Renewing My Strength

Scripture:

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

Observation:

Isaiah here describes those who hope or trust in the Lord. He says they will renew their strength and that they will soar on wings life eagles. He says they will run and not grow weary and they will walk and not faint. In other words, God will give strength to those who hope in Him. He will give us the energy we need as we remain in Him.

Application:

Trusting in the Lord is a powerful thing. God is all-powerful and when you determine to walk with Him, He gives strength to your body and life to your spirit. He renews us and keeps us young. I am starting to feel my age more and more in my body, but today I stand on this passage and I’m believing God to renew my strength and cause me to soar.

Prayer:

Lord God, You are incredible and I love You with all my heart. Your goodness never fails and Your love is unending. Thank You for renewing my strength this morning. Thank You for healing my shoulder and bringing my body back to a more youthful state. I want to preach Your word with the energy of a 21 year old.

Yours,

Jeff

When God Fights Your Battles

 Scripture:

“The Lord sent an angel to the camp of the Assyrians, and he killed 185,000 of them all in one night. The next morning, the camp was full of dead bodies.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭37:36‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

King Hezekiah was being threatened by the Assyrians. They were tormenting him and telling him not to trust in God because other nations had trusted their gods, but were destroyed by the Assyrians. In one night, God killed 185,000 Assyrians. He made a loud statement to His people that He could be trusted to fight their battles.

Application:

When God fights our battles, He does a much better job than we can. When our faith and trust is in Him, and we walk in obedience to Him, enemies must flee. When God fights on our behalf, miracles take place and significant change happens. It is much easier to trust God than to fight, but allowing Him to fight our battles guarantees victory. He has never lost a battle.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are powerful and You are good. Help me to yield myself completely to You at all times. Fight my battles, bless my family, ministry and region. Work miracles in my life and let me see the day of Your incredible favor. Fight my battles, be my provider, and help me to follow You well.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

The Right Voice

 Scripture:

“Stop listening to Hezekiah. Pay attention to my king. Surrender to him. He will let you keep your own vineyards, fig trees, and cisterns” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭36:16‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Sennacherib told the people of Israel not to listen to Hezekiah, but to surrender to him and his people. He was saying that he would let them live good lives if they would just listen to him instead of their king. 

Application:

Listening to the wrong voices will get you in trouble every time. We must listen to God and His Word. When we listen to Him, we will always do well, but when we listen to the voice of fear, doubt and unbelief, we will get ourselves into trouble. Other voices may promise good things, but the voice of the Lord is to be trusted.

Prayer:

Father, you know my heart on this. As I have said over and over throughout my life. Open my ears. I want to hear You clearly and give me a heart to respond well to what You speak. Let me hear the right voices and not the voice of the enemy. Give me good reception on your channel.

Yours,

Jeff

Obedience is the Key to Life

Scripture:

“you are the foundation on which we stand today. You always save us and give true wisdom and knowledge. Nothing means more to us than obeying you.”  ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭33:6‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Once again today, we see this foundation we can stand on that is rock solid and enduring forever. Isaiah says of the Lord, “You always save us and give true wisdom and knowledge.” He goes on to say that nothing means more than obeying God. Obedience to the Lord is the key to life. Knowing He always saves us and gives us wisdom and knowledge allows us to trust Him more.

Application:

Obeying God puts us on the right foundation. When we do, we can expect wisdom, knowledge, and salvation. If God is the foundation, then we build the house with obedience. Obedience isn’t always easy and it sometimes makes no sense to us, but when we walk in obedience, we will see God’s blessings overflow our lives.

Prayer:

Father, You are good and Your mercy endures forever. I want to build my life on Your foundation. I want You in, around, under, and on everything I do. I want obedience to You to be the Hallmark of my life. Teach me to obey and follow You closely. Let me not leave anything undone that You had planned for my life.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

My Cornerstone

 Scripture:

“And so the Lord says, “I'm laying a firm foundation for the city of Zion. It's a valuable cornerstone proven to be trustworthy; no one who trusts it will ever be disappointed.”  ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭28:16‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, the Lord is speaking to Jerusalem, who had been punished by Him for their rebellion. He tells them that He was laying a foundation whose cornerstone would be trustworthy and everyone who trusts in will never be disappointed. This is a picture and prophetic image of Christ, our chief cornerstone.

