Bible Reading Group Blog Post - June 25th

June 25

2 Kings 8:1-9:13

Acts 16:16-40

Psalm 143:1-12

Proverbs 17:26

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. -- Psalms 143:10

Psalm 143 begins with David asking the Lord to listen to his plea, initially, this psalm comes across as a cry for help to the Father, but there is much more depth to be discovered. Throughout history church leaders and scholars have categorized Psalm 143 as the last of the seven Penitential Psalms, otherwise understood as the Psalms of Confession. David begins by recognizing the importance of God's faithfulness and righteousness, stating that no one alive will ever be righteous in comparison to Him. David stresses his understanding that it is hopeless to be brought to judgment, knowing that no one will pass the test of righteousness in the sight of God, no one on earth is 'good'. David recognizes himself as a servant to the Lord and understands that his hope is in the Lord's commitment to His promises and not from any standard that comes from himself. Nothing we can do will ever make us good or righteous when brought before God.

David lifts his worries to God and confesses that his enemies have gotten to him, beating down his spirit. He explains that he is living in darkness, he is weak, and his heart is in distress. The Lord knows all, and He understands that the road is long and it will be rough, but we should always rejoice and turn to Him. God wants us to lift our praises and our worries to Him, by doing so we show our trust in Him. David dwells on the "days of old", and reflects on God's work through his life, and faithfully lifts his worries to God. Like David, we too must lift our praises and our worries to God, we must confess not only our sins but confess when our spirit feels low, when our cups are feeling empty, we must seek God for our strength.

"I am like parched land before you." - Psalm 143:6. I find this analogy so fitting. Parched land is desperate for water, unable to grow, and unable to help the needs of others. Without God, we are like parched land, we will be desperate for sustenance (truth, love, salvation), we won't be able to properly grow, nor will we be able to help those around us. David continues by expressing his trust in the Lord, his faith to follow the Lord's commands, and his humility to seek the Lord for his protection. David wants nothing more than for God to lead him, to transform his heart and mind, all to bring God glory. David's hope is to be delivered and he trusts in God's righteousness.

While reading this passage, Psalm 14 and Romans 3 came to mind. Psalm 14:1-3 says, "There is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one." In Romans 3, Paul references Psalm 14, and further explains, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus." -- Romans 3:23-26

As Christians we must understand that by no means of ourselves are we or will we ever be capable of being good or moral, it is by the blood of Christ, through our faith in Him, through our walk and obedience, that we are justified. Let us not be boastful in ourselves, casting judgment on others who we deem to be less than, for we are all equally sinners. Let us spread our hands out to God, praise the work of His hands, trust Him, go to Him for strength and protection, learn from His will, obey His commands, and follow His lead. For His name's sake, let us live as servants of the Lord.

Grace Blog Post - June 18, 2021

June 18

1 Kings 19:1-21

Acts 12:1-23

Psalm 136:1-26

Proverbs 17:14-15

He remembered us in our humiliation

'His faithful love endures forever'. -- Psalms 136:23

This is one of my favorite Psalms, so beautifully written and filled with the truth of God, "His faithful love endures forever." This Psalm I believe can be very crucial for the believer. Life is always changing and evolving, but there is always ONE constant, that is God. When we are feeling low, lacking in our strength, lacking in courage, or when our cups are empty, it is our Father's love that fills us back up - Praise Him, because no matter what HIS FAITHFUL LOVE ENDURES FOREVER. When we are happy, confident, and our cups are filled - PRAISE HIM, for it is because of Him that you are able to live with a joyous heart. This Psalm is a constant reminder that through everything in life, that you are never alone, never without love. It is a reminder of all the great things God has done to provide for us and proves His everlasting love.

Over the last few weeks, I have found myself in many conversations regarding prayer and hearing from so many that they feel themselves lacking in this area. They let their day get the better of them, perhaps ending their day feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and empty. Let this Psalm guide you back to what is true, the wonder of God's love. God's love is faithful, merciful, kind, and steadfast. No matter the situation we must remember that His plan is much greater than our comprehension, as children we will not always understand (or even grasp) why our parents make the decisions that they do, but we must TRUST that it is for our benefit. And as we become adults, do we not realize those moments and praise them? In a much greater way, our Father in heaven is due endless praise. God has created the perfect environment just for us, land, sea, air, sun, moon, stars, food to every creature - every moment is praiseworthy. Man has repeatedly sinned against God, yet HE delivers us and redeems us, that type of love is so deep, so strong, so faithful - at times my heart feels that it wants to burst from His endless love.

