Title: Proper Perspective/Topic: Accountability

Today’s Reading: Genesis 29; Genesis 30; Luke 12

Scripture: Luke 12:42-46
42 The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

Observation: The Lord contrasts two managers and their actions in the face of a long delay in having to be accountable to the Master who they serve. One manager continues to fulfill his duties with responsibility and the other slacks off completely, thinking he can behave as he wants to and “clean up his act” before the Master returns. But Jesus says that the master will come unexpectedly and will deal harshly with that lazy and wicked servant, even assigning him a place with those who haven't known him at all (the unbelievers). It's a severe warning to those in the Church to be vigilant and to keep doing what we have been taught is right and not to live to please our flesh nature.

Application: It is easy to neglect our responsibilities, especially if we have no one we have to be accountable to for our actions. We need to heed these warnings of Jesus and to establish our own structure for accountability so that we do not fall into the trap of living to please ourselves and chance being caught unaware (either by death or by the coming of the Lord, which can happen at any time). We cannot afford to become lazy servants who take the work the Lord has given us to do for granted, thinking that we have all the time in the world to get it done, or even worse, thinking that the work is unimportant.

Prayer: I admit Lord, that I sometimes have “What's the use?” attitude toward life. If I don't see the results that I want in what I deem a “reasonable” time, I have a tendency to slack off and not maintain my spiritual fervor. I need to spend more time with you, for your Spirit encourages and enables me to keep going through hard times until I come again to times of fruitfulness. May I never grow weary in doing good. I want to be that servant of whom you say, “Well done!”
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Slow to Anger, Quick to Hear/Topic: Anger Management

Today’s Reading: Genesis 27; Genesis 28; Psalm 4; Luke 11

Scripture: Psalm 4:4
4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah

Observation/ Application:It is so easy to sin when we are angry. This verse contains God's directions for ager management. God does not say that anger is necessarily wrong. He simply instructs us not to sin when we are angry. How do we do that? I must first use anger as a signal that I need to search my own heart. What is the reason for my anger? Is my anger righteous because God's law is being violated in a way that others are being hurt or abused? Or am I mad simply because my dignity was assaulted, my feelings hurt, or wants ignored? I must search my heart and silently meditate, seeking God's revelation and will in the matter. Usually there will be something I can find to fix in myself. Following this way, I will be most unlikely to do or say something that I will later regret. I will have time to evaluate the situation with the help of the Holy Spirit, who can also direct me in the best way to handle it.

Prayer: Father, this is such wise instruction and I have followed it so rarely in my life. It is so easy to let words fly immediately when I am angered or offended. Help me to appropriate your instructions and to benefit in my character as a result. May I be an example to others of how to handle offenses. Remind me to keep my lip zipped and my heart open to you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Sins of the Fathers/Topic: Generational Sin

Today’s Reading: Genesis 25; Genesis 26; Psalm 6; Luke 10

Scripture: Genesis 26:7-9
7 When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," because he was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful."
8 When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. 9 So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, "She is really your wife! Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?" Isaac answered him, "Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her."

Observation/ Application: It is interesting to me that Isaac does exactly what his father did when it came to his wife and the men around him. Out of fear of them, he asks his wife to join him in lying about their relationship. He considers his own safety more than his wife's well-being and he certainly doesn't trust the Lord in this situation even though he has in others. Isaac was deceptive with his father and brother before now as well. What was a sinful trait in his father has become more pronounced in Isaac's life. I think it points out the importance of dealing with our own sin nature so that those weaknesses don't get magnified in our children's lives. They need to have the example of seeing us struggle with and overcome sin through repentance and dependence on Jesus. That procss is one of the most important that we can pass on to our children.

