With My Own Eyes

Had a pretty amazing lunch at Beach House Tacos on the Ventura Pier today.  It is always fun to try new places.  The best part was being with Christy.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Exodus 10:1-12:13; Matthew 20:1-28; Psalm 25:1-15; Proverbs 6:6-11.

Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV)
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [27] and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– [28] just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

A lot of our discontent in this life comes when we forget that we are servants.  When we think more highly of ourselves than we ought, we focus on what we think are our rights and what we think we deserve.  But when we choose to follow Jesus, we give up our perceived rights.  And thankfully, we don’t get what we deserve.  We are privileged to be humble servants, serving our Lord through serving others.  When we embrace that role, then we will experience contentment and fulfillment.  Our lives will also overflow with gratitude.

Something pretty cool happened to me this morning.  We have celebrated baptisms the past few weeks.  Our baptismal has a curtain all around it that is closed when not in use.  I went to close it today and couldn’t.  The cord wouldn’t work.  Even crawling up there and trying to manually close the curtains wouldn’t work.  They just wouldn’t budge.  Apparently, there are more baptisms to come.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Exodus 7:25-9:35; Matthew 19:13-30; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 6:1-5.

Psalm 24:1 (NIV)
Of David. A psalm.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;

So true, and so easy to forget.  I don’t own anything.  I am a steward/manager of God’s resources.  Someday I will have to give an account for my stewardship.  Did I use His resources for His glory or my own?

Interestingly, this was precisely the struggle of the rich young ruler that also appeared in today’s reading.  He clung too tightly to what did not belong to him.  As a consequence, he missed out on the far greater blessing.

We are at the completion of week #4.  Great job.  I keep hearing from new people, “I’m doing the Bible reading…”  If you get behind, just pick up where we are today and keep going.

Here is today’s Bible Reading: Exodus 5:22-7:24; Matthew 18:23-19:12; Psalm 23:1-6; Proverbs 5:22-23

Exodus 5:23 (NIV)
Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”

Isn’t it true that when you obey God things often get “worse” before they get “better.”  Life with Jesus is hard.  It is a cross-bearing, self-denying life of sacrifice.  But there is no life I would rather live.  For the One who overcame the world makes me an overcomer.  And in that journey is found true life.

Psalm 23 is so familiar that we can miss its beauty.  It is especially a help to those struggling with fear and anxiety.  I love those images of green pastures and quiet waters.  Read it again–slowly and meditatively.  May God restore your soul today.

Happy Friday, everyone.  Hope your weekend is exactly what you need it to be.  Busy day around here tomorrow:  Operation Blessing food distribution and church grounds work day in the morning, final sermon prep in the afternoon, and Upper Room prayer ministry in the evening.  If you are in the neighborhood, come on by.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Exodus 4:1-5:21; Matthew 18:1-22; Psalm 22:19-31;
Proverbs 5:15-21.

Exodus 4:13 (NIV)
But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”

Been there?  Are you there right now?  What if God honored Moses’ request.  Think of all that Moses would have missed.  Most importantly, think of all of the experiences with God Moses would have missed.  What is God sending you to do?  Will you embrace this call and bask in His presence and His provision?

Cleo is off to a great start. She slept in a crate last night with minimal whining. But boy can that dog snore. I am getting a little jealous of all the attention that Christy is giving to her. We would like to give her a new name.  Any suggestions?

Here is today’s Bible reading: Exodus 2:11-3:22&: Matthew 17:10-27; Psalm 22:1-18; Proverbs 5:7-14.

Matthew 17:14-20 (NIV)
When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. [15] “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. [16] I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
[17] “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” [18] Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.
[19] Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
[20] He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

I would have made a great disciple – not because I am a man of great faith, but because I struggle with faith. The disciples were with Jesus day in and day out, and yet they struggled to believe. But, Jesus didn’t give up on them, and He is not giving up on you or me.  He is daily testing and growing our faith.  And one of these days, He is going to use our faith to move mountains. I pray that day comes very soon.

We finish our first book (Genesis) together today!  Great job.  I keep hearing good reports all around from people who are doing the reading and hearing from God. 

Here is today’s Bible reading; Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10; Matthew 16:13-17:9; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 5:1-6.

Matthew 16:18-19 (NIV) 
    And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

It is so amazing to me that no matter how much we human beings get in God’s way and threaten to mess up this thing call The Church, she marches on.  Satan does all he can to sabotage the ministry of The Church–yet, she marches on.  We quickly learn that our understanding of the true nature of The Church is far too small.  The Church isn’t something we attend on Sundays.  The Church is how God moves in the world and accomplishes His infinite purposes.  Those purposes will not fail.   Have you found your place in The Church?  What is your level of commitment to Christ’s Church?

Cleo is a 10 month old Pug visiting our home to see if she is a good fit with the family.  We have to decide tomorrow if she stays or goes.  Hmm….

We are going to “test drive” a 10 month old Pug at our house tonight to see if she is a good fit for our family.  We’ll see…

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Genesis 48:1-49:33; Matthew 15:29-16:12; Psalm 20:1-9; Proverbs 4:20-27.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.

Our hearts are such a tender, precious treasure from God.  I believe they are a key element to what it means to be created in God’s image.  Through our hearts, God has given to us the capacity to know Him.  Yet, how careless we can be with these delicate instruments.  We expose them to the sinful influences of the world and hide them from God.  We immerse them in trivial pursuits and neglect the eternal.  They become idols of self-worship and completely miss the purpose of God-worship for which they were created.  Our carelessness leaves them dirty, bruised, calloused, and scarred.  Yet, God in is mercy stands ready to heal–to restore them to be the tender instruments of love they were intended to be.  Would you let Him heal your wounded heart today, and purpose with His help to guard this precious treasure above all else?

Here is today’s Bible Reading:  Genesis 46:1-47:31; Matthew 15:1-28; Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 4:14-19.

Psalm 19:7-11 (NIV)
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
[8] The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
[9] The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure
and altogether righteous.
[10] They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
[11] By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

One of the good things about trials in this life is that the Word of God comes alive during those times in a way that it is different than when you are cruising along comfortably.  Rather than time in the Word being a discipline, it is a treat.  Rather than being something you feel obligated to do, it is something you can’t wait to do.  It becomes your lifeline.  And it does not disappoint.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Genesis 44:1-45:28; Matthew 14:13-36; Psalm 18:37-50; Proverbs 4:11-13.

Genesis 45:7-8 (NLT)
God has sent me here to keep you and your families alive so that you will become a great nation. [8] Yes, it was God who sent me here, not you! And he has made me a counselor to Pharaoh—manager of his entire household and ruler over all Egypt.

God did it.  God had Joseph thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, thrown into prison, able to interpret dreams, and elevated to ruler of Egypt.  There was a good purpose in it all.  Though I’m sure it was often difficult for Joseph to see the good in what God was doing.  Now he is able to look back and see how the pieces fit.  Someday we will be able to look back and see how all the events of our lives work together for good as well.  In the meantime, will we trust God the way Joseph did?