I Samuel 30 - David Rescues the People of Ziklag

I Samuel 30

Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered (bitter in soul), each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. (verse 6)

Message: David Rescues the People of Ziklag

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: As I look at this chapter today verse by verse:

1 David - To Ziklag - 3rd Day - prior to arriving Amalekites have raided Ziklag; burned it with fire

2 Women and all captive; not killed

3 City burned with fire

4 David and all wept 

5 People distressed and want to stone David

6 David distressed => David strengthened himself in the Lord

7 David request from Abiathar an ephod

8 To God, "Shall I pursue? Shall I overtake?" He said, "You, you shall rescue."

9 David went with 600 men

10 200 fell off exhausted, 400 remain

11 Found Egyptian, gave him water, bread, to eat

12 Gave him fig cake, raisins, and ate; nothing to eat last 3 days

13 Egyptian, servant of an Amalekite, left behind

14 We raided and buried Ziklag

15 Egyptian says, "Swear to me I am not killed and I will bring you to them."

16 Eating and drinking because of the great spoil (a pilgrim feast)

17 David slaughtered all; 400 men escaped

18 David recovered all taken, including his wives

19 All thought loss had been returned

20 All captured, "This is David's spoil." 

21 David greeted the 200 exhausted men

22 The men who went did not want to give any spoil to the 200 exhausted men

23 David said not so

24 A share is given to those who stay and those who go

25 Thus a statute and ordinance to this day

26 David gave gifts of the spoil to the elders of Judah

27 to those in Bethel, Ramoth, and Jattir

28 to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa

29 to those in Racal, the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites

30 to those in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, and in Athach

31 to those in Hebron and all places David and his men were accustomed to go. 

Returning to Ziklag, David is distressed as the city has been raided. He had been away with Achish adn the Philistines fighting, but the Amalekites come in and ravish the land he was living in Ziklag. The people are so angry at David they think bad things are happening because of him. 

We are like this so often. We are so quick to blame anything and everyone when things go bad. Bad things happen sometime, but we feel justified I suppose in blaming others. But David does what David does and in verse 6 it says He strengthened himself in the Lord. When all was a mess around him, he strengthened himself in the Lord. This is a time of remembering all that the Lord has done for you up to that point. You are not bitter. Your faith remains in the Lord. God has provided in the past in His time and He will provide in the future in His time and His way. 

He shall take 600 men to rescue Ziklag. 400 go, 200 exhausted. David slaughtered all the Amalekites. Going back with the spoil, he gave 200 to exhausted men, but those fighting did not like that, but David said all received the reward, not only those that go. And 13 places are mentioned that received the gifts of the spoil. 

David makes it clear that all enjoy the benefits of the fight and all are involved, not only those that go. All share. 

When I get paid every other week the entire household enjoys the benefit of the money I receive, not only me and I give to those that have a need as God leads me. And in hard times we first trust in the Lord, rather than looking for a reason to blame others. Bad things happen. As people of God, we trust God. 

Summary: David returns home to a raided Ziklag at the hands of the Amalekites. He takes men and slaughters these foes and returns home and all receive the gift of the spoil from the fighting. 

Promise: We turn to God and receive our strength from him remembering His provision. 

Prayer: Lord, may I find my strength in You. Help me to not get bitter. I know it happens. I play the blame game and I should simply know and realize that bad things happen at times and in those times I am to find my strength in You God. As you lead and as victories come in my life, remind me to share in those spoils, to not be selfish thinking I am the only one that receives the reward. The reward is for everyone for God you have given the victory. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 16:23-31 - Samson Victorious

Judges 16:23-31

Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.”

Message: Samson Victorious

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: Following Samson's capture by the Philistines, his eyes were gouged out or put out and thus he lost his sight. The Philistines want to make sure that even if he recovers his strength he will not be effective. Following his capture, his captors celebrate. Verse 20 makes mention that "the Lord departed from him." To his captors they saw it as their doing, but from God's perspective, his capture was of the Lord, His discipline. Thus, two things are going on, God's sovereignty on display through the free will of man. But I wonder if this description of the Lord departing him is the idea from Samuel based upon what he sees. Or perhaps the phrase departed refers to His strength. 

In verse 23, the Philistines then pay homage to their god - Dagon, a prosperity god. They followed this by having Samson come out to them and amuse them. They mocked his strength by having him stand between two pillars. 

But as they are amused by him, he does something as a prelude to showing his strength. He leans against the pillars of the house or temple. And then he calls on the Lord to give him strength. He understands that His strength comes from the Lord. His focus though is on avenging himself and yet he is willing to die in the process. “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it." The temple falls and the Philistines fall and Samson falls. But hopefully God is glorified. Samson dies and the conclusion is he was involved in judging Israel for 20 years. 

Summary: The Philistines ridicule Samson but Samson implores God's strength one last time and bring the temple down.

Promise: God uses imperfect people. 

Prayer: O God the Father, please root out the imperfect ways in me. Let your Word instead shine in my life and may I be a person that is constantly modeling you in my life and living according to your promises. Help me to stand firm before others, not backing down from the Word of God. Help people to see who you are clearly. Lord, you are real and your way is the best. May people keep seeing this. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Joshua 1:6-9 - Strength and Courage

Joshua 1:6-9

6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Message: Strength and Courage

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: After the death of Moses, God calls his assistant, Joshua to lead the nation of Israel to Canaan. In verse 2 the Lord calls Joshua to cross the Jordan, ultimately defeating and driving out the people of Canaan from their land. No small task. Israel was outnumbered. Previously, the people had question of this occurring. They lacked faith, seeing the obstacles before them. In the previous lesson he receives the promise that God will be with him. This should be all the comfort that one needs. But alas we also need encouraging words and reminders that God will be with us through thick and thin. 

