He will Rightly Correct You

Scripture:

Jeremiah 46:28 "Do not fear O Jacob My servant, says the Lord, For I am with you; for I will make a complete end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but I will not make a complete end of you. I will rightly correct you, for I will not leave you wholly unpunished".

Observation:

God is so awesome! He never gives up on His own. He "rightly corrects" us. God does correct His children, but His correction never means He has given up on you. He talks in this verse about totally destroying the nations that He has driven Israel to, but that He won't totally destroy Israel. He may punish His children when they run after other gods or don't serve Him, but He always comes back to them to give them another chance.

Application:

Knowing this characteristic of God causes many Christians to feel like they can live any way they want and God will always accept them. This is no way to live! God wants us to live according to His word. He wants to bless us and prosper everything we do, but He can't when we walk in disobedience. This characteristic of God should drive us to walking closer to Him every day instead of seeing how much we can get away with knowing God is not going to give up too easily on us. We must be people who pursue holiness first and foremost, without holiness, nobody will see God.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to walk in Your ways better each day. Show me Your paths, that I may walk in Your blessings. I want Your hand of blessing and not Your hand of discipline. You are my rock, my salvation, and my deliverer! I love you with all my heart.

Your Son,

Jeffrey

Sowing and Reaping

Scripture:

Jeremiah 44:23 "Because you have burned incense and because you have sinned against the Lord, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord or walked in His law, in His statues or in His testimonies, therefore this calamity has happened to you, as at this day".

Observation:

The book of Jeremiah and the word of the Lord in this book constantly remind me that the laws of sowing and reaping are very true. When we sow bad seed, we will get bad fruit. You can't get around it! Jeremiah is constantly telling the people that they are going to pay for their worship of other gods. He reminds them of their waywardness and lets them know that punishment is coming. It seems like today most Christians don't believe God still punishes disobedience. We look at God as the Santa Clause in the sky who only brings wonderful gifts to His children. Punishment of children lets the child know they are loved and that the parent wants to see them mature into an adult who takes responsibility. God does chasten those He loves, that they may grow. He is the giver of every perfect gift, but He also knows how to discipline His children.

Application:

God loves us, but He loves us enough to try to get us back on track when we get off. He loves us enough to let things go wrong when we are not properly relating to Him. We cannot look at every bad thing that happens to us as being from the devil and every good thing as being from God. We must realize there is a law of sowing and reaping. Sometimes things are not good because we have an evil enemy. Sometimes things are not good because we have slipped up in our walk with God. We need to pray until we discern the difference.

Prayer:

Lord, let us walk close enough to You that we know the difference. Let us always hear Your still small voice beckoning us home. Let us understand Your discipline and grow thereby. Help us to walk in righteousness and truly experience Your incredible blessing. When we take a wrong step, do whatever it takes to wake us up and get us back on the trail. Keep us from falling into wrong thinking. I love You Lord and I appreciate the words of Your servant Jeremiah.

Your Son,
Jeff

The Restorer

Scripture:

Jeremiah 27:22 "They shall be carried to Babylon, and there they shall be until the day that I visit them, says the Lord. Then I will bring them up and restore them to this place".

Observation:

Judgment, at this point, is being prophesied by Jeremiah and is coming to God's people. God says of the vessels of the Lord's temple that they will be carried away, but that they will return. Sometimes God allows things to happen in our lives because of our disobedience, but He always has a plan for restoration. He never judges us to hurt us, but to restore us. God always sees the restoration, even while He is allowing us to go through some things.

Application:

God has a plan. If you feel like the devil has stolen from you, God has a plan for restoration. If you feel like God hasn't been answering your prayers, God has a restoration plan already! He never allows us to stay in bondage. He knows it is coming before it comes, but He already has a plan for the deliverance of His people. Whatever you are going through, God has a plan of restoration. Maybe you have lost everything recently, God had a plan of restoration before it was lost. Depend on Him. Even if you are reaping what you have sown, He is a restorer!

Prayer:

Lord, let this word dwell in our hearts richly. Help me realize You always have a plan for deliverance and restoration. I want to trust You more in my life. You are awesome and I love the fact that You always have a plan.

Love you Much,

Jeff Jacob

The King is Coming!

Scripture:

Jeremiah 23:5 "Behold the days are coming says the Lord, That I will raise to David a Branch of Righteousness; A king shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth."

Observation:

Jeremiah continues to blast God's people for not following Him completely. In chapter 23 he lets them know that one day a righteous king will come forth from David's descent who will save Judah and Israel. This is a Messianic prophecy speaking of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Hundreds of years before His first coming, Jeremiah was speaking of him, yet his first coming didn't fulfill all this scripture. Before Jesus ascended to heaven he said he would come again. We are waiting for that second coming today and I believe we are closer than we could even imagine. This time Jesus will come in power and great might. The world will tremble before Him. He will reign and rule this earth with righteousness.

Application:

Jesus will come again and we need to be ready. We must be about our father's business! We need to be laboring for Him when He comes back. He is coming! Let's get the world prepared. Let's make sure our hearts are cleansed and pure. The church has almost stopped talking about the second coming of Christ, but it is this exact doctrine that helps purify the church. If you knew the king of righteousness was coming tomorrow, how would you live differently today? Why not live that way today anyway?

Prayer:

Lord, let us live with the second coming close in our minds. Let us walk closer to You than ever before. I want to know You more this year than I ever have. Speak to me Lord and I will listen. I will follow! I want to be ready and have fulfilled my mission when you come again. Thanks for the reminder this morning.

Jeff

Devouring God's Word

Scripture:

Jeremiah 15:16 "When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear Your name".

Observation:

Jeremiah has been prophesying the coming destruction of the people of Israel because they have been unfaithful to God. They have continued through the years to live how they wanted and serve other gods and now the One True God is going to punish them for their sins. In the midst of this message, Jeremiah speaks up for himself and talks to the Lord. As he begins, we get some insight into his relationship with God. He says, "when I discovered Your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my delight". Apparently, Jeremiah loved the word of God. He devoured it and it was his joy.

Application:

We need to fall in love with the Word of God again. Doing this daily wash has caused me to fall in love with the Word of God again. I can see it working my life and I love His word more than ever. As Jeremiah, we today are a generation that is far from God. People say they love God, but have no fruit of the Spirit in their lives. They say they are serving God, but their life doesn't show it in any way. We have become like the people Jeremiah is prophesying to. We need to see that even in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, you can serve God by falling in love with His words and devouring them. Jeremiah was promised that he would avoid the destruction coming because of His love for the Lord and true service to Him.

Prayer:

Lord, let me fall more and more in love with Your word. Let me live by it, walk in it, listen to it, and apply it in my life. I want to be more like You. I want to be where Jesus was talking about when He said, "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it will be done for you". Teach me to abide in Your word and to have your word abide in me. You are my rock and my salvation, in Your I trust!

Jeff

Clever at Doing Wrong / No Idea how to do Right

Scripture:

Jeremiah 4:22 "My people are foolish and do not know me, says the Lord. They are stupid children who have no understanding. They are clever at doing wrong, but they have no idea how to do right!"

Observation:

Israel had been rejecting the one true God and following other gods for quite some time. God was in heaven wanting to be their god and for them to be His people. He wanted to bless His children, but needs them to walk in obedience in order to do so. He is prophesying through Jeremiah that another country will come and kick them out of the land He gave them. In the midst of his prophecy against them he throws in these words, "They are clever enough at doing wrong, but they have no idea how to do right!" These words jumped out at me today because I see the exact same thing is so prevalent today.

Application:

We are so much like the children of Israel. We love God when we are in trouble and need to get out, but struggle to serve Him when things are okay. People today are truly clever at doing wrong. People have become experts at scheming, lying, and doing whatever it takes to get ahead, but don't have a clue how to live right. We need the voice of a Jeremiah to speak up in this generation. I see so many who are experts at doing wrong, but can't seem to live right for their life. This must change! We need to learn the discipline of doing right, no matter how it affects the outcome. We must have integrity and character even if it hurts us. We must become experts on how to "live right".

