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“We Give the Gift of Christ’s Presence” – Why Give – Day 8
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“We Give the Gift of Christ’s Presence” – Why Give – Day 8
Matthew 1:23 (NIV)
23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[a] (which means “God with us”).
When Jesus came to earth as a baby he left the glory, beauty and majesty of heaven to come to earth to be with us, to be with me. He came to be present with us. God is always with us. Psalms 139 tells us that we cannot flee from God's presence. No matter where we go or where we try to hide He is always with us. Jesus came to be with all people, no one was excluded. To be included is very important to us. We all like to be in the in crowd and not feel left out. We like to feel comfortable walking up and joining in a conversation without fear of being rejected. We like to know we are included.
I once belonged to a group where I felt accepted and welcome. After I'd been there for a while I heard rumblings that there was an inner group but I rejected the thought. After a while I realized the rumblings were true. There was an inner group and I was left out. I was hurt and wondered why others were included and not me.
Everyone is always accepted in God's presence. Jesus came for all. He came to talk with us and to walk with us. Some people may feel God is not with them. They feel alone. When I choose to write a card that God is nudging me to write or make a phone call that He has placed on my heart to do I can be the vessel God's presence is flowing through to them. God's presence can encourage and bring joy. In God's presence there is peace, calm, order and acceptance. We can come to God with our worries, struggles, hurts, and our “to do” list. He welcomes us, tells us He's glad we came and tells us to set our burdens down right here by my feet. He tells us to come, sit by him and talk to him. We can pour out your hearts to Him. He listens and then, as we sit quietly and listen to him, we find peace, love and joy. We realize that in the presence of Immanuel our troubles vanish and our hearts are mended. We are with God. Our circumstances haven't changed but our hearts have. Being with Jesus changes everything. We are not locked out of His presence. He came for all. He came to be present, to do life with all people. Some people will welcome Him, some will fear Him and others will reject Him but He is here for everyone.
Dear Jesus,
We love you and we adore you. You are Holy, Holy, Holy. We thank you that you came to us. We thank you that you are Immanuel, God with us. Lord, thank you that your presence can flow through us to others. Help us obey you and to allow your presence in us to affect those around us.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen
Charleen
The results of our river - Why give? - Day 7
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Welcome to the POG Blog!
Today is Sunday which means YOU get to start the discussion on today’s devotion and scripture! What is it saying to you today? How does it relate to your life right now? Enjoy listening, reading, meditating, and sharing your thoughts with others today!
Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.
The mysterious increase of our river - Why give? - Day 6
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Welcome to the POG Blog!
Today is Saturday which means YOU get to start the discussion on today’s devotion and scripture! What is it saying to you today? How does it relate to your life right now? Enjoy listening, reading, meditating, and sharing your thoughts with others today!
As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. (Ezekiel 47:3-5)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20a)
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
"The Direction of Our River" Why Give? - Day 5
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“…and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east…” Ezekiel 47:1
So the direction of the flow of the river is definitely “OUT”!
Outlets are important! Without outlets we become stagnant! This is one of the great points that John Devries is making in “Why Give?” and certainly in this chapter! I like the contrasting terms – the Kingdom of Get (Satan’s domain) and the Kingdom of Give (God’s domain)! One has an outlet – outlets cause flow – flow brings life!
My wife is out of the country for a couple of weeks! She has been gone 8 days! I had to do dishes this morning! It’s been busy – the dishwasher is on the blink – so dirty dishes had accumulated in the sink. I had filled the sink with soapy water a day or two ago – the dishes were soaking! But, this morning I noticed some unique fragrances in the kitchen! Don’t you hate having to put your hand down in the slimy, cold, stagnate liquid to find the drain plug. I pulled the plug!
My sink needed an outlet so the stagnant water could flow out and fresh clean water could flow in and the dishes could get clean!!
Outlets are important!
I was talking with someone yesterday who shared that she was a little down last Sunday coming to worship – a little “ho-hum” about life! Then God touched her concerning the plight of persecuted Christians and refugees in Syria - our topic last Sunday. As she heard of tangible ways to help through putting together “action packs” of supplies to be sent to Syria she turned to her friend and together they committed to getting involved and giving to this noble purpose. She said that from that moment on her demeanor began to change and attitude began to shift.
The plug was pulled – life began to flow!