After hearing that God would be with him, we get the words from the Lord to Joshua 'be strong and courageous.' Simple words but meaningful words that bring encouragement to many today, even me. I think of the large tasks before me often. My work and its long list of things to do simply continues to grow and grow. Even my personal time has books I'd like to read through and I seem to add more books to read so easily. And yet struggle to get through them, but enjoy it when I do. Of late, my stomach has been a problem as I have not been very regular in the bathroom. It feels like all of life, from sun up to sun down has burdens, obstacles, things I need to do and get through or would like to do. Maybe that is good and normal. Maybe it is what I have laid out before me and like, to always be achieving something. Michael W. Smith penned a song from his first release of this same title, 'So be Strong and Courageous.' I often think of it when I hear this admonition and sing it to myself. Good words to hear and be reminded of in life. 

And yet this isn't simply a 'believe in yourself' sort of creed, but it is words God gives following Him saying He will be with Joshua. Then following it are other words that go alongside the idea of being strong and courageous. Joshua is to remember the words of Moses that were commanded, more specifically 'the law.' 

"....be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you."

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth."

"you shall meditate on it day and night."

"...be careful to do according to all that is written in it..."

"Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Simple reminders here continue. Meditate on God's law. Be careful to do it. There is no reason to fear for the Lord God is with you wherever you go. 

Summary: The Lord encourages Joshua to be strong and courageous as he goes across the Jordan toward Canaan, remembering God's law, and being careful to follow it. 

Promise: Being obedience to God's word does not guarantee nothing bad will happen to a person, but those who obey God's word will finally win and we are to live lives in faithful obedience to God. 

Prayer: Thank you God for your words of encouragement you offer to Joshua and I believe you offer to me as well. I need to stay close to your words God always trusting in the Law of God which you have given me follow and obey. Keep me meditating on it and living by it. It is always relevant to my life, but no matter what I need to uphold it and so teach me to be guided by it always and help me to encourage this in others as well. I pray my family would be guided by it and trust in it always. Let it move in people's lives and change them. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

My Utmost for His Highest - May 24th - The Delight of Despair

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: - Revelation 1:17

    It may be that like the apostle John you know Jesus Christ intimately, when suddenly He appears with no familiar characteristic at all, and the only thing you can do is to fall at His feet as dead,. There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awfulness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair; if you are ever to be raised up, it must be by the hand of God.

    "He laid His right hand upon me." In the midst of the awfulness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. The right hand not of restraint nor of correction nor of chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it is ineffable peace and comfort, the sense that "underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27)," full of sustaining comfort and strength. When once His touch comes, nothing at all can cast you into fear again. In the midst of all his ascended glory the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, and to say--"Fear not." His tenderness is ineffably sweet. Do I know Him like that?

    Watch some of the things that strike despair. There is despair in which there is not delight, no horizon, no hope of anything brighter; but the delight of despair comes when I know that "in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing. (Romans 7:18)" I delight to know that there is that in me which must fall prostrate before God when He manifests Himself, and if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I get to the limit of the possible.

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

My Utmost for His Highest - April 14th - Inspired Invincibility

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. - Matthew 11:29

    "Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth. (Hebrews 12:6)" How petty our complaining is! Our Lord begins to bring us into the place where we can have communion with Him, and we groan and say--"O Lord, let me be like other people!" Jesus is asking us to take one end of the yoke--"My yoke is easy, get alongside Me and we will pull together. (Matthew 11:30)" Are you identified with the Lord Jesus like that? If so, you will thank God for the pressure of His hand.
    "To them that have no might He increaseth strength. (Isaiah 40:29)" God comes and takes us out of our sentimentality, and our complaining turns into a paean of praise. The only way to know the strength of God is to take the yoke of Jesus upon us and learn of Him.
    "The joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)" Where do the saints get their joy from? If we did not know some saints, we would say--"Oh, he, or she, and nothing to bear." Lift the veil. The fact that the peace and the light and the joy of God are there is proof that the burden is there too. The burden God places squeezes the grapes and out comes the wine; most of us see the wine only. No power on earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God in a human spirit, it is an inner unconquerableness.
    If you have the whine in you, kick it out ruthlessly. It is a positive crime to be weak in God's strength.

From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

- Highlights and Underlines courtesy of Mom from her print edition. 

Psalm 147:5 - Divine Infinity

Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.

Message: Divine Infinity

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

The language that we use to describe God has been talked about at times in 2 different ways: affirmation and negation. Affirmation says what God is; negation says what God is not. Affirmation is cataphatic theology; negation is apophatic theology. Affirmation words are "God is good" or "God is holy." Negation words are "God is immutable" or "God is immaterial."

I think these sort of descriptions of God trouble many people because they are words that cannot be used to describe man and therefore there is a separation between man and God and man cannot completely understand a God who is always or never a certain way.

The passage here in Psalm 147:5 says (God's) His understanding is infinite or beyond measure. No matter how hard we try to think of God as being measurable, He is not. Man has limits. God is infinite. This is hard to wrap our minds together. About God, this means that He can exert His power anywhere at anytime; anywhere on this planet at anytime in our history. He also has the power to though set limits on His creation. Solomon recorded these words in Ecclesiastes 3:11 - He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. We are people of limitations. This is the way God designed it. We have limitations to our understanding of Him.

