Wednesday February 15, 2017 Romans 6:16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness. 

Nick-

Here lately I have been convicted of putting things before God and him being second in my life. There are a lot of distractions here even though we are in a ministry. Things that I haven’t been around since being saved. And these things or distractions, though they seem very harmless, drag me away from my relationship and union with the lord. And when God is second, I start to be a slave to sin not God. My heart begins to fill with things that will never satisfy and desires something to fill it. Im so blessed and thankful to the Lord for bringing to this point in my walk with him. Our time with Pastor Donathan yesterday really ministered to me in a huge way. He said something that I have forgotten over the past year and a half. He said that we are designed and were created to worship God and its pleasing to him when we do. That is what my heart has being craving for a few months now and I could not figure out what it was. I couldn’t figure out where or why I seemed to becoming lukewarm in my walk with him. I somehow had become a slave to these small sins that were dragging me away from the Lord. Praise be to God for showing me where I have fallen from and where he desires me to be. Revelation 2:5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the the works you did at first. If not I will come and remove your lamp stand from its place unless you repent.” This verse has been coming to mind for a couple of months now, but I just couldn’t seem to get myself to the place to be obedient to what it was saying. Thank you God for your gentle and loving touch to help me get back to a heart of worship.

Julie-

I am so prone to wonder.  I am like a child.  I need perameters and boundaries.  I need a master.  I have to lay my pride down every day to accept this and remember, but I have to be a slave to something bigger and more powerful than myself.  The Lord is my Master and I am His slave.  And if I do not wake up every morning and say "God, I am yours.  Help me to be who it is that you've called me to be and not who I want to be", then I am stepping out of His yoke and becoming a slave the enemy.  Fortunately, there is no gray area to misinterperate this.  If I am not following God as my Master, then I am a slave the enemy.  There is no argument to that.  The enemy tries to disguise himself as the law so we recognize him as the old religion.  When I don't pray for God's help, I fall into that old law and become a slave to it so easily, because I am like a child.  I see something shiny and get up from my Father's feet to chase it.  But it only leads me down the path of distruction.  It sounds like from what I'm saying and what all of chapter six is saying, we actually have a choice to be slaves to death or life.  How gracious is our God that he doesn't make us sit at His feet.  I remember when I was little and if I got in trouble my Dad would make me sit next to his chair as a punishment.  I was miserable.  All I wanted to do was run away.  But many times when I wasn't in trouble, I would come and sit in his lap out of my own will and enjoy whatever it was that he wanted to say or teach me.  Praise God that he knows how prideful we are, and that if we are controlled and tied down to Him, then we will not appreciate or listen to Him.  Every day I want to crawl up in the Lord's lap and ask him to be my Master.  I want to humbly ask to be his slave, because when I stop being a slave to sin I am actually a child and heir through God (Galations 4:7).  What a precious gift to recieve just by being obedient to Him.  The choice is mine to follow death or life.  Of course, I choose life.  But with that choice, I must be obey my Master and step in line as His slave, His warrior and His child.  This requires not letting the world distract me, but instead staying focused on my life example - Jesus.

Tuesday February 13, 2017 Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than man.”

Nick-

Peter and his apostles have been filled with the holy spirit at this point. And when they were freed form prison, the angel of the lord commanded them to go speak all the words of this life. So compelled by the spirit they obeyed rather than thinking of the consequences. They just escaped prison and the Lord is telling them to go right out into the open where the people who had them locked up can see them. Not only that, but they are going to preach the word of God which they were strictly prohibited not to do by the chief priests. So they went, obeying Gods commands over mans regardless of the circumstances. They didn’t question what God was asking of them and they didn’t fear what man would do to them. Hebrews 13:6 says, So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear, what can man do to me.” When God asks something of me or doesn’t, I must trust in his decision. I am empowered by the holy spirit within me and I must walk in it to be guided by the Lord. Sometimes he may prompt me to speak boldly. Other times it may ask me to kindly go to someone and give them encouragement. It may even ask me to go places I’ve never thought I would go. Verse 32 says, And we are his witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to who obey him. We are Witnesses of Jesus Christ not to him. Oswald Chambers said, “Not witnesses to what he can do but that we are to be witnesses who satisfy him in what ever circumstances he puts us in.” If we are going to be his witnesses, we must obey him and trust him to work through our circumstances regardless of the oppression man might try and bring against us.

Julie

Peter, "Put Your Foot In Your Mouth Peter", is the one who stands up to the high priest.  He shows no fear in this man to prove the very point of what he is saying:  Obey God rather than men.  It has taken me up until four months ago to even open up to this idea.  The fear of not obeying man scared me, but not because I wanted to please man.  I didn't obey man out of a good heart.  I obeyed for acceptance.  I was so selfish both to man and God.  The enemy always had a a foothold of me being alone, which led to my desperation of man's approval.  But as I am learning, the Lord will never leave me alone.  And the Lord is so much greater than man anyway.  So why the struggle?  It is not my struggle anymore.  It's not between God and the enemy.  All I have to do is walk in obedience to my Father.  This is still easier said than done, as all I can see around me is the darkness of the world.  But as I've put my hands on man's arms to guide me, I've ended up getting hurt or falling.  Man was just the first thing I could grab.  Man is effortless to obtain.  I think all men (and women) are just as desperate to not be alone in this world, which is why they let other people cling to them instead of directing them to God.  But God has called me to a deeper level than acceptance.  He has called me to obey His voice in the darkness to teach me edurance.  The reason I always end up alone is because I let go of man who leads me atsray, but that aloneness teaches me to focus on Him.  In doing that, he guides me.  Who am I to not obey the Father that never left me and who knows what's best for me?  Peter was walking in the darkness of not knowing what was going on.  He actually had a thought of being stoned to death, but still obeyed God because man is no longer a threat to him.  Death was no longer a fear of his.  He watched Jesus die in the hands of man, and he rose again!  Why should Peter have obeyed the high priests and Sadducees over God.  Why do I?  Peter and I are known and loved by the same God who wants protection for us.  Just like I want Trent to obey because I know what's best for him, so does my Father who is soviergn.  Lord, I say that I am learning to obey.  Please let that never be a lesson I stray away from.  Thank you for knowing whats best for me.  I admit I do not.  I am walking round in darkness and cannot see, and You know I need your hand to guide me.  I pray that I am so focused on You always, that I can hear You when you give me a command.  I pray that I do not fill Your guidance with man's.  Thank you for Your patience with me, Father.