That is the way it works! God has given us life in Jesus and continues to fill us with life by His Spirit. We receive Him and begin to flow with life as God’s grace flows from us through outlets of action. We are by nature citizens of the Kingdom of Get but are transformed by Jesus, filled by His Spirit to live in the Kingdom of Give!
Let’s flow!
delton
The origin of our river - Why Give? - Day 4
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Water [was] coming out from under the threshold of the temple…from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. (Ezekiel 47:1)
For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS one and only SON, that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
At some point just about every kid leaves the nest. But approximately 40 percent of us don’t move far from it, living our entire lives in the city or town of our birth. It was a difficult decision for me but one I thought was economically in the best interest of my family. My parents and my wife’s parents were not thrilled about us leaving and taking their grandkids hundreds of miles away from them, but what could they do?
Our plan was to stay with friends a few weeks while looking for our own place and as such we left most of our belongings behind in storage and took only what was of necessity. It wasn’t easy but we knew the inconveniences were temporary so we made the best of things. Finally after several very long weeks we both had new jobs and a new place of our own (although without furniture) in a brand new city. Of course, that was when the bottom fell out.
Our move was being financed in part by funds I was withdrawing from a savings account I had with my previous employer. On the day it was supposed pay instead of receiving a check I received a notice that there had been an error in my submission request and that payment would be delayed. Calls to the company gave me assurances that the payment would be made but not for several weeks. We had operated pretty much on a shoestring budget to get to where we were and that delay was devastating. Since we had just moved and just started new jobs we did not qualify for a loan from the standard lending institutions. The circle of friends I could ordinarily depend on in such situations were now hundreds of miles away and going to them just wasn’t an option. So I did what I had always done when things seemed desperate. I called home.
After carefully laying out the problem and swallowing most of my pride I asked for a temporary bailout. Imagine how stunned I was when I was told that this time I was on my own and would have to figure it out myself. In shock I just barely heard my parent’s offer to help us return home if things got too bad as, almost simultaneously there was a knock at the door. It was my new landlord holding the note I left her explaining the rent might be a little late. She very calmly but firmly explained that they did not accept promises for rent, just cash or checks.
The following morning at work one of my trainers noticed that I seemed a distracted and a little down and began to bug me about it. Finally I snapped that I was having a few financial issue but it would not affect my production. He told me to stop working and took me into the boss’s office and went to get the boss. I was starting to panic. I didn’t think I had been disrespectful in the way I responded, but maybe he took it that way. The very last thing I needed was to now lose this job. My boss came in and with a no nonsense look immediately asked me to explain what was going on. When I started to tell him about my conversation with the trainer he waived that off and said no, what kind of financial issues are you having? I sheepishly began to explain about the delayed savings payment and before I could finish he asked how much was I expecting. He then left the room briefly and when he returned he had a check for the amount of the savings payment. He gave it to me and said go home and take care of your business. Come back tomorrow no distractions ready to work.
From this experience I learned my most treasured lesson about giving. My parents had always been my safety net, the resource I could always count on. Denying this request was the best gift they ever gave me. If forced me to recognize and depend on the real source of all gifts, “the ORIGIN of our river.”
Great and glorious FATHER of all, thank YOU so much for the greatest gift of all, YOUR SON and HIS unselfish sacrifice given to an undeserving world. Teach us YOUR ways of love and generosity so that we may participate in a life of joy and abundance. In CHRIST name we pray, amen.
Jim L.
Gushing torrents of living water - Why Give? - Day 3
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John 7:38
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams (torrents) of living water will flow from within him.
Why give? We live in such a self-centered society. We are inundated with messages every day that encourage us to take care of ourselves – it’s “me first”, so that THEN we can take care of others. I must be happy, secure, calm, safe, etc., before I can help others. That is what this world tells us. It is a lie, and Jesus reminds us that our only hope is through Him first. We cannot do anything on our own, without Him. Jesus in John 7:38 also reminds us that this gift of love, hope, and life doesn’t end with us – it’s supposed to flow through us, to others.