Application:

We can rely on the chief cornerstone. He is faithful, reliable, and trustworthy. When we trust in Christ, we are never disappointed. He is the solid foundation we can anchor our lives to. We build on an incredible foundation when we build on Him. Anything apart from Him is a weak structure. I need Christ to be the foundation of my life and nothing else. 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are my everything! You are my firm foundation and the rock on which I stand. Your word guides me and Your Spirit directs me. Teach me to rely more on You and less on my own understanding. Let me acknowledge You in all my ways because I want You to direct my path. Lead me Lord and help me have a heart to follow. Let my life make a difference for You and Your kingdom.

Forever Yours,

Jeff 

Perfect Peace

 Scripture:

“The Lord gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm. So always trust the Lord because he is forever our mighty rock.”  ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3-4‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Isaiah speaks here of firm faith bringing peace into our lives. He continues by telling us to trust the Lord because He is our mighty rock. Our faith can be firm because our God is rock-solid. When reach trust Him, He is unwavering.

Application:

God is described here like a mighty rock. He is as solid as solid gets. This gives us peace because peace comes from trust, and trust is knowing that God is solid and can be relied upon. When we are faithful to Him, we can have great confidence because we know He is unchangeable and all-powerful. He is worthy of our worship and we should honor Him by giving Him our very best.

Prayer:

Father. You are worthy of all my praise. My tongues could never give You the worship and praise You deserve. You have chosen me and given me a rock-solid foundation to build my life upon. Thank You for loving me and being my strength in difficult times. You are my everything. Help me to trust You more.

Your Son,

Jeff

Trust God, He Has a Plan

 Scripture:

“Then you built a large tank between the walls to store the water. But you refused to trust the God who planned this long ago and made it happen.”  ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭22:11‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Isaiah is speaking here to Judah and condemns them for building things and fighting enemies, but refusing to trust God, who planned all of it long ago. They were leaning on themselves instead of leaning on the Lord, and God wasn’t happy with this.

Application:

How much do we lean on ourselves, our own understanding, our own skills, etc. instead of looking to the Lord as our help. We tend to do everything on our own, then cry out to God when we are in a bad place. We need to learn to trust Him in plenty and in need. We need to trust and follow Him at all times. He planned it all long ago. It’s much better to align with His plan.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are awesome and deserving of my praise. You are the wisest of the wise and the creator and author of all I see. Why do I try to live life and make decisions apart from You? Forgive me Lord, and help me to trust You more each day.

Yours,

Jeff

God’s Overarching Desire

 Scripture:

“After the Lord has punished Egypt, the people will turn to him. Then he will answer their prayers, and the Egyptians will be healed.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭19:22‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

God is speaking through Isaiah about His punishment on Egypt and how He will bring devastation there. Immediately, you can hear the heart of God saying, “the people will turn it him. Then he will answer their prayers and the Egyptians will be healed.” Even in punishment, God demonstrates love and His desire.

Application:

God always has people, and their relationship with Him, on His mind. Even in punishment, His heart is for people to turn and seek Him so He can bless them. God’s punishment is because of His great love. When we are disciplined by the Lord, His heart is not our destruction and pain, but that we would turn to Him so He can bless us. We should always run TO God and never away from Him.

Prayer:

Father, You are worthy of all the glory, honor, and praise. Thank You for loving us enough to discipline us when we stray. Thank You for always bringing us back into relationship so You can bless us. You are amazing and I love You more each day. Teach me to walk closer to You and to bring You pleasure.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Is This the Man?

 Scripture:

“Those who see you will stare and wonder, “Is this the man who made the world tremble and shook up kingdoms?”  ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭14:16‬ ‭CEV‬

Observation:

This is a very complex passage. Many believe there is a double meaning when speaking of this king. It is a picture os Lucifer, Satan, or the devil, as he is called each of these in the Bible. It speaks about the bright and morning star falling from heaven. It says here that one day people will look at him and wonder, “Is this the man who made the world tremble and shook up kingdoms?”

Application:

Satan has a big roar, but he is not as powerful as the credit we give to him. When he is revealed, we will be thinking, “Are you serious?  That guy?” We need to see the enemy for that which he really is, a defeated foe. He has already been defeated by Christ. He is good at making himself appear powerful, but he is nothing compared to our God.  I need to stop giving the devil too much credit.