Although God has no limits there are still things he cannot do. For example, he is incapable of doing evil.

John Gill, an English Baptist Pastor who lived 1697-1771 said:

his understanding is infinite; it reaches to all things, not to the stars of heaven only, as in Psalm 147:4, but to the fowls of the air, to the beasts of the field, and cattle upon a thousand hills; to all on the surface of the earth, or in the bowels of it; and to the fishes of the sea: it reaches to all men, and to all the thoughts of their hearts, the words of their mouths, and the actions of their lives; it reaches to all things past, that have been, to everything present, and to whatsoever is to come; it includes not only the knowledge of all things that are, or certainly will be, but of all things possible, or which he could bring into being if he would; it is concerned not only with the quality and nature of things it perfectly understands, but with the quantity of them; even all things in creation and providence, which are without number and past finding out by men; and so his understanding is without number, and cannot be declared, as the word signifies.

Promise: No act of goodness or evil escapes God's notice. 

Prayer: Lord, there are things about You that I read about, understand and yet don't really comprehend how that is possible. Lord, I don't understand how you listen to my words here and then listen to all the other voices of people throughout this land and how you keep it all together. You are definitely without limits and I don't comprehend it all, but I trust You and I pray that You would help me to continue to be an ambassador for you and I would accept that I don't need to understand everything at all times. Thank you for loving me and knowing my every need. You are holy. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Psalm 18 - Speaking About God

Psalm 18
1“I love You, O Lord, my strength.”
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Message: Speaking About God

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

Psalm 18 encompasses 50 verses which is a lot of verses to study here in this lesson. The thrust of the lesson today from Tabletalk is how we speak about God and the language that we use. At the beginning of this passage - Psalm 18 - a Psalm of David written about the Lord delivering David from the hand of all of his enemies and from the hand of Saul - David here uses a work in an analogical way. To speak analogically is to use the same word to describe two different things. Traditionally, it is said that human language about God is analogical language. It is taking a word that might mean one thing to a human and then using it to describe God which then takes on a different meaning. For instance, yesterday I saw that when we say God is great, that greatness of God is the apex of who he is and so describing a person like an athlete as being great or a athletic play might
mean that the person achieved something spectacular at that moment, but God is entirely great for all time.

The Lord is my rock - doesn't mean that Yahweh is literally a rock, but the Lord is instead firm and unshakable. Rock is also thought to be more of a cliff. The rock was a place that people would go to find refuge. It does not move.

David goes on to describe God as his fortress. The fortress is a mountain castle. It is a resident constructed on a hill, a place so strengthened that an enemy couldn't approach it. And this is how David describes God as with God by his side he because a fortress that no one could touch.

My deliverer - We enjoy so much stories of people getting caught by an enemy and then being delivered or rescued from the hands of an enemy. The picture of being rescued from the hands of someone holding a person against their will is what God is to us all too often. In redeeming mankind, we are delivered from the hands of the devil.

The Lord is My God. God is now personal with David. God is not far and away, high and above, but God is near. a Protector, Helper, Friend, Father, Saviour. This word for God is always personal.

This translation says, My God, my rock, but the word while still rock conveys the idea of God being my strength. Earlier, rock is more of a shelter and now God is my strength. He is my rock. He is not simply an object that is immovable and impersonal but again David is getting personal with his language and saying that God becomes his very strength.

in whom I take refuge - He is now the one I take refuge in. God is my refuge. This make me think of my 2nd cousin, who is not yet 1 and she was down on the ground with people all around her and in that moment she wanted to be held by her father. He reached down and picked her up and with him next to her she felt safe and secure. She had her refuge. And this is how God is to us, He is our refuge and with Him near we are safe. We can embrace the world and all that it may offer.

My shield - without a shield I am dead. In video games, the shield keeps my guy from dying. I throw the shield on me and I am protected.

the horn of my salvation - The horns of an animal is their defense. The horn is connected to the animal and part of their body. God is my horn. He is connected to me. When I use the horn as my defense it delivers me. It is interesting to me because in these words horn is something I must decide to you. I must turn my horn into my enemy. God wants to be my deliverer, but will I allow him to deliver.

my stronghold or my high tower means that He is high above the crowd.

As I read these words that David used to describe God as his deliverer and sustenance and all that He needs, I'm reminded that in my life I don't find that my words go to God first to express deliverance. But this is what David did. I might say this to a fellow Christian or while I am in church but then when I walk outside and start mingling with people that are not of faith and we talk about different events in life that we have been rescued from I don't think I respond that God delivered me. Maybe it is because it isn't a deliverance from death or being caught by an enemy against my will. Most of my deliverance is avoiding car accidents or falls. But there is also bodily accidents I avoid or illnesses.

At times, you will hear an athlete thank God after he has won a game or a musical artist thank God after winning an award. When this happens I often think of the person that lost and wonder if they are also thanking God. Maybe this is my problem often with these events is that I think of the person on the other side and wonder if they then think God is not on their side because they have not come out on top.

Whether out loud or to myself, I need to do this. I need to give glory to God more in my life. That is clear. I don't need to look for an excuse or give myself or anyone else glory. I need to thank God more. That is clear.

Promise: As I read God's word and hear God referred to as a rock, a light, a shepherd and many other metaphors, I pray that it would help enrich my life to realize how God is like all of these things and that it will help me pray and thank Him and worship Him.