The paragraph that points out that Christ has moved out of stone temples into us made me pause. I am all too often ready to give, but I tend to wait until there is some organized effort through my church, or a volunteer organization, or a group of friends before I share Christ with others, before I give. We should be waiting and watching for everyday happenings to share Jesus with everyone we encounter. What a gift Jesus has given us, expecting us to give and declare his love and sacrifice! And what a beautiful example, living water, to remind us that giving is constant motion… a river doesn’t stop, it continually flows. In my life, waiting to participate in organized giving is just a sad little excuse. He has promised us His love and eternal life with Him, another unending river, so how can we NOT share that gift, over and over, day after day?
There are so many ways we can give… our money, our possessions, our time, our humor, a smile, a helping hand, an encouraging word. The list goes on and on. And because we are so uniquely made by God, our gifts to others will always be specially unique, one of a kind. That’s an endless flowing river too! J
Father God, help me to daily think of myself (with Your help) as an unending river of Your love. Send your Holy Spirit to help me recognize the opportunities in my daily life to be a stream of giving for You that never ends! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
kristi
God as a River - Why Give? Day 2
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This meditation provides an awesome way to look at the creation narrative of Genesis 1-3. It is as if God organized the scriptures in such a way that from the beginning, the very first things we would learn about the character of our Creator is His "abundant generosity"!
I need to dwell on this reality a moment - a lot of moments. I am just looking out the window- observing my world and realizing yet again God is abundantly generous. The natural world around me gives constant testimony of His generosity. I am so much happier, joy filled, generous and alive when I allow my heart and mind to be consumed with this truth, "God is very generous to me!" Today's meditation was full of great insights but this is the one that jumped all over me.
Take, for instance, my Jack Russell puppy (8 months) - "Sparky!" God has wired Sparky "abundantly generously" with joy, zeal, energy, affection and sheer life that when it all comes pouring out at me as I walk out in the morning or come home at night - well it is over the top love from a little dog to a simple guy like me. That is God's "abundant generosity" flowing through His created world to me! Sparky gives more than I can take in at one time. God does too - all the time, everyday!
I know that is a simple example but I am reminded through this "Why Give?" meditation today that God's abundant generosity is all around me all the time and as I realize that every moment of every day I will be less likely to be "miserly and miserable" and more likely to be "a river of generosity" more fully alive.
What did you see in this meditation that caught your attention?
Join the conversation!
delton
Biblical Rivers
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Day 1
When I first saw the cover of the “Why Give?” devotional, I was immediately drawn to the image of the water cascading through a series of moss-covered stones. I love moving water of all kinds – an ocean, a sea, a mighty river rushing past, a bubbling stream, a tinkling fountain….. There is something infinitely soothing to my soul when I am near water. As a young girl, I spent many happy hours sitting next to a little stream that bubbled through a wooded area near my home. Sometimes the sound was a gentle gurgle, other times a loud torrent after a rain but always a sound that lifted my heart and soothed my soul.
As a follower of Christ, I am called to allow his love and grace to well up within me. As his goodness flows into me – will I be living, moving water? Reflecting on the image of a bubbling stream, I wonder if I will be the follower who is so in love with her Savior, so full of his life-giving streams of water that I bubble over with joy. Will I dance and sparkle in the light of his presence? Will I allow God to use me to minister to others; sometimes as a torrent of love spilling over them; other times as a gentle gurgle enfolding them? Will others see me as full of life and joy or am I stagnant, murky, and dark with the cares and worries of this world?
I also love the lap of the waves against the shoreline – the rhythmic beat of the ocean’s heart. Will I allow myself to be the rhythmic ocean, faithfully coming ashore into the presence of Jesus? Returning each morning and evening to be replenished by his grace and mercy in preparation for the work he calls me to do? Or will my faith be challenged by moving currents that toss me to and fro in the deep, sucking me down into the depths of selfishness and self-absorption?
Abba Father, teach me the ways of your son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Empower me to be filled with streams of love and mercy, flowing from YOU through ME. Walk with me, Jesus, as I begin this forty day journey of learning how to give to those precious people that you will place in my path. Help me, Jesus, to always seek YOUR truth in Word and prayer.
Amen
Kelly
Why Give? - Intro
Why Give? - Introduction
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Welcome to our new 40 day journey titled Why Give? Everyday starting Monday we will be blogging a daily devotional based on this Why Give journey. Attached will be an audio version of the daily reading from Why Give so you have the option to read from the book or listen to the daily reading from our blog. This makes it a lot easier for those with long commutes that want to be inspired by His word daily.
