Observation: Wow . . . isn't that neat? God's Word will not return empty.  God's Word will accomplish His desires.  God's Word will achieve His purposes.  His Word is truth and life, and we can't help but be impacted by it. 

Application: Do you view the scripture as being that powerful?  How often do you read His Word?  Are you sometimes hesitant to share scripture with your friends, because you don't think it will help?  How has God's Word impacted you?  Have you seen it directly impact the lives of your friends, family, or even strangers? Verse 11 mentions that His Word will achieve the purpose for which He sent it . . . what do you think that purpose is?

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for giving us your Word.  Thank you for providing us with direction.  Help us to see the power of your Word in our life.  Give us the diligence to read your Word daily.  Don't allow us to hesitate in speaking your Word.  Amen. 

Observation & Application:  While there are many directions that I could go with this scripture, I want to focus in on two main areas.  First, 1 Peter 2:1-3.  Here we are told to rid ourselves of the sinful nature, and to crave "pure spiritual milk" like a newborn baby - this spiritual milk being the Word of God.  This is an interesting metaphor.  We can feed our bodies a lot of things - some healthy and beneficial (salads, grains, etc) and some that are well, not so much (McDonalds, La's, etc.).  In the same way that we have to be careful of what we feed our bodies, we must be careful of what we are spiritually ingesting.  We are warned in a number of places throughout the bible that bad company corrupts good morals, and that we should rid ourselves of the sinful nature.  That is all fine, but today I urge you to think about what you are putting in its place after you give that up.  Are you filling that gap with more junk that will kill you over time, or are you filling it with God's Word?

Secondly, I want to hit the point made in 1 Peter 2:16.  We are told to live as free men, but not to use our freedom as a cover-up for evil.  Wow!  How many people do you know who skip right over this verse?  I know a lot of people who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord & Savior and live in that grace and freedom, but then rationalize their sins using the excuse that grace has covered those sins anyway.  We need to keep ourselves off of that path of destruction, and as the second part of the verse says, "Live as servants of God." 

Keep yourselves away from whatever sin is holding you back, crave that pure milk, and live as a servant of God.

Prayer:  God, thank you for your grace and for the forgiveness of our sins.  I pray today that I will never use that grace as a cover-up for my sins.  Lord, let me walk in your righteousness today, living free from sin and filling my life with Your Word and Your spirit.  Amen.

Observation: When you're in trouble . . . pray.  When you're happy . . . pray.  When you're sick . . . pray.  When you sin . . . pray.

Application: PRAY!!!

Prayer: . . .

Observation: This chapter starts out by defining what faith is . . . being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  It reminds me of something I read in John the other day, "The wind blows wherever it pleases.  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" (John 3:8).  Even though it requires faith to believe in something that we can't see, isn't it neat that we often get to see the affects?  We can't see God, but we can see how he's changed hearts and attitudes and lives.  This chapter provides a list of some pretty amazing people; they weren't perfect, but they are all commended for their faith.

Application:  After reading this chapter, I challenge you to do 2 things:

1) Take some time to read about one of the people mentioned in this chapter.  See how they lived out faith in their life.  Read about Abel (Genesis 4) or Enoch (Genesis 5) or about Rahab (Joshua 2-6).  Read about the struggles they faced, the doubts they had, and their faith through it all. 

2)  Think about what faith would look like in your life.  I once heard someone say, if this chapter had a verse 41 and it started out with "By faith [insert your name here] . . .", what would it say?

Prayer: Lord, help me to have faith.  Thank you for giving me examples of people who lived out a life of faith.  Teach me to live like they did . . . having faith in the midst of disappointment, sorrow, persecution, and failure.  Remind me that you are always present, even when I don't see you or feel you.  Amen. 

Observation: This chapter is telling of Israel's many sins . . . about how they built altars to other gods and worshipped idols. Then it tells of the results of their actions . . . basically destruction.  I see verse 12 as both a challenge and a prediction of what is to come to those who strive to live for the Lord. 

