Monday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 17
NT: 1 Corinthians 15
W&W: Psalm 101
Tuesday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 18
NT: 1 Corinthians 16
W&W: Psalm 102
Wednesday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 19-20
NT: 2 Corinthians 1
W&W: Psalm 103
Thursday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 21-22
NT: 2 Corinthians 2
W&W: Psalm 104.1-23
Friday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 23-24
NT: 2 Corinthians 3
W&W: Psalm 104.24-35
Today’s Reflection:
In 1 Corinthians 16, we get a glimpse into the interactions between New Testament leaders. Paul makes the statement, “Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity” (v. 12).
It is apparent that Paul and Apollos disagreed about when Apollos should go to Corinth. It seems possible – from the tone – that they may have disagreed even about whether or not Apollos needed to go at all. Paul thought that Apollos should go now. Apollos felt that now was not the time. Neither of them changed their mind – by evidence of what Paul wrote and by what Apollos did (actually what he didn’t do – go!).
These followers of Jesus Christ agreed to disagree. And, they were agreeable bout it! Both of them refused to make a “heaven or hell issue” out of it. They each had their opinion. They doubtless felt they had good reasons for their opinions as they kept their opinions. But, they extended grace to one another.
I found it interesting that - though Paul was the “ranking” leader – Apollos’ decision won the day. I wonder how many leaders are strong enough in their own egos to allow a subordinate to set a course different from what the leader thinks.
I entitled this post as “Do You Always Want Your Way?” Obviously, the answer to that question is “Yes! Of course I want my way. If I wanted something else, that would be my way!” The more important question to answer is this: “Must I always have my way?” Paul was willing to lay aside rights and privileges and power and authority in order to allow an emerging leader develop. May God give us in leadership grace like that!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Let’s put together that great passage in Matthew we’ve been working on all month. Matthew 7.7-12: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Don’t Be Stupid!
Yesterday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 13
NT: 1 Corinthians 12
W&W: Psalm 98
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 14
NT: 1 Corinthians 13
W&W: Psalm 99
Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 15-16
NT: 1 Corinthians 14
W&W: Psalm 100
Today’s Reflection:
I’m sitting here in beautiful San Diego, California awaiting the day to begin in earnest. Four of us are here (and one is arriving later today) for a conference at Point Loma Nazarene University. My schedule is disrupted – again – and so you have yesterday’s, today’s and tomorrow’s scripture in one package.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians (a church that prided themselves on their spiritual giftedness): “Now, about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 12.1). What an appropriate scripture for the day a group from our church is enroute to San Diego to learn about how to apply our strengths in the church! We are going to a Gallup Strengthsfinder© training event at Point Loma Nazarene University.
I don’t want to be ignorant about spiritual gifts, both for my sake and for the sake of the church I pastor. My prayer is this: “O God, help me understand and teach both spiritual gifts and personal strengths. Help me understand the difference between them. Help me to use this understanding in leading your church.”
One of the most important things to understand about spiritual gifts and personal strengths is this: God gives them by his grace:
· The gift, the talent is given not to me, but through me to the church.
· The gift, the talent is not for me; it is for you.
· When I exercise it in serving you, it is not from me, but from God.
How do you view your giftedness and talents? This scripture reminds us: “Don’t be stupid! The gifts are from God and for the church!”
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Matthew 7.12: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
OT: Jeremiah 13
NT: 1 Corinthians 12
W&W: Psalm 98
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 14
NT: 1 Corinthians 13
W&W: Psalm 99
Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 15-16
NT: 1 Corinthians 14
W&W: Psalm 100
Today’s Reflection:
I’m sitting here in beautiful San Diego, California awaiting the day to begin in earnest. Four of us are here (and one is arriving later today) for a conference at Point Loma Nazarene University. My schedule is disrupted – again – and so you have yesterday’s, today’s and tomorrow’s scripture in one package.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians (a church that prided themselves on their spiritual giftedness): “Now, about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 12.1). What an appropriate scripture for the day a group from our church is enroute to San Diego to learn about how to apply our strengths in the church! We are going to a Gallup Strengthsfinder© training event at Point Loma Nazarene University.
I don’t want to be ignorant about spiritual gifts, both for my sake and for the sake of the church I pastor. My prayer is this: “O God, help me understand and teach both spiritual gifts and personal strengths. Help me understand the difference between them. Help me to use this understanding in leading your church.”
One of the most important things to understand about spiritual gifts and personal strengths is this: God gives them by his grace:
· The gift, the talent is given not to me, but through me to the church.
· The gift, the talent is not for me; it is for you.
· When I exercise it in serving you, it is not from me, but from God.
How do you view your giftedness and talents? This scripture reminds us: “Don’t be stupid! The gifts are from God and for the church!”