Saturday's Blog
Welcome to the POG Blog! Today is Saturday which means YOU get to start the discussion on today’s scripture! What is it saying to you today? How does it relate to your life right now? How does it relate to the message from Sunday? Enjoy reading, meditating, and sharing your thoughts with others today!
Today’s Scripture is: James 4:4-8
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
10/31/14 The Power to Forgive
The Power to Forgive
Lord, thank you for this new day and for a new opportunity to celebrate the indwelling of your Holy Spirit and the power to live as you direct. Amen
Colossians 3:12-14
12 These are the clothes you must put on, then, since God has chosen you, made you holy, and lavished his love upon you. You must be tender-hearted, kind, humble, meek, and ready to put up with anything. 13 You must bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against someone else, you must forgive each other. Just as the master forgave you, you must do the same. 14 On top of all this you must put on love, which ties everything together and makes it complete.
Today I am sharing a translation of the passage in Colossians by the theologian N.T. Wright. I love it for its clarity. It spells out what God has done for each of us and sets out what He expects of us as His childen. We learn that He has chosen us, made us holy and lavished his love upon us. In return for His gracious activity in our lives, He compels us to be tender-hearted, kind, humble, meek, and ready to put up with anything. We must bear with one another and above all we must forgive one another.
I don’t know about you, but while I am ready to celebrate everything that God has done in my life, I’m a bit challenged by the ‘clothes’ that God is asking me to wear. I realize that if I try to be all that God expects and to do it in my own power I am doomed to fail. I have a lot of experience. However, I have come to realize it is only because of the Holy Spirit in me, and my total reliance on him daily, that the demands of this passage are a possibility. Even then, when I fall short, there is forgiveness at the foot of the cross.
I find the call to forgive the hardest of God’s expectations in the passage above. I have had a lot of forgiving to do in my life. Yet through it, I have learned that unless I recognize the depth of my own sin and focus on the immeasurable greatness of the forgiveness that God has extended to me through the death and resurrection of Jesus, forgiving others is all but impossible. The key in all of it, as Paul writes, is ‘putting on love which ties everything together and makes it complete.”
Lord, thank you for being my Father and for showing me the greatness of your love and forgiveness today and each day of my life. Amen
jhf
10.30.2014 “Give us this day our daily bread”
“Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread” -
Matthew 6:31-34
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Today we will look at the line in the ‘Our Father’ prayer:
“Give us this day our daily bread”
Todays scripture passage is part of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” and comes after his “Our Father” prayer. It seems that Jesus is clarifying for us in today’s verses that when we pray, ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ , we are asking God for our most basic needs. He doesn’t want us to spend our time worrying about the things we need to live, but to trust that God our Father will provide exactly what we need for today. He doesn’t want us to worry about tomorrow either because then our focus is not on God but on ourselves.
I like The Message Version of this passage-
“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works, fuss about over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
This really gets at the heart of it, because worrying is such a natural human response to the problems that we face throughout our lives.
As Jesus said in the passage “the Gentiles” (or ‘people who don’t know God’) run after these things…”
He is calling us to be different, and to come to our heavenly Father, who knows all the things we need. He wants us to come into his kingdom and to be right with him first, so that we are free from thinking we need something more than God.
I’ve realized that when I am focused on all my worries and concerns, my focus is on me, and not God! I am missing out on the perfect peace and joy of being in the loving presence of my heavenly Father. After experiencing God’s amazing love, and warmth, I long to stay in his Holy Presence. He comforts me and reassures me that he is all that I need. Then I can go and face the day and all that comes with it. Because the God of the Universe, loves me and is living inside of me and is right there to help me.
For years I was handicapped by worries, doubts and fears, I was afraid to go out, or interact with the world. I became depressed and felt useless,
but God, didn’t let me stay in that state. As he called me to renew my faith in him, and as I let go of my fears and doubts he opened new doors for me.
As I surrendered my life, and my will over to God, he gave me something to do for him.
A few years back, God called me to work with the Middle School kids at church. After a while he called me to become part of the prayer team. Currently I’m serving on the Spiritual Leadership Team.
About a year ago he called me to go and volunteer at the Storehouse Food Mission, and there I began helping to serve groceries to families who came in. After awhile I became a Client Partner who takes a few minutes to talk with and offer to pray with each person before they get their groceries. Through this experience God has taught me so much about him, and about myself. I can do all that he asks me to do, through Christ Jesus!
