Judges 9-10; Psalm 49; 1 Corinthians 16

1 Corinthians 16:8-9

But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

When there are many who oppose me, why don't I see it as a great door opened to me like Paul does here? In these times the tendency seems to be that having opposition is taken as a sign that God has closed a door. Somehow we have become programmed to think that way. Jesus even told us that in this world we will have troubles. He says we are blessed when we are persecuted and insulted for His name's sake. We are to consider it joy when we go through various trials because of what the testing of our faith produces. We seem to have exchanged The Comforter for living comfortably. I pray that I will be able to clearly see the diference between an opportunity for effective work in the midst of opposition and a closed door.

Judges 8; Psalm 42; 1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15:2 & 58

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

It is one thing to say I believe something. But if I do not live according to what I profess I believe, what is the point? My words are idle chatter and my stated belief is meaningless. Trusting in Jesus is really an all or nothing proposition. It cannot be a part way thing where I pick and choose the things I want or only act according to my belief when I see it is to my benefit. Once I've made the committment and taken a stand there should be nothing that can move me from it. The words ALWAYS and FULLY here really mean that. Often being extreme is not comfortable or popular. But when it is for the sake of Christ, it is never in vain.

Judges 6-7; Psalm 52; 1 Corinthians 14

Judges 6:2

The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for Me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against Me that her own strength has saved her,..."

Gideon started with thirty-two thousand men to deliver God's people from Midian. But God wanted to make sure they all know their deliverance wasn't due to their own strength, but because of God. So through a couple of little tests the number of Gideon's men was reduced to only three hundred.

I always am fighting the between trying to really trust God or wanting to do things my way. How smart was it for Gideon to send away 31,700 troops and only use 300 men to defeat the Medianites? From a human perspective, not very. But that's only the case if you don't really trust God and believe He knows what He's doing. If I really believe God is in control then the most foolish thing to do is to use my own strength and understanding to resolve a crisis rather than to follow His leading.

Judges 4-5; Psalm 39 & 41; 1 Corinthians 13

Psalm 39:4-5

Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.

You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before You. Each man's life is but a breath.


Life is so short. It seems like only yesterday my oldest child was born and now she's already in high school. And there is no way over a quarter century has passed since I was in high scholl myself, is there? There are fewer years until I retire than there have been since I graduated from college. The days, the months, the years just keep clicking by. Have I already lived over half of my life yet? Yes, life is indeed fleeting and but a breath.

I really wonder how people cope with the shortness of life here on earth who don't have Christ and the hope of eternity. Wouldn't you expect them to treasure every moment even more if they think this life is all there is? I need to see those people around me and share with them the hope I do have.

Judges 1-3; 1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 12:31a

But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Because in proceeding verses it lists some of the gifts and says "first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers..." it was easy to assume that this meant the first on the list was the greatest gift and so on. But as I really look at the whole chapter I'm thinking that may not be the meaning of "greater" gifts. What if desiring the greater gifts simply means functioning to the fullest within the body of Christ in whatever role He has placed you and with which ever gift(s) He's blessed you. Desire to be what God desires you to be rather than seeking to become a part of the body you find more glamorous or honorable. God gives to each one of us as He determines because He knows what is needed to carry out His will and His work. When I place my own desire of being or doing something else above the role God has made just for me, I handicap the body. Does that mean I shouldn't ask for other gifts or want to be used in a different way? Of course not. But my focus always needs to remain on following God's design and desires for me.

Joshua 23-24; Psalm 44; 1 Conithians 11

Joshua 23:9-11

The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised. So be very careful to love the LORD your God.

Again, Joshua recounts the story of God and His people before he dies. The people know all God has done for them and that He is on their side*. But they do have a responsibility to love and obey Him or His favor may be taken away.

It's not that there is a magic formula if I do "x" God will do "y" for me. It is more a matter of me having blessings when I am on God's side*. It's His nature to want to lavish His love on me when I follow Him. Not that I won't have problems or that everything in life will be smooth sailing. But when I stand in Him, I am never standing alone. He will fight for me. If He desires, He can drive the great and powerful out the land He wishes me to occupy. Hmmm. Be careful to love God and enjoy His blessings or turn away and be destined for disaster.

