Scripture:
Luke 21:3 "I tell you the truth", Jesus said, "This poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has".
Observation:
It is just before the end of Christ's life on earth. He is speaking at this point only about very important things. He stops His procession to the Last Supper to point out a widow woman putting two small coins into a collection box. He tells those with Him that this woman gave more than anyone because she gave her all, they only gave a little portion of their surplus.
Application:
We need to evaluate our giving, not by what we give, but by how much is left over when we give. This woman had nothing left and the others, who gave more, went home with plenty in their pockets. It was not a sacrifice to them. Giving all, as this woman did, requires extreme faith. There is no back up plan. God, at this point, has to provide. This is faith that stops Jesus and gets His attention. Rather than thinking how much we can afford to give, we need to think about how much we are walking home with.
Prayer:
Jesus, this woman caught your attention at one of the most stressful and busiest times of your life here on earth. Teach me to give. Help me to be quick to release to You and others what You have blessed me with. You are the best. Keep me on track and teach me to become a true giver.
Forever,
Jeff
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Waiting for my Promise
Scripture:
Luke 18:29-30 "'Yes', Jesus replied, 'and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife, or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.'"
Observation:
Jesus is replying to Peter who said, "We've left our homes to follow you". He tells Peter that anyone who has given up houses, and people for the sake of the Kingdom, will be repaid many times over "in this life" and will have eternal life in the world to come. He promises Peter something awesome that I am claiming for my life.
Application:
Many times in the past 23 years we have left houses and people we loved for the sake of the gospel of the kingdom, yet we currently don't own a home and struggle somewhat financially. Each time I have stood on this verse, believing that one day, "in this life", we would have these things given back to us. God has always blessed us and taken incredible care of us, but we really need to own a home at this point in our lives. I am standing once again upon this promise of Jesus and believing He will provide this for us.
Prayer:
Father, You know my needs. I trust You and am waiting for this promise to take full effect in my life. I ask you for the miracle of home ownership once again. You are my God and I will trust You in all things. Please provide the miracle for my family. We will give you all the honor and glory.
Yours,
Jeff
Luke 18:29-30 "'Yes', Jesus replied, 'and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife, or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.'"
Observation:
Jesus is replying to Peter who said, "We've left our homes to follow you". He tells Peter that anyone who has given up houses, and people for the sake of the Kingdom, will be repaid many times over "in this life" and will have eternal life in the world to come. He promises Peter something awesome that I am claiming for my life.
Application:
Many times in the past 23 years we have left houses and people we loved for the sake of the gospel of the kingdom, yet we currently don't own a home and struggle somewhat financially. Each time I have stood on this verse, believing that one day, "in this life", we would have these things given back to us. God has always blessed us and taken incredible care of us, but we really need to own a home at this point in our lives. I am standing once again upon this promise of Jesus and believing He will provide this for us.
Prayer:
Father, You know my needs. I trust You and am waiting for this promise to take full effect in my life. I ask you for the miracle of home ownership once again. You are my God and I will trust You in all things. Please provide the miracle for my family. We will give you all the honor and glory.
Yours,
Jeff
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Humility and Exaltation
Scripture:
Luke 14:11 "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted".
Observation:
All through Scripture, God speaks about humbling ourselves before Him. We are told that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. We are told that God hates a proud look. Jesus is speaking to a group of religious people who were trying to get the best seats at a banquet. He said it was better to take the lowest seat and let the owner upgrade you than to take the best and someone more important comes and you get bumped down.
Application:
God loves and gives grace to the humble. The meek will inherit the earth. We should not seek the best positions, places, etc. We are called to be the greatest servants of all. God tell us to humble ourselves under His mighty hand and that He would raise us up at the right time. As we serve with true humility, God sees and begins to honor us. When He does begin to honor us, we need to stay humble and choose the worst seats instead of feeling we deserve something better.
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, Help me to walk in humility and resist pride and arrogance. I want to serve You and others well. Help me never to think more of myself than I ought. I need You desperately! Help me be more like Jesus who came not to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. Let me have a true servant's heart.
Yours,
Jeff
Luke 14:11 "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted".
Observation:
All through Scripture, God speaks about humbling ourselves before Him. We are told that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. We are told that God hates a proud look. Jesus is speaking to a group of religious people who were trying to get the best seats at a banquet. He said it was better to take the lowest seat and let the owner upgrade you than to take the best and someone more important comes and you get bumped down.
Application:
God loves and gives grace to the humble. The meek will inherit the earth. We should not seek the best positions, places, etc. We are called to be the greatest servants of all. God tell us to humble ourselves under His mighty hand and that He would raise us up at the right time. As we serve with true humility, God sees and begins to honor us. When He does begin to honor us, we need to stay humble and choose the worst seats instead of feeling we deserve something better.