Prayer:

Father, You are awesome and nothing compares to You. You have defeated Satan and when we see him, we will wonder how such a weakling accomplished so much. Help me to live in victory every day of my life and accomplish Your will in the earth.

Your Son,

Jeff

Jesus, The Source of Wisdom

 Scripture:

“The Spirit of the Lord will be with him to give him understanding, wisdom, and insight. He will be powerful, and he will know and honor the Lord.”  ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭11:2‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

This passage is describing Jesus, specifically when He returns and rules during the Millennial Reign, but He had, and has, these qualities now. Understanding, wisdom, power, and insight are found in Jesus. He has everything we need for life and godliness.

Application:

If Jesus has these incredible qualities, my job is to seek Him out more and more. If I need wisdom, understanding, power, or insight, I need to seek the Lord. When I don’t know what to do next, I need to run to Jesus. He is everything I need and has countless resources for whatever I need.  

Prayer:

Jesus, You have everything I need to build Your kingdom. Help me to seek You more and more. Give me insight into current situations. Show me next steps and help me to follow.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

His Kingdom Will Never End

 Scripture:

“His power will never end; peace will last forever. He will rule David's kingdom and make it grow strong. He will always rule with honesty and justice. The Lord All-Powerful will make certain that all of this is done.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9:7‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

This is a prophecy concerning Jesus, given 700 years before He came. It says His power will never end and that He will rule with honesty and justice. He will strengthen David’s kingdom as well. Jesus died, but was resurrected sand His kingdom will never end. Greater days are yet to come for Israel and for us.

Application:

Although it seems like the world is out of control right now, Jesus is still on His throne. We must live in complete confidence that Christ has overcome death, hell, and the grave, and that He will return to rule the nations. All will bow before Him.

Prayer:

Father, use my life for Your glory and for the extension of Your kingdom. Fill me with Your Spirit and let my light shine for Your glory. Help me live as You desire. Teach me to be a man of God who walks intimately with You. Show me every step to take.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

When God Doesn’t Make Sense

 Scripture:

““Make these people stubborn! Make them stop up their ears, cover their eyes, and fail to understand. Don't let them turn to me and be healed.”” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭6:10‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Isaiah just had his incredible vision of the Lord high and lifted up and His glory filling the temple. Immediately God called him and told him what to do. His calling was to make the people stubborn so they won’t turn to God and repent. Taken literally or figuratively, that calling is no fun and doesn’t seem to make sense.

Application:

Sometimes God calls us to do what makes no sense to others, but it is exactly what He is speaking to us. We need to learn to walk in obedience to God, even when obedience doesn’t fit our vision. We must be part of fulfilling God’s vision and not building our own vision. I need to hear clearly and walk in complete obedience.

Prayer:

Father, You are awesome and I want to serve You with all my heart, soul, and strength. Help me to truly do the work You have for me. Teach me to walk out Your vision instead of trying to run with my vision.  Let me really hear from you and do what You say.

Your,

Jeff

Use God’s Gifts Well

 Scripture:

“So I ask you to make full use of the gift God gave you when I placed my hands on you. Use it well.”       ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

This is a very popular portion of Scripture, but generally it is translated to “fan into flame” or “stir up the gift”. In the CEV it is translated as “make full use of the gift….use it well.” I like this version because it shows how this is a gift, but it is up to us to use it well. We must use the gifts God gives us well.

Application:

God has people lay hands on us as we enter ministry and periodically throughout our lives. It is then our job to activate that anointing or make full use of it. We must then use it well. I don’t want to sit on any gift God has given me, but to use the gifts He has placed in my life well.

Prayer:

Lord God, help me to make full use of every gift You have placed in my life. Teach me to follow You well all the days of my life. Help me to walk out my salvation doing Your will at all times. I don’t want to limit You by not doing my part. Show me when to say yes and when to say no. Work in and through my life and  enable me to flow in every gifts ever given through laying on of hands or otherwise. I want to be faithful with what I have been given.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Love is Powerful

 Scripture:

“Love cannot be drowned by oceans or floods. It cannot be bought— any offer would be scorned no matter how great.” ‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭8:7‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Love is a powerful force in the world. Love causes people to do all sorts of things. Love is strong and has a way of strongly impacting our lives, our decisions, and our destinies. Once love is ignited, it will grow and take on a direction of its own. 

