Today's reading: II Chronicles 3, 4, 5; Psalm 6, 36, 66, 96, 126; Proverbs 6
II Chronicles 3:7, "He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls."
As I was reading this passage today I was drawn to some memories of growing up. I remember one year at VBS (vacation Bible school) that I had the opportunity to play a part in a skit that took place every evening before young people were dismissed to their classes. I remember covering an old pair of glasses with white shoe polish and leaving a small spot that I could barely see out of on the lenses. My character was to be somewhat clumsy. This was easily accomplished because I could not really see. It was so much fun.
I remember another year that we had a Halloween alternative party and I dressed up as a clown. Yes, I had the big red nose and wig going on. It was pretty special. I enjoyed that very much. I remember last year finding a picture of me dressed up like that. Then I found a picture of my daughter; now (23) twenty three years old dressed up as a clown. She was a chip off the old block. I was so proud.
You are probably asking why the trip down memory lane today? Well, it is simple really. As I was reading our Scripture passage for today and it told about how, "He overlaid also the house," I thought about how we sometimes put up a facade when we are around other people. Our home Church is having a revival meeting this week and last night was "Teen Night". The Evangelist brought out that we often live behind these facades and it got me to thinking this morning.
We need to give up being "overlaid" with whatever we are covering up with. We need to be transparent before God and let Him work in our lives. If you do this you will not regret it. I promise. There were many that responded to the invitation to trust Christ as their Saviour and others responded to the invitation to get their lives right with the Lord. It was fantastic.
The greatest moment for me came after the service. I was standing in the fellowship area of the building and our Pastor came out of the sanctuary with a gentleman following behind him. They came to me and the Pastor asked me to take this man into the Church office and show him how to know for sure that he would go to heaven when he died. I was told he had done it before but was just not sure.
I showed him I John 5:13 that told him that he could know for sure and he did not have to doubt or wonder. Then we started the walk down the "Romans Road". After much explaining Robert bowed his head and asked Jesus to forgive him of his sin and to be his Lord and Saviour. Praise God! What a privilege and "Oh What A Saviour"!
Do you know Him today as your Lord and Saviour? I hope so.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
May 5, 2010
Today's reading: I Chronicles 29; II Chronicles 1, 2; Psalm 5, 35, 65, 95, 125; Proverbs 5
I Chronicles 29:10-15, "Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding."
I hate to admit it; but, it is true. We have lost our ability to worship today. What men call worship is far from what God intended it to be. Far too many of us worship the national sports hero or we worship our automobile. Some of us even worship ourselves. This is a dangerous practice. We need to worship God and God alone!
I think a part of our problem today is that we cannot control God; but, we try to make Him someone or something we can manipulate. This is wrong! We have been put here to worship God.
Look at Revelation 4:11, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." There you go. This is why we were created and why we exist. We are here for God's pleasure and we are to honor and glorify Him.
The word worship means to ascribe worth to someone or something. Wow! I had not thought about that. That definition is so accurate. Everything we do in life should bring honor and glory to God. It is not about us. It is all about Him.
One of the most vile men I have ever known used to walk around with a bracelet on with the inscription, "WWJD" (What Would Jesus Do). He would curse and tell nasty jokes and do awful things; but, he wore that bracelet. His life was not bringing honor and glory to God. It is sad.
So how is your life bringing honor and glory to God? I hope it is in so many ways that you cannot count them all.
How are you doing?
I Chronicles 29:10-15, "Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding."
I hate to admit it; but, it is true. We have lost our ability to worship today. What men call worship is far from what God intended it to be. Far too many of us worship the national sports hero or we worship our automobile. Some of us even worship ourselves. This is a dangerous practice. We need to worship God and God alone!
I think a part of our problem today is that we cannot control God; but, we try to make Him someone or something we can manipulate. This is wrong! We have been put here to worship God.
Look at Revelation 4:11, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." There you go. This is why we were created and why we exist. We are here for God's pleasure and we are to honor and glorify Him.
The word worship means to ascribe worth to someone or something. Wow! I had not thought about that. That definition is so accurate. Everything we do in life should bring honor and glory to God. It is not about us. It is all about Him.