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, Help me to walk in humility and resist pride and arrogance. I want to serve You and others well. Help me never to think more of myself than I ought. I need You desperately! Help me be more like Jesus who came not to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. Let me have a true servant's heart.
Yours,
Jeff
Monday, June 25, 2012
Living Radiant
Scripture:
Luke 11:36 "If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light".
Observation:
In this scripture, Jesus is talking about living in the light. He talks about keeping your light on a lamp post for all to see. He then shifts to talking about internal things. He says that if you eye is filled with light, your body will be filled with light. He says if we allow God's light into our lives and make sure we have no dark corners, our lives will become radiant, like a floodlight was filling us.
Application:
God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. When we are filled with Him, we will radiate light and live radiant lives. He wants to fill us completely, and for us to have no dark corners of our lives. When this happens, we will look like people who have a floodlight inside of them. We should light up every room we walk into. We should change the atmosphere of dark places because God's light is shining through us. We must get all darkness out of our lives and be filled with God and let His light shine through us.
Prayer:
Father, empty me of me and let my life be filled with You. Expose the dark corners of my life so that You can shine through in radiance. I want to light up the world with Your glorious light. Fill me today and let me be the person You want me to be. You are light and I want my life to be a floodlight of Your glory everywhere I go.
Yours,
Jeff
Luke 11:36 "If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light".
Observation:
In this scripture, Jesus is talking about living in the light. He talks about keeping your light on a lamp post for all to see. He then shifts to talking about internal things. He says that if you eye is filled with light, your body will be filled with light. He says if we allow God's light into our lives and make sure we have no dark corners, our lives will become radiant, like a floodlight was filling us.
Application:
God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. When we are filled with Him, we will radiate light and live radiant lives. He wants to fill us completely, and for us to have no dark corners of our lives. When this happens, we will look like people who have a floodlight inside of them. We should light up every room we walk into. We should change the atmosphere of dark places because God's light is shining through us. We must get all darkness out of our lives and be filled with God and let His light shine through us.
Prayer:
Father, empty me of me and let my life be filled with You. Expose the dark corners of my life so that You can shine through in radiance. I want to light up the world with Your glorious light. Fill me today and let me be the person You want me to be. You are light and I want my life to be a floodlight of Your glory everywhere I go.
Yours,
Jeff
Friday, June 22, 2012
Staying in His Presence
Scripture:
Luke 2:37 "Then she lived as a widow to the age of 84. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer".
Observation:
This description is of Anna, a prophet who was in the Temple when Jesus was dedicated. She knew immediately that this was the Messiah that everyone had been waiting so long for. She was in tune with the Holy Spirit. When she was young, she was married to a man that died after only 7 years of marriage, from that point, she never left the Temple. From about the age of 25 to 84 she stayed in the Temple fasting, praying, and listening to the voice of God.
Application:
This woman inspires me because she stayed in the Temple close to 60 years day and night in prayer and fasting. She had one pursuit in life, knowing God and serving Him. No wonder she is one of the few people mentioned at the time of Jesus birth and dedication. The more time you spend in the presence of God, the more clearly you hear His voice. She was at the right place at the right time because she had been in the presence of the Lord. Today we can't live in the Temple, but the veil has been torn and we can live in His presence 24/7 by placing our focus on Him wherever we are.
Prayer:
Father, help me to walk closer to You. Help me remain in prayer and fasting that I may know You more each day. I want to stay in Your presence when doing odd jobs, driving a bus, disciplining my children, cleaning the house, etc. etc. etc. I want to learn to be ever aware of Your awesome presence. Anna lived in the Temple for 60 years, I am the Temple of the living God, help me to be more aware of that fact and let me carry Your glory in my everyday life.
Yours,
Jeff
Luke 2:37 "Then she lived as a widow to the age of 84. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer".
Observation:
This description is of Anna, a prophet who was in the Temple when Jesus was dedicated. She knew immediately that this was the Messiah that everyone had been waiting so long for. She was in tune with the Holy Spirit. When she was young, she was married to a man that died after only 7 years of marriage, from that point, she never left the Temple. From about the age of 25 to 84 she stayed in the Temple fasting, praying, and listening to the voice of God.
Application:
This woman inspires me because she stayed in the Temple close to 60 years day and night in prayer and fasting. She had one pursuit in life, knowing God and serving Him. No wonder she is one of the few people mentioned at the time of Jesus birth and dedication. The more time you spend in the presence of God, the more clearly you hear His voice. She was at the right place at the right time because she had been in the presence of the Lord. Today we can't live in the Temple, but the veil has been torn and we can live in His presence 24/7 by placing our focus on Him wherever we are.
