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1/31/2008 Today's Reading: January 31 - Luke 22.39-71, Genesis 40 and Psalm 31
God has good advice for us. God has a specific topic to pray about. We see other wisdom about temptation in the Bible also: - "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." - Matthew 26:41
- And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' - Matthew 6:13
- "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." - Mark 14:38
- No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. - 1 Co 10:13
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- People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. - 1 Ti 6:9
Do you realize how important prayer is? Do you realize how hard it must have been for Jesus to prepare Himself for the sacrifice He was about to perform? Let's allow Jesus to be our example and follow after Him in prayer. When under great stress, it is possible for blood to come out of your as if it sweat. Praise Jesus for His willingness and perseverance and fervor to accomplish God's ultimate plan. Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
(Matthew 26.36-46; Mark 14.32-42) Luke 22 39Jesus left the city and went, as he usually did, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples went with him. 40When he arrived at the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."
 41Then he went off from them about the distance of a stone's throw and knelt down and prayed. 42"Father," he said, "if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my will, however, but your will be done." 43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44In great anguish he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
45Rising from his prayer, he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, worn out by their grief. 46He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation."
We are to be a light in this world. In the darkness is where people will do things in hopes that others will not be aware or discover what they are doing. Let's walk in the light and shine for Jesus. Let's keep from falling into temptation and going into dark places in order to hide from those who love us. Everything that is hidden will one day be revealed and unless we bring it out, we will end up being exposed. The Arrest of Jesus
(Matthew 26.47-56; Mark 14.43-50; John 18.3-11) 47Jesus was still speaking when a crowd arrived, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. He came up to Jesus to kiss him. 48But Jesus said, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you betray the Son of Man?"
49When the disciples who were with Jesus saw what was going to happen, they asked, "Shall we use our swords, Lord?" 50And one of them struck the High Priest's slave and cut off his right ear.
51But Jesus said, "Enough of this!" He touched the man's ear and healed him.
52Then Jesus said to the chief priests and the officers of the Temple guard and the elders who had come there to get him, "Did you have to come with swords and clubs, as though I were an outlaw? 53I was with you in the Temple every day, and you did not try to arrest me. But this is your hour to act, when the power of darkness rules."
God can warn us and prepare us for what we are about to do as well as to give us wisdom to do in order to be restored and help restore the others around us. Thank God for Jesus who did this for Peter since Peter was the rock on Christ chose to build His church and He had told Peter that when we turned back to feed and encourage all those who had scattered. So let's be willing to listen to all that is said and to prepare in advance for all that God has put into our hearts, in Jesus' name. Amen. Peter Denies Jesus
(Matthew 26.57, 58, 69-75; Mark 14.53, 54, 66-72; John 18.12-18, 25-27) 54They arrested Jesus and took him away into the house of the High Priest; and Peter followed at a distance. 55A fire had been lit in the center of the courtyard, and Peter joined those who were sitting around it. 56When one of the servant women saw him sitting there at the fire, she looked straight at him and said, "This man too was with Jesus!"
57But Peter denied it, "Woman, I don't even know him!"
58After a little while a man noticed Peter and said, "You are one of them, too!"
 But Peter answered, "Man, I am not!"
59And about an hour later another man insisted strongly, "There isn't any doubt that this man was with Jesus, because he also is a Galilean!"
60But Peter answered, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about!"
At once, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned around and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered that the Lord had said to him, "Before the rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me." 62Peter went out and wept bitterly.
What dreams has God given you? What talents has God given you? Are you pursuing God's dreams for you? Are you using the talents God has given you? What's holding you back? What would it take for you to step out in faith and pursue it? Were you hurt? Is it a matter of trust? Joseph Interprets the Prisoners' Dreams Genesis 40 Some time later the king of Egypt's wine steward and his chief baker offended the king. 2He was angry with these two officials 3and put them in prison in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same place where Joseph was being kept. 4They spent a long time in prison, and the captain assigned Joseph as their servant.
5One night there in prison the wine steward and the chief baker each had a dream, and the dreams had different meanings. 6When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were upset. 7He asked them, "Why do you look so worried today?"
8They answered, "Each of us had a dream, and there is no one here to explain what the dreams mean."
"It is God who gives the ability to interpret dreams," Joseph said. "Tell me your dreams."
9So the wine steward said, "In my dream there was a grapevine in front of me 10with three branches on it. As soon as the leaves came out, the blossoms appeared, and the grapes ripened. 11I was holding the king's cup; so I took the grapes and squeezed them into the cup and gave it to him."
12Joseph said, "This is what it means: the three branches are three days. 13In three days the king will release you, pardon you, and restore you to your position. You will give him his cup as you did before when you were his wine steward. 14But please remember me when everything is going well for you, and please be kind enough to mention me to the king and help me get out of this prison. 15After all, I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here in Egypt I didn't do anything to deserve being put in prison."
16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation of the wine steward's dream was favorable, he said to Joseph, "I had a dream too; I was carrying three breadbaskets on my head. 17In the top basket there were all kinds of baked goods for the king, and the birds were eating them."
18Joseph answered, "This is what it means: the three baskets are three days. 19In three days the king will release you--and have your head cut off! Then he will hang your body on a pole, and the birds will eat your flesh."
20On his birthday three days later the king gave a banquet for all his officials; he released his wine steward and his chief baker and brought them before his officials. 21He restored the wine steward to his former position, 22but he executed the chief baker. It all happened just as Joseph had said. 23But the wine steward never gave Joseph another thought--he forgot all about him.
Let's trust in God and pray for trust in God with Psalm 31: A Prayer of Trust in God Psalm 31 I come to you, LORD, for protection;
 never let me be defeated.
 You are a righteous God;
save me, I pray!
 2Hear me! Save me now!
Be my refuge to protect me;
my defense to save me.
3You are my refuge and defense;
guide me and lead me as you have promised.
4Keep me safe from the trap that has been set for me;
shelter me from danger.
5I place myself in your care.
You will save me, LORD;
you are a faithful God.
6You hate those who worship false gods,
but I trust in you.
7I will be glad and rejoice
because of your constant love.
You see my suffering;
you know my trouble.
8You have not let my enemies capture me;
you have given me freedom to go where I wish.
9Be merciful to me, LORD,
for I am in trouble;
my eyes are tired from so much crying;
I am completely worn out.
 10I am exhausted by sorrow,
and weeping has shortened my life.
I am weak from all my troubles;
even my bones are wasting away.
11All my enemies, and especially my neighbors,
treat me with contempt.
Those who know me are afraid of me;
when they see me in the street, they run away.
12Everyone has forgotten me, as though I were dead;
I am like something thrown away.
13I hear many enemies whispering;
terror is all around me.
They are making plans against me,
plotting to kill me.
14But my trust is in you, O LORD;
you are my God.
15I am always in your care;
save me from my enemies,
from those who persecute me.
16Look on your servant with kindness;
save me in your constant love.
17I call to you, LORD;
don't let me be disgraced.
May the wicked be disgraced;
may they go silently down to the world of the dead.
18Silence those liars--
all the proud and arrogant
who speak with contempt about the righteous.
19How wonderful are the good things
you keep for those who honor you!
Everyone knows how good you are,
how securely you protect those who trust you.
20You hide them in the safety of your presence
from the plots of others;
in a safe shelter you hide them
from the insults of their enemies.
21Praise the LORD!
How wonderfully he showed his love for me
when I was surrounded and attacked!
22I was afraid and thought
that he had driven me out of his presence.
But he heard my cry,
when I called to him for help.
23Love the LORD, all his faithful people.
The LORD protects the faithful,
but punishes the proud as they deserve.
24Be strong, be courageous,
all you that hope in the LORD.
God's timing isn't necessarily our timing. God's will isn't necessarily our will. God's ways are higher than our ways. God is able to see the big picture that will allow for even greater glory to come so we need not worry, just trust in the Lord our God, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.1/30/2008 Heavenly Father,
As I start to read Your Word that is a light unto my path, a lamp unto my feet, food for my soul, and the builder of my faith. I pray that Your living Word that never returns void will speak a message for me and those who read my posting today that will help us to bring praise, glory, honor and worship to You, in Jesus' name Amen.
Have you ever been setup? Where people planned ahead of time how they might try to trip you up? How did you respond? Was it in a way that would have brought praise and glory to God? I know this is a hard one and usually the emotions take over before the logic. I this is a hard one because the flesh takes over before the spirit can guide us. Next we find ourselves in a situation that looks like it was a trap or a betrayal, let's first stop and ask God for wisdom as to how we should react. Maybe in our reaction, others will come to realize their true need for a savior and that what they had done was wrong. God will be their judge. God's word says that vengeance is His, so let's try it God's way next time and see how it plays out and how much difference and how much better the outcome and our reactions will be. I ask and pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Remember Jesus on the cross? -- He said, "forgive them for they know not what they do." - Let's have a heart of forgiveness so that we don't give Satan a foothold and we don't allow it to eat us from the inside out.
The Plot against Jesus
(Matthew 26.1-5; Mark 14.1, 2; John 11.45-53) Luke 22 The time was near for the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover. 2The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were afraid of the people, and so they were trying to find a way of putting Jesus to death secretly. Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
(Matthew 26.14-16; Mark 14.10, 11) 3Then Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples. 4So Judas went off and spoke with the chief priests and the officers of the Temple guard about how he could betray Jesus to them. 5They were pleased and offered to pay him money. 6Judas agreed to it and started looking for a good chance to hand Jesus over to them without the people knowing about it. Jesus Prepares to Eat the Passover Meal
(Matthew 26.17-25; Mark 14.12-21; John 13.21-30) 7The day came during the Festival of Unleavened Bread when the lambs for the Passover meal were to be killed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John with these instructions: "Go and get the Passover meal ready for us to eat."
9"Where do you want us to get it ready?" they asked him.
10He answered, "As you go into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters, 11and say to the owner of the house: 'The Teacher says to you, Where is the room where my disciples and I will eat the Passover meal?' 12He will show you a large furnished room upstairs, where you will get everything ready."
13They went off and found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal. The Lord's Supper
(Matthew 26.26-30; Mark 14.22-26; 1 Corinthians 11.23-25) 14When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table with the apostles. 15He said to them, "I have wanted so much to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer! 16For I tell you, I will never eat it until it is given its full meaning in the Kingdom of God."
17Then Jesus took a cup, gave thanks to God, and said, "Take this and share it among yourselves. 18I tell you that from now on I will not drink this wine until the Kingdom of God comes."
19Then he took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me." 20In the same way, he gave them the cup after the supper, saying, "This cup is God's new covenant sealed with my blood, which is poured out for you.
21"But, look! The one who betrays me is here at the table with me! 22The Son of Man will die as God has decided, but how terrible for that man who betrays him!"
23Then they began to ask among themselves which one of them it could be who was going to do this. The Argument about Greatness 24An argument broke out among the disciples as to which one of them should be thought of as the greatest. 25Jesus said to them, "The kings of the pagans have power over their people, and the rulers claim the title 'Friends of the People.' 26But this is not the way it is with you; rather, the greatest one among you must be like the youngest, and the leader must be like the servant. 27Who is greater, the one who sits down to eat or the one who serves? The one who sits down, of course. But I am among you as one who serves.
28"You have stayed with me all through my trials; 29and just as my Father has given me the right to rule, so I will give you the same right. 30You will eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and you will sit on thrones to rule over the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
(Matthew 26.31-35; Mark 14.27-31; John 13.36-38) 31"Simon, Simon! Listen! Satan has received permission to test all of you, to separate the good from the bad, as a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers."
33Peter answered, "Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you and to die with you!"
34"I tell you, Peter," Jesus said, "the rooster will not crow tonight until you have said three times that you do not know me." Purse, Bag, and Sword 35Then Jesus asked his disciples, "When I sent you out that time without purse, bag, or shoes, did you lack anything?"
"Not a thing," they answered.
36"But now," Jesus said, "whoever has a purse or a bag must take it; and whoever does not have a sword must sell his coat and buy one. 37For I tell you that the scripture which says, 'He shared the fate of criminals,' must come true about me, because what was written about me is coming true."