One of the most vile men I have ever known used to walk around with a bracelet on with the inscription, "WWJD" (What Would Jesus Do). He would curse and tell nasty jokes and do awful things; but, he wore that bracelet. His life was not bringing honor and glory to God. It is sad.
So how is your life bringing honor and glory to God? I hope it is in so many ways that you cannot count them all.
How are you doing?
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
May 4, 2010
Today's reading: I Chronicles 26, 27, 28; Psalm 4, 34, 64, 94, 124; Proverbs 4
I Chronicles 28:9-11, "And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,"
I think we see some interesting things in our Scripture passage for today. I would like to look at three (3) things that stood out to me today. The king is talking to his son Solomon and gives him these principles.
Verse 9 - The Charge of the father. King David wanted his son Solomon to know God personally. It is the same for you and I today. We should want our children to know God as their Heavenly Father. If you do not then you need to take a close look at your heart. This is the ultimate relationship. We must point our children to a relationship with Jesus Christ so they can know that when they die they will spend eternity in heaven.
Verse 10 - The Command of the Lord. Notice what he says, "... for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary:". This was not king David living his life through Solomon. This was him teaching his son what God had command him to do. We should all take the time to teach and train our children in the commands of God.
Verse 11 - The Course of the king. King David gave Solomon the "pattern". He gave him something to follow. When I first read this I thought of instructions that come with a building project. Then it dawned on me that king David had also lived a life that he wanted Solomon to follow. It is the same for you and I. We need to live a life that points others to Jesus Christ so they too can put their faith and trust in Him for eternal salvation.
So friend, how are you doing?
I Chronicles 28:9-11, "And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,"
I think we see some interesting things in our Scripture passage for today. I would like to look at three (3) things that stood out to me today. The king is talking to his son Solomon and gives him these principles.
Verse 9 - The Charge of the father. King David wanted his son Solomon to know God personally. It is the same for you and I today. We should want our children to know God as their Heavenly Father. If you do not then you need to take a close look at your heart. This is the ultimate relationship. We must point our children to a relationship with Jesus Christ so they can know that when they die they will spend eternity in heaven.
Verse 10 - The Command of the Lord. Notice what he says, "... for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary:". This was not king David living his life through Solomon. This was him teaching his son what God had command him to do. We should all take the time to teach and train our children in the commands of God.
Verse 11 - The Course of the king. King David gave Solomon the "pattern". He gave him something to follow. When I first read this I thought of instructions that come with a building project. Then it dawned on me that king David had also lived a life that he wanted Solomon to follow. It is the same for you and I. We need to live a life that points others to Jesus Christ so they too can put their faith and trust in Him for eternal salvation.
So friend, how are you doing?
Monday, May 3, 2010
May 3, 2010
Today's reading: I Chronicles 23, 24, 25; Psalm 3, 33, 63. 93, 123; Proverbs 3
I Chronicles 24:4, "And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers."
I think we all know that how we raise our children is important. Christian it is imperative that we raise our children in the ways of the Lord. We all know that we are to train them and teach them the principles of the Bible. I am afraid that we are slacking on our God given responsibility. We know families that send their children to Christian school so they can get a Christian education. This is not enough.
Why is this not enough? If we let the Christian school raise our children then they will grow up to be mediocre at best. I am not slamming the Christian school movement. I am trying to get us who are Christian parents to wake up and see that for the most part we are shirking on our responsibility to educate our children. We need to teach them the principles of the Scripture from birth to the time they leave our home. We need to keep teaching them after they leave home if the opportunity presents itself.
God, please forgive me for not teaching my children the clear principles of the Scripture.
Will you join me in making a concentrated effort to teach and train our children in God's ways? I hope you will.
So, how are you doing?
I Chronicles 24:4, "And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers."
I think we all know that how we raise our children is important. Christian it is imperative that we raise our children in the ways of the Lord. We all know that we are to train them and teach them the principles of the Bible. I am afraid that we are slacking on our God given responsibility. We know families that send their children to Christian school so they can get a Christian education. This is not enough.
