Friday, April 30, 2010

April 30

Accountability day ... send me the date you are on and one truth God has taught you over the past week.

May 13, 7:00 pm Bible Readers celebration dinner at my house.

Psalm 29 starts with these words: “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.” Let me set the scene for you. David is describing a thunderstorm brewing over the Mediterranean Sea. It’s a powerful storm beginning to develop. This storm is then going to move on shore and it’s going to rumble through the desert. David was a shepherd, which means he knew what it was like to be by himself in the middle of the desert, when a desert storm roared through. It is an awesome breathtaking experience to be in the midst of a desert storm. He’s using a word picture to describe and to liken God's power to a desert storm.

He says, “The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.” How big are the cedars of Lebanon? They are so big they can be thirty feet wide and they can be twelve stories tall. David is saying that a mere whisper from the lips of God is powerful enough to turn that huge tree into mere kindling wood.

Then he goes on to say, “He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, (Mount) Sirion like a young wild ox.” Mount Sirion is a 9000-foot mountain. It’s also called Mount Hermon. In other words, he’s saying God's voice is so powerful that it can make a mountain quiver and dance.

“The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning.” Think how powerful lightning is. Within a fraction of a second, a bolt of lightning releases one hundred million volts of electricity, 13,000 million horsepower at a temperature five times hotter than the surface of the sun. David is saying one word from the lips of God is far more powerful than all the lightning in the 1800 thunderstorms that are taking place at this very moment around the planet.

“The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.” Kadesh is in the south. Sirion is in the north. So what he’s saying is that God's power flows across the entire land. There’s nowhere we can go to get away from or to escape the power of God. But he says the voice of the Lord twists the oaks, and strips the forests bare. I love that imagery because if you’ve ever seen a picture of the aftermath of Mt. Saint Helens or on a small scale the 650 trees knocked down in Greenwich last month, you know exactly what he’s talking about. He’s talking about twisting the oaks and stripping the bark off of trees. The explosion of the volcano at Mt. Saint Helens was equal to the power of 500 atomic bombs and it knocked over millions and millions of trees, over 230 square miles of trees. And they were all stripped of their bark. Enough trees to build 300,000 homes. Yet David is saying that is child’s play compared to the power of God. He’s saying just one utterance from God would be enough to flatten 815 million acres of the Amazon rain forest. That’s how powerful God is.

What is our response to that? What is the natural response a human being would have in the face of this breathtakingly awesome power of God? David says, “And in His temple all cry glory.” In other words, they can’t help in the face of this but to worship God for being a powerful and a strong and a breathtaking deity.
But then something amazing happens in this poem that David is writing. He’s been talking about the power of God. Then it’s like a surprise ending. It takes a completely different turn. He closes this poem by saying “The Lord gives strength to His people. The Lord blesses His people with peace.” He’s saying not only is God powerful, not only is he omnipotent, but God does not hoard His power. He is a power sharing God. He wants to equip and empower you and the result is that we can find peace when we’re panicking. And we can find endurance when we’re empty. We can find courage when we’re cowardly. Draw on his power today.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

April 29

The Main Point of Life

Some truths from our reading today:

You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.
How majestic is your name in all the earth!
The heavens declare the glory of God.
Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.
Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

We live in an unbelievably naive and superficial age, even though most people would vehemently argue with my assessment. A.W. Tozer, one of my favorite authors described it this way. Something is superficial when the treatment of it involves everything except the main things. As a scholar you can say much intelligently about a great many things. Yet if you leave out the main connections, you're treating them superficially.

When you apply this to the media, education, history books, communication, editorial pages and politics you end up with a vast wasteland of superficial institutions that have missed the main point of life.

God is the ultimate reality of the universe and if we don’t pay attention to his glory we have missed the main thing in life. There is no other reality in life more important than God. Therefore, any time we treat anything subject with relating it to God, we are being superficial. This sounds odd to most people because God has been so neglected, so belittled, that he is simply an after thought in most people’s minds.

But if we view that everything in life needs to point to his glory and honoring his name, then our very existence is drastically changed by this reality.

On Thursday we studied this concept about glorifying God. The kids in GYRO (our elementary school youth program) think that History, Math, Spelling and English are boring. That can be true if you treat them superficially and neglect God. But if you view “Spelling” as a way to bring glory to God then “Spelling” becomes an act of worship.

The main thing in all of life is to bring glory to God. To honor his name and make it great. We need to do that in every aspect of our daily life. So whether it is “spelling,” working, reading, driving, gardening, exercising, no matter what it is, bring glory to God. And when we do that, we make every action in life eternally significant.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

April 28

Psalm 90

Someone has calculated how a typical lifespan of 70 years is spent. Here is his estimation:
Sleep 23 years 32.9%
Work 16 years 22.8%
TV 8 years 11.4%
Eating 6 years 8.6%
Travel 6 years 8.6%
Leisure 4.5 years 6.5%
Illness 4 years 5.7%
Dressing 2 years 2.8%
Religion ½ year 0.7%

Time is life--nothing more, nothing less. The way we spend our time, is the way we spend our life. In our day of Twitter, video games, HD TV and surfing the net, I believe the vast majority of Americans are wasting their lives. They are literally killing time. Moses the writer of this Psalm has spent 40 years of his life walking around in a desert, yet he used his time wisely. A location has very little to do with the correct appropriation of time, attitude has everything to do with it.

Moses wrote, “You turn men back to dust.” When we realize the temporal nature of life this should cause us to use time wisely. A few years ago a music group named Kansas sang that we are all, “dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind.” Since we are made of destructible material we should use our time wisely today.

Moses also wrote “teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Here are a few of the numbers of life.
25,550 70 years in days
247 days left in 2010
6570 days before your newborn graduates from high school

Every morning, we have all have one day to spend wisely. The 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds offer an opportunity to waste or to invest. If you want to be an investor… number your days.

Lord,
May we view all things today in the mirror of eternity.
May every moment of this day be lived with our gaze fixed on the unseen things of the universe.
Teach us to number our days today and gain a heart of wisdom.
And if today is our last day, may we live it to its fullest, and let this be the best day of our entire life.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

April 27

Psalm 40, 49, 50, 73

Psalms that inspire.

As we've been reading the Psalms, I've noticed portions that sound familiar to me. This is because many artists use the words of the Psalms as lyrics for songs we know and sing today. The Word of God has the power to inspire people. I notice this is especially true when it comes to inspiring songs and music.

