Is 63-64; Ps 107; Jn 2

Scripture - John 2:13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" 17His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."

Observation - Jesus demonstrated his manhood, his authority over the house, and his indignation at the sale of His Father's expensive grace that was to be given freely by driving people profiting off that same grace from the temple. He was not going to allow the merchandizing of something God intended to be free.

Application - one of my deep burning desires is to make sure that we guard "selling God's grace" for a price. I remember the story of the Christian musician Carman and his early start. After his first concert or two, his pastor challenged him to quit charging admission and take up an offering instead. Since there is so much overhead in a concert style venue, it was a challenge for him to even consider it. But as he prayed about it, he decided to go for it. Carman quickly saw that his ministry was honored over time in the offering, and he received more that way than ever by ticket sales. On top of that, his popularity skyrocketed, and he was able to sell millions of albums and other items.

For me, I want to do my best to make sure what we have at TFH is as free as possible. I want to make sure that if there is a cost, we can offter scholarships to those who have to money. I feel burdened to offer as much as we can free online. I want to make sure we offer our materials, when possible, freely so that others are helped. Some things cost money and we have to charge. But free is good... very good... just like salvation!

Prayer - Lord, thank you for your grace. Freely given, but not free! Grace was free to me, but cost me your Son. Thank you, and help me be a giver of that magnitude.

Is 60-62; Jn 1

Scripture - John 1:27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said... "This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

Observation - John the Baptist's revelation unfolds during John 1. He knew his role - prepare the way. He knew facts about Who he was preparing for - the Christ, who had been around a lot longer than he. He knew His stature - the Christ, someone that he wasn't worthy to stoop down to tie his sandals. He didn't know specifically who - until right here!

Application - it's amazing to see a great man of God like John the Baptist experience the illuminating power of the Spirit of God, even in discovering Jesus. We can see the entire episode unfold. The curtains begin to lift, the smoke clears, and bang, John finally see's Jesus as.... not a person, not a friend, not a cousin, not a leader, but Savior. Jesus became famous right before his eyes on a personal level. His stature increased. His impact became more significant. John took 100 steps closer and saw with much greater clarity the One he thought was a relative.

The power of God's Spirit continues to work the same way in us today. He continues to reveal Jesus to us with greater definition, contrast and clarity. He continues to reveal truth. He continues to uncover the magnitude of the path we walk on. Day by day, as we walk in the Spirit, I am experiencing that He unfolds the world to us!

Prayer - Lord, thank you that we don't have to discover everything by means of searching GOOGLE or laborious research. Thank you that Your Spirit brings revelation!

Is 50-52; Ps 92; 2 Pet 1

Scripture - 1 Peter 1: 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Observation - Peter, a one time fisherman, has certainly moved on into his full Apostolic gifting. He speaks very pastoral words all through his two books. If I were to title these books, I would call them something like "Salvation: Work It Out!"

Application - these verse talk about adding and the implication is that we have yet to achieve, and there is stuff we are missing, and we should be pushing forward in our spiritual lives to become a people that better reflects Him. It is not a static process. It needs to be every happening, like a prestigious tree growing to me a monicker of the forest. It is a very active process. It's not something we have to wait on God to do, but it's something we are instructed to strive for. He did say, "make every effort." That speaks to me. There is work to be done in my life! Charge!

Application - Lord, help me to become more like you. Reveal what I need to work on... one at a time. I don't think I could handle the full semi load all at one time!

2 Kings 20; Is 38-39; Ps 75; 1 Pet 2

Scripture - 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Observation - Peter continues with his description of the centrality of Jesus, His rejection by men, but his being chosen by the Father. He goes on to talk about that being similar to the situation - we too are chosen by the Father. That connects us in a way with other believers that is beyond genetic similarities or a family resemblance. We have become His children, part of His family... the people of God!

Application - my family live thousands of miles away from me. I talk to immediate family regularly, but much of the rest of the family I never hear from, see or talk to. When I see them next, I'm not sure. They are family but I'm not really sure what we will talk about. Probably not much more than what different family members have been up to and surface details. Nothing wrong with that, we just don't have a lot in common. (maybe I should work harder at keeping in touch!)

