Week 52: The Journey Ends...?

Here is the reading plan for the final week of the reading plan- congratulations on reading the entire Bible!!!

Sunday (Epistles): Jude
Monday (The Law): Deuteronomy 32-34
Tuesday (History): Esther 6-10
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 149-150
Thursday (Poetry): Song of Songs 7-8
Friday (Prophecy): Revelation 18-22
Saturday (Gospels): Acts 27-28

Starting next week there will be a new plan to follow and your facilitators in 2012 will be Dick de Roover and Dr. Chuck Conniry. A different reading plan will be in place and there are some plans in progress to intertwine this reading plan into the Woodhaven website.

Discipline with regards to reading the Bible a regular basis has been a primary focus at Woodhaven this past year- here is to more of the same in 2012 and have a Happy New Year!

In Him,

Mike

Week 51: Living in the truth like Gaius

This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): 3 John
* Monday (the Law): Deuteronomy 29-31
* Tuesday (history): Esther 1-5
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 146-148
* Thursday (poetry): Song 5-6
* Friday (prophecy): Revelation 12-17
* Saturday (gospels): Acts 25-26

We're nearing the end of another year of reading through the Bible! I hope you've stuck with us as we diligently read through the pages of scripture. And I hope you're ready to continue in the New Year! As far as I'm concerned, I will continue to read through the Bible every year for as long as I live. Each year, God reveals new insights and draws us closer to Him.

This week's SOAP is from the 3rd book of John:

Scripture
3 John 4: "I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children live in the truth".

Observation
John writes this letter to Gaius, his dear friend. Gaius is helping out in the church by taking care of the needs of "traveling teachers" [New Living Translation], even though they are strangers to him. These "traveling teachers", are "brothers" who are traveling, probably missionaries sent by the mother church. This helping of Gaius is opposite of what Diotrephes, another church leader, is doing. Diotrephes discourages people in his church to help these missionaries, and even throws people out of his church who help them (verse 10). The apostle John will deal with him personally when he will come to visit.

It is in the above context that John writes verse 4. He is very pleased with all that Gaius is doing, and John "has no greater joy than to hear that Gaius (his faith child) is living in the truth.

Application
In a similar way, it brings me no greater joy than to see my own children "get it" and starting to live in the truth. Or my brothers and sisters at the church "get it". Baptisms that are happening, bible studies that are starting up, men mentoring men, women mentoring women, people doing their daily SOAP exercises. It's a wonderful thing when people "live in the truth" by obeying God's commands.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, what a rich blessing to see our children live in truth. I pray they will all become strong warriors for you, just like Gaius. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a great week. Merry Christmas to all!

In Him,

Dick

Week 50: Bringing Eternity into the Present

This week's reading unfolds like this:

* Sunday (Epistles): 2 John
* Monday (The Law): Deuteronomy 26-28
* Tuesday (History): Ezra 6-10
* Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 143-145
* Thursday (Poetry): Song of Solomon 3-4
* Friday (Prophecy): Revelation 7-11
* Saturday (Gospels): Acts 23-24


Scripture: Revelation 7:9-11
"After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a mighty shout,
“'Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne
and from the Lamb!'

"And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. They sang,

“'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength belong to our God
forever and ever! Amen.'”

Observation:
Revelation is a hard book to understand...and it seems that the less clear a passage is, the more adamantly people assert their interpretations. The Book of Revelation, perhaps more than any other book in the Bible, has been the subject of endless controversies and misinterpretations.

The message of Revelation is really very simple. In a word it is, WE WIN!

And this passage presents a beautiful picture of our victory.

Just before these verses, John mentions 144,000 who were sealed from all the tribes of Israel. Problem is, the tribe of Dan is missing. The same group of people is mentioned again in chapter 14, but there, if we take the passage literally, we see that the group consists only of men (those who have not defiled themselves with women).

Here's my best guess at what all this means...

John uses numbers in the Book of Revelation to represent certain things. The number 12 (and its multiples) signify God's people (like the 12 tribes of Israel and the people of the 12 Apostles). The number 10 and its multiples represent wholeness or completeness. When John adds or multiplies the number 12, he is alluding to God's people in both the old and new covenants (the 24 elders that cast their crowns before the throne, for example, are representatives of the 12 tribes of Israel and the people of the 12 Apostles). Here (and in chapter 14), John uses the following equation: 12 x 12 x 1,000 = 144,000.

Bottom line: the 144,000, and the innumerable crowd mentioned in these verses, is one and the same. The totality of God's chosen, saved people...which includes you and me!

And look at what they are singing. Do you recognize the words? We sing this song at Woodhaven.

Application:
Every time we sing this song, we are leaning into our future as God's chosen and saved people. Next time we sing this, let's remember that!

Prayer:
O Lord, thank you for giving us a glimpse of heaven in this passage. Help to stay focused on the fact that we are your people...and that every time we sing praises to you, we help to bring eternity into the present. Praise and glory be to you! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Have a blessed week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 49: Loving God Through Loving Others

This week's reading:

Sunday (Epistles): 1 John 4-5
Monday (Law): Deuteronomy 23-25
Tuesday (History): Nehemiah 5-9
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 140-142
Thursday (Poetry): Song of Solomon 1-2
Friday (Prophecy): Revelation 1-6
Saturday (Gospels): Acts 21-22

Many folks hold dear to prejudices and contempt for others as they proclaim their love for God. Are you one?

Scripture: 1 John 4:20-21
"If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.

Observation: The culture of this country is divisive- it thrives on drama and anger. Take a news channel for a spin some time to see what I am talking about. Many of these commentators on the news claim to follow a path of faith, but their path is aligned with a political agenda that is divisive and stirs some very negative emotions with their viewers. Closer to home, how do you feel about the guy across the street? Yes, the one who fires up his unmuffled Harley at 6am on a Sunday? Or the guy who cut you off as you were pulling onto the freeway? How about your child who needs help (again!) with that math problem?

Application: Loving God means loving His creations- all of them. Temperance and a holding of the tongue may be how we love some of the "unlovable." Others may need to be invited to church. Some may just need a smile at the store in passing. Extra time for our kids and our spouses so we can listen to them. Taking time to rest and get energized will help us love ourselves. I don't consider myself a liar, but this passage definitely convicts me on certain occasions and I must become more integrated with God to better love God.

Prayer: Lord, please guide me on my path, especially as it crosses other people's paths. My desire is for my wake to not be disruptive for others and actually be a source of encouragement- reflecting and modeling how You love us. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your son Jesus Christ who modeled that love. Thank you for the gift of your creation(s) so we can learn to love them as you already do in a perfect way. I pray this in your name, Amen!

Have a great week!

-Mike

Week 48: Cursed on a Tree

This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): 1 John 1-3
* Monday (the Law): Deuteronomy 20-22
* Tuesday (history): Nehemiah 1-4
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 137-139
* Thursday (poetry): Ecclesiastes 11-12
* Friday (prophecy): Malachi
* Saturday (gospels): Acts 19-20

So many good passages this week! The book of 1 John is all about loving each other and walking in the light. Not just talk the talk, but walk the walk by forgiving one another and loving one another. The book of Nehemiah is very actual. There are so many passages that deal with real-life situations and give practical advice. I love the little 'silent prayers' that Nehemiah send up to God, like Neh. 2:4 or 4:4.

Malachi is the last of the 'minor prophets' and officially closes out the Old Testament. There's a great chapter on 'tithing', and the blessing it holds for honoring God with the first fruits of your income.

Our SOAP this week, however, will be from the book of Deuteronomy:

Scripture
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 "If someone has committed a crime worthy of death and is executed and then hanged on a tree, the body must never remain on the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone hanging on a tree is cursed of God. Do not defile the land the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession."

Observation
Moses gives instructions here for criminals who have committed a severe crime that deserved death by hanging on a tree. The header above these verses in my Bible says "Various Regulations", and it almost seems like these two verses are somewhat lost in the entire chapter. Yet, when you give these verses a second thought, you might make a link to Jesus.

The first time I came across these verses was on Easter several years ago, when we read through the Bible with a number of people starting on 3p.m. on Good Friday, all the way through 6a.m. Easter Sunday. We rotated new people in every hour. I sat in a group of 3 guys during the last hour on Easter Sunday, as we closed our time. We had read through the entire New Testament, and we had started in the books of Moses with Genesis. Without planning this, our last chapter was this chapter of Deuteronomy, and the above verses were our last verses. This was truly amazing... The entire reading event was done to honor our Lord Jesus on Easter, and to end on these verses was just incredible!

These verses tell us that someone hanging from a tree is cursed of God. Jesus, hanging on a tree, was cursed of God. This is symbolized in the fact that the person hanging on the tree is 'lifted' above the earth, which basically says... you are not good enough for this earth nor good enough for heaven. You are hanging between heaven and earth.

