June 23 - Followship
Jesus called four fishermen to follow him. Their response was immediate. No wavering. No "let me consult with this person." Two of the men left their father to follow Jesus. Followship is as simple as immediate obedience.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
John 3:30
June 22 - Leadership
Leadership by example. "He must become greater; I must become less." John the baptist spoke these words. At the time, he was a leader, preparing the way for Jesus. He spoke these words at the realization of who Jesus was. What words to live by! Jesus becomes greater. I become less. Jesus is therefore seen in me and I live for him!
Leadership by example. "He must become greater; I must become less." John the baptist spoke these words. At the time, he was a leader, preparing the way for Jesus. He spoke these words at the realization of who Jesus was. What words to live by! Jesus becomes greater. I become less. Jesus is therefore seen in me and I live for him!
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
June 21 - Love
This is a knock over the head of what I was not today. I was not patient. I was not kind. I was selfish. By not being love, not exercising love, I was not protecting the unity of my family. Instead, with my words, my impatience, my frustration, I was tearing down my family. I was hurting my family. I didn't prioritize prayer when Satan attacked me with frustrations and angry thoughts. I let them fester until all that came out of my mouth was frustration, words that tear down rather than build up. Love is not what I was today and it all ties back to not prioritizing prayer and time in God's Word.
This is a knock over the head of what I was not today. I was not patient. I was not kind. I was selfish. By not being love, not exercising love, I was not protecting the unity of my family. Instead, with my words, my impatience, my frustration, I was tearing down my family. I was hurting my family. I didn't prioritize prayer when Satan attacked me with frustrations and angry thoughts. I let them fester until all that came out of my mouth was frustration, words that tear down rather than build up. Love is not what I was today and it all ties back to not prioritizing prayer and time in God's Word.
Ephesians 4:14-16
June 16 - Unity
When we are united, then we will be able to discern truth. We will not be lead astray by crafty and cunning teaching. We will be able to speak the truth in love - to correct and guide so that we maintain the body while we do the work of the head, Christ.
When we are united, then we will be able to discern truth. We will not be lead astray by crafty and cunning teaching. We will be able to speak the truth in love - to correct and guide so that we maintain the body while we do the work of the head, Christ.
Ephesians 4:3-6
June 15 - Unity
Make every effort to keep unity among the body. There is one body and it must work as one body. We all have the common ground of Jesus Christ. No matter our differences, there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God.
Make every effort to keep unity among the body. There is one body and it must work as one body. We all have the common ground of Jesus Christ. No matter our differences, there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God.
Ephesians 4:1-2
June 14 - Attitude
We have been called to a higher standard. Paul encourages us to live like we're saved. To be humble, gentle, patient, and bear with one another in love. Sounds like the fruit of the Spirit. These are all hard things to do on our own, but with Christ in us and us being in the Word, it is possible.
We have been called to a higher standard. Paul encourages us to live like we're saved. To be humble, gentle, patient, and bear with one another in love. Sounds like the fruit of the Spirit. These are all hard things to do on our own, but with Christ in us and us being in the Word, it is possible.
Psalm 86
June 11 - Prayer
"Teach me your way, O Lord,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name." v. 11
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name." v. 11
This is my prayer. I long to walk in God's truth every day. "Teach me your way." How? Through the word. "Give me an undivided heart." How" Take away distractions. Allow the Lord to lead - even if it doesn't fit with your plans. (Praying for a specific person in the middle of a devotional/Bible study that you haven't seen or talked to in years).
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Jeremiah 32:17-23
June 10 - Prayer
Jeremiah's prayer here is full of praise to the Lord. He is praising God and telling Him how great and mighty He is. He is telling Him things he has done that show His character. Reminding him of promises kept. Praise God through prayer. Bring honor to His name through your descriptions of Him. Remind Him of promises He has kept. Praise Him.
Jeremiah's prayer here is full of praise to the Lord. He is praising God and telling Him how great and mighty He is. He is telling Him things he has done that show His character. Reminding him of promises kept. Praise God through prayer. Bring honor to His name through your descriptions of Him. Remind Him of promises He has kept. Praise Him.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Matthew 6:5-8
June 9 - Prayer
Pray in secret. Pray to the Father. Do not stand in the church and on the street corners and pray that man may see you. This does not bring glory to God. It brings glory to yourself. God already knows my needs. He simply wants to hear me ask. Flowery words need not be used. God knows. Babbling with many words will not cause God to listen anymore than He listens to earnest prayers. The praying in secret may seem to conflict with yesterday's reading and insights, but I believe the key to verse 5 is that hypocrites 'love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.' They aren't praying to communicate with God or to bring glory to him with their words. They are praying to be seen by men. HUGE difference.
