The Right Time

1 Peter 5:5-6

"But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for—

God has had it with the proud,
But takes delight in just plain people.

So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time."

I am daily working on contentment. I must continue to work towards the goal, but not push too hard. I must not rush God's timing. He will promote me in his time.

Heart of a Loving Father

10/31/2010 13:30

Background:

Our good friends sacrificially gave us a mana car 6 months ago, and it has been a blessing to our family. In spite of all the work that they had done on the car, the engine had a catastrophic failure last month. We have refused to borrow money, and we have been borrowing cars to get us around town for the past month.

Key Point from Pastor Jon's Sermon:

Will my request draw me closer to Jesus or drive a wedge between us?

Today has been an emotional day as I had an encounter with Jesus this afternoon. God demonstrated His love for us in a miraculous way.

Between services a couple from our church let us test drive their 2001 Mustang. My father has a 1964 1/2 Mustang, and I have always wanted one so that we could go to car shows together. It was a wonderful car, but seemed impracticable for our family.

We had an appointment to test drive a 1996 Honda Accord in Tacoma at noon. On the way there, I felt Jesus prompt me to believe for both vehicles.

I broke down crying while driving on I-5. We have been in this deep trial for so long, and I have seen my dreams die so many times that I have become afraid to believe for anything wonderful. I would have been very happy to get our car running again.

Both vehicle owners are Christians, and they have been looking for good homes for their vehicles. The entire process has been divinely orchestrated, and we good feel God's presence on the test drives.

A mechanic in our church found an engine for our mana car, and we plan to bless another family in the church with this vehicle.

We still have to work out the details, but God has gone beyond meeting a need and is demonstrating the generous heart of a loving father.

Forged Faith

Journal Entry 10/31/2010 5:30am

Mark 8:17
Why are you still talking about having no bread?

They were so focused on their need that they missed the miracle in front of them.

Do I ever miss the miracles that Jesus has sent? Am I so focused on my finances or transportation problems that I miss the miracle? God stretched the little money that we did have over 10 months of unemployment, and He provided cars for us to drive for free. He even allowed us to remain in our house rent free for over a year.

While my encounter did not happen the way that I expected or wanted, Jesus was faithful, and His promise was fulfilled either way. My pride kept me from being set free from financial bondage sooner. Over the course of our trial, my faith was increased, and my relationship with Him was forged through the testing.

Fresh Start

Psalm 145:14
God gives a hand to those down on their luck,
gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.

Jesus, Thank you for the job and the fresh start!

Hope for the future

Jeremiah 29:11-14
I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed."

These times of trial can cause me to question God, or they can cement my relationship with Him. When I struggle, I must dig deeper to hear His voice. He has not abandoned me. In my desperation, I have become totally dependent on Him. Is there any better place to be?

God gets the Glory

Psalm 118:17-18
I didn't die. I lived!
And now I'm telling the world what God did.
God tested me, he pushed me hard,
but he didn't hand me over to Death.

God uses our times of trial and testing to build our testimony. I must tell others about my experience and God's amazing love. How sad it would be to endure trials and never share His love with those in need around me.

The purpose driven life is not about me, it is all about service. At the end of the day, I have surrendered my life to serve Christ. Whether I finish life as a success or failure, it makes no difference as long as God gets the glory.

Life is Getting Hard

Jeremiah 45:3-5
You say, 'These are bad times for me! It's one thing after another. God is piling on the pain. I'm worn out and there's no end in sight.'

"But God says, 'Look around. What I've built I'm about to wreck, and what I've planted I'm about to rip up. And I'm doing it everywhere—all over the whole earth! So forget about making any big plans for yourself. Things are going to get worse before they get better. But don't worry. I'll keep you alive through the whole business.'"

Many of us have stepped out in faith to build upon a dream that God placed in our hearts, only to struggle with the pain of watching it flounder. I have learned more through my failures than my successes. Thank you Jesus for daily dependence and provision.

Waiting on the Lord

Psalm 62:5-8
God, the one and only—
I’ll wait as long as he says.
Everything I hope for comes from him,
so why not?

He’s solid rock under my feet,
breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
I’m set for life.

My help and glory are in God
—granite-strength and safe-harbor-God—

So trust him absolutely, people;
lay your lives on the line for him.
God is a safe place to be.

Thank you Jesus for teaching me patience.

Promotion

1 Peter 5:5-6
But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for—
God has had it with the proud,
But takes delight in just plain people. So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time.

Jesus, thank you for teaching me that we will never be promoted before the right time. When the promotion comes, I will rest in the knowledge that you have prepared me and equipped me for the task at hand.

God is on the Job

1 Peter 4:12-13 & 19
Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. So if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he's doing, and he'll keep on doing it.

Thank you Jesus for always being on the job.

Tools of the Trade

1 Peter 1:6-7
I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

Karen Kingsbury told me a few weeks ago that, "money is simply a tool that God gives us to do His work."

Andrew wants to spend his money on a locking knife and a Red Rider Bee Bee gun. While I don't object to the tools, I am not sure that he is responsible enough to handle them yet. I will need to work with him and train him prior to that purchase.

Money is obviously an important tool, but God still needs to work with me and train me prior to releasing his blessings. I desperately want to move on to the next step, but I don't want God to turn me loose until I am ready. Thank you Jesus for the training.

The Last Detail

James 5:10-11
Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.

Thank you Jesus for caring about every last detail.

Leaderhip Training

Hebrews 12:7
God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

Thank you Jesus for the training!

Mighty Men of God

Isaiah 13:3

I've taken charge of my special forces,
called up my crack troops.
They're bursting with pride and passion
to carry out my angry judgment.

God is raising up men in our church to become His special forces. These men will be used to accomplish His mighty work during these difficult times.

How do I know that I am one of these men?

* I have submitted my life and my will to His purposes
* I read my Bible and walk with Him each day
* I happily perform the work that He has given me each day
* He speaks to me and encourages me each day

Leaderhip Training

At the beginning of the year, God challenged our small group of men to seek Him through daily Bible reading.

• Challenged us to blog for accountability
• Challenged us to attend Saturday morning breakfast @ 6:00am to filter the men from the boys
• We made a conscious choice not to become a ladies tea party
• Something must have resonated with your soul to become part of our group

Satan knows that a group of men daily seeking God is a huge threat to his world. Satan has been attacking on every front:

• Health
• Marriage
• Resentment
• Selfishness
• Unforgiveness

We seek the keys to the kingdom:

• Spiritual gifts (discernment / wisdom / healing / casting out deamons)
• Wealth and provision

God has freely given out the keys before, but his chosen men have failed every time.