Application
Verse 22 starts with... If someone has committed a crime worthy of death... Jesus did not commit any crime, yet he was found worthy of death. He took the punishment for us. He took the curse for us, as it says... someone hanging on a tree is cursed of God. This seems to be the only punishment in the Bible that is mentioned as a curse of God. That is why Jesus had to die this way. He had to take the curse upon him, so we could be free from that curse, and have eternal life with him. There's a lot more to say about this, but the book of 1 John is full of that message, so take some time to read that this week.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your incredible love for us, that you sent your one and only son to die for us on a tree. He took the curse for us, and we cannot thank you enough. Thank you Lord Jesus for taking that penalty. We are eternally grateful and want to live our life for you Lord. In your name we pray. Amen.

Have a great week, and in preparation for Christmas, reflect on what Jesus has done for you, on that tree, 2000 years ago.

In Him,

Dick

Week 47: Keeping our Faith Alive and Growing

This week's Bible reading unfolds as follows:

* Sunday (Epistles): 2 Peter
* Monday (The Law): Deuteronomy 16-19
* Tuesday (History): Ezra 6-10
* Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 134-136
* Thursday (Poetry): Ecclesiastes 9-10
* Friday (Prophecy): Zechariah 8-14
* Saturday (Gospels): Acts 17-18

We cover a lot of great biblical material this week, from 2 Peter to Acts...and many good readings in between! There are a few verses in the first chapter of 2 Peter, however, that capture the essence of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. It's one of those precious texts that causes one to say, "If I could only get my life to line up with this passage, I would have it made as a follower of Jesus Christ!"

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-8
"In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

"The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins."

Observation:
The first observation to make is that faith (or belief) was never intended to exist by itself. It is "supplemented" with a rich set of virtues: moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance, godliness, brotherly (and sisterly) affection, and love for everyone. Our faith is fortified and deepened when we take up these attitudes and actions.

It is also interesting to note that Peter lists seven virtues - a number in Scripture that signifies the wholeness and completeness of the created order. As members of Christ's "new creation," we become whole and complete when we make these virtues a part of our lives.

Another takeaway from this passage is the concept of ongoing spiritual growth. "The more you grow like this," Peter says, "the more productive and useful you will be...." Our growth, productivity, and usefulness are givens. In fact, when a Christ-follower isn't becoming more productive and useful in his or her knowledge of Jesus Christ, it signals a problem - namely, spiritual shortsightedness or even blindness, which keeps them from remembering their cleansing from past sins. It is essential to remember that we are a forgiven people, because that is what instills gratitude...and gratitude inspires our desire to practice these virtues...which in turn deepens our faith and keeps us growing spiritually.

It's all connected!

Application:
Applying this passage begins with a spiritual gut check. Are we growing in Christ the way we should be? If not, why not? We can start by asking ourselves whether it may be due to shortsightedness (or, at worst, blindness) regarding the forgiveness of our former sins. When we forget that we are the recipients of God's unconditional love and forgiveness, it's easy to become spiritually indifferent, pallid.

There are two ways to reverse this condition: (1) by practicing the discipline of remembrance and (2) by engaging the seven virtues that Peter lists in this passage.

Refocusing on that wondrous moment when we first realized that God had forgiven all our past sins inspires deep gratitude and reorients us to God's economy of grace. Everything we do in the Christian life is an outgrowth of grace. We do not work for our salvation, for it was freely given to us at the outset of our lives in Christ.

Now on to the seven virtues...

We do not acquire the virtue of moral excellence in one fell swoop. It comes through a lifetime of good choices. And while no human being except Jesus will ever get through life making perfect moral choices all the time, we build moral fiber by every upright choice we make. When we opt to tell the truth instead of "a white lie," or dismiss lustful thoughts when they enter our consciousness, or make complete stops at stop signs, or use words that build up rather than tear down, we enrich our moral character.

Knowledge as well comes piece by piece. The point is we never stop learning. And it matters what we choose to study. The knowledge that Scripture envisions is the knowledge of relationship. It's not a matter of learning facts. It's about knowing a person...in this case, God. We come to know God better through prayer, Bible reading, fellowship with other believers, and sound teaching.

"Self-control" is the only real control we have. We cannot control our circumstances...and we cannot control what other people do. We can only control how we respond to the outside world. Viktor Frankl, in his famous book, Man's Search for Meaning, reflected on the prisoners of Germany's concentration camps. He noted a fundamental difference between those who survived those torturous circumstances and those who did not: the attitude they chose to have. He wrote, “The one thing you can’t take away from me is the way I choose to respond to what you do to me. The last of one’s freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstance.” That, in a word, is self-control! And one key byproduct is the next virtue: patient endurance.

Moral excellence, knowledge of God, self-control, and patient endurance yield, collectively, the fifth virtue on the list - namely, godliness. Godly people are known precisely by their patience, self-control, knowledge, and moral excellence! And the more God-like we are, the easier it is to love both Christians and non-Christians, hence practicing virtues six and seven!

Prayer:
O Lord, please keep us ever mindful of the cleansing of our past sins, which keeps our gratitude, and thus our faith, alive. And by your grace, enable us to keep growing in productivity and usefulness, as we pursue the virtues that characterize your new creation: moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance, godliness, brotherly love, and love for everyone. For Jesus' sake. Amen!

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 45: Respecting those in Authority

This week's Bible reading unfolds as follows:

* Sunday (Epistles): 1 Peter 1-3
* Monday (The Law): Deuteronomy 10-12
* Tuesday (History): 2 Chronicles 33-36
* Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 128-130
* Thursday (Poetry): Ecclesiastes 5-6
* Friday (Prophecy): Haggai
* Saturday (Gospels): Acts 13-14

Scripture:
Peter's first epistle is filled with much practical wisdom. One of the passages that stands out is 1 Peter 2:13-14a: "For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority — whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed."

Observation:
Criticizing "human authority" is routine practice these days. We don't have a king in this nation. The equivalent is the President of the United States. "Appointed officials" include members of the Executive Branch, the president's cabinet, the Legislative Branch, which includes the Congress and Senate House, and the Judicial Branch, which includes the Supreme Court, US Court of Appeals, US District Courts, and Territorial Courts. Beyond that there are the US Armed Forces and state and local authorities.

A day does not go by without the media criticizing or demeaning one of these officials.

Ours is a culture of criticism.

God's word calls followers of Jesus Christ to be countercultural!

Instead of getting on the bandwagon of political pundits and talk-show hosts, God asks us to respect those in governmental authority. The "king" in Peter's day was the infamous emperor, Nero, who brutally murdered Christians. If followers of Christ were to respect Nero, we have no room for excuses when it comes to respecting the governmental authorities in our nation.

Application:
I find it so easy to be drawn in by this culture of criticism. It takes conscious effort not to be! So this week, I will make an extra effort to pray for those in authority...from the President of the United states to the Sherwood police officers that protect our safety here in town.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for my critical spirit. Purify my heart and mind so that I can respect the people you've placed in authority. Please be with President Obama, the members of his cabinet, and all those who serve in federal, state, and local governments. Please protect those who serve in our nation's Armed Forces as well as those who serve in uniform to protect us locally. And help me be a model citizen that is known for words of grace rather than criticism. For Jesus' sake. Amen!

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 44: Grumbling or Grace

This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): James 4-5
* Monday (the Law): Deuteronomy 7-9
* Tuesday (history): II Chronicles 29-32
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 125-127
* Thursday (poetry): Ecclesiastes 3-4
* Friday (prophecy): Zephaniah
* Saturday (gospels): Acts 11-12

The book of James is so packed full of wisdom. Almost every verse has something you could SOAP on. Verse 9 is one that convicts me:

Scripture
James 5:9: "Don't grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!"

Observation
James, the brother of Jesus, makes it very clear in this verse that we should not grumble against one another. If we do so, we will be judged by God, the Judge with capital J.

Application
Wow, what a conviction that is! How many times do I grumble against someone else in the church, at work, in the store, or in my own family! Way too many times. Think about doing ministry at the church. Wouldn't ministry be wonderful if it was done by just you and 10 perfect assistants who did everything you asked them to do, in just the exact way you wanted it! That's how all ministries at Woodhaven Community Church operate, right? Wrong! The opposite is true. We do ministry with real people who have real quirks and characters that are opposite of ours. At times it's a real struggle to get anything off the ground because of personal conflicts. And yet...

And yet, this is how God WANTS us to do ministry. With real people who are opposite in character. People that God places in our path, so we can love them just the way they are, just as Jesus loves us, just the way we are. By default, my old natural self grumbles against others, when things don't go the way I want it or like it. I grumble either directly at that person, or I grumble later on when I come home. James says: this should not be so my brothers and sisters. Don't grumble against each other. If you do, you will be judged! That is pretty strong language, and a reminder for all of us to let go of the grumbling, and to embrace each other's strength, and give grace where it concerns each other's weaknesses. Embrace and give grace!

Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, we thank you that you love us for who we are, with all our odd behaviors, and opposite characteristics. Thank you Jesus, that you came down to embrace us, and to give grace to us abundantly. We thank you for all you have done. Help us to not grumble against each other, but to love one another, the way you love us. In your name we pray. Amen.

Have a great week.

Dick

Week 43- Satisfaction!

The reading plan for this week:

Sunday (Epistles): James 1-3
Monday (The Law): Deuteronomy 4-6
Tuesday (History): 2 Chronicles 25-28
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 122-124
Thursday (Poetry): Ecclesiastes 1-2
Friday (Prophecy): Habakkuk, entire book
Saturday (Gospels): Acts 9-10

Two of my favorite books are started this week- James & Ecclesiastes. James is a true treatise on faith and how to put your faith in action. Many SOAPing opportunities will be found as you read this book... The SOAP for this week, however will come from Ecclesiastes. This book, written by King Solomon, really puts into perspective how important (or not) many things in life really are...

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 "people can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?"

Observation: King Solomon has a better way to find satisfaction than Mick Jagger. An honest day's work with some good food and drink at the end of the day- all with a heart of thanksgiving to God for his provision- is how to get some... With God in our lives, the food tastes better, the drink goes down smoother and work becomes enjoyable. From these basics the rest of life falls into place.

Application: How many times do I become distracted in life by politics, sports, traffic, money, news and what else? Any or all of these take my eye off the ball if I allow them to. When I lose focus on God and fail to express my thanks for his provision, things have a way of unraveling in my life. To honor my wife, my family and my boss, I need to work hard on the basics that lead to satisfaction and joy.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I yield my heart to You to soften. I please need your wisdom to apply "blinders" to the things that distract me and rob me of joy. Thank You for Your Word, Your Son and all that you have given me the energy to do in Your Name. Amen.

Have a great week and God Bless!

-Mike

Week 42: By Faith...

This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): Hebrews 11-13
* Monday (the Law): Deuteronomy 1-3
* Tuesday (history): II Chronicles 21-24
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 120-121
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 31
* Friday (prophecy): Nahum
* Saturday (gospels): Acts 7-8

This week we'll make a beginning with the last book of the law, Deuteronomy. The name Deuteronomy comes from the Greek word 'Deuteronomium', which means 'second law': This book contains a reformulation of many of the laws that were given in the books of Exodus, Numbers and Leviticus. Also on the menu this week is the book of Nahum, the 7th of the 12 minor prophets who prophesied against Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrians, probably in the 7th century B.C.

Proverbs 31 is a noteworthy read as well. That chapter sings praises to the Christian woman who manages her household. As you'll see, she runs her household, takes care of the family, and does business all at the same time. Her secret? She fears the LORD (v.30).

Our SOAP for this week, however, is from the book of Hebrews. Hebrews 11 is one of those key chapters in the Bible that define the Christian faith. The chapter recounts the 'faith giants' of the Old Testament, and the writer of Hebrews uses them as examples for our faith.

Scripture
Hebrews 11:1: "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see."

Observation
What an amazing verse! Faith is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen, and the evidence of things we cannot yet see. How contrary to the beliefs of modern man! In this era of 'naturalism' or 'realism', we don't believe anything anymore unless we see it on TV or can Google it... We look at things that have happened and that we have observed, and based on those facts, we make predictions about the future. Typically, God is not part of that. If we cannot explain something logically, it either hasn't happened or we dismiss it. Physicists like Cambridge professor Stephen Hawking have made it their life goal to explain everything we see today from laws of physics. In his recent book 'The Grand Design' he asserts that 'finally, there is no need for a creator to explain the existence of the universe'.

What a stark contrast with Hebrews 11:3, which says: "By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen." This is a totally different mindset from the naturalist perspective above, which claims that everything we now see can only come from anything that can be seen.

The writer of Hebrews understood that God is not bound by laws of physics. Jesus was not bound by laws of physics: he was perfectly capable of walking on water, defying Newton's laws of gravity (actually, these are God's laws of gravity; Newton simply discovered them!).

Application
I know I have to be careful to not take Hebrews 11:1 for granted. My thinking is very much influenced by the naturalist/realist perspective. I can't tell you how many times I quenched my own faith by 'not believing' because I was 'not seeing'. I simply didn't have the faith to believe that what I hoped for was going to happen. I was wavering, and first wanted to see before I believed. God wants us to live the other way around, to first have faith, so we can glorify Him. Verse 6 tells us: "it is impossible to please God without faith." See, God enjoys it most when we step out in faith, and fully trust that He will come through with his promises. Nothing pleases Him more than to grant a wish to one of his children, something the child could only hope for.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive us for all the times we have fallen short in simply believing you at your word. Lord, we so often only trust in things we can see, not the things you promise. Help us to overcome our lack of faith, and trust you no matter what. You are worthy of all our praise, and our heart's desire is to please you. Thank you for your Son, who is an example to us when it comes in trusting you.

Have a great week.

In Him,

Dick

Week 41: We are People of the "New Covenant"

This week's Bible reading unfolds like this:

* Sunday (Epistles): Hebrews 8-10
* Monday (Law): Numbers 33-36
* Tuesday (History): 2 Chronicles 16-20
* Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 119
* Thursday (Poetry): Proverbs 29-30
* Friday (Prophecy): Micah
* Saturday (Gospels): Acts 5-6

While we cover a rich variety of reading this week, allow me to focus on one of the most important theological concepts that followers of Jesus Christ should understand...the new covenant.

Scripture
"If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. But when God found fault with the people, he said:

"'The day is coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel and Judah.

'This covenant will not be like the one
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
and led them out of the land of Egypt.
They did not remain faithful to my covenant,
so I turned my back on them, says the Lord.

'But this is the new covenant I will make
with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their minds,
and I will write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people'" (Hebrews 8:7-10).

Observation
The inspired author of Hebrews makes the revolutionary claim that we are people of the "new covenant." The so-called "old covenant," is what constitutes the first 39 books of the Bible, called the Old Testament. The new covenant that the writer of Hebrews refers to here is embodied in the last 27 books, called the New Testament (starting with Matthew and ending with Revelation).

The writer of Hebrews begins this section by observing that if there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for God to institute another. But there was something wrong with it - namely, "the people." It's not that the first covenant was fatally flawed in its own right. The problem was (and has always been) humanity's failure to obey God's commands.

The first covenant made no legal provision for grace and forgiveness. Its primary purpose was to lay out God's perfect and pleasing will. The Ten Commandments (part of the first covenant) lay out the dos and don'ts for us clearly enough. But the sacrificial system that the first covenant instituted only provided forgiveness for the sins we committed innocently (i.e. accidentally). The first covenant made no provision for the forgiveness of willful sin. There was no sacrifice or ritual to forgive the sins people committed on purpose. For willful offenses the first covenant called for either excommunication or death.

It's not that God never forgave people for willful sin during the first covenant. He did. For example, God forgave David when he sinned willfully against Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah. But every time he did, it pointed to the need for a new covenant in which the conditions of God's unconditional love and forgiveness were spelled out specifically.

According to this passage, we are related to God by means of the new covenant, which is based on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, for example, he said that his body was broken (killed) for us and his blood, "the blood of the new covenant," was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. And when Jesus broke the bars of death by rising from the dead, he did so not just for himself. He did it for all who by faith have entered into the new covenant of God's grace.

Application
This realization opens our minds to a number of helpful insights. For starters, it helps us understand that some of the severe judgments pronounced against certain sins that we may commit today will not be visited on us as members of the new covenant. It helps us understand why we no longer have to sacrifice bulls and goats. For, as the writer of Hebrews says elsewhere, Jesus Christ is God's once-for-all-time sacrifice for the sins of humanity. It also helps us understand the role of the Holy Spirit, who directly infuses our hearts with a sense of divine knowing. As Jeremiah, whom the writer of Hebrews quotes in this passage, says:
"I will put my laws in their minds,
and I will write them on their hearts."

But perhaps the best takeaway we can glean from this passage is that through the new covenant we have the closest, most intimate relationship any human beings can have with their Maker. The writer invokes the most intimate covenantal language: "I will be their God...and they will be my people."

God is ours and we are his.

This is simple, mysterious, and wonderful.

The covenant relationship we have with God is one of tenderness, closeness, peace, and joy.

So the point of application is this: becoming the people we already are.

New covenant people can't get enough of God. They want to talk with him, walk with him, learn from him, and please him. Not because they've got to, but because they get to. Not out of fear of impending doom, but out of overflowing gratitude for the gift of everlasting life...a life that began the moment we became new-covenant people.

Prayer
O Lord, forgive us for our distractedness. Forgive us for carrying fear and guilt, the burdens you already lifted from us when we became yours as new-covenant people. You have given us unspeakable hope and joy. Help us understand that if we are citizens of the new covenant, we are yours and you are ours. For Jesus' sake, amen.