I love this Psalm, but one verse that really hits me is verse 23, "He remembered us in our humiliation, 'His faithful love endures forever'." I know all the wrongdoings I have done in my life, I know all the times that I was put down and humiliated, I know all the times that I felt so low that I thought I had nothing left, I know all the times that I chose to turn away from God, yet in every moment He remembered me, in every moment His love was there. Do not turn away from our Father's love, instead, praise Him in all that you do, in every experience you have, in every situation whether you perceive them as good or bad, for His faithful love endures throughout it all. Our Lord will provide everything we need when we need it, He will clear paths for us, He will protect us from our enemies, He will lead us when we are lost, and all the while His faithful love will endure forever.

Thank you God for your faithful love, and let us ceaselessly praise you for all of our days.

Bible Blog Post for Matthew Karwon Wednesday June 16th

June 16
1 Kings 15:25-17:24
Acts 10:24-48
Psalm 134:1-3
Proverbs 17:9-11
Written by Matthew Karwon

Proverbs 17:11
   Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

I'm a believer in "being saved by Grace." So, if we are saved by the
grace of Jesus (which we are, as Christians) why shouldn't we sin? How
do we make sense of this verse and others like this? For example:

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers
nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor
slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Regarding these verses, one of our church speakers once said, and I'm paraphrasing:
"this verse is saying that these are things non-believers do."

In other words, if you're living a certain type of lifestyle, you must have
some unbelief in your heart, which lets you do the things you do.

If we receive grace and salvation by belief, then what do we receive by unbelief?

I want to be sensitive, I know there are believers out there who are struggling with things.
 I don't want to shame anyone. I don't mean to suggest that everyone who is struggling with
sin isn't a Christian. I also think that there is a difference between committing a few "small" sins

a day, like stubbing your toe and cursing, or glancing at the neighbors wife too long, 
there is a difference between that and a lifestyle of selfishness and rebellion.

 

I think that the Bible may be telling us that, if you really believe there is the Father in heaven, 

and Jesus is by His side, and they can see you, and you believe the Holy Spirit is real, and you
believe that God is all-powerful, then it is really, really hard to live a certain way. Perhaps even impossible.

Do you truly believe He is real?

Going back to the original verse: 11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

The King James Version puts it this way: 11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a
cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Not exactly a death sentence, but a warning that God will not put up with rebellion forever.

June 11th - Blog Post

June 11

1 Kings 8:1-66

Acts 7:51-8:13

Psalm 129:1-8

Proverbs 17:1

Faith & Forgiveness

Acts 7 covers Stephen's sermon, which happens to be the longest sermon in the Book of Acts. Stephen had been accused of blasphemy in regards to Moses and also the temple, due to his apparent inaccuracies in his historical references, even though he was quite effective in referencing events from Israel's history and Old Testament scripture. Stephen rebukes his accusers by indicating that they are the actual blasphemers, "You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit...You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it." -- Acts 7:51-53

How many people do you know that are resisting the Holy Spirit? How many people do you know that have heard the Truth, yet do not turn away from their sin nor keep the Lord's commands? How many people do you know who live to point their finger at someone in judgment? Or perhaps, are you being that person?

We live in a world where gaining access to the Bible is as easy as turning on a light switch, yet we still have so many who avoid the Truth, or who hear the Word but do not believe. And to add to it, they not only do not believe, but they become consumed by anger and hatred towards the person(s) who do believe. To me that anger is caused by guilt, knowing somewhere in your heart that you are wrong, but without letting go of your grip on sin (your sense of power in the world) you won't be able to take accountability for such things. When someone calls you out for something you may have done wrong, is your response to listen, understand, and apologize? Or, do you respond in defense with anger and retaliation? The Sanhedrin prove this point, instead of following their civil laws to determine Stephen's guilt (or innocence), they respond in anger, gnashing their teeth, and stoning him to death.