Application:

I want to be so in love with God that my love can’t be drowned by oceans or floods. GOD IS LOVE, and I want His love to flow through my life. I want to serve God with all my heart, not out of obedience, but out of a love that cannot be satisfied. I want the love of God to overwhelm my life.

Prayer:

Lord God, let Your love consume me. Let Your passion for souls and love for people grab my heart. Help me to walk with You closely and be the person You want me to be. Help me to love like You love and live how You want me to live. 

Yours,

Jeff

Let’s Go Away

 Scripture:

“Fig trees are bearing fruit, while blossoms on grapevines fill the air with perfume. My darling, I love you! Let's go away together.”  ‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭2:13‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Solomon is speaking of the one he loves and says, “My darling, I love you! Let’s go away together.” There is something special about going away together. There is an adventure to going away from the usual rut and routine that makes special moments.

Application:

Sometimes we need to go away with the one we love and isolate from the rest of the world.  Sometimes a change of place equals a change of perspective. A change of perspective is very important in the life of a couple. I need to find a way to get away with Cheryl more often.

Prayer:

My Father, teach me to know and understand what Cheryl needs each day. Show me when to take her away and when to stay put. Show me how to be the husband she needs. Help me to know what to do at each step of our lives for her to thrive.

Yours,

Jeff

You Can’t Take it With You

  Scripture:

“We didn't bring anything into this world, and we won't take anything with us when we leave.” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:7‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Paul tells his spiritual son Timothy here that life isn’t found in what we can accumulate here on earth, but in what we do for eternity.  He tells him that we didn’t bring anything into this world and we won’t take anything with us when we leave.

Application:

We came into the world with nothing and we will leave with nothing. Whatever we accumulate here on earth will be given to someone else when our race is over. Jesus told us not to lay up treasures on earth, but in heaven, where they will never be corrupted. Living for eternity causes us to invest in eternity. We must live kingdom minded lives. Whatever we do on this earth will rot away one day, only what we do for Christ will last.

Prayer:

Father, let me invest in what brings eternal rewards and not be so concerned with having things on this earth. Help me to live as unto You, and not for my own glory. Teach me to invest into what will last and truly make a difference in people’s lives.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Genuine Love and True Faith

 Scripture:

“You must teach people to have genuine love, as well as a good conscience and true faith.” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭CEV‬

Observation:

Paul tells his spiritual son Timothy here that he must teach people to have real and genuine love, along with a good conscience and true faith. Genuine love is so important and it only comes through Christ. God is love! Having a good conscience means we are not doing things secretly that we know are wrong.

Application:

As a pastor, it is my job to teach and demonstrate these things. I must always have a clean conscience and real, true, faith that is not wish washy, but strong. I must not only have it, but teach it as well. The only was to live that way is to continuously walk in the Spirit.

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk in the Spirit at all times. Enable me to set a good example and to lead the way into a real, pure, and true walk with You. I want nothing phony, but long for Your hand and touch on my life. Let me represent You well.

Your,

Jeff

Respect and Obey God

 Scripture:

“Everything you were taught can be put into a few words: Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12:13‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

The author makes life very simple with this one line at the end of Ecclesiastes. He says that basically everything we learn in life that is important is summed up with this line, “Respect and obey God” because that is what life is about.

Application:

The goal of my life needs to be “respect God and obey Him.” When I do that, everything else gets put in its proper place. When I get to the end of my life, I want to be able to say, “I did everything I felt God asked me to do.” That, in my opinion, is success, and great blessing follows obedience.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to respect and obey You every moment of every day. Let my heart walk in agreement with Your heart. You are amazing and I trust You with my life. Let my fear and trust of You direct my path every day. I want to live a life that honors You above all else. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Content But Moving Forward

 Scripture:

“It's better to enjoy what we have than to always want something else, because that makes no more sense than chasing the wind.”  ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

The author here tells us that always wanting something else is like chasing the wind.  He says it is better to enjoy what we do have rather than always desiring something else. This brings contentment, which is a powerful principle. 

Application:

Enjoying where you are on the way to where you are going is super important. /it allows a person to enjoy life at every step of the journey. Contentment is a powerful concept because it allows you to enjoy the life you currently have while moving forward. The only caution is in learning to balance contentment with a passion to grow or advance.  We must enjoy where we are while pressing forward into better things.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, help me to walk a happy and content life, while moving forward in every area. Help me not to be continually displeased because I am not where I desire to be, but also don’t leave me where I am.  Teach me to have a holy satisfaction at the same time with a holy dissatisfaction.