Here is one example: U2 has a song called 40 off their album War. When asked about the song's title, Bono replied, "When we were making our third record, the War LP, we were being thrown out of the studio by the studio manager because we had overrun or something and we had one more song to do. We wrote this song in about ten minutes, we recorded it in about ten minutes, we mixed it in about ten minutes and we played it, then, for another ten minutes and that's nothing to do with why it's called '40'." All kidding aside, the song was actually inspired by Psalm 40:

"I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the Lord."


(Here is a link to a video of U2 performing this song live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB4kxMj0-IE&playnext_from=TL&videos=OITmOEhuIB4 )

Because of the Word's inspiring power, millions of people all over the world have heard and sung Psalm 40. The Bible has the power to change lives. How has reading the Bible changed or inspired you?


Sunday, April 25, 2010

April 25: Psalms 120, 121, 140, 143, and 144

Today's reading concludes the "Psalms of the Troubled Soul" section. I would like to focus on Psalm 121, which offers great hope to the believer, based on God's sovereignty. Many of these thoughts echo what Pastor Scott offered this morning in his exposition of Isaiah 40:27-31.


"I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
"He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
"The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
"The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore."


1. God's sovereignty means that His oversight extends to all facets of life. As Pastor Scott noted this morning, Psalm 147:4 and Matthew 10:29,30 demonstrate that God has created all and knows all creation intimately. He knows about all the hairs on our heads and each sparrow.
We can react in several ways to God's sovereignty. Many people may ignore God's sovereignty, believing life's circumstances to emerge from random chance. We might see God as a watchmaker, who has set the earth in motion but allows people to make good and bad decisions independent of His intervention. We might see God as sovereign over the "big questions" like war and the global economy, but not present or concerned with the nuances of our everyday lives. Yet, the Bible instructs that God is involved in every aspect of life. Romans 8:28 teaches us: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose." Hebrews 13:5 tells us that God will never leave us or forsake us.
 

2. God's strength is far greater than human strength. In the Psalm, the writer encourages the reader to look toward God as protection, hope, and shade. The Lord will serve as watchman over His children's coming and going. As Jeremiah declared in 32:17, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."

The Olympic Games offer fantastic story lines, often about the "indomitable human spirit" and triumph over hardship. It is amazing to see athletes from many countries working to bring honor to their native lands and to earn a piece of history. While we may see resilience and strength in the human spirit, our strength is miniscule in comparison to the Lord's strength. We quickly faint or grow discouraged. Our human minds seek control, but we are frail and require God's grace and protection. We harbor deep-seated fears, ranging from feeling inadequate to feeling unloved. As Rich Mullins sagely observed in one of his songs, "we are not as strong as we think we are." Our motivations are often quite base: fear, greed, revenge, or lust.
 
3. The fatherly care of God comforts our anxious hearts. Each day, we may reflect on God's sovereignty. It should make us grateful for His concern and bring us to worship Him. That the "father of heavenly lights" would desire to give us "every good gift" (James 1:17) should bring us great joy, stemming from confidence in the Giver. The Wholly Other wants to know us intimately and interact with us. We are often geared toward figuring everything out on our own, but God desires to partner with us, to guide and direct us. We may seek Him daily, asking Him to reveal His will and to live for His glory in that day.
 

QUESTIONS

1. How can you remind yourself of God's sovereignty in the coming week?

2. In which areas of your life do you strive to live more in the light of God's sovereignty? At work? At home? With friends?

Saturday, April 24, 2010

April 24

Our mission of Praise

A remarkable thing happened in Fremont, California a few years ago. 17 year old girl named Karen Cheng achieved a perfect score of 1,600 on the SAT and a perfect score of 8,000 on the tough University of California acceptance index. Never in history has anyone accomplished this intellectual feat. It is staggering to even contemplate how intelligent this young girl is.
When the news broke nationally and a reporter interviewed Karen, he asked her the following question, “What is the meaning of life?” Karen looked at the reporter and said, “I have no idea. I would like to know myself.”
With no disrespect intended for this gifted girl, she had the ability to answer all of the “what” questions of life, but failed miserably on the “why” question.
This is not just true of Karen, it is also true of the vast majority of Americans today. We live in a culture drenched with facts and high tech devices, but most Americans have no idea “why” they have been given another day of life.

The late philosopher and author Dr. Francis Schaeffer said it like this, “The damnation of this generation is that it doesn’t know why it has meaning.”

I can’t write your purpose statement, but I would like you to consider five words to put at the very beginning: "I live to worship God.” Why these five words? Because God has put “eternity” in all of our hearts, and our lives won’t have any significance unless we are worshiping the “eternal one.”

The core of the “why” question has to do with worship. This is the way the Psalmist put it in our reading today:

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord
Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation
Let us extol him with music and song
Come, let us bow down in worship
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker

Make time to worship the Lord today. Sing him a song, play a musical instrument, shout out his praises, kneel before him in prayer. This is the “why” to your life.

Friday, April 23, 2010

April 23

Friday is accountability day. Send me an email concerning your progress in our journey.

Remember to set aside Thursday, May 13th as our Bible Reader’s Celebration Dinner. 7:00 pm for pizza and salad at my house.

Psalm 77: A Psalm for the broken hearted. This was the Psalm the Lord gave to me during the week of 9/11. At times that week, I was so overwhelmed with sadness that I could not function. I sat in my study for 3 days paralyzed by the enormity of this evil in our land. That moment, like the attack on Pearl Harbor, the assassination of President Kennedy, and the assassination of Robert Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are defining moments of our lives.

It is in these dark times that the light of Jesus needs to shine brightest in us. It is only the followers of Jesus Christ who can speak about hope in these moments of hopelessness and despair. Psalm 77 was written in order to help people who were overwhelmed with despair to find hope, to find light in the midst of the darkness.

Let me share with you a story that strikes to the heart of our hope in the midst of darkness. It is a story from Dave Draveky's newsletter. Dave was a San Francisco baseball pitcher who in his battle with cancer lost his pitching arm. Now, he has a ministry to cancer patients. This is a poignant story from his newsletter.