• Saul -Failed to follow God wholeheartedly by killing all of the Amalekites.
  
• David - Committed adultery with Bathsheeba and had her husband murdered.
  
• Solomon - Was seduced by the pagan gods of his wives, and he failed to worship God wholeheartedly.

God has decided that we must be trained prior being given the keys to the kingdom:

• We must learn to hear His voice. (John 10:27 "My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me")
• Commit to daily seek / walk with Him
• Must demonstrate obedience

The Word is Living:

• Simply attending church or a small group is being force fed.
• You can read the entire Bible without discernment and obtain nothing
  
• The Holy Spirit makes the Word come alive
• God has a Rhema word (specific word) for us each day
• It is my job to find that word and research it
• By seeking Him first thing in the morning, I trust God to make the rest of my day more efficient (Tithing of my time)

Surrounded by Counsel:

• Advocate - A peer with the ability to speak into your life. Someone that loves you enough to tell you when you are messing up. We need these advocates for accountability.
  
• Discipleship - We need a mentor to disciple us, and we must disciple others. (Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.")

Closing Questions:

• What is stopping you from daily seeking God by reading His word?
• Are you man enough to admit that your reason is an excuse?
• Who is your advocate? Who loves you enough to tell you the trust?
• Who is discipling you?
• Who are you discipling?
  

Total Submission

Proverbs 1:25-33
"Since you laugh at my counsel
and make a joke of my advice,
How can I take you seriously?
I'll turn the tables and joke about your troubles!
What if the roof falls in,
and your whole life goes to pieces?
What if catastrophe strikes and there's nothing
to show for your life but rubble and ashes?
You'll need me then. You'll call for me, but don't expect an answer.
No matter how hard you look, you won't find me.

"Because you hated Knowledge
and had nothing to do with the Fear-of-God,
Because you wouldn't take my advice
and brushed aside all my offers to train you,
Well, you've made your bed—now lie in it;
you wanted your own way—now, how do you like it?
Don't you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots?
Carelessness kills; complacency is murder.
First pay attention to me, and then relax.
Now you can take it easy—you're in good hands."

If I choose to only submit portions of my life to God, how can I expect Him to bless my entire life? What must I do to find God's blessing? The first step is absolute submission.

Proverbs 1:7
Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God;
only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

The God of the universe is not bound by physics, space, or time. He knows every strand of DNA of every creature that has ever lived or will ever live. He orchestrates slow people on Yelm Highway to keep me out of accidents, and he pushes every breath of air into my lungs.

Is there any way imaginable that I could do a better job managing my life than God? When I fully understand how magnificent God is and how insignificant I am, there really is no choice but total submission to His will and His ways.

How can I hear from Him when His Word is closed? Total submission starts with daily Bible reading.

"And I'm going to keep that celebration going because I know how it's going to turn out. Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don't expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn't shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose." Philippians 1:20-21 MSG

When Paul wrote this he was in jail for preaching the gospel. We don't have to go to jail to "suffer for Christ". Sometimes our "jail" is something like unforgiveness, pain, or for us...bankruptcy. I decided in the beginning of this not to hide it or try to keep it a secret. I have felt like we are a proverbial billboard for our faith...no matter WHAT is happening, good and bad. "We will not be embarrassed! On the contrary, everything happening to us only serves to make Christ more accurately known." I love that what I felt was the right thing to do is actually backed up in scripture! Thank you Lord for your love letter to us!

Entitled Living

God is desperately seeking men that will simply obey Him and walk with Him daily. Several times in the Bible, God has made the following promise to men that He has raised up as leaders:

1 Kings 9:4-5
As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.

Solomon was given incredible wisdom and an immense fortune, but it was not enough. Sin crept in and Solomon became entitled. Once He became self reliant, He no longer needed to daily walk with God.

1 Kings 11:1-4
King Solomon was obsessed with women. Pharaoh's daughter was only the first of the many foreign women he loved—Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite. He took them from the surrounding pagan nations of which God had clearly warned Israel, "You must not marry them; they'll seduce you into infatuations with their gods." Solomon fell in love with them anyway, refusing to give them up. He had seven hundred royal wives and three hundred concubines—a thousand women in all! And they did seduce him away from God. As Solomon grew older, his wives beguiled him with their alien gods and he became unfaithful—he didn't stay true to his God as his father David had done.

Men have demonstrated through our failures that we are irresponsible with the keys to the kingdom. He can not give us wealth and influence without intense training.

I believe that I am going through an intense training period prior to being raised up a a leader in the kingdom. He is training me to walk with Him daily, to read His word, to hear His voice, and to obey unconditionally.

Thank you Jesus for the training. Please don't give me the keys until I am ready.

Measured Righteousness

Romans 1:16-17
It's news I'm most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God's way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: "The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives." (The righteous will live by faith.)

Can I measure my righteousness by the amount of faith I must muster to make it through the day? I believe that God uses situations that require daily faith living to develop righteousness. Thank you Jesus for the daily cleansing.

The Manna Fairy's biggest delivery yet!

We recieved the most amazing gift from the Lord tonight... A CAR!!!! God sent His angels (our dearest friends) to bless us with an awesome car...free and clear...they even covered the insurance for the next 2 months! They put a little sign on it that said "MANNA"... I'd say THAT manna fairy's wings got tired...THANK YOU JESUS!!! For Amazing friends and a mighty GOD!

Unexpected Gifts

2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

We lost our F-350 trucks to the bank about a month ago, and we have been driving a friend's truck nicknamed "The Humbler." We decided to learn from the mistakes of the Israelites, and we have been thankful for the reliable transportation. The only problem has been our inability to fit our family and groceries in the vehicle at the same time.


Tonight God blessed us with a very nice Mana Oldsmobile, and we are so thankful.


We have given cars away, and now we have received one. There is nothing more fun than giving and receiving unexpected gifts. May God bless our friends for their obedience with the ability to live and give far beyond their means.

Real Men

1 Kings 2:2-4
Be strong; show what you're made of! Do what God tells you. Walk in the paths he shows you: Follow the life-map absolutely, keep an eye out for the signposts, his course for life set out in the revelation to Moses; then you'll get on well in whatever you do and wherever you go. Then God will confirm what he promised me when he said, 'If your sons watch their step, staying true to me heart and soul, you'll always have a successor on Israel's throne.'

