FIght in my Corner

Exodus 23-24; Psalm 14; Acts 5

Acts 5: 34, 38-39 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. ³⁸Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ³⁹But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

There will be times when i think no one will stick up for me but i don't always know what happens behind closed doors. People talk, discuss, argue, fight and they walk out the door without anyone knowing what just happened. Just because i don't know what happened i can't think the worst either.

When the apostles walked back in they thought they were walking to their death. Instead, they got beaten. But since they loved their cause they had no problem with what the outcome would be, even if it meant death.

When I'm fighting for something i truly need to believe in it. Believe in the cause because at anytime i may be beaten or even killed for it. I have to strengthen myself in my faith and trust in the Lord that in any situation He will send someone to fight for me.

Lord,
thank you for always being in my corner. You know when i can fight and when i need extra help. Look in my heart Lord because i am fighting for you.
I forever love you always
Amen

Hoarders

Exodus 12-13; Psalm 21; Acts 1

Proverbs 25:16
If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit.

God likes to give us things we need and want. Yet when we can get it He doesn't want us to be over excessive. Because once we cross a line we become bloated with things and can turn out to be hoarders. God likes order and things that are just enough. If not our true hearts will vomit out our greediness.

Honey is sweet, soft, smells good, and good for the body. However if i eat a whole bottle I'll get sick. If i buy too much of something i may not use it all cause its too much or not have enough money for things i need therefore God is telling me that i need moderation, order, and discipline in my life.

Lord,
Thank you for showing me what I need and who you are in my life. I don't want to be greedy with the things if the world but be humble to what i have and what you have given me.
I forever love you always
Amen

This plus That

Exodus 3-5; Luke 22

Exodus 4:24-25 At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met {Moses} and was about to kill him. ²⁵ But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched {Moses'} feet with it. "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me," she said.

After God telling Moses His plan to free his people and assuring him that he could do it, out pops a scripture that God was about to kill Moses. It just didn't make sense. But Moses wasn't following God to the fullest extent. He was following his wife first. When God calls us to do something that's not the only thing he wants us to do. Its that plus the other laws He has put in the Bible. Moses knew his calling was to free his people but he forgot the covenant of circumcision which he gave to his father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

When God called me it wasn't just to Pastor but it was also to love, to not judge, to not kill, not steal, to honor my parents, etc. And when i obey Him to the fullest extent is when He will give everything I need and want to the fullest extent.

Lord,
Thank you for calling me to follow you. Only you have my best in mind, Only you can carry out Your word, Only you knows my real heart.
I forever love you always
Amen

1/20/10 Vocalize It

Genesis 49,50; Psalm 8; Luke 20

Luke 20: 3-8
He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me, ⁴John's baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?"

⁵They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?' ⁶But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

⁷So they answered, "We don't know where it was from."

⁸Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

In each question Jesus asks, He just wants the truth. Jesus knew the hearts of these people and knew what they really thought. They were too scared to tell the truth not because of what Jesus thought but because of what the other people thought. They also weren't sure about Jesus so they wanted to cover their tracks. But Jesus knew their real thoughts and instead of admitting their where their hearts were, they lied. All Jesus wanted was to hear their hearts, good or bad because He wanted to answer them but they didn't respect him enough to know the truth.

Jesus knows my heart but He wants me to vocalize it too. He doesn't want my true self to be hidden because people can know me the way God does. Than i can be an instrument used for His glory by being honest about my beliefs and disbelief's. I may believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit but i still have questions that i can't hide from God because than He can't answer them.

Lord,

thank you for for giving me a heart that's after you. No i don't always make the right choices but you know where my heart lies and that's with you. In a crowd, or by myself Lord, I choose you

I forever love you always, Amen

He chooses

Genesis 47-48; Psalm 10; Luke 19

Genesis 48:17-19
When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. ¹⁸ Joseph said to him, "No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head." ¹⁹ But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations."

Joseph saw what happened with his dad and uncle because the oldest lost his birthright. He knew his fathers deception as a young boy and didn't want that to happen again. Joseph was a man of peace and love and didn't want strife within his sons. But we don't choose who God decides to bless as the leader.

God has something different in mind. I never saw myself as a leader or counseling anyone to become better people. I never saw myself ahead of my older siblings. I still don't think I'm higher than them but i see God giving me a different calling. A calling for the young people. Who God calls is not who i would choose because i don't know people the way God does. He could've exposed Jacob but God knew his heart and what he was capable of. God didn't have to choose the Christian killing Saul but saw what he would do for His kingdom as Paul. If i let God choose for me, choose for the world than i don't have to worry so much because its all in the hands of God, not mine.