A father was watching his three and a half year old son, Johnny, die of cancer. At one point, the little boy said to his father, “Daddy will I ever get my hair back?” What do you say to a once beautiful 3 year old son who now looks like a poster child for famine relief? Through tears that his little boy saw, the father responded, “Jesus loves you this I know for the Bible tells me so.” The day before Johnny died he was in terrible agony.
The father came to his moment of despair in the darkness and he shouted at God that day, “God where the hell are you? Don’t you care, can’t you see, and why won’t you help? Speak, God damn you speak.”
If the first thing that comes to your mind is a Christian should not speak like this, then you have no idea of what it is to express your broken heart to God. The story goes on, this father then heard a small weak voice, it was his son’s voice. He dropped to one knee and put his ear close to Johnny's mouth, “Johnny, what did you say?” His response to his dad, who was now on both knees, “Daddy I'm not talking to you I'm talking to Jesus.” A sense of awe began to sweep over the dad with hushed anticipation and he said, “OK son, go ahead talk to Jesus I'm listening.” These were Johnny's final words to his dad and his final words on earth, “Jesus, help my Daddy to be happy and not sad.”

In the darkness, it is automatic for our broken hearts to question the goodness, the love, and the power of God. But once those questions have been voiced, we must move to our healing. And that healing is to remember the deeds and the character of God.

Psalm 77:10-12 Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High."
11I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.

When your broken heart arrives, don’t run away from God, run to him. He is our only hope in the darkness.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

April 22

Finding Rest for your Soul

Psalm 62:1-2 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

I believe this longing for “rest” goes to the very heart of human existence. Our culture is on a desperate search for this illusive “rest.” Billy Graham in his very first book, "Peace with God" 1953, said it his way:

“You started on the great quest the moment you were born, It was many years perhaps before you realized it, before it became apparent that you were constantly searching ‑ searching for something you never had ‑ searching for something that was more important than anything in life. Sometimes you have tried to forget about it. Sometimes you have attempted to lose yourself in other things so there could be time and thought for nothing but the business at hand. Sometimes you may even have felt that you were freed from the need to go on seeking this nameless thing. At moments you have almost been able to dismiss the quest completely. But always you have been caught up on it again ‑ always you have had to come back to your search.

At the loneliest moments in your life you have looked at other men and women and wondered if they too were seeking ‑ seeking something they couldn't describe but knew they wanted and needed. Some of them seemed to be much happier and less burdened than you. Some of them seemed to have found fulfillment in marriage and family living. Others went off to achieve fame and wealth in other parts of the world. Still others stayed at home and prospered, and looking at them you may have thought: ‘These people are not on the Great Quest. These people have found their way. They knew what they wanted and have been able to grasp it. It is only I who travel this path that leads to nowhere. It is only I who go asking, seeking, stumbling along this dark and despairing road that has no guideposts.’

But you are not alone. All mankind is traveling with you, for all mankind is on this same quest. All humanity is seeking the answer to the confusion, the moral sickness, the spiritual emptiness that oppresses the world. All mankind is crying out for guidance, for comfort, for peace.”

There is only one solution to the quest for rest. That solution is found in a relationship with Jesus. If you are restless today, have the courage to enter into a relationship with Jesus. Invite Jesus to come live in your heart and walk with you each step of today’s journey. Only he can bring you the rest your heart longs for.

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to ME, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from ME, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

April 21

The Inner Conversation

We are told by the “experts” that we have 60,000 thoughts going through our minds each day. That works out to be 40 thoughts each minute. Now I can tell you from the way my mind works I must have an old model “T” version of a brain. But regardless of the sheer number, the truth is, the most important conversation we have each day is with ourselves.

David in these psalms is giving us an insight into the inner conversation in his mind.

-My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught.
-My heart is in anguish within me.
-Fear and trembling have beset me.
-Why have you rejected me?
-Why are you downcast, O my soul?

What we do with these inner conversations, will for the most part,determine our outlook on life. So how do we bring health to our inner world? I would suggest we include God in the conversation. One of the verses today, said this about our God’s character, “Be still, and know that I am God.” God does not shout above our TV, he does not twitter, he does not interrupt us with emergency phone calls. God waits in the quiet. He waits for us to get quiet so we can hear him.

This is my biggest struggle in life, getting quiet before God. My heart is wired for performance and action. The idea of sitting quietly, of being alone, of meditation doesn’t appeal to me. Yet it is the only way for my heart to be open to God.

John Newton, the former slave trader and later pastor and author of Amazing Grace, had a plan to quiet his inner heart before God. Here are a few of the commitments Newton used to connect with God.

-To begin and every day with God.
-To peruse Scriptures with a diligence and attention suited to the dignity of the subject.
-To spend the Sabbath entirely with the Lord.
-To become all things to all men in order that I may save some.

Here is an inner thought for today. When was the last time you heard the voice of God? If it has been awhile you are probably just too busy.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

April 20

Psalm 13, 17, 23, 26, 28, 31

Psalms of a Troubled Soul

After reading these psalms, it's clear to me that God never promises to spare us from all the troubles that come our way. Even King David, the man after God's own heart, was not free from hardships. He cried out to God to relieve him from enemies, pursuers, and slanders.

So what hope do we have, knowing that the storms of life will continue to come at us?

Psalm 23:
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

This is our hope: despite walking through the valley of the shadow of death and being in the presence of enemies, GOD IS ALWAYS THERE WITH US! He is there to comfort and restore us. He is there to lead us out of darkness and and prepare a table for us. When we know God who created the universe with His infinite power is right by our side, then the valleys don't seem as dark and the enemies don't seem as frightening.

He Was There
By David Crowder Band

I will sing to the Lord
I will sing to the Lord
He is high above and lifted up
He is high above and lifted up

He was there for me in the desert
He was there for me on the mountain top
He was there for me when there was no water
He was there for me and He gave me a drink

In the desert He was there
On the mountain He was there
In the valley deep He was there
Everywhere I look my God is there

Monday, April 19, 2010

April 19

Even though a royalty, David too was vulnerable: when he felt threatened by enemies or felt weak or when he wept all night and day, he turned to God and asked for His strength, mercy, love and justice in his life. But how could David be so distressed at times? Wasn't he a spiritual leader in Israel?

Sometimes we might think that we need to get spiritually strong in order to withstand difficulties in life. But lately I'm seeing in my life that the danger with this goal is the verb 'get. ' It implies that we can make ourselves spiritually strong! However, God is more and more speaking to me about His strength, rather than mine. It's not about making ourselves strong. It is about realizing our weaknesses and limitations and asking for God’s strength in anything and everything. Needing Him daily.