Monday February 13, 2017 Hebrews 5:8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

Nick-

This is an encouraging area of scripture for me. It really sheds light on another side of Jesus that you don’t get so much in the Gospels. It says in this verse that he learned obedience though what he suffered. He learned obedience by going through what our father in heaven put him through. He says in Philippians that he was obedient till the point of death on a cross. I so easily find myself complaining about how difficult and frustrating things can be here. Our family and marriage open for all to see. As soon as I open my front door I’m faced with having to put out some sort of hello or engage into conversation. I can find so many things that in my mind are things I suffer. But I look at the life of Jesus, and they don’t even hold a flame to things he suffered for me. I know that he has me going through these things to prepare me for the next season in my life. And like Jesus, I will learn obedience to our father through the things I suffer through. In verse 7, it says that Jesus offered up prayers and supplications to him who was able to save him from death. In my times of distress, instead of complaining inwardly, I should be expressing outwardly to God and giving it all to him to handle. Hebrews 4:15 says “for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are.” Jesus understands where I am in those times of suffering. He brought them about in my life so that I would learn obedience through them.

Julie-

God, I praise You!  I have learned to praise You in all circumstances.  I have learned to praise You in my joy, and I have learned to praise You in my pain.  I am learning the key to not losing You when life is painful and I am suffering.  It is obedience.  Lord, when my life is full of chaos and the storm is so bad that I cannot see or hear You, I know that You are still there.  You have not left me.  You will never leave me, although I cannot see or hear You,  but sometimes seeing and hearing You are more like instant gratification instead of just believing and knowing. It does not take the same act of obedience.  The thing is, that in my storms, my obedience chooses whether or not You're in the storm with me.  Many times in my life as the storm gets thicker and I lose sight of You, I run to a cave to stay dry and build a fire to stay warm.  Then I curse You for  still not feeling You with me.  But, God, I've learned that You are the storm.  I'm called to the storm of harships, not the cave of rest.  Although, I do have seasons of rest, and in them is where You taught me how to hear and see You through the storm.  You have been equipping me for this time of suffering.  Again, Lord, you called me into this storm.  So out of obedience, I walk out to the middle of the field with nothing to shelter me and I endure.  Your word has taught me to stand on your rock so I am not shaken by the strong winds.  Faith is my sight in the darkness.  With my arms held high in obedient surrender and a smile on my face, the storm continues to pursue me, but I know that I am called to this storm and show You my obedience.  And as You see me growing in obedience and not running or resisting You, You whisper "Just like my son was obedient to me till death, so will you be, and I'm proud of you, daughter." 

Friday February 10, 2017 Psalm 17:15 As for me I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

Nick-

David was contrasting himself to the people who were after him, who’s portion is this life. These were men of the world who were wicked in there ways. Arrogant in there speech and without God. These were people who wanted to kill David. It sounds like it could have been King Saul’s men who were after him. David is scared and terrified for his life. The enemy is out prowling like a lion looking to devour him. But David always knew where he could find refuge. He took shelter in Gods righteousness. David was known for being a man after Gods own heart and I think he saw his Righteousness and his character on a whole different level. He knew the things of this world would never give security. It was only God who could deliver him from the hands of his enemies. David doubted at times but trusted that God was going to deliver him. He trusted his life into Gods hands. In yesterdays devotional, I mentioned how when I woke up, i felt overwhelmed with all that is going on. Whether or not I could handle everything that God is asking of me. And knowing that if Im faithful with what I have now he will give me more and thats overwhelming. On top of that, the enemy tries to have me doubt all of this. I love how David, even though people are literally out to kill him, said that when he awakens he shall be satisfied with the likeness of God, Wow! For me this is such an encouragement. Like David, I can look at the likeness of God in my life and be satisfied. I can look back remember where I was without him and how big of a mess I was. I can think of all the victories God has given. All the chains he has broken. All the bondages I have been freed from, and all the strength he has given me. All this because God is making me more like his son everyday. Even though I am so far from looking like Jesus, I can reflect on where he has brought me from and rejoice in the likeness of him in my life.