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Matthew 7.12: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Black and White
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 12
NT: 1 Corinthians 11
W&W: Psalm 97
Today’s Reflection:
The Psalmist said, “Let those who love the Lord, hate evil” (Psalm 97.10).
When I read that scripture, my mind went to other verses in the Bible that help us understand and apply this:
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Matthew 7.12: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
OT: Jeremiah 12
NT: 1 Corinthians 11
W&W: Psalm 97
Today’s Reflection:
The Psalmist said, “Let those who love the Lord, hate evil” (Psalm 97.10).
When I read that scripture, my mind went to other verses in the Bible that help us understand and apply this:
- John wrote: “Do not love the world or anything in the world…” (1 John 2.15).
- David wrote: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers…” (Psalm 1.1).
- David also wrote: “Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord, and abhor those who rise up against you?” (Psalm 139.21).
- Jesus himself said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6.24).
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Matthew 7.12: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Commit Your Cause to God
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 11
NT: 1 Corinthians 10
W&W: Psalm 96
Today’s Reflection:
The Biblical prophet said, “To you I have committed my cause” (Jeremiah 11.20b). Can you say the same?
Have you ever been misrepresented? Have you ever felt that your work was either forgotten or disparaged? Have you ever felt the need to defend your integrity or your intentions? How easy it is to forget that God can be trusted! How easy to want to manage our lives ourselves. How easy to think that we have to be concerned with our reputation and results.
How freeing it is to leave our reputations and the results of our labors in God’s hands! Pray this: “Lord I have committed my cause to you. I know you will do what is right by me and by my work. You see my heart and know my mind. Lord, in mercy forgive my lack of trust, in grace supplant my weaknesses, and in justice make my righteousness shine like the noonday sun.”
Happy Monday!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Matthew 7.12: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
OT: Jeremiah 11
NT: 1 Corinthians 10
W&W: Psalm 96
Today’s Reflection:
The Biblical prophet said, “To you I have committed my cause” (Jeremiah 11.20b). Can you say the same?
Have you ever been misrepresented? Have you ever felt that your work was either forgotten or disparaged? Have you ever felt the need to defend your integrity or your intentions? How easy it is to forget that God can be trusted! How easy to want to manage our lives ourselves. How easy to think that we have to be concerned with our reputation and results.
How freeing it is to leave our reputations and the results of our labors in God’s hands! Pray this: “Lord I have committed my cause to you. I know you will do what is right by me and by my work. You see my heart and know my mind. Lord, in mercy forgive my lack of trust, in grace supplant my weaknesses, and in justice make my righteousness shine like the noonday sun.”
Happy Monday!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Matthew 7.12: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Fightin' Dogs
Yesterday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 8
NT: 1 Corinthians 8
W&W: Psalm 94
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 9-10
NT: 1 Corinthians 9
W&W: Psalm 95
Today’s Reflection:
This week I attended the conventions on our district. One of the speakers asked us to consider The Apostle Paul’s words: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4.7). We need to ask ourselves what fight we’re fighting. Too many times, we are fighting the wrong fight.
In any one day, there are so many things that we could get riled up over, so many opportunities to send our blood pressure soaring. But, are these things the good fight? Next time someone cuts you off in traffic or snubs you in a public setting and you want to respond with anger, ask yourself, “Is that worth fighting for?”
Sometimes, the cause may be good, but we simply don’t have a dog in that fight. If we fight too many battles, if we try to focus on too many fronts, we won’t win any battles. I have been overwhelmed this week at assembly by all the ideas. I need to listen carefully to my Commanding Officer’s orders. He knows what battles I need to engage.
My schedule has been so crazy for so long that I wonder if it will ever settle down.
Lana is recovering nicely and we are getting ready for a trip to the west coast next week for a conference with 3 others from our church. The next week it is a family reunion in NW Ohio.
Have a great weekend.
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Matthew 7.9-11: Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
OT: Jeremiah 8
NT: 1 Corinthians 8
W&W: Psalm 94
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 9-10
NT: 1 Corinthians 9
W&W: Psalm 95
Today’s Reflection:
This week I attended the conventions on our district. One of the speakers asked us to consider The Apostle Paul’s words: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4.7). We need to ask ourselves what fight we’re fighting. Too many times, we are fighting the wrong fight.
In any one day, there are so many things that we could get riled up over, so many opportunities to send our blood pressure soaring. But, are these things the good fight? Next time someone cuts you off in traffic or snubs you in a public setting and you want to respond with anger, ask yourself, “Is that worth fighting for?”
Sometimes, the cause may be good, but we simply don’t have a dog in that fight. If we fight too many battles, if we try to focus on too many fronts, we won’t win any battles. I have been overwhelmed this week at assembly by all the ideas. I need to listen carefully to my Commanding Officer’s orders. He knows what battles I need to engage.
My schedule has been so crazy for so long that I wonder if it will ever settle down.