What is righteousness?  What does it mean to sow righteousness?  According to the Strong's Concordance, the term "righteousness" used here means justice, justification, salvation, prosperity, righteous acts.  Galatians 6:7-9 says, "A man reaps what he sows.  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Application:  Are you sowing righteousness in your own life?  After I studied this verse, I realized that in order to sow something you must first be in possession of it.  In order to sow seed, you must first have a bag of seed to sow.  The same goes with righteousness.  In order to sow righteousness, you've got to have righteousness.  So . . . I guess the better question to ask ourselves is, do we have righteousness to sow?

Observation:  Throughout this chapter of 1 Kings we read about the king of Israel.  He is plotting an attack against his enemies who currently have possession of the land that he rightfully owns.  As he seeks counsel on how he should attack and who can help him win the war, Jehoshaphat encourages the king to "First seek the counsel of the Lord." (1 Kings 22:5)  Many prophets are quick to give the king encouragement to fight against Ramoth Gilead.  However, one faithful prophet, Micaiah, warns the king that the others have been given a lying spirit and that the Lord has truly planned disaster for the king of Israel (1 Kings 22:23).  The king decides to follow the advice of the other prophets and goes to war.  Even after disguising himself, he is struck with an arrow and dies.

Application:  All too often we are surrounded with lying spirits telling us to do one thing, even when God is telling us to do another.  In my early teenage years, this was a common occurrence.  I knew what God had for me, but I followed the crowd and ended up killing my spirit.  It is so important for us to follow the direction God gives us, and to ignore the advice of bad company.  We need to surround ourselves with the encouragement we need in order to live the life God has called us to.

Prayer:  Lord, please protect me from the bad counsel of this world.  Help me to live the life You have called me to, and give me the strength to follow the lone voice calling us toward your will, rather than the crowd of others seeking to pull us down.  Let my life be directed by You alone.  Amen. 

Observation: The account of Elijah on Mt. Carmel is a pretty sweet story.  Here are a few observations from 1 Kings 18. . .

Elijah had courage.  How would you like to go up against 850+ men?  Ahab had been searching for Elijah in order to kill him.  Now, he walks right up to Ahab and tells him to gather 850 prophets and to meet him on Mount Carmel.  That's pretty courageous. (vs. 19-20)

Elijah knew who the One True God was.  He wasn't going to back down.  He had confidence in the Lord his God.  He was willing to lay everything on the line to show the prophets of Baal and Asherah that the gods they served were nothing compared to the One True God. (vs. 22-24)

Elijah prayed knowing God would answer.  He was so confident in this fact, that he even taunted the prophets when their gods didn't answer their loud and fervent cries.  He was so confident that he had the altar doused with water not once, but three times, knowing that it would be humanly impossible for the altar to catch on fire.  He prayed, God answered.  (vs. 27-38)   

Application:  How does the way Elijah lived relate to your own life?  Would you have had the courage to go up against that many people?  Do you live in a way that shows you believe God to be the One True God?  When  you pray, do you pray knowing God would answer you?

Prayer:  Lord, help me to have the courage that Elijah showed.  Help me to speak the truth in spite of opposition. When I start to doubt, remind me that you are the One True God.  Teach me how to walk in the type of confidence that Elijah walked in.  Help me to pray with faith, knowing that you'll answer my prayers.

What a challenge!!!  It seems as though it would be much easier to focus on all the things that are wrong in the world and in our own lives, but Paul challenges us to look at the good in every situation and circumstance.  I believe it is this attitude that allowed Paul to praise God while in prison (Acts 16:25).  Paul also wrote... "Give thanks in ALL circumstances"  (1 Thessalonians 4:18) and "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4) 

One of my favorite verses is Hebrews 12:2 which says, "Let us FIX our eyes on Jesus..."   He needs to be our focus at all times and in every situation.  By focusing on Christ we can then see the good in every situation and  focus on what is true, shat is noble, what is right, what is pure, what is lovely, what is admirable, what is excellent, and what is praiseworthy. 