Prayer: Father, since Adam we are all born with a sin nature with which we struggle. I know I can't keep my children from that. But I do want to be an example to them of humility, repentance and dependence on your Spirit for empowerment to overcome all the weaknesses of the flesh. I thank you for your forbearance with us and your very great forgiveness and power to be overcomers. Help me to be a light to my children and all others who know me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: No Excuses/Topic: Discipleship

Today’s Reading: Genesis 23; Genesis 24; Luke 9

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
59 He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good bye to my family."
62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Observation: Two men tell Jesus they want to follow him and anoth3er is invited by the Lord to do so, yet they all have other priorities that interfere with a total commitment. The first doesn't want to give up comfort. He wants to follow God only when it's convenient and doesn't involve discomfort. The second wants to stay home until he can collect his inheritance. The third loves family more than God. He needs their approval more than the Lord.

Application: God doesn't take excuses. He has to be the first priority in my life. He forgives my flaws and failings, but he won't take second place in my life. Do I ever put comfort ahead of God? Or the approval of others, especially family? Are material things more important to me than obeying what God says? Most of the time, no. But i have had times when I didn't put God and his will first in my life. This scripture is a reminder to me to examine my life and repent where it is in order. Discipleship is an all or nothing deal.

Prayer: Father,I give you my life; all of it. I know sometimes I have not been the follower that I long to be. Forgive me for that Lord. You are the most important thing in my life. I thank you for your faithfulness, goodness, forgiveness and blessing in my life. Ou love me like no one else.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Not by My Power; By His / Topic: Deliverance

Today’s Reading: Genesis 20; Genesis 21; Genesis 22; Luke 8

Scripture: Luke 8:26-29
26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" 29 For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

Observation/Application: Many times this demon-possessed man had been with chains around his hands and feet and kept under guard to keep him from being destructive to the people of his village. But he had broken these chains every time. This is a picture of how man's solutions to spiritual problems just don't work. Nothing can break the power of the enemy in our lives but the greater power of God. Jesus administered the power of the Holy Spirit to this poor man and set him free. Man tries to contain and control the havoc wreaked by Satan while Jesus comes to destroy it. Hallelujah!

Prayer: Thank you Lord for providing a way to destroy the works of the enemy in our lives. I pray that the Body of Christ would learn to appropriate your power to set ourselves and others free from the control of Satan and his evil forces.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Even More!/Topic: Grace

Today’s Reading: Genesis 18; Genesis 19; Psalm 3; Luke 7

Scripture: Genesis 18:22-25
22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

Observation: When I have read these verses (and the ensuing negotiations) before, I have always been focused on Abraham's intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah, as if his intercession was what would save the cities. While I do believe it shows that God wants us to intercede on behalf of others and be involved with him in the redemptive process, what struck me this time was that God's amazing grace and desire to give us even more than we ask for. Abraham negotiated with God until he got him to agree to spare the cities if 10 righteous people could be found. But when the angels couldn't find even that many, they still found a way to save Lot and his family of four (even though not all four were righteous, as demonstrated by the disobedience and death of Lot's wife).

Application: Just like Abraham, we often are somewhat tentative about asking God for what we want. We negotiate with him and finally get to what we want and hope he'll be okay with it. If we only could grasp how much God wants to do for us and how much he desires for us to be a part of working with him to accomplish wonderful things in the world! God goes way beyond what Abraham actually asked for and he wants to do the same for me. I need to be bold in asking and expectant in receiving, knowing that God delights to do abundantly more than I can ask or think.

Prayer: Father, help me to become more bold in my prayers for others and for myself, knowing that you have set yourself to bless us and make us strong. I am so grateful that you desire to work with us to accomplish redemptive purposes in the world and that your desire is to do even more than we ask for.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Come in the Opposite Spirit/Topic: Handling Offenses

Today’s Reading: Genesis 15; Genesis 16; Genesis 17; Luke 6

Scripture: Luke 6:27-36
27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Observation: There should be a qualitative difference between the way Christians and non-Christians conduct their relationships with others. We are not to treat others the way they treat us but we are to treat them as we want to treated by them. If they are ungrateful, disrespectful or cruel, we are to love them anyway. Treating the unkind with kindness is not natural and sets us apart from unbelievers. Jesus makes the point that it takes no spiritual power to respond the way everybody else does. Does this mean we are martyrs who let people abuse us? Yes and no. Jesus let himself be abused to the point of dying for the purpose of showing his great love for us and providing the means to re-establish a relationship between us and God. But Jesus was no doormat. He sacrificed himself for wicked people from a position of strength and not because he felt that he didn't deserve better treatment. He did not spend the majority of his time with those who were disrespectful toward him. In fact, even though he loved them, he challenged them verbally quite a lot. He spent his time with those who obviously wanted to listen to him and who loved and respected him. He is our model.