Prayer:

Lord, I see our generation in line with where Jeremiah's generation was. We have become clever at dong wrong, but most today don't know how to do right. Teach me how to make a real difference in people's lives so they want to live right. Help me communicate Your truth clearly and teach people how to live right lives before God. I need Your anointing as never before because people don't want to be told they are living wrong before God. They want to do whatever they want and want You to bless it. Help me Lord I pray.

Jeff

A Young Bride

Scripture:

Jeremiah 2:2 "Go and shout this message to Jerusalem. This is what the Lord says: I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness".

Observation:

Jeremiah is rebuking Israel and Judah for leaving the Lord and running after other gods. He is prophesying about Israel being exiled because they had left their first love and pursued worthless idols. In that speech, the Lord says, "I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the wilderness". God is saying that He hasn't forgotten how Israel loved Him and how much it meant to Him. He knows when we are really in love with Him and when we are just going through the motions. He longs to be your god and for you to be His own special possession.

Application:

Are you loving the Lord like a young bride loves her husband? Are you trying as hard to please Him today as you were years ago? Have you settled into the marriage and fallen out of love? God wants us to love Him passionately. He wants us to obey Him fully out of our incredible love for Him. He has remained faithful to His end of the wedding vows, have we remained faithful to our end? He says that in the beginning Israel followed Him, even through the wilderness. Are we still ready to follow the Lord through the wilderness or do we abandon Him when things don't feel good any more?

Prayer:

Lord, bring us back to our first love. Bring us back to that place of wanting to serve You wholeheartedly. You have done all You can do on You end, let us arise and fall in love with You again. Let my heart be enraptured with You. Bring me back to the place of passionate pursuit and total abandonment and commitment to Your will and purposes. I love You lord.

Jeff

God's Promises

Scripture:

Obadiah 17 "But Jerusalem will become a refuge for those who escape; it will be a holy place. And the people of Israel will come back to reclaim their inheritance."

Observation:

Obadiah is a vision given to Obadiah about what was coming to Edom for how they treated Israel as they were being taken into exile. Here God is telling Edom that Israel is going to return, and when they do, Edom is going to be in trouble. God had promised Israel the land and even though Israel had been exiled, His promise remain true. When God promises something, it will come to pass. There may be temporary setbacks, but God will prove faithful to His word.

Application:

This helps me to realize that God's promises never fail. They will come to pass! He knows the beginning from the end and He is faithful to do what He said He would do. So many times, people give up too quickly on God's promises. Maybe they start tithing and don't see results as quickly as they would like and feel like, "it didn't work", so they quit. Who knows if they were not one week from a breakthrough and just gave up too soon? Maybe they were praying for someone and didn't see a change so they quit praying. When God promises something, you can rest assured it will come to pass. We just have to stand in faith and believe it is coming into our lives.

Prayer:

Lord, help me learn to wait on Your promises and not faint in the process. You are a faithful God who loves His children. Your words are true and life giving. I love and appreciate You more than I can express. Help me to endure the times when the promises haven't come through yet. Help me Holy Spirit to walk through whatever comes my way with a pure heart while I wait for the promise.

Yours,
Jeff

The Lord is Good!

Scripture:

Nahum 1:7 "The Lord is good, a refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him".

Observation:

Nahum is a book warning Ninevah that judgment is coming from the Lord. Nahum continually tells Ninevah that God is going to release His wrath and anger at them and they will be utterly destroyed. They are seen as the enemies of the Lord. In the midst of raging about what is going to happen to Ninevah, we see this verse tucked in to Israel. The Lord always brings comfort to His people in any situation. In the midst of 3 chapters of prophesied destruction it says, "The Lord is Good". He closes this with "He is close to those who trust Him". God is always good to His people and close to those who trust Him.

Application:

I believe we are as close to the Lord today as we really want to be. The word tells us to "draw near to Him and He will draw near to us". God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good! We love to say it, but do we believe it? Do we really believe He is close to those who trust Him? I want a life that is close to the Lord and from this scripture I see that it goes hand in hand with trusting Him. I want to trust Him more for who He is for He is good.

Prayer:

Lord, let me trust You more today than I did yesterday. I want to come nearer to you every day. You are good and I want to be in Your presence more and more. I love You and long to be nearer to You. You are my rock, my fortress and my deliverer! I will trust in You.

Jeff

The Blessed Hope

Scripture:

Titus 2:13 "Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ".

Observation:

Paul is writing to Titus and telling him how to live right in verse 11 and 12. He then goes on and tells why, "looking for the blessed hope". Living with the Blessed Hope in mind is the only way to live the Christian life. When we keep the return of the Lord in mind, we will focus on the right things.

Application:

If you really believe that Jesus might come back today, would you live the day any differently than usual? If you really believe that Jesus was coming tomorrow, how would you live differently today? We must learn to live with eternity in our hearts and an eye on the coming of the Lord. When this happens, our lives will line up with the will of God. We must stay in the the right mindset, so we don't get overrun by the things of this world.

Prayer:

Lord, keep my eyes on the sky and help me live every day to the fullest for Your kingdom. Keep me looking up and getting ready for Your return. Let my life count for eternity Lord.

Love you,
Jeff

Suffering Persecution

Scripture:

II Timothy 3:12 "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution".

Observation:

Many people today preach a gospel that says if you come to Jesus, you will never have another problem. You'll be rich, powerful, healthy and wise! This message is wonderful to hear and people get excited when they hear it. I love the Apostle Paul! He says the opposite, "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution". WOW! Isn't that uplifting? The truth is that we will suffer persecution in this world, but God will bring us through every trial as we lean on Him. He will deliver His people!

Application:

When bad things happen, and they will, you don't always have to rebuke the devil. Sometimes you have to go through some stuff in this life. Persecution and difficult times really develop our character and God is very concerned with our character. God is faithful and won't allow us to go through more than we can bear, but He will allow us to go through some tough things which will help shape us if we will let it. We must stay on the potter's wheel and allow the process to help us grow. We must remain strong in faith and know our God will deliver us from every persecution.

Prayer:

Lord, let us be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Let us face persecution straight on and know You will help us. You are the best. Teach us to walk through every problem with faith in You alone!

Love,
Jeff

A Pure Vessel

Scripture:

II Timothy 2:21, "If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work".

Observation:

Paul is writing a letter to his young friend Timothy who was getting started in ministry. He speaks of every wealthy house having "expensive utensils" that they would use if company is coming over and "inexpensive utensils" that they use every day. In this verse he is telling Timothy that if he can keep his life pure, he will be a special utensil for honorable use. His life will be clean and ready for use by the Master. Purity does matter! God looks for the pure in heart, then fills them up and uses them for His glory.

Application:

The good stuff gets put in a China closet and pulled out when guests come over. It must remain pure and clean because it is for serving our best people. In the same way, God wants us to remain pure so that when He has a situation that needs dealt with, He can call on us and He knows we will be close enough to Him to hear His voice. Not enough is being said today about purity, but it is crucial in the Kingdom. God truly desires "pure" vessels that are not contaminated so that He may pour through them. Does God get glory from your life? Are you living a life that makes God say, "I'm pulling out my fine china on this situation?" Let's purify ourselves and make ourselves ready for the Master's use.

Prayer:

Purify me Lord. Purify my heart, my mind, my motives, my dreams and ambitions. Purify my life in every area. I want to be ready for the Master's use. Lord, let my life continually be in a place with You where You can call on me for anything You need accomplished on this earth.

I Love You Lord,

Jeffrey Jacob

Praying for You

Scripture:

II Thessalonians 1:11 "So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do".

Observation:

Here we see Paul telling the Thessalonians how he prays for them. He is basically asking God to... 1. enable them to live a life worthy of his call. 2. give them power to accomplish what their faith prompts them to do. I see Paul's heart here praying for them to be rooted and grounded in the faith. Paul didn't just encourage them verbally to live right, he took it to God and prayed about the people he led to the Lord.