• Real Men know that the keys to the Kingdom are not given away easily
• Real Men are prepared to go through trials and to be trained for leadership
• Real Men understand that taking your life back into your own hands is a sin
• Real Men recognize that success is dependent on obedience to God
• Real Men trust in God's promises

Are you a Real Man?

Obedience in Tithing

Everything has settled down this week, and I needed to tithe on the work that we had been doing lately. The tithe check was for $250 which was difficult to write considering our circumstances, but we both knew that it was the right thing to do. As I dropped the check in the bucket, I prayed that God would provide resources and continue to take care of us.

I was reminded of Matthew 6:25-27
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

God promised food on the table, but He did not promise to pay off my mistakes.

After the service, an usher handed me an anonymous note which read:
"Thank only God. He told me to get this for you about a month ago. Sorry it took so long. I wish I could give more - though I'm sure God will keep the blessings coming! Love You!"

Enclosed was a $50 bill. God is so good, and he delivered some provision within minutes of depositing the tithe check. I want to thank the anonymous donor for their obedience, and this way God gets all the glory. I know the rewards that come with obedience, and I look forward to the day when God can use us to bless others again financially.

Pride is the Problem

1 Chronicles 28:9-10
"And you, Solomon my son, get to know well your father's God; serve him with a whole heart and eager mind, for God examines every heart and sees through every motive. If you seek him, he'll make sure you find him, but if you abandon him, he'll leave you for good. Look sharp now! God has chosen you to build his holy house. Be brave, determined! And do it!"

God has chosen some of us to enter His Special Forces and build His kingdom, but He can not stand for a single ounce of pride in our lives.

Barn sour horses decide to go back to the barn on their own when they are tired of working. The owner must go get the horse and put it back to work in order to train the horse that the work is not done until the master is satisfied. Once the horse has been trained, it gains the trust of the owner.

Each time I let pride creep back into my life, I start to become self sufficient. God must go get me and put me back to work until the pride is once again stripped out of my life. God can not use me to build His kingdom until I have been trained and gain His trust.

Proverbs 16:18-19
First pride, then the crash—
the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
It's better to live humbly among the poor
than to live it up among the rich and famous.

Shattered Pride

Psalms 51
^1-3Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I've been;
my sins are staring me down.

^4-6 You're the One I've violated, and you've seen
it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you;
whatever you decide about me is fair.
I've been out of step with you for a long time,
in the wrong since before I was born.
What you're after is truth from the inside out.
Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.

^7-15 Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean,
scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don't look too close for blemishes,
give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don't throw me out with the trash,
or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;
I'll let loose with your praise.

^16-17 Going through the motions doesn't please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don't for a moment escape God's notice.

Heart of Worship

Psalms 54:6-7
I'm ready now to worship, so ready.
I thank you, God—you're so good.
You got me out of every scrape,
and I saw my enemies get it.

Thank you Jesus for the freedom, and now I am ready to worship.

His Anointed

Psalms 20:4-6
May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.

We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.

Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he answers him from his holy heaven
with the saving power of his right hand.

I know that the battle is already won, and you deserve all the glory. Thank you Jesus for choosing me.

what do you hear?

Manna Fairy, Manna Fairy, what do YOU hear? You hear the LORD whispering in your ear...

She came again tonight and left 4 bags of grocries on the door step... we serve a very mighty God who whispers to all of us from time to time...do you listen? What do YOU hear?

God please pour out your blessings on the ones who listen to your urgings... and help me to be more like them...

Who am I?

1 Chronicles 17:16
Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? But that's nothing compared to what's coming, for you've also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow and looked on me, Master God, as a Somebody.

God, why did you pick me? Why did you lead me on this faith journey? Why did you plant a seed of entrepreneurship in my soul? Why did you promise me a future far beyond what I could dream of?

I believe that God invites us all on a faith journey, but many are unwilling to step out in faith. What has God called you to do? Are you willing to put logic behind you and take a blind step of faith? Are you willing to make the short term sacrifices in order to see God's will done in your life?

Mana Fairy Strikes Again

Last week we ran out of milk early in the week. I was on the way to Walmart only to find 2 half gallons of milk on the doorstep. God is so good!

The wonderful ladies from Linda's Sunday school class sent $200 just in the nick of time. We are so thankful for their ability to hear from God and be obedient.

Even after my faith filled post last week about Daily Bread, I was struggling with a bad attitude on Saturday. We were down to our last $10, and I was starting to get nervous. I remembered my post on the way to the airport, and I made a conscious choice to turn toward God. I turned on some Christian music and started praising. I was able to leave it in His hands.

Last night, my parents blessed us with a large check for all the work that we had done on their home while they were on vacation. It was far beyond what I had expected, and God reminded me that "Your Grace is Enough."

Daily Bread

Matthew 16:8-11
Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread?

God has brought me to a place where I am totally dependent on Him for daily bread in order to fully seal my trust in Him. I no longer understand these verses with my head, but I rest in them with my heart. Thank you Jesus for building my faith one test at a time.

David's Heart

2 Samuel 3:31-32
Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, "Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner." King David himself walked behind the bier. They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner's tomb. All the people wept also.

2 Samuel 3:38-39
Then the king said to his men, "Do you not realize that a prince and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!"

Why does David mourn for those that have tried to hurt him? Why does he pay honor to Saul after he was hunted for years? Perhaps David respected the office in spite of the man occupying the throne. Perhaps it was more than that.

I believe that even though David cried out to God in Psalms, he was able to rest in the knowledge that God had it under control. David submitted himself to become God's tool for justice, but he left revenge in God's hands.

When I know the end of the story, it makes it easier to endure the painful chapters. I must submit myself to Him daily.

Prophetic Picture

Joshua 3:14-16
The people left their tents to cross the Jordan, led by the priests carrying the Chest of the Covenant. When the priests got to the Jordan and their feet touched the water at the edge (the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest), the flow of water stopped. It piled up in a heap—a long way off—at Adam, which is near Zarethan. The river went dry all the way down to the Arabah Sea (the Salt Sea). And the people crossed, facing Jericho.

God gave me this image as a prophetic picture tonight. I sensed that our work is piling up in a heap, and it can't be released until we complete our bankruptcy.

Thank you Jesus for the dry ground. We look forward to the work that you have for us.

Prophetic Picture

I was given a prophetic picture from two ladies that only know me by name. Here is what resonated with me:

• I was a pilot with a headset.
• My instruments were in front of me, and I can not see the ground.
• I am on God's flight plan.
• Even though I can't see how to get to the destination, I must trust my instruments and stay on course.
• I must daily choose to stay on God's plan to get to the destination
• I am in constant contact with God. When I speak, He listens, and when He speaks, I listen.