We know as believers that we will be persecuted, attacked, demeaned, and so forth, but this is where our faith and trust in the Lord brings us victory. Though Stephen was stoned to death, it was his actions in his final moments that truly show his faith. While being stoned Stephen full of faith called out to the Lord, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! " He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them! " -- Acts 7:59-60

Stephen, as Jesus did in His final moments, calls out to the Lord to receive his spirit, and also asks for forgiveness of his persecutors which is a true testament of yielding to God. In the face of death, Stephen kept his eyes on the Lord and placed all of his trust in Him. There is a lot to gain by studying this moment, when we face trials and mistreatment we must not react with malice, but with a loving and forgiving heart. Even in the face of evil, we must turn our hearts to what we know is true. We must not be consumed with picking apart others' lives or persecuting each other's wrongdoing, instead, we must set an example through our own actions and through our faith, always keeping our eyes and hearts on the Lord. We must lead by example, pointing to the One who leads us as a perfect example. We cannot allow persecution to pull us down to worldly responding, instead, we must remember what Jesus has commanded, to love and forgive.

"You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven." -- Matthew 5:43-45

"For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses." -- Matthew 6:14-15

Bible blog post Wednesday June 9th from Matthew Karwon

1 Kings 5:1-6:38
Acts 7:1-29
Psalm 127:1-5
Proverbs 16:28-30

1 Kings 6
31 For the entrance to the inner sanctuary he made doors
out of olive wood that were one fifth of the width of the sanctuary.
32 And on the two olive-wood doors he carved cherubim, palm trees
and open flowers, and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with 

hammered gold.

I'd like to talk about the imagery we see in the temple that Solomon built.
One symbol we see repeated is the palm tree. Some regard the palm tree
not simply as a symbol of rest but a symbol of the rest we have received
from Jesus's finished work at the cross. When He died on the cross it was 

the final sacrifice which gives us the eternal gift of salvation. "It is finished".

Matthew 11:28
 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Bible Blog Post - Saturday, June 5th

Michael Polak Blog Post

June 5

2 Samuel 23:24-24:25

Acts 3:1-26

Psalm 123:1-4

Proverbs 16:21-23

Keeping our eyes on the Lord

Psalm 123 is beautifully written, and though it is short it gets right to the point. I personally appreciate the reminder that we should be focusing on the Lord, giving everything to Him, and trusting Him with our lives. But it also reminds me of the first commandment we got from Jesus. It says in Matthew 22:37-38 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the greatest and most important command.

Sometimes it is so easy to get distracted by life and you might not even realize that you may be focusing on something else besides Jesus. It may have something to do with trying to start a new relationship and giving all your attention to your partner, or maybe you're just focused on a project for work, or you just have way too much going on in life that you can't seem to sit down and read your Bible, or even attend church on Sunday. Whatever your excuse may be, that is exactly that, just an excuse. An excuse to not be giving your attention to the Lord focusing on Him and staying in His presence. Look to Jesus to guide you through this life, be like the apostles were, and make yourself a slave to Christ, serve Him with all your heart and might, and when we fall to always look up to Him for mercy.

So next time you're going through stormy waters, whether it's financial, emotional, physical, whatever the problem may be, give it to God, look to him, and focus on Him. Love Him with all your mind and soul, even if you get scorn from the arrogant and contempt from the proud. The world may call us fools for trusting in God, and that's OK with me! I would rather be a fool for God because the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's eyes.

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Bible Blog Post Friday May 4th From Keisha Polak

June 4

2 Samuel 22:1-23:23

Acts 2:1-47

Psalm 122:1-9

Proverbs 16:19-20

 

Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud. Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful. - Proverbs 16:19-20

 

Two simple verses, yet so much can be taken from them. Through much of my reading lately, I've been noticing a recurrence of putting aside one's pride and ego to trust in the Lord, and this scripture from Proverbs is another clear example of that. Our world is very much focused on prideful activities where one can boast about their triumphs, but these situations often leave others feeling less-than, unworthy, jealous, or angry. Those who go about boasting of worldly deeds ultimately aren't putting God first in their lives, and this choice will ultimately be their own downfall.