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15b

Joshua 21-22; Psalm 47; 1 Corinthians 10

Joshua 22:10-12

When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.

Fortunately this misunderstanding was cleared up when the Israelites send a contingent to confront them on this. After talking with the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, they learned that the alter was to serve as a reminder and witness to future generations that the Lord is God. It wasn't to slight God or replace what God had established. Whew, war averted. Good thing they didn't shoot first and ask questions later.

Do I tend to gear myself up for "war" based on something I've heard about another person before I know the real circumstances? Do I accuse based on my perceptions of how something looks rather than seek to know the heart and intent of a brother or sister? Yes, I do have a responsibility to correct error and hold others accountable so they do not turn away from being faithful. But I need to respectfully seek them out in gentleness and engage in a dialogue that will help us understand each other and get on the same page of wanting to live in a way that honors God.

Joshua 18-20; 1 Cointhians 9

Joshua 19:9

The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah, because Judah's portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah.

Judah already had their inheritance defined. Then Simeon, one of the seven tribes who had not yet received theirs takes(or is given) some of Judah's land as their own. All kind of questions about fairness or legality popped into my mind when I read this. Judah's portion had already been declared. Wasn't the previous declaration of the boundaries already binding? Did they feel wronged by having some of their land taken back and given to another tribe? This says Judah had more than they needed. So is does verse mean it's okay to take from somebody if they already have more than they need? (Gee, doesn't this relevant in our current political debates over taxes and the battle between the right and the left?)

I am so very blessed. Compared to the rest of the world, I live in luxury and abundance far in excess of what it takes to meet my daily needs. Do I work hard for what I have? Yes. In some ways that makes me feel like I deserve it because I have earned it. Do I want any of it taken away from me and given to another? Not by force and given to just anybody. But the bottom line is that God is the source and owner of it all. My inheritance isn't land or money or material abundance. And I don't even deserve the eternal inheritance He gives me. If I am depending on Him to supply my daily needs, He has promised to do that. Perhaps everything else in excess of that is just resting with me under my stewardship until another tribe is ready to receive their portion. And holding it with an open hand allows the true Owner to easily do as He wills with it all.

Joshua 15-17; 1 Corinthians 8

1 Cornithians 8:9 & 13

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak... Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

I'm kind of having a hard time noodling this one through in some ways. I understand my love and concern for my brothers and sisters in Christ trumps my freedom to do things that are not in and of themslves sinful. My questions have more to do with how much of my brother falling into sin on account of my actions is my responsibility and how much is his?

Just yesterday my pastor made a comment about the "culture of our church" being one where we seem have certain expectations about dress or expression durring worship. If I am "too demonstative" durring worship and that causes another to become negative or resent it, if it causes them to start backbiting or sinning in another way, does that mean I cease to raise my hands? We're all fallen and no matter how hard we try, there will always be somebody who is offended or doesn't agree with how another person is living.

Growing up there was a whole laundry list of things we didn't do; dancing, going to movies, playing with cards, bowling, drinking, listening to rock n' roll, playing on Sunday, rollerskating, wearing jeans to church. All these and more were rules implemented, at least in part, under the umbrella of not causing our weaker brothers to stumble. But I fear we have done a disservice to the freedom we all have in Christ. It seems rather than set the bar high and expect more maturity from our brothers and sisters, we've stiffeled the ability of so many to be led by the Spirit in the excercise of our freedom.

I don't demand my "right" to live in freedom at the expense of wounding the conscience of my brothers and sisters. If they have a weakness that I don't, how dare flaunt that and thereby sin against Christ. But I must never cease praying that we can all mature together so we can experience the abundant life and freedom Christ came to grant us.

Technical Difficulties - Please Stand By

It's not really due technical difficulties per se. I will be unable to blog my journaling for about a week since I'll be away from my computer. I'll still be reading everyday and will tranfer my handwritten journal for those days to my blog at a later date.

Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

Galatians 3:1-7

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.

The law can not save us because nobody has ever been able to or will ever be able to keep it, except Jesus. But we are such do-it-yourselfers. And we like to be able to look at others to score ourselves against. I know I'm more of a concrete/objective kind of person. Give me a sport with a clear way to keep score over those with subjective scoring like figure skating or gymnastics. The Jewish believers weren't any different. They watched people to see if they kept the law to know how "good" they were. But that wasn't what the law was for. The gentile believers didn't have the external signs of following of the law. They just believed.

I can sort of understand how the Jews felt. It's sometimes hard for people who have been "churchified" their whole lives to accept new believers because they don't always conform to the "culture" of those who have "been good" all along. Faith is internal and not as easy to measure when you're wanting to size yourself up compared to another. But it's not our place to measure anyway. All who believe are children of Abraham and heirs of the promise. Our actions are not the way we attain newness of life. They are our response to what is within as a result of our faith in Christ Jesus.

Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

Deuteronomy 17:18-20

When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

God knew His people would want a king. But it had to be the king God chooses for them. This king would be different from other kings. Besides not acquiring many horses or accumulating large amounts of silver and gold, there is this requirement. I'm guessing here, but I'd say the position of king for Israel was supposed to be more like an executive director or facilitator of God's will and not "royalty" as we think of them. The king had to hand write a copy of the law. One thing this would do for sure is make it so he couldn't say he didn't know what the laws were. This also would help him recognize all God has done for His people and help him always remember. I need to make sure I always remember, too.

Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

Galatians 1:10

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul leaves no wiggle room. Either I'm living to please God or to please somebody else. Do I serve God or men? Living to please others might seem like the easier thing at times. But there is that old saying that you can't please everybody. So maybe it really is easier to live trying to please God. He is unchanging and it is very clear what He expects. I think I'm going to try to be a bit less casual when I make choices or do thing and try to think first W.W.P.G. What would please God?

Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

Mark 16:9

Now when He rose early on he first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.

As I read this and thought about it I began to wonder. Why did Jesus appear to Mary Magdalene first? I mean, why not to His disciples or to His mother, Mary? Is there any significance to Mary Magdalene being the first to see the risen Jesus? Or was she just at the right place at the right time? Dispite the lack of hard Biblical confirmation, tradition says it was Mary Magdalene who anointed Jesus' feet with perfume. If it was the same Mary, was being the first to see Jesus some kind of reward for her love and devotion? If the other's had know Mary would recieve this kind of honor, would their attitude have been different at the time she poured the perfume on Jesus' feet? Would they have humbled themselves and done that?

I know doing things, even good things, just for a reward shouldn't be the motivating thing. But if I am living a life devoted to Jesus and loving Him through my actions there may be some wonderful side-benefits beyond my expectations. And even if there aren't, He has already given me so much more than I deserve. A life of love and devotion is still not enough to offer Him.

Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

The sacrifice of Jesus gives us all direct access to Holy God. This awful, cruel death becomes a beautiful thing because it tore the curtain that served as a barrier between God's dwelling on earth and men. I hope I never take the privilege of access to God lightly. The more I spend time with Him in prayer and through His Word, the less worthy of Jesus' sacrifice I feel. The more I ponder just what Jesus went through to restore a broken relationship with me, the more motivated I am to try to live in a way that shows my gratitude for what He has done. Just like we sang again today. "Take my life and let it be all for You and for Your glory. Take my life and let it be Yours. Glory to God forever." I have been unable to get that song out of my head. It has become almost like a daily prayer for me. He breathed His last and gave me something I could not gain on my own. My hope is that until my last breath my life will be completely give to Him.

Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

Deuteronomy 6:6-12

Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.

When God, your God, ushers you into the land he promised through your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give you, you're going to walk into large, bustling cities you didn't build, well-furnished houses you didn't buy, come upon wells you didn't dig, vineyards and olive orchards you didn't plant. When you take it all in and settle down, pleased and content, make sure you don't forget how you got there—God brought you out of slavery in Egypt.