Little by little as the Holy Spirit dwells in my heart and I in him, I have overcome my fears, and try not to give into my worries. Now I am able to let go of them easier and don’t let myself dwell on them because I know all I have to do is ask God to come and help me to have peace about whatever it is, and he delivers me from my fears and helps me to figure out the way through the problem or circumstance.
Our Heavenly Father,
I thank you for all the blessings in my life and that I can come to you each day, all day, and ask you for what I need and I know that you will provide exactly what I need for today. Help me to keep my focus on you Lord, and to not let anything come between us! I praise you and give you all the glory! Amen.
Patrice
10.27.2014 Live in God’s Presence
Exodus 3:10-14 (NIV) 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
Hallowed be Thy Name...on earth as it is in heaven.
Hallowed means to be consecrated, sacred, revered, and to hold as holy. We should stand in awe of God's perfectness and His goodness. We need to glorify, magnify and adore our Lord.
In the passage reading for today God has been talking to Moses from the burning bush. In verse five God told Moses the place he was standing was Holy ground. God told Moses He had chosen him to lead the Israelites out of their oppression and out of Egypt. Moses objected and said "Who am I that I should go?" God told Moses that He would be with him. Then Moses asked God what he should tell the people His name was. God replied; tell them “I AM WHO I AM”. Tell them "I AM has sent me to you."
The Hebrew word for I AM is Yahweh. In the Bible a name usually reveals some specific truth about a person. The name I AM indicates who God is. He is complete, holy, unchangeable, perfect in every way, and eternal. He is completely self-existent, incomprehensible, creator, and faithful to all of his promises. He is Almighty God, my Lord, and my King. The Jews considered this name so holy that even to pronounce it reverently was considered blasphemy.
Since God is unchanging, He is the same yesterday today and forever, we serve the same God as Moses did. I cannot comprehend God, but I can believe that God is who He says He is. He has endless resources and everything I am and all that I have comes from the Lord.
Earlier this year I decided to try to live with the conscious awareness that God was always with me. God is always with me, however, I don't always live and make my choices as if I was conscious of that. Yesterday I was reminded of that when Pastor Delton asked "Would I act the way I act if I was always aware of God's presence?"
What does it look like live in God’s presence? In God’s presence there is love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, and peace. In God’s presence my focus changes from me centered to God centered. The troubles that I have look different and my heart finds rest and peace.
When He calls me to do a job He is always with me. He provides all I need to do the job He called me to. He did for Moses and He will for me. Will I trust him? Will I obey and do what He's asked me to do? Will I follow Him? I want to live my life to glorify my God because He is worthy of all of my worship and all of my praise and of all of my obedience. As we sang in one of our songs yesterday we need to set our eyes on God so we can set our hearts on Him. I need to keep my focus on the constant presence of God in my life.
Every day, one day at a time, I'm going to turn my focus to God and consciously live in His presence.
Will you join me?
Charleen
Saturday's Blog
Welcome to the POG Blog! Today is Saturday which means YOU get to start the discussion on today’s scripture! What is it saying to you today? How does it relate to your life right now? How does it relate to the message from Sunday? Enjoy reading, meditating, and sharing your thoughts with others today!
Today’s Scripture is: Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
10.24.14 "Intimidation"
This quote is from a letter Peter wrote to Jesus followers like us,
"6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lionlooking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."
The image of Satan as a" prowling and roaring lion looking for someone to devour" catches my attention! In just a few words Peter is trying to convey a great deal about his understanding evil and Satan! I would love to sit down with Peter and have some follow up questions, "Tell me more!... Help me understand... What experiences lead you to describe the devil in this way?" But I don't get to do that...... but I can look closely at his words. Here are some of my conclusions about what Peter is telling me!
1) He seeks to devour... The devil is very dangerous and operates without mercy! Take him seriously!
2) He prowls - so sometimes he is sneaky and you don't see him coming..... so Peter says, "Be alert!"
3) He roars - sometimes he uses a mega phone and intimidates (I think of things like ISIS) .... so Peter says, "Be sober minded!"
4) He is beaten and beatable - each battle we have is winnable through faith in the winner - Jesus.... so Peter says, "Resist him, standing firm in the faith!"