If a mighty king like David, begs for God’s help and mercy, don't we also need to be that much reliant on God in our lives? After all, we are all kings and queens of our own little worlds and we resort to our own strength when things get tough: when enemies arise, or when there was injustice against us, or when we feel spiritually faint after a hardship. But maybe we can be the type of royalty like David is in his psalms: one that is humble enough to pray honestly and vulnerably to God. Seeking His help.

Excerpts from David's words in Psalm 5:
"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice
In the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation"

"You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil"

"but I in your great mercy
will come into your house;
in reverence I will bow down
toward your holy temple."

"Make straight your way before me."

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
Let them ever sing for joy"

From Psalms 6:
"O, Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me your wrath
Be merciful to me Lord, for I am faint"
 
1. How can you be open and vulnerable with God this week?
2. In what do you need to ask God to give you strength this week?

Sunday, April 18, 2010

April 18: David's Assembly

Much like Moses and Joshua before him, David calls an assembly to pass along wisdom and to exhort the people to remain true to God's calling on their lives. David highlights how God had not called him to build the temple: "I had it in my heart to build a house as a place a rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, 'You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.'" (1 Chronicles 28:2,3) David must entrust the work of the temple to his son Solomon and the myriad participants in the building effort, even after the Holy Spirit had given David detailed plans for the temple. Much like Moses, whose vision of the Promised Land would remain only from the mountaintop, David would look toward the resting place for the true King, only to see it in his visions.

In David's address, there were four key teachings:

1. God has designed a personal will (or mission) for each person. David notes that God had "chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. He said to me: 'Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.'" (1 Chronicles 28:5-7)

This teaching is not New Age psychobabble, but rather a reflection of the personal nature of God. He desires an intimate relationship with each of His followers. Through the Scriptures, He offers clear guidance on His general will, but He also works out His specific will for each person through time. He reveals His will through "open" and "closed" doors; through words of wisdom from godly people; through His Word; through circumstance; and through the faculties He has given us, including our desires, skills, and abilities. Many people, including myself, are eager to determine God's will so that we move along that path and not look back. God's revelation of His will often involves twists and turns that are not diversions, but rather key lessons. In the life of Moses, for example, we see someone who had received education in Pharaoh's schools but later had to flee to Midian because of a conflict with a fellow Israelite. He then worked in that desert land for 40 years. Moses's first 80 years of life were the exact necessary preparation for the final 40 years of his life, where he would 1) confront Pharaoh and stand firm for God's plan for the Israelites and 2) lead a groaning herd of 1,000,000-plus people through the desert.
 

2. God searches the heart and demands true devotion. "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever." (1 Chronicles 28:9)

The stakes of obedience are high. Cosmic destinies hang in the balance. While God does choose to reveal Himself, each follower of Christ must decide in his heart how he wishes to interact with God and with others. Will he show a modest devotion, one that costs little? Or will he surrender all to Christ, seeking to honor Him in all things? These words from David echo a sentiment from Psalm 139:1-4, teaching us to look beyond mere words and actions to our motivations:

"O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
"You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
"Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD."


3. God's faithfulness provides all that we need to have lasting hope. "David also said to Solomon his son, 'Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.'" (1 Chronicles 28:20)

David explains to his son that he should not trust in the royal treasury or in a master craftsman; rather, the Lord would guide the building efforts. We often hide our hope in something temporary, such as money or even a reliable friend. While God does bless us with these provisions, we may miss true security if we fail to remember the source of all these temporary "security blankets." As a friend once shared, the key to security is to remember that He who holds the universe is the One Who's holding you.
 

4. Because we are giving back to God a portion of what He's given us, we may give willingly and cheerfully. 1 Chronicles 29:14-18 reads: "'But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you."
 
 
QUESTIONS

1. What has God "chosen" for your life? Based on today's reading, how might you seek His wisdom for your life?

2. What are your motivations for loving others? Serving them? Going to church? Reading God's Word?

Saturday, April 17, 2010

April 17

Plan your work, work your plan.

1 Chron. 23:4-5 David said, "Of these, twenty-four thousand are to supervise the work of the temple of the Lord and six thousand are to be officials and judges. 5Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose."

Most people don’t plan to fail; most people fail to plan. “I have provided for that purpose” are the words which show us the planning of David. Notice some of the details of this plan.
1. Development of a mission: supervise the work of the temple.
2. Development of a strategy: specific duties were given to Gershonites and Levites.
3. Development of measured results: precise numbers were given for divisions and
musicians.

Planning will help you in your personal life, family life and career life.

1. Write out a mission statement for your life. What is important to you? Like David in this passage, what would you like to pass along to the next generation? Write it out on a piece of paper and keep it in front of you as you make daily decisions.

Your Mission Statement in 6 words _________________________________________

2. Develop a strategy: What goals would you like to reach in the next week, next month and next 3 years? Write out your preferred future and the steps you need to take to reach that future.
1.
2.
3.

3. Set up measures to reach. If you don’t set up any measures your idea is simply an idea. When you put measures on your goals, then you give them life.


4. Finally have an accountability partner to check up on your goals. Without accountability there will be little or no success.
Who will be your accountability partner? __________________


What your life looks like in 2012 will largely be determined by what you plan in 2010.

Like David, plan your work and work your plan.

Friday, April 16, 2010

April 16

Accountability day ... David wasn’t accountable to anyone and it lead to a major catastrophy. Accountability is good, so send me a progress report.

2 “fairness” issues to wrestle with today.

The death of the Gibeonites poses an ethical issue for us. The Bible does not record Saul’s act of genocide on the Gibeonites but apparently it was racially motivated. This act had the consequence of God withdrawing his blessing from the entire land. But was the resulting death of 7 of Saul’s descendents fair? The Bible is clear that sons should not be put to death for the sins of their fathers, so we must assume that these 7 sons had a part in committing the genocide. Otherwise the second act would have been just as wrong as the first and God would have continued to withdraw his hand of blessing from the land.

The second issue has to do with counting people. God had commanded the counting of people in the desert so why all this fuss about counting the army? The answer has to do with the motivation of David.

1 Chron. 21:1-7 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 2So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, "Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are."

Perhaps it was selfish ambition, pride, insecurity or perhaps David was influenced by the seduction of power. Whatever the reason the humble little shepherd boy from Bethlehem goes out and has his 5 Star General Joab number the army. Satan was part of this equation and took advantage of the weakness of David. As a result 70,000 people died. What a terrible price to pay for the sins of a leader. This census did not include counting the women and children; this was the counting of David’s strength. David was switching his trust in God’s invisible hand to the number of hands on swords in his army. In our day of huge governmental grabs for power there is a warning here. Beware of the seduction of power and especially the spiritual battle that is being waged with our enemy, Satan. He is always looking for ways to take advantage of us as individuals and he loves to bring down nations too.