38The disciples said, "Look! Here are two swords, Lord!"
"That is enough!" he replied.
Joseph and Potiphar's Wife Genesis 39 Now the Ishmaelites had taken Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, one of the king's officers, who was the captain of the palace guard. 2The LORD was with Joseph and made him successful. He lived in the house of his Egyptian master, 3who saw that the LORD was with Joseph and had made him successful in everything he did. 4Potiphar was pleased with him and made him his personal servant; so he put him in charge of his house and everything he owned. 5From then on, because of Joseph the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian and everything that he had in his house and in his fields. 6Potiphar turned over everything he had to the care of Joseph and did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
Joseph was well-built and good-looking, 7and after a while his master's wife began to desire Joseph and asked him to go to bed with her. 8He refused and said to her, "Look, my master does not have to concern himself with anything in the house, because I am here. He has put me in charge of everything he has. 9I have as much authority in this house as he has, and he has not kept back anything from me except you. How then could I do such an immoral thing and sin against God?" 10Although she asked Joseph day after day, he would not go to bed with her.
11But one day when Joseph went into the house to do his work, none of the house servants was there. 12She caught him by his robe and said, "Come to bed with me." But he escaped and ran outside, leaving his robe in her hand. 13When she saw that he had left his robe and had run out of the house, 14she called to her house servants and said, "Look at this! This Hebrew that my husband brought to the house is insulting us. He came into my room and tried to rape me, but I screamed as loud as I could. 15When he heard me scream, he ran outside, leaving his robe beside me."
16She kept his robe with her until Joseph's master came home. 17Then she told him the same story: "That Hebrew slave that you brought here came into my room and insulted me. 18But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his robe beside me."
19Joseph's master was furious 20and had Joseph arrested and put in the prison where the king's prisoners were kept, and there he stayed. 21But the LORD was with Joseph and blessed him, so that the jailer was pleased with him. 22He put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and made him responsible for everything that was done in the prison. 23The jailer did not have to look after anything for which Joseph was responsible, because the LORD was with Joseph and made him succeed in everything he did.
Are we people of integrity? If someone tries to lead us astray and says we won't get caught, will we follow? Are we leaders or followers? Will walk like sheep to the slaughter or only follow after God? The choice is yours - so choose wisely and God will bless you and help you to succeed in everything you do.
Let's pray a prayer of thanksgiving together for all that God has done for us. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Let's pray Psalm 30 together. A Prayer of Thanksgiving Psalm 30 I praise you, LORD, because you have saved me
and kept my enemies from gloating over me.
2I cried to you for help, O LORD my God,
and you healed me;
3 you kept me from the grave.
I was on my way to the depths below,
but you restored my life.
4Sing praise to the LORD,
all his faithful people!
Remember what the Holy One has done,
and give him thanks!
5His anger lasts only a moment,
his goodness for a lifetime.
Tears may flow in the night,
but joy comes in the morning.
6I felt secure and said to myself,
"I will never be defeated."
7You were good to me, LORD;
you protected me like a mountain fortress.
But then you hid yourself from me,
and I was afraid.
8I called to you, LORD;
I begged for your help:
9"What will you gain from my death?
What profit from my going to the grave?
Are dead people able to praise you?
Can they proclaim your unfailing goodness?
10Hear me, LORD, and be merciful!
Help me, LORD!"
11You have changed my sadness into a joyful dance;
you have taken away my sorrow
and surrounded me with joy.
12So I will not be silent;
I will sing praise to you.
LORD, you are my God;
I will give you thanks forever.
1/29/2008 Today's Reading: January 29 - Luke 21, Genesis 38 and Psalm 29
Will you give God your heart? Will you give God your soul? Will you live for Him alone, with every breath that you take and every moment your awake? Will you let God have His way in and with you?
The Widow's Offering
(Mark 12.41-44) Luke 21 Jesus looked around and saw rich people dropping their gifts in the Temple treasury, 2and he also saw a very poor widow dropping in two little copper coins. 3He said, "I tell you that this poor widow put in more than all the others. 4For the others offered their gifts from what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, gave all she had to live on."
Don't worry about what you have to say, know/trust/have faith in God for He will guide your every work and thought and action. Let's make up our minds that we will trust/follow/have faith in God.
Troubles and Persecutions
(Matthew 24.3-14; Mark 13.3-13) 7"Teacher," they asked, "when will this be? And what will happen in order to show that the time has come for it to take place?"
8Jesus said, "Watch out; don't be fooled. Many men, claiming to speak for me, will come and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time has come!' But don't follow them. 9Don't be afraid when you hear of wars and revolutions; such things must happen first, but they do not mean that the end is near."
10He went on to say, "Countries will fight each other; kingdoms will attack one another. 11There will be terrible earthquakes, famines, and plagues everywhere; there will be strange and terrifying things coming from the sky. 12Before all these things take place, however, you will be arrested and persecuted; you will be handed over to be tried in synagogues and be put in prison; you will be brought before kings and rulers for my sake. 13This will be your chance to tell the Good News. 14Make up your minds ahead of time not to worry about how you will defend yourselves, 15because I will give you such words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to refute or contradict what you say. 16You will be handed over by your parents, your brothers, your relatives, and your friends; and some of you will be put to death. 17Everyone will hate you because of me. 18But not a single hair from your heads will be lost. 19Stand firm, and you will save yourselves.
Know that if anyone comes claiming to be Jesus and didn't arrive on a cloud, they are a hoax. For on the day of His return, we will all get to see it and we won't be able to miss it. He came once. He gave His life once for all our sins. He rose from the dead once and then was ascended to Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for you and for me. He gave His life for us, so that all who will believe in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? Have you asked Jesus to come into your heart and your life and to forgive you of your sins? We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. it isn't about how big or how small the sin was, it is a matter of will you turn back to God and ask Jesus to come into your heart and your life and transform it. To sin means to miss the mark, and all of us being human have definitely missed the mark - I know I have on many occasions, but by the grace of God, I have been forgiven, I have been cleansed of all unrighteousness, that I may serve the Lord my God with holy hands raised up to Him. Not in my power, but by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. If you would like to receive Jesus into your heart and life and would like me to pray with you and help guide you (although you can do it without me too - asking God to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life to be your Savior), you can either leave a comment in this posting or if you would prefer it be less public, you can feel free to send me a message using this Spaces site.
The Coming of the Son of Man
(Matthew 24.29-31; Mark 13.24-27) 25"There will be strange things happening to the sun, the moon, and the stars. On earth whole countries will be in despair, afraid of the roar of the sea and the raging tides. 26People will faint from fear as they wait for what is coming over the whole earth, for the powers in space will be driven from their courses. 27Then the Son of Man will appear, coming in a cloud with great power and glory. 28When these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your salvation is near." The Lesson of the Fig Tree
(Matthew 24.32-35; Mark 13.28-31) 29Then Jesus told them this parable: "Think of the fig tree and all the other trees. 30When you see their leaves beginning to appear, you know that summer is near. 31In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that the Kingdom of God is about to come.
32"Remember that all these things will take place before the people now living have all died. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. The Need to Watch 34"Be careful not to let yourselves become occupied with too much feasting and drinking and with the worries of this life, or that Day may suddenly catch you 35like a trap. For it will come upon all people everywhere on earth. 36Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man."
37Jesus spent those days teaching in the Temple, and when evening came, he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives. 38Early each morning all the people went to the Temple to listen to him.
Are you finding it hard to hear from God because of the storms in your life? Are you trying to hear the still quiet voice, but the storms are distracting you and keeping you from hearing God? Then let's pray that we can hear God's voice in the storm with Psalm 29: The Voice of the LORD in the Storm Psalm 29 Praise the LORD, you heavenly beings;
praise his glory and power.
2Praise the LORD's glorious name;
bow down before the Holy One when he appears.
3The voice of the LORD is heard on the seas;
the glorious God thunders,
and his voice echoes over the ocean.
4The voice of the LORD is heard
in all its might and majesty.
5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars,
even the cedars of Lebanon.
6He makes the mountains of Lebanon jump like calves
and makes Mount Hermon leap like a young bull.
7The voice of the LORD makes the lightning flash.
8His voice makes the desert shake;
he shakes the desert of Kadesh.
9The LORD's voice shakes the oaks
and strips the leaves from the trees
while everyone in his Temple shouts, "Glory to God!"
10The LORD rules over the deep waters;
he rules as king forever.
11The LORD gives strength to his people
and blesses them with peace. 1/28/2008 Today's Reading:
Heavenly Father, I thank You for this new day. I thank You for the incredible blessings and for showing me Your grace and Your mercy. Lord, today my prayer is for wisdom and faith to follow through and Your revelations. Help me Lord today to know what needs to be done and to step out in faith with assurance of things hoped for and a conviction of things not seen. Lord, help my faith to be the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Help me to have a faith that others will see and will look to You. Help me to see Your true priorities and to be able to discern which advice I receive I should follow as some comes with good expectations, but may lead me from the path You desire for me, whereas, others may sound good in order to trick me and still lead me from Your path. Lord, I need Your wisdom today, more than anything else I need to hear from You and to be able to walk step by step, hand in hand with You today. Help me I pray to be a "good and faithful servant" today. Help me to be able to go to bed at the end of this day knowing that You have said "well done, my good and faithful servant". I hand this day over to You as we start this week with expectancy that this will be a new week in which we daily walk through each day, bring praise and glory to Your name, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
In order to make sure that your heart and mind are ready for the power, the prestige, and the purpose of God, what would it take? Where would you need work to make sure that you have a humble heart? What would need to be changed to keep you from pride? What would it mean for God to allow the great things He has planned for you to take place? Will you be different? Will you have a humble heart? Will you walk in wisdom from God? Will you turn from the old things that would bring you down and turn to God so that you can keep your head up and your eyes focused on Him? Do you remember a dream that God has given you? What preparation will be needed to get there? Think about it and listen for the Holy Spirit to keep you focused on the things of God. Joseph and His Brothers Genesis 37 Jacob continued to live in the land of Canaan, where his father had lived, 2and this is the story of Jacob's family.
Joseph, a young man of seventeen, took care of the sheep and goats with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's concubines. He brought bad reports to his father about what his brothers were doing.
3Jacob loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he had been born to him when he was old. He made a long robe with full sleeves for him. 4When his brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than he loved them, they hated their brother so much that they would not speak to him in a friendly manner.
5One time Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him even more. 6He said, "Listen to the dream I had. 7We were all in the field tying up sheaves of wheat, when my sheaf got up and stood up straight. Yours formed a circle around mine and bowed down to it."
8"Do you think you are going to be a king and rule over us?" his brothers asked. So they hated him even more because of his dreams and because of what he said about them.
9Then Joseph had another dream and told his brothers, "I had another dream, in which I saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowing down to me."
10He also told the dream to his father, and his father scolded him: "What kind of a dream is that? Do you think that your mother, your brothers, and I are going to come and bow down to you?" 11Joseph's brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept thinking about the whole matter. Joseph Is Sold and Taken to Egypt 12One day when Joseph's brothers had gone to Shechem to take care of their father's flock, 13Jacob said to Joseph, "I want you to go to Shechem, where your brothers are taking care of the flock."
Joseph answered, "I am ready."
14His father told him, "Go and see if your brothers are safe and if the flock is all right; then come back and tell me." So his father sent him on his way from Hebron Valley.
Joseph arrived at Shechem 15and was wandering around in the country when a man saw him and asked him, "What are you looking for?"
16"I am looking for my brothers, who are taking care of their flock," he answered. "Can you tell me where they are?"
17The man said, "They have already left. I heard them say that they were going to Dothan." So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
18They saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted against him and decided to kill him. 19They said to one another, "Here comes that dreamer. 20Come on now, let's kill him and throw his body into one of the dry wells. We can say that a wild animal killed him. Then we will see what becomes of his dreams."
