Author Archives: chadzaucha

It is couch day!  The used couches the Zaucha’s purchased upon moving to Ojai 6 years ago have been replaced by some new-er used couches.  (Props to Craigslist).  They are quite comfy.  Come on over to give them a try. 

Here is today’s Bible Reading: Genesis 23:1-24:51; Matthew 8:1-17; Psalm 9:13-20; Proverbs 3:1-6.

Proverbs 3:5 (NIV) 
    Trust in the Lord with all your heart
        and lean not on your own understanding;

My understanding is so limited.  Yet, I am so tempted to focus on it rather than to trust on God who sees all things, knows all things, and has a good plan for my life. 

Are you a trust-er or a lean-er?  Lean-ers are worriers.  Trust-ers experience perfect peace.

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) 
    You will keep in perfect peace
        him whose mind is steadfast,
        because he trusts in you.

I rarely say anything about the weather here so as not to incite the fury of my friends in cold weather climates.  But today…ridiculous.  80 degrees.  Bright sunshine.  Gentle breeze.  Thank you God.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Genesis 20:1-22:24; Matthew 7:15-29; Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 2:16-22

How beautiful must Abraham’s wife Sarai have been?  Seriously.  Two kings determine they absolutely have to have her.  She is so beautiful that Abraham fears for his life.  And on top of that, she wasn’t real young at this point, if I understand the story correctly.  Wow!

I find a lot of hope today in Abraham’s story.  This guy goes from being so anxious and fearful that he has to lie about his wife to then being so full of faith that he could march his only son up a mountain with the intention of killing him in obedience to God.  The man’s faith grew exponentially.  So can ours.  Make it so, Lord.

Sorry for the late entry today.  Had a good time of ministry this morning and then Josh had two basketball games in Oxnard this afternoon.  They lost both, but he played pretty well and is getting better all the time.

Here is the Bible reading for today:  Genesis 18:20-19:38; Matthew 6:25-7:14; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 2:6-15.

Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This verse has been very real to me of late.  I can get so wrapped up in worrying about tomorrow (which is totally counterproductive) and miss living today.  Worry is completely incompatible with faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God.  So, worry is not in any way honoring to God.  It is sin, and it must be confessed as such.  Let me just say that with this truth, I’ve got a lot of sin in my life.  God is working on me.  How about you?

Good morning, everyone.  Today completes week #1 of our journey together. Great job!  2012 is already flying by.  How will you make the most of this day that God has given to you?

Here is the Bible reading for today:  Genesis 16:1-18:19; Matthew 6:1-24; Psalm 7:1-17; Proverbs 2:1-5

Without question, the section that stood out to me the most today was the story of Ishmael.  Abraham chooses to walk by sight, rather than by faith.  He grew tired of waiting on God and His timing, so he attempted to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise through his own efforts–not a good idea.  Abraham settled for less than God’s best and would pay a steep price.  The angel said of Ishmael, Genesis 16:12 (NIV) “He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”  There were immediate consequences for Abraham’s actions–strife in his family.  It can be argued that those consequences continue for us today as the Islamic prophet Mohammad claimed to be  descendant of Ishmael.

In what area of your life are you tempted to walk by sight and not by faith, to run ahead of God and take matters into your own hands?

Happy Friday everyone.  I had a great day with a group of pastors I meet with once a month.  What a source of encouragement they are to me.  Who do you meet with for encouragement?

Here is the Bible reading for today:  Genesis 13:5-15:21; Matthew 5:27-48; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 1:29-33

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus paints for us a picture of what His Kingdom is like.  In a word, that Kingdom is RADICAL. How about this:  Matthew 5:39 (NIV) “But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  What!? That is not natural.  It is supernatural.  EXACTLY.  God’s Kingdom is supernatural.  The citizens of that Kingdom can only live out the values of the Kingdom when the Holy Spirit unleashes a supernatural power within them.  We are called to stand out from the culture by living out values that we cannot live out on our own.  But when God’s Spirit empowers us to do so, God gets the glory.  May His Kingdom come and His Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Are you supernaturally living out the radical values of God’s Kingdom or doing what comes naturally by conforming to the values of the culture?

Good morning, everyone.  Hope you are doing well today.  I am taking my turn with the respiratory crud.  My cracking voice is causing me to relive puberty all over again–it takes a special dad to do whatever it takes to connect with his 13-year-old son. My voice recognition software is quite confused.  So, hopefully this will make sense.