Observation:  As soon as I read Ephesians 5, the phrase "imitators of Christ" really jumped out.  It made me think . . . what does it mean to be an imitator of Christ?  The verse mentions living a life of love, but what does that really look like?  I guess the best way to answer those questions is by looking at the life and characteristics of Jesus:

• Jesus always spoke the truth.


• Jesus brought freedom.  Everywhere he went people were freed from something . . . sickness & disease, demon posession, sin, you name it.


• Jesus hung out with those that everyone else ignored or shunned.


• Jesus taught and mentored disciples.


• Jesus prayed.


• Jesus knew who he was and on who's authority with which he spoke.


• Jesus sacrificed everything.

These are just a few that immediately came to mind.  I'm sure that you can identify several more. (Check out Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John to read more about the life of Jesus.) 

Application: So, if that's what Jesus was like . . . and we're supposed to be imitators of Christ . . . how does my life need to change?

Prayer:  Lord, teach me how to be an imitator of Christ.  Show me what that means in my life.  Help me to speak the truth.  Use me to bring your freedom to those who are held captive by sin.  Help me to love people like you love them . . . regardless of who they are or what they look like.  Use me to encourage other Christians through your Word.  Teach me to pray.  Remind me of who I am in you and the authority that you have given me as your child.  Help me to be willing to give up my comfort and my ambitions for your glory.  Amen.

O: The word unwholsome, sapros in the Greek, here can literally mean rotten or putrefied and reminds me  of the thing I found in the cupholder in the back of our minivan. i think it was an apple, but now an unwholesome fruit.

Paul might have been thinking of the Proverbs when he wrote these lines, the ones that repeatedly refer to the fruit of a man's lips (Proverbs 12:14, 13:2, 18:20) that both fill a man with good things and bless our Lord.

Paul contrasts it with what is "good for edification" just as he contrasts stealing and giving in the previous verse (Ephesians 4:28). When we allow peutrid fruit to come from our mouths, we are stealing from those who hear. What they deserve instead, Paul tells us, is, literally, a word which is good for their construction.

Imagine constructing an apple pie from peutrid fruit. Yuck! Now imagine one made from the finest, sweetest fruit. This, Paul says, is the grace we are called to give with our speech. The grace which is defined as "a gift that brings joy."

A: Our words have the power to steal or to give joy. Decide today to be a person who constructs, or builds up, accordign to the needs of those around you by your encouraging words.

P: Lord, cleanse my mouth of peutrid words and speech and my mind of peutrid thoughts. May I be instead of a thief your agent  in my world to deliver your gifts, that they might bring joy to those who hear. Amen.

As I read this verse today I got to thinking about what I ask God for.  Am I asking God for all of my selfish desires, or am I asking for the things that God would desire me to be asking for?  Things such as family members to come to know Chrsit, friends to be set free from sins that have been devastating their life, and revival to break out at CMU.  It's time we start asking God to do BIG things since our God is a BIG God.  Will you join me? 

O & A:  In Proverbs 29:25, we are reminded that we need to find our security in God alone.  It says, "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."  What a great verse!  I feel like all to often in my own life I worry about what others think of me, or how they will treat me, or how they might judge me.  This verse offers great comfort for me in those situations.

Romans 8:31 says that, "If God is for us, who can be against us."  What a great reminder that we have nothing to fear!  Rather than worry about what those around us might think, it's time we live our lives trusting in the safety that God has given us.  If we worry about what others think, we really are just setting traps for ourselves to walk into.

Proverbs 28:1 says that "The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion."  I wonder how often those people around me really are judging me.  I bet it's far less often than I think, and yet I tend to live as though they always are.  It's time that we live our lives boldly, taking confidence in our Savior and living the righteous lifestyle that He has called us to at all times.

