Good or Evil

FOCUS

Proverbs 11:27
He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,
But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

THINK

In the course of the day, we bounce from one situation to another. We don't take the time to think of the concequences. We just react rather than think things through. In this passage of scripture, we are encouraged to not just to look but to seek. Seek means to to go in search of, to try to find or discover by searching or questioning, to try to obtain, or to attempt. Are we truely searching and attempting to find the good in situations or are we content to simply react and be in the moment? If we seek, then we will find favor. What is favor? Favor is a gift bestowed as a token of goodwill, kind regard, and love. Here we are told that trouble will come to the person who seeks evil. Is that what we want? Do we want evil to be a part of our lives? Evil is the force in nature that governs and gives rise to wickedness and sin, the wicked or immoral part of someone or something: The evil in his nature has destroyed the good, harm; mischief; misfortune: to wish one evil, anything causing injury or harm. Evil can change your life into something you might not want to face.

ACT

I need to actively seek the good in situations and therefore find favor. If I actively seek evil, trouble will come to me. This is a no brainer. Seek good.

PRAY

Father, open my eyes that I may see the good in people and in situations. I desire favor rather than trouble to be in my life. Thank you for your protections. Amen.

Quote

" God is not moved or impressed with our worship until our hearts are moved and impressed by Him

The Great Physician

FOCUS

Luke 5:29-32
29 Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. 30 And their scribes and the Pharisees[a] complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Romans 3:10
10 As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;

THINK

In this scripture, Jesus has gone to the house of Levi the tax collector to have a meal. Jesus is critizied by the scribes and the Parisees for having anything to do with tax collectors because tax collectors were known for being corrupt and taking bribes. Jesus tells them that a person who is well has no need of a doctor, but one who is sick needs a doctor. He further tells them that he has not come to call the righteous to repentance, but he has come to call the sinner to repentance.
If we look at verse 10 of Romans 3, we find that no one is righteous, so we all need to come to Jesus for repentance. It is marvelous to see how Jesus came to earth for you and for me. We are all unrighteous and need the blood of Jesus to atone for our sins.

ACT

We are all sinners and need the saving power of Jesus. Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins. So we need to make that decision to go and see the physcian to be healed of our sins and to be made well spiritually.

PRAY

Lord, I pray that sinners will be convicted to seek Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Stir them up so that the only peace they receive is the knowledge of Jesus as the One and only One who died on the cross for the sins of each and everyone of us. Amen.

 

Quotes

" Religion is hanging around the cross. Christianity is hanging on the cross. "

Renew the Soul

FOCUS

Luke 5: 15-16
15 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. 16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

THINK

In the prior verses, Jesus has healed a man of leprocy. Because of that healing, more people came to Jesus to listen to him preach and to be healed. He preached and he healed. More people came to him. Jesus was exhausted and needed to renew himself so he left the crowds and withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.

ACT

When life gets too demanding, we need to renew ourselves. We need to retreat away from the cares and concerns of the day. This gives us an opportunity to reflect, pray, ask for answers, and feast on the presence of God. Our soul needs to be renewed so that we can glorify God in a manner pleasing to Him.

PRAY

Lord, thank you for that reminder that we all need to get away from the cares of life, reflect, pray, commune with You and let Your presence wash over us to strengthen and renew us. Amen.

Quotes

" Many people call themselves Christian, but without 'Christ' they are merely known as 'Ian'. "

Fear

FOCUS

Psalms 64: 9
All men shall fear,
And shall declare the work of God;
For they shall wisely consider His doing.

