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.

September 16

It was the beginning of what Elihu said that struck me and troubled me. It made me ask if I do the same. Even though some of what Elihu said was spot on, his motivation was ugly and without God’s predominate trait, love.

Job 32:15-22 (NIV)
15 “They are dismayed and have no more to say; words have failed them.
16 Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand there with no reply?
17 I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know.
18 For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me;
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst.
20 I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply.
21 I will show partiality to no one, nor will I flatter any man;
22 for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.

Who was his speaking for? It seems to me that it was for Elihu, or at least partially for himself, for his relief, for his ego, for his fame. The old saying comes to mind, people don’t care what you know until they know that you care. I think it is true. “What you say, I’ll say”. You are the counselor of all Lord, not me.

September 15

This whole book, Job and friends have been thinking - do bad, get bad - do good, get good. Although that is true in many cases, that is not how God's economy works. Think about the cross and what we did to deserve it - nothing! Although we are not "maggots" like Bildad said, we have done nothing to earn the blessing of forgiveness. It seems like we have to be on one of the two extremes. Either we think of ourselves as maggots or with think we have earned it. I really want to be a person that is so thankful for it all and realizes that I have no defense except the blood of Jesus, and yet know that I have intrinsic value to God with greatness stored within me because of who my Father is.

September 14

Eliphaz asks two great questions. Can man be a benefit to God and can man bring God pleasure. His answer is no to both of these, but my answer is YES!

There is a theology that was bread into me - deep into me - that would answer no to those questions as well. It is the thought that God is concerned more about sin and righteous than about mankind. In my renewed theology, you can't separate God's significant emphasis He puts on sin and righteousness from His love for man. They go hand in hand because His love is for us and not His laws. His thinking toward us isn't rooted in whether we do right or do wrong - it is grounded in His aspiration for His creation to live their destiny that He gave them as a gift which includes deep relationship with Him.

I must continue to break with the thought that what God wants of me is to act right and do right. God wants me to relate with Him and to use the gift of life He gave me. Can I benefit and bring pleasure to God - that is an easy yes!

September 11

Another great friend condemns a man who is down. Zophar lays it on thick and Job gives it right back to him, but what struck me was that Zophar said things that were, in the middle on condemnation (unjust condemnation), true and accurate. He applied the truth of God inaccurately however and came up with condemnation. Because He didn't know the life of Job, he just went on His own wisdom and assumptions because of His theology. Because he doesn't know the heart of God, his theology is faulty even though some of the things he says makes sense.

God is not looking for someone with all the right answers, he is looking for someone that can minister with His heart. He not looking for someone who will straighten everybody out, He is looking for someone who will administrate mercy and encourage people to live grander.

September 10

Job is unaware of God's desire to be friends with him. Although his situation is extreme, and may indeed be an example for the whole earth for thousands of years, Job has God pegged wrong. His mercy endures forever and His love never fails, yes even in the trail Job is in.

"If only there were someone to arbitrate between us..." THERE IS! Jesus is our arbitrator and our mediator! When we think that God is mad at us or out to get us or whatever kooky thought we may have, we only have to look as far as Jesus to know that our sins are not counted against us - that we are not destined for God's wrath - that we are saved from His fierce anger. It is Jesus that completes us and assures us - our hope is in Him!

September 9

What a great friend Eliphaz is huh? What a bone head! Which makes me think, have I been a bone head like that? Have I kicked people when they are down and blamed it all on them? Have I added fuel to the fire of the inner torment of people – hum… In the name of truth some would say the same thing, but of course Eliphaz was wrong! He overstated and oversimplified the case. Do I oversimplify? There really was some soul searched egged on by this passage for me. I know I am an encourager, that is my gift! Is there times though, when I rush to judgment and instead of encouraging someone through some tough times, I blame them for being in them. Even if they are to blame, what is the good of the blame except that God wants to reveal it to them. I better be awful careful to make sure it is God’s Spirit and not my soul that exposes them. For me, I’ll encourage them through – that is my ministry.

September 8

Job is a rich book and if you can get past all of your questions – which are reasonable – then you will find hidden treasure!

What struck me was this man’s attitude. Wow!! I don’t think I could be like that. The Lord ministered to me what Job said, which was; should we not accept both good and trouble from God? Good question! I find myself only wanting good and not trouble. In fact, I get mad too often when trouble comes. My posture needs to accept trouble as part of life’s course and at times from God’s hand. The caution is to not be a victim, yet be able to rejoice in our sufferings. (And not have a martyr complex). I can’t think it is strange for tribulations to come – I have got to handle it and come through it – smelling better than before!

