Monday, May 7, 2012

May 7-13

Monday - Genesis 18
Tuesday - Judges 14
Wednesday- Psalm 43
Thursday- Isaiah 47
Friday-Zephaniah 3
Saturday- Acts 11
Sunday- 1 Timothy 6

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Genesis 18:1-4 "God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. It was the hottest part of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing. He ran from his tent to greet them and bowed before them. He said "Master, if it please you, stop for a while with your servant. I'll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree. I'll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have brought you across my path."

I can really relate to SO many things here that it is almost uncanny. I remember a few years ago God giving me a very direct and very clear mandate and conviction. To be "busy at home" as Titus 2 says, and to not let myself get tied down in a life of meaningless "ministry" just because. That He wanted to decide my ministries, that He wanted to anoint my ministries, but that He wanted to MANAGE my ministries. I am only now coming to understand what "absolute surrender" really means, and to see that I very often fall into roles of partial surrender, but now when I look back I see that I absolutely surrendered this area of my life and listened to His voice and did what He said and this is what happened. Like Abraham, sitting in the door of His tent, God called me to stay in my home circle. Like Abraham who looked up and saw people God told me to keep my eyes peeled for the people He would bring across my path. Like Abraham He told me to be ready and willing to practice hospitality and to care for the needs of others that He brought to me. I don't and can't care for the needs of all, I don't and can't go "out there" looking for opportunity to "connect" with who knows who, who knows when. But I do go about my calling, watching and waiting and seeking to be obedient to this life of service He has called me to. And it amazes me to see how much more opportunity for relationship and meaningful ministry we have this way than we ever did before. Of course, why wouldn't we when it is being managed from above.

Unknown said...

"His father and mother had no idea that God was behind this, that He was arranging an opportunity against the Philistines." Judges 14:4

This is very thought provoking. Samson is acting like a spoiled, foolish, self serving individual, and yet again, as in the case of Joseph's brothers "God was behind it". How often do I look at situations and just see the "mistakes" of the people, and not the underlying plan of the Maker? That our momentary mistakes can lead to redemption? The deep and miraculous truth of this sets my heart racing. God is in and over and above all things. Including our mistakes.

Unknown said...

Psalm 43:3-4 "Give me your lantern and compass, give me a map, so I can find my way to the sacred mountain, to the place of your presence, to enter the place of worship and meet my exuberant God."

C.S Lewis puts it this way... sometimes we find ourselves standing in the presence of God basking in His glow, other times we are left standing on our own two feet looking around blankly wondering how to get there. This is purposeful. It is when we are forced to search... to seek as Lois and I were talking about last week, that we realize our hunger and thirst and desire for God. It is when we realize our need that we can truly come to appreciate and recognize fulfillment and exercise worship that is not just a fairweather worship. Having to seek Him is essential to our spiritual maturing.

Unknown said...

Isa 47:8 "You're acting like the center of the universe. Smugly saying to yourself, "I'm Number One. There's nobody but me."

This is a religion. It's the biggest religion of the day (always has been). It's called secular humanism. People don't realize that no religion, is religion, that it is a religion that sets oneself up as God. This religion is alive and well, even in our churches and just like we look back on Israel and say "how could they be so BLIND?" as they wandered in the desert, this is OUR blind spot. This need for self aggrandizement, self fulfillment, self approval, self pursuit. It is counter to everything that Jesus modeled.

Unknown said...

Zeph 3:18-20 >>"The accumulated sorrows of your exile
will dissipate.
I, your God, will get rid of them for you.
You've carried those burdens long enough.
At the same time, I'll get rid of all those
who've made your life miserable.
I'll heal the maimed;
I'll bring home the homeless.
In the very countries where they were hated
they will be venerated.
On Judgment Day
I'll bring you back home—a great family gathering!
You'll be famous and honored
all over the world.
You'll see it with your own eyes—
all those painful partings turned into reunions!"
God's Promise.<<

The story of Israel is the ultimate fairy tale. Sleeping Beauty... Snow White, Cinderella, think of it as you will. This just came up in my ladies bible study last week, the hope of our redemption is that the bride gets the prince. Not just the church, but Israel gets her King. It all comes out right in the end, and it is not on account of US. We can not dislodge that apple of death from it's choke hold within our throats (it's not a kiss that awakens the Snow White in the original version... check it out sometime, it's such a great spiritual allegory of sin and redemption). We can not awaken ourselves from the slumber of death, but praise to Him who calls us into his eternal kingdom of light and who brings it all about in the end for His glory and for our eternal reward. Happily ever after indeed.