THINK

Fear is defined as "a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Synonyms: foreboding, apprehension, consternation, dismay, dread, terror, fright, panic, horror, trepidation, qualm."    Fear can come in the form of
abandonment
being bad, corrupt, evil, defective
being controlled by others
being deprived
being harmed                                                                                                      
being incapable
being of no value, worthless
being unloved
being useless
change
conflict
death
defeat
diminishment, decline
disease
doing wrong
failure
fragmentation
hurting others
ignorance
incompetence
incorrect decisions
injury
insecurity
invasion of boundaries
isolation
lack
limitation
loneliness
looking stupid
loss
loss of connection
material loss
meaninglessness
no identity
pain
people
personal insignificance
possessiveness
poverty
public speaking
rejection
relationships
responsibility
self-exposure
self-expression
selfishness
separation
sexuality
shyness
success
unknown
vulnerability

When we face fear, we turn either of two ways. We turn toward God or we turn away from God. If we turn away from God, we are saying we can take care of the problem ourselves and thus we lie to ourselves. God gave us the ability to call out to Him in times of fear. We can talk to HIM through prayer. We can read the Bible. We can talk to others who have experienced the same kind of fear.
Or we can think that we can overcome fear in our own power. That is Satan's demons attacking us at our vulnerabilities or weakest points. We don't have the power to overcome. We may overcome for a season, but the real power comes from God. What are you going to do to overcome fear? Let God take control or let it up to the demons?

ACT

Reach out to God for help. He alone can help us overcome.

PRAY

Lord, I come to YOU and ask for Your power to overcome my fears. Help me to gain strength from YOU. I depend upon YOU for I am weak. I ask you for wisdom, discernment, and knowledge. All these things I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

OTHER NOTES

" Pray as if everything depends upon God. Act as if everything depends upon you "

God is...

FOCUS

Psalms 62:5-8

My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

THINK

In this passage the author, David, is talking to his soul. Soul, wait for God alone. Then the author talks about expectations. Expectations are expectancy, anticipation; hope, trust. My expectancy, my anticipation, my hope, my trust is from God. He is my rock and my salvation. God is the One to whom I go. As a rock, God is being dependable, unchanging, or providing firm foundation. God is all three things. God is my salvation because He provided Jesus as the atonement for my sins. God is my defense. He offers security, preservation, safeguard, support, advocacy, and justification. Because God is all of that,David will not be moved. I place my trust in God for my salvation and my glory. My glory is celebrity, dignity, distinction, eminence, exaltation, grandeur, greatness, honor, illustriousness, immortality, kudos, magnificence, majesty, nobility, praise, prestige, renown, reputation, splendor, sublimity, and triumph. God will supply all that. Man will not. From God, the author gets his strength. Strength meaning power, force, and might. God is also my refuge. This means God is a place of shelter, protection, or safety. Trust God at all times for all things. Trust is a certainty, belief, faith, assurance, and a confidence. Pour out your heart to God. Tell him all things that concern you. God will offer protection, safety and a shelter to get you through the situation.

ACT

Change the David to yourself. Talk to your soul. Reassure your soul that God will take care of you. He will offer you hope, trust, God is dependable, unchanging, providing a firm foundation, providing salvation. security, preservation, support, justicfication. Place your trust in God for salvation and God will give you dignity, distinction, exlatation, greatness, honor, renown,reputation, splendor, and triumph. From God you will also receive strength, power, force, and might. God will be the One to whom I run toward. I need to tell him of my concerns, troubles and needs. God will offer me protection, safety, and shelter to get through any situation that comes along.

PRAY

Lord, help me to be like David. Help me to put my trust in you. You will give me so much in return for my trust in you. It is amazing what you will do for me. Thank you for your love, concern, shelter, power, and might. I cannot live this life on earth without YOU. Amen.

 

Holy Spirit and Fire

FOCUS

Luke 3:14-17
15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

THINK

John is preaching to the people. They thing he is the Christ. He assures them that he is not the Messiah. He tells them that he baptizes with water, but there is one that comes that will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. He will throughly cleanse just as a man cleans the wheat from the chaff. John uses the illustration of a winnowing fan. A winnowing fan involves throwing the mixture into the air so that the wind blows away the lighter chaff, while the heavier grains fall back down for recovery. Techniques included using a winnowing fan (a shaped basket shaken to raise the chaff) or using a tool (a winnowing fork or shovel) on a pile of harvested grain. The chaff will be burned with unquenchable fire.