Prayer: Lord, I love You. O Lord, my strength. You Lord are my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. You are my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. You are my shield and the horn of my salvation and my stronghold. You God are all of these things and more. Help me to remember this God throughout my days. Lord, I need to clear my mind and realize that you are near and You have got these things of my life in order and in control. Forgive me for taking the credit all too often and not acknowledging you.


Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Mark 12:32-34 - Close to the Kingdom of God

Mark 12:32-34
32 The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE's NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

Message: Close to the Kingdom of God

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is answering question after question. He is speaking with an authority about God that many have not seen. The Jewish leaders of the day are even being questioned. People see this. people want to hear from him. Jesus has said that we need to have faith in God, forgive others; we need to love God, love our neighbor. He has said at the beginning of his ministry that the purpose of each person is to repent and believe in the Gospel. This is the message. Turn from my evil ways and embrace God and others.

After Jesus responds to the scribe's question about the greatest commandment, The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher. This is a response that hasn't really been voiced by many up to this point. The disciples often did not respond in this way. If anything, it seems that Jesus wants this response.

The scribe has much to say that is right and draws upon words from the Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 6:4 - “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!Deuteronomy 4:35 - To you it was shown that you might know that the Lord, He is God; there is no other besides Him.Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.I Samuel 15:22 - Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.Isaiah 45:21 - “Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me.Hosea 6:6 - For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice,And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

The scribe somewhat summarizes what Jesus has just said but he adds that He is "one." Jesus said, "THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD." The scribe agrees with this and says, "He is ONE." 

He also knows that there is no one else like Jesus. Instead of heart, soul, mind and strength, he takes soul and mind and combines it with understanding to say: heart, understanding and strength. For me, this is clear.

Jesus responds with this scribe with the words - When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God." This is an interesting response by Jesus and also a confirmation of the importance of simply agreeing with Jesus' words. The scribe simply responds back with the words he has said which brings affirmation that we are answering him correctly. Perhaps this is what was meant by many have said in teaching us how to pray that we need to simply echo the words of God or speak the scriptures back to God in our prayers and petitions.

The scribe had definitely made up a lot of ground in him becoming a child of God. Jesus did not tell the man he was in the kingdom of God but that he was not far from it. Thus, to enter the kingdom of God is to recognize the authority of God's law. But there is also more to it by Jesus saying repent and believe. Each person needs to recognize that they are living life in a foolish manner and turn from their sin and believe in Jesus and therefore all that He says. So the scribe was not far from the kingdom of God. 

Summary - After the scribe asks Jesus to explain the greatest commandment, Jesus proclaims the Shea from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 that the love for God above all else is the most important of all the commandments. Then Jesus says to love one's neighbor is the second greatest of the commandments. The scribe responds by agreeing with Jesus and re-stating what Jesus has said. Jesus is pleased with this response and acknowledges that the scribe is not far from the kindgom of God. But there is more. There is the Law and recognizing we are sinners.

Promise: God's judgment must be preached for people to enter the kingdom of God. This message is as central as recognizing that we are to Love God and Love our Neighbors as ourselves.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the truth of your message. Thank you for clearly explaining it. You have told me that the Love of God and Love for my neighbor is central to my faith, but also repentance and believing and having faith is central for the forgiveness of sins. Lord, help me to be an anchor of truth to this generation. Thank you for your great love for people and for showing me this love through the study of this book.

Mark 12:28-31 - The Greatest Commandments

Mark 12:28-31
28 One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31 The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”


Message: The Greatest Commandments

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has answered his critics questions. Most recently the question was about the resurrection and what it would like to us upon resurrection in the way of marriage. We will not be married. We will have everything that we need in Christ. For God is the God of the living not the dead. His ways are always the same. He is the God of the now, not simply then. He says, "I AM" not "I was." Jesus is in Jerusalem on his way to die and then be resurrected as he has predicted 3 times.

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing - I believe they were discussing, not necessarily arguing. This one scribe comes to Jesus with a reasonable question. This scribe recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him. So this scribe is different from the others, accepting the words of Jesus. When Jesus answers the scribes question What commandment is the foremost of all? his response is actually not real different from anything he has said previously. In fact, when He and the disciples walked back into Jerusalem and Peter saw the fig tree and that it was withered Jesus responds with a two-fold response of Have Faith in God or believe me, believe me what I say and then soon after tells them to forgive their neighbors. The message is a little different but the focus is on God, then neighbor.

This is what Jesus mentions again now in the 2 greatest commandments - Love God, Love Neighbor. That is easily the central message of our lives that really stands in contrast with any other message of this day from any religious body or group: Love God, Love Neighbor. Have Faith in God and Forgive. This is what needs to motivate my life each day. This is it.

I love that message. HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH. It is interesting here. RC Sproul comments that we love God in 4 ways - with our heart, with our soul, with our mind, with our strength.

The second commandment is somehow simpler. There is a contrast in the type of love we have for God and the type of love we have for neighbor. It is a given that we love ourselves. We don't simply love our neighbor, but we do it AS YOURSELF. This is very true. We love ourselves. And this love gets greater when we realize who we are in Christ and that God loves us so much.

I was listening to a message yesterday from Tom Nelson of Denton Bible Church, an older message maybe from 10 years ago he did in Matthew and it reminded me of how rules based we are in our lives and how heart-based God is. God is most concerned about our hearts. And this message of loving God and loving neighbors begins in the heart. It can't simply be a rule will follow. But rather it is a condition of our heart. I often struggle to understand or communicate to people what living for Jesus is really about and somehow I think it is this notion that God wants to change our heart, not just change how we do a few things in our lives.