Julie-

Lord, please do not let the eyes of my heart turn to the right or the left, but instead be focused on You and Your goodness in my life. I admit, I am easily swayed by the treasures of this world. They shine and dance in front of my face. I impulsely grab them and hold them so close to my heart that I'm not sure where You are. I admit, I hold things of the world too closely at times. I am like David's accuser in this Psalm. So often I find myself on the latter end of this contrast between David and his accuser. But I am asking You, Lord, to help me lay down my worldly idols that so often creep on to Your throne in my heart. Whether I have to learn like Abraham or not, so be it. Whether you uproot it from my heart or gently prune it, please let Your will be done to dwell on the throne of my heart. This is my plea for Your help. I want the idols in my heart to be nothing more than a poured out offering to You. Lord, bring me to my knees, touch my hands and loosen my grip. Let my worldy treasures fall to your feet. I want my eyes fixed on you, Jesus. I want to be like You, to meditate all day and night on your face and to remind me that literally nothing in this world can measure up to the blessings that You have in store for me. This includes what I think is best for me. I want to stay focused on your cross to remember that I deserve literally nothing other than eternal hell. So please, Lord, remove the idols and earthly treasures of my heart. Turn my eyes to You so I can experience real satisfaction that only Your Holy Spirirt can give. Stir in my heart and change the way I feel about any portions this world has to offer me, but instead rejoice in the abundance I will have in heaven. The gifts from You are to remind me that You are Lord of all. Please, help my heart from idolizing your gifts, but instead let those gifts be a vehicle that brings me back to Your feet to lay it down and glorify You.

 

 

Thursday February 9, 2017 Philippians 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Nick-

Paul says he learned how to be content in whatever situation. This is something we learn through our relationship with God. This isn’t something I can just think up in my head. This is something learned through trials and testing. When God puts me in circumstances that are challenging, I need to be able to rest in the fact that he placed me there. God is trying to teach me and prepare me for heaven every day of my new life in Christ. So instead of me getting impatient and discontent, I should take the mindset of a student and ask God what he is trying to teach me. Just about every morning that I wake up, I have this sense of discontentment. The feeling of what am I doing here, I can’t keep up with all this. This is too much for me and its not going to stop. The only way for me to end the thoughts is remembering all the things God did for me to even be here and that he is sovereign over all things. He is the one who brought me here to go through all this cause he has things to teach me for the next season in me life. If I look back on the last season, those times of discontentment did nothing but cause me grief. But I can also look back and see that he was teaching me in that season to prepare me for this season. Therefore I can know that this season of learning is for the next and I think there is contentment in that. It becomes more difficult when Im given much from God. To think I have to measure up to what God has given me and not want even more than I have been given. For me those are the times that seem to drag me the furthest from the lord. But I’m learning that these are the times that I need to find contentment in him the most and not the blessings. I think to myself, God why would you send something my way to entangle me. But its not him who is entangling me its myself.

 

Julie-

 

Where do I find my contentment? In the valleys, mountains, or flat ground? The flat groud has to be the worst place for a Christian stand as it feels like lukewarm stagnant water. Luckily God has not called us to live lukewarm, so I can rest assure that if I am every there, I'm probably not in His will and need to reevaluate quickly. What about the low seasons? To be honest, I feel closer to God in the harder seasons. That insecurity and lonliness brings me closer to knowing heaven, and the humility causes me to invest and make deposits into heaven. When I look back on the roughest times of my Christian life, I was closest to God then and as bad as the season hurt, I found a Comfort that noone else could fill in my Savior. In my valleys, when I'm too weak to get out, I can feel God alone lift me up and give me strength to keep running. Jesus was a man who left the thrown of heaven, was born, lived his life, and died in the lowest valleys. Jesus was born in a manger, swaddled in rags, sought for death by age two, left by his parents at a temple, was a carpenter, befriended thugs and prostitutes, was mocked by his family, mocked by the town, became a target for persecution, was whipped, beaten, carried his own cross to die on, and was crucified. That outways any valley I have ever been through. And as he hung to die, he says "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." He didn't ask to be saved from this torture. He didn't seek revenge for God to smite the romans. He was content to die. Jesus Christ, the man who once dwelled in heaven, came down to die on a cross contently - for me! Why would I ever think that I could not be content in my troubles when I deserve to already be dead in hell. On the contrast, I also have mountains. Again, when I should be dead in hell, why does God still give me happiness and blessings. He does this to remind us that He is God. Moses and Aaron did not bring manna and quail to the earth from the sky, God did, as a blessing to the Isrealites. He did it to remind them that He is Lord of all. I am content with my abundance when I can remember that Jesus Christ died for me so I could expierence it, and I am content in my need because I am so deserving of it that Jesus Christ died for it to not bury me but draw me closer to Him.

Wednesday February 8, 2017 Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Nick-

"Be content with what you have” in other words be content with what “I”, God your father, have given to you. Everything that I will ever have in my life, whether it be much or little, is there because god placed it there. When its little, or when things are coming down to the last minute, he always comes through with the provision that I need. The only things he asks of me is to wait on him to provide it. There have been so many times when I thought I should take things into my own hands but I could here God telling me to wait on him. Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage, wait for the lord!” David was an incredible good at waiting. He waited many years to take the throne that was promised to him. He trusted god and was content with the cards that God dealt him. I can attribute the reason why I am here to me waiting on the Lord on not trying to make things happen on my own because of discontentment. I stayed content on where God had me and what I had at that time because I trusted in his sovereignty. When I realized that everything I had in my life was a gift from God and was only there because of him, it really gave me the content heart I’ve been longing for. It was hard at first to trust and believe that he would never leave me or forsake me. That he would provide for my every need. But the more I let go of things the more he came through. I came to the conclusion early on that I would rather have my hands off  completely so that I could look back and say God did that not me. Now that God sits at the Wheel in my life, I can confidently say and believe that he will never leave me or forsake me.