Application:

How much do we truly pray for those around us. Sometimes we throw a little prayer someone's way. We even tell people, "say a little prayer for me when you think about it". Beyond just the prayers for people physical needs, how often do we pray for people to grow spiritually? Are we asking God to help people live a life worthy of His calling? Are we praying that God would strengthen people ad give them power to accomplish what He puts in their hearts to do? This is crucial to people's spiritual growth. They need someone praying for them! May we become people who pray, not just for people's physical, but their spiritual needs as well.

Prayer:

Lord, I hear You speaking to me. Thursday You spoke to me about prayer in 2010, yesterday you confirmed it again, and now it is once again confirmed. Thank You for speaking clearly to me on this. Show me the times, the places, and the order for these times of prayer. I want to lead Word of Life into Your best for them and into Your will. I love You. Thank you for allowing me to hear Your voice.

Jeff

A Quiet Life

Scripture:

I Thessalonians 4:11 "Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before".

Observation:

In this text, God gives us a way of living and tells us to make it our goal. Goals give you a direction and a target. Without a goal, you don't know if you are accomplishing anything. Here God tells us to make a goal of living a quiet life, minding our own business and working with our hands. He goes on to say that then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live. Our faith in God should affect the way we live. Our lives should be be quiet, we should mind our own business and work, then we will be a good witness in the world.

Application:

The world is looking for something real, something they can believe in. They are looking for something that works. When they see believers lives that are no different than their own, they are not impressed with Christianity, but when they see us living differently than them, they will want what we have. What are most people missing and wanting desperately? They want a peaceful and quiet life. Most people don't know what a quiet life is, but when they see it, they want it. If we want to win the world to Jesus and be a good example for Him we must: live a quiet life, mind our own business and be diligent in our work.

Prayer:

Lord, let me be real, through and through. May the life I live be quiet and full of peace, a life that this world can't live. let me always have a good work ethic and help keep my mind on my own business and out of everyone else's. I want this world to see that serving You is awesome and will truly bring peace into their lives.

You're the Best!

Jeff

Pleasing God or Pleasing People?

Scripture:

I Thessalonians 2:4 "For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts".

Observation:

Paul is writing to the Thessalonian people, remembering his time with them. As he is reconnecting with them, he asks them to remember that he and his workers did not come with and trickery, deceit or wrong motives. He is bringing back to their remembrance the hard work they have done while with them. When it comes to motives of the heart he says, "Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts".

Application:

God knows the motives of our hearts. What we do must be to please Him and Him alone. When ministering, we must do it out of a pure conscience and pure motives. God can look through impure motives to see what we are really all about. He knows all! People will try to control you, tell you how things must be done, and honestly try to help you in the Kingdom, but our first priority must be to hear from God and do accordingly, no matter whether people like us or they don't like us. Keeping you heart right before the Lord is crucial in ministry. Maintaining your personal prayer and devotional life is crucial if you are going to minister for the Lord. Watch your motives, they will make you of break you! Keep them pure!

Prayer:

Lord, I want to be a God pleaser and not a man pleaser. I want my heart to remain pure before You and to accomplish Your will for my life. I love You and want to serve You with pure heart and motives. I don't want to be swayed by anyone but You. Show me Your ways, teach me Your truths and I will do my best to follow accordingly. You are my everything! There is nothing else but You.

Yours,
Jeff

God's Requirements

Scripture:

Micah 6:8 "No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God".

Observation:

Micah sums up what it takes to have the blessing and favor of God on your life. He had been talking about judgment that was coming because of their disobedience and how to avert it. He talked about offering massive sacrifices to get God's favor back, then he sums it up so simply. God is not hard to please and you don't have to wonder what pleases Him. Simply, "do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God". If we can do these three, the blessing of God comes into our lives.

Application:

These three things sound simple, but they are difficult to live by. Doing what is right means doing the right thing when doing other things would be so much easier. The right thing is seldom the easy thing. We are programmed to look for the easy way out of every problem, but God wants us to "do the right thing". Loving mercy is also difficult because we are also programmed to love justice and revenge instead of mercy and grace. It is more natural humanly to get revenge on someone than it is to forgive and have mercy working in our lives. Lastly, pride is when we feel we can do things better than God. He wants us to walk humbly with Him which means we must totally and completely trust and obey Him. These three will make you a winner in God's kingdom, but they are tough to live out every day.

Prayer:

Lord, You have told us what is good. You have made it so simple, yet we complicate it so much. Teach me to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with You. I ask You to help me in these three areas. Help me be a person of character and integrity in every area of life. Help me to love those who hate me and do good to those who spitefully use me. Help me show mercy to all. Help me to walk humbly with You. I desperately need You in my life.

Your Son,

Jeff

The Ruler from Everlasting

Scripture:

Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting".

Observation:

I love the Word of God. It is accurate to the letter. As we approach this Christmas season, we must remember that Jesus was the promised one who would come. It says of Jesus that He would come out of Bethlehem, a small and insignificant place, but that He would be the ruler of all. It also says of Him that He His going forths are from everlasting. Hundreds of years before Christ, Micah prophesied that He would come from Bethlehem, and that He would be from everlasting.

Application:

If God knew that Jesus was coming to earth and would be born in the insignificant little town of Bethlehem, how much does He know about you? He spoke of this hundreds of years before Jesus came. If this is true, then He knew I was coming also. He knew where I would be born, and what my life would become. He knows the beginning from the end and time is no issue with Him. He is from everlasting and yet is concerned about the little details of our lives. He is amazing! Jesus came, just as the prophecy said, and will yet rule the nations of the earth with a rod of iron. His Word never fails and you can trust Him fully.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for showing me a little glimpse today of how awesome You are. I love You and give You my life once again for Your service. Use my life Lord to bring You glory. You never cease to amaze me.

Yours Forever!
Jeff

Delivery is Coming!

Scripture:

Isaiah 66:9 "Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery? says the Lord. Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb? says your God".

Observation:

Isaiah has been prophesying about the rebirth and restoration of Israel. In this verse I see a characteristic of God that we can depend on today. In this verse, I see God as the one who finishes what He starts. He says, "Shall I bring to the time of birth and not cause delivery?" With God there are no miscarriages. What He starts, He will finish. What He says He will do, He will do.

Application:

When God has spoken a word to us as individuals, we must hold onto that word because He doesn't start something He doesn't plan on finishing. There may be some delays, but delay doesn't equal denial. There may be some pushing necessary and the pregnancy may go a little longer than expected, but what God starts He bring to delivery. He will bring to pass everything He has said will come to pass. He is faithful to His promises and will bring about His will in the earth. He is the all-powerful one! He will reign forever and ever!

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for re-confirming Your word to me this morning. Thank you for speaking to me. I need Your word every day. Teach me to be more diligent in eating Your word daily. Help me to be more disciplined in my daily wash. I love it when You speak to me, but feel Like I haven't been as faithful recently as I should. Forgive me Lord. I love You with all my heart!

Jeffrey

A Word from The Lord

Scripture:

Isaiah 54:3 "For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities".

Observation:

Isaiah is prophesying that Israel will not always be put down and enslaved, but a better day is coming. He is letting them know that one day they will be incredibly blessed because Jesus was coming to pay for their sins. As part of this word to them he drops these words that I believe are a Rhema word to me today.

Application:

These words jumped off the page this morning and into my heart as a word from God directly to me. He is speaking to Israel in this context, but as I read it I realized it was directly for me today. I have been waiting patiently for the blessing of God in certain areas of my life and had told Cheryl it was going to start in October and increase in November. God has done it thus far and we have been amazed at His good hand that has been upon us the past month. I believe God is saying that Word of Life is about to burst at the seams and that we will be sending out people to other nations to spread the good news. I believe we will resettle, or, bring order back into ruined cities.

Prayer:

Thank You Lord for the confirmation You gave me this morning. I believe You have spoken to me and will do whatever You put in my heart to do. Show me the path and keep me in a position to hear Your voice. I want to follow You all the way and fulfill Your plans for my life. Show me what to do and I will do it.