Sometimes i have difficult figuring out what sin I have broken. I get to this point at times where I don't think I've done anything bad but at its core I don't really love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. And I definitely don't love my neighbor as I do myself. What I want is often what is most important.

Summary - Jesus responds to the question from one of the scribes, a scribe that believed Jesus had responded well to the the Sadducees question. He asks for the greatest commandment and Jesus gives two commandments, thus though there are 2 they are together. We cannot truly love God without loving our neighbor and we cannot truly love our neighbor without loving God.

Promise: Love for God on account of who He is in Himself is the highest form of love that creatures can show. It is love God with all of the power that we can muster; with our mind it is studying His ways and His character as revealed in His Word; with our soul it is means loving Him passionately; with our heart it means loving God from the very root of our being.

Prayer: Lord, first of all, forgive me God for the way in which I have loved you. Each day I seek out first ways to please myself or love myself rather than loving You. Yesterday was church and I find that church is only good if it pleases me, but you remind me that it is about loving You with all that is in my being. So forgive me for thinking that I know better. I want to be in that place to Love you with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I admit I don't know what that looks like much of the time. Help me to know how to communicate this with others. And I want to love others the way I love myself. It's easy to have this love for my wife, but sometimes not as easy with even my kids and then those that I would call neighbors. I should be sacrificing more of myself for them. You are Savior and Lord. You are king. You are Lord of All. I want to praise You.

Mark 5:1-5 - The Gerasene Demoniac

Mark 5:1-5
1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. 2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, 3 and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.

Message: The Gerasene Demoniac

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

I have often felt this past week that my life was in chaos. There were multiple things coming at me during the week. My mind was overloaded yesterday especially. As I sit here and read the word of God and think about the lessons from this past week, I remember that Jesus calmed the storm while the disciples were in the boat. And Jesus can calm my life. I wish I could figure this out because my countenance lowers when I feel stressed with more to do and not enough time. I want to keep my confidence in Him. I want to trust Him more. Jesus takes the forces from the outside and calms them. As I skim this chapter and read through it I see Jesus doing the same thing, but this time to demons are invisible spirits inside of a man. The writer Mark, through the work of Jesus, is reminding me that there are invisible forces going on in our lives as well, in people's lives, perhaps aiming to disrupt my content ways and yet Jesus continues to bring order to this chaos. If this was real in Jesus' day, I must think it is also real today.

My world is not perfect and on earth it never will be. All evil can be tied directly or indirectly to the devil. The devil introduced wickedness into creation by rebelling against our Creator. We saw this clearly in the garden as he confused and allured Eve to focus on something God wanted them to trust him on and that they didn't need to understand. At this point, Eve started questioning God and in the end to sin, doing what God said not to do.

In this passage, a man is possessed and not in his right mind. It says that no one was able to bind him and the chains had been torn apart by him and no one was strong enough to subdue him. He was screaming...and gashing himself. He was out of control. He didn't have control of himself. No one could bind him. No one could subdue him. And he was hurting himself.

One thing is clear, Satan has rebelled against God and therefore hates anything of God and will try with all his might to distraught the ways of God. Jesus had just come from a slew of teaching moments. He had spoken to his disciples and followers about the Gospel and the mission of those that He calls good. And upon landing on the sea, this violent possessed man runs up to him. I must realize that unrest and chaos is what Satan wants in my life. He wants questions.

I've been talking to a man this week who does not have a wife any more because she died and he can no longer see anything of value in his life. He raises a son and still wants the best for him, but only sees a less than perfect world now. I'm trying to reason and point him to Christ and God's word, but he is a hard sell and has already been brainwashed by other teachings that appeal to his pain. Also, this week I had lunch with a co-worker who shared that she and her husband live in the same house but are rarely together. He sleeps on the couch, his choice. They keep separate lives monetarily, at her choosing, for she is concerned about the bills. They share parenting but this is often tough and out of control. She loves him for he and her brought these children into the world, but she is not in love with him right now. They are dueling without speaking. 

What an interesting contrast that I saw this week. One man doesn't have his wife and is miserable without her. And then two people are married and are miserable together. Could there be demon possession? I think so. People have been lured away and living lives not yielded to Him. This isn't simply apathy but outright rebellion.

So my conclusion today is there are forces, demonic forces that want to lure us away from God and disrupt the peace that we have. They are at work everywhere and they are real.

Promise: Satan goes after human beings because he hates God. If we are united to Christ, God will put Satan finally under our feet.

Prayer: O Lord, how we need you, every day, every hour, every moment. Satan is real and has taken over so many people and he desires to make my witness less so he can defeat you. Lord, I pray for your protection and ask Lord that these people that I've spoken to this week would come under your control and then you would set up a hedge of protection around their lives so nothing can come against them. Restore relationships. Give people hope. Center them on You. Help people to submit and surrender to You. You God are in control. You are our creator and Lord. There is peace only in You. I praise and glorify Your Name.

Mark 3:27 - Binding the Strong Man

Mark 3:27
But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.

Message: Binding the Strong Man

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Previously, yesterday, in looking at the preface to this verse, I saw that the scribes are saying that Jesus is possessed, demon-possessed. They mention an illogical argument, namely that Jesus as a demon is casting out a demon. But he clarifies the argument that a demon can't cast out a demon, but instead something different from a demon, namely Jesus, comes to the rescue. Thus, we need mediators in our lives. We need different perspectives. We need someone to come in and save the day.