ACT

I need to ask the Jesus into my life to direct my life. Jesus will baptize me with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He will seperate me from the chaff in my life and let me live a life that is pleasing to Him. The chaff will be burned up in the fire of hell.

PRAY

Father, I ask for forgiveness for the things I have done today. I ask you to baptize me with the Holy Spirit and fire and to use me in a way that is pleasing to you. Thank you for all that you do for me. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Talking donkey

FOCUS

Numbers 22:21-35
21 So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab
22 Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 Now the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. 24 Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again. 26 Then the Angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!”

30 So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?”

And he said, “No.”

31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. 32 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. 33 The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”

34 And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.”

35 Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

THINK

The Lord uses any means to get our attention. In this story we see Balaam going with the princes of Moab on his donkey to see the King of Moab. The king wants Balaam to curse the children of Israel. The king is willing to pay for the curse and Balaam is willing to listen. God told Balaam not to go two times, but Balaam continues to listen to the king's messagers. Finally, God tells him to go, but not to curse the children of Israel for they are blessed. Balaam climbs on the back of his donkey to travel to see the king. On the way, the donkey sees an angel that only he can see. The donkey tries to stop the trip. Each time Balaam struck the donkey. During the third instance, the donkey speaks to Balaam and asks if he (the donkey) has ever disobeyed his master before. Balaam answers no and the Lord opens Balaam's eyes and he sees the angel for the first time. Balaam falls on his face before the angel. He tells the angel that he has sinned against the Lord. Balaam tells the angel if it displeases the angel, he will turn back. The angel tells Balaam that he can continue his journey but must only say what he is told to say.

ACT

When we are willful, we ignore the warnings of the Lord. We trespass into areas that we can not handle or get into situations that the Lord does not want us to have anything to do with. The Lord can use talking donkeys to get our attention to get us back on the path that we should have travelled in the first place. What is the Lord using to get your attention?

PRAY

Lord, I can get into so much trouble when I do not listen to you. I need to listen to you and obey your word. Thank you for being with me throughout my sin, my repentance, and my consequences. Amen.

Hypocrite or righteous person?

FOCUS

Proverbs 11:9
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered

THINK

The dictionary says a hypocrite is " a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs." There are many people who pocess these qualities. It is sad. We believe a person is virtueous unto we are around them for any length of time. Then we begin to get signals that all is not what it seems. There is a slip of the tongue, raw language comes from their lips, gossip abounds or their actions speak louder than their words. If we are smart, we pray for them and then get out of their way. We don't want to be destroyed by them.
On the other hand if we are around a righteous person, we soon find out what they stand for. We want to be around them because they lift you up rather than destroy you. Who do you want to be around-a hypocrite or a rigtheous person?

ACT

Run away from the hypocrite and run toward a righteous person.

PRAY

Lord, I ask for your discernment to determine which traits a person pocesses. I desire to be around righteous person rather than a hypocrite. It is through the Holy Spirit that I will know the difference.

The Purpose

FOCUS

Luke 1:3-4
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

THINK

When we read the first chapter of Luke it is our tendency to rush through the first four verses so that we can read the account of Zacharias and Elizabeth. Let's take a few minutes and think about verse 3 and 4 of Luke 1. Doctor Luke is giving us the reason he chose to write about the life of Jesus. Doctor Luke is an historian as well as a medical doctor. He pays great attention to detail. Doctor Luke is a Greek Gentile who is telling the story to those who want to know about the Way and especially to his friend, Theophilus. He wants Theophilus to know that this account will be different from the other accounts because Doctor Luke has a very good understanding of the events in Jesus' life. Doctor Luke sets out to write an orderly account of the life of Jesus. He believes it is essential that his audience see the order of the events. Doctor Luke wants us to know these things so that we can have assurances that they really happened.