Prayer:
Father, help me to walk closer to You. Help me remain in prayer and fasting that I may know You more each day. I want to stay in Your presence when doing odd jobs, driving a bus, disciplining my children, cleaning the house, etc. etc. etc. I want to learn to be ever aware of Your awesome presence. Anna lived in the Temple for 60 years, I am the Temple of the living God, help me to be more aware of that fact and let me carry Your glory in my everyday life.
Yours,
Jeff
Thursday, June 21, 2012
The Lowly and Humble
Scripture:
Zephaniah 3:12 "Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord".
Observation:
Zephaniah had been prophesying utter destruction of everything and everyone. He prophesied destruction to many nations, then turned to Jerusalem and began prophesying the same about them. In the midst of his prophesies about destruction, there is this phrase that stands out. "Those who are left will be lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord." God says here that He will wipe out all but the lowly and humble because they still trust in the name of the Lord. God always looks out for the lowly and humble before Him.
Application:
God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. As God's people, we must learn from scriptures like these. We must humble ourselves before Him and seek Him diligently. He is our only hope! He is our everything. Without Him, we can do nothing. We are naturally wired toward pride and arrogance, not wanting to admit our need of God, but in god's eyes, He wants humility above all else. We must resist pride and humble ourselves before the Lord.
Prayer:
Father, I love You. I worship and honor You this morning. Help me to be the person You want me to be. Create in me a heart of humility that longs for Your presence. Teach me the ways of the lowly and humble. Show me how to walk in true humility. I need you desperately.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Zephaniah 3:12 "Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord".
Observation:
Zephaniah had been prophesying utter destruction of everything and everyone. He prophesied destruction to many nations, then turned to Jerusalem and began prophesying the same about them. In the midst of his prophesies about destruction, there is this phrase that stands out. "Those who are left will be lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord." God says here that He will wipe out all but the lowly and humble because they still trust in the name of the Lord. God always looks out for the lowly and humble before Him.
Application:
God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. As God's people, we must learn from scriptures like these. We must humble ourselves before Him and seek Him diligently. He is our only hope! He is our everything. Without Him, we can do nothing. We are naturally wired toward pride and arrogance, not wanting to admit our need of God, but in god's eyes, He wants humility above all else. We must resist pride and humble ourselves before the Lord.
Prayer:
Father, I love You. I worship and honor You this morning. Help me to be the person You want me to be. Create in me a heart of humility that longs for Your presence. Teach me the ways of the lowly and humble. Show me how to walk in true humility. I need you desperately.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Miraculous Signs
Scripture:
Mark 16:20 "And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs".
Observation:
I love this description of the disciples actions after the ascension of Christ. They "went everywhere", and everywhere they went, the Lord worked through them. God confirmed what they said by many miraculous signs. Jesus had just finished telling them that they were to go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone and that miraculous signs would follow them as they preached. They did what He said and He did what He said He would do. Miraculous signs were meant to be part of the preaching of the Gospel. We need to be able to demonstrate what we are preaching.
Application:
I believe that this generation needs signs and wonders to follow the preaching of the word more than ever. We need to seek God until He comes down in power and confirms our words with miraculous signs. I believe in doing things as Jesus said we would and should. We must seek Him until His power flows in our churches once again. A powerless Gospel is not acceptable.
Prayer:
Father, I want to see the day of Your power revealed in my generation. I want to see the lost coming to Christ in vast numbers. I want to see the harvest that has been prophesied over this region. Draw me back into your secret place and cause my heart to long for You again. I feel You pulling me and drawing me deeper with You. Help me to respond well.
Yours,
Jeff
Mark 16:20 "And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs".
Observation:
I love this description of the disciples actions after the ascension of Christ. They "went everywhere", and everywhere they went, the Lord worked through them. God confirmed what they said by many miraculous signs. Jesus had just finished telling them that they were to go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone and that miraculous signs would follow them as they preached. They did what He said and He did what He said He would do. Miraculous signs were meant to be part of the preaching of the Gospel. We need to be able to demonstrate what we are preaching.
Application:
I believe that this generation needs signs and wonders to follow the preaching of the word more than ever. We need to seek God until He comes down in power and confirms our words with miraculous signs. I believe in doing things as Jesus said we would and should. We must seek Him until His power flows in our churches once again. A powerless Gospel is not acceptable.
Prayer:
Father, I want to see the day of Your power revealed in my generation. I want to see the lost coming to Christ in vast numbers. I want to see the harvest that has been prophesied over this region. Draw me back into your secret place and cause my heart to long for You again. I feel You pulling me and drawing me deeper with You. Help me to respond well.
Yours,
Jeff
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