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 39: Alive and Active

This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): Hebrews 1-4
* Monday (the Law): Numbers 25-28
* Tuesday (history): II Chronicles 6-10
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 114-116
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 26-27
* Friday (prophecy): Obadiah
* Saturday (gospels): Acts 1-2

This week we start with the book of Hebrews. This probably is one of the most 'theological' books in the New Testament, and perhaps the entire Bible. There is soooo much good theology in that book about the importance of the salvation work of Jesus Christ, and how his sacrifice on the cross relates to the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament.

Our SOAP for this week is from this book, and it is hard to single out one verse...

Scripture
Hebrews 4:12-13: "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Observation
This verse comes right after a section where the writer of Hebrews talks about the disobedience of the people of Israel in the dessert, and how we are not to follow their example of disobedience. He tells us that God's word is alive and active in our lives, if we let it... It is like a sword that sifts through our thoughts and determines which thoughts are right, and which ones are not. There is nothing we can hide before God, not even our thoughts. All is laid bare before his eyes, and we have to give an account of all of our thoughts.

Application
At first sight, this is a scary passage! God knows all our thoughts, and there is nothing we can hide from him. Like Adam and Eve, we often like to hide from God when we sin. We think He doesn't see, and we hide in the bushes when we hear him approach.

When you give it a second thought though, this passage is actually really comforting. We don't have to hide from God, and we can't even if we wanted to. For me, personally, confessing my sin is the hardest part. I'm afraid what the other person is going to say or think about me. The fact that God already knows my sin, is actually comforting, how strange that may sound. I can just freely approach Him and tell Him: "Yes, Father, I screwed up again, and You know it! Please forgive me once again..."

This passage also tells me that God's word is the plumb line that I can use to examine my thoughts. His word is alive and active, if you let it be alive and active! If you come with an open mind and heart, and ask God to reveal Himself to you through his word, He will do so! You might not like the response at first, but if you let his word be alive and active, a beautiful change is going to happen, and your life will be transformed. It says so in this passage. God's word will uncover all your 'not-so-holy' thoughts, and replace them with righteous thoughts that honor Him.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father. We thank you for your word that is alive and active, even and maybe especially today. We pray Lord that you uncover our thoughts, and lay bare all our thoughts that are not of you. Replace them with thoughts that are inspired by your Holy Spirit. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Have a great week, and let God's word penetrate your heart.

In Him,

Dick

Week 38: Taking God at his Word

Here's the Bible reading for the week of September 18-24, 2011:

* Sunday (Epistles): Philemon
* Monday (Law): Numbers 21-24
* Tuesday (History): 2 Chronicles 1-5
* Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 111-113
* Thursday (Poetry): Proverbs 25
* Friday (Prophecy): Amos 5-9
* Saturday (Gospels): John 19-21

Scripture

Numbers 22:21-31. In this passage of Scripture, Balaam's donkey sees what the prophet could not see...the Angel of the Lord with his sword drawn, ready to take Balaam's life. Balaam, not knowing that the donkey is privy to divine truth that he is not, beats the animal. Then God gave the donkey the ability to speak...and finally opened Balaam's eyes to see the angel.

Observation
This is one of the most fascinating passages in the Bible for a couple of reasons. First, it is remarkable that Balaam did not bolt off his animal when it spoke to him. Instead, Balaam entered into conversation with the donkey as though it were the most normal thing in the world. Second, it is fascinating that the Angel of the Lord met Balaam on his way to Balak, king of Moab. Why was God so angry? It is because God had already told Balaam not to go to Moab and prophesy against the Israelites (which is why Balak wanted Balaam to come!). When more prestigious leaders showed up on Balaam's front porch, he decided to inquire of the Lord a second time...even though God had already given him clear instructions not to go with Balak's men.

Application
The moral of the story is that situations may change, but the Lord's will does not. Whenever we allow the attractiveness of a certain temptation to cause us to "rethink" the morality of a given behavior...even though God has given us clear guidance in his word, we run the risk of committing the sin of Balaam. In the end, Balaam could not violate God's command not to curse the Israelites. But instead...and in order to please Balak, who had paid him a handsome sum to do his bidding...Balaam counseled Moab's king to induce the Israelites into moral compromise.

Bottom line: we can't bargain with evil. It will get the best of us every time. God's moral standards do not change...even when society's attitude toward God's decrees does.

Prayer
O Lord, please give us the faith to take you at your word. We live in a world of moral compromise. Help us to remember that neither you nor your word changes like shifting shadows. And give us the inner strength to stand with you and your ways...even when it is not popular to do so. For Jesus sake, amen!

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 36: Do not rebel against the LORD

Now that summer vacation is over, it's a good time to renew your commitment to read the Bible, and to get into the habit of having a daily Bible reading routine. This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): II Timothy 3-4
* Monday (the Law): Numbers 13-16
* Tuesday (history): I Chronicles 20-24
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 105-107
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 22
* Friday (prophecy): Joel
* Saturday (gospels): John 13-15

This week's SOAP is from Numbers 14:

Scripture
"The land we passed through is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD." [Numbers 14:7b-9a]

Observation
This passage in the book of Numbers always strikes me. The people of Israel are on the verge of entering the Promised Land. They send out 12 explorers to explore the land. The land is good, flowing with milk and honey as the passage says. They bring back huge grapes, and a good report about the bounties of the land. But 10 of the 12 explorers also bring back a bad report about the inhabitants of the land and their fortified cities. They see 'lions and bears' on the road to the Promised Land, and they don't believe in the power of the LORD, to defeat their enemies and give them the land, even though he promised to give it to them, and despite all the miracles they have already witnessed in the desert.

Only Caleb and Joshua believe in the strength and the promises of the LORD. They plea with the people to not believe the bad report: "Do not rebel against the LORD!" But 10 against 2 is a tough situation, and the people do rebel against God. They believe the 10, and even want to stone Joshua and Caleb. Then the LORD appears in all His glory, and protects these two men who believed in Him. You have to read the remainder for yourself to see what God does, and how the story ends.

Application
We are all on our way to the Promised Land, eternity with Jesus Christ and God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit. What do we do when we get closer to the Promised Land? (and every day we live, we get a little closer!) Do we believe and cling to God's promises, or do we rebel against God, and make it hard on ourselves and the people around us? I know for myself that there have been times I have rebelled. Or there have been times (and still are sometime), when I don't believe in the power of God, and I only see the 'perceived problems' on the way to the Promised Land: the 'fortified cities' of the enemy (the devil), and his helpers who try to keep me away from the Promised Land. When that happens, I have to realize that God is in control, that his promises will never fail, and that he has the power to bring us safely into the Promised Land, regardless of my situation.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to focus on you, on your power. To not rebel against You, but to trust your promises and lean on them, day after day. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Have a great week.

Dick

Week 35: God's Tenderness and Compassion

Here's our Bible reading for the week of August 28th through September 3rd:

* Sunday (Epistles): 2 Timothy 1-2
* Monday (Law): Numbers 9-12
* Tuesday (History): 1 Chronicles 15-19
* Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 102-104
* Thursday (Poetry): Proverbs 20-21
* Friday (Prophecy): Hosea 8-14
* Saturday (Gospels): John 10-12

Scripture
Psalm 103:10-14:
10 He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
13 The LORD is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.

Observation
In this psalm of praise, King David extols the Lord for his mercy and compassion. Although we deserve to be treated harshly because of our many sins, God, says David, treats us tenderly. Even though we fail, God's love toward us is unfailing. His forgiveness is complete and absolute. God is tender and compassionate toward us...remembering that we are frail creatures.

Application
The most powerful motivating force in the universe is not guilt; it is grace. The message in this passage of Scripture is that when we fail, we can always turn back to God and know that he receives us back into his loving embrace. He knows us better than we know ourselves...and he loves us unconditionally.

We need to remember that our relationship with God is not based on how well we do, but on how much God loves us. God wants us to keep turning back to him when we stray. He welcomes us with open arms. If you feel you don't deserve God's grace, you are probably in the best place to receive God's grace!

Prayer
O Lord, thank you for not punishing us as we deserve. Thank you for lavishing us with a love that is higher than the heavens above the earth. Thank you for removing our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Thank you for being tender and compassionate toward us, as a father is to his children. Thank you most of all for Jesus, whose life, death, and resurrection have sealed our hope and secured for us an eternal inheritance with you in glory. Amen.

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 34: Shout for Joy!

Here is this week's reading:

Sunday (Epistles): 1 Timothy 4-6
Monday (Law): Numbers 5-8
Tuesday (History): 1 Chronicles 10-14
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 99-101
Thursday (Poetry): Proverbs 19
Friday (Prophecy): Hosea 1-7
Saturday (Gospels): John 7-9

Soap:

Scripture: Psalm 100

Observation: Sometimes we just need to be reminded of why we are here and Who we worship and how we can do so!