ACT

When we are given a task to perform, it is good if we can determine an orderly and logical way of performing the task. Doctor Luke's reasons could be our reasons as well. His approach to writing this gospel appeals to me because it is orderly and with research to back it up. Doctor Luke was able to interview people who were a part of the Jesus story. Details were not left out. He was able to piece it together so it was logical and told the story of the humanity of Jesus.

PRAY

Lord, when you give me a task to perform. show me how to do in a fashion that is logical and shows that I was able to back up my assertions with research and knowledge. Thank you for your leading. Amen.

A Man Pleaser

FOCUS

Mark 15: 15
15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

THINK

We find in this passage that Jesus is lead before Pilate by the chief priests. They want to do away with the power Jesus has over the people of the day. So they ask Pilate to judge Jesus for stirring up the Jewish people to believe that Jesus is King of the Jews. Pilate wants to please the people. He tries to get the people to release Jesus. Instead they shout for Barabas to be released. Pilate has Jesus scourged and then crucified. All of this happens because Pilate wants to be a people pleaser.

ACT

Instead of pleasing man, I must please God. I must listen to the voice of God through reading the Bible, praying, listening to other God fearing people and finding the peace that passes all understanding. I need to please God and not find ways to please man.

PRAY

Lord, I want to please YOU rather than man. Open my eyes to see and my ears to hear YOU. Amen.

The flesh is weak

FOCUS

Mark 14:32-42
32 Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. 34 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”

35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

39 Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. 40 And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.

41 Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

THINK

We see in this scripture that Jesus brought the disciples to the garden of Gethsemane. He takes Peter, James, and John with HIM. HE asks them to sit and watch while He goes a bit farther in the garden to pray. He doesn't tell them what to watch for. Jesus is troubled so HE prays to the heavenly Father. HE returns to the Peter, James, and John and finds them sleeping. Jesus says to Peter, "Simon are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray or you will enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Jesus goes away to pray again. Jesus returns to Peter, James, and John to find them sleeping again. Jesus pray for the third time and returns to the his three closest disciples to find them sleeping again. They did not know what to answer him. The final time Jesus tells them that the time has come to be betrayed. So Jesus goes to meet his betrayer.

ACT

Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to sit and watch and then he would go and pray. They could not follow his directions. Instead they fell asleep. We are so much like that. We may have a clear directive from God on what to do, only to fail to do what we are told. We can't follow through. We must change that action from doing nothing to doing what God has directed us to do.

PRAY

Lord, when YOU tell me to do something, help me to do it to the best of my ability. Lord, I depend on YOU. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. Help me to seek your face. Help me to depend on YOU for direction in my life and then to do it. I don't want to disappoint YOU. Amen.

Putting Others First

FOCUS

Mark 10:42-45
42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

THINK

Prior to this passage we find James and John asking Jesus to be seated on the right hand and the left hand of Jesus in heaven. Jesus asks them if they "are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They reply that they can. Jesus goes on to tell them that those positions are not his to give away. The other 10 disciples murmmer against James and John. Jesus soothes them by telling them that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over those whom they are in charge of. It is not what the disciples are to do. They are placed here to be servants. The greatest one will be the one who is a servant to all. Jesus goes on to tell them that he did not come to earth to be served, but rather to serve and give his life for many.

ACT

Jesus wants us to be servants to others. That is not the western way. Our culture is one of me first. How can I get ahead and be successful? How can I make sure the one in front of me for a job misses out so that I can step in that "dream" job? So many questions-yet it all boils down to selfishness. How can we serve if we are selfish? This is not the way Jesus wanted us to live our lives. To live in accordance with the teaching of Jesus, we must serve others and not just one or two people, but all people. This takes an entirely different mind set. We must put others first.

PRAY

Father, I am selfish. Forgive me. Help me to overcome this sin and be aware of the needs of others. Lord, show me how to put others first in my life. Help me to love as YOU love. I need your discernment, wisdom, love, knowledge, and power to be the person you designed me to be. Amen.

OTHER NOTES

What will you do for others?