Month: May 2022

Our God Who Delivers

Scripture: Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Observation: So many times I think I accomplish things on my own, when all the time it was God. The Christmas party for the military families was all God, but He allowed me to be part of it. As I look back He put me in touch with the people to help invite the guests, He connected me with the people in the church with the heart to serve, He came up with the resources to buy the gifts and take care of all the expenses and He used me to be a blessing. God could have chosen anyone to accomplish what He accomplished that day, but He allowed me to be part of it.

Application: If I think I did anything good I need to look how it was really done and I know I’ll find out it was God doing all the work and allowing me to come along for the ride. The only decision I need to make is if I’m going to be obedient to what God calls me to do or am I going to be selfish and do what I want to do. All of God’s blessing come after obedience and that is where I want to be.

Prayer: My Lord thank you for allowing me to be part of your plan. May I always be available for anything you call me to do. Please increase my faith that I will lay all my trust in you and know that I’m just part of what you are already doing. Thank you Lord for always being there for me.

Caring For Others Desires

Scripture: Genesis 13: [9] Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”

Observation: This account tells us that Abram gave Lot the first choice of where he wanted to go and it tells us that Lot saw the land was better on the right and chose to go there. Abram had a heart for God and because of this he considered others above himself. All through Abram’s life God watched over him, as He does ours, but Abram listened to God and obeyed and prospered.

Application: I need to rid myself of my selfish ways and put the needs of others above my own to honor God. Jesus says to those that are last will be first and the first will be last. I shouldn’t do anything for self, but do things because they honor God and Jesus set the example of the man He wants me to be.

Prayer: My Lord please do a work in me so that I can put the needs of others first. I’m a sinner and a selfish man and will need your help to change. Give me a heart for your children and change me to be who you desire me to be.

I‘m to be a Blessing

Scripture: Genesis 12:2 “I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.

Observation: God most likely is not going to make me a great nation, but He does bless me. I shouldn’t even be here, I should be burning in Hell, where I belong. Yet because of my Lord’s mercy instead He has blessed me with so much. With that mercy I’m to be a blessing to others whether it is doing outreaches to help and bless others, my testimony on depression to help others draw closer to God or to just be an example of a man blessed by God so others may see Him through my life and draw near to Him.

Application: I need to seek more ways to be a blessing to others by the life I lead through Him. I need to take the opportunities God has given me to reach the lost and help His children in any way I can. When I meet someone they should feel they are blessed and see God working in my life and to desire the same in theirs.

Prayer: My Lord I thank you for all the blessings you have given me and the way you didn’t give up on me. Guide me each day to be a blessing to others and to live in a way that honors you.

If We Worked As One

Scripture: Genesis 11: [6] The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

Observation: The account in scripture tells of everyone having the same language and working as one and even God said there would be nothing impossible for them. Today no one works together and we have many languages, but even those who speak the same language don’t understand one another. Each person works for his own good and few are gathered together to do God’s work. This world fights among itself and is filled with hate.

Application: The military outreach we put together shows how if God’s children would use their gifts collectively there is nothing we can’t do. I need to be more involved in doing things with other Christians. We speak the same language, the love of God and we all desire to accomplish the same goal to honor and glorify God. Together with other brother and sisters in Christ we can do anything if we work together.

Prayer: Lord forgive my selfish nature where I just want to do what pleases me most of the times. Give me the heart of Jesus and put me with other Christians that want to do your will. Use me to help connect others together to accomplish your will in our lives. I thank you for all you have given me and I ask that you use it in glory and honor to your name.

Who Are We Before the Lord

Scripture: Genesis 10: [9] He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.”

Observation: What Nimrod was created to do he did before the Lord. I know I’m not a mighty hunter, but God created me to do something special and He wanted me to do it in glory to Him. He has given me the gift to organize events, to cook and to write. A couple of days ago I was able to use these gifts at a military outreach at the Army and Navy Academy where we blessed families with a good time, gifts and the love of God. I use my gifts before the Lord that day and honored Him.

Application: I need to have many more days that I use my talents before the Lord. I need to make a better effort to glorify God each day even if it’s to touch one of His children with love. He has given me the ability to speak out and has put me in front of so many people for a reason and that reason is not to use it for my glory, but His.

Prayer: My Lord I thank you for all the gracious gifts you have given me, may each one be used for your glory. May I live a life before you and that others may see who is the ruler of my life, a life I wouldn’t trade for anyone else’s. I love you Lord, use me please until it’s time to go home.

God Values Life

Scripture: Genesis 9:6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made man.

Observation: A day does not go by that someone kills someone else and that is just in San Diego where I live. A gunman kills 27 children and adults, then kills himself. So many murders and we put killers in prison for years and then let them out. We are God’s creation and He made us special and yet we do not treat one another as such. When we look at one another we can see the image of God when we look close, but to shoot someone you can stand far away.

Application: I know I can’t stop the killings, but I can start looking at others differently, with a heart like Jesus. I can help show others how God looks at them and see the miracle of creation in their life. If we start looking at one another as God’s children it will be harder to destroy each other. I need to set an example of God’s love He has for us, because if He didn’t love us we wouldn’t be here.

Prayer: My Lord I would ask forgiveness for our wickedness, but I can’t conceive how you can forgive such hatred. My Lord use me in any way you desire to show others your love for them. Make me a vessel that can be used by you.

Our Hearts Are Evil

Scripture: Genesis 8: [21] The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

Observation: Today a gunman went into an elementary school in Connecticut and killed 18 children and 8 adults and then himself. This week also a man killed a couple of people in a mall. Every day there is murder and sinful things happening and yet we continue to remove God from our society. That is our evil heart even from our birth. The only thing that can change it is by replacing that evil with Jesus. To receive Him into our heart so there isn’t room for this kind of evil.

Application: I cried when I heard the news today and my thought is we take God out of the school and look what creeps in. I need to be spreading the good news about Jesus as much as I possibly can. I may not be able to make a big difference, but whatever difference is for my Lord and I need to let Him take care of the results.

Prayer: My Lord I ask you to look after the families of this horrible killings. May they find hope in you and draw near to you through this time of trouble. I ask to be used by you to make a difference for You in this terrible place. Give me courage and wisdom to do and say the things that will draw others to you.