21Reuben heard them and tried to save Joseph. "Let's not kill him," he said. 22"Just throw him into this well in the wilderness, but don't hurt him." He said this, planning to save him from them and send him back to his father. 23When Joseph came up to his brothers, they ripped off his long robe with full sleeves. 24Then they took him and threw him into the well, which was dry.
25While they were eating, they suddenly saw a group of Ishmaelites traveling from Gilead to Egypt. Their camels were loaded with spices and resins. 26Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain by killing our brother and covering up the murder? 27Let's sell him to these Ishmaelites. Then we won't have to hurt him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed, 28and when some Midianite traders came by, the brothers pulled Joseph out of the well and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
29When Reuben came back to the well and found that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes in sorrow. 30He returned to his brothers and said, "The boy is not there! What am I going to do?"
31Then they killed a goat and dipped Joseph's robe in its blood. 32They took the robe to their father and said, "We found this. Does it belong to your son?"
33He recognized it and said, "Yes, it is his! Some wild animal has killed him. My son Joseph has been torn to pieces!" 34Jacob tore his clothes in sorrow and put on sackcloth. He mourned for his son a long time. 35All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, "I will go down to the world of the dead still mourning for my son." So he continued to mourn for his son Joseph.
36Meanwhile, in Egypt the Midianites had sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of the king's officers, who was the captain of the palace guard.
Do you need help? Let's pray for help together with Psalm 28 A Prayer for Help Psalm 28 O LORD, my defender, I call to you.
Listen to my cry!
If you do not answer me,
I will be among those who go down to the world of the dead.
2Hear me when I cry to you for help,
when I lift my hands toward your holy Temple.
3Do not condemn me with the wicked,
with those who do evil--
those whose words are friendly,
but who have hatred in their hearts.
4Punish them for what they have done,
for the evil they have committed.
Punish them for all their deeds;
give them what they deserve!
5They take no notice of what the LORD has done
or of what he has made;
so he will punish them
and destroy them forever.
6Give praise to the LORD;
he has heard my cry for help.
7The LORD protects and defends me;
I trust in him.
He gives me help and makes me glad;
I praise him with joyful songs.
8The LORD protects his people;
he defends and saves his chosen king.
9Save your people, LORD,
and bless those who are yours.
Be their shepherd,
and take care of them forever. 1/27/2008 Today's Reading: January 27 - Luke 20.1-26, Genesis 35-36 and Psalm 27
How many messengers does it take before we the message? How many attempts can someone make to do what is right or request what is right before we respond appropriately? How long can someone stay in the dark and not allow the light to enter into their lives? This is a new day - let's let go of the old things that would keep us down. Let's let go of the things that would keeping back. Let's get up and rejoice for we have breath in our lungs and as such we have a purpose and a reason for today. Let's get up and share the hope that is within us through our loving savior who was willing to give up His life in order that we could be saved and find true hope and true purpose. Heavenly Father, I thank You for this new day and for the hope and faith that You have placed in my heart. Help me Lord to walk with the courage that comes from faith in Your son Jesus Christ who You sent that we could be reconciled and that I could be changed. Heavenly Father, help me not to back down or walk in fear, but to walk in faith, expectancy, and courage for Your Holy Spirit is with me, guiding me and comforting me every step of every day. I lift up my brothers and sisters Lord and ask that You fill them today also. Help us all to walk and to help change the world from the inside out and to bring the true meaning of life to all those who are around us. Help us to change this world from one of despair to one of hope, from one of darkness to one filled with light, from one that is without purpose to one that is directed by and through the hand and the power of God. And we will all give You the praise and the glory, in Jesus' name. Amen
A parable of how God sent his only son to try and get people to respond properly - and as with Jesus and the Cross, this son also gave up his life. The Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard
(Matthew 21.33-46; Mark 12.1-12) 9Then Jesus told the people this parable: "There was once a man who planted a vineyard, rented it out to tenants, and then left home for a long time. 10When the time came to gather the grapes, he sent a slave to the tenants to receive from them his share of the harvest. But the tenants beat the slave and sent him back without a thing. 11So he sent another slave; but the tenants beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him back without a thing. 12Then he sent a third slave; the tenants wounded him, too, and threw him out. 13Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my own dear son; surely they will respect him!' 14But when the tenants saw him, they said to one another, 'This is the owner's son. Let's kill him, and his property will be ours!' 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
"What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to the tenants?" Jesus asked. 16"He will come and kill those men, and turn the vineyard over to other tenants."
When the people heard this, they said, "Surely not!"
17Jesus looked at them and asked, "What, then, does this scripture mean?
 'The stone which the builders rejected as worthless
 turned out to be the most important of all.'
18Everyone who falls on that stone will be cut to pieces; and if that stone falls on someone, that person will be crushed to dust." Who do you think the other tenants will be?
Are you ready to Praise but not sure what to say? Let's praise with
Psalm 27: A Prayer of Praise Psalm 27 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
I will fear no one.
The LORD protects me from all danger;
I will never be afraid.
2When evil people attack me and try to kill me,
they stumble and fall.
3Even if a whole army surrounds me,
I will not be afraid;
even if enemies attack me,
I will still trust God.
4I have asked the LORD for one thing;
one thing only do I want:
to live in the LORD's house all my life,
to marvel there at his goodness,
and to ask for his guidance.
5In times of trouble he will shelter me;
he will keep me safe in his Temple
and make me secure on a high rock.
6So I will triumph over my enemies around me.
With shouts of joy I will offer sacrifices in his Temple;
I will sing, I will praise the LORD.
7Hear me, LORD, when I call to you!
Be merciful and answer me!
8When you said, "Come worship me,"
I answered, "I will come, LORD."
9Don't hide yourself from me!
Don't be angry with me;
don't turn your servant away.
You have been my help;
don't leave me, don't abandon me,
O God, my savior.
10My father and mother may abandon me,
but the LORD will take care of me.
11Teach me, LORD, what you want me to do,
and lead me along a safe path,
because I have many enemies.
12Don't abandon me to my enemies,
who attack me with lies and threats.
13I know that I will live to see
the LORD's goodness in this present life.
14Trust in the LORD.
Have faith, do not despair.
Trust in the LORD. 1/26/2008 Today's Reading: It is so important that we praise God for what He has done and continues to do in our lives. It is our job to praise Him, for if we don't the rocks will start to shout. The Triumphant Approach to Jerusalem
(Matthew 21.1-11; Mark 11.1-11; John 12.12-19) Luke 1928After Jesus said this, he went on in front of them toward Jerusalem. 29As he came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead 30with these instructions: "Go to the village there ahead of you; as you go in, you will find a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31If someone asks you why you are untying it, tell him that the Master needs it."
32They went on their way and found everything just as Jesus had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying it?"
34"The Master needs it," they answered, 35and they took the colt to Jesus. Then they threw their cloaks over the animal and helped Jesus get on. 36As he rode on, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37When he came near Jerusalem, at the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives, the large crowd of his disciples began to thank God and praise him in loud voices for all the great things that they had seen: 38"God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God!"
39Then some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. "Teacher," they said, "command your disciples to be quiet!"
40Jesus answered, "I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting." Do you realize how much love and compassion God has for you and for me? Do you realize how much it impacts His heart when we act in ways that don't glorify him? Do you realize how much it impacts His heart when we are in pain or sad? The Prayer of a Good Person Psalm 26 Declare me innocent, O LORD,
because I do what is right
and trust you completely.
2Examine me and test me, LORD;
judge my desires and thoughts.
3Your constant love is my guide;
your faithfulness always leads me.
4I do not keep company with worthless people;
I have nothing to do with hypocrites.
5I hate the company of the evil
and avoid the wicked.
6LORD, I wash my hands to show that I am innocent
and march in worship around your altar.
7I sing a hymn of thanksgiving
and tell of all your wonderful deeds.
8I love the house where you live, O LORD,
the place where your glory dwells.
9Do not destroy me with the sinners;
spare me from the fate of murderers--
10those who do evil all the time
and are always ready to take bribes.
11As for me, I do what is right;
be merciful to me and save me!
12I am safe from all dangers;
in the assembly of his people I praise the LORD. 1/24/2008 Today's Reading:
Can a camel get through the eye of a needle? Can a man walk through the Red Sea on dry ground? Can a man walk across the waters of the Jordan at flood stage? Can a man walk on water? Can a man be raised from the dead? What may seem impossible for man has been seen to be possible by the power of God. The Rich Man
(Matthew 19.16-30; Mark 10.17-31) Luke 18 18A Jewish leader asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?"
19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good except God alone. 20You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery; do not commit murder; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely; respect your father and your mother.'"
21The man replied, "Ever since I was young, I have obeyed all these commandments."
22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one more thing you need to do. Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me." 23But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich.
24Jesus saw that he was sad and said, "How hard it is for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God! 25It is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle."
26The people who heard him asked, "Who, then, can be saved?"
27Jesus answered, "What is humanly impossible is possible for God."
28Then Peter said, "Look! We have left our homes to follow you."
29"Yes," Jesus said to them, "and I assure you that anyone who leaves home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God 30will receive much more in this present age and eternal life in the age to come."
Do you find that sometimes people talk to you and you feel they are speaking another language? Do you ever feel that you don't get it, but then later as you walk away you get a revelation - "Oh, that's what they were talking about, now I get it?" Jesus Speaks a Third Time about His Death
(Matthew 20.17-19; Mark 10.32-34) 31Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "Listen! We are going to Jerusalem where everything the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come true. 32He will be handed over to the Gentiles, who will make fun of him, insult him, and spit on him. 33They will whip him and kill him, but three days later he will rise to life."
34But the disciples did not understand any of these things; the meaning of the words was hidden from them, and they did not know what Jesus was talking about.
Do you see something you want and not go after it? Do you get excited about or for something, but because of pear pressure you get quiet and don't pursue it? Do you have dreams or goals that people say are impossible and so you have either put them on the sideline or given up? Don't give up. Don't let fear stop you, let faith guide you. Remember where the miracle comes from and give God the praise. Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar
(Matthew 20.29-34; Mark 10.46-52) 35As Jesus was coming near Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road, begging. 36When he heard the crowd passing by, he asked, "What is this?"
37"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by," they told him.
38He cried out, "Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!"
39The people in front scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, "Son of David! Have mercy on me!"
40So Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41"What do you want me to do for you?"
"Sir," he answered, "I want to see again."
42Jesus said to him, "Then see! Your faith has made you well."
43At once he was able to see, and he followed Jesus, giving thanks to God. When the crowd saw it, they all praised God.
Let's pray and praise the great king of heaven and earth, who sits upon His throne in heaven interceding for all those who believe - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Great King Psalm 24 The world and all that is in it belong to the LORD;
the earth and all who live on it are his.
2He built it on the deep waters beneath the earth
and laid its foundations in the ocean depths.
3Who has the right to go up the LORD's hill?
Who may enter his holy Temple?
4Those who are pure in act and in thought,
who do not worship idols
or make false promises.
5The LORD will bless them and save them;
God will declare them innocent.
6Such are the people who come to God,
who come into the presence of the God of Jacob.
7Fling wide the gates,
open the ancient doors,
and the great king will come in.
8Who is this great king?
He is the LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, victorious in battle.
9Fling wide the gates,
open the ancient doors,
and the great king will come in.
10Who is this great king?
The triumphant LORD--he is the great king! 1/23/2008 Today's Reading: Don't let the things of this world get you down. Lift up everything up to God through prayer and supplication - be anxious for nothing says the Word of God. Fear Not, Just Believe. The Parable of the Widow and the Judge Luke 18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged. 2"In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. 3And there was a widow in that same town who kept coming to him and pleading for her rights, saying, 'Help me against my opponent!' 4For a long time the judge refused to act, but at last he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or respect people, 5yet because of all the trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don't, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out!'"
6And the Lord continued, "Listen to what that corrupt judge said. 7Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them? 8I tell you, he will judge in their favor and do it quickly. But will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?"