But also, here, Jesus is needed to restore people to the Father. Jesus has authority over demons and so he can cast them out.

Jesus said earlier in verse 23 that he would speak in parables and he continues that here in verse 27. Jesus further enforces his point here in verse 27. But no one can enter the strong man’s house -- or Satan's house -- and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house. Jesus is the one who liberates people from their sin. He is the Messiah and he has come to save us from our sins, from ourselves and release us.

Every person, without Christ, has a demon possession of sorts, a natural and sinful possession, a will contrary to the Spirit of God. Jesus is the one that comes to overthrow that will. He comes to save. Jesus frees people from the grasp of Satan every time a person is saved.

Promise: No matter how much evidence we are given for the work of God and the identity of Christ, we will not believe unless we are granted new hearts to submit to the Lord's revelation.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for saving me a sinner from the grasp of Satan and being a life long slave to sin. You are the Savior of the world. You are the only one that can save mankind and I pray that you would draw people to yourself and overthrow sin in people's lives. Thank you for the work that only you can do and for the authority only You have.

Jesus Calling: December 17

Come to Me with your gaping emptiness, knowing that in Me you are complete. As you rest quietly in My Presence, My Light within you grows brighter and brighter. Facing the emptiness inside you is simply the prelude to being filled with My fullness. Therefore, rejoice on those days when you drag yourself out of bed, feeling sluggish and inadequate. Tell yourself that this is a perfect day to depend on Me in childlike trust. If you persevere in this dependence as you go through the day, you will discover at bedtime that Joy and Peace have become your companions. You may not realize at what point they joined you on your journey, but you will feel the beneficial effects of their presence. The perfect end to such a day is a doxology of gratitude. I am He from whom all blessings flow! 

2 Corinthians 4:6
English Standard Version
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
 
Matthew 5:3,6
English Standard Version
³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
 
Colossians 2:9-10
English Standard Version
⁹ For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰ and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Psalm 150:6
English Standard Version
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

My Prayer
Lord, you are my strength. May your will be done today. Let light shine out of darkness. May my day be about thirsting for righteousness. You are the great provider. You are the head of all. In You the whole fullness of deity dwells. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. I praise the Lord.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: November 29

Let Me infuse My Peace into your innermost being. As you sit quietly in the Light of My Presence, you can sense Peace growing within you. This is not something that you accomplish through self-discipline and willpower; it is opening yourself to receive My blessing.
     In this age of independence, people find it hard to acknowledge their neediness. However, I have taken you along a path that has highlighted your need for Me: placing you in situations where your strengths were irrelevant and your weaknesses were glaringly evident. Through the aridity of those desert marches, I have drawn you closer and closer to Myself. You have discovered flowers of Peace blossoming in the most desolate places. You have learned to thank Me for hard times and difficult journeys, trusting that through them I accomplish My best work. You have realized that needing Me is the key to knowing Me intimately, which is the gift above all gifts.

Isaiah 58:11
English Standard Version
And the Lord will guide you continually
    and satisfy your desire in scorched places
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters do not fail.

Isaiah 40:11
English Standard Version 
He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
    he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead those that are with young.

My Prayer
You rescue me. You take me through adversities and prosperity. You know what is best. You will guide me continually and make m strong. I will be equipped in the process. You take care of your sheep. I can rest in You. Help me to discover your peace, trusting that you can accomplish in Me greater than I know. I need you Lord. I only exist with you as my anchor. I want to lean on you. Refresh me and strengthen me.


Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.


Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: November 28

Rest in the deep assurance of My unfailing Love. Let your body, mind, and spirit relax in My Presence. Release into My care anything that is troubling you, so that you can focus your full attention on Me. Be awed by the vast dimensions of My Love for you; wider, longer, higher, and deeper than anything you know. Rejoice that this marvelous Love is yours forever!
    The best response to this glorious gift is a life steeped in thankfulness. Every time you thank Me, you acknowledge that I am your Lord and Provider. This is the proper stance for a child of God: receiving with thanksgiving. Bring Me the sacrifice of gratitude, and watch to see how much I bless you. 

I Peter 5:7
English Standard Version
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Ephesians 3:16-19
English Standard Version
¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.


Psalm 107:21-22
English Standard Version

²¹ Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
²² And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,    and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

My Prayer
Lord I thank you for your steadfast Love. Lord, you do wondrous works in the lives of your children. I offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise you in songs of joy. I cast all of my anxieties upon you. You care for me. Thank you for caring for me. Thank you for strengthening me with power through your Spirit. I need Christ to dwell in my heart. I want my life to be rooted, grounded in love. I want to know the love of Christ and be filled with all the fullness of God. Help me to know what this means and be ready for it. Lord, I thank you.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Psalm 118:1-16 - God on Our Side

Psalm 118:1-16
¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
² Oh let Israel say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
³ Oh let the house of Aaron say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
⁴ Oh let those who fear the Lord say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

⁵ From my distress I called upon the Lord; The Lord answered me and set me in a large place.
⁶ The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?
⁷ The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.
⁸ It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
⁹ It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

¹⁰ All nations surrounded me; In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.
¹¹ They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.
¹² They surrounded me like bees; They were extinguished as a fire of thorns; In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.
¹³ You pushed me violently so that I was falling, But the Lord helped me.
¹⁴ The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.