Here is the Bible reading for today: Genesis 11:1-13:4; Matthew 5:1-26; Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 1:24-28.

I don’t remember many specific lectures from seminary, but one that I do remember illustrated the contrast between the Tower of Babel and Pentecost. At the Tower of Babel, people came together to glorify themselves, and God brought a supernatural confusion of languages that divided them. At Pentecost, people came together to glorify God, and God brought a supernatural understanding of languages that united them. The Tower of Babel is a picture of living life in the flesh, while Pentecost is a picture of living life in the Spirit.  Does your life look more like Babel or Pentecost?

I love Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.

What are you expecting from God today?

I’m headed to L.A. today to meet with a new neurologist.  The drive will provide some good quiet time with God.

Here is today’s reading:  Genesis 8:1-10:32; Matthew 4:12-25; Psalm 4:1-8; Proverbs 1:20-23

Matthew 4:18-22 (NIV)
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [19] “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” [20] At once they left their nets and followed him.
[21] Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, [22] and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

This passage paints for us a vivid picture of what it means to truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  These first followers were all in.  They left behind their comfort and security for a life of struggle and faith.  But it was a life with Jesus.  It was a life lived to the full.  These first disciples were privileged to walk the earth with the very Son of God.  And do you know what?  So are we!  But, it is important for us to count the cost of discipleship.  Many are fans of Jesus–following Jesus as long as the path is smooth for what good He may bring to their lives.  Fewer are truly disciples–following Jesus even through the valleys because He is Lord and deserves our total allegiance.

Are you a fan or a follower?   What is it that Jesus is calling you to leave behind to be totally committed to Him?

Have an awesome Wednesday.  I look forward to seeing you here tomorrow.

Our community is growing!  Yesterday 126 folks stopped by here to see what we are doing, so be encouraged that others are engaging the Word right along with you.

Here is our reading for today:   Genesis 5:1-7:24; Matthew 3:7-4:11;  Psalm 3:1-8; Proverbs 1:10-19.

How did God speak to you today?

How I love the Psalms.  David was a man after God’s own heart, yet he shows us that God’s people are not immune from tough times.  Many of the Psalms are his personal heartfelt cries to God in the midst of his pain.  But, David’s cries always end in worship.  God lifts up David’s head.  David receives a fresh vision of who God is.  David views life through the lens of eternity.  David worships God in the midst of his personal storm.

Psalm 3:3-4 (NIV)  
    But you are a shield around me, O Lord;
        you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
    [4] To the Lord I cry aloud,
        and he answers me from his holy hill. 

May God lift up your head today, bringing you a fresh vision of who He is, and the capacity to worship Him passionately–even in the midst of your personal storm.

Josh at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon:

Anybody else get absolutely hammered by the evil one yesterday?  Tough day.  We sorted through the mail that came while we were gone and received a letter from the insurance company denying the appeal for the IVIG treatments.  That combined with physical fatigue and just not feeling good provided satan with the opportunity to attack with a good dose of despair and discouragement.  But it is into that darkness that God’s Word brings light and drives the darkness away.  Praise God for the Bible which is a lamp and a light.  In its presence, darkness has to flee.

Here’s the reading for today: Genesis 3:1-4:26; Matthew 2:13-3:6;  Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 1:7-9.   

The theme for today is the catastrophic consequences of sin.  The reading begins with Adam and Eve living in paradise and in such communion with God that they walk with Him in the Garden in the cool of the day. 

By the time the reading is over, they are overcome with shame, separated from God, kicked out of the Garden (an act of God’s grace, by the way), experiencing strife in their marriage, and pain in childbirth.  Work would be a drudgery and filled with difficulty.  And to top it off, their older son murders the younger.  In case we haven’t figured it out yet, sin is devastating. 

Yet, we treat it so casually.  We don’t hate it the way God hates it.  Our culture desensitizes us to what sin even is.  In our incessant need to be entertained, we cozy up to it through our TVs, music, and reading material.  We forget that God is holy, holy, holy and calls His children to be holy because He is holy.  May we raise the standard of holiness in our lives.  And when we do sin, rather than lower the standard to make it more attainable, let us cry out to God for the forgiveness that He so generously gives and ask for His power to make us what He desires us to be. 

How is the Holy Spirit bringing conviction into your life today and calling you to repent?  How is God calling you to raise the standard of holiness in your life?

Thanks for being among the many who are journeying with us.  May God give you a fresh vision of holiness today.

(Sorry for the click on ads.  I think I’m going to have to get the WordPress upgrade to get rid of them.)