Love You,
Jeff

Inscribed on His Hands

Scripture:

Isaiah 49:15-16 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet, I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; Your walls are continually before me".

Observation:

God says to Israel that He has not forgotten them. He relates it to a mother forgetting her nursing child. She will not forget her son, not matter what. God says He will not forget us. He says we are inscribed on the palms of His hands.

Application:

When I need to remember something, like groceries for my wife, or a phone number that is important, many times I will write it on my hand so I won't forget it. It is a really bad habit and I don't recommend writing on your hands, but God says He has written us on the palms of His hands. WOW! Think about it. God has not forgotten you, no matter where you are right now, you are still in the palm of His hands. Every time He reaches out, He sees your name. Every time He extends His hand to someone else, He sees your name! You may not feel His presence right this moment, but He has you written on the palms of His hands. He loves you and will never forget you! Hold on and wait for His timing, but you will make it through this current difficulty. He will not forget!

Prayer:

Lord, let me never forget this verse. Help me to know that You have not forgotten me. You have gone to great lengths to remember us. Thank you for letting me know today how much you love me and how you will never forget where I am or what I am doing. I love you Lord.

You're still the best!

Jeff

Passing Through

Scripture:

Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you".

Observation:

God never promises that living the Christian life will be simple and nothing will ever go wrong. Many talk about a faith in God that will never allow anything bad to happen to you. Many talk about prosperity to the point that it seems, "Come to Jesus and you will be a millionaire and never have another problem". Sounds great, Sign me up! In this verse we read about "Passing Through". Passing through means that these things will happen to us, but that He will be with us and bring us out of them. They are not permanent positions for the child of God. Passing through problems is part of growth and maturity in God. It is in these times that we grow the most and learn to depend on Him more if we will stay the course and trust Him fully. The fact is, "He will be with you!" He will bring you out! He said "WHEN" you go through, not "IF". You will go through things, hold onto Him and He will bring you "THROUGH" every single time.

Application:

As humans, we love to run from our problems instead of confronting them, growing from them and becoming better people as a result. As Rick Warren says, "God is more concerned with your character, than your comfort". Hard times mature us in the Lord, don't rebuke them and try to get out of them, walk through them and watch the Lord bring you out. Don't lose faith in the midst of the trial. He will help you to "Pass Through" every trial you come against. Don't look for the easy way out because that is not usually how God works. He likes us to mature and learn to trust Him more and more so He allows things in our lives that will cause us to lean on Him. Don't run, lean closer in these times.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to walk through the water and the fire with the right attitude. Teach me to remain calm when it feels like everything is crumbling around me. teach me to walk with You through whatever adversity comes my way. You have promised that You will be with us "THROUGH" every trial, bad time, hard time, and pressure of life. I put my confidence in You this morning. I lean on You Lord. You are my rock and my salvation! I love you with all my heart. Thank you for you amazing word that help us grow and learn. Thank You for loving us so much.

Jeff

Even Time is in His Hands

Scripture:

Isaiah 38:8 "I will cause the sun's shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz! So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps".

Observation:

Nothing is too difficult for our God! He is absolutely amazing! He can make planets move if He wants to. He can control the universe and make time stand still. He is all-powerful and nothing compares to Him. When I read something like this and know that it is true, I stand in awe of my God.

Application:

If we really believe that God could make the sundial go backward ten steps, why do we fret over the little things that go on in our lives. If He is able to change the rotation of planets as a sign for someone, what is He capable of in my life? Life would be so much different if we truly believed the word of God and understood that this God of all power for whom nothing is impossible, is our Father who loves us and wants to bless us. Do you truly believe God is all-powerful? Do you truly believe that He loves you? If we did, we would stop sweating the little things (anything below making the sundial move backward).

Prayer:

Father,
I love you and look to You to provide for all my needs according to Your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. You are my source and my supply. Thank you for loving me and taking care of me. Teach me to walk a life of faith and obedience. I want to be pleasing to You. Help me not to miss my miracle due to lack of faith. I want to be in step with You every day of my life. Help me to see You for who You are.

You are Amazing!
Jeff

Satan's Lies and Schemes

Scripture:

Isaiah 36:18 "Don't let Hezekiah mislead you by saying, 'The Lord will rescue us!' Have the gods of other nations ever saved their people from the king of Assyria?"

Observation:

The King of Assyria sent his chief of staff to Israel to make a peace treaty with them. He basically tells them that they have to do it because they are defenseless against Assyria. They are informed that Assyria has overtaken many of other nations and that they don't stand a chance against them. In attempting to use fear tactics, they tell the people of Israel not to listen to Hezekiah who would tell them that God would rescue them from the hand of the Assyrians. He tries to weaken their faith in the Lord by showing how others prayers were not answered.

Application:

We cannot listen to the voice of the enemy. He is filled with propaganda and lies about our God. He will tell you, "you have prayed for years about this, God hasn't answered you prayers. He doesn't love you". Satan is a master as getting people to stop walking in faith and believing God for miracles. He wants to make a peace treaty with you. You stop trusting in the Lord and he will ease the attack on you because it appears the Lord is not working on your behalf. This is all propaganda and lies from Satan. We must stand strong in the Lord and continue to trust His word when we see great things happen and when it appears nothing is happening. Don't listen to the deceiving lies of the enemy, listen to the voice of Almighty God. He is the only one who can defeat your enemies and bring blessing into your life.

Prayer:

Father in heaven,
You are amazing and I stand in awe of You. Help me not to listen to Satan's tactics when he whispers things like, "your faith isn't working, give up, things will never change". Teach me to follow Your word and walk a life of faith when things are good and when things are bad. Help me to live a life of strength and obedience that will bless the Kingdom of God. I will listen to Your voice above all others!

I Love You Much,

Jeffrey

Our Mighty One

Scripture:

Isaiah 33:21 "The Lord will be our Mighty One. He will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross, that no enemy ship can cross over".

Observation:

Isaiah continues to tell about God's punishment that is coming because of the indifference in Israel's hearts, yet in the midst of it, He tells them that one day they are going to turn around and when they do He is going to bless them. He continues, even in His anger, to let them know that when they turn, He will be right there ready to bless them in a big way and fight their battles for them. in this verse He says He will be "The Mighty One". We need to see our Lord as "The Mighty One".

Application:

Continually in Isaiah we see the Lord telling Israel that judgment was coming to them, then He would shift and tell them that one day they were going to turn to Him and His blessing was coming to them. Knowing He is the Mighty One should cause us to serve Him with all our hearts. Knowing the great miracles of the Old Testament and New, we should have amazing confidence in our Lord, yet we don't truly see Him for what he is. We must begin to see the Lord as the Mighty One who can conquer every foe in our lives. He wants to be this in our lives, but we continue to take things into our own hands and live how we want to instead of allowing Him to lead us.

Prayer:

Lord, You truly are The Mighty One and I don't always see You for that. Many times I take control of things in my life instead of fully trusting You. You are amazing ! You have unbelievable grace and mercy on us while we struggle through life trying to figure this thing out. Help us to see You for who You are and who Your word declares You are, that we may walk in the true blessing our our Mighty God.

I Love You So Much!

Jeff

Wait for His Help

Scripture:

Isaiah 30:18 "So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God, blessed are those who wait for His help".

Observation:

God has been rebuking Israel and speaking about their coming destruction. He is irritated at them for taking things into their own hands and doing things their own way when God has already given them their prescription for success. They were leaning on themselves and trying to do everything on their own. They were leaning on military might when they remembered the stories of how God had fought all their battles in the past. So in this verse the Lords says, "So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion". WOW! We left him and he is waiting for us to come to him. He wants to show love and compassion to his people, but he must wait till we come to him. Then he says, "blessed are those who wait for his help."

Application:

How often do we outrun God when we are in a pressure situation? How often do we work hard in our own strength instead of waiting on the Lord? He wants to bless His people, but He is waiting for us to come to Him instead of always trying to fix everything ourselves. God desires to show us love and compassion, but he is waiting for us to come to him. Don't wait one more minute, call out to him now and come to him for your future! Stop trying to fix everything on your own and spend more time crying out to him, then waiting for his help. You can achieve great things in life, but if you achieve them without God's help, they won't last. Combine your best efforts with waiting on God, and watch the results!

