Take care of my Own

Scripture
Job 19:4 If it is true that I have gone astray, my error remains my concern alone

Observation
Job was tired of people assuming why he was being punished. His friends tried to give their own conclusions and were so hungry for gossip. They wanted to make up their own stories about the truth and tried to feed it to Job and make him believe their lies. Job was an innocent man just trying to live his life according to Gods will until satan decided to take over and thats when he realized who his true friends were.

Application
During tough times is when we realize who is on our side. God wants us to know that He is always on our side trying to protect us and guard us from the sin of man. And there is a time in life where I have to take care of my own. Where my business has to be my business. If I sin than I have to deal with it. If I do wrong I'm the one that has to look God in the face and be judged. Job understood that his life is solely his and he has to pay the consequences. What I do is for me to deal with, not anyone else.

Prayer
Lord,
You know what I do, think, say, and how i act. You know all about me and I am 26 years old and need to start living my life for me. Give me the strength to face anyone who wants to live my life or who wants to ruin it. You gave me a purpose and a plan and I'll keep it until you take me to heaven with you. I will fight for my free will and battle against any enemy forces that want to take it away. You are my God and I am your daughter.
I love you. Amen.

Corruptions Father

Scripture
Job 17:14-15 if I say to corruption, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'My mother' or 'My sister,' 15 where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?

Observation
Job was near death. God allowed satan to do what he wanted just not to kill him, but thats what was next to what Job went through. To end his life would have brought peace to him and maybe even to his friends. Instead of facing what he was going through he could have given up and faced death in the face and embraced it. He could've tried to runaway from all his issues, but he'd have the same problems, just in a different surrounding.

Application
It's so easy to run and never look back. When we run from our problems we think they'll just go away, but it'll make it worse. Even though confrontation is the hardest thing for me to do because of my own insecurities, I have to do it. Life is all about confrontations and issies I have to deal with. People will always have something to say and will want to get in my face but God wants me to stand with my head held high and proclaim the truth even if others don't believe, I'll believe.

Prayer
God,
I know there are things in my life that i hide from others and I know I can't hide it all from you. Father, forgive me because there are times that i do forget that you are watching me and I do wrong. I'm asking for your grace and mercy because only you can make things right. I know of what to do and not to do, I am human and do make mistakes, help me to be on the right track as much as possible, I'm human; not perfect. I thank you Lord for your love and mercy.
I love you. Amen

With Weeping Deep Shadows

Scripture
Job 16:6,16 "Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away. 16My face is red with weeping, deep shadows ring my eyes;

Observation
Job was going through the hardest time of his life and didn't know how to deal with it. He could've lashed out but that wouldn't change the situation, he also could've stayed completely quiet but that too wouldn't make a difference. He cried and cried till he couldn't cry no more. He gave himself to the Lord and everything he had in him. There was no where to go and nothing to do but stay put.

Application
God takes us through completely trying times. We could have such a peaceful life than BAM! The devil knocks us out. This is my time of true trying of my character. I feel helpless like there is nothing i can do right. If i do the right thing something wrong comes out. If i do the wrong thing my heart feels betrayed. So what do I do? what can I do? Just wait. Wait for the right time, wait for the time that God will do something. That's all i can do. I've given up on defending myself cause that gets me yelling, so I just have to leave it in gods hands because He is the judge, the merciful one, the graceful one.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are so good and I thank you for my life. Its not perfect right now and I hate the situation I'm in. It's my fault for not listening to you sooner, but I know that your grace and mercy over me is sufficient. I have learned from my mistakes and choose to move forward. Shut the mouths of the lions and snakes and use me for your glory. I know you know my heart and the honest truth. Let my heart be known to those that truly need to see it.
I love you, Amen.

10/20/07 Strike them down

Scripture
Acts 12:21-23 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

observation
Herod must have been talking about powerful things in his address for the people to think e was a god. And Herod must have heard what the people were saying because Herod was not a man of God. When he heard the people his heart must have believed it and maybe even admitted it. I can only speculate about what happened, but God was at his last straw with Herod. He knew that enough was enough and had to cut him down to allow the disciples to keep going on their mission.

Application
Sometimes we want to do big things for God but there are people in high positions that don't want us to keep going. They believe they are more powerful than God and even kill anyone who is against them. It's time for me to stand up and do what God wants me to do. I need to find Gods purpose and stand up to those who don't believe because God will make a way when there seems to be no way.

Prayer
God,
make that way. You are the ultimate and mighty God. You strive to make things better and strike those down who come against you. Make me a stronger person and never allow anyone to think they are better than You. Strike them down to show everyone else your true power and glory.
I love you, Amen.

Fearful Criminal

SCRIPTURE
Luke 23:40-43 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

OBSERVATION
The repentant criminal believed in God. He must have grown up with at least some discernment and fear for God for proclaiming his belief on the cross. He must have thought that he had nothing to lose by believing that Jesus was the Messiah. He saw Jesus for who He really was and followed Him during his death. Even though he was a criminal he must have heard some of Jesus' teachings because Jesus talked about the kingdom many times.