As we stand firm in faith and resist the devil - he shrinks back intimidated by the power and presence of Jesus! We get to see ourselves as very strong in the battle! As Jesus taught us to pray we get to cry out to God in the midst of life... in the midst of temptation saying "Father, Deliver us from the evil one!"
This simple pray connects us to our Father in heaven and the victory He has accomplished through Jesus for us!
Today I will "Resist him standing firm in the faith.." by praying "Father, Deliver us from the evil one... Deliver us!"
It is time for Satan to be intimidated in my life and in yours!
delton
10.23.14 "Friendship with the World ...."
James 4:4-8 4 You adulterous people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”[c]
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
I was blessed in high school to have a part-time job at the Post Office. Several of my classmates worked there as well. One in particular stood out when I read this passage. I’ll call him Jack since he actually became rather famous. Jack worked the loading dock which was hands down the toughest assignment at the Post Office. Eighteen wheelers, nick named “pigs” would come in packed with hundreds of hundred pound canvas bags stuffed with mail that had to be unloaded and then reloaded on a tight schedule. Jack was a pretty average guy. He was a hard worker and, like many of us, had thoughts of perhaps sticking with the Post Office after graduation, if we were lucky.
The summer before our senior year Jack went from 5’8 to 6’3 and lifting those heavy bags in those hot trucks changed him physically overnight. Suddenly thoughts of working full time at the Post Office changed to going to college on an athletic scholarship at a small local college. In college, Jack blossomed in more ways than one. He became a star athlete and at the same time, much to the disappointment of his Mom, a drug dealer. Jack used the drug money to finance a college lifestyle that we regular guys could only dream about. I have to admit there was envy in my heart back then, but I told myself that the lifestyle would catch up with him sooner or later.
As it turned out it was much much later. Jack didn’t finish school but he beat the odds, signing a multimillion dollar professional contact and becoming a wealthy celebrity at a very young age. Needless to say he aggressively embraced the lifestyle and the more successful he became the more reckless he became. Ultimately it all came crashing down and Jack ended up addicted to drugs, serving a lengthy prison sentence, and penniless.
Years later he would say that when he was on top there was nothing he couldn’t do or have and he wanted it all. But when it was gone he was stunned at how quickly the doors slammed shut, and he would add, deservedly so. But Jack’s story doesn’t end with him face down in the gutter. In fact he would tell you that’s where it began. It was there that Jack finally turned to the only door that had never closed. That door led him to the cross, to forgiveness, to redemption. Slowly he began to rebuild his life, no longer in the fast lane, no longer part of the illusionary world described in today’s passage that he formerly held to so tightly. Today Jack is once again a multimillionaire. But you would never know it if you met him. His time and money are volunteered and donated to showing people that door, the door that never closed on him. He would be the first person to tell you just how wonderful it is that our GOD is so very jealous!
Great FATHER of the universe, we thank and praise YOU today knowing that YOUR door is always open and that no matter what we do, we cannot out sin YOUR grace and forgiveness. Thank you for loving us enough to be jealous! In CHRIST name we pray, amen!
Jim L.
10.22.14 "Be Ready!"
Be Ready, Stand Firm, Be Alert and Always Pray!
Ephesians 6: 13-18
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
What jumps out to me from these wonderful descriptive verses, is the urgency to ‘Be Ready, Stand Firm, Be Alert and Always Pray’.
This is our part, practical things we must do to get prepare for the battle.
So, when is the “day of evil”?
Everyday! Day and Night! 24/7! 365 days a year!
When should we be ready? Always!
How do we stay ready?
The only way we possibly can be… by living in the Spirit of Jesus Christ!
By following Paul’s instructions on being ready, as illustrated with putting on the full armor of God, we will be able to stand firm against the attacks of the evil one.
These attacks are on all fronts; physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It comes in various ways, and at anytime! It can be slow and subtle or it can be a sudden unexpected event that opens the door to temptation, and then it’s up to us to choose to follow the evil one and sin, or to follow Jesus and stand firm and steady in our faith and the truth.
The evil one is always lurking around us, ready to jump in anyway that he can. And when we let our guard down even for a second, he takes that as an open invitation to try and get us to stumble and sin.