¹⁵ The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
¹⁶ The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

Message: God on Our Side

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

Theme's I see:

• His lovingkindness is everlasting.
• The Lord is for me.
• Take refuge in the Lord
• In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.
• The Lord helped me.
• The Lord is my strength and song.
• The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

It is easy to just focus on how God makes me or life better. We are a people of comfort and safety and sometimes I think we just stare at the benefits too quickly without seeing the condition. The condition is we are to be a people of God, serving Him, turning our lives over to Him, giving him the praise for all things, recognizing that we need a Savior, we need a Lord, we need a substitute for the sin that fills our lives. This is not about just saying we are a fan of a sports team that just won the championship. We can't just jump on the bandwagon and then think that all of life, for eternity, will work in our favor. We must be a people that live the faith, day in and day out. We must align ourselves to Him and trust in Him for all things, no matter what.

My position: This chapter starts with "Give thanks to the Lord." This is what the people of God do, thank God no matter what.

God's promise: "He is good." This is why I can give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. "His lovingkindness is everlasting." His love never changes. This is what I must stare at. He is a loving God. I don't stare at this just when things are going in my favor. I stare at all times. I need this reminder. May this be the outcry of Israel, the house of Aaron and all those who fear the Lord.

My position: verse 4, "Fear the Lord," verse 5, "call upon the Lord." Lord, help me to begin each day in this manner, fearing the Lord, calling upon the Lord. I want to come unto you God each day. Holy Spirit, bring into the presence of God.

God's promise: After calling on the Lord in verse 5-7, the promise is He will answer me. "The Lord is for me, I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me."

My position: verse 7, "Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me." - I will not hate those who hate. Do I see this? This flies in the faith of the competitive spirit which is bred in me with sports. We are not against each other. I am for you. I don't have to fear man, I only need to fear God. Man can't hurt me.

My position: verse 8 -  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. - This is key, again, I am not to trust in man nor princes nor leaders. Yes, I am to obey them. Romans 13:1 - Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. I am to show my respect to the office of the president, my boss, the mayor, the governor, my pastor, the leaders over me, my father. This order has been set up by God. We are to have rulers over us, over me. This isn't a foreign concept, but my refuge is in the Lord. This is where I place my trust.

My position: verse 10 - All nations surrounded me; verse 11 - They surrounded me; verse 12 -
They surrounded me like bees. The situation is people are surrounding him. I am called to be a saint, a vessel, an instrument of the Lord. But being this is not always a popular thing. People have other agenda's. There are other priorities that are not of God. 

God's promise: verse 10 - In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off. Verse 11 - In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off. Verse 12 - In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off. My confidence remains in the Lord. The Lord is not simply my confidence or my refuge and the one I take satisfaction, and who I thank, but by his power, in His name, I can stand up against my enemies and those who don't represent him. In this tolerant world, we think that respecting us or allowing us to be is not surrounding us but no one can serve two masters. I need to have confidence in God's word and what he is saying. I need to rest in those words. Help me to put my blinders on Lord, and keep them focused on You, not other people, but only You. 

My position: verse 13 - You pushed me violently so that I was falling. It is not clear the situation, but it is one of being surrounded, feeling attacked and then being attacked.

God's promise: verse 13 - But the Lord helped me. But through it all God is there. The Lord is who I have my strength in. 

God's promise: verse 14 - The Lord is my strength and song; verse 15 - The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. verse 16 - The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. Help me to hold onto your words God.


Promise: I am to thank the Lord for deliverance from many difficulties. I am to believe with all my heart that God is fighting for me. God is sufficient in my times of trouble.

Jesus Calling: November 11

Do not let any set of circumstances intimidate you. The more challenging your day, the more My Power I place at your disposal. You seem to think that I empower you equally each day, but this is not so. Your tendency upon awakening is to access the difficulties ahead of you, measuring them against your average strength. This is an exercise in unreality.
     I know what each of your days will contain, and I empower you accordingly. The degree to which I strengthen you on a given day is based manly on two variables: the difficulty of your circumstances, and your willingness to depend on Me for help. Try to view challenging days as opportunities to receive more of My Power than usual. Look to Me for all that you need, and watch to see what I will do. As your day, so shall your strength be. 

Ephesians 1:18-20
English Standard Version 
18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

Psalm 105:4

English Standard Version
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!

Deuteronomy 33:25

New King James Version
Your sandals shall be iron and bronze;
As your days, so shall your strength be.

My Prayer (2022)

Lord, I want to be a person that does good deeds. Jesus you said that only God is good, so I trust in You and pray that You would continue to make me good. I seek You Lord and seek Your Strength and ask that your presence therefore would be in me. You enlighten me to truth. You enlighten me to hope. You enlighten me to eternal life. You give power. God you raised Christ from the dead and you raise me to eternal life. Help me now each day to glorify You in all You do. You know me God better than I know myself and so again, I go to to you and lean on You to work in me and to give me strength and perseverance each day. You make me rich and this is my strength. Thank you God. 

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: November 5

You can live as close to Me as you choose. I set up no barriers between us; neither do I tear down barriers that you erect.
     People tend to think their circumstances determine the quality of their lives. So they pour their energy into trying to control their situations. They feel happy when things are going well, and sad or frustrated when things don't turn out as they'd hoped. They rarely question that correlation between their circumstances and feelings. Yet it is possible to be content in any and every situation. 
     Put more energy into trusting Me and enjoying My Presence. Don't let your well-being depend on your circumstances. Instead, connect your joy to My precious promises:

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. 