P:  Father, I pray that you will pour your security over me today.  May I quit worrying about those around me and how they view me, and focus on You.  God, help me to be more bold in my walk with You and to live knowing that I only have an audience of one to please.  Amen.

Observation:   Proverbs 22-24 has a lot of great wisdom and advice.  One scripture (Proverbs 22:2) really impacted my life when I read it awhile back.   

A few years ago, I was preparing to go on my first His House mission trip.  We were headed to New York City to serve and work with the homeless.  After the initial excitement wore off, I started to realized what the week-long trip would entail.  The closer the trip drew, the more useless I felt.  I was starting to wonder why I was even going.   What did I have in common with homeless people?  I had my own bedroom in a nice home and a wonderful family and plenty of food and even a car to drive.  Why was I going?  What would I talk to them about?  What would I say?  What would they say in response?

When I came accross this verse, it finally hit me.  God was showing me that no matter where we're from or who we are or in what economical situation we find ourselves in, we do have one thing in common . . . the Lord.  He's the maker of us all and desires to have a personal relationship with each and everyone of us.  Like it says in 2 Peter 3:9, " . . . He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentence". 

I realized that we weren't so different after all.  My job was to love people.  To rejoice with those who have acknowledged the Lord to be their maker and savior.  To bring truth to those who were questioning who their maker was or if a maker even existed.

Application:  Are there people in your own life that seem so different than you?  Are you ever hesitant to talk to someone, because you don't know what you would ever have in common?  Whenever you face those situations, remember that you have at least one thing in common . . . the Lord. 

Prayer:  Lord, help me to love people the way you love them.  Help me to see people the way you see them . . . as your creation.  Take away my hesitation to speak to those who I feel like I have nothing in common with.  Remind me that you created us all and desire to have a relationship with us.  Amen.

Observation: Adultery, murder, theft and covetousness are sins which, this text implies, do harm. When we commit adultery, or lust after another, we are taking something from our neighbor or brother which is not ours to take. When we murder, we take a life. When we steal, we take someone's property. When we covet, we desire to take, or work to acquire that which is not ours.

Paul says the summary of the commandments to avoid these things is to love. Love does not harm. Love does not take. Love is an act of giving. It honors. It lifts up. It fulfills the law.

Application: When we approach these commands as just things to avoid, we miss what Paul says is the fulfillment of the law. We should not merely avoid these sins, but seek to love.

Today, go out of your way to give, to encourage, to lift up someone you might otherwise pass by.

Prayer: Lord, help me to love. Help me to live out the fulfillment of your holy law. Put someone in my path today that I can show your love. And Lord, thank you for loving me.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

What a great reminder!!!  When we become prideful the next step is destruction.  As followers of Christ it is so important for us to remember that every good thing we have is from God.  So no matter what God does through us we always need to remember that without him we can accomplish nothing (John 15:5)

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. (Proverbs 17:28)

Sometimes we just need to shut our mouths.  That's all I have to say about that.

He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. (Proverbs 18:22)

I'm reminded of this verse as my 4 year anniversary is approaching and as wedding season has already begun.  I'm deffinately blessed to have Wendi as my wife.  It's a joy serving the Lord with her and just getting to grow closer with her as we get older.  However, what makes this verse true is not just having a wife, but rather having a relationship that is focused on Christ and all about seeing His kingdom come.  I believe that is what truly makes God happy.

Observation: This is one of my favorite scriptures.  It's talking about relying on Him and His wisdom when we don't know what to do or where to turn.  In order to better understand the verses, let's take a look at the definitions of a few key terms (from the Strong's Concordance, www.blueletterbible.org).