Love everyone and do everything in your power to make peace with everyone. Did you ever notice that in the Bible it says everyone and people tend to ask God who is everyone trying to limit the scope? An Example comes when one person asked who is my neighbor. Don't be to proud or on your high horse thinking you are better than everyone else. Instead humble yourself and serve others in love and see how the world will change around you. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector 9Jesus also told this parable to people who were sure of their own goodness and despised everybody else. 10"Once there were two men who went up to the Temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood apart by himself and prayed, 'I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there. 12I fast two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all my income.' 13But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even raise his face to heaven, but beat on his breast and said, 'God, have pity on me, a sinner!' 14I tell you," said Jesus, "the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right with God when he went home. For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great."
Have you ever noticed the innocents of children? Have you ever noticed how truthful they are? Have you ever noticed how they don't hold back their thoughts but speak openly and honestly to everyone? Why do you think parents get embarrassed by this openness? Why do parents try to change this behavior in children? Let's try to be more transparent as the children. Let's look to speak out hope and love in truth and integrity. Jesus Blesses Little Children
(Matthew 19.13-15; Mark 10.13-16) 15Some people brought their babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. The disciples saw them and scolded them for doing so, 16but Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17Remember this! Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."
In this life there will be many trials and challenges. When they come our way, we have a choice in how we will respond. Will we respond in a way that is pleasing to God and that will bring him praise and glory? Will we respond in a self-centered way that will help build up ourselves? What will your thought pattern be in the heat of the moment? What will your decision be when nobody is looking? What will your choice be when there is an easy way and the right way and the right way is the hard way? Ponder how you will respond. Ponder what you will say. Ponder what you will do. For we need to be ready in and out of season to give an answer for what is inside of each of us. Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day. I thank You that You have given me the breath and life to live a new day. I thank You that You have permitted me to be in relationship with godly men who can be examples and mentors for me. Help me today to humble myself and find a mentor who can speak life into my life. Help me to find a mentor who can help me to make better decisions and manage my gifts, talents, resources that have come from You. Lord, I thank You for Your healing power that has restored my family. I pray that You will put a protective covering over my family that will keep us from further sicknesses in order that our immune system will be strong and our lives will be in alignment with Your will, Your purpose, Your plan. I thank You and praise You, worship You and honor You, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Has God given you wisdom to make a good business decision that will help you and your family? Have you followed through on it? How did it work out? or Why didn't you follow through? Jacob's Bargain with Laban 25After the birth of Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, "Let me go, so that I can return home. 26Give me my wives and children that I have earned by working for you, and I will leave. You know how well I have served you."
27Laban said to him, "Let me say this: I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you. 28Name your wages, and I will pay them."
29Jacob answered, "You know how I have worked for you and how your flocks have prospered under my care. 30The little you had before I came has grown enormously, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I went. Now it is time for me to look out for my own interests."
31"What shall I pay you?" Laban asked.
Jacob answered, "I don't want any wages. I will continue to take care of your flocks if you agree to this suggestion: 32Let me go through all your flocks today and take every black lamb and every spotted or speckled young goat. That is all the wages I want. 33In the future you can easily find out if I have been honest. When you come to check up on my wages, if I have any goat that isn't speckled or spotted or any sheep that isn't black, you will know that it has been stolen."
34Laban answered, "Agreed. We will do as you suggest." 35But that day Laban removed the male goats that had stripes or spots and all the females that were speckled and spotted or which had white on them; he also removed all the black sheep. He put his sons in charge of them, 36and then went away from Jacob with this flock as far as he could travel in three days. Jacob took care of the rest of Laban's flocks.
37Jacob got green branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees and stripped off some of the bark so that the branches had white stripes on them. 38He placed these branches in front of the flocks at their drinking troughs. He put them there, because the animals mated when they came to drink. 39So when the goats bred in front of the branches, they produced young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted.
40Jacob kept the sheep separate from the goats and made them face in the direction of the streaked and black animals of Laban's flock. In this way he built up his own flock and kept it apart from Laban's.
41When the healthy animals were mating, Jacob put the branches in front of them at the drinking troughs, so that they would breed among the branches. 42But he did not put the branches in front of the weak animals. Soon Laban had all the weak animals, and Jacob all the healthy ones. 43In this way Jacob became very wealthy. He had many flocks, slaves, camels, and donkeys.
Do you know what you need? Do you know what you want? Do you know what you have? The LORD Our Shepherd Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
2He lets me rest in fields of green grass
and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.
3He gives me new strength.
He guides me in the right paths,
as he has promised.
4Even if I go through the deepest darkness,
I will not be afraid, LORD,
for you are with me.
Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me.
5You prepare a banquet for me,
where all my enemies can see me;
you welcome me as an honored guest
and fill my cup to the brim.
6I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life;
and your house will be my home as long as I live.
1/22/2008
In life we have two choices - be a peace maker or be a trouble maker. God wants us to be peace makers and to do everything we can to get along with everyone. We read today about how everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but if we are the cause, 2It would be better for him if a large millstone were tied around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.. 3So watch what you do!
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4If he sins against you seven times in one day, and each time he comes to you saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."
How big is your faith? How much do you believe? Do you realize how much faith it takes for a miracle to take place? Faith 5The apostles said to the Lord, "Make our faith greater."
6The Lord answered, "If you had faith as big as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Pull yourself up by the roots and plant yourself in the sea!' and it would obey you.
Don't forget to praise God for what he is doing and has done in your life. Don't let the miraculous be forgotten or ignored. Jesus Heals Ten Men 11As Jesus made his way to Jerusalem, he went along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12He was going into a village when he was met by ten men suffering from a dreaded skin disease. They stood at a distance 13and shouted, "Jesus! Master! Have pity on us!"
14Jesus saw them and said to them, "Go and let the priests examine you."
On the way they were made clean. 15When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself to the ground at Jesus' feet and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. 17Jesus spoke up, "There were ten who were healed; where are the other nine? 18Why is this foreigner the only one who came back to give thanks to God?" 19And Jesus said to him, "Get up and go; your faith has made you well."
The Coming of the Kingdom
(Matthew 24.23-28, 37-41) 20Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. His answer was, "The Kingdom of God does not come in such a way as to be seen. 21No one will say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!'; because the Kingdom of God is within you."
22Then he said to the disciples, "The time will come when you will wish you could see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23There will be those who will say to you, 'Look, over there!' or, 'Look, over here!' But don't go out looking for it. 24As the lightning flashes across the sky and lights it up from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25But first he must suffer much and be rejected by the people of this day. 26As it was in the time of Noah so shall it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27Everybody kept on eating and drinking, and men and women married, up to the very day Noah went into the boat and the flood came and killed them all. 28It will be as it was in the time of Lot. Everybody kept on eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29On the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and killed them all. 30That is how it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
31"On that day someone who is on the roof of a house must not go down into the house to get any belongings; in the same way anyone who is out in the field must not go back to the house. 32Remember Lot's wife! 33Those who try to save their own life will lose it; those who lose their life will save it. 34On that night, I tell you, there will be two people sleeping in the same bed: one will be taken away, the other will be left behind. 35Two women will be grinding meal together: one will be taken away, the other will be left behind."
37The disciples asked him, "Where, Lord?"
Jesus answered, "Wherever there is a dead body, the vultures will gather."
There will be hard times when we need to lean on God even more than usual. Let's pray and praise God today as we read Psalm 22. A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise Psalm 22 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
I have cried desperately for help,
but still it does not come.
2During the day I call to you, my God,
but you do not answer;
I call at night,
but get no rest.
3But you are enthroned as the Holy One,
the one whom Israel praises.
4Our ancestors put their trust in you;
they trusted you, and you saved them.
5They called to you and escaped from danger;
they trusted you and were not disappointed.
6But I am no longer a human being; I am a worm,
despised and scorned by everyone!
7All who see me make fun of me;
they stick out their tongues and shake their heads.
8"You relied on the LORD," they say.
"Why doesn't he save you?
If the LORD likes you,
why doesn't he help you?"
9It was you who brought me safely through birth,
and when I was a baby, you kept me safe.
10I have relied on you since the day I was born,
and you have always been my God.
11Do not stay away from me!
Trouble is near,
and there is no one to help.
12Many enemies surround me like bulls;
they are all around me,
like fierce bulls from the land of Bashan.
13They open their mouths like lions,
roaring and tearing at me.
14My strength is gone,
gone like water spilled on the ground.
All my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like melted wax.
15My throat is as dry as dust,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have left me for dead in the dust.
16An evil gang is around me;
like a pack of dogs they close in on me;
they tear at my hands and feet.
17All my bones can be seen.
My enemies look at me and stare.
18They gamble for my clothes
and divide them among themselves.
19O LORD, don't stay away from me!
Come quickly to my rescue!
20Save me from the sword;
save my life from these dogs.
21Rescue me from these lions;
I am helpless before these wild bulls.
22I will tell my people what you have done;
I will praise you in their assembly:
23"Praise him, you servants of the LORD!
Honor him, you descendants of Jacob!
Worship him, you people of Israel!
24He does not neglect the poor or ignore their suffering;
he does not turn away from them,
but answers when they call for help."
25In the full assembly I will praise you for what you have done;
in the presence of those who worship you
I will offer the sacrifices I promised.
26The poor will eat as much as they want;
those who come to the LORD will praise him.
May they prosper forever!
27All nations will remember the LORD.
From every part of the world they will turn to him;
all races will worship him.
28The LORD is king,
and he rules the nations.
29All proud people will bow down to him;
all mortals will bow down before him.
30Future generations will serve him;
they will speak of the Lord to the coming generation.
31People not yet born will be told:
"The Lord saved his people." 1/21/2008 Today's Reading:
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and pray Lord that You will help me to continue to grow in You and continue to be a good servant. Help me Lord to be faithful with what You give me. Your Word says: "To whom much is given much is required" and it also says "Whoever is faithful is small matters will be faithful with large ones; whoever is dishonest with small matters will be dishonest in large ones. Lord, help me today to keep my eyes on you and to accomplish what You set before me. Help me to be a good husband, father, employee, friend, and leader. Give me wisdom Lord, for Godly wisdom is worth more than the finest gold. Lord, I will give You all the praise and all the glory and the honor, in Jesus' name. Amen,
Heavenly Father, Help me to be a peace maker. Help me to remember that I am accountable to You alone so that I don't react or over-react to what others do or say. Help me to be a good ambassador to You and for You. You know my heart and I pray that You will continue to purify and guide my heart, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
The Rich Man and Lazarus 19"There was once a rich man who dressed in the most expensive clothes and lived in great luxury every day. 20There was also a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who used to be brought to the rich man's door, 21hoping to eat the bits of food that fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the feast in heaven. The rich man died and was buried, 23and in Hades, where he was in great pain, he looked up and saw Abraham, far away, with Lazarus at his side. 24So he called out, 'Father Abraham! Take pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip his finger in some water and cool off my tongue, because I am in great pain in this fire!' 25But Abraham said, 'Remember, my son, that in your lifetime you were given all the good things, while Lazarus got all the bad things. But now he is enjoying himself here, while you are in pain. 26Besides all that, there is a deep pit lying between us, so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so, nor can anyone cross over to us from where you are.' 27The rich man said, 'Then I beg you, father Abraham, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28where I have five brothers. Let him go and warn them so that they, at least, will not come to this place of pain.' 29Abraham said, 'Your brothers have Moses and the prophets to warn them; your brothers should listen to what they say.' 30The rich man answered, 'That is not enough, father Abraham! But if someone were to rise from death and go to them, then they would turn from their sins.' 31But Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone were to rise from death.'" Do you realize that every good and perfect gift comes from our heavenly father? How are you showing God that you trust Him? Do you trust that He will provide for your needs? Will you return to Him 10% of what He has given you? Jacob's Dream at Bethel 10Jacob left Beersheba and started toward Haran. 11At sunset he came to a holy place and camped there. He lay down to sleep, resting his head on a stone. 12He dreamed that he saw a stairway reaching from earth to heaven, with angels going up and coming down on it. 13And there was the LORD standing beside him. "I am the LORD, the God of Abraham and Isaac," he said. "I will give to you and to your descendants this land on which you are lying. 14They will be as numerous as the specks of dust on the earth. They will extend their territory in all directions, and through you and your descendants I will bless all the nations. 15Remember, I will be with you and protect you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done all that I have promised you."