Lord,
Thank you for having everything up to leadership under your control. You are the only one who knows the true heart of people and i trust in your word and judgement. You are the greatest which is why my own heart is in Your hands.
I forever love you always
Amen

To be a Baby

Genesis 37, 38; Psalm 7; Luke 15

Luke 15: 28-30
The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
I never fully understood this verse because i always agreed with the older brother until i took another look. Things don't always seem fair but its because, us, who have served God don't always take advantage of His blessings. The baby Christians pray, fast, read their Bible, got to as many services as they can and get their prayers answered. But veteran Christians do the same thing and wonder why my prayers don't get answered. Why the person who was a drug addict, pron addict, wife beater, alcoholic gets all they ask and I'm here trying to live for God and staying away from sin, has to wait years for anything to happen. it's not cause God is unfair, its because I am already in the house and part of the family but i just don't take advantage of what God has given me. He already told me what was available but throughout the years i forgot or got tired and to the baby Christians its fresh and new. but by just going to God it can be fresh and new again.

Baby or veteran Christian, God wants to give us everything. As for me, as a veteran, i have to go back to my baby years. Not as the immaturity, but in the sense of searching God. I still need Him more than ever but my Father has to know that i need Him. I can't just assume either that He knows that i need Him - He wants to hear it from my heart. I can't be the stubborn and naive brother because than I'll live with bitterness and i also can't be the inconsiderate younger brother than I'll live with guilt. But instead live like someone who loves God no matter what. And be a baby with my time with Him. Being selfish with my God and my time and blessings He has in store for me.

Lord,
You know my true heart. Where I have been and who I am now. I'm not the same from a year ago. And refuse to be that way but you can only see me and i refuse to allow bitterness to take hold of me but want to live in love for you first so you can show me to love everyone else. Thank you for allowing me to be a baby with you.
I forever love you always
Amen

Exchange

Genesis 27,28; Psalm 4; Luke 11

Psalm 4: 4; 7-8 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah 7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.

⁸ I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

Before bed I think about the day: what i did and didn't do; what i should and shouldn't have done. My joys, my pains, my smiles, my tears. But in doing that, God wants me to hand it all to Him at the end of the night. Give Him my day every day. Because if not, my sleep will be filled with what happened earlier instead of what God wants to prepare me for tomorrow.

This is a time in my life where many decisions are questioned. I doubt myself in many things because maybe a part of me is doubtful in what God has given me and wants to give me. But in those doubts God wants to give me peace instead and joy beyond what i can think of. Before sleeping anger, pain, doubt, rejection, hurt will be put in the hands of God. In exchange for love, mercy, grace, peace, and joy.

Lord,

Thank you for the exchange that you provide. You are my everything and without you I am nothing.

I forever love you always,

Amen

Places to Reach

Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

Genesis 22:9-11
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"

In life there are places that i reach that when i get there i don't want to let go. I get to the point and feel good and want to stay but God wants to take me to different places. So it's like the end of a chess game. When you win you say check-mate. Abraham was at the end, he got the son he wanted but God wanted him to take the next step by sacrificing him. Because sometimes we put our journey ahead of God when all He wants to do is push us further.

My life isn't done. I know where I'm called but I'm not done with my work. God wants me to keep going. To look further to sacrifice some things and maybe God will pull back my hand and call my name if He wants me to keep them.

Lord,
help me understand your word more. I want to hear you clearer so if you call my name I'll know its You. Thank you for being faithful.
I forever love you Always
Amen

In the End, I'm Wrong

Genesis 15-17; Luke 6

Genesis 16:2 so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her."Abram agreed to what Sarai said.
There are many things I want right now. Things I don't want to wait on Gods timing or even ask Him, i want it now! And I fell i can handle those things on my own, I can take care of it without anyone or even Gods help. And probably get others to agree with me to make me feel better.

I can justify myself and the things i do as much as i want but i know it won't help it'll only get me into more trouble with God. It's like i think that Gods too busy to see my heart so He'd rather go for the other person whose praying more or seeking Him more.

But in the End, I'm Wrong.

Lord,
i Know i can talk good in front of man and lie and scheme and even justify what I've done but in front of you it's different. No mask, no hiding, no nothing, just Raw me. And you love me which haunts me everyday. Keep reaching out cause i need you to guide me when i choose wrong.
I forever love you always
Amen