Julie-

This whole section reminds us of the "do nots" of Christianity.  Do not neglect a brother, do not forget those in prison, do not defile marriage, do not lust money.  All of these "do nots" are backed up with a strong point. Do not neglect a brother = some are angels, do not forget those in prison = they are part of the body, do not defile marriage = God will judge, do not lust over money.... wait there is no point, just a sweet message from God "I will never leave you nor forsake you".  Through my time here, I've really struggled with accepting God's love.  I guess I never forgave myself for my former life or maybe because of my past I thought I was unable to be loved without conditions.  As I said yesterday, my comfort was found in money.  It was something I had control over, but really it had control over me.  I was not obsessed with having lots of money, but I was obsessed with organizing it, checking and rechecking, managing, manipulating.  My money is not what's bad, it is the love and obsession I had over it.  But slowly God has been breaking me of the obsession.  All that was left was the security that money gave me.  God was not on the throne of my heart. Why though? Because I didn't trust him !!! I didn't trust him with my life, much less our family.  He wasnt the comfort and security I wanted, which always confused me because the Word says otherwise.  So how come God overlooked me? He didn't.  He has never forgotten.  I was the problem.  I was looking for security in money, in my marriage and in my status.  I was looking to the world for comfort and it all comes up short once we have expierenced God.  Verse 6 says "The Lord is my helper, I will not fear; what can man do for me?" What can man do for me that God cannot? What can the world offer me that is better?  The world is fake and phony.  It bails when times get hard.  It's demanding.  It merits.  It decieves and it kills.  The world is the enemy's home.  Why would I continue to look for love, comfort, and security in his den? I want my Father.  The Father that, I now recognize, has shown me love, comfort and security my whole life.  He has never left me.  He will not forsake me.  I used to not believe this, but now I do.  Praise God that he never gave up on me for now I can honestly rest in contentment that he has prepared for my life.  And I pray that He continues to strip me of my worldly desires and continues to make me rely soley on Him.

Tuesday February 7, 2017 Luke 3:14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do? And he said to them, “Do not exhort money from anyone by threats or false accusations and be content with your “wages”.

Nick-

 In this verse John the baptist seems to be trying to lead this guy into repentance. So this man has not received the Lord in his life yet and does not rely on Gods sovereign provision yet. This man, like me, has to make the decision to turn from his sin, to “prepare the way.” Once he has excepted Christ into his heart and believes in him he can then be a partaker in his promises. When I gave Jesus my life and committed everything to following him, I was telling him that I trust and rely on his sovereignty for my provision(wages) for the rest of my life. Whether it be be money, food, work, or even our call on our lives. I have to be ok with what ever god decides is best for me. Philippians 4:11-12 “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for i have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing hunger, abundance and need.” My life is not my own anymore, it belongs to Christ. Living in Gods will for my life, that he predestined before the foundations of the earth, will have lots of ups and downs, hunger and plenty, rich and poor. He for sure will be asking me to do things I never would have done before coming to him. Things uncomfortable and inconvenient. Things I never thought I was capable or deserving of. There will be times of prospering and times of suffering. Its not about what we think we need or want, its knowing that God knows what we need and when we need it. II Timothy 2:3-4 "Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in the civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him."

Julie-

John has come out of the wilderness like a beast preparing the way for Jesus.  The people thought they were already in good standing with God because they were children of Abraham, but like John says "Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.".  The people thought they were saved by Abraham's blood, but in that settlement they casually did wrong and did not repent.  As many people gathered around John, they begin questioning.  A roman soldier recognizes his sin, which is significant, and he asks what he should do moving forward.  John answers him with this Luke 3:14.  Coming from someone whose household income was based off of the sales quota, this verse still makes me uneasy to hear.  I was no roman soldier slaying people and bribing them for money, but my was heart was distorted in my efforts to sell.  It's not have a lust for money but a desire for security.  And ironically, what I sold, was peace of mind or insurance.  I thought I was building security for myself and our family, but really we were in a dark pit with the lights off feeling around for whatever we could grab to feel secure.  This false sense of security or contentment didn't satisfy for long.  I say the roman soldier is significant because of who he was and his status and he still humbled himself down to recognize that he was a sinner in front of this crowd.  The Word doesn't mention this, but I can imagine that he repented of his sins, got baptized and changed his ways.  He was no longer content with throwing his weight around to steal from people.  God is continuing to strip me of this mindset that money equals contentment of security.  Slowly he is filling my valleys with hope and knocking down my mountains of self sufficency.  He is straightening out my crooked motives and leveling my heart.

Monday February 6, 2017 I Timothy 6:6-8 But Godliness with contentment is great great gain. for we brought nothing into this world and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

Nick-

There seems to be no clear answer to what Godliness is. Having the wisdom of who God is and what he has done through Christ seems to be a solid definition. I Timothy 3:16 says great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of Godliness; ”He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” Chapter 4:7-8 says, Have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather train yourselves for Godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, Godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. Again it seems as though the knowledge and theology of Jesus Christ seems to be my best assumption of what Godliness is. The NLT version places the word “spiritual” in place of Godliness. Since God is spirit, it only makes since there is some spiritual application that goes along with the knowledge. In I timothy 6:1-6 it talks about one being puffed up with conceit and understanding nothing. I was that one who thought Godliness was a means of gain and I became spiritually prideful. The Lord blessed me with gifts, but I became prideful with those and became nothing more than a “noisy gong.” There was no love with the gifts, so God humbled me. He showed me the things he blesses me with are nothing more than gifts and that I should be thankful for them. There is no greater thing to obtain in this world than the spiritual life and our redeemed relationship with our God. In that, I need to be content because he promise to care of me. I Have to be careful though not to let my contentment with the physical creep into to spiritual.