Recently I had dinner with a couple that I hadn't had a meal with in ten years. Incredibly, we picked up right where we had left off. We have everything in common. It's not genetics, or a last name, or even a hobby. It's Jesus and our walks with Him. It is the most important thing in each of our lives. Because my relationship with Christ is current, and their realtionship with Him is current, we have a mutual current interest that encompasses all of life. We are able to pick right up with each other where we left off because we are current and walking with Him. The Family of God is so amazing.

I'm grateful for my natural family and grateful for their input in my life, but the family of God is a family of higher eternal purpose... and everyone can be a part of it!

Prayer - Lord, thank you for family.

2 Kings 18-19; 2 Chron 32; James 5

Scripture - James 5:10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Observation - A couple of key words:

• patience - makrothumia
- longanimity, forbearance fortitude, longsuffering
• suffering - kakopatheia
- hardship, affliction
• persevered - hupomenō
- to stay under, remain; undergo, bear have fortitude, abide, endure, suffer, tarry behind
• blessed - makarizō
-to beatify, pronounce fortunate, count happy.

• brought about - telos - to set out for a definite point or goal; properly the point aimed at as a limit, the conclusion of an act or state , result

Application - while it is no fun to suffer, as a believer I will have times of suffering. I've made up my mind to avoid as much as possible of the suffering that comes by my own actions. Suffering because of stupidity is the worst. But there is some suffering that comes my way that God Himself clearly allows. I am encouraged through this scripture, that though I want to run away, I am to stand up underneath it. God has a purpose for it, and for good! He wants to do something specific. It's not a random situation, but it has a designed goal. And it is limited in length. If I allow it to have it's purpose, it am more beautiful as a result!

With that in mind, it is still called suffering for a reason. It's got a purpose, but its still suffering no matter what way you slice it. So, let's suffer with style!

Prayer - thank you for leading me every step of the way, even through the suffering!!! I trust You!

2 Chron 29-31; James 4

Scripture - James 4:2 You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Observation - these verses reveal two reasons why we go without: 1) we do not ask 2) when we do ask, it is with the wrong motive.

Application - I continue to be reminded of the verse 1 Thess. 5:17 pray continually. I am reminded that I need to salt my life with prayer. Every nook and cranny. It's not a legalistic thing, but an opportunity for grace to be released on the things that fall within the wall of my city. I am also trying to pray for things from a eternal perspective. While I do pray for physical needs and even wants, I am not so wrapped up in them that they bring an imbalance to my life. I pray in faith, even for wants, but if I don't receive them, I gladly submit to the will of the Father. It really doesn't matter anyway. My motive needs to be that all of my desires fall short when compared to the things he desires for me. His plan and his stuff really are better. I want my motive to be, "His Kingdom come, His Will be done!" That might mean a temporal desire experienced, but if not, no biggie.

Lord - I'm trying to be scriptural, so I am praying... kind of continually, at least right now. I do love you, but nowhere near as much as you love me. I'll try and catch up!

Is 25-28; Heb 13

Scripture - Heb. 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Observation - a simple one liner by the author, but full of instruction. We are to remember and to consider those who have had spiritual input into our lives, and to also examine their lives in comparison to their teaching. We are instructed, not to imitate everything about them, but their faith.

Application - like you, I have had many spiritual leaders in my life. Some incredible, some good, some not so good, some who have had horrific moments of failure, all of whom were mere men and fallible. While I might be reading between the lines, this verse helps me to have a mature view toward leadership, one that allows me to be inspired, and one that keeps me from becoming devastated. God has sent wonderful leaders into my life. But they are all human. As I view their lives over the long-haul, they are all living examples of God's truth's in action. When the live out good scriptural faith, I take note, I am inspired and I imitate. When they blow it, I take note, pray for them, and see ample warning in the outcome of the situation that keeps me from following - but I am not devastated. I am educated. I don't lose faith in Jesus because they blow it. I don't veer from my path to follow them. I am imitating their FAITH, and ignoring the rest. Their failure doesn't take away from the great things they have done in my life or cause me to wander.