Beware of “Big Cheese” thinking. “WHY” is a very important question to ask yourself as you make major decisions. Is it for the glory of God’s name or the glory of my name?

Thursday, April 15, 2010

April 15

We are back from a wonderful vacation. It is amazing how much the pace of life drains the soul and your marriage. During my vacation I read was about the life of Jonathan Edwards. One truth that impacted me was his commitment to the disciplines of the Christian faith. He was given to melancholy in his life, yet he lived a victorious life in spite of that. What was the secret to his success? He attributed it to the daily practice of the Christian disciplines. He was a daily Bible reader. Those who allow God to speak into their lives, live in victory. It is east to get caught up in the fast pace of the rat race in Stamford. Taking time to listen to God is the only hope of overcoming the barrenness of a busy life.

Today’s truth: Becoming a Peacemaker

Two examples of peacemaking are found in our reading today. The first is David and his peacemaking wisdom as he returns from exile. Even as he returns to Jerusalem as a victor in the coup attempt, he is gracious in the spoils of war. His grace flowed to both Shimei and Mephibosheth, and his example is a reminder that when we are placed in positions of power we must still be gracious. David could have easily punished both of them for their lack of loyalty but he overlooked it and united the nation together. His broader mission was not for his own glory and power but to unite the nation again. Only peacemaking can bring a nation together.

The second example is the wise mother at the town of Abel. There is nothing quite like the wisdom of motherhood. We don’t know anything about this woman who spared her city from destruction except her advice.

2 Samuel 20:18-19 She continued, "Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Abel,' and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord's inheritance?"

When people used to need answers they would find them at the city of Abel. It was a place of wisdom and good advice. No wonder the city was described as a mother. Mothers are indeed wise peacemakers. For the most part they are a fountain of wisdom and understanding.
They come by this wisdom almost naturally, if not by sheer necessity. A mother’s day is a virtual peacemaking mission. She must settle arguments between child and children, children and herself and children and their fathers. There are no formal schools where mothers pick up these peacemaking skills, it just seems to come naturally with the job.

So if you find yourself at war or at odds with someone today pick up the phone and call your mom for her advice. If your mother is not available it would be wise to build a relationship with some godly older woman who can fill that role.

Be a peacemaker today.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

April 13

2 Samuel 14, 15, 16, Psalm 3

David in exile.

The events of today's reading were nothing new to David. He was familiar with trials, hardships, betrayal, and heartaches. His turbulent relationship with his son Absalom was reconciled for a short time, then he betrayed his father again.

After all that David had been through, he was still able to put all his trust and hope in the Lord. How is it that someone who was running for his life because his son had betrayed him can still praise God? It's amazing that he wrote Psalm 3 despite his miserable circumstances. On Sunday, Chuck referred to James 1 ("Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds") and explained the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is dependent on your circumstances. Joy comes from within. Joy comes from God. The kind of joy God gives is not dependent on outside circumstances. So even though David's own son was trying to destroy him, it was still possible for him to have joy because God was on his side. This is extremely obvious when we read Psalm 3.

Remember the next time you faces trials of many kinds, that pure joy comes from God.

O LORD,
how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me,
"God will not deliver him."
Selah
But you are a shield around me, O LORD;
you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
To the LORD I cry aloud,
and he answers me from his holy hill.
Selah
I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
I will not fear the tens of
thousands
drawn up against me on every side.
Arise, O LORD!
Deliver me, O my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
From the LORD comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
Selah

Monday, April 12, 2010

April 12 - Absalom's Rebellion

In today’s reading we see a lot of betrayal, violence and revenge amongst King David’s closest circle of people: his family. It’s dramatic. How difficult this must have been for David?! I imagine it being easier for him to go to battle against the mightiest of kings, than to struggle with the brokenness in his own family. Though he was not perfect, David loved God and sought after to please Him. Yet his children disobeyed God. Everything seemed to be going wrong: his daughter was violated and disgraced, his sons turned to violence. At one point David thought that he had lost all his sons!

Naturally, David grieved for his loss. Understandably, he was furious for the injustice in his family. But moreover, when challenged by the clever Joab, David forgave and had mercy on his son Absalom. David’s reaction is encouraging. How did David find the strength to forgive? He not only forgave, but he also loved his son again: “And the spirit of the king longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon’s death.” (2 Samuel 13:39)

I wonder if it had to do with the fact that David’s own sin was recently forgiven by God? It reminds me of when Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians to forgive, just as they were forgiven:

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."(Colossians 3:12-14)

How about us? How do we react when everything seems to fall apart at once? Especially when it hurts the most: when it relates to family? David is showing us today that sorrow when people hurt us is natural, but he also shows us that forgiving others and trusting God in our sorrow is possible.

King David’s present story in our reading reminded me of this song I heard recently:

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still.

(by J.J. Heller)

Sunday, April 11, 2010

April 10 and 11: The Period of the Wars

(In Pastor Scott's absence, I have chosen to focus on the reading from April 10 regarding David's sin with Bathsheba.)

The passages on David's adultery with Bathsheba, cover-up efforts, murder of her husband Uriah, and subsequent repentance offer an amazing picture into the depth of human weakness and the amazing grace of God. Many times, our culture incorrectly associates the Old Testament accounts of God with a vindictive streak. Here, however, we see how genuine repentance can stave off deserved destruction of the sinner.

Several highlights:

1. How it all began. With the swirling stories of Tiger Woods and the numerous "I've-been-unfaithful" press conferences that we have witnessed in recent years, we may have become jaded to the sin of adultery. We may have become desensitized, but that doesn't change the horrible consequences that have resulted for Tiger, Mark Sanford, and Elliot Spitzer. We may distrust a politician or a "role model" for his infidelities, but what transpires within the family has deeply penetrating effects. Adultery destroys the lives of not only its perpetrators, but all those in their respective families.

We often wonder: Why would he or she do that? In Tiger's case, for example, he had an ostensibly "perfect" life, with a loving, beautiful wife and two healthy children. Worldly success had accrued to him because of his great golf talent and shrewd business dealings. Yet, because he felt "entitled," he took advantage of many women who were willing participants in short-term thinking and instant gratification. We might translate "entitled" to mean "prideful," and we may see that Tiger and King David likely suffered from the same line of thinking: I can act upon my fantasies. King David abused his high position to take advantage of a beautiful woman he happened to see bathing.
 