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”
As Pastor Delton shared with us on Sunday in his message and in the notes, “The battle is real! Temptation is a given!” “Jesus says to pray to the only One who can lead us …and can actually deliver us from the evil one who tempts us.”
What areas do you struggle with in “Standing Firm”?
What are your weak areas?
One area I struggle with is procrastination! Ignoring stuff I don’t want to deal with – ever! Also with things I don’t know how to do. I put things off for as long as possible or waiting for someone else to come and take care of it. I let my feelings and attitude guide my actions. This feeling of dread would come over me when I looked at the task in front of me. I would look at the whole ‘imagined’ mountain in front of me, and feel a heaviness, and rebellion. I also had a feeling of self-pity, ‘why me?’ ‘I always have to do this,’ ‘why doesn’t someone else come and help?’ I wasn’t able to stand against the evil one, because I was working in my own strength and not by the Holy Spirit who lives in me, but who I was ignoring!
Though I’ve been a faithful follower of Christ for many years, I have not always been as committed. I would justify my attitude, and give into temptations to do my own thing, because I was tired or lazy or just wanted time off from doing good. I felt I needed a break, I would look at others, even other Christians who didn’t seem to care, and I became complacent in just serving God on the outside, not to please him, but to please others and to get the praise and recognition I wanted. Over time I became just a shell, dead inside, performing on the outside. I became depressed and felt that there wasn’t any meaning or purpose for my life. I understood what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:2 “Meaningless! Meaningless! … Everything is meaningless.”
I still battle with this when I’m feeling overwhelmed because I’ve taken on too many commitments. As I recommit my life to God, my old self dies, and my new self in Christ is growing stronger! I am truly living for God, through Jesus Christ, by the power of his Holy Spirit.
This is a life long process, and there is still much room for improvement. God is retraining me in His ways, and helping me to let go of my old ways of following him. Being Righteous through God, instead of Self-righteous by my own strength! Letting go of prejudices and judgment of others. Learning to be more patient and accept the things that I cannot change, but must seek the Lord’s will to work it out for his glory!
With the armor of God protecting me, I am able to stand firm, and strong against all that the enemy throws at me.
Daily I ask God to protect me, and my family. I pray Psalm 91 over us, and Trust God that no matter what happens, good or not, that everything will work out. It may not always be the outcome I expect, but it will be part of God’s perfect plan. God’s plan is always right and the best.
“pray the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. “
also we are to “be alert and always keep praying for all the Lord’s people.”
There is no time off in the Lord’s army!
We are always training, and /or serving!
When Jesus calls, will you Be Ready to follow?
When God gives you a command, will you obey?
When the evil one comes will you be able to Stand Firm?
Are you Alert and are you Always praying?
Our Heavenly Father,
I ask you to help me to be ready and willing to serve you daily. Please help me to overcome my weaknesses, and to let go of my selfishness. I love you Lord with all my heart, help me now to love you Lord with all my strength, and all of my mind and all of my soul. I am ready to follow you and obey you, right now! In all that I do, Lord, BE GLORIFIED! Amen!
Patrice
10.21.14 "Armor of God"
The Armor of God Heavenly Father, thank you for this time we have together. I thank You for the many blessings You’ve poured into my life, known and unknown, and praise You for the work You’ve begun in me. Quiet my mind and thoughts, that I can hear only You. Amen.
Ephesians 6:10-12
New International Version (NIV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”. Matthew 6:13. This section of the Lord’s Prayer brings up a subject - satan or the evil in this world - that I honestly have never dwelled upon. I avoid conflict at all costs – it’s always been my nature. I’d much rather concentrate on Jesus’ love, grace, and forgiveness. I like to expect the best from the people around me, and not dwell on the negative.
However, I’ve come to believe that ignoring evil can make us complacent about the root of temptation and sin. In Ephesians, St. Paul reminds us that evil, and the forces of evil are very real. In the same breath, he reminds us that we already have a champion against the evil one. In a video I watched on Saturday, the speaker said the Lord has already conquered satan, and we are to remember that Jesus goes before us in every battle in our lives – he’s defeated the evil one, but satan is not destroyed. He won’t be totally out of our lives until Jesus comes again to take us all home.