 

Why would someone feel compelled to boast of earthly things as if THEY themselves had a hand in creation? We are told not to boast, but if we do, may we boast only in the Lord, for it is because of Him that we have life and obtain any victory. Instead of spending time with others that boast of themselves, and keep us in constant competition, the Lord wants us to live humbly and turn to those that are less fortunate. Jesus commands us to love one another, and to do so you must have a humble and compassionate heart. Instead of focusing on a victory and the benefits that you imagine will come with it, turn to lift up those who don't have a vision of victory. Connect with others by humbly meeting them where they are in life, just as Jesus meets us where we are, not coming from a place of judgment or hierarchy, but from a place of grace. If we listen to these commands and these instructions and put our trust in the Lord no matter our circumstance, we will be able to truly live a joyful life. And when we live our lives in this matter, we are able to show others that they can confidently put their trust in the Lord, and in turn, they can find joy in their situations.

 

Obey the Lord for all your days and put your full faith in Him in every circumstance, show Him how much you truly love him by your faith and actions, and in return receive His eternal blessing. What can be more joyful than that?

Bible Blog Post Friday May 28th from Keisha Polak

May 28 - Keisha Polak

2 Samuel 13:1-39

John 17:1-26

Psalm 119:81-96

Proverbs 16:6-7

John 17:9-10 "My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. "

While reading this scripture in which our Lord is praying, I found myself sitting in awe of His obedience, love, and compassion. Jesus begins by praying for Himself, so that He may complete his job which was to teach us all of the only true God and to give us the precious gift of salvation. By completing His job, He brings glory to the Father and is able to be united in glory with him. While reading verse 5, I truly felt the love and unity between Son and Father as Jesus says, "Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began." I see Jesus painting a picture of the relationship He wants us to have, through His relationship with the Father. In His words, I noticed the mirror that Jesus plays for us. As Jesus obeys the Father's commands, he brings Him glory and is united with Him. As we obey Jesus' commands, we honor and bring glory to Him, and we also will unite with Him, all, in turn, glorifying the Father. I'm in awe of the beauty of the design and plan God has set forth.

Jesus' words flow with such love and also concern for his people. He cares for us in such precious ways because we belong to Him. He knows the devil's deceitful ways and prays that we are protected from the enemy. He prays that we not be overcome by the devil and destruction, but be unified with each other and that we become sanctified by the Truth. Finding unity with each other is extremely important, unity in fellowship can be our strength when we feel weary. And for the whole Christian family to move together in unity, to me, is a clear sign of the Holy Spirit at work sanctifying us and reminding us of Jesus' words. When we stand unified in the Word and in our faith, we show the world the glory of Jesus Christ.

This scripture is such a beautiful prayer from Son to Father, but also was a moment where Jesus presented to me ways in which He obeyed his Father's commands, and how he poured out His love for His Father and for us. Obey His commands, love Him, and be filled by the love from God.

bible blog post Keisha Polak May 21st

I am sorry for the delay in sending yesterday's blog, I sent it to the wrong email yesterday.

May 21
1 Samuel 29:1-31:13
John 11:55-12:19
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 15:24-26
The Lord is my strength and my song;he has become my salvation. -- Psalms 118:14

The Book of Psalms contains such powerful scripture, and Psalms 118 is such a wonderful example of that power within God's word. While reading I was overtaken by the gratitude I have for our Lord's grace. We can all relate in saying we've been through trying times recently, but even so, what rings true is that the Lord's faithful love endures forever. Through all of the chaos, He was still working.

There is so much strength and comfort that I have found within these words. I pray that if there are any who are weary that they find this passage, and that everyone who reads Psalms 118 feels that same strength and comfort that I have felt.

Verse 6 asks us what can a mere mortal do if the Lord is for you? This is something that I took a lot of time thinking about because I feel it is very prevalent in the times we are living through. The world has grown very fearful in a way I haven't ever experienced before, and to me, it has been painful and overwhelming to have so much fear pushed on us all. But, through all of that fear the Lord has given me strength in His word. The more that I keep myself in God's word the more fear I overcome, knowing that I trust Him, what can any person do to me that He hasn't already deemed.