Application: I have a responsibility to forgive those who wrong me and to treat them with love, kindness and basic respect whenever I am with them. I am to keep responding this way no matter how many offenses pile up. I do this for two reasons; to demonstrate God's love and forgiveness toward them and because I have received forgiveness for many offenses from God. Forgiving others also gives me the ability to keep a positive attitude in life and to not be controlled in any way by those who have sinned against me. However, I do not have an obligation to spend lots of time with those who are unkind, disrespectful, or abusive to me .

Prayer: Father, help me to come to you first whenever I am hurt by others and receive power and wisdom from your Holy Spirit to respond like Jesus would. There is a time to speak truth, always with an attitude of love, but more often I tend to speak first from hurt and later to get my attitude straight with you. May I work through my pain with you so that I may be an instrument of your grace. Help me to b3e slow to speak, slow to wrath and quick to forgive.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: I'll Do It!/Topic: Obedience

Today’s Reading: Genesis 12; Genesis 13; Genesis 14; Luke 5

Scripture: Genesis 12:4
4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.

Observation: This simple, short verse contains the key to living a successful and fulfilled life. Do what God says. No delaying, no questioning or bargaining, no rebelling; just simple obeying. Abram chose to obey immediately and lived a life of incredible success and blessing as a result. He did this for his whole life and took those with him who were willing to come along.

Application: It sounds so simple and it actually is simple; not always easy, but simple. Abram had to be willing to give up what he knew and move (never easy) to somewhere he didn't know without having any details. He just knew God had told him to do it, so he did. If I trust that God is who he says he is then obedience is a natural result. I know God's plans for me are good, so I must do everything to follow him. That means giving up control of my life to him and warring against the pull of my sin nature so that I have the will to obey when he gives me direction. That's all that is necessary for success.

Prayer: Father, again I submit myself to you. Do with me what you will. May I be instant to hear and instant to obey. I trust you with my life and well-being because I know your character. You have my best in mind because you love me completely. May I be a child who brings you joy and pride and not grief and heartache. I want to be totally compliant to you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: In Every Way Like Us/Topic: Temptation

Today’s Reading: Genesis 9; Genesis 10; Genesis 11; Luke 4

Scripture:Luke 4:13
13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Observation: Jesus did not go through just one “temptation” experience. This verse indicates that the devil planned to return to try to trip Jesus up and harass him as much as possible. He was simply going to wait for a more opportune time.

Application: If our Lord had to deal with temptation and harassment by the devil on multiple occasions, we should expect to have to engage in the same kinds of battles with him. He is our enemy just as he was Jesus' enemy. His attacks come as direct temptations, as in the verses previous to this one, and also through discouraging thoughts, especially when we are tired, sick, or under stress. The enemy also uses others who aren't tuned in to God (although they can feel that they are) to tempt us into wrong thinking and sin. An example of this is Peter telling Jesus that he would not have to die and be taken away. Jesus turns and rebukes him saying, “Get behind me Satan”. Peter must have been stupefied by such a response but Jesus had discerned where the motivation for this comment had come from. I think many times the enemy has success with us because we discount his passion for making us miserable and do not discern the multitudinous ways in which he will assault us. Vigilance is key. Intimacy with God is imperative for success over the enemy of our souls.

