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Matthew 24

10/31/2009

Matthew 24:39 “People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.”

When I read that I see the importance of being ready for everything and grounded in Christ. Things of this world are going to get crazier before they get better and we need to make sure we’re ready. Marriages are struggling because of all the craziness with jobs, money and selfishness. Loss of jobs is putting pressure on families and they are struggling to stay together. Greed and thinking more is better has lead us to an economy that is ridicules. Our separation from God and not opening His word to learn from is not working.

In verse 42 Jesus says, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.”

We can’t try and fill our hurting with things of this world. I say refocus and listen to God in all areas of our lives.

In 1 Samuel, Samuel says in chapter 7 verse 3, “…If you are really serious about wanting to return to the Lord, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the Lord; then He will rescue you from the Philistines.”

Are we really serious about turning to God, or are we too busy to open His word and live His way? Are we really serious about turning to God, or are our physical desires more important to how we live? Are we really serious about turning to God, or are we more interested in doing it on our own? I say lets get serious and open God’s word and read it with the passion and love of God: Asking, seeking, and knocking to understand what we need to. Let’s give our lives to the Lord and thank Him for His Son and see how it is focusing on heaven and not ourselves.

Jesus says in Matthew 24:45, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.”

Are we learning and growing everyday to be that faithful servant? We need to remember our strength is in the Lord, but we need to tap into it to feel the amazing peace. Work hard to live and act like Jesus. Amen

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Matthew 22

10/29/2009

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Matthew 22:11-14 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for the wedding. Friend, he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes? But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

I was really thinking about this as I was reading today and it truly fits in with the road is narrow and a few will find it. Are we dressed for the wedding feast or are we just dressed? We should desire to be fully devoted to Jesus Christ. That means learning and growing everyday to resemble Him in all we do. He was totally unselfish, are we? He was always ready to help even when He was tired, are we? He served even the one who would betray Him, do we? We are all called to be set apart and be different, have we accepted Jesus and are just waiting for things to happen? Or are we belonging to Jesus and making things happen by devoting ourselves to God’s wisdom. We can choose to believe what God is telling us and learn everyday so we can put action to our faith. Or we can attend church and not do any of the things we are called to do.

I love in Luke chapter 13 verse 24 when Jesus says, “Work hard to enter the narrow door of God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.”

We need to take the next step and continually work to read and pray and live our faith out. Many will fail is so motivating to me. When it says “many will try to enter…” that means Christians, believers of Jesus that think belief without action is good enough. Ask yourself if God is asking us to give, why are we not giving? If He asks us to serve, why are we not serving? If we are told that the best followers of Christ devoted themselves to the teaching, why don’t we? “Many will try to enter but will fail.” And “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Where are you at? I say dive in to God’s word and live it, don’t just accept Him, belong to Him. Amen

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Proverbs 27

10/25/2009

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Proverbs 27:20 “Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied.”

How true is this? It seems when we get something in our minds we pursue it until we get it. It consumes us in a good way and a bad way. We need to use our desires to honor God and open His word. When we have our focus right our desire can be an amazing thing, but when it is on things of this world we struggle always trying to do and have more. Focus on God being number one and desire to have a relationship with Him and our hearts will lead us to Him. Since I have accepted Christ and been studying God’s word I can tell my desires have changed. Those things I thought I couldn’t live with out don’t mean anything and the things I thought I desired don’t fill my mind. When we fill ourselves up with God our desires change and we can grow in all areas of our lives.

I love in Philippians 2:12-13 which says, “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and power to do what pleases Him.”

Use your desires to learn and grow and always work to honor God. Amen

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Matthew 14

10/23/2009

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Matthew 14:28-31 “Then Peter called to Him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.’ “Yes, come, Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord! He shouted.”

How many times do we do the same thing? We say we love Jesus and we want to follow Him but after awhile we get tossed around by the wind or waves. The storm can be as simple as our own busy schedules or our family’s schedule. We know Jesus is alive and is our strength, why don’t we open God’s word and truly learn to live like Jesus did. In good times and in bad we should stay firm. Jesus had death in His family but it didn’t stop Him from doing God’s will.

When John the Baptist was beheaded Jesus wanted to get away but in Matthew 14:14 it says, “Jesus saw the huge crowd as He stepped from the boat, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick.”

We need to understand in good and bad Jesus is the way and when we ask, Lord is that really you? We need to be ready to be the light for all to see.

I love in Proverbs 23:12 it says, “Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.”

We need to commit ourselves to God’s instruction all the time so when we are being hands and feet of Jesus we don’t begin to sink when the storms come. Amen

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Proverbs 21

10/20/2009

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Proverbs 21:21 “Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.”