These women did not know that I was a pilot or that this would clearly encourage me. Thank you Jesus for the encouragement.

Promise Secured

Matthew 7:7-11
Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?

David was anointed King and then chased around the country by Saul for many years. He was given a promise that seemed impossible with earthly wisdom.

God is good, and He only gives me good gifts. If I must go through some temporary pain, it is only so that He can get me to a better place and bless me in the future. My promise may not come the way I expected or the way I wanted, but at the end of the book the promise is secure.

We Love Mana

Tiffany was given $50 this week for mowing lawns and baby sitting.

Our dear friends brought over pizza, cookies, and coke for tax day. Is there anything better than Chicken, Bacon, Ranch pizza?

Thank you Jesus for your daily blessings!

Cleaning up the Mess

Psalms 11:7 MSG
God's business is putting things right;
he loves getting the lines straight,
Setting us straight. Once we're standing tall,
we can look him straight in the eye.

Psalms 11:7 NIV
For the LORD is righteous,
he loves justice;
upright men will see his face.

Now that the trucks and the trailers are gone, God is cleaning up the mess. He is setting us free and making the lines straight again. Thank you Jesus for cleaning up my mess, and for giving me a fresh start.

40 Days of Taunting

1 Samuel 17:16
Each morning and evening for forty days, Goliath took his stand and made his speech.

1 Samuel 17:26
David, who was talking to the men standing around him, asked, "Who does he think he is, anyway, this uncircumcised Philistine, taunting the armies of God-Alive?"

1 Samuel 17:45-47
David answered, "You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel's troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I'm about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there's an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn't save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he's handing you to us on a platter!"

During my 40 day fast, Satan loved to taunt me and tell me that fasting would not make a difference. I must take an active step. I am ready to slay the giants that are taunting me and stealing my hope.

"When faith is all I have, that is when God creates and builds His champions"

My Weakness

2 Corinthians 13:5-9
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.

We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority. For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.

I have been concerned that my failure would cause those around us to stumble. Would they question the sovereignty of the God that we serve? Would they say, "Where is your God now, why didn't He save you?" Perhaps their perception of my God will come from the way I respond to the situation. If I mope around all day, our neighbors will see a God sized failure.

I must choose to face each day with a smile on my face resting in the joy of my salvation. The things of this world are temporary, and He will use my failures for His Glory. When I trust that His grace is enough, my testimony is restored.

I have not lost my Spiritual authority. I rest in the knowledge that God will use my weakness to build the faith of those around me, and He will increase their spiritual maturity.

Today's Mana

Jesus directed us to the right attorney this weekend, and her office called this morning to schedule an appointment. When the receptionist said that Jill could see us on the 21st, I was a little disappointed. Then she said that Jill had an appointment available in 2 hours, but she knew that it was short notice. We took the appointment, and I am so glad that we did. We found the right attorney. Praise Jesus!

We were also blessed today with $500 for a project that we have been working on for several weeks. We are so honored to be able to tithe on these blessings as they come in.

Mo Mana

God sent Mo Mana this weekend.

• A close relative sent $260 on Saturday to help with legal expenses
• We were able to sell another household item for $500 today
• Jim lent us his dad's truck which we proudly drove to church today. We have nick named it "The Humbler" and we will post pictures soon.
  

Thank you Jesus for teaching us to live within our means and on cash!

More Like Him

2 Corinthians 11:30
If I have to "brag" about myself, I'll brag about the humiliations that make me like Jesus.

Every trial makes me more humble and more like Him. Thank you Jesus for the trials!

Mana Fairy Sighting

We were able to sell a piece of equipment this week, settle the balance on the loan, and we had $500 left over to pay the electric bill.

Thank you Jesus for every miracle, big or small

Give us a King

1 Samuel 10:18-19
Samuel called the people to assemble before God at Mizpah. He addressed the children of Israel, "This is God's personal message to you:

"I brought Israel up out of Egypt. I delivered you from Egyptian oppression—yes, from all the bullying governments that made your life miserable. And now you want nothing to do with your God, the very God who has a history of getting you out of troubles of all sorts.

"And now you say, 'No! We want a king; give us a king!'

"Well, if that's what you want, that's what you'll get! Present yourselves formally before God, ranked in tribes and families."

Since I have struggled and failed, I find myself ready to go back into slavery. I am looking for a job and a king to rule over me. A king to fight my battles for me. Now that He has set me free, why should I go back into bondage?

Share the Burden

2 Corinthians 8:9-14
You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich. So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it. Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands. This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit.

I will do what I can, and I know that God has sent me brothers to share the burden. Thank you Jesus for Bible Nuts.

Complete Trust

Matthew 6:30-34
"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.


I needed this today. A reminder that when I worry, I am not trusting completely. When I try to control things there will never be peace.
No God. No peace.
KNOW God. KNOW Peace.

Mana Fairy Sighting

We received a check in the mail for $30 as a reimbursement for an exam for the VA Hospital.

Thank you Jesus for more mana!

Salvation

2 Corinthians 6:1-2
As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

Jesus, Thank you hearing our cry for help, and for the salvation.

Don't Give Up

2 Corinthians 4:16
So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

I may be forced into it, but I will not quit. Thank you Jesus for giving us the gift of faith.

Mana Fairy Sighting

The Mana Fairy was hard at work today. God sent blessings beyond belief:

• $50 Walmart Gift Card from our loved ones in California
• $50 Walmart Gift Card from our loved ones in Washington
• $300 Blessing for landscaping work

Our budget is like the lady pouring the oil. We have been down to our last $200 since January 1st. I keep thinking that we can't go on any longer, and then God sends another obedient person to bless us. May God bless those of you who are obedient Mana Fairies and multiply your reward 1,000x.

The Rescue

2 Corinthians 1:8 - 10
We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn't think we were going to make it. We felt like we'd been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he'll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation - I don't want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God's deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part.

God how many times have you saved us from bankruptcy, and we are in the same place again. As the fast comes to an end, I look forward to the doors that you will open next week. Either way, freedom lies at the end of the path. Thank you Jesus for Freedom!

Stay the Course

I Corinthians 15:58
With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.

Every time I get discouraged, God sends me a similar message. I must keep at the work that He has laid out for me to do. Jesus, thank you for the work.

For His Glory

Judges 7:2
God said to Gideon, "You have too large an army with you. I can't turn Midian over to them like this—they'll take all the credit, saying, 'I did it all myself,' and forget about me.

