God Thoughts January 4

God Thought January 5th, 2019

"So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”.” Genesis 33:14

What a beautiful picture of Jacob's thoughtfulness for the cattle and children! He would not allow them to be driven for even one day.  He would not lead them at a pace to what a strong man like Esau could keep or expected them to keep, but only one as fast as they were able to endure.  He knew exactly how far they could go in a day, and made that his only consideration in planning their travel.  He had taken the same wilderness journey years before and knew from personal experience it's roughness, heat, and distance.  And so he said, " I will move along slowly."  "since you have never been this way before" (Jos 3:4)

We "have never been the way before" but the Lord Jesus has.  It is all untraveled and unknown ground to us, but He knows it all through personal experience.  He knows the steep places that take away our breath, the rocky paths that make our feet ache, the hot and shadeless stretches that bring us to exhaustion, and the rushing rivers that we have to cross-Jesus has gone through it all before us.  As John 4:6 shows, "Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well."  He was battered by ever possible torrent, but all the floodwaters coming against Him never quenched His love.  Jesus was made a perfect leader by the things He suffered.  "For he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust." (Psalms 103:14) Think of that when you are tempted to question the gentleness of his leading. He remembers all the time and will never make you take even one step beyond what your feet are able to endure.  Never mind if you think you are unable to take another step, for either He will strengthen you to make you able, or he will call a sudden halt, and you will nog have to take it at all. Frances Ridley Havergal  (Exert from Streams in the desert, January 3)

God Thoughts January 4th 2019

Questions

Snippet

Love God enough to worship Him with your questions.

Song

We Don't Know

The Strumbellas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnHr4MxLDJQ

Well I know it gets harder every single day

And I know my darkness will never go away

It's hard when you're living and you don't feel much

And you're down and you're hoping that things are gonna change

Oh we don't know the roads that we're heading down

We don't know if we're lost, that we'll find a way

We don't know if we leave, will we make it home

We don't know, there's hope, then we'll be okay

And some say it gets brighter

We just have to wait

Mother mother, I can feel your heart break

Burning through me every single day

It's hard when you're living and you don't feel much

And you're down and you're hurting 'cause you don't feel loved

It's hard when you're living and you don't feel much

And you're down and you're hoping that things are gonna change

Oh we don't know the roads that we're heading down

We don't know if we're lost, that we'll find a way

We don't know if we leave, will we make it home

We don't know, there's hope, then we'll be okay

Oh we don't know the roads that we're heading down

We don't know if we're lost, that we'll find a way

We don't know if we leave, will we make it home

We don't know, there's hope, then we'll be okay

Oh there's something in my mind that's killing me

There's something that this life's not giving me

Would you say

There's something in my mind that's killing me

There's something that this life's not giving me

Would you say

Oh we don't know the roads that we're heading down

We don't know if we're lost, that we'll find a way

We don't know if we leave, will we make it home

We don't know, there's hope, then we'll be okay

Oh we don't know the roads that we're heading down

We don't know if we're lost, that we'll find a way

We don't know if we leave, will we make it home

We don't know, there's hope, then we'll be okay

Scripture

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:21-27 NIV

Sentence Prayer

Father; 

Oh we don't know the roads that we're heading down

We don't know if we're lost, that we'll find a way

We don't know if we leave, will we make it home

We don't know, there's hope, then we'll be okay

Oh we don't know the roads that we're heading down

We don't know if we're lost, that we'll find a way

We don't know if we leave, will we make it home

We don't know, there's hope, then we'll be okay

There's so much we don't know.  But, because, we know your Son the Resurrection and Life, we will never die.  Amen

God Thoughts January 3rd

God Thoughts January 3rd

1 Timothy 6:3,4 KJV; If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even 

the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof 

cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

I do not use the King James on a regular basis because it's language is often outdated.  But 

the ancient tongue at times uses expressions like evil surmising, captures the heart, that a 

contemporary phrase cannot.  New Oxford American Dictionary defines surmising as; "to 

suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it;" The first-word evil 

defines the nature of our supposing-evil, negative, false, and put other in a bad light.

Why is it because someone gives you a look, does not respond in a way we would like, or 

remains silent we assume they are against us? When the news comes on and gives a sound 

bite, do we assume the best or the worst?

Proverbs 18:13 NLT states: Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and 

foolish.  You drive a stake through the heart of evil surmising by; (1) Always assume the best of 

others, until facts prove you wrong.  (2) Go to the person you are surmising evil off and get it 

straight from the horse's mouth. (3) Get the facts before making any decision; (4) be open to 

new ideas; (3) make sure you hear both sides of any story before judging. All three principles 

center around seeking additional information. This is difficult work, but the only alternative is 

prejudice—judging before getting the facts. Or as King James states evil surmising and not 

good surmising.

God Thoughts January 2, 2019

God Thoughts January 2, 2019

Thoughts from Peter Scazzero's book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day.  

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-4 NIV

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 

Devotional

Jonah is an example of a prophet with a case of emotionally unhealthy spirituality.  He hears and serves God but refuses to listen to God's call to love and show mercy to Ninevah, a world power known for it's violent, barbaric behavior.  Jonah flees 2,400 miles in the opposite direction, to Tarshish, in present-day Spain.