Trust: to have confidence, to be bold, to be secure

With all: all, the whole, totality, everything

Your ways: road, journey, manner, path, direction, habit, course or life, moral character

Acknowledge: to know, to learn to know, to perceive and see, to find out and discern, to distinguish, to know by experience, to recognise

Straight: to make right, to be just, to go straight, to be pleasing, to be straightforward, to lead and direct, to be made level, to be laid smoothly out

Application:  Sometimes, it's hard to trust the Lord for our future.  What if I don't like His plans?  What if His plans are different than the plans I've already made?  What if His plans involve doing something hard or going someplace challenging?  What if I somehow miss His plans? 

Isaiah 55:8-9 says that His thoughts and ways are higher than ours.  Even when we don't understand, He does.  This reassures us that all we have to do is to trust in Him.  We don't have to worry about the future, but know that He will make our paths straight. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust in you.  Help me to surrender my plans and my future to you.  Show me what it means to acknowledge you in all I do.  Remind me that your ways are higher than my ways and your thoughts are higher than my thoughts.  Direct my paths.  Amen.

Observation: 

In Romans 2 we are clearly reminded to avoid the act of judgment.  Verse 1 states "...for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things."  This entire chapter reminds us that it is not our job to judge those around us, but rather it is all in the hands of God.

Application:

This seems like such a simple concept, but it can be so difficult at times.  We need to take a step back, remove the plank from our own eye (Luke 6:41), and leave the rest up to God.  My challenge to you and to myself today is to pay careful attention to how you judge those around you.  And when you are tempted to do just that, think back on Psalm 98.  Turn your judgment into praises to God, and see how He transforms your heart and attitude.  (Psalm 98:4)

Prayer:

God, it is so easy for me to pass judgment on those around me, and to treat them poorly because of that.  I pray that you will turn my judgmental heart into a heart that is full of praises for you.  Make me a new creation today, overflowing with joy, peace, and songs for you.  Amen.

O: Solomon was known for his wisdom.  Earlier, we read in 1 Kings 3:5 that God was pleased with Solomon and gave him the opportunity to ask for whatever he wanted.  Instead of asking for wealth or power or fame, he asked for wisdom - a discerning heart and the ability to distinguish right from wrong (1 Kings 3:9).  In a way, 1 Kings 4 goes on to describe all the positive effects of Solomon's request for wisdom.  It lists a whole bunch of chief officials and govenors that Solomon ruled over.  It says that the Israelites under his rule ate, drank, and were happy (1 Kings 3:20).  It even mentions that Solomon had 12,000 horses!  People came from all nations to listen to Solomon's words.

Towards the end of chapter 4, it says, "God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.  Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.  He was wiser than any other man . . ." (1 Kings 4:29-31).

A:  Wow, that's quite the resume!  Sometimes I wish I could have wisdom like that.  Do you ever find yourself in a conversation where you don't know what to say?  Or facing a situation where you have no idea what to do?  Or being asked for advice and you don't know how to respond?  God gave Solomon the wisdom to handle those types of conversations and situations.

The good news is that we have access to that same wisdom.  Yep, you heard me right!  James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."  The source of Solomon's wisdom was God, and we have access to that same source.  All we have to do is ask . . .

P: Lord, help me to turn to you for wisdom.  You know the details of every situation that I face, and only you know the hearts of men.   Lord, give me wisdom for ___________________ (fill in the blank).  Thank you for promising to provide wisdom when I ask.  Amen.  

O: In the previous verses, the Psalmist recounts the history of God's work on behalf of His people Israel. He reminds them of God's forceful hand, His provision, His deliverance and His great love... all this, and yet His people still sinned. I am reminded to consider what God has done for me--what has He provided? When has He delivered me... and from what? And, perhaps most importantly, what is my response?

Paul poses this same question in Romans 6:1. Should we conitnue to sin so that God's grace may abound? Should we continue this perilous journey so that God can continue to rescue us? Should I continue in poverty to allow God to continue His provision?