Julie-

        I will be the first one to raise my hand and say that God is stripping me of what I thought I found my contentment in every day because most of it is just things of this world. Those things are idols, and some idols I actually believe, at times, I own.  I guess I think I will leave the world with them.  I idolize my marriage and have to lay it down daily.  Sometimes I believe it's mine to continue fixing.  I also idolize Trent.  Sometimes I believe that he is here by my effort and not a gift from God, but he is not mine and I will not leave the world with him.  I literally watched a man leave this world three months ago who had a wife and children, but when he died his hands were empty.  His wife did not go with him and his children are still here.  It's because we were not his.  I read Tozer's The Pursuit of God and my favorite chapter is The Blessedness of Having Nothing.  In reading it, I am able to put into thought what the Word is telling us.  Watching my dad leave this world with nothing shows me the application.  In contrast to leaving with nothing, he spent his whole life providing, investing, saving and buying.  I'm thankful to have such a real situation in my life to help keep me from contentment of things in the world.  I can hold on the the things of the world with loose hands and grip God.  Because really nothing of the world offers contentment, just temporary security.  Once I expierenced God, nothing has been able to satisfy that wholeness besides him. No relationship, no amount of money, no alcohol.  The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.  He is my manna and quail from heaven.  He is my water from rock.  And as undeserving as I am to recieve any of that, he gives it to me because he loves me, which is all that I really want. Love.  And God is love.  And if I have God's love and am content with that, then take the world because I've already gained eternal life.

Friday February 3, 2017 Hebrews 6:12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Nick-

So that you may not be sluggish. Verse 8 mentions bearing thorns and thistles and is worthless and near to to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. Thats really heavy stuff. For the past few months until now, felt myself getting complacent and sluggish. God has showed that i have taken my eyes off of Jesus and my spiritual life, and put them on the worldly things. I became more interested in where God was going to take me and how he was going to do it. The promise and vision that god gave me became more important than my relationship with Jesus. These things slowly crept into my heart because I became sluggish. Not to the point of bearing thorns and thistles but far enough to where the Lord was was convicting me. God says to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. He doesn’t tell me to keep ourselves fixed on the promise. He doesn’t need our help to get us there either. If we fix our eyes on the things in the future, we put our relationship with Christ at risk. Also if we don’t focus on where the Lord has us today, we miss what he is trying to teach us. 

Julie-

         God has promised me things in my life that I could not fulfill on my own.  Here Hebrews tells us to not be sluggish but be patient.  I have a hard time finding the balance of being patient and sluggish.  In Exodus 14:14 Moses has led the Isrealites to the sea and he tells them to "...be still, the Lord will fight for you..." (paraphrasing), but in verse 15 God tells Moses "Why do you cry to me? Tll the Isrealities to move forward".  Moses thought that being still and waiting on the Lord was right, but God wanted Moses to keep moving. Then I look at Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God.".  Then Genesis 12:1 "Go to the land I will show you", not "sit still and I'll bring it to you". Often, I find it diffircult for me to discern what I should be doing with my "waiting time".  Sitting still is already difficult for me.  If I'm still, I'm usually asleep.  But this Hebrews verse tells me not to be sluggish.  Maybe I have a fear of being at rest?  Despite that I still have to learn to wait patiently, but effectively. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says "...For if a man does not work, he shall not eat".  This verse as always frightened me to not have idle hands, but 2 Thessalonians 3:11 says "For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies."  So where is the balance?  Where is the fine line between faith and foolishness?  I want to inherit God's promises and I have faith.  I know that I cannot be effective in my season of sowing if I'm not effective in my season of rest.  I understand not being a busybody and I understand not being sluggish.  When I'm not "go go go", I still have purpose, but I need God's clarity on what that is so I can effectively rest.

Thursday February 2, 2017 Revelation 1:9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ.

Nick-

John took up his cross till the very end. it says that he was on the island called patmos on account of the word of god and the testimony of Jesus Christ. He also says that we are his partners in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus. Am I willing to go to my patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ? Am I willing to go where God leads me for the sake of the gospel? If I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and follow Him, yes! Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” God left us his word to tell us how to endure the race that is set before us. He says to look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Looking to Jesus as my example, as my model, as my wisdom and understanding will give me the strength and courage to endure my patmos

Julie-

John is writing to the seven churches as a brother and and partner.  Partner in what?  Tribulations.   The Kingdom.  Patient endurance, that like Jesus.  I had to read this verse repeatedly and do some homework to really understand the context, but the more I dig, the more I realize this is a verse for Ignite.  Patmos was a tiny volcanic island in the Aegean Sea.  Although, people were sent there as prisoners and we are not, both John and Ignite were where they were on account of God and because we believe in the truth of Jesus' testimony.  We were all called.  John sets an example for me here.  When it becomes difficult to love my brothers and sisters and my pride gets in the way of being humble, I pray God brings this verse to me.  I pray that my flesh would lay down and the ability to patiently endure whatever hardship overwhelms me.  If I can endure then iron has sharpened iron.  But I pray that my humility and patience be penitrated all the way to my heart and I'm not just walking out some just vain actions.  More than that, I want to be a sister to my class God willing.  When others are suffering, I want to suffer with them and prayerfully walk out of the darkness together.  The third outlook on this for me is to not run from another person whom I feel like there is a trial.  I pray God keeps me in contact with them because running opens the door for the enemy to sneak into my head, but loving them unconditionally keeps the unity that Christ intended because that is glorifying the Kingdom.

Wednesday February 1, 2017 Colossians 1:11

Nick-

Knowledge of His will, spiritual wisdom, understanding, increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with power for endurance and patience with joy. This are the things Paul prayed about for his brothers in Colossae. This letter to the Colossians was to encourage them in there growth in Christ. So I look at these prayers from Paul and reflect on my prayer life. Am I praying for the things that the Holy Spirit was prompting Paul to pray for? No Im not, neither for myself or others. these things are essential for a growing, fruitful christian life. Yesterday, Pastor Art taught in Philippians chapter 1. He was talking about when the spirit to mind people from our past and present. Could it be that lord is testing our spiritual lives to see if we will pray for them. Maybe its not a test but the spirit knows they need prayer. I think both could be true. As christians, I believe we should be praying for these things for others as well as ourselves.