" And why Tarshish? For one thing, it is a lot more exciting than Nineveh.  Nineveh was an ancient site with layer after layer of ruined and unhappy history.  Going to Nineveh to preach was not a coveted assignment for a Hebrew prophet with good references.  But Tarshish was something else.  Tarshish was exotic.  Tarshish was adventure. . .Tarshish in the Biblical references was a "far off and sometimes idealized port."  It is reported in 1 Kings 10:22 that Solomon's fleet of Tarshish fetched gold, silver, ivory, monkeys and peacocks. . . In Tarshish we can have a religious career without having to deal with God.  Eugene Peterson, under the unpredictable plant: an exploration in vocational holiness. (Grand Rapids:Eerdmans, 1992). 15-16

As Jonah runs, However, God sends a great storm.  Jonah loses control of his life and destiny.  He is thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish.  It is from the belly of the fish that Jonah begins to wrestle with God in prayer.

Question to  Consider

What internal or external storm might God be sending into your life as a sign that something is not right spiritually?

Prayer

Lord, may your will, not my will, be done in my life.  You know how easy it is to call myself a Christian but then become busy, forgetting about your will and desires.  Forgive me for this sin.  Help me listen to you, and grant me the courage to faithfully surrender to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)

Devotions January 1 2019

Devotions January 1, 2019

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? KJV Luke 2:49

Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[f]  NIV Luke 2:49

Did you notice the difference between the King James version and the New International?  The difference is in the original language Greek house means more than a building, a temple or a place.  Here are the translation notes from the Disciples Literal New Testament Notes; That is, engaged in the interests or business of My Father (answering the stated ‘Why’ question); or, located in the possessions or house of My Father (answering the implied ‘Where’ question).

By engaging in these kinds of conversations with Jesus and with those around us, I believe, we take seriously God’s desire that we cooperate with God’s great dream of bringing about what Jesus called the kingdom of God. On our planet, at least, God wants a world where we live in harmony with God, with one another, and with the whole of creation. God invites each of us to do our part in our small and big ways to make the world a more harmonious and life-giving place for all. We can’t do everything; we are not God. But we are created in God’s image, and we can choose to live out that identity. God dreams of us living out his image and character wherever we are—at home, in our neighborhoods, in our churches, in our jobs, in our play, in the voting booth, in our contacts with our elected representatives, in all we do. That’s our part to play in God’s great work- Excerpted from An Invitation to Love by William A. Barry, SJ

Be Free for God
I have a need
Of such clearance
As the savior effected in the temple of Jerusalem
A riddance of clutter
of what is secondary
That blocks the way
To the all-important central emptiness
Which is filled
With the presence of God alone.

Jean Danielou

Devotions December 31 Burning

Devotions December 31 Burning 

Snippet

As a result of grace, we have been saved from sin's penalty. One day we will be saved from sin's presence. In the meantime we are being saved from sin's  Alistair Begg

Scripture

There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. Philippians 1:6 Message

Song

Burning Man Dierks Bentley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hp7Lotbmgs&list=RD2hp7Lotbmgs&start_radio=1

Half your life you struggle

Half your life you fly

Half your life makin' trouble

Half your life makin' it right

One day I'm the exception

Most days I'm just like most

Some days I'm headed in the right direction

And some days I ain't even close

I'm a little bit steady but still little bit rollin' stone

I'm a little bit heaven but still a little bit flesh-and-bone

Little found, little don't-know-where-I-am

I'm a little bit holy water but still a little bit burning man

Burning man yeah

I always loved the highway

I just don't run it as fast

I still go wherever the wind blows me

But I always find my way back

I still don't get it right sometimes

I just don't get it as wrong

I still go a little bit crazy sometimes

Yeah, but now I don't stay near as long

I'm a little bit steady but still little bit rollin' stone

I'm a little bit heaven but still a little bit flesh-and-bone

Little found, little don't-know-where-I-am

I'm a little bit holy water but still a little bit burning man

Burning man

Still just a burn, burn, burning man

Just a burning man, uh

Maybe I'll go to the desert

Find myself in the Joshua Tree

If we pass in the night then just hand me a light

And tell me you burned just like me

I'm a little bit steady but still little bit rollin' stone

I'm a little bit heaven but still a little bit flesh-and-bone

Little found, little don't-know-where-I-am

I'm a little bit holy water but still a little bit burning man

Burning man

Still just a burn, burn, burning man

Just a burning man

Uh uh 

Burning man

Sentence Prayer

Father, with Sulphur, burn away all the sodom in my life. Today, help me walk close enough with you, it keeps me far from sin.  If I fall help me to remember what Jesus did for me on Calvary, help me to learn from it, so I may grow in obedience.  Amen

Devotion December 30, 2018

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:13-14

Every December, millions of people begin planning their year with New Year’s resolutions. Losing weight, getting organized, exercising more, eating healthier, and managing finances better are some of the most common resolutions. But what about making spiritual New Year’s resolutions?

We make commitments and tell our friends and family on January 1st, only to give it all up by January 3rd. But as humans, our struggle for consistency goes way beyond resolutions. Making commitments we can’t keep runs all through society, back to Biblical times. 

In the Bible, James spoke of some people who can teach us a valuable lesson about great intentions that aren’t aligned with God’s will. 

Our plans may or may not be God’s plans. If we want to be successful with any New Year’s resolution, we must seek God’s will. By his strength, we might lose weight, eat better, or become better stewards of our finances. 

What does God want for our lives? When he convicts, he also equips us to follow through with the plan. When we know we are following God’s plan, then we have more strength to stick to it, allowing him to work well beyond our normal January 3rd quitting date.

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”

James 5:7-8

Devotion by Dr. Joe Pettigrew In the Zone Daily Huddle Devotions.