Why is this not enough? If we let the Christian school raise our children then they will grow up to be mediocre at best. I am not slamming the Christian school movement. I am trying to get us who are Christian parents to wake up and see that for the most part we are shirking on our responsibility to educate our children. We need to teach them the principles of the Scripture from birth to the time they leave our home. We need to keep teaching them after they leave home if the opportunity presents itself.
God, please forgive me for not teaching my children the clear principles of the Scripture.
Will you join me in making a concentrated effort to teach and train our children in God's ways? I hope you will.
So, how are you doing?
Sunday, May 2, 2010
May 2, 2010
Today's reading: I Chronicles 20, 21, 22; Psalm 2, 32, 62, 92, 122; Proverbs 2
I Chronicles 20:1, "And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it."
In a couple days we will go to the polls in the primary elections. We are at a critical time in our nation's history. It is very important that people get out and vote. Too many people will be like king David in our passage. They will stay home and just endure the same old same old. This should not be. We need to be proactive. If we want our nation to change directions then we need to do what we can to steer her in the right direction. This should include getting informed and voting.
Notice in our passage that it was the time when kings went out to war. Where do we find king David? He tarried at Jerusalem. He stayed home. Not only did the king stay home but he ended up numbering the people, which he knew he was not to do. King David had been caught in the downward spiral of sin.
When God judged the nation for David's sin he repented and God stopped the destruction of the people. We need to realize that our sin effects others no matter how big or small. There are consequences. We don't think about that. I think if we did think about it we would live our lives differently. At least I would hope that we would.
Is there anything you need to make right with the LORD? Think about it.
I Chronicles 20:1, "And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it."
In a couple days we will go to the polls in the primary elections. We are at a critical time in our nation's history. It is very important that people get out and vote. Too many people will be like king David in our passage. They will stay home and just endure the same old same old. This should not be. We need to be proactive. If we want our nation to change directions then we need to do what we can to steer her in the right direction. This should include getting informed and voting.
Notice in our passage that it was the time when kings went out to war. Where do we find king David? He tarried at Jerusalem. He stayed home. Not only did the king stay home but he ended up numbering the people, which he knew he was not to do. King David had been caught in the downward spiral of sin.
When God judged the nation for David's sin he repented and God stopped the destruction of the people. We need to realize that our sin effects others no matter how big or small. There are consequences. We don't think about that. I think if we did think about it we would live our lives differently. At least I would hope that we would.
Is there anything you need to make right with the LORD? Think about it.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
May 1, 2010
Today's reading: I Chronicles 17, 18, 19; Psalm 1, 31, 61, 91, 121; Proverbs 1
I Chronicles 19:3-4, "But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land? Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away."
I remember a number of years ago my wife and I attended a Church and I had the pleasure of teaching a Sunday School class. The class was a real joy to teach. I did have a couple students that would continually go to the Pastor and question him about something I said in class. Sometimes they would go to him about something that I did that they did not like. I remember every week I would go into the class and do my best and just let the chips fall where they may.
What is the reason for my trip down memory lane that appears to be not so pleasant? There is something that you and I need to realize. That is that sometimes we are misunderstood. It does not matter how hard we try to be genuine people will mistake what we are doing for the wrong thing.
In our passage, Hanun did a horrible thing to David's men. He did absolutely the most despicable thing to them that he could. He embarrassed them greatly. They could not help the fact that they were treated so horribly by this king. He received some bad counsel and I am sure he regretted it later.
Maybe you have been wronged by someone. What was your reaction? Was it vengeance? I hope that your reaction was one that would please the Lord. Mine do not always please Him and this hurts me greatly. I know it hurts Him greatly.
Maybe we should pray as the writer of Psalm 31:9, "Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly." Here is a man that is so overwhelmed that it is effecting his whole life. It has him so upset that it even effects his belly. Have you ever been physically sick over they way you have been treated. I know that I have been and I am sure that I am not alone.
I hope the next time that you and I are wronged or misunderstood that our reaction will be to run to the Lord.