Application: No matter what season of life I am in I need to remember this Psalm and its promise.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for your creation, you Son and for the Spirit that moves us. My prayer is that I will keep you as #1 in my life and that I have the strength to lead others to that reality as well. Amen.

Have a great week!

-Mike

Week 33: Our Behavior in God's House

This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): I Timothy 1-3
* Monday (the Law): Numbers 1-4
* Tuesday (history): I Chronicles 5-9
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 96-98
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 17-18
* Friday (prophecy): Daniel 7-12
* Saturday (gospels): John 5-6

You've probably figured out by now that there is a lot of reading going on on Tuesdays (history) and Fridays (prophecy). That is because proportionally, there is more history and prophecy in the Bible than any of the other genres. If you want to spread the reading out more evenly, you can save some history reading for Wednesday, as the Psalms are usually a light read, and you can start early on your prophecy reading on Thursdays, which is also a light read.

This week's SOAP exercise is from I Timothy:

Scripture
14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Observation
The letters from Paul to Timothy and also Titus are called the 'pastoral letters', because Paul gives many 'pastoral instructions' to his companions Timothy and Titus. He instructs them on the 'appropriate behavior' in God's house, and in the verse above he explains why: "So you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household...". When the church started to expand, many different people joined the church, both Jewish people as well as 'Gentiles', non-Jewish people who were saved by God's grace. That combination of different people provided for an interesting mix in social and cultural behavior, that could sometimes lead to friction within the church.

Paul gives practical instructions about how to use the law (1 Tim.1:8-11), how to pray (1 Tim.2:1-8), how to clothe oneself (1 Tim.2:9-10), instructions for elders (1 Tim.3:1-7), and for deacons (1 Tim.3:8-13), just to name a few. He gives these instructions so that the church is well organized. The reason why he does this becomes clear in the second part of our verse today: the church is not just a gathering place where Christians socialize, but it is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth!

Application
It is good to be reminded that the church is the residence of the living God. He is the one who is present when we come together. How many times have we come to church to either be fed, or to try to feed or please other people when we serve. How many Sundays do we come to the church in full realization that it is the house of the living God. Not just that, it is also the pillar and foundation of the truth. It is the one place where we find the real truth. If we fully realize that, our behavior in God's house will be appropriate and be dictated by the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and God will be honored in his own house.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the mystery of the gospel, for the mystery of bringing together different cultures from all over the world, into one house, your church. Lord, help us to adapt our behavior, so that we conduct ourselves according to your will and your truth, and so that your church becomes a lighthouse in a dark world. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Have a blessed week.

Dick

Week 32

This week the reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): II Thessalonians
* Monday (the Law): Leviticus 25-27
* Tuesday (history): I Chronicles 1-4
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 93-95
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 16
* Friday (prophecy): Daniel 1-6
* Saturday (gospels): John 3-4

Week 31

This week the reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): I Thessalonians 4-5
* Monday (the Law): Leviticus 22-24
* Tuesday (history): II Kings 21-25
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 90-92
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 14-15
* Friday (prophecy): Ezekiel 43-48
* Saturday (gospels): John 1-2

Week 30: The Very Word of God

This week the reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): I Thessalonians 1-3
* Monday (the Law): Leviticus 19-21
* Tuesday (history): II Kings 16-20
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 87-89
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 13
* Friday (prophecy): Ezekiel 37-42
* Saturday (gospels): Luke 23-24

Our SOAP scripture this week is from the letter of Paul, Silas & Timothy to the church in Thessalonica:

Scripture
"You accepted what we said as the very word of God -- which, of course, it was. And this word continues to work in you who believe." [I Thessalonians 1:13b]

Observation
The Thessalonians listened to Paul, Silas and Timothy as if they listened to God. They accepted their words as if they came from God himself. Paul affirms that indeed these words are from God himself (note the use of the words 'of course'). This is not arrogance on Paul's side, but rather confidence, see also verse 4: "For we speak as messengers who have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News."

Application
This is a great example for us. We have to ask ourselves: "do we accept the things that our leaders/pastors say as if they speak words that are the very word of God?" Oftentimes we are skeptical and criticize the words we hear. If we don't like what we hear, we reject the words spoken, and sometimes even the one who speaks. This should not be so. Our pastor, for example, also is a "messenger approved by God", and the words he speaks are words of God himself.

The Thessalonians believed, and they accepted the words spoken to them by ordinary man as words from God himself. As a result, the word continued to work in them. We, who believe, should use these believers from the 1st century as an example for our own life. When we do, God's word will continue to work in us as well. Through the interpretation of the Holy Spirit, we can apply every message to our own life, and use it to grow closer into the image of God's Son.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive us for the times we criticized those who spoke your very words. Help us to discern your word in the words spoken by our leaders, and help us to follow in your footsteps. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a great week.

Dick

Week 29: Heavenly Minded...Earthly Good!

This week's Bible reading unfolds like this:

Sunday (Epistles): Colossians 3-4
Monday (Law): Leviticus 16-18
Tuesday (History): 2 Kings 11-15
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 84-86
Thursday (Poetry): Proverbs 11-12
Friday (Prophecy): Ezekiel 31-36
Saturday (Gospels): Luke 21-22

Scripture
In Colossians 3:1-4, Paul writes, "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory."

Observation
In a number of Christian circles these days there's a lot of to-do about the need for Christ-followers to focus more on issues of social justice than on the hope of heaven. They sometimes refer to the remark that Oliver Wendell Holmes made more than a century ago: "Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good."

This passage, however, suggests that if we are not heavenly minded enough, we are no earthly good at all.

The problem is this: when we make any earthly thing the center of our lives and the primary goal of our existence, we lose sight of One who is the very reason for our existence. There are many good and noble causes that we can pursue. And it may be that Jesus Christ wants us to take up some of these. But if we end up serving the cause, we end up serving the wrong master.

When Jesus came to earth, he did not serve the world on behalf of the Father...for that would have made the world his master. Paul elsewhere reminds us that we become slaves of whatever we choose to obey (Rom. 6:16). And Jesus declares that we cannot serve more than one master (Matt. 6:24).

Jesus engaged in acts of service to the world, but every time he did so it was to serve the Father. Jesus made this abundantly clear in John 5:30: "I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will." In other words, Jesus didn't serve the world on behalf of the Father, he served the Father on behalf of the world.

Jesus was effective in carrying out his earthly ministry precisely because he was so heavenly minded...and Paul in Colossians 3 bids us to do likewise.

Application
I get to do a lot of good things as a follower of Jesus Christ. In fact, I get a lot of personal satisfaction from these activities. But I've discovered, mostly in retrospect after I've hit the wall of burnout, that when I lower my gaze onto the good things themselves...and take my eyes off the One for whom I do all these things...I lose my way.

This passage reminds me that I NEED to be heavenly minded. My spiritual survival depends on it!

Prayer
O Lord, this week as I spend time communing with you in your word, help me to set my sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at your right hand. Help me to do a better job thinking more about the things of heaven than the things of earth. Help me live into the truth that in Christ I died to this life, and that my life is now hidden with Christ...in you! And help me lay claim to the hope that when Christ is revealed to the whole world, we who are his in this life will share in all his glory forever. For Jesus' sake...amen!

Let's be heavenly minded so that we can be earthly good!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 28: The Spiritual Battle

The reading plan for this week:

Sunday (Epistles): Colossians 1-2
Monday (Law): Leviticus 13-15
Tuesday (History): 2 Kings 6-10
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 81-83
Thursday (Poetry): Proverbs 10
Friday (Prophecy): Ezekiel 25-30
Saturday (Gospels): Luke 19-20

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:8-22

Observation: The prophet Elisha is surrounded by an Aramean force set to capture him and deliver him to the king of Aram. Elisha's servant is panicked at the sight of this force and begs Elisha for his advice. Elisha calmly replies "Don't be afraid" and prays that the servant's eyes are opened to the reality that exists around them. The servant's eyes behold an army of horses and chariots of fire surrounding them. Through more prayer, the Aramean force is crippled and captured and delivered to the king of Israel.

Application: When it comes to picking and choosing the battles I fight, most of the time I tend to rely on my own abilities to wages these battles (whether I am right or wrong in these battles). I tend to go it alone many times in work and even in leading my family. This story reminds me that I am not alone in my struggles- if I wish to ask for help, an army stands ready to assist; and most likely is engaged in battle when I am least likely aware of it. The key here is to not be afraid and to lean on God for assistance and trust Him that he is in control and he stands ready for the times I am willing to ask for His help.

Prayer: Lord, I sincerely need your help- I cannot do it all on my own and only You can assist me in my fight against the Evil One. Please open my eyes to the reality of Your existence in this world and that I am not alone- and therefore do not need to go it alone. Please guide my steps as I walk with you each day so that I may not only walk the narrow path, but also lead my family and others under my influence along that same path. Thank you for always being there. In Your Name, Amen.

Have a great week!

