More Than Information

Today's Reading: Mark 1:21-28

	And the Word became flesh-
	Mark 1:21–22 (ESV) 21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Something Different

Good morning!

I will not be posting anything like before for a couple weeks or so. I am not sure what I will be posting...frankly nothing much today.  I am focusing on prayer and on my private time with God for a bit as the blog requires time and effort that gets me sometimes distracted from simply seeking His fullness.

See the post Power Through Prayer for a good explanation for this break and for my consideration for how to proceed with the blog without sacrificing the closet.

Maybe some thoughts or reflections for a couple weeks but not much more and then I will dive back in when I am ready. Thanks for the grace and mercy and understanding from those that enjoy this reading.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Lifted by His Love

	Today's Reading: Psalm 13
	Distressed by Circumstances then Lifted by His Love- Psalm 13:1
	Psalm 13:1 (ESV) 1  How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

Worthy of Filling

Today's Reading: Ex. 39-40; Ps. 15; Acts 12

His glory filled the tabernacle- Exodus 40:34–38

Personalize it method (Rick Warren's 40 Days in the Word): Lord please illuminate your Word today by your Holy Spirit and give me the message that I am to apply to my life today.  Amen.

See that I dwell in my tabernacle Jeff- but it must be perfect.  This is why you need complete reliance on my Son.

Be Thee Consumed

Today's Reading: Exodus 33-34; Acts 9 (will be covered tomorrow)

Exodus 33:3 (ESV)3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”

Put Down the Calf and Be My Witness

Today's Reading: Exodus 30-32; Acts 8

Exodus 30:14-16
Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the Lord’s offering to make atonement for your lives. 16 You shall take the atonement money from the people of Israel and shall give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may bring the people of Israel to aremembrance before the Lord, so as to make atonement for your lives.”

Where Shall I Dwell?

Today's Reading: Exodus 25-27; Acts 6

	Exodus 25:8–9 (ESV)8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

Answerable to a Mighty God

Today's Reading: Exodus 23-24; Psalm 14; Acts 5

Exodus 23:20–21 (ESV)20 “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. 21 Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him.

Be Filled With Boldness

Today's Reading: Exodus 21-22; Acts 4

Exodus 22:25 (ESV)25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.

Be Filled and Trust Only in Me

Today's Reading: Exodus 17-20; Acts 3

Exodus 17:6–7 (ESV)6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

To See or Not to See

Today's Reading: Exodus 9-11; Luke 24

Exodus 9:34 (ESV)34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

Don't Shrink Back; Look to Me and Pray!

Today's Reading: Genesis 44-46, Luke 18

Luke 18:1
1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Not For Merit

Todays Reading: Genesis 42-43, Psalms 5, Luke 17

Psalms 5:7
But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.

Son, Not Slave

Today's Reading: Genesis 37-38, Psalms 7, Luke 15

Luke 15:4
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety- nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

May It Be You Lord

Today's Reading: Genesis 27-28, Psalms 6, Luke 11

Luke 11:2-4
And he said to them, “ When you pray, say: “ Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread, 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

Be Marvelous

Today's Reading: Genesis 18-19, Psalms 3, Luke 7

Genesis 18:17
The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

Genesis 18:32-33
Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Genesis 19:29
So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.

Pray for His Name's Sake

James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Wisdom to Act

James 3:13
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Paraphrase it method:
One who is wise will demonstrate such wisdom through the actions of living out their saving faith in humility. Based upon James 2:17-18 this saving faith means they will not merely make statements or have "beliefs" but they will surrender and allow the Lord to manifest their faith in their daily activities/priorities.

My study bible (MacArthur study bible) suggests that the description of the person who is wise and understanding is referring to someone very skilled at living, at the practical application of the wisdom of God.

The next verse discusses the need to refrain from boasting if there is bitter jealousy or self entered ambition in your heart...this is contrasted to wisdom "from above" and so equates to wisdom from somewhere else; namely self.

Application:
Today I am to seek wisdom from above as described here and I know that I receive this wisdom by asking it from the Lord...

2 Chronicles 1:10-12 (King Solomon prays for wisdom)
Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” 11 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.”

So here God makes it clear that He grants the wisdom and knowledge because of the purity of Solomon's heart in the request.  Solomon did not ask for wisdom and knowledge in all things...he asked for wisdom and knowledge in the area of the responsibility and the calling that God put in Solomon's life.  This would be like me asking for wisdom and understanding in leading my family, serving in TEAM and Men's ministry, Ushering, being a leader in my workplace.  I should not ask God for sick bull fighting skills...or wisdom in how to get rich, or wisdom in how to be more comfortable, or wisdom in how to become popular.  But notice that God freely gave these things to Solomon because Solomon was asking with sincerity only for the wisdom he needed to fulfill the call that God had given him.  Solomon also did not have a mind to be better at this leadership thing than the guy next to him for selfish ambition or due to bitter jealousy.  Rather, he was looking out for God's people.  He knew they needed wise leadership and he did not exalt himself to suppose he was all that.  He recognized he was not and asked God, for the sake of the people, for this wisdom.

God's response is amazing and so encouraging.  He makes it clear what it means to ask "in Jesus name".  We need to ask for things that glorify our Lord, for things that we need to further His kingdom, for things we need out of a sense of service, for things we need not for our self but so that we may bless others.  This is anything but a prosperity gospel!!!!  Praise the Lord.

More on application- Today I am to apply the wisdom He grants me by taking action in those areas of my calling, those areas where I have been given responsibility.  So I am to bless my family, I am to love and lead my wife, I am to invest the wisdom God grants into ministry and into my workplace.  I cannot merely receive wisdom and knowledge and then ignore it because I prefer to remain comfortable or because I need to go count my money or something.  If this was my heart, God would not have granted His wisdom in the first place and therefore whatever wisdom I thought I had would be from myself...

Prayer:

O Lord let me be as Solomon and desire only that you would give me wisdom and understanding to fulfill your calling in my life and to manage the areas of responsibility that you have granted me.  Lord let me not cease in asking and seeking from you this wisdom that you desire to give me.  Please give me faith and let me completely trust in your goodness and your sovereignty, that you would give me this wisdom generously according to your word in James 1:5-6.

James 1:5-6
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Lord please give me such wisdom and understanding that I might be fully equipped to lead my family.  To teach my children and to love and lead my wife.  To humbly serve in TEAM, Men's, and the Ushers ministries as you have called me.  To humbly serve in the leadership role you have placed me in at work.  Please help me to not be double minded but to keep a pure heart in these areas that there would be no bitter jealousy or selfish ambition in me, Lord.  Let me not hope for personal gain or glory in any fashion Lord but to you alone be the glory from this filling from your abundant wisdom- Soli Deo Gloria.

Thank you Lord for revealing to me what I am to do with your word.  Thank you for teaching me how to meditate on your word.  Let me dwell on these things throughout the day and let me recognize opportunities to surrender to you today Lord.  In Jesus name I pray, amen.