Julie-

         What pops out to me first when reading this verse is "power".  The only power we possess is that of the Holy Spirit.  Away from it we are actually powerless.  So this verse is essentially reading "May you be strengthened with the Holy Spirit...".  But how?  Earlier in this section Paul mentions prayer.  There is a "power" in prayer - a Holy Spirit power.  Paul wasn't going to Colossae and asking them to have faith, but instead he prayed to God.  He didn't go to man or idols, but God.  And I believe through praying, we are able to see his glory.  When we see God answer our prayers, we see the Power of our prayer at work.  Praise God for answered prayers! Now, just becuse we have faith to pray does not mean that our prayers will be answered immediately.  Many times we pray, but then we must wait.  Waiting for God is always the hardest part of my walk with Him.  But if I choose to be patient and endure the waiting with joy, then I am closer to living out this verse.  I have been a praying for a change in my heart all week.  I have prayed every day and God has not answered me.  He has not given me clarity.  He has not directed or guided me. 

Tuesday January 31, 2017 Luke 21:19

Nick-

Our entire team took on Fuego Volcano yesterday. Not even 10 minutes into the climb, Valerie was convinced that she was not going to be able to make it up the mountain. In my own life, there are lots of these Fuego type mountains that seem like there is no way over them. There are some that I want to back from and some that i just want to go around and avoid. Before Christ I had that option and I became very good at it. I ran from the problems and difficult situations in my life because deep down I knew that i had no strength or courage to face them on my own. That isn’t the life that God has now called me to. Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, the Lord is with you where ever you go” This is an incredibly comforting promise form our God Immanuel. He was with me in Chattanooga, He is with me here, and He will be with me where ever I go. There will be many more mountains that God places in my life, and through those he grows me more and more producing endurance. Romans 5:3-4 “Not only that but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” Valerie ended up making the 12 hour round trip hike on Fuego. 

Julie-

         Why would we need endurance to gain our lives if we are saved and have eternal life?  Possibly, the meaning of this verse is to help us endure the war and persecutions that we face in our lives.  Romans 5:3-4 "suffering produces endurance, endurance character, and character hope". As a Christian, we will suffer through war, trials, tribulations, and even persecutions.  This is just part of the walk.  This past weekend, God told me to be willing to die for Him, and as contradicting as it sounds, His words to die gave me so much life.  It was as if I was freed of the burden of trying to stay alive and well for His will.  As we climbed up the volcano on Monday, He kept reminding me, "Be willing to die for me.", and it made the hike much easier to endure.  The pain was still there and the volcano didn't change its size, but my mindset was to go till I dropped.  That's endurance and perserverance.  I want Monday to be a metaphor for the rest f my life.  I want to walk every day in complete freedom to die for Christ that day.  The petty fights with Nick, the challanges of homeschool, and any other minor trials are pointless to ponder over when compared to dying for Christ.  They are washed away in the ocean of grace immediately.  This endurance has absolutely helped me gain new color to my life.  But what do I do with this new momentum?  I use it to gain more lives.  To help others fight for their salvation and to give them an endurance to gain their lives so they can turn around and gain others.

Monday January 30, 2017 Luke 8:11-15

Julie-

        The parable of the sower is broken down into four scenerios.  I feel like a part of my heart contains each bit of these soils.  Sometimes I hear something via the Word or fellowship that really speaks to me, but within minutes of that seed landing on my heart, the enemy has attacked it and taken it away.  Through doubt or forgetfulness it is just gone. I am recognizing the hardness my heart still has to recieving God's word in certain areas, just like the hard path. Also,  there are seasons of my life where God is constantly testing me.  The tree that I am growing in to gets blown by the testing winds, and where my roots are not grounded deep enough, I'm uprooted and fall.  This is a lack of faith and a lack of foundation in God to endure the harsh conditions.  I have also realized that I get choked out by the world, whether it's caring too much about tasks and not God or financial stability or myself in general.  But every day God is patient with me.  My Sower gardens my heart every day, even on my good days.  Last week our garden in the courtyard had a "sick spot".  Christian immediately removed it.  Even though the garden was in good standing before he found that spot, he still monitored and cared for the garden, because even a good garden needs constant care and maintenance.  I've noticed God doing the same in my heart.  He has been plowing my soil, making it durable for planting and protecting seeds.  He is removing rocks so that the roots of faith can keep me firmly grounded and He is continuing to remove the thorns of the world that stunt my growth in Him.  

Friday January 27, 2017 Ephesians 5:15-17

Nick-

When I woke up this morning, the reality of everything that is happening in my life came into perspective. What God has called me to and is asking of me. The thought of living in a different country is uncharted territory. I have no idea what I have gotten myself into, but God does. From my perspective, I can only see myself from where I have come from to where I am now. To me in my own strength, historically, I am not capable or qualified of doing what He is asking of me. God doesn’t see it that way. He knows what I’m capable of and what I can handle. God already knows what I’m going to be and that is so comforting to me. I don’t have to rely on my own strength anymore but on his strength sovereignty. But this is a relationship and it takes both sides to make it work. So what is my part in all this during this next season in Guatemala? I read in Ephesians 5:15-16 “Look carefully then how you walk not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of your time, because the days are evil.” I read a book once called The Best Question Ever by Andy Stanley. The question is “what is the wise thing to do?” God has placed me here by his sovereignty and has ordained the circumstances around me. By his grace, he has placed people in my life, married couples who have walked out this lifestyle. Proverbs 15:22 says “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisors they succeed.” So to walk wisely in this next season for me is to seek the counsel of those god has placed in my life. Not only to seek their counsel, but to seek a relationship with them, to learn from them and to follow their leadership.