Prayer: Father, I need to stop when things are going wrong and seek wisdom from you to know where the source of the problem is. The devil isn't responsible for every ill in my life but I'm sure he's at the back of much more than I am aware of. Give me discernment to see what is really going on so that I may be more effective and targeted in my prayers. Gird my mind with the truth of your Word and let me live by it, confident in the knowledge that the power of your Spirit at work within me is greater than any power the enemy can throw at me. I just don't want to be taken unaware. Thank you for your protection and the weapons of spiritual warfare you give us so that we may be victorious over everything satan can dish out.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Lessons from Noah/Topic: Right Living

Today’s Reading: Genesis 6; Genesis 7; Genesis 8; Luke 3

Scripture: Genesis 6:5-9
5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.

Observation: Several observations came to mind as I read these verses. #1 – People tend toward wickedness, not goodness. The notion that people are inherently good and corrupted only by their environment is a purely humanistic notion that has no basis in reality. #2 – God feels great personal pain at the wickedness of his children whom he created. It is like the pain of a parent who, though he loves his child, is grieved with a child who rejects everything the parent stands for. #3 – Noah was a most incredible man. In a world of people so perverse and violent that God felt the need to destroy them, he maintains a righteous life. He manages to stay close to God despite having no support system other than his immediate family.

Application: I don't want to be a child that causes my Heavenly Father any pain. My actions affect Him emotionally; God can be grieved, though his grief does not change who he is or how he applies justice and grace. I need to not think of myself more highly than I ought by thinking that I am basically a “good” person. Constant repentance the way to cleansing my thoughts so that they line up with God's. From Noah I learn that I have no excuse for living an unrighteous life. I cannot blame my environment. No matter how much temptation is around me, I can keep myself on the path of godliness by staying intimate with God. It is my responsibility to do so, even if no one else follows. I even have the power of the Holy Spirit living within me to help me. Noah didn't have that and he still managed to stay on track with God.

Prayer: Father, I have no righteousness of my own to stand on. The inclination of my flesh is toward evil. Only the blood of Jesus cleanses me from that sin and our Spirit within keeps me on the right path. Thank you for providing such powerful gifts. May I be found worthy of them by accessing them so as to be found righteous in your sight. May I be a child that brings you joy and pride instead of heartache. I love you so. I'm so grateful for all that you have provided for me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Poor Me!/ Topic: Self-Centeredness

To my readers: I have been "offline" for several weeks due to a computer crash. My hardrive was replaced and I have just recently finished reinstalling all my software and my journal forms for my blog. I am starting up posting my daily journals again and hope you will enjoy them. Thank you.

Today’s Reading: Genesis 3; Genesis 4; Genesis 5; Luke 2

Scripture: Genesis 4:6-16
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."
13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."
15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so ; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Observation: Cain has just murdered his brother in cold blood. What's even more disturbing is that he seems to have no remorse over it because he callously replies to God's inquiries as to Abel's whereabouts with an offhand rhetorical question about not being his brother's keeper. When God gives him his punishment, Cain goes into fits about how overly harsh it is. This shows the heights of his self-centeredness. His brother had his life taken from him but Cain gets to live and he has the audacity to complain that he is being unfairly persecuted! Amazing! What is more amazing is that God shows care for Cain's life by promising severe retribution for anyone who would dare to touch Cain.

Application: When I am concentrated on how everything is affecting ME instead of how it might be affecting others, I am operating in an arrogant pride that will skew my perceptions of everything. I cannot connect with God properly because I cannot understand him at all. Like Cain, I will perceive him as unfair and unrighteous. I will also not be able to maintain good relationships with people. I will pour out unrighteous criticism and judgments on them as Cain did to his brother Abel. Arrogance will allow me only to see that my view is supreme and “right”. I will completely lose the ability to understand or accept anyone else's point of view.

Prayer: Father, help me to catch any thoughts of self-centeredness and arrogance before they get a hold of me and blind me to truth. I will never be able to truly love anyone else, or to receive the love of others, if I operate in the deception that comes when I'm focused on ME. Forgive me for the times when I have fallen into this trap of the enemy. I so want to please you and to know you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.