No matter what worldly things I do, our Father is the only one who truly holds the power. God is always in control, and that is where I find all of my peace, that is my salvation. This is exactly why we must take refuge in Him, not relying on what the world offers. Psalms 118:9 - It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in nobles.

This world is pushing us all hard, attempting to make us fall. The world wants us to doubt our faith and be filled with fear, but we must remember where to turn. If you believe in God, seek refuge in Him and he will help you. He will give you strength, peace, joy, and salvation.

bible blog post Mike Polak May 22nd

May 22

2 Samuel 1:1-2:11

John 12:20-50

Psalm 118:19-29

Proverbs 15:27-28

It's either God or the world can't have it both ways!

When Jesus speaks to the people gathered at the festival, Jesus tells the people the prophecy about his crucifixion. But also, He explains to the people how he knows there are people in the crowd that believe in him and will not follow. Jesus says in John 12:25-26, "The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him."

Have you ever had a moment in your life as a believer in Christ where maybe you decided to go with the societal norm of the word instead of just having full belief in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? I sometimes find myself in a situation where I have to decide whether it's going to be God or whatever makes the people of the world happy and not uncomfortable. I usually try to choose God, even though there are times in my life where I don't and I am guilty of that, but for the most part, I do try to make an effort to put God before myself and others. Sometimes it may rock the boat, but God tells us we were never promised happiness in this world, we could never be treated better than He was, and we must make a choice. It's either God or the world, but we cannot have it both ways.

May God bless you. Remember to trust God because when He is with you, who can be against you?

May 15: A Single Stone - Blog Post by Mike Polak

1 Samuel 17:1-18:4 

John 8:21-30 

Psalm 111:1-10 

Proverbs 15:11 

Everybody knows the story of David and Goliath, the story that you're probably most familiar with is that David, a young boy kills the giant Goliath, but I believe the story is more than that.To me this story is about a boy and his full unconditional trust in God. Unfortunately, I feel that sometimes whether it's because of pop-culture movies, or books, that we get the story twisted and we misunderstand what God may be trying to tell us. You see this story isn't about conquering giants in your life, but instead this is a story about having trust in Jesus Christ and believing that God is the one that performs wonders through you. You're not the one performing wonders for God. You're not the one slaying giants in your life, it is God that does that for you when you put your full trust in Him he can do miracles. 

45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with a sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel — you have defied him. 46 Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I'll strike you down, remove your head, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the wild creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God, 47 and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord's. He will hand you over to us." 48 When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown to the ground. 50 David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone. -- 1 Samuel 17:45-50 

A single stone. Let me remind you that the stone is another name for Jesus Christ, Matthew 21:42 - The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is what the Lord has done and it is wonderful in our eyes? You see it wasn't David's strength or power, it isn't a story about defeating the giants in your life. This is a story about a young boy who truly trusted God, and with that trust Christ himself came down and struck his enemy with a single blow just like we were told in Genesis 3:14-15 - He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. David is a young boy who has fully trusted God, and now knowing that Jesus Christ is the rock and the rock is what strikes Goliath in the head proved to me that God is the one who fights are battles for us. Let's remember to trust God like David did and trust that God will protect and love us. 

May 14: “Obey!” - from Keisha Polak

1 Samuel 15:1-16:23 

John 8:1-20
Psalm 110:1-7 

Proverbs 15:8-10 

Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, 

     and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 

- 1 Samuel 15:22

As I read through the scripture for today, I found myself focused on Samuel's words, and in my head kept repeating "OBEY". 

Saul had continued to disobey the Lord's direct order and when Samuel confronted Saul about his wrong doings, instead of being honest and repenting of his actions, Saul attempted to justify his bad behavior. He claimed, in this situation, that the stolen livestock were for sacrifice. 

In a way, I believe that Saul felt that even though he knew he was doing wrong, he felt he had a "way out" or means of justification because he could perform a sacrifice to attempt to make a sin somehow a holy act. I feel that is something that people do all the time nowadays. Individuals will take advantage of an act of kindness they have shown by using it as a means to justify some other sinful actions they have taken part in. 