2. What it costs. In this case, David's sin caused the following, among other things:

a. A destroyed reputation for both David and Bathsheba;
b. Uriah's life;
c. The death of the offspring from the lovers' tryst; and
d. A ruptured relationship with God for both David and Bathsheba.
 
This passage offers clear examples of how "the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23a) Fortunately, we know that the second half of this verse reads: "But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Only through Jesus's righteous atonement for our sins -- a living God-man, broken for us and crushed for our iniquities -- could we receive the reconciliation for sin. David looked ahead to this sacrifice, leaning upon God's "unfailing love" and "great compassion."


3. The value of true repentance. In contrast to King Saul before him, David earnestly repents of his sin when Nathan brings him to accountability. He recognizes the gravity of his shortcomings and the importance of reconciliation. He acknowledges that he has "sinned against the LORD" and that only through "a broken and contrite heart" can he find reconciliation. He recommits his life to serving God, to praising Him. He later will receive praise as a "man after God's own heart." Only through a God-made sacrifice and true repentance can such a transformation occur: from adulterer to beloved son.


4. How to avoid these pitfalls. We can only hope to honor God when we desire His presence more than the temptations and glimmering hopes that the world offers. God has created us to love Him, to enjoy Him, and to honor Him. We, however, often choose the short-term benefits of sin, typically because we esteem the joy that God's presence offers too little.

It is helpful to think of living a godly life in terms of training for a race. Great runners not only run races, but they prepare earnestly for months and years ahead of time. In addition to many training runs, they change their diet and sleep patterns in order to "peak" at the right moment. Many of these decisions cost something: choosing a salad vs. Twinkies; running on a cold, rainy day vs. watching TV; and clearing the social calendar ahead of the big race. They only achieve their goals by consistently choosing the "harder right over the easier wrong." Taken individually, these decisions could be challenging, but the dedicated runner esteems the thrill of a fully committed effort and potential victory as of greater value than the compound effect of the short-term thrills of making the "easier" choices.

In a similar manner, our love for God and His presence and those around us may propel us to eschew the "easier" choices that would derail our faith and life. Instead of lustful glances, we remember God's beauty and the value of the marriage commitments we have made. Instead of waiting for others to serve us, we remember Jesus's attitude of humility and the joy He promised in following Him. Instead of bowing to overwhelming cultural voices, we offer ours in songs of praise, words of encouragement, and testimonies of God's goodness. The Holy Spirit provides the "power source" for making right decisions, and each believer may call out to God for the filling and empowering of the Holy Spirit: for imparting wisdom and knowledge and for carrying out the commands and truth of God's Word.
 

QUESTIONS

1. What grace has God shown you over the last week?

2. How can you live more in light of God's awesome goodness vs. the world's temptations?

Friday, April 9, 2010

April 9: 1 Chronicles 17

(Posted on behalf of Pastor Scott.)

April 9, 2010
1 Chronicles 17

USA Today on Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 carried a headline article on the Gen Y generation.
Gen Y’s are people 18-25 years old. When asked what their top life goal is the answer was clear and resounding: They want to be rich and famous.

81% said their life goal is to get rich.
51% to become famous.
30% to help people who need help
22% to be leaders in their community
10% to become more spiritual
God received 5th place and 10% of their priorities.

1 Chron. 17:1 After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent."

The first question we must ask is why would the creator of heaven and earth need a place to live? Couldn’t God just speak a word and an 18 room mansion would appear anywhere on earth. Of course he could, but he chooses to see how much of a priority this would be in David’s life.
The same is true today. God doesn’t dwell in a building of mortar and stone anymore, he resides in our hearts. The question is how much time, attention, money and effort are we committing to making him feel welcomed in our hearts. Are we putting in endless hours of work and effort to build our physical homes while ignoring our hearts? According to the research in USA Today that is exactly the case. We are living in the lap of luxury while ignoring the far greater spiritual priorities? There is nothing wrong with living in a nice house, don’t go out and damage your home after reading this. The concern for us is spending so much time and energy on a house that will not be standing in 50 years while ignoring our spirit which will be alive for all eternity.

The compelling question is: How much of my time each day is devoted to maintaining my home and how much is spent on maintaining God’s?

Thursday, April 8, 2010

April 8: Psalm 96

(Posted on behalf of Pastor Scott.)

April 8, 2010
Psalm 96 The power of Praise

She saw King David dancing and celebrating.
Sing to him, sing praise to him.
Sing to the Lord, all the earth
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad.

One morning at breakfast, a father decided to teach his four-year-old son his first Bible verse--John 3:16. The father slowly enunciated the words: "For God so loved the world he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
The second time he said the verse even slower, encouraging his son to fill in certain words. When he got to "... shall not perish but have everlasting [blank]," the son proudly answered, "fun!"
We see David having fun in our reading today. He brings the Ark of the Covenant to its new location and in the process David has a great time. He is enjoying and celebrating his God. This is actually the reason we were created. God created us to spend eternity glorifying and enjoying him forever. Every day we are given the opportunity to start the eternal process early. The interesting way that this works is that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. There was no lack of intensity in David’s celebration; he danced, celebrated, and had a praise band playing. This exalting and glorifying of God fulfilled the deepest longings in David’s heart.

So enjoy our God today. Plan some time to worship, praise, celebrate, and dance before our God. It is actually your "duty" to enjoy God. And in doing our "duty" we will find the deepest level of satisfaction known to the human heart.

A story about the power of praise comes from the life of Catherine Dubois who lived in Ulster County, New York. She is the 8th great grandmother of the Christian writer Gilbert Beers.
She had strong faith even in the midst of life's greatest storm. One day in 1663 the Minnisink Indians swept down from the Catskill Mountains and killed several settlers. They also took several women and children captive. Among them were Catherine and her infant daughter Sara.
After 10 weeks, the Indians, thinking they had avoided reprisal, decided to celebrate their success by putting Catherine and her baby daughter Sara to death by fire. They placed the captives on a pile of logs and lit the torch to ignite them.

Instead of screaming at her tormentors and cursing them or God, for her plight, Catherine DuBois burst into song! It was a hymn based on Psalm 137. The Indians were so taken by her bravery and by the song itself that they demanded another song, then another. And while Catherine was still singing, her husband and a search party burst upon the scene and rescued her.