APPLICATION
Jesus takes anyone, anytime, anywhere. The criminal was repentant and believed in Christ. He didn't do a long sinners prayer. His heart was sorry and ready to receive. Our hearts need to be the same way. Our hearts need to be open and desperate for Jesus to work in it and fix whats inside of us so when we do go to heaven we'll be going to paradise.

PRAYER
God,
I thank you for your forgiveness. I thank you that you have given me a chance to become a better person. I thank you for loving me so much that you gave your life for me. You suffered and dies so that I may live. You didn't have to, but you did. There is no sacrifice greater than yours. I can't wait to be in paradise with you.
I love you. Amen.

10/4/07 Lose my life

SCRIPTURE
Luke 17:32-33 Remember Lot's wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

OBSERVATION
Lots wife looked back at the life that was being destroyed. God told them specifically not to look back, but she did and once that happened she became a pillar of salt. When it comes to going back to our past life, God isn't joking. He doesn't want us to preserve once was, but to let it go. Jesus wants to emphasize the importance of losing who we were and gaining who we are in Him. To lose my life I have to let go of past things that hurt me and led me to sin. And accept what God gives me and live a new life.

APPLICATION
God is telling me to lose my old life. If i keep my old friends, my old habits, my old attitudes than how can I say that I am a new creature in Christ? How can I say that I have new blessings every morning if I can't even let go of simple things? If I keep my life than I am only living for myself and telling God He isn't good enough. I want to tell God that He is more than I can imagine and than show Him with my life.

PRAYER
Lord,
Give me the power and strength to lose my life in this world. Show me to move forward in you and to keep going strong in your word. You are my rock and my foundation. You are my everything I have and everything I need. You are the reason I get up and have joy. Lose my life and gain you is all I'll ever want and need.
I love you. Amen

Refine to Gold

Zechariah 13:9 This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'"

God wants to take a certain amount of people who are willing to change their lives to refine us. He has to put us through fire, then shape us and mold us to something more beautiful. Through the fire we will melt and become soft because it hurts, it burns to go through something so hot. But once we're out of the fire, God wants to see if we'll come out like gold. He uses gold because it is the most extended, shaped, and deformed metal that won't crack. It can undergo a lot without breaking. He wants to see if we will break in the fire or remain strong.

God is definately shaping me at this time. And through it all I have remained gold. I know all of this is not so i can crack in the first moment of heat, but to walk through the fire remembering and declaring who my God is and what He means to me.

God,
Keep molding me and shaping me. I want to be your gold. I want to come out of the fire without a crack. I want to come out stronger than ever. You are my refiner and my Savior; my king and my Father; my friend and my Everything. You created me, molded me, and guided me. I thank you Holy Spirit for always being there adn taking me through this fire without fear or doubt. I love you, Amen.

10/01/07 Keep me Grounded

Luke 14:10-11 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Jesus commands us to be humble. We could be famous, authoritative, but we still have to humble ourselves. Never think more of who you are because God will humiliate us to get us back to that level. Many people with money forget their roots and others can never forget, but we are no lower or higher than they are. God created us all equal and wants us all to be humble before Him and man.

I am a Pastor but a servant first. God called me to work for Him and for His people. Even with all my degrees I have no problem doing labor work because I know where I would be without God and that's my motivation to remain grounded in God.

Lord,
no matter where I am or who I become keep my feet on your foundation. Keep me humble before you and your people. I know who I am in you today, Keep your word burning in my heart and mind. I love you, Amen.

9/30/07 Pour it Out

Luke 13:3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

The Pharisees were always trying to find something wrong in Jesus, but he was a simple and knowledgeable teacher. He wanted those me to change and even challenged them in their faith. But Jesus' message was for all - You will die if you don't repent. No matter who we are we have to humble ourselves before God and tell Him all.

I've never had a problem repenting before God. Everything just always came pouring out. I want to always be this way. I want to pour my words, my sins, my worries, my guilt on Him because that was the reason He died on the cross. I need to utilize His purpose for my purpose, if not, than I am just like a hypocritical Pharisee.

Lord,
make me always humble before you. Keep me from the hypocrites and Pharisees of this world and give me your compassion and mercy. I want to keep seeing your glory and miracles in my life and inthe life of those around me. I love you, Amen.

9/29/07 Quit Shopping!

Luke 12:22-23,30,34 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

God knows what we need, even if it those things we toil about. Fashion, style is big in my world. I want to look good and be up to date, but what good is it if I lose God in the process? Gods purpose has nothing to do with what the world has or wants. The world is about destroying, killing and stealing. And Gods is about love, compassion, joy, and mercy. In Gods purpose we don't have to worry. Even though we still do because the world is strong, but its time to stand up and refuse what the world is selling.

Every month i go out and buy things that i truly don't need. Those are all wants of mine and i worry that if i don't get them I'll be missing out but then after i buy them i worry that i spent too much. So whats better? Neither, because I'm worrying too much! The word says not to worry and actually just relax. He knows what i ultimately need and will give it to me.

God,
you have always provided for me and i trust you with my needs and wants. You are my pathway and refuge. I want to stop worrying and start focusing on whats the most important, that's you. Help me to stop being a worry some person and be that free spirited joyful being you created me to be. I love you. Amen