So how are you doing?
I Chronicles 19:3-4, "But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land? Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away."
I remember a number of years ago my wife and I attended a Church and I had the pleasure of teaching a Sunday School class. The class was a real joy to teach. I did have a couple students that would continually go to the Pastor and question him about something I said in class. Sometimes they would go to him about something that I did that they did not like. I remember every week I would go into the class and do my best and just let the chips fall where they may.
What is the reason for my trip down memory lane that appears to be not so pleasant? There is something that you and I need to realize. That is that sometimes we are misunderstood. It does not matter how hard we try to be genuine people will mistake what we are doing for the wrong thing.
In our passage, Hanun did a horrible thing to David's men. He did absolutely the most despicable thing to them that he could. He embarrassed them greatly. They could not help the fact that they were treated so horribly by this king. He received some bad counsel and I am sure he regretted it later.
Maybe you have been wronged by someone. What was your reaction? Was it vengeance? I hope that your reaction was one that would please the Lord. Mine do not always please Him and this hurts me greatly. I know it hurts Him greatly.
Maybe we should pray as the writer of Psalm 31:9, "Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly." Here is a man that is so overwhelmed that it is effecting his whole life. It has him so upset that it even effects his belly. Have you ever been physically sick over they way you have been treated. I know that I have been and I am sure that I am not alone.
I hope the next time that you and I are wronged or misunderstood that our reaction will be to run to the Lord.
So how are you doing?
Friday, April 30, 2010
April 30, 2010
Today's reading: I Chronicles 14, 15, 16; Psalm 30, 60, 90, 120, 150; Proverbs 30
I Chronicles 15:29, "And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart."
I have attended a lot of Churches in my life. Some of them have been traditional so to speak and others were far from traditional. It is interesting to see the differences in each one. They all have their own personality so to speak.
I have been in Churches where the men would shout a hearty "Amen!" I have been in some Churches that nobody but the Preacher said anything. I was the guy that broke the silence and let out a hearty "Amen!" That was kind of funny really.
There are times in life that you have to go against the grain so to speak. I am not saying that you are to disobey Scriptural principles. I am not saying to go against the clear teaching of the Word of God.
What I am saying is sometimes you just have to dance alone. David in our Scripture for today was at a place just like that. He danced in praise to God. I will assure you it was not the garbage that is called dancing today. I remember my wife and I attended a Messianic Jewish Church one time several years ago. They sang, clapped and a group of people even danced. Yes, they danced. It was very worshipful and honoring to the Lord. They were all dressed in white robes and you could tell the focus of the dance was praise to the Lord. When I was watching this I thought of this event in Scripture. I thought how David danced before the Lord and how his own wife despised him in her heart because of it. How sad. Sometimes you just have to dance alone. Psalm 30:11, "Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;"
How are you doing? Do you have your dancing shoes on? I hope so.
I Chronicles 15:29, "And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart."
I have attended a lot of Churches in my life. Some of them have been traditional so to speak and others were far from traditional. It is interesting to see the differences in each one. They all have their own personality so to speak.
I have been in Churches where the men would shout a hearty "Amen!" I have been in some Churches that nobody but the Preacher said anything. I was the guy that broke the silence and let out a hearty "Amen!" That was kind of funny really.
There are times in life that you have to go against the grain so to speak. I am not saying that you are to disobey Scriptural principles. I am not saying to go against the clear teaching of the Word of God.
What I am saying is sometimes you just have to dance alone. David in our Scripture for today was at a place just like that. He danced in praise to God. I will assure you it was not the garbage that is called dancing today. I remember my wife and I attended a Messianic Jewish Church one time several years ago. They sang, clapped and a group of people even danced. Yes, they danced. It was very worshipful and honoring to the Lord. They were all dressed in white robes and you could tell the focus of the dance was praise to the Lord. When I was watching this I thought of this event in Scripture. I thought how David danced before the Lord and how his own wife despised him in her heart because of it. How sad. Sometimes you just have to dance alone. Psalm 30:11, "Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;"
How are you doing? Do you have your dancing shoes on? I hope so.
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