September 7

It is amazing to me that God cares so much for the king of Babylon. His redemptive plan extends far beyond my capacity to understand. He so wants Neb. to repent and be His servant in heart, that He inflicts him with mental disease so that he would repent – and tells him before it happens! Wow!

Daniel has a tough decision to make. If he interprets the dream he may offend the king and die. That speaks to me about my life and the fearlessness that I must have to help people to repentance. I have to be willing to say whatever God is saying no matter what the cost. Which means that I have to seek my supernatural God for His supernatural words for people with supernatural courage.

I will Papa – I will.

September 6

It was 9 years ago when I was picked out of an audience of hundreds and had this scripture prophecied over me. Whenever I read it, I remember what that meant to me and how I was filled with confidence and purpose. We are the temple of God! Water flows from us! I realize that I have more power and purpose than I understand, yet I think I still under estimate how much ability I have. Ezekiel 47 reminds me and challenges me to believe for more!

September 4

Wow is this day full of hope and promise! First, the King had to bring pressure – a threat – to have the statue worshipped. Why? Because it deserved no worship! It had done nothing! At the end of this historic event, the God of the 3 Hebrews proved He deserved worship. Nebuchadnezzar will learn this lesson again, but for now he again uses threats to curb any person from speaking against Jehovah. God doesn’t need His help! “

How much faith did the Hebrews 3 have? They said, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of god you have set up.” I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like perfect faith – full assurance! There is an “if” in there. This spoke to me. There were so confident and resolute about the Lord, but they threw in an “if”. Will God only honor perfect faith? Here the 3 Hebrews have great faith and great conviction but they allow for themselves to not be rescued. (In this life) There is a key in this though – it is the fact that they stayed true to their conviction about only worshipping God and the fact that they were ready to die for it. That is perfect FAITH!

September 3

After telling of Egypt’s horrible judgment, God reveals His heart for the people of the earth. “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, rather that they turn from their wicked ways.” There is the heart of God. It goes on to talk about not relying on your “old” righteousness, but to continue to walk “in” righteousness.

For people under the new covenant I think that the old righteousness is the things we do and the new righteousness is the things that Christ has done, and what He continues to do in us! He is renewing me every day in HIS righteousness and that is what I am trusting in. The minute I trust in what I can do, my rightness, I fall into a trap! In fact there are a few traps associated with this. (Self-righteousness, pride, the curse of the law…)

God, I must look to you and not to me! I must see myself through the blood of Jesus. For me Lord, I must release myself from condemnation, the trap of the law, when I think I don’t measure up. I DON’T measure up! You measure up – hide me in you!

September 2

Have you heard the saying, “as long as I have breath in me…”? Evidently God can do things without breath. Ezekiel is prophesying about Israel and their return to the land, but God is saying to me, is there anything too hard for me? There are many other lessons from the valley of dry bones that are wonderful, including the power that he works through the prophet’s words, but for me it is, is anything impossible for me? Sometimes when things are dead and gone, (relationships, opportunities, financial prosperity) I think, “well that will never happen now”. But that is not so! These were bones with no flesh and no breath and when prophesied to, they rose to life. When God wants something raised up that is dead, or seemingly dead – it will come to life and as we read on, will prosper again!

September 1

This was a great passage! What hope! What promise! That we would have a new heart, and God’s Spirit to MOVE us to obey! Yes! I need His moving!

Yet for me as a shepherd I couldn’t stop thinking about what good shepherds are supposed to do. God was asking the shepherds of the people if it wasn’t enough for them to be supplied for? They evidently were making it miserable on people and prosperous for themselves. Here in this rebuke is found my job description. As I read it I asked myself if that is what my life is about. I think it is. A good shepherd is one who takes care of the flock as well as himself. He strengthens the weak and heals the sick, bound up and injured, he goes after the strays and searches for the lost. He rules, but he does it with gentleness and love. The good shepherd gives them rest, he helps them to find it and administrates justice.

Oh God, make me like you. Help me to be a good shepherd and do what it takes. I am moved to do just those things but so many flaws hinder me. Cleanse me, purge me, strengthen me and give me wisdom to administrate this office.