Prayer - Lord, thank you for those who are examples in my life... all of them.

Is 15-18; Heb 10

Scripture - Isa. 17:10 You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress. Therefore, though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines, 11 though on the day you set them out, you make them grow, and on the morning when you plant them, you bring them to bud, yet the harvest will be as nothing in the day of disease and incurable pain.

Observation - Isaiah is prophesying to a people who knew God, and forgot Him (to mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention). Clearly he played a role in their lives previously, had helped them, and even blessed them. But they moved on, setting Him aside, but still pursed life and all of it's new ventures. As a result, the Lord promised to allow them to move forward with business as usual, but also promised that their labor's, no doubt similar to the labors of the past, would produce nothing. When similar activities in the past produced success, they would no longer. After all, He was the catalyst for previous success, and now they had removed Him from the equation.

Application - Cars have rear view mirrors and for good reason. Some people don't use them, but they do help you to see where you have been, how you have gotten to where you are, and things coming from behind that could be dangerous. They are vital to safe passage.

Remembering where we have come from as believers is critical. It helps us to remember where we came from, how we got where we are now, who helped us, and any potential dangers we might be sneaking up on us from our past. A cycle I see repeated over and over in the family of God: people desperately need help... they call on the Lord... He responds and helps... life is good... people get comfortable... they no longer have need... they live as if they no longer need the Lord and move on in life without Him. Each and every time, life begins to unravel with out the Lord, and take on the appearance of the life before they knew the Lord!

These are great verses to remind ourselves that walking with the Lord is not just for bad times, but even more so for good times!

Prayer - Lord, thank you for how you have so amazingly helped me. I am grateful! Please continue to help me. I can't even manage the blessings you've given me correctly without your continued help!

Hos 10-12; Ps 73; Heb 4

Scripture - Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Observation - as the writer of Hebrews describes the "rest of God" and the opportunity to enter it, he mentions several qualities regarding the Word of God:

• living - zao - to live, quick
• active - energes - active, operative, effectual, powerful
• sharper - tomoteros - to cut as if by a single stroke whereas others would require multiple hackings
• penetrates - diikneomai - to reach through or penetrate

Application - God's Word is powerful and living in our lives. It even separates truth from emotion. It can allow us to discern our motives as we act, and allow us to see the attitudes of our heart. It is only possible, however, if we have an ear to hear it. Reading the Word, hearing it, being in a place to receive it is where I want to be.

Prayer - Lord, allow me to grow in my ability to hear what you are saying!

Hebrews 3

Scripture - Heb. 3:1 1Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

Observation - The author instructs us to fix (kat-an-o-eh'-o
to observe fully, behold, consider, discover, perceive) our thoughts on Jesus.

Application - My day can be busy and though it is often doing pastoral activities, it is important that I constantly bring my focus on Christ. First of all, He is the one I am falling. Second of all, He is the one I need to be talking to. Thirdly, it allows me to hear His voice. Fourthly, it brings me into His Presence. Fifthly, that allows me to operate in His anointing and power.

I heard it once said, "practice the presence of Jesus." I think the two statements are similar.

Prayer - Lord, today, let me practice your presence.

Amos 7-9; Ps 104; Titus 2

Scripture - Psa. 104:27 These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time. 28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.

Observation - the psalmist takes time to describe various animals in nature from the birds to goats, describing how all receive their sustenance from God. In verse 21 he says, The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. Most would think the lion hunts, and he expects to catch his game by means of his stealth, his skill, his speed and his strength. Not so according to this Psalm. Instead, the lion roars, or expresses his need, and then looks for God to supply.

Application - it is an amazing when you come to the place to understand that all of us get our "food" from God at the "proper time." His is our source for all good things. While we might work hard, if his hand doesn't open, we will walk away with nothing. When he does open his hand, we are then able to gather it up. Not a moment before! As his hand of supply opens, we are able to receive and enjoy. As the animals of the earth are totally reliant on the provision of God, so are we. From our next meal to our mortgage payment to our provision during retirment, God is our source!

Prayer - Lord, I pray you will open your hand and release your supply. The time has come.