16Jacob woke up and said, "The LORD is here! He is in this place, and I didn't know it!" 17He was afraid and said, "What a terrifying place this is! It must be the house of God; it must be the gate that opens into heaven."
18Jacob got up early next morning, took the stone that was under his head, and set it up as a memorial. Then he poured olive oil on it to dedicate it to God. 19He named the place Bethel. (The town there was once known as Luz.) 20Then Jacob made a vow to the LORD: "If you will be with me and protect me on the journey I am making and give me food and clothing, 21and if I return safely to my father's home, then you will be my God. 22This memorial stone which I have set up will be the place where you are worshiped, and I will give you a tenth of everything you give me." Let's praise God for the victory that He has given and is going to give us by praying Psalm 21 together: Praise for Victory Psalm 21 The king is glad, O LORD, because you gave him strength;
he rejoices because you made him victorious.
2You have given him his heart's desire;
you have answered his request.
3You came to him with great blessings
and set a crown of gold on his head.
4He asked for life, and you gave it,
a long and lasting life.
5His glory is great because of your help;
you have given him fame and majesty.
6Your blessings are with him forever,
and your presence fills him with joy.
7The king trusts in the LORD Almighty;
and because of the LORD's constant love
he will always be secure.
8The king will capture all his enemies;
he will capture everyone who hates him.
9He will destroy them like a blazing fire
when he appears.
The LORD will devour them in his anger,
and fire will consume them.
10None of their descendants will survive;
the king will kill them all.
11They make their plans, and plot against him,
but they will not succeed.
12He will shoot his arrows at them
and make them turn and run.
13We praise you, LORD, for your great strength!
We will sing and praise your power. 1/20/2008 Today's Reading: 
Heavenly Father, I lift my prayer up for all those who will read this prayer. I pray Lord that they will feel the love and truth that comes from You. I pray that Lord You will reveal Your grace them and allow them to come into Your presence. May they hear the truth and may their hearts be ready to receive the love and grace that can only come from You. Lord, I pray for the family, friends, and community that came to the Anderson funeral yesterday. Be with them I pray and help those who lifted their hands at the time of prayer to pursue after You and to go to a church where they can be ministered to (ours or another Bible believing, Bible preaching church. We thank You and praise You, honor You and worship You, in Jesus' name. Amen. God has a heart for the lost - those who are in the world and have not found or heart the truth. God continues to look for people who will bring the Word of God to those who would appear to be on the outside. God is looking to see if any who have slipped or stepped away are making their way back to God. His Grace is huge. God's love is everlasting. Realize that God is the Father. The Lost Sheep
(Matthew 18.12-14) Luke 15 One day when many tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus, 2the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law started grumbling, "This man welcomes outcasts and even eats with them!" 3So Jesus told them this parable:
4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them--what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one that got lost until you find it. 5When you find it, you are so happy that you put it on your shoulders 6and carry it back home. Then you call your friends and neighbors together and say to them, 'I am so happy I found my lost sheep. Let us celebrate!' 7In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent. The Lost Coin 8"Or suppose a woman who has ten silver coins loses one of them--what does she do? She lights a lamp, sweeps her house, and looks carefully everywhere until she finds it. 9When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, and says to them, 'I am so happy I found the coin I lost. Let us celebrate!' 10In the same way, I tell you, the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents." The Lost Son 11Jesus went on to say, "There was once a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to him, 'Father, give me my share of the property now.' So the man divided his property between his two sons. 13After a few days the younger son sold his part of the property and left home with the money. He went to a country far away, where he wasted his money in reckless living. 14He spent everything he had. Then a severe famine spread over that country, and he was left without a thing. 15So he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him out to his farm to take care of the pigs. 16He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat. 17At last he came to his senses and said, 'All my father's hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to starve! 18I will get up and go to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against God and against you. 19I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers." ' 20So he got up and started back to his father.
"He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him. 21'Father,' the son said, 'I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.' 22But the father called to his servants. 'Hurry!' he said. 'Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. 23Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast! 24For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.' And so the feasting began.
25"In the meantime the older son was out in the field. On his way back, when he came close to the house, he heard the music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him, 'What's going on?' 27'Your brother has come back home,' the servant answered, 'and your father has killed the prize calf, because he got him back safe and sound.' 28The older brother was so angry that he would not go into the house; so his father came out and begged him to come in. 29But he spoke back to his father, 'Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! 30But this son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!' 31'My son,' the father answered, 'you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.'"
We all have a freewill to choose. If we happen to choose something that is out of God's will we can end up in situations that will bring us down and try to point us back to God. At some point, we can come to the realization of where we are and realize that we need to repent, to ask for forgiveness and to turn back to God. The reality is that the moment we ask God for forgiveness we are fully forgiven. The healing process, the restoration is a process. By the grace of God we will be able to work through the consequences and the effects of our actions in order that we can be restored in the eyes of those we have hurt. If we are willing to truly do what is needed to change ourselves, then God will help us to be restored.
Are you needing help? Are you needing a victory? Let's pray for Victory with Psalm 20 together: A Prayer for Victory Psalm 20 May the LORD answer you when you are in trouble!
May the God of Jacob protect you!
2May he send you help from his Temple
and give you aid from Mount Zion.
3May he accept all your offerings
and be pleased with all your sacrifices.
4May he give you what you desire
and make all your plans succeed.
5Then we will shout for joy over your victory
and celebrate your triumph by praising our God.
May the LORD answer all your requests.
6Now I know that the LORD gives victory to his chosen king;
he answers him from his holy heaven
and by his power gives him great victories.
7Some trust in their war chariots
and others in their horses,
but we trust in the power of the LORD our God.
8Such people will stumble and fall,
but we will rise and stand firm.
9Give victory to the king, O LORD;
answer us when we call. 1/18/2008 Today's Reading: Remember to always be humble, so that you don't get hurt or embarrassed because of your own pride. Humility and Hospitality 7Jesus noticed how some of the guests were choosing the best places, so he told this parable to all of them: 8"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place. It could happen that someone more important than you has been invited, 9and your host, who invited both of you, would have to come and say to you, 'Let him have this place.' Then you would be embarrassed and have to sit in the lowest place. 10Instead, when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that your host will come to you and say, 'Come on up, my friend, to a better place.' This will bring you honor in the presence of all the other guests. 11For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great."
12Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors--for they will invite you back, and in this way you will be paid for what you did. 13When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind; 14and you will be blessed, because they are not able to pay you back. God will repay you on the day the good people rise from death." Do you realize how important you are to God? Consider carefully what you are giving up before you speak or act for the consequences could change your life. Esau Sells His Rights as the First-Born Son 27The boys grew up, and Esau became a skilled hunter, a man who loved the outdoors, but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home. 28Isaac preferred Esau, because he enjoyed eating the animals Esau killed, but Rebecca preferred Jacob.
29One day while Jacob was cooking some bean soup, Esau came in from hunting. He was hungry 30and said to Jacob, "I'm starving; give me some of that red stuff." (That is why he was named Edom.)
31Jacob answered, "I will give it to you if you give me your rights as the first-born son."
32Esau said, "All right! I am about to die; what good will my rights do me?"
33Jacob answered, "First make a vow that you will give me your rights."
Esau made the vow and gave his rights to Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave him some bread and some of the soup. He ate and drank and then got up and left. That was all Esau cared about his rights as the first-born son. How are you today? Are you coming from a great victory? Would you like to find victory in an area of your life? - Let's pray Psalm 18 together: David's Song of Victory
(2 Samuel 22.1-51) Psalm 18 How I love you, LORD!
You are my defender.
2The LORD is my protector;
he is my strong fortress.
My God is my protection,
and with him I am safe.
He protects me like a shield;
he defends me and keeps me safe.
3I call to the LORD,
and he saves me from my enemies.
Praise the LORD!
4The danger of death was all around me;
the waves of destruction rolled over me.
5The danger of death was around me,
and the grave set its trap for me.
6In my trouble I called to the LORD;
I called to my God for help.
In his temple he heard my voice;
he listened to my cry for help.
7Then the earth trembled and shook;
the foundations of the mountains rocked and quivered,
because God was angry.
8Smoke poured out of his nostrils,
a consuming flame and burning coals from his mouth.
9He tore the sky open and came down
with a dark cloud under his feet.
10He flew swiftly on his winged creature;
he traveled on the wings of the wind.
11He covered himself with darkness;
thick clouds, full of water, surrounded him.
12Hailstones and flashes of fire
came from the lightning before him
and broke through the dark clouds.
13Then the LORD thundered from the sky;
and the voice of the Most High was heard.
14He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;
with flashes of lightning he sent them running.
15The floor of the ocean was laid bare,
and the foundations of the earth were uncovered,
when you rebuked your enemies, LORD,
and roared at them in anger.
16The LORD reached down from above and took hold of me;
he pulled me out of the deep waters.
17He rescued me from my powerful enemies
and from all those who hate me--
they were too strong for me.
18When I was in trouble, they attacked me,
but the LORD protected me.
19He helped me out of danger;
he saved me because he was pleased with me.
20The LORD rewards me because I do what is right;
he blesses me because I am innocent.
21I have obeyed the law of the LORD;
I have not turned away from my God.
22I have observed all his laws;
I have not disobeyed his commands.
23He knows that I am faultless,
that I have kept myself from doing wrong.
24And so he rewards me because I do what is right,
because he knows that I am innocent.
25O LORD, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you;
completely good to those who are perfect.
26You are pure to those who are pure,
but hostile to those who are wicked.
27You save those who are humble,
but you humble those who are proud.
28O LORD, you give me light;
you dispel my darkness.
29You give me strength to attack my enemies
and power to overcome their defenses.
30This God--how perfect are his deeds!
How dependable his words!
He is like a shield
for all who seek his protection.
31The LORD alone is God;
God alone is our defense.
32He is the God who makes me strong,
who makes my pathway safe.
33He makes me sure-footed as a deer;
he keeps me safe on the mountains.
34He trains me for battle,
so that I can use the strongest bow.
35O LORD, you protect me and save me;
your care has made me great,
and your power has kept me safe.
36You have kept me from being captured,
and I have never fallen.
37I pursue my enemies and catch them;
I do not stop until I destroy them.
38I strike them down, and they cannot rise;
they lie defeated before me.
39You give me strength for the battle
and victory over my enemies.
40You make my enemies run from me;
I destroy those who hate me.
41They cry for help, but no one saves them;
they call to the LORD, but he does not answer.
42I crush them, so that they become like dust
which the wind blows away.
I trample on them like mud in the streets.
43You saved me from a rebellious people
and made me ruler over the nations;
people I did not know have now become my subjects.
44Foreigners bow before me;
when they hear me, they obey.
45They lose their courage
and come trembling from their fortresses.
46The LORD lives! Praise my defender!
Proclaim the greatness of the God who saves me.
47He gives me victory over my enemies;
he subdues the nations under me
48and saves me from my foes.
O LORD, you give me victory over my enemies
and protect me from violent people.
49And so I praise you among the nations;
I sing praises to you.
50God gives great victories to his king;
he shows constant love to the one he has chosen,
to David and his descendants forever. 1/17/2008 Today's Reading:
We have all missed the mark. We have all done things we know we shouldn't have. We all need to realize that if we missed the mark then we need to turn back to God and ask for forgiveness. God is righteous and will forgive us. To be restored back into the place where we had been before won't be instantaneous like the forgiveness of God and will require a process that God will help us through. If we stumble, we need to get back up ask God to forgive us and press back into all that He has for us. I pray that all those who read this will come to the realization of how much God loves us as He doesn't want any of us to not make it into heaven for eternity and spend all of our lives with Him. We have a freewill though and we can fight against the will of God and God will put pressure on us to try to get our attention and try to get us to come back to Him. It isn't too late until it is too late. So come back to God and let Him help you to carry the load, carry the weight that comes each day, and see that You can walk in the joy and peace of the Lord, no matter the circumstances the devil will throw your way. May God be glorified in all we say and do. May God be honored in all we say and do. May God receive all the praise and all the glory that He so deserves, in Jesus' name. Amen.