I will meet all your needs according to My glorious riches.

Nothing in all creation will be able to separate you from My Love.

Philippians 4:12
English Standard Version
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
 
Genesis 28:15
English Standard Version
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
 
Philippians 4:19
English Standard Version
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
 
Romans 8:38-39
English Standard Version

³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My Prayer (2019)
Yes, Lord, I want my well-being to be defined by my closeness to you and not my circumstances. Forgive me Lord for letting worldly gains, money, define my mood. Lord, I want instead to be defined by the simple promised that you are with me...wherever I go. That you will not leave me...that you will supply every thing I need - forgive me for thinking life is about meeting my wants in order to be happy. It is Your Love God that I need. Convince me of this because Lord I get so distracted so much. But, as I arise this day and look to Your Words, may they not only bring me comfort, but define me. Give me the strength to walk each day in this definition. 


Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: November 4

Walk peacefully with Me through this day. You are wondering how you will cope with all that is expected of you. You must traverse this day like any other; one step at a time. Instead of mentally rehearsing how you will do this or that, keep your mind on My Presence and on taking the next step. The more demanding your day, the more help you can expect from Me. This is a training opportunity, since I designed you for deep dependence on your Shepherd-King. Challenging times wake you up and amplify your awareness of needing My help.
     When you don't know what to do, wait while I open the way before you. Trust that I know what I'm doing, and be ready to follow My lead.  I will give strength to you, and I will bless you with Peace. 

Exodus 33:14
English Standard Version
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Deuteronomy 33:29
English Standard Version
Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you,
a people saved by the Lord,
the shield of your help,
and the sword of your triumph!
Your enemies shall come fawning to you,
and you shall tread upon their backs.”

Hebrews 13:20-21
English Standard Version
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 29:11
English Standard Version
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!

My Prayer

Lord, it feels like, life, trains us at times to resist problems. We are trained to not deal with any difficult circumstances, but instead to remain in a state of ease, comfort, and being entertained. Lord, your Word tells us to count it joy when we encounter various trials. Lord, I want to be trained by you to respond to adversities in a way that honors You. As I do this, I'm sure I will stand out and you will get the glory. You have told me that your presence will go with me and you will give me rest. You will give me rest in the midst of struggles. You will give me peace. You will give me strength. You can keep me happy even as a traverse through struggles. Train me God, O train me. Thank you God.


Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: February 9

Seek My Face more and more. You are really just beginning your journey of intimacy with Me. It is not an easy road, but it is a delightful and privileged way: a treasure hunt. I am the Treasure, and the Glory of My Presence glistens and shimmers along the way. Hardships are part of the journey, too. I mete them out ever so carefully, in just the right dosage, with a tenderness you can hardly imagine. Do not recoil from afflictions, since they are among My most favored gifts. Trust Me and don't be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song. 

Psalm 27:8
English Standard Version
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

2 Corinthians 4:7
English Standard Version
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Isaiah 12:2 
English Standard Version
“Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”

My Prayer
Lord, I seek your face, your presence, and your help. You are my salvation. Make it my daily desire and goal to treasure You and Your presence. Hardships will be present. I notice I always want to get out of those hard times as fast as possible, and yet You teach me so much during those times. Right now, with 2 children out of the house at college and one at home, and the challenges that are present with them, I am finding that my trust in You is growing. When things are good, I think I'm in control, so hard times reminds me that You are My Strength and Song. Retrain me in the idea that afflictions and trials are a good thing for Me. 

God, you are my salvation. I will trust and will not be afraid. You have the Power, not me.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author. 

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Psalm 29 - God's Glory of Creation

Psalm 29:1-11
Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in holy array. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful, The voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, And Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the deer to calve and strips the forests bare; and in His temple everything says, “Glory!” The Lord sat as King at the flood;Yes, the Lord sits as King forever. The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.
Message: God's Glory of creation

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

My first impressions about this song is the writer is seeing God's creation and seeing how it testifies of God's majesty and glory. For instance, it mentions the sea, the ocean, and the rolling waves that thunder sounds. Everything we see with our eyes is God's handiwork in action. There are names and descriptions in this chapter that I don't comprehend and so I will need some help from other resources.

In my own life, I noticed they're actually very few people in it that deny God's existence at all. The majority of people in the world, over 95% believe in the existence of a God. Atheism has to be taught because it is not natural. We have a conscience and it is natural to look at creation and think there is a creator.

This Psalm begins with a call to the sons of mighty or the heavenly host or heavenly beings which is around the throne to worship and give praise to God. Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in holy array.

The Lord is to be glorified. The Lord is to be praised for his glory and strength. It just reminds me of how God's name is to be glorified.

The chapter talks about trees that fall to the ground. I was driving on the top of the mountain and noticing the tall pine trees. How is it that I could just think that those are random in the same way human life has been described as random? It seems clear rather that there is Providence even in those trees and their length and growth.  Why do some fall and others do not? Have I ever thought to describe this as God's providence? They grow so straight up. Oh God your creation is so glorious and majestic. Forgive me for not ascribing it to you more.

As I read God's word I am continually amazed at the beauty of it and how it reminds me to appreciate more the life that God has not only given me but that he has created in all of its beauty. The Word reminds me to appreciate him more than what he has done for me and for all of us. I am so fortunate to be at this moment and at this time.

Promise: God is a masterful designer and he is to be praised and glorified.