Don't think this story is farfetched when applied to our lives in 2010. Everyday we also face "fires" that threaten to consume us. In these situations if we sing, hum, whistle or add a little humor, we can extinguish the flames of a dispute or a bit of tension in the home and work place.
My wife’s grandmother Oli was constantly humming and singing and this praise music had a surprising power to defuse life’s crises and problems. So your homework today is to hum and praise God as you do your work. Enjoy your God on April 8th.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

April 6

2 Samuel 2-4

David becomes king.

In yesterday's reading, Saul, the first king of Israel died in battle. Even though David was anointed as Saul's successor, he was not recognized as the new ruler by all of Israel. For the first seven years of his reign, he only controlled the tribe of Judah. Saul's son Ish-Bosheth was made king over the rest of Israel. The next seven years were extremely violent and tragic as these two sides fight for control.

I was reading the blog entry for April 6th of last year and Scott presented an important question: "Do you have an issue with another brother or sister that is becoming more personal than principled? What can you do to bring this feud to an end today?" This reminded me of a time I was in a conflict with a good friend. We had a disagreement and then I refused to speak to her for the next four years. At first I was convinced that I was standing firm in my principles. I was standing up for what was right. I had to hold my ground otherwise I would be letting her off the hook far too easily. As time went by (too much time), I realized that I was more concerned with being right than doing what was right. I finally set aside my pride and reached out to her. Thankfully, she forgave my stubborn behavior, and we are still friends to this day. Even though we settled our differences, there is still that period of four years where I wasted my time thinking I was being righteous when I was really being stubborn and prideful.

Romans 12:18 says, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." If there is someone you are in conflict with, no matter what the reason, God wants us to do everything we can to live at peace with them. The story of David's rise to power is a sad story. The nation of Israel suffered many deaths because the people refused to be unified under one God-appointed king. Even though it is very unlikely that any of us would end up going to war against a family member, friend or neighbor, we can still avoid much pain and stress if we do whatever we can to live at peace with one another.

April 7

Psalm 18 Clear Thinking in a Conflict

The story is told of a young man on the first day of his new job. He was a new clerk in the fresh produce section of a supermarket. A lady came up to him and said she wanted to buy half of a head of lettuce. He tried to dissuade her from that goal, but she persisted. Finally he said, "I'll have to go back and talk to the manager." He went to the rear of the store to talk to the manager, not noticing that the woman was walking right behind him. When he got into the back of the store, he said to the manager, "There's some stupid old bag out there who wants to buy half a head of lettuce, what should I tell her?”
Seeing the horrified look on the face of the manager, he turned about and seeing the woman added, "And this nice lady wants to buy the other half of the head of lettuce. Will it be all right?"
Considerably relieved, the manager said, "That would be fine." Later in the day, he congratulated the boy on his quick thinking. He then asked, “Where are you from son?” The young man said, "I'm from Toronto, Canada, the home of beautiful hockey players and ugly women." The manager looked at him and said, "My wife is from Toronto." The young man said, "Oh, what team did she play for?"

We need to be careful with our words because words can do a lot of damage in life. They are the number one source of conflict in our world. There is nothing more inevitable in life than conflict. Because of the fallenness of our world we daily find ourselves in situations where we feel attacked, criticized, harassed, misunderstood, and maligned by others. What do you do when you find yourself in that situation?

Psalm 18 shows us what David did when he was attacked.

Psalm 18:1-2 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

David ran to the Lord and asked Jesus to be his defense attorney. Many years ago I was going through a difficult time of conflict and I the Lord spoke to me through a little devotional book called, “The Pursuit of God.” Here is the section that spoke to me.

“First of all he should put away all defense and make no attempt to excuse himself either in his own eyes or before the Lord. Whoever defends himself will have himself for his defense, and he will have not other; but let him come defenseless before the Lord and he will have for his defender no less than God Himself.”

The next time you find yourself in a conflict give up your self defense and take refuge in the Lord our fortress. Here are a few practical steps to take in your next conflict:
1. Run to the Lord for his defense services. Don't run from strife.
2. Open the door with a non-accusative statement. “Can we talk; I sense distance, are you alright?”
3. Define the issue clearly. Ask, “What do you see happening in this disconnection?”
4. Speak these three words, “Help me understand.”
5. Once you have a clear understanding of their position state your position.
6. Don’t raise your voice or use put downs.
7. Keep the language positive.
8. Forgiveness is always necessary for complete healing. Be sure to grant the level of forgiveness you have experienced from the Lord yourself.

I would like to invite the team over for pizza on Thursday, May 13th 7:00 at my house. More details to follow.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

April 4: David and Saul

In today's passage, David continues his wanderings and avoidance of the increasingly insane King Saul. We find the current king, Saul, coming to grips with the passage of power from himself to David. Only when David shows mercy and grace unto Saul does the current king recognize (tacitly) the anointing afforded to David. So often, we only recognize God's blessings when we are faced with a "close call" that awakens us to how much we need His presence: for example, a near-crash in the car.

We read about a great woman of faith today, Abigail, who employed wisdom to become a peacemaker. Thrust into what could turn into a serious conflict, she bypassed the thickness of her husband Nabal to broker peace with the ongoing army of David and his followers. Her influence saved the lives of an entire family and preserved the reputation and the future for a king.

In Samuel 25:18,19, we read: "Abigail lost no time. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. Then she told her servants, 'Go on ahead; I'll follow you.' But she did not tell her husband Nabal." She recognized that David's men had made a reasonable request and had protected the sheep of her husband Nabal, and she ministered to the oncoming troops in a language that every man can understand: freshly prepared food. Her humility and preparation created a strong first impression. She looked out for the other party's best interests; as Proverbs teaches, a humble person who brings gifts will have the audience of kings.

How does Nabal react to the news of Abigail's intervention? With great shock -- that leads to his untimely death! In an ironic way, Abigail's husband receives the "burning coals" referenced in Proverbs 25:21,22:

"If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you."
 
Jesus taught in the Beatitudes: "Blessed are the peacemakers,/ for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9) How do you react to conflict? Do you intend for the other party's best interests, or do you act out of vengeance? Do you seek to learn the root cause of a person's discontent, or do you try to brush aside their "symptoms"? Do you seek to think clearly and strategize how you might best work out a solution for everyone?
 

QUESTIONS

1. How have you seen God working in your life this week?

2. With whom do you have a conflict right now? What could you do in order to bring peace? How could you bless this person?