God's order is different than our order - God cares for all of us - those who people consider unlovable, those who people ignore, those who are in need. God's ways are higher than our ways. God's will is better than our will. Let's focus on his goals, his purpose, and his plans for our lives and watch his glory and majesty surround and multiply our work and our efforts.
What is God looking for, for you? What is God planning for you? What is God purposing for you? Where is God directing you? Where is God wanting you to go? A Wife for Isaac Genesis 24 Abraham was now very old, and the LORD had blessed him in everything he did. 2He said to his oldest servant, who was in charge of all that he had, "Place your hand between my thighs and make a vow. 3I want you to make a vow in the name of the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from the people here in Canaan. 4You must go back to the country where I was born and get a wife for my son Isaac from among my relatives."
5But the servant asked, "What if the young woman will not leave home to come with me to this land? Shall I send your son back to the land you came from?"
6Abraham answered, "Make sure that you don't send my son back there! 7The LORD, the God of heaven, brought me from the home of my father and from the land of my relatives, and he solemnly promised me that he would give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel before you, so that you can get a wife there for my son. 8If the young woman is not willing to come with you, you will be free from this promise. But you must not under any circumstances take my son back there." 9So the servant put his hand between the thighs of Abraham, his master, and made a vow to do what Abraham had asked.
10The servant, who was in charge of Abraham's property, took ten of his master's camels and went to the city where Nahor had lived in northern Mesopotamia. 11When he arrived, he made the camels kneel down at the well outside the city. It was late afternoon, the time when women came out to get water. 12He prayed, "LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today and keep your promise to my master. 13Here I am at the well where the young women of the city will be coming to get water. 14I will say to one of them, 'Please, lower your jar and let me have a drink.' If she says, 'Drink, and I will also bring water for your camels,' may she be the one that you have chosen for your servant Isaac. If this happens, I will know that you have kept your promise to my master."
15Before he had finished praying, Rebecca arrived with a water jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife Milcah. 16She was a very beautiful young woman and still a virgin. She went down to the well, filled her jar, and came back. 17The servant ran to meet her and said, "Please give me a drink of water from your jar."
18She said, "Drink, sir," and quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and held it while he drank. 19When he had finished, she said, "I will also bring water for your camels and let them have all they want." 20She quickly emptied her jar into the animals' drinking trough and ran to the well to get more water, until she had watered all his camels. 21The man kept watching her in silence, to see if the LORD had given him success.
22When she had finished, the man took an expensive gold ring and put it in her nose and put two large gold bracelets on her arms. 23He said, "Please tell me who your father is. Is there room in his house for my men and me to spend the night?"
24"My father is Bethuel son of Nahor and Milcah," she answered. 25"There is plenty of straw and fodder at our house, and there is a place for you to stay."
26Then the man knelt down and worshiped the LORD. 27He said, "Praise the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has faithfully kept his promise to my master. The LORD has led me straight to my master's relatives."
28The young woman ran to her mother's house and told the whole story. 29Now Rebecca had a brother named Laban, and he ran outside to go to the well where Abraham's servant was. 30Laban had seen the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms and had heard her say what the man had told her. He went to Abraham's servant, who was standing by his camels at the well, 31and said, "Come home with me. You are a man whom the LORD has blessed. Why are you standing out here? I have a room ready for you in my house, and there is a place for your camels."
32So the man went into the house, and Laban unloaded the camels and gave them straw and fodder. Then he brought water for Abraham's servant and his men to wash their feet. 33When food was brought, the man said, "I will not eat until I have said what I have to say."
Laban said, "Go on and speak."
34"I am the servant of Abraham," he began. 35"The LORD has greatly blessed my master and made him a rich man. He has given him flocks of sheep and goats, cattle, silver, gold, male and female slaves, camels, and donkeys. 36Sarah, my master's wife, bore him a son when she was old, and my master has given everything he owns to him. 37My master made me promise with a vow to obey his command. He said, 'Do not choose a wife for my son from the young women in the land of Canaan. 38Instead, go to my father's people, to my relatives, and choose a wife for him.' 39And I asked my master, 'What if she will not come with me?' 40He answered, 'The LORD, whom I have always obeyed, will send his angel with you and give you success. You will get for my son a wife from my own people, from my father's family. 41There is only one way for you to be free from your vow: if you go to my relatives and they refuse you, then you will be free.'
42"When I came to the well today, I prayed, 'LORD, God of my master Abraham, please give me success in what I am doing. 43Here I am at the well. When a young woman comes out to get water, I will ask her to give me a drink of water from her jar. 44If she agrees and also offers to bring water for my camels, may she be the one that you have chosen as the wife for my master's son.' 45Before I had finished my silent prayer, Rebecca came with a water jar on her shoulder and went down to the well to get water. I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' 46She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels.' So I drank, and she watered the camels. 47I asked her, 'Who is your father?' And she answered, 'My father is Bethuel son of Nahor and Milcah.' Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms. 48I knelt down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me straight to my master's relative, where I found his daughter for my master's son. 49Now, if you intend to fulfill your responsibility toward my master and treat him fairly, please tell me; if not, say so, and I will decide what to do."
50Laban and Bethuel answered, "Since this matter comes from the LORD, it is not for us to make a decision. 51Here is Rebecca; take her and go. Let her become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD himself has said." 52When the servant of Abraham heard this, he bowed down and worshiped the LORD. 53Then he brought out clothing and silver and gold jewelry, and gave them to Rebecca. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and to her mother.
54Then Abraham's servant and the men with him ate and drank, and spent the night there. When they got up in the morning, he said, "Let me go back to my master."
55But Rebecca's brother and her mother said, "Let her stay with us a week or ten days, and then she may go."
56But he said, "Don't make us stay. The LORD has made my journey a success; let me go back to my master."
57They answered, "Let's call her and find out what she has to say." 58So they called Rebecca and asked, "Do you want to go with this man?"
"Yes," she answered.
59So they let Rebecca and her old family servant go with Abraham's servant and his men. 60And they gave Rebecca their blessing in these words:
"May you, sister, become the mother of millions!
May your descendants conquer the cities of their enemies!"
61Then Rebecca and her young women got ready and mounted the camels to go with Abraham's servant, and they all started out.
62Isaac had come into the wilderness of "The Well of the Living One Who Sees Me" and was staying in the southern part of Canaan. 63He went out in the early evening to take a walk in the fields and saw camels coming. 64When Rebecca saw Isaac, she got down from her camel 65and asked Abraham's servant, "Who is that man walking toward us in the field?"
"He is my master," the servant answered. So she took her scarf and covered her face.
66The servant told Isaac everything he had done. 67Then Isaac brought Rebecca into the tent that his mother Sarah had lived in, and she became his wife. Isaac loved Rebecca, and so he was comforted for the loss of his mother.
Do you have a friend or know someone who is being accused for something they didn't do? Do you know someone who is innocent and needs help? - Let's pray Psalm 17 together: The Prayer of an Innocent Person Psalm 17 Listen, O LORD, to my plea for justice;
pay attention to my cry for help!
Listen to my honest prayer.
2You will judge in my favor,
because you know what is right.
3You know my heart.
You have come to me at night;
you have examined me completely
and found no evil desire in me.
I speak no evil, 4as others do;
I have obeyed your command
and have not followed paths of violence.
5I have always walked in your way
and have never strayed from it.
6I pray to you, O God, because you answer me;
so turn to me and listen to my words.
7Reveal your wonderful love and save me;
at your side I am safe from my enemies.
8Protect me as you would your very eyes;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
9from the attacks of the wicked.
Deadly enemies surround me;
10they have no pity and speak proudly.
11They are around me now, wherever I turn,
watching for a chance to pull me down.
12They are like lions, waiting for me,
wanting to tear me to pieces.
13Come, LORD! Oppose my enemies and defeat them!
Save me from the wicked by your sword;
14save me from those who in this life have all they want.
Punish them with the sufferings you have stored up for them;
may there be enough for their children
and some left over for their children's children!
15But I will see you, because I have done no wrong;
and when I awake, your presence will fill me with joy.
Don't forget where your stuff comes from. Every good and perfect gift comes from our heavenly father. But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth. - Deuteronomy 8:18a Lord, as You change and grow me. As You develop skills and position me. As You lead me and guide me. I pray Lord that You will help me to be humble. I pray Lord that You will help me to truly walk in a posture of humility and not fall into the trap of the enemy where success brings on pride. Help me to walk from pride. Help me to humble myself before God and man. Help others to receive me because of Your favor upon me. Lord, You have great plans, You have great purposes, and You have infinite power. Lord, give me wisdom to say the right things so that people see You and I reduce me - more of You and less of me. Help me as I progress into the new adventures You are walking me into that I don't take my eyes off of You, that no matter the circumstances around me that I don't lose focus on what You have called me to walk out in faith. May the miraculous continue to be something I see and experience in my life. May the powers and promises of God be visible to me in every meeting, in every interaction, in every thought that comes to my mind. Lord help me to praise You, worship You, glorify You, exalt You, more and more each day and that we will have a daily walk together - praying without ceasing - talking throughout the day, in Jesus' name. Amen.
1/16/2008 Today's Reading: Luke 13.1-17, Genesis 23 and Psalm 16 What controls your life? Is it doing what is right? Is it doing what others tell you that you should be doing it? Who is in control? Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath 10One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in a synagogue. 11A woman there had an evil spirit that had kept her sick for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, "Woman, you are free from your sickness!" 13He placed his hands on her, and at once she straightened herself up and praised God.
14The official of the synagogue was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, so he spoke up and said to the people, "There are six days in which we should work; so come during those days and be healed, but not on the Sabbath!"
15The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Any one of you would untie your ox or your donkey from the stall and take it out to give it water on the Sabbath. 16Now here is this descendant of Abraham whom Satan has kept in bonds for eighteen years; should she not be released on the Sabbath?" 17His answer made his enemies ashamed of themselves, while the people rejoiced over all the wonderful things that he did. Are you feeling beat down? Are feeling held back? Do you feel hesitant? Do you feel self-conscious? A Prayer of Confidence Psalm 16 Protect me, O God; I trust in you for safety.
2I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
all the good things I have come from you."
3How excellent are the LORD's faithful people!
My greatest pleasure is to be with them.
4Those who rush to other gods
bring many troubles on themselves.
I will not take part in their sacrifices;
I will not worship their gods.
5You, LORD, are all I have,
and you give me all I need;
my future is in your hands.
6How wonderful are your gifts to me;
how good they are!
7I praise the LORD, because he guides me,
and in the night my conscience warns me.
8I am always aware of the LORD's presence;
he is near, and nothing can shake me.
9And so I am thankful and glad,
and I feel completely secure,
10because you protect me from the power of death.
I have served you faithfully,
and you will not abandon me to the world of the dead.
11You will show me the path that leads to life;
your presence fills me with joy
and brings me pleasure forever.
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this day. I celebrate a new day that You have made and rejoice. You are awesome and have revealed true life and true love to me and all those who believe. Lord, I lift up my family to You and ask for your healing touch to be upon them and their bodies. Healing from sickness, Healing from fears, Healing from diseases, Healing from brokenness, Healing from unfulfilled dreams, that Lord people will come to know You and trust in You through Your miracles. That people will come to a peace because of knowing You. Lord, I thank You for the book of life and that You have placed my name in it, I am not satisfied with just my name and will work to help others come to the relationship with and realization of Jesus. Open the eyes of people around me I pray and allow them to receive Your love and blessings for them. Your Word says: 11You will show me the path that leads to life;
your presence fills me with joy
and brings me pleasure forever. And I thank You for that now and forever giving You all the praise and all the glory and all the honor, in Jesus' name. Amen. 1/15/2008 Where is your heart? What is your passion? Who or what do you serve? Are you wrapped up in financial focus? - Is making more money your passion? Is the almighty dollar your god? Or Is money something that flows through you from God to be used to bless others? Is helping others your passion? Are you serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? 34For your heart will always be where your riches are. We know that Jesus will return, God's Word tells us this. Will be ready? Will you have decided to turn to God and away from the temptations and sins of this world? 38How happy they are if he finds them ready, even if he should come at midnight or even later! 39And you can be sure that if the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come, he would not let the thief break into his house. 40And you, too, must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting him." I know that I want God to say to me when I meet Him in heaven "Well done my good and faithful servant". I pray that God will help me to make right decisions and serve Him with all my heart in everything that I do. The Faithful or the Unfaithful Servant
(Matthew 24.45-51) 41Peter said, "Lord, does this parable apply to us, or do you mean it for everyone?"