A: Someone asked me the other day what an Ebenezer is. It was a stone monument built by Samuel to mark a victorious battle and honor God for His intervention. It's time we raise some Ebenezers. I'm going to build one--this time a list--reminding me of what God has done for me. Too often I remember all the bad stuff I've done and I forget all the good things God's done. It's time to move forward, to remember what God has done, to celebrate it, and to go forward with His help. I want to live my life in a way that honors Him for all He's done. Isn't it time?

P: Lord God, Thank you. Thank you for rescuing me. Thank you for delivering me. Thank you for your provision. Thank you for loving me. Give me joy and help me to respond in love to all you've done and all you are. Amen.

First, just as Matt challenged us today as he closed his message to pause to take time and celebrate, Psalm 95 challenges us to take time to sing praises to God.  And if you're like me and don't have the most beautiful voice, there's still no excuse for us not to because verse 3 says, "Make a joyful NOISE unto him with psalms (KJV).  So even if it doesn't sound good, God doesn't care.  So go ahead and make that joyful noise!!!

Second, verse 6 says, "come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker."  Kneeling down is a symbol of humility.  So as we physically kneel down before the Lord we our showing Him our humbled reverence.  There are numerous examples of this throughout the Bible.  One of my favorite examples comes from Revelation 4:8-11.  Also, Psalm 95 reminds us to recognize just how big our God is.  He is our maker!!!

Last, verse 8 says, "Harden not your hearts..."  We need to be people who have hearts that are open to what God is doing.  So let's let go of our own selfish plans and ideas and be open to what God has for us.

Fall in Love with Jesus!!!

Observation: God's will for our lives is to be in constant communication with Him!  We should have joy in all circumstances, no matter what!

Application: The past few weeks have been pretty crazy for me and it's cool how God always brings me to these verses.  James 1:2-4 says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (ESV).  So even in our trials, we should praise God because we know that He is growing us to be more mature in our faith.

These verses are great ones to memorize and even paraphrase them.  This is how I like to say it to myself, "Be joyful always, even when you don't feel like it.  Pray continually, and never stop!  Keep seeking God's heart and direction.  Thank and praise Him in the good, the bad, and even the ugly.  And always give thanks...because God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).  This is the will that God has for me (and you too!)"

Prayer: Heavenly Father, because your steadfast love is better than life, I will praise you!  Help me to always rejoice in you even when it seems impossible to do so.  Lord, help me to always look to you for what I need and to constantly commune with you.  Jesus thank you for all you did for us and I pray that I can always rest in your perfect love!  Amen!

O: We have lost what it means to fear the Lord. So often I pray with a flippancy as if I was talking to my servant vs. talking with the God of the universe. While I enjoy an intimacy with God, I never want to become so familiar that I lose the sense of awesome respect for him. When this happens I'm destined for disobedience. When I reduce God to less than he really is, I am prone toward pride and arrogance and self-indulgence. I minimize his power and might and act as if he can't see me.

A: I want to reinflate my image of God. I want to see him in all power and might...see him for who he is. James says, even the demons believe and shudder. I'm afraid that I believe and don't shudder. If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, I want THAT. Today I'm going to focus on his characteristics: Powerful, Wise, Gracious, Abounding in Love, Majestic, Jealous.

P: Lord, teach me to be a humble man. Teach me to see you as you really are and not the reduced image that I have concocted. Help me to find that balance between awe and intimacy that will lead me to walk in obedience.

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Here's my first entry... I'll be following the SOAP method from our LifeJournals, you can read more and buy your own at www.hhcf.org/life.

S: Matthew 28:17 "When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some were doubtful."

O: It's funny that, though they were in His presence, they saw Him, and they were worshipping Him that they were still doubtful. What is there to be doubtful of? Did they doubt it was Him? Did they doubt He was alive? Did they doubt what they saw?

A: I think I would. But we shouldn't. When God makes Himself known to us, the proper response is worship. Just worship.

P: Lord, take away my doubt. Help me to respond with worship to the living Christ, who loved me, who gave Himself up for me, and who is alive today! Amen.