Prayer:

Lord, I come to You. You are my supplier! You are my source and I trust You to take care of me. I wait on You for my financial situation. I know You will take care of me. I will be diligent and wait on You at the same time. Thank you for meeting all my needs according to your riches in glory. You are awesome! Teach me to do better at waiting for You. You way is always so much better.

Love you,
Jeff

The Father of Pride

Scripture:

Isaiah 14:13 "For you said to yourself, 'I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north'".

Observation:

Most scholars would agree that Isaiah 14:13-21 describe Lucifer, or Satan as we better know him. In this verse we see his desire to ascend to heaven and set his throne above God's stars. From the beginning, Satan has wanted to be equal with God. He was created beautiful and thought he could be equal with God. It was his pride that got him kicked out of heaven and it is our pride that will cause God Himself to resist us. God hates pride!

Application:

Why does God hate pride? Is it just because it reminds Him of Satan from the beginning? I believe that God hates pride because it says that He is not good enough at providing for us. The bible is full of references about pride. Pride is simply saying, "I can handle this better than You God, so I'll take control here". All of us have some level of pride because we all like to be in control of our lives. It is difficult to let God fully have control, because it makes us feel out of control and we usually feel we know better what we need than God does. Humility is realizing that you can't makes it without God in your life. This is where God wants us! he wants us totally dependent upon Him. It is then that He begins to bless us.

Prayer:

Father, You are amazing! I am sorry for allowing pride into my life and taking things into my own hands instead of fully trusting You. Teach me to trust You more. Satan is the father of pride and I want nothing to do with anything from him. Help me to lean on You more and on my own self less. I need You in my life to lead, guide, direct, empower, help etc. The list goes on and on. I can't make life work without You at the controls. Take control Father, I will follow.

Jeff

He Has Given Me Victory

Scripture:

Isaiah 12:2 "See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory".

Observation:

Chapters 11 and 12 are talking about the coming of the Messiah. It says that when He comes, He will bring total peace on the earth, even in nature. This occurs during the millennium, or thousand year reign of Jesus on this earth. This is still a future event, but He has already come and fulfilled parts of this prophecy. This verse puts the total emphasis on the power of the Lord and not in our own power. We need to lean on the Lord in every situation of life.

Application:

Notice Isaiah says, "God has come to save me". We love to read books and try to save ourselves, yet we are unfruitful. It is the Lord who saves us and not we ourselves. He goes on the say, "I will trust in Him and not be afraid". When we truly trust the Lord, we will have no fear. We will know He will take care of us. He closes out by saying "The Lord God is my strength and song; He has given me victory". In today's world there are a million books on how to get the victory through thinking right, speaking right and doing the right things. Books sell by the millions about how to get victory in life when real victory comes, not when we are strong, but when we let the Lord fight our battles and allow Him to give us the victory. The battle is the Lord's! He is powerful! Let Him do the fighting!

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to lean on You an trust in You to defend me, fight for me and win the victory. You are my strength and song. You are my victory! Thank You for caring enough for me that you said you are my victory. Teach me to seek You more and allow You to work in my life more. I want You to have total control in my life.

You're the best!

Jeff

God Responds to Repentance

Scripture:

Hosea 14:4 "The Lord says, Then I will heal you of you faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever".

Observation:

God has spent many chapters prior to this issuing decrees about impending disaster on His people because of their rebellion and idolatry. As chapter 14 begins he says, "Return, O Israel to the Lord Your God". As Israel returns, He promises them that He will heal them of the faithlessness, he will love them with no bounds, and His anger will be gone forever. Wow, what a God! He is the forgiver of every sin, the healer of every heart. All He wants is for His people to follow Him. His love is so incredible that He will overlook years of disobedience for one moment of obedience. We are so undeserving of His amazing Grace and love.

Application:

Understanding His love for us, why do we continue in sin and doing things that are displeasing to Him. When you have felt the incredible love of God, it should eradicate all desire for sinful behavior, yet today people come to the Lord for forgiveness and walk right back into the world. When we come face to face with the love of God, it should cause us to walk in a higher level of righteousness. Let us live a life that is pleasing to Him and realize the great love and forgiveness He has shown to us.

Prayer:

Lord, let me not take You for granted. Let me live a life that pleases You and demonstrates my love for You. You have rescued me, forgiven me, loved me and accepted me over and over again. You are the greatest example in the world of love, acceptance and forgiveness. You never hold a grudge! Let my life become a mirror that I may reflect that same love for others.

Love You.

Jeff

Meeting God Face to Face

Scripture:

Hosea 12:4 "Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face".

Observation:

Hosea is telling the descendants of Jacob about the punishment that is coming their way. He is prophesying destruction for Israel. In the midst of his harsh prophetic words, he brings Jacob into the picture and talks about him. Jacob became Israel at this encounter. His life, past present and future was changed when he wrestled with God at Bethel. He wept and pleaded for a blessing and he got it. The text says that at Bethel he met God face to face. The nation of Israel started with a face to face encounter with God.

Application:

A face to face encounter with God will change everything! Every person needs a face to face with God at some point in their life. When you have encountered Him, everything changes. You will never be the same again! Truly Jacob was a changed man. Several times in my life I have had God encounters that changed me forever. Once you have tasted of that, there is nothing else that satisfies. The sad thing here is that, even though he encountered God face to face, the generations after him fell away. Every generation needs a face to face experience with god or what he did for grandpa will wear off. Seek Him until you have a face to face! It is worth the pursuit.

Prayer:

Lord, let me encounter You again. Fall fresh in my life. I want to know You more and more. I need your presence, your power and your anointing. I seek you this morning as a desperate man in need of water. Lord, forgive my complacency and let me seek You more each day. I want another face to face with my Father. I love you Lord.

Jeff

God has Feelings Too

Scripture:

Hosea 7:15 "I trained them and made them strong, yet now they plot evil against me".

Observation:

Hosea is calling Israel to repentance. He is letting them know that God is tired of their wandering off to other gods and worshiping them. He is telling them that judgment is coming from the Lord and that the Lord is fed up with their actions. In all of that, we see this verse which shows a little how God feels when we don't serve Him properly. As a pastor, I have felt this many times. It seems in ministry that those you give you life for and work with the most turn their backs on you and plot evil against you when they are strong.

Application:

It is wonderful to understand that God himself has human emotions and feels what we feel. When I am feeling bad about investing my life into people and then they turn on me and plot evil against me, I can look to my Lord and realize that many times He feels the exact same way. This verse gives me strength today to continue to serve people, knowing that the same people who I am giving my life for will hurt me in return. I hear the Lord saying, "I feel it also Jeff, I will be with you as you are with Me. I will comfort you with my word and care for you in your times of need. I am your inheritance".

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for speaking to me this morning. You are my inheritance and what I do, I do for you. Help me to handle better the rejection I feel when people turn away from me that I have given of myself for. Teach me to grow in Your word and hear You voice clearer every day. I love You Lord and want to be more like You.

Jeff

A Famine in the Land

Scripture:

Amos 8:11-12 "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God, that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it".

Observation:

God has been rebuking Israel through his prophet Amos. He has been talking about the physical destruction that is coming upon them and in the midst of it, He talks about a famine. This famine is not of food and water, but of hearing the word of the Lord. Not hearing the word of the Lord is seen by God as part of the destruction of a nation. It says that God would send a famine on the land. Why would God send a famine to Israel of hearing the word of the Lord. The answer: What you are hungry for, you will go after.

Application:

Sometimes we go through spiritual famines in our lives. These are those times that we don't seem to be hearing from the Lord. It seems the heavens are brass and our prayers are going nowhere. The answer to a famine is to begin to eat and drink of the word of the Lord. Sometimes God wants to place hunger in us by not letting us hear from Him. The desired result is that we would seek Him more diligently. God wants us to seek Him and if He has to use a famine to get you hungry, He will! Instead of running away from God and thinking He is not answering your prayer, simply pursue Him with even more passion in your famine. Read the Word, do your daily wash, cry out to Him in prayer.