Yours Always,

Jeff

Peace Over Overwork

 Scripture:

“Yet a very little food eaten in peace is better than twice as much earned from overwork and chasing the wind.”  ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Solomon, at this point, is looking over his life and seeing what was really important and what wasn’t. In this simple verse he tells us that very little food eaten in peace is better than a lot of food earned from overwork. What he is saying is that sometimes we must slow down from overworking and rest. Peace, he would say, is more important than money.

Application:

You can work hard and accumulate all the money in the world, but if you lose your peace and rest in so doing, you have lost something extremely important. Overwork is part of the American way. We honor those who come in early and stay late. We believe productivity is more important than peace in our homes. Maybe I should be less stressed about accomplishing more, and more stressed about spending time in the presence of God.

Prayer:

Father, You are worthy of all my praise. Thank You for speaking to me today. Your word is life to me and bread to eat. Let me pursue the right things in life. Help me to live with proper balance in every area. Help me make the important things important.

You Son,

 Jeff

Patient and Faithful

 Scripture:

“This is why we brag about you to all of God's churches. We tell them how patient you are and how you keep on having faith, even though you are going through a lot of trouble and suffering.” ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Paul commends the Thessalonians here by telling them that he brags about them to all the other churches. He says that he speaks about their patience and faith, even though they are going through much trouble and suffering. Paul’s definition of someone to be bragged about was someone going through hard times patiently, not seeing signs and wonders.

Application:

Patient endurance and faith when going through trying times is what stands out in God’s kingdom. Sometimes we honor those who have great faith to get out of bad situations, but God honors those who suffer patiently and who keep their faith when trials come. I believe we need a strong balance of both, faith to get us out of problems, and faith that walks you through problems.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to endure faithfully every difficulty I walk through as your child.  Teach me to live an overcoming life of faithfulness in the good and bad. Help me to make You look good to those around me. I need You more now than ever before Lord. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Law and Order

 Scripture:

“Without guidance from God law and order disappear, but God blesses everyone who obeys his Law.”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29:18‬ ‭CEV

Observation:

In this verse, we are told that law and order disappear without God’s guidance. ‬‬It seems that in the US, we have walked away from God and His guidance to do whatever we want, but when we do that, law and order disappear. God blesses those who follow His law. He is all for law and order.

Application:

It seems all law and order have departed from the United States. We are a nation where everyone does what they want to do without regard for the law. Our leaders even encourage lawlessness, which stops the blessing of God according to this verse. God is a god of law and order and as His people, we should be people who support law and order.

Prayer:

Father, restore law and order back to the US. Let my heart be pure in all things and let me live under Your blessing. Let this nation turn back to You and seek Your face once again. Revive this nation that was born for Your purposes. Let law and order be seen in our streets.

Yours,

Jeff

Right Word, Right Time

 Scripture:

“The right word at the right time is like precious gold set in silver.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭25:11‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Sometimes I like to look at the opposite way of saying something to get clarity.  The opposite of this verse would be, the wrong word at the wrong time is of no value. The right word, at just the right time, is super valuable to the hearer and the one speaking. Timing is everything.

Application:

When you mess this up, you are in a mess. The wrong word at the right time or the right word at the wrong time will do damage. Timing is the key. We must learn to hold words for the right time and know when that time is. God is the one who knows best. We need to continually seek God and walk in step with Him, then we will have the right word at the right time.

Prayer:

Father, let my words bring health and healing to those around me. Teach me when to speak and when to be quiet. Let my timing be synced with Yours. Let me walk in step withYou always.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Reputation

 Scripture:

“A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22:1‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

This proverb speaks about the power of having a good reputation.  He says it is worth more than silver and gold, which are the most valuable resources we have. A good reputation opens doors that can bring you into places of honor and favor.

Application:

A good reputation follows us, we don’t follow it. When.you have a good reputation, people naturally trust you and think well of you. We don’t have to fight for our reputation, it naturally follows good people. Our sincere desire simply needs to be to honor the Lord in everything. When we do this, we will have a good reputation.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, let my life bring You honor. Help me to follow and represent You well in my generation. As I follow You, I know my reputation will take care of itself. Keep me on Your path and let my light shine for Your kingdom. I want to live for Your glory.