God is using this time of forging to burn this concept into my soul. Any success is because of His grace and for His glory. Thank you Jesus for the trials and the testing. I know that you are making me stronger and that your path leads to freedom.

Promise Fulfilled

Joshua 23:14
You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.

Joshua 24:13
So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.

These two concepts have popped out several times the past few days in my reading. Our God keeps His promises, and He gives us blessings that we did not construct with our own hands. He loves to perform miracles when it seems impossible and all hope is lost. All He asks us for is obedience.

Thank you Jesus

Take the Promised Land

Joshua 18:3
So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?

I believe that fasting is my act of Faith to slay the giants and take possession of the land. I have been doing well, but my family struggled over the weekend. I guess I failed to research and teach them about fasting. Since I prayed about fasting and He downloaded a passion in me, I assumed that the rest of my family was on board as well.

We are fighting Spiritual Battles, and Satan wants nothing more than to use this fast to create dissension and split our family up. Thank you Jesus for helping us to recognize the attack so that we can fight this battle together.

Eat Meat

1 Corinthians 8:8-9
But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. NIV

But fortunately God doesn't grade us on our diet. We're neither commended when we clean our plate nor reprimanded when we just can't stomach it. But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track. MSG

Food is an inanimate object and consuming it is not sinning. Ignoring the Holy spirit and consuming in excess is sin. God is only concerned with our obedience and our relationship. Praise Jesus, only 11 days left until we can eat meat!

Supernatural Provision

Joshua 5:11-12
The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.

The Israelites ate from fields that they did not plant, and the reaped a harvest that they did not sew. God provided for their needs supernaturally, and He exceeded their expectations. I am excited about His plans for me beyond this fast.

Trust in Him

Psalms 37:7&25-26
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.

They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.

Jesus, I thank you for providing for our needs even when we can not see the answer right in front of our faces. I know that your ways are not my ways, and your thoughts are not my thoughts.

By His Strength We are Saved

1Cor 1:26-29
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Thank you Jesus that we are saved by your strength and not our own.

Promised Land

Deuteronomy 11:8-15

Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, and so that you may live long in the land that the Lord swore to your forefathers to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey. The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end. So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.

All I must do to inherit the promised land is to trust and obey. Why is that so hard?

Humility

Deuteronomy 8:2-3

Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Just when I think I am humble enough, God humbles me some more. Thank you Jesus for your love and gentle correction.

Promised Land

Deuteronomy 6:10-12
When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Thank you Jesus for your promises. How easy it is for me to become distracted from you when life is easy and things are good. Nothing that I do by my own hand will bring me into the promised land. Thank you for forging me with trials so that I will always remember that the promised land is a gift from you.

Daily Choices

Deuteronomy 1:22
Then all of you came to me and said, "Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to."

If the Israelites had jumped into the fight with confidence instead of tip-toeing in fear, they would have received the promised land.

Trusting God and walking in Faith is a daily choice. I choose to trust Him and know that He has my best interests at heart, or I don't.

Speak your promise out loud! There is power in the spoken word. It re-programs your brain for faith and it repels the enemy. Declare your promise!

Life of Service

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

I have been called to a life of service.

We wrote down as many miracles as we could remember from 2009, and we are keeping track of the miracles for 2010. This is helping me to remember that He takes care of me daily and that He has not forgotten about me. It keeps me from grumbling or looking back to Egypt. Thank you Jesus for the daily mana.

Unbelief

Mark 9:22-24
It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes.
"Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

The Disciples have already seen Jesus drive out evil spirits, heal the deaf and blind, feed thousands, calm the storms, and raise people from the dead. This must have been a minor task for the majesty of Jesus. Why didn't the Disciples encourage the father and help him overcome his doubt prior to Jesus' arrival?

Are faith and doubt mutually exclusive? If you are going through a trial, if you have been robbed of the relationship, the life, and the security you were supposed to have, the following sermon may be an encouragement.

http://www.baysideonline.com/13259/five-questions-got-faith/

Jesus, I believe, help me overcome my unbelief.

Deny Yourself

Numbers 29:7
On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work. (NIV)

Ten days later, on the tenth day of the same month, you must call another holy assembly. On that day, the Day of Atonement, the people must go without food and must do no ordinary work. (NLT)

Tithing is a way that God humbles my heart and helps me to focus my attention on Him. God does not need my money, He needs humble servants.

Numbers 12:3
Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.

Perhaps fasting, denying my human nature, is the next level of Spiritual maturity. Praying, Praising, Reading, Tithing, and Fasting are ways that God uses to help me take my focus off of me and my problems. When I spend my time seeking Him, then human wisdom does not interfere with my communication with God.

I am excited about the things that God is sharing with me during this time of fasting.

In a Fight

Numbers 21:22-25
"Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway until we have passed through your territory." But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the desert against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel. Israel, however, put him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified. Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its surrounding settlements.

I will have to fight battles while I am wandering in the wilderness.

Satan will pick a fight with me, even when I am trying to stay out of trouble.

Jesus, help me to walk in righteousness and pick up a sword to slay the enemy.

Eat to Live

Numbers 20:2-5
Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! Why did you bring the LORD's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"

God has gotten me out of the Army, and now He has to get the Army out of me.

I have learned through fasting this week that I need to eat to live, and not live to eat.

Give Him the Best

Numbers 18:30-32
"Tell the Levites, When you offer the best part, the rest will be treated the same as grain from the threshing floor or wine from the wine vat that others give. You and your households are free to eat the rest of it anytime and anyplace—it's your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting. By offering the best part, you'll avoid guilt, you won't desecrate the holy offerings of the People of Israel, and you won't die."

Jesus, I am ready to give you the first fruits, the best portion of my harvest.

First Fruits from the Promised Land

Numbers 15:17-21
The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter the land to which I am taking you and you eat the food of the land, present a portion as an offering to the LORD. Present a cake from the first of your ground meal and present it as an offering from the threshing floor. Throughout the generations to come you are to give this offering to the LORD from the first of your ground meal.

Jesus, thank you for slaying the giants and bringing me into the promised land. I commit the first fruits to you and to your kingdom.

A Glimpse of the Promised Land

Numbers 13:21-25
So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) When they reached the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.

God exceeded the expectations of the the spies. They has expected to find small grapes, but God had provided huge grapes for the Israelites.

I believe that God will use the next 40 days to let me into the promised land and get a glimpse of His promise. I have been asking for small grapes, but He has huge grapes waiting for me. It may take me years to fight off the giants, and posses the land entirely, but His promises are sound. Motorola and Cisco should watch out, because God is on my side fighting these battles on my behalf.