If you ask most people if they believe they are a "good person", they will say yes. That is because they are using all of their good or kind moments throughout their life to justify all of their sins, and no one can do that except for Jesus Christ. 

Samuel's words really struck me, instead of using a means to justify your sin, just work on turning away from your sin. Obey the Lord's commands and every day redirect yourself to Him. Saul's life shows me that it is ALL or nothing. Partial obedience is total disobedience. 

May 8: Of Hearing His Voice

1 Samuel 2:22-4:22

John 5:24-47

Psalm 106:1-12

Proverbs 14:30-31

I heard the story of Samuel in the temple maybe 50 years ago, and I was fascinated with the story of a young boy who gets to hear God speak with him ever so clearly - so clearly, in fact, that he can recount everything he heard to Eli the next morning.  How did he do it, and why do I struggle so much and never seem to hear anything quite so clearly spoken?  Three things come to mind.

1. Samuel was in God's presence.  "The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was."  In Old Testament Israel, you couldn't be closer to God's presence than where Samuel was.
   
2. Samuel was listening, and he was prepared to respond.  As soon as he heard someone - the Lord, it turns out - call him, "Samuel answered: 'here I am'".  And he didn't just sit back when he heard the call - he stood up and responded, running to Eli, whom he thought had called him. 
   
3. Samuel had someone to point him to the Lord.  Eli could have just as said "it wasn't me - go to bed" the third time Samuel came.  Or he could have been jealous of Samuel, or angry at God for what He had said He would do to Eli and his family, and told Samuel to ignore the voice.  He didn't.  As sinful as Eli was, he pointed Samuel in the direction of God.

This is how Samuel was ready to hear the Lord when the Lord spoke.  Which makes me ask myself a few questions.  If I really want to hear the Lord, (1) how often do I put myself in His presence?  (2) How hard am I listening…and if He were to speak to me, how prepared am I to respond to Him?  And (3) when I am heading in the wrong direction, who do I have in my life to point me back to Him?

Father, like Samuel, may we always be ready to hear You when You speak, and respond to Your Word.

May 7: Of Parenting Lessons from Hannah

1 Samuel 1:1-2:21

John 5:1-23

Psalm 105:37-45

Proverbs 14:28-29

So let me get this straight.  Hannah, the erstwhile barren wife, tormented by her husband's second wife; Hannah who desires nothing more than to have a son, so much so she prays so hard she is deemed drunk in the Temple - this Hannah who begs God to hear her prayer, she finally gets a son…and then gives him away?   Why?

Hannah knew two things every parent needs to know.  First, she knew where children came from - "Lord Almighty, if You will only look on Your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget Your servant but give her a son…" Hannah knew children were from God, were His to give as He chose.  

Second, Hannah knew what was best for her son.  "…then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life…". As good as it might have been for her son to have stayed with her, even before her son was born, she knew her son was belonged with God. 

I wish when my kids were born that I knew what Hannah knew  I might have appreciated the gift, the blessing they are so much more.  I might have also realized that, for everything I tried to teach them, the best thing I could have done was point them to God, with Whom they belonged, and to Whom they will one day go.  

Father, thankfully it is't too late.  Like Hannah, teach me, and teach all parents, that all our children come from You, and they all belong to You.  Help us to appreciate them, and to point them in the right direction, back to You.

6th May 2021

What a friend we have in Jesus.

Ruth 2:1-4:22

John 4:43-54

Psalm 105:16-36

Proverbs 14:26-27

Ruth's life shows many admirable qualities. She was kind, loving, hardworking, brave and faithful. All these great qualities gave her a good reputation as she was consistent in all areas of her life, her character remained the same. This brings me to think, what are my qualities? Are they consistent with my character? Do we treat a friend or foe with the same qualities?

A good reputation comes by consistently living out the qualities you believe in no matter what group of people or surroundings you are in. We can also look at it as if you were a foreigner or if you are new to a place, do we feel like we need to change in order to fit in or gain a friend. Do others regard you as one who will do what you say? Keeping your word and following through on assignments should be high on anyone's priority list. Building a reputation for integrity must be done one step, one act at a time. 