Moses keeps telling the stories of God's deliverance and provision for Israel over and over. He repeats the commandments and requirements for feasts and sacrifices. He constantly reminds them of who God is and all that He has done for them. It is so very important to always remember. I need to continue to keep these "God stories" alive and weave them into my life, when I speak to my children, when I reflect on God's word, as I live my everyday life.

When things are great and the economy is good, it's easy to forget where all the blessings came from. But He is the source of it all. Even when times are tough, I am still more blessed than I deserve. My remembering and repeating these stories keep my focus on the one and only thing that matters.

Deuteronomy 3-4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

Deuteronomy 3:21-22

And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, "Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings; so will the LORD do to all the kingdoms through which you pass. You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you."

God Himself fights for me. Just think about that. No obstacle, no trial, no foe can stand against Him. And it is for me, imperfect, flawed, sinful me, that He fights. He loves and cares so much for me and desires that I would be successful in following Him and His will. He will blaze the trail I am to follow and take care of ALL the things that stand in my way. I have already seen God do amazing things. I just need focus on taking the land God has promised for me and not fear. God Himself fights for me.

Deuteronomy 1-2; Mark 12

Mark 12:32-34a

So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”


This scribe knew his scripture. He had all the "Sunday school" answers down. But he wasn't quite there because Jesus said he was "not far from the kingdom of God." Playing "Christain" and knowing all the right ways to act and answers to give isn't all that hard. But if those truths don't penetrate my heart and make me live differently from the inside out, then I'm still outside the kingdom. I always need to be on my guard that I am not just saying the right thngs or giving the right answers. I need to be living what I say I believe. No exceptions.

Numbers 34-36; Mark 11

Mark 11:22-25

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Faith in God. It it a black and white, you do or your don't have it kind of thing? Isn't weak faith really the same thing as no faith at all? Or are there levels or layers of faith for different things? Saving faith, healing faith, the faith to move mountains. Can you have one without the other?

Obviously if I've put my faith in Jesus to save me, I believe He is God incarnate and can do all things. So, why are all the mountains still here? And how does this "believe that you have received" as if it's done before it's even asked thingy work? I guess people from the "Show Me State" aren't too good at the faith stuff either. Boy I still have a lot to learn about faith.

Numbers 32-33; Mark 10

Mark 10:26-31

The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?"

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"

"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first."


Who can be saved is a valid question. But Jesus didn't answer who can be saved. He answered who does the saving. I cannot save myself. No matter how good I try to be, no matter how generous or self sacrificing a life I live, it will never even get me close to salvation. It is impossible for me.

My leaving everything and following Jesus is not a way to gain or earn my salvation. It is not a way to make Him feel like I am more worthy of the salvation He offers. But it is the only reasonable thing I can do, offer all of my self to Him, in gratitude for His doing the impossible for me.

Numbers 30-31; Mark 9

Mark 9:43-47

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell

Satan would like nothing better than to keep me cozy in this world and comfortable with with a little sin. But Jesus shows just how serious sin, any sin, is by these radical words. To what do I aspire, keeping my body intact even if if it means going to hell or living in such a way that I will eliminate anything in my life that causes me to sin? There is no fence sitting. There is no compromise when it comes to holiness and purity. The choice is clear and plain. There is no middle ground. Live as if this world matters most and spend eternity in torment. Or completely turn myself over to God and let Him use what He will and cut off that which hinders me from pursuit of His kindgom.

Numbers 28-29; Mark 8

Mark 8:34-38

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Those of us who have been "churchified" over the years have heard this passage many times. But have we really wanted to understand what Jesus is saying? What does it really look like when it is lived out? What does my denying David and taking up my cross look like? How does David lose his life for the gospel? There is no way to sort of lose your life. I cannot half-way deny myself. To come and follow Jesus is to set my feet on a singular path from which I cannot stray or wander. Because to follow my own path and set my own course is a denial of my following Jesus. Lord, give me the strength to carry my cross and the courage to lose my life in following Your will.