Many people around me are watching my struggle and try to feed human wisdom into the problem. This only introduces doubt into the situation. It is my job to stand up, declare God's promise, and take possession of the land. I am so excited about my encounter in the next 39 days.

Day 1

Mark 1:9-13
At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God's Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life."

At once, this same Spirit pushed Jesus out into the wild. For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by Satan. Wild animals were his companions, and angels took care of him.

Critical decision points arise in every man's life - If I am obedient and face the challenge, I will be rewarded and live a fulfilled life. If I miss the opportunity, I am left with frustration and disappointment.

Jesus started his ministry in the desert with a 40 day fast. I believe that we are already in the desert, and that Jesus will use our 40 day fast to kick off the work that He has planned for us. I am sure that Satan will try and tempt us during the next 40 days, but we have surrounded ourselves with friends for accountability and encouragement.

Our family has read this scripture together, and we have prepared for the temptation. We are expecting an amazing encounter.

Storms

Acts 27:23-26
Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."

Previous Sermon Notes:
It will Be as He said
Sometimes storms come through no cause of our own, so stop letting Satan tell you:

• It's your fault
• You are being punished
• Something is wrong with you

Paul was not delivered from the storm, but the storm delivered Paul where God wanted him to be
Your faith is growing when you are growing in faithfulness to God

Even though it is difficult, thank you Jesus for positioning me just where you need me to be.

Fasting

I have been feeling like the Israelites that are camped outside the promised land, and I need to take an active step to slay some giants.

After some prayer and leadership from Seth, I believe that my active step is also a fast.

The giants in our family are sugar, soda, deserts, and television. When we get depressed, we turn to these comforts to escape the pain and the reality of our situation. These are the giants that are keeping us from spending time with God, and they are keeping us out of the promised land.

We had a family meeting tonight, and we plan to start our fast on Monday. The family will be fasting from sugar, soda, and television for 40 days until Good Friday. I will be worshiping God with a Daniel fast consisting of vegetables, fruits, and nuts. At the end of this period, we will have a big party to celebrate our encounter.

I believe that God is going to supernaturally knock down the barriers to our contracts and send us back to work in a big way. I believe that He is going to deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and pay off our debts. This small act of obedience is the key to the door to the kingdom. Please pray with us for the next 40 days as we Expect our Encounter.

Testimony

Acts 22:19-21
Lord,' I replied, 'these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.'

"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' "

Jesus has custom crafted my testimony for a specific purpose. Each trial will be used to test my faith, and demonstrate His faithfulness. I must be prepared to share my testimony so that others will come to know him.

Tent-making

Acts 18:1-4
After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

A tent-maker is a missionary that has a job to support their needs. They are not professional missionaries dependent on the church for financial support.

I like this concept of tent-making missions work, and I witnessed it in Tanzania. Providing engineering or IT services helps the local economy, provides financial resources for missions, and relieves the burden from the church.

Jesus, please give me the resources to be a tent-maker. We are willing to be used here or abroad.

He is with Me

Acts 17:24-28
Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him!

Even when I feel like I am alone, He is with me.

Full Time Ministry

The original church was very similar to our small groups that meet in private homes.

• When did the church become an institution with a full time staff?
• Is this a Biblical principal or something invented by men?

The Roman Catholic Church claims that it began with Peter in Matthew 16:18. Jesus said, "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. Later in Acts 10:15 God tells Peter, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean" making it possible for gentiles to become saved.

I had always assumed that the idea of a formal church was a product of the Council at Nicaea in 325 AD. They wrote the Nicaean Creed which divided up the church into dioceses based upon geographic regions. Writing the Bible in Latin and administering confessions has always made the Catholic Church appear a little self serving.

I noticed yesterday that the concept of full time ministry originates thousands of years prior to the Catholic Church and actually comes from the beginning of Judaism.

Leviticus 7:28-36
God spoke to Moses: "Speak to the People of Israel. Tell them, When you present a Peace-Offering to God, bring some of your Peace-Offering as a special sacrifice to God, a gift to God in your own hands. Bring the fat with the breast and then wave the breast before God as a Wave-Offering. The priest will burn the fat on the Altar; Aaron and his sons get the breast. Give the right thigh from your Peace-Offerings as a Contribution-Offering to the priest. Give a portion of the right thigh to the son of Aaron who offers the blood and fat of the Peace-Offering as his portion. From the Peace-Offerings of Israel, I'm giving the breast of the Wave-Offering and the thigh of the Contribution-Offering to Aaron the priest and his sons. This is their fixed compensation from the People of Israel."

From the day they are presented to serve as priests to God, Aaron and his sons can expect to receive these allotments from the gifts of God. This is what God commanded the People of Israel to give the priests from the day of their anointing. This is the fixed rule down through the generations.

Jesus later reinforces the idea that the priests should be supported by the people in Luke 9:3-6. He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

God clearly described a culture where a small portion of the population was called into full time service, and they were to be supported by the citizens.

Power of Prayer

Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

I have been waiting on God so long that I find myself resigned to the fact that God will do His will in His time. I am so weary that I have forgotten about the power of prayer.

Notes from a previous sermon:

• Prayer has the power to stop a Satan filled enemy
• Prayer can prevail over the apparent victory of Satan
• Prayer can postpone the judgment of God
• Prayer can change the course of history
• Prayer is the key to understanding things I don't understand
• I can change my situation through the power of prayer

Thank you Jesus for the sending us the Holy Spirit and for the power of prayer.

Cast Vision

Exodus 36:2-7
Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab along with all whom God had gifted with the ability to work skillfully with their hands. The men were eager to get started and engage in the work. They took from Moses all the offerings that the Israelites had brought for the work of constructing the Sanctuary. The people kept on bringing in their freewill offerings, morning after morning.

All the artisans who were at work making everything involved in constructing the Sanctuary came, one after another, to Moses, saying, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing this work that God has commanded us to do!"

So Moses sent out orders through the camp: "Men! Women! No more offerings for the building of the Sanctuary!" The people were ordered to stop bringing offerings! There was plenty of material for all the work to be done. Enough and more than enough.

If everyone in the church tithed of their money and their time, the church would overflow. We would have more than enough money for facilities and more than enough volunteers. The burden would be light and not continue to fall on a few people.

Moses challenged the people to dig deep and be a part of building something wonderful. People naturally want to be a part of something greater than themselves. They want to see God at work and accomplish a goal. Moses was able to share God's inspired vision for the temple and get the people on board.