Julie-

        This passage is talking about conducting ourselves above reproach.  To not walk unwise or waste time or be foolish, but instead be carefully of how we walk, and using time wisely, and being understanding of God's will.  I feel like verse 10 sums it up well - "and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord".  Here we are now, juggling "wisdom", "time", "God's will", something about "walking carefully" and now we throw in "discernment".  Without knowing where to go and what to do with all of this, I suggest going to the beginning, laying all the spinning plates down, and starting again in the light. Love.  God is love.  This whole section is how to walk out love.  Love comes from the heart and from the heart comes our actions.  How we walk or steward our time or conduct ourselves all comes from the motives of our heart.  Now just like there is a bold line between "walking in faith" and "walking foolishly unprepared", there is a difference in "walking out our heart" and "walking with no connection to the heart".  To "walk out our heart" in the will of the Lord requires crucial skills.  Skills that need time to take root and be nurished and watched over.  Skills like "wisdom"... (picking up that plate to spin), and "discernment", and "good stewardship".  All of a sudden, with love as the main motive of walking, these spinning plates are manageable.  Once we are get to this place, through love and prayer, we start to see that the walk isn't the hard part.  The good walk is the result of good seed planted and dwelled amongst our heart.  Walking out God's will with wisdom is now effortless because the effort was poured into the heart before the walk.

Thursday January 26, 2017 II Corinthians 1:12

Nick-

         Before Christ, life seemed to get more and more complex. Having to keep up with all the lies and deception. The world seemed to suck me deeper and deeper into into its whole. On top of that God placed two people in my life to look after. It was all so incredibly overwhelming. Then God broke into my life and filled that void that I was trying to fill with the things of this world for so long. He showed the lie I was living and the things I was running from and slowly began to burn away the things he doesn’t need for his purposes. Its by Gods grace alone that I have been delivered into a simple life. He has filled that void with himself like he originally intended, and has blessed me with things I don’t deserve. He has given me a new heart and desires. To be open, honest, and genuine. I pray that he continues to give me the strength and courage to keep pouring out his grace and wisdom that he has blessed me with, not pridefully but sincerely. One of the great things of christianity is the simplicity of it all. “Take up your cross and follow me.” Jesus thank you for the privilege to turn away daily from all the things I really never wanted and to trust you with my life.

Julie-

        The before and after of this verse all pertain to Paul suffering for others.  He talks about how his affliction are for the comfort of those who are in affliction.  This reminds me of hearing Brooke's testimony and how I know she is going to influence my life greater than what she already has.  Verse 5 - "For we all share in Christ's sufferings".  And I am sure others could learn from my "afflictions", or as I call them "mistakes in life".  This is where verse 12 comes in to play.  We are not to boast of our accomplishments, but our testimonies.  A testimony is when we are so sick of our flesh and disgusted with our heart, and we would rather be gone from the world than taint the dough with any more of our yeast and feeling the same weight as the adultrous woman about to be stoned.  But, then, we hear that still small voice saying "come home".  And in total surrender and on your knees we actually do.  We literally crawl back to the Father.  Weak, broken, and peuny, He gives us strength to keep going.  The only credit we can take is that our eyes shifted in a quick moment from ourselves to God.  He has done the rest.  That small act holds all the simplicity or holiness or godly sincerity that this verse portays.  That small act of faith isn't worldy wisdom, but is instead an act of God's amazing grace.  And he gives that to me.  That is the testimony of faith and wisdom that we can hold on to and boast over when the enemy tries to pull us back into the pit. 

Wednesday January 25, 2017 James 1:5 

Nick-

What does it mean to live without reproach? The dictionary says that reproach is condemnation, disgrace, to criticize or rebuke. So to be without reproach would mean that i would be living a life in tune with gods word and order of things. To be above criticism or rebuke, not in a prideful way but in a way of putting behind and not falling into. So according to God in this verse, if we are to expect any wisdom, we first need to be in a right relationship with him and his people. I don’t think our god will give us wisdom if we are trespassing against him and stirring up strife with his people. But if we confess and repent of these things, God will cleanse us and bring us back into communion with him. Once I have repented from my reproaches, we can then come to god, who is faithful to uphold his word. Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Jesus is saying in the first part of this verse for us to ask him, come to him, to seek his wisdom and understanding. Then Jesus goes on to say “for everyone who asks receives.” We see it all throughout scripture, how god wants bless us with these things. He wants to give us the things we need to run the race. He wants us to walk in the will that he has for our lives. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it, he just wants us to ask him for it. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans i have for you, declares the lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God already knows what is ahead of us. God wants to fulfill his plans that he has for us. If we live a life above reproach, he will generously give us the wisdom we need to run the race he has set before us.