Lana is recovering nicely and we are getting ready for a trip to the west coast next week for a conference with 3 others from our church. The next week it is a family reunion in NW Ohio.
Have a great weekend.
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Matthew 7.9-11: Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Do We Know How to Blush?
Yesterday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 5
NT: 1 Corinthians 5
W&W: Psalm 91
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 6
NT: 1 Corinthians 6
W&W: Psalm 92
Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 7
NT: 1 Corinthians 7
W&W: Psalm 93
Today’s Reflection:
Jeremiah 6.15 says, “They have no shame at all. They do not even know how to blush.”
How this describes our culture today. When entertainers can do any shameful thing and still be lauded for their “contributions to society” then I question what are we listening to and why. When politicians can say one thing while campaigning and then without so much as a blush say just the opposite, I feel a sense of hopelessness. When leaders decry – with great moral outrage – the sins of others and then are “caught with their pants down,” I wonder why they don’t listen to themselves.
Our great and free land is spiraling downward in the pursuit of pleasure and entertainment, in a mad rush to embrace relative truth, and in self-congratulatory hypocrisy. Are we being led by cultural icons, political pragmatists, and indulgent leaders to a place where we can no longer blush at sin?
I wonder.
But, there is hope in Jesus! He is the same “yesterday, today, and forever.” His Word is true and stands firm through the ages. He created all things and gives us life and hope, light and healing. We can turn to him with great confidence that he will heal our land. Our hope is indeed in him.
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Matthew 7.9-11: Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
OT: Jeremiah 5
NT: 1 Corinthians 5
W&W: Psalm 91
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 6
NT: 1 Corinthians 6
W&W: Psalm 92
Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 7
NT: 1 Corinthians 7
W&W: Psalm 93
Today’s Reflection:
Jeremiah 6.15 says, “They have no shame at all. They do not even know how to blush.”
How this describes our culture today. When entertainers can do any shameful thing and still be lauded for their “contributions to society” then I question what are we listening to and why. When politicians can say one thing while campaigning and then without so much as a blush say just the opposite, I feel a sense of hopelessness. When leaders decry – with great moral outrage – the sins of others and then are “caught with their pants down,” I wonder why they don’t listen to themselves.
Our great and free land is spiraling downward in the pursuit of pleasure and entertainment, in a mad rush to embrace relative truth, and in self-congratulatory hypocrisy. Are we being led by cultural icons, political pragmatists, and indulgent leaders to a place where we can no longer blush at sin?
I wonder.
But, there is hope in Jesus! He is the same “yesterday, today, and forever.” His Word is true and stands firm through the ages. He created all things and gives us life and hope, light and healing. We can turn to him with great confidence that he will heal our land. Our hope is indeed in him.
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Matthew 7.9-11: Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Be Encouraged By God’s Word
Yesterday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 2
NT: 1 Corinthians 3
W&W: Psalm 89.46-52
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 3
NT: 1 Corinthians 4
W&W: Psalm 90
Today’s Reflection:
After I went home last night, I realized that I had forgotten to post my blog yesterday! Again!!! I still haven't found the internet in Feesburg, so I just had to wait until today to post again. I'll get back in the groove of things next week! My week has been a bit unsettled with my wife's surgery and being out of the office a couple of days.
Another thing: I appreciate so much those who are followers of the blog. I haven't heard any comments in a while, though, so let me know if you are out there reading! Also, if you are a reader but haven't signed up to be a follower, please do so! I would love to know who is following and to receive comments from all of you.
How encouraging is God’s word to us. As I read Psalm 90, I was reminded that…
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Matthew 7.7-8: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks find; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.
OT: Jeremiah 2
NT: 1 Corinthians 3
W&W: Psalm 89.46-52
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 3
NT: 1 Corinthians 4
W&W: Psalm 90
Today’s Reflection:
After I went home last night, I realized that I had forgotten to post my blog yesterday! Again!!! I still haven't found the internet in Feesburg, so I just had to wait until today to post again. I'll get back in the groove of things next week! My week has been a bit unsettled with my wife's surgery and being out of the office a couple of days.
Another thing: I appreciate so much those who are followers of the blog. I haven't heard any comments in a while, though, so let me know if you are out there reading! Also, if you are a reader but haven't signed up to be a follower, please do so! I would love to know who is following and to receive comments from all of you.
How encouraging is God’s word to us. As I read Psalm 90, I was reminded that…
- God is our dwelling place and will be forever!
- We must take full advantage of every day, for we have been given only a certain number of days.
- We are, therefore, to live with the wisdom given by God.
- God will satisfy us in the morning with his eternal love.
We may thus sing joyfully all of our days. - As many (and more!) as are the days of our affliction so shall be the days of our blessings and victory.
- Oh for the favor of God on us to establish the work of our hands!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Matthew 7.7-8: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks find; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.
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