-Mike

Week 27: Holy Fire

This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): Philippians 3-4
* Monday (the Law): Leviticus 10-12
* Tuesday (history): II Kings 1-5
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 78-80
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 8-9
* Friday (prophecy): Ezekiel 19-24
* Saturday (gospels): Luke 17-18

In many of this week's passage, we see 'fire' play some sort of role. In Leviticus 10 we read the sad story of Nadab and Abihu, 2 of Aarons sons who offered 'unauthorized' fire before the LORD. As a result, fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them. You may wonder why this harsh punishment? Moses gives the answer in verse 3: the punishment was that severe to prove God's holiness. See, Aaron and his sons were being dedicated to become priests, role models, who show God's people what is right and what not. By going off on their own and not following the LORD's instructions, they set a bad example, and God does not tolerate that at such a critical moment in the history of his people.

In II Kings we see Elijah taken up to heaven by a chariot of fire and horses of fire. Fire in this story also represents 'holiness'. Elijah does not die, but is taken up to Heaven, just like Enoch, who 'walked with God', see Genesis 5:24. Elisha takes over Elijah's duties, and we see his first miracles in those first chapters of II Kings.

In Psalm 78, Asaph recounts the mighty deeds of God. In verse 14 he talks about God guiding his people with the cloud by day, and with light from the fire all night. God showed himself as a pillar of fire to his people.

In chapter 17 of Luke, we see Jesus talking about the coming of the Son of Man. He compares his second coming with the situation of the flood, and the situation in Sodom and Gomorra, where sulphur and fire rained down from heaven unexpectedly. Just like the flood destroyed the world in the ancient days, so a fire will destroy and cleanse the world when Jesus will return. Although not mentioned explicitly in the chapters in Ezekiel, we see God's wrath on the wickedness of Jerusalem displayed in great detail. From other parts, we know Jerusalem will later be destroyed by fire.

In all these stories, we see the importance of fire: it cleanses and purifies, it brings punishment and judgment, and most importantly, it displays the holiness of our LORD.

At Woodhaven, we sing this song 'Holy Fire', which goes like this:

Holy Fire, burn away
my desire, for anything
that is not of You, but is of me
I want more of You, and less of me

Empty me, Empty me
Fill me, with You, with You.

That is my prayer this week for you, that you will be filled with Holy Fire from God, to carry out and display His passion for you and for his people. A fire that cleanses you from within, and spills over into the world.

In Him,

Dick

Week 26: Living Faithfully

Here's this week's Bible reading:

* Philippians 1-2
* Leviticus 7-9
* 1 Kings 19-22
* Psalms 75-77
* Proverbs 7
* Ezekiel 13-18
* Luke 15-16

From beginning to end, this week's reading underscores the importance of living faithfully. While the reading in Leviticus provides detailed instructions regarding sacrifices and the priesthood, the balance of the week's reading describes in one way or another how the Israelites strayed from God...and what happened as a result. The reading ends with the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, in which Jesus condemns the religious leaders of his day for rejecting their Messiah. Jesus quotes Abraham as saying, "If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead."

Scripture
The passage that speaks most directly about living faithfully is Philippians 1:27: "Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News."

Observation
Paul wrote these words to the citizens of Philippi, which was a Roman Colony. As such, all native Philippians were automatically Roman citizens. In that day, non-Romans paid huge sums of money (often in the form of bribes) to gain Roman citizenship. The Philippians were very proud of the fact that they were citizens of the Great Empire.

That background information helps us understand why Paul's words carried such force: "Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven." Paul repeats that again in 3:20: "But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives."

Paul in essence is pushing back their "pride of Roman citizenry" by emphasizing that their new "heavenly citizenship" trumps their Roman citizenship...hands down!

Application
Faithful living is all about our allegiance to Christ above all other allegiances. It's about living in a manner worthy of the Good News...the message that Jesus died and rose again to open the way for us to become citizens of heaven. Our lives are to reflect the reality of this gift. When we truly internalize what Jesus has done for us, our lives will become completely consumed with love and gratitude. And this is a reality that we recognize in each other...and the love and gratitude we have for Jesus extends as a matter of course horizontally...toward each other. That's why Paul says when we are living in a manner worthy of the Good News, we are "standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith...."

Prayer
O Lord, it is so easy to be distracted by the allegiances that matter to the world. Help us live as citizens of heaven, recognizing all that Jesus has done for us. And may the realization of his incredible gift inspire us to be all that you've called us to be for you...and for each other. For Jesus' sake. Amen!

Have a blessed week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 24: The Wisdom of Spiritual Focus

This week's reading unfolds as follows:

* Ephesians 1-3
* Leviticus 1-3
* 1 Kings 10-13
* Psalms 69-71
* Proverbs 4
* Ezekiel 1-6
* Luke 11-12

One unifying theme in this week's Bible readings is that of wisdom. Paul in Ephesians prayed that we would have it. The Queen of Sheba in 1 Kings witnessed it in Solomon. The Psalmist demonstrated it by turning to the Lord in times of distress. The writer of Proverbs urged his disciples to pursue it as the most precious of treasures. God gave it to the prophet Ezekiel and Jesus chastised the religious leaders for their lack of it.

Scripture
The one passage that brings the theme of wisdom into crystal-clear view is Proverbs 4:20-27:

20 My child, pay attention to what I say.
Listen carefully to my words.
21 Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
22 for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.
24 Avoid all perverse talk;
stay away from corrupt speech.
25 Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
27 Don’t get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil.

Observation
Verses 20-22 offer a compelling rationale for paying attention and internalizing what the sage author of Proverbs is saying: wisdom brings life and healing to those who have it.

Versus 23-27 show us the practical steps by which we obtain wisdom. We get wisdom by (1) guarding our hearts, (2) avoiding perverse talk, (3) staying on track with our faith, and (4) steering clear of evil.

Application
I suggest we consider the key concept that lies at the heart of these practices, which is, in a word, focus.

We are surrounded by countless distractions that come in many forms. Take, for example, "smart phones." They text, tweet, Facebook (used here as a verb), email (verb), Google (verb), YouTube (verb), iTune (verb), and...yes...they can even be used as phones! Go to any public place and you'll find people of all ages glued to that little square device...they are there; yet somewhere else.

There's soccer practice, softball tryouts, bowling leagues, music recitals, dance class, and piano lessons.

There's friend time, family time, and fun time.

There are demands at work, school, and home.

Distractions everywhere!

So how in this world of distractions do we find wisdom?

By following the sage writer's advice:

"Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you" (v. 25).

Often what we call "multitasking" is little more than juggling distractions.

Instead, the writer of Proverbs urges us to practice the spiritual discipline of single-mindedness.

When we are present to what's present, what's right in front of us...whether it's a son or daughter asking a question, an activity like gardening, mowing the lawn, or taking out the trash, or just spending time alone, there is wisdom to be had in being fully present to that moment.

Only when we are fully present to the moment can we be fully present to God's presence. While God is master of all things past and future, we experience God in the now. And if we're always "off somewhere else" in the now, we will miss the sacredness of that moment.

God occupies the ordinary, mundane space of time called "now."

To be present to the present is to be present to God's presence.

Prayer
O Lord, we confess...we are so easily distracted. Please open our eyes and our ears and our hearts to the present. Let us find you in the always-now of life...in Jesus' name. Amen.

May your week be filled with many God-present NOWS!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 23: New Promises Each Day

This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): Galatians 4-6
* Monday (the Law): Exodus 37-40
* Tuesday (history): I Kings 5-9
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 66-68
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 2-3
* Friday (prophecy): Lamentations
* Saturday (gospels): Luke 9-10

In the letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul uses some 'tough love' to steer the Galatians back to the roots of the gospel. In chapter 5 verse 1, he says: "So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law!" It's a warning that holds for all of us. We have freedom in Christ, but too many times, we allow something or someone else to put a yoke on our neck again, and tie us down in slavery. We shouldn't do that, but live in true freedom through Jesus Christ.

The book of Lamentations is one of its kind. As the title mentions, the book is full of sadness. It is sadness about the fall of Jerusalem in the year 586 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king. The people of Judah were taken into captivity to Babylon, and the city and its temple were destroyed. A desperate situation for the people of Judah. Yet the book contains one of the most beautiful verses of the entire Bible, which we will SOAP on today:

Scripture
Lamentations 3:23: "Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day."

Observation
This verse talks about the unending lover and faithfulness of our Lord. His mercies, also translated as 'promises', begin afresh each day. This verse means that each day is a new day where we can expect God to show up in a big way. No matter what has happened in the past, how bad the situation was yesterday, every single day, his promises are new and fresh. We can lean on them and expect great things from Him.

Application
It is a great reminder to all of us that God's promises are new each day. Too often, we let our current situation control our emotions, or even our outlook on life and on God. This verse tells us that God's love for us and his mercy is unshakable. We can lean on Him every single day, and expect great things from him. It ties in with the verse in Galatians 5:1: Living in freedom means, trusting and leaning on God's promises everyday. Not trusting Him or his promises, oftentimes leads to living in slavery to our worries, our stress, our addictions, our dependence on money, etc.