42The Lord answered, "Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant? He is the one that his master will put in charge, to run the household and give the other servants their share of the food at the proper time. 43How happy that servant is if his master finds him doing this when he comes home! 44Indeed, I tell you, the master will put that servant in charge of all his property. 45But if that servant says to himself that his master is taking a long time to come back and if he begins to beat the other servants, both the men and the women, and eats and drinks and gets drunk, 46then the master will come back one day when the servant does not expect him and at a time he does not know. The master will cut him in pieces and make him share the fate of the disobedient.
47"The servant who knows what his master wants him to do, but does not get himself ready and do it, will be punished with a heavy whipping. 48But the servant who does not know what his master wants, and yet does something for which he deserves a whipping, will be punished with a light whipping. Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given. Will you be on God's side or not? The choice is yours. God gave us a freewill to choose and unfortunately some have chosen to be against God. I pray that I can be a light into this world and that God will help those around me to receive His love and plans into their lives. Help my bosses. Help my co-workers. In Jesus' name I pray. The Faithful or the Unfaithful Servant
(Matthew 24.45-51) 41Peter said, "Lord, does this parable apply to us, or do you mean it for everyone?"
42The Lord answered, "Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant? He is the one that his master will put in charge, to run the household and give the other servants their share of the food at the proper time. 43How happy that servant is if his master finds him doing this when he comes home! 44Indeed, I tell you, the master will put that servant in charge of all his property. 45But if that servant says to himself that his master is taking a long time to come back and if he begins to beat the other servants, both the men and the women, and eats and drinks and gets drunk, 46then the master will come back one day when the servant does not expect him and at a time he does not know. The master will cut him in pieces and make him share the fate of the disobedient.
47"The servant who knows what his master wants him to do, but does not get himself ready and do it, will be punished with a heavy whipping. 48But the servant who does not know what his master wants, and yet does something for which he deserves a whipping, will be punished with a light whipping. Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given. Are you lukewarm? Lord, I pray that You will keep me from being lukewarm and being deservant of being spit out. Give me the fire and passion of the Holy Spirit to pursue the things of God and to make the right decisions in my work and home lives. Help me to hot for the things of God. Help me to speak love and truth to those around me that they would receive the incredible truth and love of God through me that I would be a pipeline that continues to expand and grow in power and in strength for the glory of Your Kingdom, to be a blessing to all those You bring into my path. I thank You and love You my Lord. There is so much more that I don't know and don't understand and I ask that You grant me the wisdom, the peace, and the perseverance to accomplish all that You have for me today and into the future. I will give You all the praise and all the glory and all the honor in Jesus' name. Amen. Jesus the Cause of Division
(Matthew 10.34-36) 49"I came to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50I have a baptism to receive, and how distressed I am until it is over! 51Do you suppose that I came to bring peace to the world? No, not peace, but division. 52From now on a family of five will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53Fathers will be against their sons, and sons against their fathers; mothers will be against their daughters, and daughters against their mothers; mothers-in-law will be against their daughters-in-law, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law." Understanding the Time
(Matthew 16.2, 3) 54Jesus said also to the people, "When you see a cloud coming up in the west, at once you say that it is going to rain--and it does. 55And when you feel the south wind blowing, you say that it is going to get hot--and it does. 56Hypocrites! You can look at the earth and the sky and predict the weather; why, then, don't you know the meaning of this present time? Settle with Your Opponent
(Matthew 5.25, 26) 57"Why do you not judge for yourselves the right thing to do? 58If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, do your best to settle the dispute before you get to court. If you don't, you will be dragged before the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail. 59There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine."
How much do you trust God? Do you trust Him enough that you will let go of what you are holding onto so dearly that God may take it and multiply it and make it an even greater blessing to the rest of the world? Will you lean not on your own understanding, but put your trust in Him who is the good father, who will provide for all of our needs? Will you allow God to complete the good work of transformation in your life? Consider Abraham, he trusted God so much that he either figured God would bring Isaac back to life or would provide an alternative sacrifice since God had promised him that Isaac would be the child who would receive the inheritance of the Lord. God Commands Abraham to Offer Isaac Genesis 22 Some time later God tested Abraham; he called to him, "Abraham!" And Abraham answered, "Yes, here I am!"
2"Take your son," God said, "your only son, Isaac, whom you love so much, and go to the land of Moriah. There on a mountain that I will show you, offer him as a sacrifice to me."
3Early the next morning Abraham cut some wood for the sacrifice, loaded his donkey, and took Isaac and two servants with him. They started out for the place that God had told him about. 4On the third day Abraham saw the place in the distance. 5Then he said to the servants, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there and worship, and then we will come back to you."
6Abraham made Isaac carry the wood for the sacrifice, and he himself carried a knife and live coals for starting the fire. As they walked along together, 7Isaac spoke up, "Father!"
He answered, "Yes, my son?"
Isaac asked, "I see that you have the coals and the wood, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?"
8Abraham answered, "God himself will provide one." And the two of them walked on together.
9When they came to the place which God had told him about, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. He tied up his son and placed him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then he picked up the knife to kill him. 11But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, "Abraham, Abraham!"
He answered, "Yes, here I am."
12"Don't hurt the boy or do anything to him," he said. "Now I know that you honor and obey God, because you have not kept back your only son from him."
13Abraham looked around and saw a ram caught in a bush by its horns. He went and got it and offered it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14Abraham named that place "The LORD Provides." And even today people say, "On the LORD's mountain he provides."
15The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time, 16"I make a vow by my own name--the LORD is speaking--that I will richly bless you. Because you did this and did not keep back your only son from me, 17I promise that I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the seashore. Your descendants will conquer their enemies. 18All the nations will ask me to bless them as I have blessed your descendants--all because you obeyed my command." 19Abraham went back to his servants, and they went together to Beersheba, where Abraham settled. Reviewing this story, we get to see as through the eyes of God what he was going to have to do for this world. He would sacrifice His one and only Son for the rest of us. We also see the parallel that the son who was dead - to be the offering - was rescued from the pit of death and back to life - as Jesus defeated the powers of death and resurrected. Abraham brought his son to a mountain to be sacrificed - God brought Jesus to a mountain to be crucified Isaac carried the wood - Jesus carried the cross Abraham and Isaac walked for three days - Abraham must have had to go through the death of his son in mind during this walk - Jesus died and was in the tomb for three days God provided a way for Isaac to be alive - Jesus conquered the grave and rose to be seen by many Jesus was our scapegoat - for our sins he was crucified so that we could be rescued from death. Isaac was also rescued from death by God who provided a scapegoat. So let us never forget how much God loves us and how he will be our ultimate provider - The Lord Provides
Have you ever wondered what God needs or requires?
- Let's read Psalm 15 What God Requires Psalm 15 LORD, who may enter your Temple?
Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill?
2Those who obey God in everything
and always do what is right,
whose words are true and sincere,
3and who do not slander others.
They do no wrong to their friends
nor spread rumors about their neighbors.
4They despise those whom God rejects,
but honor those who obey the LORD.
They always do what they promise,
no matter how much it may cost.
5They make loans without charging interest
and cannot be bribed to testify against the innocent.
Whoever does these things will always be secure. 1/14/2008 Today's Reading: Luke 12.1-31, Genesis 21 and Psalm 14
How much do you appreciate what God did for you? How much to you realize that God loves you so much that He sent His only son, Jesus, in order that through repentance by receiving Jesus, we could be reconciled back to God. 15And he went on to say to them all, "Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because your true life is not made up of the things you own, no matter how rich you may be."
Where are your priorities? Where are your eyes focused? Who do you trust? When will you trust? The Parable of the Rich Fool 13A man in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide with me the property our father left us."
14Jesus answered him, "Friend, who gave me the right to judge or to divide the property between you two?" 15And he went on to say to them all, "Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because your true life is not made up of the things you own, no matter how rich you may be."
16Then Jesus told them this parable: "There was once a rich man who had land which bore good crops. 17He began to think to himself, 'I don't have a place to keep all my crops. What can I do? 18This is what I will do,' he told himself; 'I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I will store the grain and all my other goods. 19Then I will say to myself, Lucky man! You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself !' 20But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself ? '"
21And Jesus concluded, "This is how it is with those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God's sight." Trust in God
(Matthew 6.25-34) 22Then Jesus said to the disciples, "And so I tell you not to worry about the food you need to stay alive or about the clothes you need for your body. 23Life is much more important than food, and the body much more important than clothes. 24Look at the crows: they don't plant seeds or gather a harvest; they don't have storage rooms or barns; God feeds them! You are worth so much more than birds! 25Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it? 26If you can't manage even such a small thing, why worry about the other things? 27Look how the wild flowers grow: they don't work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers. 28It is God who clothes the wild grass--grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the oven. Won't he be all the more sure to clothe you? What little faith you have!
29"So don't be all upset, always concerned about what you will eat and drink. 30(For the pagans of this world are always concerned about all these things.) Your Father knows that you need these things. 31Instead, be concerned with his Kingdom, and he will provide you with these things.
Isaac - a blessing from God - a promise fulfilled - a son given - a gift from God.
1/13/2008 Today's Reading: Let there be light. Let the light of God be seen outside of your body. Don't hide the love, the truths, the joy, and the hope that is within you thanks to having found a living relationship with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Shine and speak hope into the people around. Shine and speak truth to the people around you. Shine and speak the love of God into people in pain, people in addition, people in need of help so that they can receive from God freedom, true freedom that will break off the bondage of hell and provide them with a strength, a peace, and a hope that goes beyond normal understanding. The Light of the Body
(Matthew 5.15; 6.22, 23) 33"No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a bowl; instead, it is put on the lampstand, so that people may see the light as they come in. 34Your eyes are like a lamp for the body. When your eyes are sound, your whole body is full of light; but when your eyes are no good, your whole body will be in darkness. 35Make certain, then, that the light in you is not darkness. 36If your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be bright all over, as when a lamp shines on you with its brightness." Let's protect our minds and eyes and ears so that we don't allow dark things into them. Let's protect our children's innocence so that they don't have fears about things they shouldn't be thinking about and aren't ready to think about or deal with. What is on the radio? What is in the music that is playing? What is on the TV? What is on the web? What is in the magazines or books? etc. Let's work to protect what our minds works on. Let's work on what we allow our eyes to see and the associated thoughts and feelings that occur because of what we see. Let's protect our ears from what they could hear so that the associated thoughts and feelings that occur because of the words, the thoughts, the statements that are made. Lord give us strength to remain pure. Lord, purify our hearts, our minds, and our spirit so that we can start a new today. And Lord we will give You the praise and the glory and the honor in Jesus' name. Amen.
Do you need or are looking for Help - let's read Psalm 13 together: A Prayer for Help Psalm 13 How much longer will you forget me, LORD? Forever?
How much longer will you hide yourself from me?
2How long must I endure trouble?
How long will sorrow fill my heart day and night?
How long will my enemies triumph over me?
3Look at me, O LORD my God, and answer me.
Restore my strength; don't let me die.
4Don't let my enemies say, "We have defeated him."
Don't let them gloat over my downfall.
5I rely on your constant love;
I will be glad, because you will rescue me.
6I will sing to you, O LORD,
because you have been good to me. 1/12/2008 Today's Reading: Luke 11.1-28, Genesis 19 and Psalm 12 Have you ever had a challenge in wondering how to pray? Jesus showed His disciples how to pray: 2Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say this:
'Father:
 May your holy name be honored;
may your Kingdom come.