Again we see that we are told to do something. When we pursue what the Lord wants we can grow everyday. We need to put time in to fellowship and having a relationship with the Lord. We are given all we need when we open up God’s word and read it with an open heart. You need to go to a church that is teaching the truth and challenging you to grow everyday to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Then you need to have people in your lives that help you stay focused and continue to challenge you to do what is right.

Verse 30 says, “No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord.”

Check everything you do with what is said in God’s word and learn how Jesus lived and learned to follow it everyday. This is the only way that any knowledge or wisdom you think you have will be holy. Surrender your life and live to honor God and you will notice a peace in your heart that will continue to strengthen as you follow Jesus. Pray and grow everyday and learn to use trials and tribulation to be a light for the Lord. Amen

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Matthew 13

10/19/2009

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Matthew 13:10-12 “His disciples came and asked Him, “Why do you use parables when you speak to the people?” He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

After reading this it made me think, the more I am willing to read and listen the more I will understand. It’s not just about reading God’s word; it’s taking the steps to live out a life like Jesus. As we put into practice what we learn and we are obedient to it we will be given more to understand. It puts an entirely new spin on it for me; knowledge will never grow unless you are doing what you are learning. We need to open our hearts and truly be servants to a loving God who gave us so much.

I love the end of Matthew 10:8 which says, “Give as freely as you have received.”

We received a great gift. We need to accept it with great joy and focus on living for God just as Jesus did. Don’t get caught in a stagnant faith saying I’ve been a Christian so long I know everything I need to know. Be ready for action always joyfully serving and living to do whatever God wants. Nothing is more important than following Jesus; not work, sports, toys, or vacation. We need to make sure our life is set up as God first and everything else after. Excuses are easy to make when we are busy, but we can stay strong when we truly lean on Jesus. Give first to the Kingdom, serve first for the Lord, work everyday to glorify God and walk the talk as if Jesus were coming today. Amen

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Proverbs 20

10/17/2009

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Proverbs 20:22 “Don’t say, ‘I will get even for this wrong.’ Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.”

I really like this because when we get angry we think we can do something that will really matter. The fact is we just keep stirring up the pot and making whatever was done last longer. I always say God handling of an ungodly person is much worse than I can ever do. I pray that their hearts are changed, and then they will be able to understand how to be a light. This is hard to understand sometimes but we need to not worry when we don’t understand something and just trust the Lord and see what understanding we get each day.

Verse 24 says, “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?”

It doesn’t say never ask for understanding, just be grateful with what you get each day. We must fully surrender ourselves to the Lord forgetting self at all and living to honor Him. It seems so easy but that’s where the work comes in. We must continue to learn and give more each day. When we do we will be able to be joyful and live each day in peace with our eyes focused on heaven and eternal life.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Amen

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Proverbs 19

10/16/2009

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Proverbs 19:21 “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”

That really made me think as I read it over and over today. Are our plans aligned with God’s purpose or are we spinning our wheels thinking they are? Do we truly surrender to God’s will or are we listening but still trying to do it our way? We must try and learn and grow everyday by opening God’s word and seeking wisdom so we can learn God’s purpose and continue to follow it. Amen

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Proverbs 16

10/13/2009

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Proverbs 16:1 “We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answers.” When I read this it really made me think about how I fight my heart to follow my desires. We need to read everyday so we can continue to grow and learn how to live a life that resembles Jesus’. If we don’t learn and grow our desires can over come what we know is true and right.

Verse 2 says, “People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.”

When we die to self and ask, seek, and knock we can grow to understand truly what God wants and our motives can become true and blameless.

Philippians 1:9-10 says, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day Christ’s returns.”

Never be satisfied with what you know, dive into God’s word and pray everyday to make sure your hearts are full. Amen

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Matthew 8

10/8/2009

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Matthew 8:23-26 “Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with His disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, ‘why are you afraid? You have so little faith!’ Then He got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.”

As I read this today it just came to me that Jesus was talking about anything that happens in our lives. Why are we afraid? If we are living to honor God and walking as Jesus did we are covered no matter what happens. We need to have faith in all that happens in our walk. We can’t worry or be afraid about anything that happens when we are truly living as Jesus did. Death, sickness, pain, or evil people can’t do anything to us when we belong to Christ, so have faith that God is in control and we are not. We need to live our lives like we are truly covered by what Jesus did on the cross. When we turn from our ways and live for His we can understand what Paul was saying in Philippians 1:21.

He said, “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.”

Why be afraid of waves as the disciples were? Live for Christ and focus on heaven because nothing will be better or more important. Amen

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Matthew 24

Matthew 22

Proverbs 27

Matthew 14

Proverbs 21

Matthew 13

Proverbs 20

Proverbs 19

Proverbs 16

Matthew 8

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