Saturday, April 3, 2010

April 3

David and God Sightings

In our reading today David is protected in a variety of situations. God tells him to leave the city of Keilah just in the nick of time. David is just about to be caught in the mountains when the Philistines launch an attack at another city and Saul has to abandon his pursuit. The third situation is when Saul goes into the cave and David has the opportunity to show his loyalty by not killing him. All of these situations are either totally random coincidences or they are divine appointments, those are the only two choices we have.

Some questions for us who live in a day with Blackberries and Ipods.
1. Why don’t we see God working like this in our lives?
2. Has God taken a vacation in recent days?

I believe this lack of God Sightings is because of the influence of secularism in our lives. Secularism means that the supernatural can be removed from life as irrelevant. When secularism has characterized a people for a long period of time, it creates a great blindness to the acts of God. What we want to do as a Bible reading group is to develop the ability to see God acting in our world today, just like he did in David’s life. Begin to look for His answers to prayer. Learn to recognize the help He provides to accomplish His work in your world. Delight in the unexpected evidences of His care and thank Him when there is unusual linkage or timing that works to your benefit.

When practicing the discipline of God Sightings, these "sightings" will be recognized for what they truly are ‑ the actions of Christ on your behalf. As believers we choose to give Jesus the credit for what others might see as mere coincidence. This awareness of our Lord's presence is what we want to rediscover in our lives. A characteristic of all spiritual awakenings or times of genuine revival is an overwhelming sense of the presence of the Lord. Such a movement is sorely needed in our lives today.

Like the prophet Habakkuk we say,
"Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy."
Habakkuk 3:2

When was the last time you saw God working in your life? Ask God to open your eyes to see a God Sighting today.

Friday, April 2, 2010

April 2

Accountability day: Let me know where you are in the journey. It is Good Friday and a great day to spend time with Jesus.

“Losers Wanted”

David was a loser. After the great victory over Goliath, his incredible friendship with Jonathan, we now see running from Saul and faking his insanity in Gath. There is also a collecting of a motley crew to be his army. It certainly was a dubious beginning for the next king. What was going on in David’s mind? That is why the Psalms are so important. They give us the inward workings of a man. We see his fear, his anger and his anxieties. We also discover the pathway to wholeness. That pathway is revealed in Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

The principle that David discovers in his down and out time is that when we are broken that gives us the best chance to become whole. For in our brokenness we learn to depend on the Lord. God uses brokenness to get our attention. His desired result is the surrender of our will. For David this was his time in exile. For me it was a disconnection from my wife in the 1985, the raising of three teenagers, the heartbreak of fractured relationships, a bout with depression about 10 years ago and most recently my wife’s Lyme disease.

Times of brokenness come in many flavors. The source of the situation is not nearly as important as how we respond to it. Although the circumstances may be diverse, the divine goal is very simple—spiritual growth through brokenness. I can say that while these periods of time were the most difficult in my life they were the times I grew the fastest spiritually.

Jesus used this description of brokenness in his analogy of pruning. John 15:2 says the Gardener cuts off dead branches that do not bear fruit. But the passage also says that He prunes fruit bearing branches so they can be even more fruitful. When we think we are doing our best and yet experience setbacks, failures, and broken dreams appear in our lives, God may be pruning a fruitful branch to make it more effective. As I continued my journey into this process called brokenness, it amazes me how much I learn when I go through the pruning times.

Here is a prayer of brokenness that I have used many times: My Dear Lord Jesus, show me my bankrupt self and the desperate condition of my broken heart today. Help me to move from brokenness to the spiritual life that is found in You. Lord, teach me to depend totally on your promises and not on my own energy. Help me see your provision to protect, enable, empower, and direct my life. Today help me confide in your power and love alone. I commit my soul to you Lord without reservation. I desire to bear your image, to observe your law, and pursue your service. Open my eyes to see your grace at each step of my journey today. Help me not only to receive you Lord but to walk with you, depend on you, continue with you, be conformed to you, to follow you, love you with all my heart. And when trials come into my life help me to give thanks for the growth they produce. In Jesus’ Name Amen.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

April 1

The Friendless American Male

A question for you: Who would you call if you were stranded on 95, 10 miles from home at 1:30 in the morning? That person would be a true friend. In our reading today we see two distinct types of relationships. Saul looked at David with fear, insecurity and jealousy. Jonathan looked at David with love, sacrifice and support. The constant in both of these relationships is David. Same guy yet two completely different relationships. In America today most men do not have one Jonathan – David relationship. Most men in America are alone. There seems to be a serious shortage of friendships today.

I would suggest we change that. Perhaps the greatest biblical example of a meaningful relationship is found in our reading today. Jonathan had many great military victories over various enemies of Israel, but he was not remembered for his military wisdom but rather because he was a friend of David. One verse contains several of these principles.

1 Samuel 18:1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

1. Friendships require work. The key word here is “became.” It was a process, an effort, they “became” buddies. We don't spontaneously end up with a friend, we become friends. This is one huge reason why men don’t have friendships, we are too busy and too competitive. Add to that our lack of relationship building skills, and you have a recipe for loneliness.

2. They were one in spirit. David and Jonathan were knit together. These words “one in spirit” are used to describe the intense love that Jacob had for his youngest son Benjamin in Gen 44:30. We are told that if any harm had come to Benjamin, it would have sent Jacob to the grave in sorrow because his soul was "closely bound" with the soul of Benjamin. In order to be “one spirit” we do not have to share the same blood; we need to share the same heart. At the deepest level of their hearts, they were committed to the same goal of living to please an audience of one. They didn’t allow anything to come between them, even career or family problems; they drew closer together when their friendship was tested, and they remained friends to the end.

3. Self love is the foundation of good friendship. They were both secure men and came to the relationship to give and not take. When you have two givers in a relationship you have strength.

4. Sacrifice is the last principle. Guess who was supposed to be the next king of Israel? That’s right, it was Jonathan. If anyone was supposed to be jealous of David, it should have been Jonathan. But Jonathan loved David so much he would rather lose the throne of Israel, than lose his closest friend.

It takes time and work to develop a friendship. We must spend time together, we must give, and we must unite our hearts to create these friendships. I encourage you to take one friendship step today. Initiate one act of friendship building before you go to sleep tonight. Make a phone call, send an email of encouragement, buy someone a coffee, but the bottom line is take time and take a risk. Reach out to someone today.
John Donne, a 17th century English poet, wisely warns us that "no man is an island." We all need a friend. To find a friend today, you need to be a friend.