Prayer:

Lord, don't let us die in the famine, but teach us to seek You more in bad times. Help us to trust in You to a greater level and to believe that You will not allow us to go through more than we can bear. When famine comes, into our lives, let us turn to You and not away. Lord, let America realize we are in a famine of hearing the word of the Lord. Let pastors and preachers begin to get hungry for your word again. Let the word of the Lord flow freely in America again. Let the priests not be afraid to preach the whole council of God nor afraid to lose people if they preach the truth. Let You leaders be bold again!

I Love You Lord,

Jeff

That You May Live!

Scripture:

Amos 5:14 "Do what is good and run from evil do that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven's Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed".

Observation:

Amos has placed judgment and pronounced gloom and doom and several surrounding nations. now he turns this judgments toward Israel. He is telling Israel that they are going to be destroyed because they have not followed God's commands. Finally, we see a little hope for them as he says, "Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live!"

Application:

God wants to be our helper, but we must be in a position to receive His help. Holy Spirit is also called our comforter. He is there to bring us comfort in the midst of any storm. This is what He wants to do, but Amos tells us how to get to that point. He says we must do what is good and run from what is evil. This is where most of us fail. God is wanting to bless us, but we are not willing to run away from evil and toward God. We are satisfied with the lives we are living, so we don't get more of what God has in store for us. If you want to really live, do what is good and run from evil.

Prayer:

Father, I want to live the life You have prepared for me. I want to finish the course strong. Give me strength to do what is good and run from evil. You are the best and worthy of all honor. I want Your blessing and I am willing to live the life You want me to. Let my life be pleasing in Your sight almighty God.

Amen,
Jeff

Walking Together

Scripture:

Amos 3:3 "Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?"

Observation:

Amos is conveying a message from the Lord to His people. He is telling them why He has to punish them for their sins and this simple verse is thrown into the mix of what God is saying. They had rebelled against God and His decrees and God pronounces judgment on them. Then He says, "can two people walk together without agreeing on a direction?"

Application:

For two people to walk together, agreement must be present, at least on the direction they are going. Unity bring the commanded blessing of God, but we seldom find it because we can't agree on the direction we want to go. Sometimes walking together is easy because one person is leading and the other is following. Sometimes there is agreement by conversation on which direction to take. Cheryl and I walk together sometimes and usually we don't have an agreed upon route beforehand that we agree on. We begin to walk and watch each other's steps. If I start going in a direction, Cheryl walks with me. When we get to the next intersection, she may begin to turn right and I go with the flow. We don't have a major discussion to bring unity, we simply watch each others movements. Unity comes by watching others and flowing together.

Prayer:

Lord, let me be a peacemaker and a person who brings unity. I want to walk with my family, my church and my community. I want to demonstrate walking together to others who can see it and run with it. If we each hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, and have enough humility to believe we might miss it once in a while, we can walk together. Help me show unity to the world.

Love You,

Jeff

God is ...

Scripture:

Jonah 4:2 "I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people".

Observation:

Jonah was venting his frustrations to God because he wanted God to destroy Ninevah. When God saw Ninevah's response to his word, He decided not to destroy them and this upset Jonah. In the midst of his ranting and raving he makes a declaration about God that is awesome. Jonah says the reason he went the other direction when the Lord called him was because of this very thing. He knew that if he told Ninevah what was coming upon them that they would repent and God would release them from their punishment. He didn't like that fact that God would change His mind about someone after He said He was going to destroy them. Our God is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to turn back from destroying people who turn to Him.

Application:

If these characteristics about God are true, then He is awesome! Jonah was so convinced of God's mercy, compassion and unfailing love that he didn't want to speak on God's behalf. He was convinced that God would change His mind if the people repented and turned to Him. If we are to be continually becoming more and more like our father, then we should be known as merciful and compassionate people who are fill with love. If we are to take on His attributes, then we are to become people who always give a second chance, a third chance and many more chances for people. We must become people who believe in others and have a strong hope that they can change. God never gives up on anyone, neither should we! Some of the people who get on our last nerve may just be the greatest people of God in the making. Don't give up on them in the process.

Prayer:

Lord, I want to be more like You. Lately I have become short with people and had less mercy and compassion than I had before. I repent and once again turn to You to help me with this. I want to have Your attributes. I want to be more like You. Help me to take on these characteristics that are so much a part of who You are. You are my Father. Place that DNA inside me that I may be a good reflection of who You are.

I wanna be like You,
Jeff

All My Fault

Scripture:

Jonah 1:12 "'Throw me into the sea', Jonah said, 'and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault'".

Observation:

Jonah knew he had been disobedient to God and was trying to sail the opposite direction from where God was sending him. He didn't realize that his disobedience would put others into the place of danger. This verse reminds me that my obedience or disobedience to God has consequences on those around me. Every decision I make affects someone else's life.

Application:

We need to think about this before we act or choose to "not fully obey" the Lord. We need to live our lives in complete obedience. Jonah realized that his disobedience was causing problems for everyone on board the ship. He realized that he was the problem for everyone else on board the ship. We need to seriously think about our obedience level with the Lord because people will be impacted by every wrong decision.

Prayer:

Lord, I want to fully obey You. I want Your hand of blessing on my life. I want to serve You fully, but I also realize there are times when I don't "fully" obey what I feel You have put in my spirit for some reason or another. Give me strength to always do what you are calling me to do and to finish the work You have given me to do. I want my life to bring blessing to others and not for them to be adversely affected by my disobedience.

I love you Lord,
Jeff

Put on Your New Nature

Scripture:

Colossians 3:10 "Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him".

Observation:

Paul tells the Colossians to "put on" their new nature. He speaks of it like putting on a garment. he adds to the statement that we should be renewed as we learn to know God and become like Him. Being renewed is work. Renewing a car takes time and effort. Renewing a car requires alot of sanding away the old and stripping it down to the original state, then rebuilding it with new parts, paint, etc. As we know God more and more, our old nature should be stripped away and we should be rebuilt to look like Jesus and reflect his character in our lives.

Application:

I want to stay in the garage until His work on me is complete. The renewing process is work and doesn't just happen without us "putting on" the Lord Jesus Christ. Many Christians come to Christ, get content and never grow into maturity and become like the God we say we serve. His goal for us is that we become like Him, yet we don't stay in the renewing garage long enough for Him to do His work on us. When He starts sanding and stripping things away, our flesh doesn't like it. We must be determined to allow His processes to work in our lives instead of looking for an easy way out. Stay in the garage and on the Potter's Wheel until you look like the Creator Himself.

Prayer:

Lord, I want to mature in You. I want to grow up and become more like Christ every day. Put me in the garage and let me withstand the stripping and sanding until Your image is seen more clearly in me. Let me be a good representative of yours. Help me not to run when problems come, but to realize I am Your workmanship and that I need to stay in the garage until I am fully renewed.

Love you,
Jeff

Don't Worry

Scripture:

Philippians 4:6 "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done".

Observation:

Paul is writing this letter to the Philippian people from a jail cell. He has every right to complain and talk about how terrible his life is for following Jesus. Instead, he is telling them to always be joyful in the Lord. He tells them not to worry about anything, just begin to pray about everything. He says to tell the Lord what you need and thank him for what he has done. He says that then we will experience God's peace. He places an order that will get rid of worry: 1. pray 2. tell god what you need. 3. thank him for all he has done.

Application:

Living this out is harder than it seems. it seems easy to just pray, tell God what you need and thank Him for what He has done, yet it is very difficult to do. Why is it that the simple things we know we need to do are the hardest things to do? God gave use the prescription, we just have to go get it filled. If you want to get rid of worry, begin to set aside a time to pray every day and bring your needs to Him. Make sure you take time to be thankful in his presence. No father wants to bless and unthankful child. Last, relax and let Him do the work instead of stressing out about it.