Ruth may not have always recognized God's guidance, he was with her every step of the way. She went to gather grain and "just happened" to end up in the field owned by Boaz who "just happened" to be a close relative. This was more than just a coincidence. As we go about our daily tasks, God is working in our life's in ways we may not notice. We must not close the door on what God can do. We should have faith God is directing our lives for his purpose. 

Do you ever find yourself behaving one way with one group of friends and then another way with a different group of people? I had to check myself on this as I have recently moved to a new environment where not many of the people believe in Jesus. The new friends that I have made only knew half of me, I found myself starting to behave like them. The Holy spirit was telling me to be honest. I had to be real and consistent with my qualities and not trend on the line of a lukewarm Christian.

Ruth's story may be a story about a girl who was fortunate but in reality the events recorded in Ruth life were part of God's preparations for the births of David and Jesus. Ruth was unaware of this larger purpose in her life, we will not know the full purpose and importance of our lives until we are able to look back from the perspective of eternity. We must make our choice with God's eternal values in mind. Taking moral shortcuts and living for short-range pleasures are not good ways to move ahead.

I pray we live in faithfulness to God and be consistent in how we treat friends and foe. May we remember the miracles God has done, may we humble ourselves and may we have a healthy fear of the Lord. When we are feeling lost and alone I pray that if there is no one that we are able to talk to Jesus, he has all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus is holy and always present, he is waiting and listening for us to have a relationship with him,

Amen

--

Aimee Spencer

Matthew Karwon Bible Blog Post May 5th

Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22
John 4:4-42
Psalm 105:1-15
Proverbs 14:25

John Chapter 4
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, 

for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 

24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."

For a while now I have been learning about the presence of God in my heart. Such a great positive feeling. 

A light of hope and reassurance when I am feeling unsure and troubled.

I don't believe that this is simply my conscious, but the Holy Spirit sitting on the throne of my conscious.

Whatever I'm feeling, I can count on this form of guidance to help me make the right decisions.

When I read "his worshipers must worship in the Spirit" one thing that comes to mind is this feeling. 

Worshipping not just with spoken words, but the relationship with God that transcends spoken words. 

I feel God in my heart and I am so grateful for this blessing that has helped me overcome more things than 

I can recall in this moment. Part of one of my favorite verses from Galatians Chapter 4 says

"God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts". Proverbs 19:21 tells us  "There are many devices in 

a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand." Thank God.

April 23: Of Child Discipline or the Lack Thereof

These were yesterday's readings and reflection.  Please forgive me for the tardiness.

Judges 1:1-2:9

Luke 21:29-22:13

Psalms 90:1-91:16

Proverbs 13:24-25

"Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them." - Proverbs 13:24

Last month, two young girls, ages 15 and 13, stole a car.  They tased the driver, who then clung  to the car while the girls drove off.  The girls lost control of the car, and by doing so they killed the owner.  

It turns out, this isn't an isolated incident.  Washington DC has seen a 300% increase in carjackings this year, many carried out by young teenagers who steal the car, then use it to commit other crimes - robberies and shootings among them.  

This was terrible for the victim, no mistake.  But upon reflection one realizes it is going to be pretty terrible for the two girls as well.  Whether or not they go to jail, something like this is not without consequences.  Either they are going to be stricken with grief and guilt at what they did - how does one get over that? - or they are just not going to care, which to my mind is far, far worse.  

But you know who else it is terrible for?  Every single parent whose child, whom they love, has put themselves in such a situation. Youtube has so many videos of parents breaking down in screams of agony and tears of pain when their children are sentenced to lengthy prison terms, or worse.  The ones we don't see - the quiet ones, when the parents become aware of the choices their children have made, the damage they've done to themselves and others, the long and difficult road they face to restitution, recovery and restoration - those are equally as painful.

To avoid that pain as much as we can for all involved, we need to raise our kids right.  And as scripture expresses so very clearly, discipline is essential.  

I will leave you with a feel good story - can you imagine how proud Matthew Garcia's mom must have felt?  When she raised her son, I suspect she loved him enough to discipline him.  

https://youtu.be/qZBODEPkGas