Month: October 2021

Scripture: John 2: [25] He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Observation: I know, pride, anger, selfishness, deceit, revenge and hatred are in me. I wish they weren’t and it’s a battle each day to fight off these emotions and to try to be like Jesus, but much too often I don’t. When my mind is at rest it still wanders to negative and hurtful thoughts. Jesus knew this and He got to see it first hand over and over again whether it was the Pharisee, Sadducees, people around Him or His own disciples He saw what was in a man.

Application: Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily and that is what this is a daily battle. Even now writing this my heart is full of anger and pain and for no reason, it almost seems more comfortable there then to have grace or thanksgiving. I need to continue to ask the Holy Spirit to fill me and take these terrible emotions away and fill my heart with love and grace.

Prayer: Dear Lord please help me I don’t want to feel this way and it makes me sick to do so. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and take this burden from me. Give me the heart of Jesus and show me how to live this life in glory and honor to you.

Scripture: John 1: [16] From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

Observation: How can I forget all His blessings in my life. Each day it seems all I focus on is my problems and worry about things that might happen. I spend so little time just meditating on the blessings He gives me each day and there are so many I wouldn’t be able to number them. Why am I so bent in being miserable and useless?

Application: I need to cherish each day the blessings I have and even though I can’t I should try to number them: the air in my lungs, my health, the way He meets all of my needs, my beautiful wife, my children, my family, the gifts and talents He has given me, the way I feel when I see the ocean or mountains, the gift of salvation, the people He puts in my path, the joy He puts in my heart when I read His word, my home, the people He surrounds me with, my new family with Teri, my church, my pastor, etc.

Prayer: Dear Lord have me think of these things,” whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Calm my spirit and quiet my mind that I may hear from you.

Scripture: Luke 24 [38] He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?:

Observation: Jesus said this to His disciples when they saw Him come back from the grave. Jesus could say this to me almost every day. It seems I’m always troubled by something and my thoughts are so preoccupied that I don’t focus on what God wants. Each day I doubt that I should even be here and am not sure why I’m here. If I would just spend half of the time I spend worrying and doubting and take that time in prayer and thanksgiving I could accomplish so much for God’s kingdom.

Application: It is hard for me not to be distracted, but I must make a commitment to live my life so that it honors God. I have no other reason to be here then to serve God and to touch the lives of others in His name. I need to tell myself when I drift off to doubt that God is in control if I let Him steer my course.

Prayer: Dear Lord help me stay focused and take this anxiety from my spirit please. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and show me how to finish this race in glory and honor to you. I’m so lost help me please get on the path you have chosen for me.

Scripture: Luke 23: [21] But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Observation: I wrote something a while ago about the people that must have been there at this time. People who saw the miracles and even those who were healed and ate when Jesus fed the five thousand. They must have heard Him speak, yet no one came to His defense. These were the people Jesus came to save and they have either abandoned Him or were condemning Him. So what about me, what am I doing? Have I abandoned Him with my lack of faith or do I condemn Him with my actions that others see?

Application: I need to stand up for my Lord and Savior who stood up for me with the Father. I need to bear fruit in His name and touch the lives of others with His word. My actions and words need to prove to others that I’m a believer in Christ and the He sits on the throne of my heart and I need to direct others to this very special love that Jesus has for them.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for your love and mercy. Show me how to open my mouth in your defense to your accusers in this world. Give me the wisdom that I will need to say the right words and the courage to stand up against any persecution and show me how to lead others to you.

Scripture: Luke 22: [27] For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Observation: I do want to be more like my Lord, Jesus. In all His ministry He shows how important it is to be a servant, but most of the time I only serve myself. Jesus was selfless always doing for others and pointing them to God. If I’m to be more like Jesus I need to have a servant’s heart and put the needs of others above my own.

Application: I need to fight this laziness I have and get off the couch and get into the game. I know what I’m supposed to do, but I’m too busy making excuses instead of making a difference. I don’t even know when Jesus slept during His ministry, but I know the people He touched and I need to start touching people in Jesus name.

Prayer: Dear Lord help me get going and serving for you. There is so much I can do, but I do so little. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and show me the path that leads to You.

Scripture: Luke 21:34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.

Observation: We can get so weighed down with life’s problems that we can’t see anything else. We miss the blessings and God’s direction for our life because we become blind. So when Jesus returns where will I be. Will I be ready to go or so distracted by my worries that I won’t realize he has returned.

Application: I need to remember everything on this earth is temporary and will have an end, but my life with Christ is eternal and deserves my complete attention. I have no reason not to trust Jesus with everything and be able to rest in His peace. I need to live so when my Lord returns He will find me busy doing what He has called me to do.

Prayer: Dear Lord please forgive your servant for my lack of faith. Help me not focus on the things of this world, but open up my mind and heart to the things that will glorify you.

Scripture: Luke 20:25 “Caesar’s,” they replied.
He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Observation: I still think I deserve things of my own, I owe the government taxes, I pay my bills and to the One I owe everything I give so little. God deserves all my love, praise and obedience, but yet He always seems to take a back seat and gets the leftovers of my life. I take a few moments and pray each day, read my Bible and from time to time will even do an outreach in His name. God asks for only a tithe of all that He has given me and I can’t even do that.

Application: I tithe 10 percent of the money I receive, but the most precious gift God has given me He doesn’t even get 1 percent. Today is my 60th birthday and I’m only here because of the grace of God and I know He desires to use me, but He allows me to make the choices. I really hate free will. I wish He would make me do the things He wants, but what He truly wants is my love and obedience given freely to Him. I don’t know how much longer God will keep me here, but I need to start living for Him and finish this race He started me on.

Prayer: Dear Lord I do love you and want to draw closer to you. I realize everything that I have is a gift from you. Show me know how to multiply your investment in me that I may bring glory to you.