 3 Give us day by day the food we need.
4 Forgive us our sins,
 for we forgive everyone who does us wrong.
And do not bring us to hard testing.'" Do you see the pattern? First, praise God, honor God, worship God. Second, bring your daily needs before God for He is the God of the provision. Third, lift up what you have done that needs forgiveness. Forth, release and forgive, hand over to God the things others have done to you that you have carried or held onto - we have to give it up to God or else it will give the enemy/devil a foothold in which to come in and attack our lives. Fifth, ask God for strength, for courage, for wisdom to not fall into the traps or temptations of the devil. Sixth, Praise God and give Him the glory forever and ever Amen. As we pray, Jesus also shows us through a parable that we need to be persistent and consistent when we pray. Don't be ashamed to ask God for what you need. God's Word says we have not because we ask not. 5And Jesus said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you should go to a friend's house at midnight and say, 'Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. 6A friend of mine who is on a trip has just come to my house, and I don't have any food for him!' 7And suppose your friend should answer from inside, 'Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8Well, what then? I tell you that even if he will not get up and give you the bread because you are his friend, yet he will get up and give you everything you need because you are not ashamed to keep on asking. 9And so I say to you: Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 10For those who ask will receive, and those who seek will find, and the door will be opened to anyone who knocks. 11Would any of you who are fathers give your son a snake when he asks for fish? 12Or would you give him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? 13As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" We need to have unity in the body of Christ. We need to come together as one church - for the church is the body of Christ. We mustn't let the enemy keep us from coming together and performing miracles for the glory of God in Heaven. Anyone who isn't for Jesus is against Him. Jesus and Beelzebul
(Matthew 12.22-30; Mark 3.20-27) 14Jesus was driving out a demon that could not talk; and when the demon went out, the man began to talk. The crowds were amazed, 15but some of the people said, "It is Beelzebul, the chief of the demons, who gives him the power to drive them out."
16Others wanted to trap Jesus, so they asked him to perform a miracle to show that God approved of him. 17But Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them, "Any country that divides itself into groups which fight each other will not last very long; a family divided against itself falls apart. 18So if Satan's kingdom has groups fighting each other, how can it last? You say that I drive out demons because Beelzebul gives me the power to do so. 19If this is how I drive them out, how do your followers drive them out? Your own followers prove that you are wrong! 20No, it is rather by means of God's power that I drive out demons, and this proves that the Kingdom of God has already come to you.
21"When a strong man, with all his weapons ready, guards his own house, all his belongings are safe. 22But when a stronger man attacks him and defeats him, he carries away all the weapons the owner was depending on and divides up what he stole.
23"Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering. Do you feel that you are missing something? Are you looking for true and everlasting happiness? Are feeling down and out? True Happiness 27When Jesus had said this, a woman spoke up from the crowd and said to him, "How happy is the woman who bore you and nursed you!"
28But Jesus answered, "Rather, how happy are those who hear the word of God and obey it!" Are you willing and eager to serve? Will you be persistent in what you do? How ready are you to give up the current life and its woes in order to be changed and saved? How ready are you to allow great blessings to come into your life and not look back what was, but ahead to the incredible and miraculous life that can be ahead of you? We might have been in the valley of life, filled with hardship and pain, trying to fill it with stuff, trying to get rid of or make it go away through other means, but God wants to flee from these evil things and not look back till we are up on the hill. Run to God where He will lift us up and change our lives, getting rid of the old us and creating a new us through a living relationship with Him, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Are you in need of help? - Let's read Psalm 12 together: A Prayer for Help Psalm 12 Help us, LORD!
There is not a good person left;
honest people can no longer be found.
2All of them lie to one another;
they deceive each other with flattery.
3Silence those flattering tongues, O LORD!
Close those boastful mouths that say,
4"With our words we get what we want.
We will say what we wish,
and no one can stop us."
5"But now I will come," says the LORD,
"because the needy are oppressed
and the persecuted groan in pain.
I will give them the security they long for."
6The promises of the LORD can be trusted;
they are as genuine as silver
refined seven times in the furnace.
 7-8The wicked are everywhere,
and everyone praises what is evil.
Keep us always safe, O LORD,
and preserve us from such people. 1/11/2008 Today's Reading: Luke 10.21-42, Genesis 18 and Psalm 11 If you see someone who is stopped or stuck and in need of help do you stop? Do you offer your assistance? The Parable of the Good Samaritan 25A teacher of the Law came up and tried to trap Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to receive eternal life?"
26Jesus answered him, "What do the Scriptures say? How do you interpret them?"
27The man answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind'; and 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'"
28"You are right," Jesus replied; "do this and you will live."
29But the teacher of the Law wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"
30Jesus answered, "There was once a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers attacked him, stripped him, and beat him up, leaving him half dead. 31It so happened that a priest was going down that road; but when he saw the man, he walked on by on the other side. 32In the same way a Levite also came there, went over and looked at the man, and then walked on by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan who was traveling that way came upon the man, and when he saw him, his heart was filled with pity. 34He went over to him, poured oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them; then he put the man on his own animal and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Take care of him,' he told the innkeeper, 'and when I come back this way, I will pay you whatever else you spend on him.'"
36And Jesus concluded, "In your opinion, which one of these three acted like a neighbor toward the man attacked by the robbers?"
37The teacher of the Law answered, "The one who was kind to him."
Jesus replied, "You go, then, and do the same." Do you have the right priorities in what you are doing? Is your focus on the right things? Jesus Visits Martha and Mary 38As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him in her home. 39She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the feet of the Lord and listened to his teaching. 40Martha was upset over all the work she had to do, so she came and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself ? Tell her to come and help me!"
41The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things, 42but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her." Has God made you a promise? God when I was doing my morning Bible reading many years ago, as I read I heard God tell me that I would have a son as I was reading Genesis 18. I trusted God and when I had my second daughter and I selected a little boy to sponsor overseas, I still put my trust in God. Had she been a boy her name would have been Isaac as I felt the Lord had prompted me to change the boy name I was to give my son one day. My third child was coming and I know that when I first went through the Bible my name linked me up with someone of the same name in the Bible who had four daughters who were prophetess and my first daughter was able to see and understand things that spoke to me that I may have 4 daughters and God had given me a peace that if there were all girls then I would be blessed. Our third child was a boy and we named him Isaac and have been blessed by him. A side note and I won't know until we get to heaven is that we went through a couple of challenges and lost two of the children who never made it to full term - they may have been girls which would have fulfilled the prophecy I felt in regards to 4 daughters, but until I get to heaven I will not be sure as I know I will meet them in heaven one day and celebrate God's goodness there. God has also spoken to my heart that I should be happy with what I have, I should be content - He asked me if I was blessed with 2 daughters and a son and the answer is a resounding YES. So there is no longer any pressure over having another child as I know that God has provide for me and continues to provide for me today and always and I put my hope and my trust in Him daily knowing that He is the one that I will put all my trust in. A Son Is Promised to Abraham Genesis 18 The LORD appeared to Abraham at the sacred trees of Mamre. As Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day, 2he looked up and saw three men standing there. As soon as he saw them, he ran out to meet them. Bowing down with his face touching the ground, 3he said, "Sirs, please do not pass by my home without stopping; I am here to serve you. 4Let me bring some water for you to wash your feet; you can rest here beneath this tree. 5I will also bring a bit of food; it will give you strength to continue your journey. You have honored me by coming to my home, so let me serve you."
They replied, "Thank you; we accept."
6Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, "Quick, take a sack of your best flour, and bake some bread." 7Then he ran to the herd and picked out a calf that was tender and fat, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to get it ready. 8He took some cream, some milk, and the meat, and set the food before the men. There under the tree he served them himself, and they ate.
9Then they asked him, "Where is your wife Sarah?"
"She is there in the tent," he answered.
10One of them said, "Nine months from now I will come back, and your wife Sarah will have a son."
Sarah was behind him, at the door of the tent, listening. 11Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah had stopped having her monthly periods. 12So Sarah laughed to herself and said, "Now that I am old and worn out, can I still enjoy sex? And besides, my husband is old too."
13Then the LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Can I really have a child when I am so old?' 14Is anything too hard for the LORD? As I said, nine months from now I will return, and Sarah will have a son."
15Because Sarah was afraid, she denied it. "I didn't laugh," she said.
"Yes, you did," he replied. "You laughed." Is anything to hard for God? - To men it may seem impossible, but to God Nothing is impossible. Do you have a heart to serve? - We need to be ready to serve, for there are times we may not even realize that we are serving angels. We see that of the three men, one of them was the Lord as we continue to read. Do you realize the mercy and grace that God has for each of us? He wants that none would perish, but that all would repent and turn from their sins and receive the love of God provide through receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We see through His conversation with Abraham that even in Sodom that He would show mercy. Let's read on together... Abraham Pleads for Sodom 16Then the men left and went to a place where they could look down at Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on their way. 17And the LORD said to himself, "I will not hide from Abraham what I am going to do. 18His descendants will become a great and mighty nation, and through him I will bless all the nations. 19I have chosen him in order that he may command his sons and his descendants to obey me and to do what is right and just. If they do, I will do everything for him that I have promised."
20Then the LORD said to Abraham, "There are terrible accusations against Sodom and Gomorrah, and their sin is very great. 21I must go down to find out whether or not the accusations which I have heard are true."
22Then the two men left and went on toward Sodom, but the LORD remained with Abraham. 23Abraham approached the LORD and asked, "Are you really going to destroy the innocent with the guilty? 24If there are fifty innocent people in the city, will you destroy the whole city? Won't you spare it in order to save the fifty? 25Surely you won't kill the innocent with the guilty. That's impossible! You can't do that. If you did, the innocent would be punished along with the guilty. That is impossible. The judge of all the earth has to act justly."
26The LORD answered, "If I find fifty innocent people in Sodom, I will spare the whole city for their sake."
27Abraham spoke again: "Please forgive my boldness in continuing to speak to you, Lord. I am only a man and have no right to say anything. 28But perhaps there will be only forty-five innocent people instead of fifty. Will you destroy the whole city because there are five too few?"
The LORD answered, "I will not destroy the city if I find forty-five innocent people."
29Abraham spoke again: "Perhaps there will be only forty."
He replied, "I will not destroy it if there are forty."
30Abraham said, "Please don't be angry, Lord, but I must speak again. What if there are only thirty?"
He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty."
31Abraham said, "Please forgive my boldness in continuing to speak to you, Lord. Suppose that only twenty are found?"
He said, "I will not destroy the city if I find twenty."
32Abraham said, "Please don't be angry, Lord, and I will speak only once more. What if only ten are found?"
He said, "I will not destroy it if there are ten." 33After he had finished speaking with Abraham, the LORD went away, and Abraham returned home. Are you looking for confidence? Are you looking for someone to trust? - Let's pray together with Psalm 11 Confidence in the LORD Psalm 11 I trust in the LORD for safety.
How foolish of you to say to me,
"Fly away like a bird to the mountains,
2because the wicked have drawn their bows and aimed their arrows
to shoot from the shadows at good people.
3There is nothing a good person can do
when everything falls apart."
4The LORD is in his holy temple;
he has his throne in heaven.
He watches people everywhere
and knows what they are doing.
5He examines the good and the wicked alike;
the lawless he hates with all his heart.
6He sends down flaming coals and burning sulfur on the wicked;
he punishes them with scorching winds.
7The LORD is righteous and loves good deeds;
those who do them will live in his presence. 1/10/2008 Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and for the greatness of Your promises. May You open my eyes today to see more clearly what You have planned before me. Help me to be able to walk in the path of Your light and be able to now upright not swaying to the left or to the right, but upright and straight in the path of righteousness that You call me towards. Help me to lean not on my own understanding nor to be swayed by my emotions, but to trust in Your Word and Your will to walk out my days in a way that will bring praise and glory to Your name. Be glorified today in all I say and all I do, granting me the time to accomplish all that is required at work, at home, in church, and in my family, in Jesus' name I pray. Lord, I will give You all the praise and all the glory, all the honor and all the worship in Jesus' name. Amen.
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