We are "freedom children" who are indwelled by the Spirit of God's son, through whom we cry out Abba, Father [Galatians 4:6]. Freedom children are expectant, and they lean on God's promises, who are afresh each day.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, how awesome it is to be your child, to be able to call you our Father. We know you want the best for us, Lord. Even when we go through the valley of death, through a darkness that never seems to end, there is always a new day that holds new promises from You. Thank you for all that you have done for us, most of all for giving us true freedom in your son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In His Name, we thank You and praise You. Amen.

Have a great week, and be expectant to find God's promises as you discover them in His word every day.

In Him,

Dick

Week 22

This week, the reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): Galatians 1-3
* Monday (the Law): Exodus 33-36
* Tuesday (history): I Kings 1-4
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 63-65
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 1
* Friday (prophecy): Jeremiah 47-52
* Saturday (gospels): Luke 7-8

Week 21: Seeing or hearing?

This week, the reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): II Corinthians 11-13
* Monday (the Law): Exodus 29-32
* Tuesday (history): II Samuel 20-24
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 60-62
* Thursday (poetry): Job 41-42
* Friday (prophecy): Jeremiah 42-46
* Saturday (gospels): Luke 5-6

There are many interesting passages this week, including the sinning of the Israelites with the 'golden calf' in the book of Exodus, the injustice against the Gibeonits in II Samuel 21, the last words of David in II Samuel 23, and the ending of the story of Job. This week's SOAP is from the latter passage in Job 42, where Job answers God:

Scripture
Job 42:5-6: "I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance."

Observation
In this passage, Job comes to a turning point in his life. With all the life experience he had, both the ultimate good and the ultimate bad, he still 'had only heard about God', but not seen him. What Job describes here is a 'life-changing encounter' with Almighty God. Job knew all about God. He had lived a godly life, obeying all God's commands, and living blameless in His sight and in sight of the people. Yet he had not 'experienced' God, the way he experienced him now. God had broken him, to the point of despair. When Job was at his lowest point, that's when God 'showed up', to give him a life-changing encounter that would forever change Job's view of God. That is when he says 'I had only heard about you, but now I've seen you'!

Application
What about you? Have you had your life-changing encounter with God yet? Has God allowed you to slip to the bottom of the pit, and when you got there, you found God waiting there for you to forever change your life? I have not had many of those experiences, but the ones that got close to that, I did end up at the bottom and cried out to Him in despair. And I knew God was waiting there for me. Sometimes it takes some time for God to answer, but He always does. He waits till your heart is broken, and till you realize that you need Him to heal it. When you have a broken heart like that, God always shows up to mend it. And when He does, all you can say is what Job said: "I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes."

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for showing up in our lives when we need it most: in our brokenness. Thank you Lord, for breaking us, for helping us realize that we need You in all we do. We can't do it on our own Lord. Please forgive us for the times we thought we could do it ourselves, and help us to always rely on You. We want to see you, Lord, not just 'hear about you'. In Jesus Name. Amen

It's my prayer that you will see and experience the Lord in a special way this week.

In Him,

Dick

Week 20: Steering Clear of Jesus' Hometown

This week's reading unfolds as follows:

Sunday (Epistles): 2 Corinthians 9-10
Monday (The Law): Exodus 25-28
Tuesday (History): 2 Samuel 15-19
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 57-59
Thursday (Poetry): Job 39-40
Friday (Prophecy): Jeremiah 37-41
Saturday (Gospels): Luke 3-4

Scripture
While this week's readings are wide and varied, as usual, I would like to focus on one of the most interesting passages in the New Testament, taken from our reading in the Gospels.

It's Luke 4:14-30, the key statement of which is v 24: "Truly I tell you...no prophet is accepted in his hometown."

Observation
Luke's account of Jesus' visit to his hometown of Nazareth is striking for a number of reasons. The first of which is where Luke locates this in the narrative...right at the outset of Jesus' ministry...on the heels of the 40-day wilderness temptation after his baptism. Matthew and Mark, the other Gospel writers to speak of Jesus' visit to Nazareth, locate the story later on, well after he chose the 12 disciples.

Luke does this for emphasis. When Jesus began his earthly ministry after his baptism and temptation, he made a whole new start. He made a decisive break from all the people and things that his life had been bound to...which leads to the second unique characteristic of Luke's account.

Neither Matthew nor Mark include what Jesus actually taught when he visited the synagogue in Nazareth...or how his hometown Nazarenes responded.

Jesus read Isaiah 61:1-2, rolled up the scroll, handed it to the attendant, and then said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." It was a prophecy about Jesus' ministry "to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, [and] to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Luke shows that Jesus perceived the skepticism behind their question, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" (v 22). (Matthew and Mark include more than Luke does: "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us?" And they took offense at him" [Matt. 13:55-57; Mark 6:3].)

Jesus went on to say that in Elijah's day, God showed favor to two Gentiles while withholding favor from his own people due to their unrepentant hearts.

Jesus' fellow Nazarenes were so infuriated by this comparison that they drove him out of town to the brow of a hill. They indented to kill him! But, strangely (miraculously?), Luke says, "he walked right through the crowd and went on his way" (v. 30).

Thus begins the ministry of Jesus Christ!

Application
There are more than a couple of applications we could make from this story.

Following Luke's lead, we could underscore the need to make a decisive break from our past when we take up new life in Christ. This appears to be at least one reason that Luke placed the story at the beginning of the Gospel narrative and included the details he did.

We could compare Jesus' rejection by his townsfolk to ourselves when, after embracing Jesus as our Savior, we experience the rejection of those closest to us. What was true of Jesus can be no less true for us!

We can also use this story to make the point that "those who know us best may help us least" when we attempt to make a major life change...like going back to school, taking up a new hobby, losing weight, or answering God's call to ministry.

All of these represent legitimate applications of this passage, but I would like to consider another...

Is it possible that I might become Jesus' "hometown?"

They thought they knew him...they DID know him! But they didn't know the most important things about him. And that rendered what they did know completely errant.

I know Jesus too...but do I know him as well as I think I do? How often do my assumptions about Jesus keep me from really knowing him?

When he came to set them free, they rejected him on the assumption that he simply couldn't deliver what he promised.

This reminds me of Nathanael's incredulous remark when posed with the idea that the Messiah was from Nazareth: "Can any good thing come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46).

The Hebrew word for "branch" is netzer (plural netzerim) and may have been the word from which Nazareth was derived: "branch town," "the sticks," "the boonies."

Maybe the citizens of Nazareth believed that the town's reputation was true. "Jesus is just like the rest of us...a nobody! He can't be who he says he is because...after all...he's one of us!"

How often do I unconsciously fashion Jesus into my own image? I reduce him to a friend, a celestial chum. I lose sight of his lordship, his divinity.

And whenever I get that snuggly with the Lord of the universe, I become a de facto unbeliever.

He's a buddy I confide in and occasionally consult on important decisions...but he's not "my Lord and my God."

Mind you, I would never say that Jesus is not the Lord of my life, but I end up functioning that way when I envision him as "one of my peeps."

I want constantly to bear in mind the Bible's admonition: "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire'" (Heb. 12:28-29, quoting Deut. 4:24).

Prayer
Jesus, you are my Lord and my God! You are a consuming fire!

I take off my shoes before you and feel the heat of your holy ground with my bare feet.

I fall on my face and declare, "Jesus, you're not 'mine'...I am YOURS!"

Make me the temple of your life-giving Spirit.

Let me be as close to you as is divinely and humanly possible.

But never let me become your hometown. Amen!

Have a blessed week as you read God's Word...

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 19: Sexual Immorality

The reading for this week:

Sunday (Epistles): 2 Corinthians 6-8
Monday (The Law): Exodus 21-24
Tuesday (History): 2 Samuel 10-14
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 54-56
Thursday (Poetry): Job 37-38
Friday (Prophecy): Jeremiah 32-36
Saturday (Gospels): Luke 1-2

There is a lot to gather from the History part of the reading this week. The stories of David & Bathsheba as well as Amnon & Tamar are both very strong examples of what sexual immorality looks like and the pain that it causes.

David was "browsing" one day and let his eyes rest on a beautiful woman bathing in his sight (unbeknownst to her). Knowing who she was (a married woman) after inquiring of her, he sent for her, slept with her and they conceived. Through a series of bad choices, David ends up murdering Bathsheba's husband.

Amnon (David's son) fell in love with his half-sister Tamar. She was unmarried and chose to save herself for marriage (as the Law commands). Amnon faked an illness and requested of David that Tamar come to him and care for him. Tamar obeyed the king and cared for her brother. Having her all to himself, Amnon forced himself sexually upon Tamar, and despite her pleas and reasoning (even offering herself in marriage!) to stop, he raped her.

Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:15-16 "Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her "Get up and get out!" "No!" she said to him. "Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me."

Observation: There are just so many things wrong with this situation (and the Bathsheba situation) that it would be impossible to break down in this forum. But the focus today is on the selfishness that is sexual immorality. Both David and Amnon had a strong desire to do the wrong thing, and their wants for immediate gratification took full precedence over common sense and justice. David used his power and influence to woo Bathsheba. Amnon used deception, his familial connections and physical strength to take Tamar's innocence. Having been caught in their sins, both men resort to more vile behavior. The immediate 180 degree turn from love to hate really reflects the hearts of all who seek sexual gratification and then throw away the other person after the physical act is completed.

Application: "How dangerous is one look?" Our eyes can be deceived by what we think we know, and in many cases wanting is much more passionate and fun than having. When we look, we are only taking into consideration a very small part of a very big picture. Everyone has a story- we all have dreams, pain, experiences, hopes and more- the essence of who we are. Using people in such a narrow minded and intimate fashion for selfish purposes means short term (but false) gains for us- and intense pain for those we have used. Whether we view an image on the internet or engage in a full blown affair, the core purpose is selfish- and it can very well lead to extreme results such as the ones in these two stories.

Prayer: Father we ask for the wisdom to see your Creation as you designed it to be. What the eyes see is great as it all has been created by You, but what may be in our hearts can distort that beauty. We ask for the strength to fight the temptation of immediate gratification and the discernment to see the path we are on with regards to our actions. May the Spirit guide us back to the path that leads to You. Amen.

This week is a little more heavy than usual, but the weight of these stories as they pertain to the struggles of people today hopefully helps you as it helps me.

Have a great week and God Bless!

-Mike

Week 18: The blessing of affirmation

This week, the reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): II Corinthians 4-5
* Monday (the Law): Exodus 17-20
* Tuesday (history): II Samuel 5-9
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 51-53
* Thursday (poetry): Job 35-36
* Friday (prophecy): Jeremiah 27-31
* Saturday (gospels): Mark 15-16

This week's S.O.A.P. is from II Samuel:

Scripture
10. And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him. 11. Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with carpenters and stone-masons to build him a palace. Hiram also sent many cedar logs for lumber. 12. And David realized that the LORD had made him king over Israel and had made his kingdom great for the sake of his people Israel. [II Samuel 5:10-12]

Observation
We can draw several observations from this passage:
a) There is a direct connection between David becoming more and more powerful, and the LORD being with him - verse 10.
b) Because David became more powerful, other powerful people -- like king Hiram of Tyre -- connect with him, and bless him with material blessings - verse 11.
c) When David sees the material blessings, he realizes that the LORD has confirmed him as king over Israel - verse 12.

Application
Oftentimes in my own life, it takes a while for me to realize that the LORD is with me in all that I do. I'm waiting for some sort of blessing to occur, kind of as an affirmation from God that He does support what I'm doing. Even though we know the LORD is always with us, and will never leave us or forsake us because of His promises, as human beings we are sometimes uncertain, and we need affirmation and confirmation from our Heavenly Father.

The good thing is: God knows our weakness, and our desire for affirmation, and He gives it to us, just like He gave it to David. I've experienced this blessing many times myself. There have been a couple life-changing events in my life, where I was uncertain whether or not I had made the right decision. Each time, I was waiting for the LORD to bless and affirm my decision, and each He did! We have an amazing God, who affirms and blesses his children beyond measure.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your blessings, and for your affirmation in times when I am uncertain. Please help me to trust you more and more, even if the affirmation comes later or in different ways I did not anticipate. I thank you for who you are and all that you do in my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Have a blessed week.

Dick

Week 17: Becoming "God-Confident"

This week we finish the first third of 2011...and that means by the end of this week we will have read nearly a third the Bible.

This week's reading unfolds like this:

* 2 Corinthians 1-3
* Exodus 13-16
* 2 Samuel 1-4
* Psalms 48-50
* Job 33-34
* Jeremiah 22-26
* Mark 13-14

As we've come to expect, we cover a lot of diverse territory in our daily Scripture texts. But one overarching theme comes out again and again: namely, that we are to trust God in all our ways.

Scripture
"Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God" (2 Corinthians 3:4-5).

Observation
Paul learned through experience that the deliverances he experienced during his missionary journeys and the successes he realized were not of his own making. They were the result of God's work in his life.

Moses and Israel learned the same lesson when God parted the waters so they could pass through the Red Sea on dry ground.

David learned this when he waited on God to receive his kingdom rather than taking matters into his own hands after King Saul turned on him and drove him into the wilderness.

The Psalmist rightly declared:
"People, despite their wealth, do not endure;
they are like the beasts that perish.
"This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings" (Psalm 49:12-13).

Job lost everything and learned this through his sufferings.

The people in Jeremiah's day, who refused to learn this lesson, were told they would become exiles in a foreign land for 70 years.

And Jesus promised his disciples that they need not worry beforehand about what to say to their persecutors, "Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit" (Mark 13:11).

Application
I admit that I am most overwhelmed by the stresses of life when I try to deal with them by myself. This past week I was in San Diego, tending to my parents' estate. As trustee, I've been shouldering the responsibility to make everything go as smoothly as possible. While I was there, I learned that the people buying my parents' home had an inspection done that revealed several major problems with the 43-year-old house, which made it uncertain whether they would continue with the escrow.

My brother-in-law, a faithful Christian man, said, "Just remember who's in charge." When he said that, the first thing I thought was, "Yes...I know who is in charge...I AM!" But then I realized he was assuring me that God was in control and I need not worry.

That brief exchange made me realize just how much of that burden I had taken on myself rather than prayerfully relinquishing it to the One who is sufficient for all things!

As I write this blog, it is still uncertain whether escrow will close. But God is in control. No matter the outcome, God will help everything work out the way HE wants it to work out. And that's what matters.

What burdens are you carrying? In what ways are you trusting in yourself instead of God?

This week's Scripture reading calls us back to one central imperative of the Christian life: we must trust God in all things...great and small!

Prayer
O Lord, help me be quicker to unload my burdens on you rather than trying to carry them myself. Forgive me for my lack of trust...and help me to trust you completely! In Jesus' name, amen.

Have a blessed week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 16: Holy Week

Here is the reading material for this week:

Sunday (Epistles): ! Corinthians 15-16
Monday (Law): Exodus 9-12
Tuesday (History): 1 Samuel 26-31
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 45-47
Thursday (Poetry): Job 31-32
Friday (Prophecy): Jeremiah 17-21
Saturday (Gospels): Mark 13-14

This week means a lot to two faiths: Christianity & Judaism.

For Christians, this week marks the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem as well as his betrayal and swift execution at the hands of the Pharisees. Christian faith is really based on the events of this week and the following Sunday (Easter). This is the week Christians proclaim that Jesus Christ was the Son of the One Living God, He died for the sins of all people past, present and future, and He rose from the dead.

For Jews, this week marks the Passover. This is the celebration of God's release of Israel from the bondage of the Egyptians. This is the time the nation of Israel took its first steps together as a true nation and began to establish itself as promised by God to Abraham. The Exodus readings last week and this week cover the Passover, some regulations of the Passover as well as the crossing of the Red Sea.

This Friday evening at Woodhaven Community Church @6:30pm is an opportunity to gather as a church body to remember the sacrifice God made for the sake of His children: Us. We hope to see you there.

Have a great week- next week will be some really Good News!!!

-Mike

Week 15: Dialogue with God

This week, the reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): I Corinthians 13-14
* Monday (the Law): Exodus 5-8
* Tuesday (history): I Samuel 21-25
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 42-44
* Thursday (poetry): Job 29-30
* Friday (prophecy): Jeremiah 12-16
* Saturday (gospels): Mark 9-10

These passages contain a lot of dialogue / arguing with God. In Exodus 5-8, we see Moses arguing with God (see for example Ex.5:22 & 6:12). In I Samuel 23:11, we see David plead with the Lord to answer him on some practical issues. In Job 29-30, we see Job make his final case to defend his innocence before the Lord. In Jeremiah 12, we see Jeremiah complaining to God. In I Corinthians 14, we see Paul give instructions on speaking in tongues - which is speaking to God directly (1 Cor.14:2).

When you read these passages, at first it might seem somewhat disturbing to see so many different people talking with God in so many different ways, sometimes even calling Him out because they don't agree with what He does. But you know what... God actually likes to have this dialogue with us, because He cares deeply about us. He is our Father, and we are His children, and He wants his children to talk to him.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you that we can call you Abba, Father. We thank you that we are your children, and that we can talk to you just like we can talk to our earthly fathers and mothers and family and friends. When we are upset, you want us to share that with you. When we are sad, you are there to listen and comfort us. And when we have praises, Lord we want to bring them all to you, for you are worthy of all our praise. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Wishing you many meaningful dialogues with Him this week.

Dick