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.