In the meantime, we are in a battle, spiritual warfare. The video speaker said that we should use 3 “P’s” to fight: Pray, Practice our faith, and Preach the Gospel. St. Paul reminds us that we are already equipped (armored) by our Savior to resist the devil’s schemes, but we must remember we cannot fight evil on our own. Martin Luther wrote many times about fighting with the devil, and these verses in Ephesians reminded me of one of the songs he wrote, printed below. It seems that although Martin Luther spent a lot of time struggling with the evil one, he also recognized that we shouldn’t give him too much credit or power over us.
Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us, We tremble not, we fear no ill, They shall not over-pow’r us. This world’s prince may still Scowl fierce as his will, He can harm us none, He’s judged; the deed is done. One little Word can fell him. (Lutheran Service Book 656)
The video speaker also related a story about Martin Luther confronting satan:
“Almost every night when I wake up the devil is there and wants to dispute with me. I have come to this conclusion: When the argument that the Christian is without the law and above the law doesn’t help, I instantly chase him away with a fart.” (Martin Luther, Table Talk, 469)
That’s really funny and irreverent, and when we’re talking about something as serious as the evil one, let’s not give him any power in our lives. (Can you tell I’m the mother of sons?) If one little word, or a fart, remembering that we are empowered by the armor of God, is all that we need to defeat satan, then I feel comforted that, with prayer, and practice, and preaching (sharing), I can win over the multitude of temptations I face daily.
Father, we come completely dependent on you in the battle with evil. I will fall if I go it alone! As you lead me Father, don’t just lead me in the life filled with temptation, but I ask boldly and confidently for You to DELIVER me from the evil one in every situation! Deliver us from the evil one… Deliver us!
kristi
Hungry
The Scripture for today is Matthew 4:1-4 4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
This past Saturday, my family and I went for a hike to Enchanted Rock. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed our hike tremendously. We had gotten a later start than we planned and had also taken a detour down a steep and treacherous side of Enchanted Rock. By the time we finished our hike, it was about 2:00 in the afternoon. Part of our plan for the day was to travel to Fredericksburg for lunch at the Peach Tree Inn. By the time we arrived, just before 3:00 pm – I was absolutely starving. Some of you may know that I follow a careful eating plan in order to maintain my health and waistline. On Saturday, I decided to eat whatever I wanted – giving into the temptation to eat the beautifully prepared and presented food, regardless of the consequences. Lunch was incredibly delicious! I indulged in homemade bread and strawberry crepes for dessert – things I typically avoid. Afterwards, I found myself feeling uncomfortably full and a bit queasy.
As I look back over my choices that day, I am struck by some conclusions. How often does hunger cause us to make poor choices, giving into the temptation to indulge in behaviors that are not best for us? Do our poor choices lead us to physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, financial, familial, etc. health? When I am hungry and tempted to eat unhealthily, do I pray for strength to make good choices? Do I pray for wisdom and plan ahead to ensure that I am successful in nourishing my body with healthy food? When I am feeling lonely and hungry for companionship do I seek my Savior in prayer and the Word? Do I let his love and care for me uplift my spirit and remind me that he died for ME? He is my Rock and my Redeemer – the solid rock upon which I stand. Do I let his love and care for me flow out to others, helping me to develop loving relationships? Or do I indulge in self-pity and believe the lies of the enemy – unloved, unlovable, unworthy. When I feel hungry for acceptance and a sense of worth – do I head to the shopping mall to buy the latest fashion, tech toy, _________, believing the lie that “stuff” will make me special? Or do I seek the Father, who knows the very number of hairs on my head; who has cast my sin as far as the east is to the west; who rejoices over me with singing? Am I buying into the treacherous lies of the enemy? An enemy, who seeks to crush, kill and destroy me. Or do I recognize the truth? My Father in Heaven loves me and cares for me all of the days of my life. He sent his own son to die for me so that I would never be separated from him.
What about you? What are you hungry for? Are you letting your Father lead you THROUGH the temptation to fill that hunger with worldly things? Are you praying and seeking HIS DELIVERANCE, then standing firm on HIS PROMISES? Are you preparing yourself with prayer and God’s word for the daily walk through the battlefield?
Dear Father, I thank you for your faithful leading throughout the many temptations that come into my life. I praise you for giving me strength to resist the evil one. Help me, Jesus, to always seek your truth in Word and prayer. Fill the hungry places in my soul with your Word, your Love and your presence. Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil! For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever! Amen
Kelly