When our church lacks money and volunteers, we must look at ourselves, the church leadership. Have I shared God's vision for this ministry with my volunteers? Do they understand the importance of greeting people, running cameras, and changing diapers? Has the leadership cast a vision for something great, or have we become content with the status quo?

Daily Obedience

Acts 9:13-16
Ananias protested, "Master, you can't be serious. Everybody's talking about this man and the terrible things he's been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he's shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us."

But the Master said, "Don't argue. Go! I have picked him as my personal representative to non-Jews and kings and Jews. And now I'm about to show him what he's in for—the hard suffering that goes with this job."

This passage reminds me of the famous quote"Ours not to reason why, Ours but to do and die" by Lord Alfred Tennyson. It is used in the military to remind us that we are soldiers on the battlefield and our commanders know more than we do.

Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

God is the ultimate commander not only seeing our present circumstances, but seeing the future ramifications as well. Following Him through daily battles is a conscious choice. Knowing that He loves us and wants the best for us, do we really have any other choice than surrendering our will to total obedience?

Demand Righteousness

Exodus 32:5-6,27-29
When Aaron saw all this, he built an altar before the calf and announced, "Tomorrow there will be a special feast to honor the Lord." The people got up early the next morning and offered whole burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. They sat down to eat and drink, and then they got up and sinned sexually.

Then Moses said to them, "The Lord, the God of Israel, says this: 'Every man must put on his sword and go through the camp from one end to the other. Each man must kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.' " The people from the family of Levi obeyed Moses, and that day about three thousand of the Israelites died. Then Moses said, "Today you have been given for service to the Lord. You were willing to kill your own sons and brothers, and God has blessed you for this."

Exodus 12 tells us that 600,000 men left Egypt and 3,000 refused to repent and turn away from this sexual sin. Less than one percent of the Israelites continued to sin, but God knows that immorality spreads quickly.

While society pressures us into being tolerant and politically correct, America has surpassed this level of immorality. God will eventually release his judgment unless we clean up our own country. Are there any Levites left to stand up and demand righteousness?

Daily Struggles

Acts 5:41-42
That convinced them. They called the apostles back in. After giving them a thorough whipping, they warned them not to speak in Jesus' name and sent them off. The apostles went out of the High Council overjoyed because they had been given the honor of being dishonored on account of the Name. Every day they were in the Temple and homes, teaching and preaching Christ Jesus, not letting up for a minute.

I must remember that people are watching as I struggle. I should be thankful for the testing and remember that Jesus will receive the glory for my success.

Salvation

Acts 4:8-12
With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: "Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I'll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is 'the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.' Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one."

When I am in my deepest need, I must take the focus off of myself and focus on Jesus. Nothing I can do through my own strength can save me. I am desperate, and I need a force greater than myself. Jesus is the only one that can provide salvation and restoration. Thank you Jesus, you are more than enough for me.

Idols

Exodus 20:1-6
I am God, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery.
No other gods, only me. No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don't bow down to them and don't serve them because I am God, your God, and I'm a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me. But I'm unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments.

What things keep me from spending time with God each day. While I don't carve idols out of wood, I certainly spend time watching TV.

When reality becomes too painful to face, do I escape into the Word or into a movie and ice cream? Self medication with gambling, alcohol, drugs, food, sex, and shopping are all empty pursuits. They cover our pain for a moment, but only Jesus can heal our pain for a lifetime.

Step out in Faith

Exodus 14:15
God said to Moses: "Why cry out to me? Speak to the Israelites. Order them to get moving. Hold your staff high and stretch your hand out over the sea: Split the sea! The Israelites will walk through the sea on dry ground.

We must get up and get going. We must dig our ditches by faith before God will be released to perform His miracles. Today could be the day for my miracle. Thank you in advance Jesus for your miracles.

Forged and Ready for Battle

Exodus 13:17
It so happened that after Pharaoh released the people, God didn't lead them by the road through the land of the Philistines, which was the shortest route, for God thought, "If the people encounter war, they'll change their minds and go back to Egypt."

The path of least resistance produces weak people. Testing and forging increases our faith and develops a habit of total dependency on God.

Wikipedia:
Swords can be shaped by a variety of metalworking techniques. Forging uses heat to bring the material to a malleable state. The material is then hammered to shape, typically using hammer and anvil.

The final step of forming, and one that affects both the finishing and the heat treatment is 'normalizing'. The blade would be carefully and evenly heated and then cooled slowly. The point of normalizing is to remove the stresses which may have built up within the body of the blade while it was being forged. During the forging process the blade might be heated and cooled differentially creating stress, some parts might be hammered more than others, some areas hammered enough to "work harden". If these stresses are left in the blade they could affect the finishing and when it came time to heat treat the blade, the hardening and tempering might not be as even. Potentially enough stress could be added that the blade would be weak in spots, weak enough that it could fail under enough strain.

Trials remove the small stress fractures, producing strong Christians, ready for Spiritual Battle.

Refined by Fire

I received a prophetic picture this morning involving a beautiful sword that was being made by a craftsman. The sword was heated in the fire and then hammered into the right shape, the imperfections beaten out by force. Each time the sword was placed into the fire and into cool water, it was made stronger, forged by the heat.

Thank you Lord for the reminder that you refine and strengthen us by fire.

Selfless Service

Exodus 1:16-17, 20-21
"When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live." The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

God uses the people considered to be the bottom of society to bring salvation. He not only saved the Israelites, but he blessed the willing servants as well. How great are the rewards of being a servant.

Tough Situations

Luke 20:22-25
Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

He knew they were laying for him and said, "Show me a coin. Now, this engraving, who does it look like and what does it say?"

"Caesar," they said.

Jesus said, "Then give Caesar what is his and give God what is his."

Jesus faced a tough situation by answering this trick question. He was able to provide an answer without lying or sinning. How often do I feel like I need to tell people what they want to hear or sugar coat the truth?

Economic Famine

Genesis 45:4-7
"I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives. There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years—neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance. So you see, it wasn't you who sent me here but God.

When Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, they were filled with jealousy and hate. What they had done in sin, God used for good. In fact, Joseph's dreams from God pushed them over the edge.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Genesis 45 is a reminder to me that God knows every sinful thing that we have done, and he knows every evil thing that as been done to us. I am constantly amazed that he can sew our tragedies into a testimony of His glory.

How will God use our Economic Famine to fulfill His purposes in my life?