Prayer:

Father, help me not to worry about the things I have no control over. Teach me to pray more, and more effectively. Forgive me for complaining about my present situation. Help me live a life that will bring You glory. You are the best and I love You with all my heart. Thanks for blessing me with a great life, a wonderful family, a fantastic church that is making a difference in people's lives. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Jeff

Pleasing God

Scripture:

Philippians 2:13 "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him".

Observation:

Paul reveals here how we become pleasing to God. Many times we stress over how to make our lives pleasing to God. We feel like we will never be good enough to please Him. This verse lets us know that it is God who works in you to give you the desire and power to do what pleases Him. In other words, He gives you the desire and power to get the job done. We are not on our own when it comes to pleasing God. When you feel the desire to please God more in your life He put the desire there in the first place, now He will give you the power to do it.

Application:

Serving God is meant to be a joy and not a drudgery. God doesn't want us to walk through life like miserable people trying to please a God who is unpleasable and always feeling condemnation because we are not good enough. Serving God should be simple and joy-filled. He puts a desire in your heart, you want to do it, then He gives you the power to do it. We must stop trying so hard to do right and learnt to BE right by dwelling in Christ ad allowing Him to work in and through us. Ask Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth, then be willing to follow where He leads and do what He says. he will give you what you need to fulfill God's will for your life.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to lean on You more and less on myself. I want to finish the race You have given me to run. I don't want to do it in my own strength, but rely on Your unending strength. You are amazing and made it so easy and we try to complicate it with our works based mindset. If we just follow Your voice, we will fulfill Your will. Speak Lord and I will listen.

Love You Always,

Jeffrey

Created for Good Works

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:10 "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in".

Observation:

Paul is telling the Ephesian believers that God is working on us and that we were created for good works. These good works were prepared by God beforehand. This tells me that God has works planned out for every believer. I wonder how many people are actually doing the good works God has prepared for us. God is working on us, so that we can do good works for Him. We were created for good works and God is doing His work on us so we can do those works planned out for us. This tells me that we have to allow God to continue to work on us. It also tells me that every individual has a purpose in God's Kingdom. It is our job to find those things we were created to do and do them!

Application:

We must become people who are not satisfied with just living life and going through the motions. Are you doing what God has created you to do? Are you allowing Him to do His workmanship on you? Are you doing your own will or God's? These are the questions we must asks ourselves. I don't want to get to heaven and here the Lord say, you did a great job at the wrong thing. I want to hear, "well done good and faithful servant". I want to finish every plan He has for me.

Prayer:

Lord, keep my ears tuned to Your voice and my eyes seeing what You have for me. I don't want to end up having done the wrong thing really well, but I want to give myself to do You will. Help me to die to myself and what I think and allow You to fulfill Your plan in my life. I need you Lord! Let me do every good work that You prepared for me, and let me do some that were prepared for someone else who didn't do theirs.

You're the Best,

Jeff

Unquenchable Love

Scripture:

Song of Songs 8:7 "Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned".

Observation:

Solomon writes this verse talking about the power of love. Love is unquenchable! Rivers can't drown it! It can't be bought! Love is something everyone desires deep in their heart, but many never find the real thing. Love between a man and a woman is meant to be life long, yet so often today people allow love to be quenched by self desire and selfishness.

Application:

Don't let anything, or anyone, quench the love for your spouse. Though rivers of trouble and hard times may try to drown the love between you and your spouse, don't let it! Real love is unquenchable and undrownable, but we must get to the place of real love. Real love is not selfish, not rude, not self-serving, not jealous, not an emotion, but a commitment. Real love determines that the other person is valuable and deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. Real love gives, false love takes. Real love serves, false love wants to be served. Real love is unstoppable, false loved can be quenched. Go after real love and let it last a lifetime!

Prayer:

Lord, teach me real love. Help me to love with the love of Christ. Help me to love unconditionally. Allow Your love to fill my life, that I may give it to others. Never let my love for my wife be quenched. Don't let rivers drown it. Let me love Cheryl with the real love I described here all the days of my life. You are my example of love and I want to be just like You.

Love you,

Jeff

The Love of God

Scripture:

Song of Songs 6:3 "I am my lover's, and my lover is mine. He browses among the lilies".

Observation:

Many scholars compare the love of the man and woman in these verses with the love of God. Personally, I believe it is just Solomon's love of women that comes out here. He had enough wives and concubines to at least know something about sensual love. For our observation, we will look at this verse both ways; as a verse about a husband and wife, and also about our relationship with God.

Application:

"I am my lover's and my lover is mine" is a powerful description of confidence in the marriage relationship. The author was not insecure in this relationship, but very secure, knowing they belonged with each other. Every marriage needs this confidence. Husbands need to know they belong to their wives and their wives belong with them. Wives need to know deeply that they belong with their husbands and their husbands belong with them. Knowing the commitment goes both ways brings confidence in the marriage relationship. It goes the same way since we are called the bride of Christ. As the bride of Christ, our lover must know that we are His and He is ours. There must be a confidence that God loves us and that we love Him.

Prayer:

Lord, I pray for marriages this morning. I pray for a new level of commitment in marriage. I pray that men would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that their wives love them and that their love for their wives will be strong and clear enough to let the wife know that he loves her. I also pray that You would strengthen our relationship with our Lord until the body of Christ knows that they are loved by God and would do a better job letting God know how much we love Him. You are the best! Thanks for loving me, I love You.

Jeff

Enjoy What You Have

Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 6:9 "Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless - like chasing the wind".

Observation:

Solomon is definitely keeping it real in the first few chapters of Ecclesiastes. He is stating how he sees life. He has basically said to this point that everything is meaningless. Here he is sums it all up and tells us to enjoy what we have instead of desiring what you don't have. Many times we keep ourselves miserable over what we don't have rather than enjoying what we do have. We constantly complain about not having enough rather than enjoying what we do have.

Application:

Whatever you have in life is more than what you were born with. We come into this world with absolutely nothing and when we leave this world we can take absolutely nothing. In between, we have some things that we should appreciate. You may not have the nicest car, house, clothes, or bank account, but it is more than you came into the world with and more than you will take with you when you leave. We need to change our way of thinking about life and do as Solomon says. We need to enjoy what we do have instead of spending our time complaining about what we don't have. make the best use of the resources you have and God will give the increase.

Prayer:

Lord, Your word says that godliness with contentment is great gain. Teach me to walk in contentment. I realize I have done a lot of complaining lately and I ask You to forgive me. Lately I have been very focused on what I don't have instead of enjoying what I do have. Thank You for all You have given me! You are awesome and have tremendously blessed my life. Thank You for a wonderful wife and two excellent children. Thank You for a beautiful home and food on our table. Thank You for two cars that are reliable. Thank You for a growing church and a wonderful group of volunteers who want to make a difference in people's lives. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Jeff

Pure in Your Own Eyes

Scripture:

Proverbs 30:12 "There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness".

Observation:

This is really a scary verse that fits our generation very well. Many people today, if you ask them, are pure in their eyes. There are many who think they are right with God, yet their lives don't show forth any fruit. There are many today who can cast out devils, heal the sick, sing and shout, yet can't seem to live right. There is a generation who knows the Lord in their heads, yet their hearts are far from God. The author realizes the how people are and how they can think everything is okay when it isn't.

Application:

We need to live every day listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit. If you ask Him, He will show you areas of your life that need examined. He will lead you into all truth. He will keep you on the right track. If there is something questionable in your life, ask Him and He will lead you correct. I have one hint for you though, if you have to ask whether it is permissible or not, it is probably not something you need to be doing. We don't want to be deceived at any point in our lives. We want to walk in true holiness and true righteousness. It is so sad today that many believe they are right with God, but really they don't know Him.

Prayer:

Lord, Keep me on track with You. Don't let my feet stumble in any area. I want to live a life worth duplicating. I want to live a life of true holiness and obedience. You are worthy of followers who are real. You are worthy of followers who don't think they are more than they are, but represent You well.

You're the Best!

Jeff

Concealed Sin

Scripture:

Proverbs 28:13 "People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy".