Pray in secret. Pray to the Father. Do not stand in the church and on the street corners and pray that man may see you. This does not bring glory to God. It brings glory to yourself. God already knows my needs. He simply wants to hear me ask. Flowery words need not be used. God knows. Babbling with many words will not cause God to listen anymore than He listens to earnest prayers. The praying in secret may seem to conflict with yesterday's reading and insights, but I believe the key to verse 5 is that hypocrites 'love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.' They aren't praying to communicate with God or to bring glory to him with their words. They are praying to be seen by men. HUGE difference.
Monday, June 8, 2009
John 11:41-42
June 8 - Prayer
Jesus first thanked God that he heard him. He knew God would hear him and that he always hears him. His prayer was for the benefit of the people standing there - for the glory of God. Once again, I am drawn to the fact that prayer is for God's glory - to reveal who He is or what He can do. God doesn't need me to pray out loud, but others may, if only to show who God is, who he has sent. If only. Right. That's huge. That's my testimony of who God is and that any benefit to those who hear me is to lead them to God and to show his glory.
Jesus first thanked God that he heard him. He knew God would hear him and that he always hears him. His prayer was for the benefit of the people standing there - for the glory of God. Once again, I am drawn to the fact that prayer is for God's glory - to reveal who He is or what He can do. God doesn't need me to pray out loud, but others may, if only to show who God is, who he has sent. If only. Right. That's huge. That's my testimony of who God is and that any benefit to those who hear me is to lead them to God and to show his glory.
1 Kings 18:36-37
June 7 - Prayer
Elijah prayed specifically for God to answer his prayer. God had commanded him to set up the sacrifice the way Elijah did. The prayer was not about Elijah or the people. It was about God and that the people would know that God is God. It's ALL about Him. God pursues us --> Elijah's prayer was that the people would know that God was the one turning their hearts back again.
Elijah prayed specifically for God to answer his prayer. God had commanded him to set up the sacrifice the way Elijah did. The prayer was not about Elijah or the people. It was about God and that the people would know that God is God. It's ALL about Him. God pursues us --> Elijah's prayer was that the people would know that God was the one turning their hearts back again.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
May 31 - Leave a godly legacy
Talk to your children about God, about the things of God. Memorize scripture. Leave scripture around your home. Make it visible to all who come in. Carry the Word with you.
June 1 - Do not be ashamed of the Word of God
v. 9 - Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Display the Word. I should be so full of the Word that it is spilling over into everything I do. Take the Word with me every where - the whole thing or parts. Memorize, memorize, memorize.
June 2 - Love the Lord your God
Love God with everything that is in me - my heart, soul, and strength. Love him in and with my passions. Love him with my whole being. Love him with all my might. EVERYTHING. Hold nothing back when loving God. By loving him fully and completely, everything else will follow, teaching my children to love him, to obey him. To obey him is to love him. To love him is to obey him.
June 3 - The Lord is One
There is only one true God. There are many gods throughout history and in our lives. A god is anything or any person who takes the place of the one God. There is one God and he is number one, first, above all.
June 5 - Commandments
These verses are not just suggestions. They are commands. Love God with everything. Talk about them, impress them on your children, take them with you. Write them in your home. Let it overflow.
June 6 - Hear
The commandments of these verses are obviously important. Teach your children them. Talk about them often. Take them with you. Display them. Hear, O Israel. Hear. Listen. Obey. Hear: this is important. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Hear. Be attentive to the Word of God whether spoken or written.
Talk to your children about God, about the things of God. Memorize scripture. Leave scripture around your home. Make it visible to all who come in. Carry the Word with you.
June 1 - Do not be ashamed of the Word of God
v. 9 - Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Display the Word. I should be so full of the Word that it is spilling over into everything I do. Take the Word with me every where - the whole thing or parts. Memorize, memorize, memorize.
June 2 - Love the Lord your God
Love God with everything that is in me - my heart, soul, and strength. Love him in and with my passions. Love him with my whole being. Love him with all my might. EVERYTHING. Hold nothing back when loving God. By loving him fully and completely, everything else will follow, teaching my children to love him, to obey him. To obey him is to love him. To love him is to obey him.
June 3 - The Lord is One
There is only one true God. There are many gods throughout history and in our lives. A god is anything or any person who takes the place of the one God. There is one God and he is number one, first, above all.
June 5 - Commandments
These verses are not just suggestions. They are commands. Love God with everything. Talk about them, impress them on your children, take them with you. Write them in your home. Let it overflow.
June 6 - Hear
The commandments of these verses are obviously important. Teach your children them. Talk about them often. Take them with you. Display them. Hear, O Israel. Hear. Listen. Obey. Hear: this is important. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Hear. Be attentive to the Word of God whether spoken or written.
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