Prosper During the Famine

Genesis 42:1-2, 15-16
The famine got worse. When they had eaten all the food they had brought back from Egypt, their father said, "Go back and get some more food." The men took the gifts, double the money, and Benjamin. They lost no time in getting to Egypt and meeting Joseph. When Joseph saw that they had Benjamin with them, he told his house steward, "Take these men into the house and make them at home. Butcher an animal and prepare a meal; these men are going to eat with me at noon."

It is too easy for us to become complacent when we prosper where we normally live. We fall into the same routines, hang out with the same friends, and continue to commit the same sins.

Many times, God has to move us to a foreign land to make us prosper during a famine. He has to break our old human habits and get us totally dependent on Him.

The Power of the Ring

Genesis 41:41-43
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way!" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

I read this passage this morning, and I was struck by the similarities to Esther 3 where Xerxes places Haman in charge of the kingdom.

Esther 3:10-11
So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. "Keep the money," the king said to Haman, "and do with the people as you please."

As I have dug into these passages, I find a huge difference between these stories. Pharaoh demonstrated leadership by listening to Joseph's interpretation and placing him in charge. He could not find any one else who had a closer relationship with God, so naturally he would also be the best person to implement the strategy to save Egypt.

On the other hand, Xerxes was a terrible leader. He had inherited his kingdom from his father, and he was an insecure child dictator. He made his decisions based upon public opinion in order to be favored by the people. This reminds me of the parent that is constantly trying to be their child's best friend. Xerxes advocates his throne to Haman out of weakness, not leadership.

It occurs to me that the exact same act can be good or evil based upon the intent. The God of the universe searches our hearts and knows our intentions.

Moral Compass

Genesis 34:30-31
Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You've made my name stink to high heaven among the people here, these Canaanites and Perizzites. If they decided to gang up on us and attack, as few as we are we wouldn't stand a chance; they'd wipe me and my people right off the map." They said, "Nobody is going to treat our sister like a whore and get by with it."

Simeon and Levi's plan to slaughter the Hivites seems like sound military stragegery. Later in the Bible, God has the Israelites kill thousands of people who oppose them. The only problem is that they forgot to consult God, and they acted out of rage.

Jacob's moral compass is so far off, that I don't know how God can use him. He is more concerned with what the neighbors think that he is with his daughter's situation. Jacob should have led his sons into battle.

Jacob provides us all with hope that God can use imperfect people to accomplish His will.

God's Promises

Genesis 32:10-12
I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.'

Why does God give us a promise, and then place us in positions where we face total destruction? Are these obstacles simply an opportunity to prove our faith, or are they a training tool along our journey? Perhaps they are both.

When we have nothing to lose, the fear is minimal. After Jacob worked for 20 years to build a family and wealth, the fear of destruction becomes greater. When we have recurring sin in our life, God can use trials to force us to change. The past 3 years of trials have certainly humbled my outrageous ego.

Once Jesus cleans out the closets of our life, then trials become a demonstration of faith to those around us. Our purpose on this planet is to spread The Good News, and deeds speak louder than words. Lord, help me not to forget that people are watching me in my daily faith journey.

Sins of the Father

Genesis 29:25
When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn't I? Why have you deceived me?"

Jacob becomes upset when Laban tricks him, but did he forget that he had tricked his father and stolen his brother's blessing. The father's of Israel have demonstrated a long pattern of deception.

Abraham lied twice about Sarah being his wife in order to avoid death. Both times the kings were upset that Abraham could have brought God's wrath upon them for an inadvertent sin. His son Isaac lied about Rebekah being his wife for the same reason, and he encountered the same result.

Exodus 20:5-6
"I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

These fathers did not teach their children about the consequences of their mistakes, and their children were destined to repeat them. What am I doing to end my generational curses? How am I teaching my children to avoid the prices that I have had to pay?

Good Gifts

Luke 11:10-13
"Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children. And don't you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?"

Thank you Jesus for daily manna and unseen miracles.

Child of the King

Luke 10:18-20
"I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Why do I walk around beat up when I have been granted authority over all evil in the name of Jesus? I am not subject to his tools of fear and manipulation. I am a child of the king.

Carpe Diem

Luke 9:62
Jesus said, "No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day."

How often do I look back and wonder if I should have stayed in the Army? How can I ever move forward when I am looking back. Lord thank you for the daily reminders to live by faith.

No other gods

Genesis 21:12
But God spoke to Abraham, "Don't feel badly about the boy and your maid. Do whatever Sarah tells you. Your descendants will come through Isaac. Regarding your maid's son, be assured that I'll also develop a great nation from him—he's your son, too."

Genesis 22:10
They arrived at the place to which God had directed him. Abraham built an altar. He laid out the wood. Then he tied up Isaac and laid him on the wood. Abraham reached out and took the knife to kill his son.

Abraham had received his provision towards God's promise only to be asked to sacrifice it. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would out number the stars. How is that going to happen when you kill the heir?

I find my self in a similar position. I had to quit working for the company in San Jose, which seemed like the provision, before I reached the promised land. I think that sometimes God needs to make sure that my heart is in the right place, and that I have no other gods before him.

the beauty contest

Esther 2:1-20

One of the kings advisors requested a beauty contest from 300 concubines because the king was lonley and board. Esther became one of the contestants and the kings advisor liked her so she got one year of beauty treetmants. She finaly got the one night with the king. After the king was done he desided he liked Esther the most.

My opinion:
the king was not drunk anymore so he was board and just had to had to have a Queen.

Evangelize

Luke 7:44-47
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

How often do I associate with "sinners" and the downtrodden? Am I so comfortable with my circle of Christian friends that I forget why I am still here?

Thank you Lord for loving me and pursuing me. Thank you for opportunities to give, to serve, and to love on people.

Live Generously

Luke 6:27-30

To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

I have a hard time giving to the less fortunate when I am struggling, and when I have all I need. Lord, thank you for teaching me how to hear you and for changing my heart for giving. Please help me to respond to your calling.

Away from Home

Genesis 12:1
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

God's promises for me are secure, and our work in Africa will come to fruition. Combined with yesterday's word, I must prepare to spend 2010 away from home doing His work.

Queen Vashti kicked out

Esther 1:10-21

King Xerxes was in the middle of his party when he told his messangers to tell Queen Vashti to come with her crown on her head and NO royal CLOTHES ON! Queen Vashti refused (to come naked!) And King Xerxes became furios so his advisors told him to kick Queen Vashti out and find another Queen.

My opinion:
King Xerxes was drunk and told her to come without clothes on.

Queen Vashti wasn't the bad guy she just wanted to keep her body to her self.

King Xerxes oter mistake is that he took advice from his drunk advisors.