Observation:

From this passage of scripture we see that there are some people who are not prospering because they have concealed sin in their lives. Prosperity is connected with hidden sin. Many times a person may appear to have it all together and be a hard worker, yet they never seem to prosper. In these cases, sometimes it may be a test or trial of their faith, but other times it could be that there is some concealed sin in their lives. Thank God the author added, "But if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy".

Application:

Be sure your sins will find you out! Sin stops up God's blessing. It will hinder your prosperity and destroy your life. Run from it as fast as you can. I want to be on the side of the blessing of God. I want to see His people blessed. Unconfessed sin will slowly eat at you like cancer. Confess your hidden sins, repent and prosper.

Prayer:

Lord, search my heart and show me areas of my life that I need to change. Examine me and see if there is any wrong in my heart. I want to be pure in side and out. You are worthy of all praise!

I Love You,
Jeff

Why Try to Understand?

Scripture:

Proverbs 20:24 "The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way".

Observation:

If the Lord directs our steps, why do we have to try to figure everything out and constantly second guess Him. If we have really given out hearts and lives to Him, why do we beat ourselves up all the time wondering if we are in His will. Life is much easier when you come to the place that God is in full control and you realize He has been directing your steps all the way through. If we have truly given God total control of our lives, then why do we continually wonder if we are in His will and think we can't handle what has come into our lives. God does direct the lives of His children.

Application:

It is time to stop asking why and figuring everything out and walk in simple obedience because we have a loving Father who has nothing but our best interest in His mind. Maybe God has called you to do something that you don't feel adequate to do. Don't rely on the arm of the flesh and try to figure everything out. He does what He does and puts us where we are for His purposes, not ours. Sometimes we need to realize that it's really not all about us, rather it is about advancing His kingdom. Realize He is ordaining your steps and nothing has happened that He is unaware of. He knows all. Don't try to second guess Him. Spend more time asking God what he has for you to do today then wondering why you are where you are and trying to understand His plans.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to trust You more each day. I know that you ordain my steps, but sometimes I question why You chose me to do some things that I feel like are above me. Sometimes I try to figure out what You are doing, which only leads to frustration. I have given you my life many years ago. help me to trust You to run it correctly. Keep me on Your path and let me only fulfill Your will! You are the best and I love you.

Jeff

The Pathway to Life

Scripture:

Proverbs 10:17 "Those who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray".

Observation:

The author is now giving his Proverb couplets of awesome one liners. He is giving forth great wisdom and golden nuggets to live by. In this particular nugget, he talks about something nobody likes to talk about, discipline. It is a word that we don't like because it will make us accountable and make us change. Accepting discipline is hard for most people, but the author says if we accept it, we are on the path to life.

Application:

I want to live on the path to life. I want to live a life that bring life everywhere I go. Discipline is not easy, but it puts us on the right path. We should never run away from discipline, but endure discipline and learn from it. Those who love and accept discipline will continue to grow, those who feel they are above discipline are in for a fall. Everyone needs someone above them that can speak hard words into their life. Correction was put there for a purpose, to grow us into the image of Jesus Christ. The pathway for to life comes through accepting discipline from those God has set in authority over us. Run to it and not away!

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to receive discipline and not run from being corrected. WE all make mistakes and I want to see my mistakes, correct them, and become a better person for it. Help me to remain accountable to others throughout my life. I want to be on the pathway that leads to life.

You are the Best!
Jeff

How to get Good Judgment

Scripture:

Proverbs 9:10 "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment".

Observation:

The author of this section is talking about wisdom and it's blessings in your life. He comes near the end of his section on wisdom and says, "fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom". Wisdom is built on a foundation called the fear of the Lord. Fearing God is the beginning and foundation of wisdom. Those who think they are wise, yet don't fear God, are not very wise at all. One day they will face Him and find out their wisdom was worthless in light of eternity. The author goes on to say, "Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment". Good judgment comes from knowing God. The longer you walk with Him, then better your judgment becomes.

Application:

Good judgement should be longed for. Bad judgement can get us into all kinds of trouble. Most of the mistakes and problems in our lives are from bad judgment. The author tells us that good judgment comes from knowing God. The more we know Him, the better our judgment becomes and the better our judgment, the better our life. We should seek to know the Lord for who He is, but the fact that it will bring good judgment is icing on the cake. Good judgment will keep you out of bad financial deals. Good judgment will keep you from wrong relationships. Good judgment will make life so much better. Get to know the Lord better today and allow your judgment to get better and better.

Prayer:

Lord, I want to walk with the wise. I want to have good judgment in leading the congregation you have put me over. I want to know You. I want to know what pleases You and what You hate. I want to know Your voice when You speak to me. Help me grow in the knowledge of the Lord. Teach me to put on the mind of Christ every day and to walk in wisdom by fearing You. I want to make great decisions that bring prosperity and life to me and my family. Continue to show me the way.

I Love You Lord,

Jeffrey

Wisdom and Understanding

Scripture:

Proverbs 4:7 "Wisdom is the principle thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding".

Observation:

The first part of Proverbs talks mostly about wisdom. Solomon had asked the Lord for wisdom to guide the people of Israel and to be able to lead them effectively. He received it and Proverbs helps us by bringing Solomon's wisdom to the table to feast on. In this verse he states that wisdom is the principle thing. Above money, lands, houses, health, etc, wisdom is the principle thing because if you can get wisdom, you will get the rest of it. He says, "in all your getting, get understanding".

Application:

Americans today run around throughout their entire lives trying to get things. We are a consumer nation. We consume huge amounts of everything. WE purchase more than any other nation to spend on ourselves. We are always getting. Solomon stops us in all that and says, "in all your getting, get understanding". He doesn't rebuke us for getting, but says in our getting, don't leave understanding off the shopping list. Wisdom and understanding will be a guide to you throughout your life. We need to ask ourselves, "Is what I am about to do wise?" Most of what we do , we would probably stop if we pursued wisdom and understanding.

Prayer:

Lord, I have done things that I know were not wise. I have not sought after wisdom and understanding enough. Teach me to seek after it like a thirsty man after water. You have given me the mind of Christ and I understand that. Now let me walk in Your wisdom and understand like You understand. Give me an understanding heart that I may lead the body of Christ into Your blessing. Give me wisdom that I may not hinder the expansion of Your kingdom. I love You Lord and want to fulfill all You have given me to do. I seek wisdom and understanding this morning. Let this desire never leave me. Amen.

Love You Lord,

Jeff

The Use of Authority

Scripture:

II Corinthians 13:10 "I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won't need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down".

Observation:

Paul has spent most of this letter to the Corinthians defending his apostleship to them so that they could receive his messages to them. He spends much more time defending himself, his ministry, his actions, etc. than I think was necessary. He writes like someone who has truly been hurt by the church. When he gets near the end of the letter he tells them he is coming and doesn't want to deal severely with them when he gets there. he wants to use his authority to strengthen them instead of to tear them down.

Application:

Paul seems very ready in this letter, to use his authority to deal severely with them if they don't listen to and do what he says. On the other hand, he doesn't really want to do that. he would rather them repent so he can use his authority to bless them and strengthen them. Paul understood authority and knew his own authority. He understood that he had the power to bless or curse and that he could do either. He understood that authority can be used for good or bad. He wanted to use it for good, but would use it otherwise if the situation needed it. Authority must be handled properly or it can really hurt people. The proper use of authority is to win souls, make disciples, and set the church in order. If you are in leadership, don't allow authority to go to your head. Use it wisely and be careful. Use authority with much love and when you don't feel the love, be cautious how you use it.

Prayer:

Lord, I understand the power of authority and the position You have put me in by calling me to lead people. Help me to never use my authority to hurt people, rather to bless and strengthen them. Help me to be a good representative of you and your kingdom here on this earth. I understand very clearly what Paul was feeling as he was writing this letter, but I want to respond in ways that please you totally. I want to hear you say, "well done good and faithful servant".

Love,
Jeff

PS: Are you coming back soon? It sure seems like it!