Julie-

         To read this verse and interperate it, we must first know the context of it.  Verses 2-4 talk about the testing of our faith and how it produces steadfastness.  The "testing of faith" is our spiritual work out.  The "steadfastness" is the spiritual muscle.  Now verse 5 gives us "wisdom", which is our work out plan.  We are always going through tests of faith, but we are not always building steadfastness in our life.  It's as if we are incorrectly working out.  Wisdom helps us to not get hurt or burned out or even obsessed with our tests of faith.  Now verse 5 is where it gets praiseworthy.  If we lack wisdom, God will give it to us generously.  And we don't even have to be above reproach.  That means we can be spiritual gluttons or sloths, envious or greedy and as long as we simplly ask for wisdom, he will give it to us abundantly.  The Lord is our free spititual personal trainer, if we just humble ourselves and admit that our spiritual work out plan is not working.  He freely gives us His wisdom to help us through our tests of faith so we can gain true steadfast faith.  Now verse 6 adds a twist.  "...let him ask in faith, with no doubting...".  So here we are in a catch 22.  How do we ask in faith for wisdom to help us through our tests of faith? That is the test.  The test of faith for wisdom is reaching out in prayer and humility and asking God for it.  From there he will show himself starting to build that spiritual steadfastness muscle.  This reminds me of the woman in Mark 5 who touched Jesus' cloak saying "If I touch even his garments, I will be made well" (Mk 5:28).  After the touch of faith stops Jesus in tracks, he turns to the woman and says "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease." (Mk 5:34).  Our "disease" is lack of faith, and when the enemy has us in that choke hold, it makes asking God difficult to ask for wisdom.  Tonight I will pray for faith to ask and believe that the God from Genesis 1:1 would give me wisdom to endure all tests of faith and produce a steadfastness that could never be broken. 

Tuesday January 24, 2017 Psalm 111:10 

                         

Nick-

         How could we the created not think we should have a healthy fear of the one who created us? The one who holds everything together by his power and majesty. God literally thought up everything that exists, then he spoke it into being. He knows how many atoms there are, stars there are, and everything in between. When I come back to this reality, it gives me great peace because I know that the god that created it all and sustains it all is my heavenly father. If he knows how to sustain all of creation, he without a doubt knows how to sustain and take care of me. As a father, I demand respect from my son. God uses my relationship with my son to speak to me about my relationship with him. That same respect that I require of trent, God expects from me. When he is disrespectful or disobedient, he gets disciplined because we love him. Hebrews 12:7 says “it is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline.” later in verse 11, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” When we begin to take our eye place as sons of god, he trains us and we gain wisdom and understanding from him, our good father. 

Julie-

         I used to fear the Lord and not benefit from any understanding.  I was frightened that he would punish me if I made a wrong move.  I said all of the right things.  But still, I had no fruit.  If God could come down to earth and give me a check list and a deadline, I would have it completed early with more done than asked.  Gold star for me! But after I finish that list what am I besides spent and exhausted, miserable and maybe even resentful? Why did I still not hold any wisdom in my heart?  That's how I felt about most relationships in my life as well. I poured and poured into others, sacrificing myself for their benefit, and all I recieved was the label "door mat".  I was still empty with no depth.  As I pondered in my self-pity, I recognized the root of all my emptiness and resentment. My fear for the Lord was scewed.  I feared him like a child whose father was raging and verbally abusing her for not meeting His expectation.  How crazy am I to think I could ever meet God's expectation anyway.  I wanted a Father who showed me grace and taught me a lesson when I messed up.  I wanted to have a healthy fear of respect not a distorted fear.  I started to do the Lord's work with a respectful heart.  I chose to obey Him with honor.  The fear became healthy, and the labor started to take root in what grew in to good fruits.  All it took was a slight heart adjustment.  I recognized the Lord as my Father and I feared him, but where I used to fear His wrath, I now fear losing the relationship we have.  Through this relationship, He has grown me in wisdom.  The trails are no longer sufferings but lessons.  I am no longer a victim but a student.

Monday January 23, 2017  James 3:13-17 

Nick-

       Meekness was an attitude taught and lived out by our Lord Jesus. It is a mindset and heart condition that we are to have as followers of Him. Matthew 5:5 says “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.” We must not seek to boast about our wisdom. Jesus never once puffed himself up with his wisdom and understanding. Jesus was God incarnate and knew everything there was to know, past, present, and future. “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:24 Christ was both at the same time, we must seek to imitate that. Am I letting my actions and works speak of my wisdom here among men? My hopes are to  let my works and deeds speak of my wisdom and not my tongue.

Julie-

        In this passage, James is showing us the contrast between worldy wisdom and heavenly wisdom.  He has defined and made bold the line the line between worldly wisdom (foolishness) and heavenly wisdom for those of us who lack knowledge of wisdom.  Verse 14 has the power to grab hold of us and drag us in a hole of darkness.  We become isolated and build alters there.  But, if we keep reading, James is not trying to call us out but to draw us in.  Verse 17 gives us a tool.  That tool is discernment.  I find myself asking these questions as I read and wonder if the wisdom I use is of the world or biblical truth.  1. Are my "wise actions" producing disorder or good fruit?Let's look back at Galatians 5:19-23.  Here we have a black and white picture of the outcomes of worldly wisdom and heavenly wisdom.  If we could just first think of the fruit that could be produced BEFORE we act, we may be able to avoid disorder.  2. Am I focused on self or open to reason?  Immediately, I think of Eve in the garden.  Genesis 3:6 clearly tells us her motives.  She "saw the tree was good" and "it was a delight". "The tree was to be DESIRED".  The focus of her decision was based on self ambition.  God's reason, literally heavenly wisdom, was wiser than her own as we see that Eve's selfish act.  3. Is my heart harboring bitterness or peace?  We look at Cain and Able, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, David and Saul, Rebeccah and Leah, the Prodigal son and his brother and so many more, and from them we see the spark that spread the fire.  It was bitterness and jealousy.  So to put the real heart of the matter in perspective, I would like to focus in on my application with a look at Proverbs 9.  This is such a beautiful contrast of the heavenly wisdom and worldly wisdom.  Heavenly wisdom involves skill, sacrifice, and working hands.  Worldy wisdom is easy and lazy.  Heavenly wisdom doesn't settle for crumbs like worldly wisdom.  It takes a seat at the table with God and learns from Him.  James has given us guardrails in this passage to keep us in line with wisdom from the Lord.