true God can make you godly), and “the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus…” A revelation of God was obviously given to Cyrus and he acted on it! Have you given up on Obama? God could move his heart too! There is nobody, and I mean nobody beyond God’s influence. My tendency is to understand the wickedness of the human heart and think that everyone is Pharaoh and only hardens their hearts against God, but even Pharaoh finally gave way.

God, keep in my mind your great ability to change people – everyone – and have them carry out your desires. I don’t have to understand why some don’t seem to God, I just want to have faith in your greatness and your ability.

September 22

“Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” So God said to me as I read, “Terry distinguish yourself among men with exceptional qualities and character.” Being distinguished doesn’t happen while you are within the group, it happens outside the group, when nobody, or everybody is watching. It is a practice, a lifestyle of action which brings about character. Exceptional qualities… Qualities that are within me that need to be exceptionalized! That means two things; First I must strengthen my strengths and second I must use them as God gives me opportunity. I told the Lord I am nearly 50 and how could I become exceptional so as to be identified and promoted? There isn’t enough time for that. He reminded me that I had nearly half my life left and that was PLENTY of time.

September 21

When the fingers appeared and wrote on the wall the king was pale and terrified. When God moves miraculously, people are shocked out of their comfort zone and may even become pale within their souls! The miraculous speaks like nothing else – it testifies so strong, that God himself recounts His miracles as proof of His provision, love and care. My point is this, I need to be a miraculous person – a worker of miracles – a “pray-er” of miraculous happenings! My testimony MUST include miracles. I can’t boil down the message of the Kingdom to words, preaching and good doctrine and empty it of its power to transform and skew the “normal” function of matter with miraculous interposition. In other words – the power of the Gospel includes supernatural stuff, and if I don’t do it, then I weaken the power of the Gospel.

September 20

There is a simple truth illustrated here. God knows the future! You can say He lives outside of time or He knows what will happen – whatever! He knows the future! So if I want to know the future, then I have to ask Him and then be still enough to listen. I think that is my problem, and many people’s problem – we are not still enough to hear Him who knows the future! God isn’t going to tell us ALL of the future, but He will tell us the things we need to choose NOW to bring about the BEST future.

Then there is a whole other dimension of this truth – revelation of the future. It shouldn’t be as scarce as it is. We, the children of God, who are more than servants BECAUSE God tells us what He is doing, (and he doesn’t tell servants what is happening, only to go do certain things) we are the ones who should have the knowledge of the future to bring glory to God. What I am talking about is the prophetic ministry and the lack of it in the church. God is willing to reveal things – It edifies people, it brings Him glory, it expands the Kingdom and it can’t be done without His supernatural intervention. That my friend is a great place to be, relying on Him.

September 19

One of man’s major problems (and mine since I am a man) is that he soon forgets God’s miracles and all of the things that God does for him. It is the first step to disobedience. Once you think you made it on your own, or can make it on your own, you are on your way or have been captured by pride – and nothing good comes from pride. That is why I instituted the “answer sheet”. It is our declaration of God answering our prayers and requests. I hope to have thousands of them hanging on a wall at church to remind us that it is God that is great and worthy of all our lives!

There was one more thing that caught my eye/mind. Because the spies didn’t believe the promise (that God would give them the land even though it looked as though they couldn’t prevail against the inhabitants – again the focus is on what “we can do”) they despised the land. Did you get that? They didn’t believe the promise of the Lord so they despised the very thing promised. We would do well to meditate on that principle.

September 18

Our own bows won’t deliver us. Why? Because they haven’t! That is the blessing of being in a pickle – the realization that your own strength isn’t enough. So I guess I have lived a pretty blessed life then, because I have been in many pickles. My own observation of people is this, in one way or another, God keeps revealing himself as the only deliverer. Some people, like myself, seem to have had multiple areas of destruction or near destruction to wake us up to this truth. Why? Ahh… I remember the book of Job and think I will refrain from questioning the Almighty.

My prayer is just that I would trust, that I would know my source, that I would never lean on my own understand that is apart from Him who is my Everything.

September 17

God tells Job a thing or three – huh? I kind of felt sorry for the guy, but he did deserve it. As I read it all one thing really jumped out at me, and that was God’s face and tone while He said this. I am a very visual guy, so I see things as I read. I imagined God’s face looking stern, angry and condescending. God spoke to me and said that my interpretation was not correct. I imagined God waving His arms wildly and pacing with the “who do you think you are attitude”. Now, I don’t think so. God loved Job, His heart had to break for Job because of that love. God wasn’t ready to strike Job down, He was trying to bring him into line, and Job accepted the correction. Corrections come from the Lord, but my thinking of Him being mad is ever changing as I learn of His great love, mercy and compassions that never fail. Who knows, maybe God even chuckled about the Leviathan portion.