Your Son,

Jeff

You Can’t Defeat God

 Scripture:

“No matter how much you know or what plans you make, you can't defeat the Lord.”  Proverbs‬ ‭21:30‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

This proverb is very thought provoking. The author says that no matter how much you know or what plans you make, you can’t defeat the Lord. In other words, we can make our plans and argue with the Lord, but in the end…He wins. It is easier to simply follow His voice now than to fight against Him.

Application:

Sometimes we fight against the will of God in our lives because we think we know better than God what needs to happen. God knows best and our best response is to do what He wants from the beginning. Rather than fight God’s will and plan, we need to run with it. I need to stop resisting God and learn better to assist  Him in His plan.

Prayer:

Father, help me to follow Your voice completely and do what You ask of me. Give me an ear to hear what You are speaking at any given time and help me to trust Your plans and leadings in my life. I want to do life Your way.

Your Son,

Jeff

My Plans and God’s Plans

 Scripture:

“We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go.”  Proverbs‬ ‭16:9‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

This simple verse speaks volumes. We can make all our plans and put them on a calendar, but ultimately God is in control and has the final say. God has the ability to change our plans and redirect what we do. We must learn to go with the flow.

Application:

I have been excited for months about the month of September which we are calling Hope Happens Here. We have told all our people to invite all their friends and to get ready for an incredible month. This morning it will start, but I just had shoulder surgery Thursday and don’t know if I can make it.  My most important staff personnel decided to be off today, and at this point I’m just hoping someone shows up and we don’t do a terrible job welcoming them. We made great plans, but God ultimately can change things quickly.

Prayer:

Father, calm my spirit this morning. Move in our services today and bring hope to many. We did our best to plan, now we look to you. Come Holy Spirit and touch lives in a powerful way. 

Your Son,

Jeff

Wisdom and Honor

 Scripture:

“Showing respect to the Lord will make you wise, and being humble will bring honor to you.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15:33‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

Respecting the Lord brings wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Humility always brings honor. God always lifts up the humble and works against the proud.

Application:

I desire to walk with the wise, therefore I must learn to respect and fear the Lord. In my latter years I want to have depth and wisdom to help people better. I want to live  life God can bless.  Therefore, I must walk in humility before Him and respect Him more and more. I don’t want foolishness to fall from my lips, but to be a supplier of grace to all.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to walk with the wise. I want to know You, the source of wisdom, more each day. Make me wise in every area, so I can help lead others well.

Yours,

Jeff

Generosity

 Scripture: 

“Generosity will be rewarded: Give a cup of water, and you will receive a cup of water in return.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11:25‬ ‭CEV‬

Observation:

This wisdom nugget is real. Generosity is always rewarded. What we share with others always comes back. When we give water, it comes back to us. 

Application:

Generosity is a powerful principle. I don’t know many generous people who struggle financially in life. Later in Scripture we learn about sowing sparingly and reaping sparingly. The reality is that God blesses those who bless others. It has been said over and over that you can’t outgive God. It’s so true because it always ha a way of coming back to you.

Prayer:

Father, help me to live a generous life. Teach me how to use money well and to be generous in every way. I want to be generous with my time, talent, and treasure.

Your Son,

Jeff

Finding Life

 Scripture:

“By finding me, you find life, and the Lord will be pleased with you.”  ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭8:35‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, wisdom says, “by finding me, you find life, and the Lord will be pleased with you.” Wisdom knows that there is a great life for those who walk in wisdom instead of foolishness. When we find wisdom, God says He will be pleased with us as well. We must seek wisdom regularly. By finding it, we find life and please God.

Application:

There is nothing better that finding life and pleasing God. I want to walk with the wise and learn wisdom. I want the favor and blessing of God on my life, therefore, I must learn to walk in wisdom and common sense. I need to seek the wisdom of God and talk to wise people who have walked the road of wisdom ahead of me.

Prayer:

Lord God, teach me to walk with he wise. I don’t want to live a foolish life, but one that makes an impact for eternity. Help me to always seek wisdom and to walk in her ways. Speak to me clearly, that I may follow Your ways. Reveal Yourself to me, for in You is all the wisdom of the ages. Converse with me and show me things.

Your Son,

Jeff