S - 20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.
O - After Peter's vision, Peter was still wondering what all of this meant. God spoke very clearly to him and told him to doubt nothing.
Peter just saw a vision in which everything that he'd been taught throughout his life with regards to eating was just turned upside down. Then he heard that he was to go to a Gentile. These were most likely very difficult things for Peter to understand why God was telling him this. However, God send to "doubt nothing". This was to take quite a bit of faith on Peter's part to not doubt what was going to happen.
A - In my mind I need to always be open to hear God's voice and to ponder on it and reflect on what He speaks to me. Once I know that He has spoken, I need to doubt nothing and obey His word. Even if He tells me to go to a certain church that maybe isn't where I want to go or be embarrassed by playing penny slots at a Casino, I need to trust in what He says and obey.
P - Heaven Father. I praise you for all that you have done for myself and the world and for all you continue to do for me and my family! Continue to guide and protect me with vivid directions spoken to me. Help me to hear you always and to strive to doubt nothing. Bless my wife and children with this same ability and desire to be near you and to trust everything that you say to them. We want to be with you and welcome you into our home and into my heart. Guide my paths this week and be with me. In Jesus' name.
Amen
Soap Suds
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Acts 3 - Don't Fear Confrontation
S - 14 You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!
O - Peter and John just helped a lame man walk through the name of Jesus and all of the people were astounded. They somewhat rebuked the people for killing and rejecting Jesus and they should be aware that they were wrong. For later on they tell them to confess their sins and ask for forgiveness. Peter and John could have left out this rebuke when talking to the people but instead used it as a way to even further make the point that this miracle came not from them but by Jesus.
A - There are times when I am left with a decision to rebuke an individual or choose to let it slide by or hint at a rebuke. There are times for both but especially when it is a time where an individual is going against God or causing me to go against God that I need to be bold and confront the individual. The confrontation, even though possibly difficult, will drive home the fact that I don't agree and also that they are wrong and need to change their ways and ask for forgiveness. These types of sins may or are leading them away from God and eternal life. This person, even if I don't like him/her, is extremely important and valuable to God and I need to do all I can to help return him/her to God.
P - Heavenly Father, help me with any anger and frustration. Keep these far from me and instead respond with peace and love. In the cases where You are being attacked give me the courage and the words to confront individuals and help guide them back to You. Help me with my children to show them how to be a person on fire for you and willing to stand up for you but also living in peace and showing people love. Thank you for all of the blessings in my life! Come and live continually with me and my entire family; speak clearly to us and guide our paths. In Jesus' name, Amen.
O - Peter and John just helped a lame man walk through the name of Jesus and all of the people were astounded. They somewhat rebuked the people for killing and rejecting Jesus and they should be aware that they were wrong. For later on they tell them to confess their sins and ask for forgiveness. Peter and John could have left out this rebuke when talking to the people but instead used it as a way to even further make the point that this miracle came not from them but by Jesus.
A - There are times when I am left with a decision to rebuke an individual or choose to let it slide by or hint at a rebuke. There are times for both but especially when it is a time where an individual is going against God or causing me to go against God that I need to be bold and confront the individual. The confrontation, even though possibly difficult, will drive home the fact that I don't agree and also that they are wrong and need to change their ways and ask for forgiveness. These types of sins may or are leading them away from God and eternal life. This person, even if I don't like him/her, is extremely important and valuable to God and I need to do all I can to help return him/her to God.
P - Heavenly Father, help me with any anger and frustration. Keep these far from me and instead respond with peace and love. In the cases where You are being attacked give me the courage and the words to confront individuals and help guide them back to You. Help me with my children to show them how to be a person on fire for you and willing to stand up for you but also living in peace and showing people love. Thank you for all of the blessings in my life! Come and live continually with me and my entire family; speak clearly to us and guide our paths. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Matthew 19 - Keeping God #1
S - 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me."
O - This is a section of the Bible that I think is regularly confused by many Christians. Many religious people point to this as a way to say that if you are wealthy you can"t go to heaven. But what is too wealthy? 50K, 100K, 250K, 1M? It seems that the number is always just a bit more than the person that is saying this brings home.
What this verse is actually saying is if there is anything in your life that is more important to you than God is than that is an idol and you are truly not living for Christ.
A - It is vital that I always keep Christ at the center of my life and not allow anything or anyone to become more important. God has called us to this business and when the wealth starts to flow in, I will constantly need to remind myself that money is just money and that it is a tool that I can use to impact people's lives.
P - Heavenly Father, help me to always remember that you are more worthy of my praise and thoughts than anything else in this world. Help me to use the talents and gifts that you have given to me to impact people around me, for your glory and kingdom.
Bless my day today and let me be an uplifter and encourager to all those that I meet and come in contact with. I love you with everything in me and thank you for sacrificing your only Son so that I can be with you for eternity! In Jesus' name.
Amen
O - This is a section of the Bible that I think is regularly confused by many Christians. Many religious people point to this as a way to say that if you are wealthy you can"t go to heaven. But what is too wealthy? 50K, 100K, 250K, 1M? It seems that the number is always just a bit more than the person that is saying this brings home.
What this verse is actually saying is if there is anything in your life that is more important to you than God is than that is an idol and you are truly not living for Christ.
A - It is vital that I always keep Christ at the center of my life and not allow anything or anyone to become more important. God has called us to this business and when the wealth starts to flow in, I will constantly need to remind myself that money is just money and that it is a tool that I can use to impact people's lives.
P - Heavenly Father, help me to always remember that you are more worthy of my praise and thoughts than anything else in this world. Help me to use the talents and gifts that you have given to me to impact people around me, for your glory and kingdom.
Bless my day today and let me be an uplifter and encourager to all those that I meet and come in contact with. I love you with everything in me and thank you for sacrificing your only Son so that I can be with you for eternity! In Jesus' name.
Amen
Friday, March 26, 2010
Matthew 7 - Christ is my Rock
S - Matthew 7:24-25
24 Therefore whoever hears these saying of Mine, and does then, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
O - This is a very well known section of scripture that all too many times we just pass by without truly thinking about it. Jesus is saying that without Him as the foundation of our life, our house or life will come crashing down. He is the only one that can be our true foundation that will never waiver.
A - Everyday I need to be reminded of this. Especially when things are going well and I think that I am in complete control of my life. God truly is the one that I need more than anything else in this world and the only one that I can count of 100% of the time. He knows where my life is heading and is able to help me through it to fulfill the purpose that he has placed on my heart.
P - Dear Jesus,
I love you more than anything else in this world. Thank you for being with me all of the time and for being my foundation that I can lean on. Help me through this day and through this time with family. Help me to be a blessing to them and serving and uplifting each and everyone of them. Help me to be that example to our children of who you are so that they can see you as a loving, caring, and just God that you are. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen
24 Therefore whoever hears these saying of Mine, and does then, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
O - This is a very well known section of scripture that all too many times we just pass by without truly thinking about it. Jesus is saying that without Him as the foundation of our life, our house or life will come crashing down. He is the only one that can be our true foundation that will never waiver.
A - Everyday I need to be reminded of this. Especially when things are going well and I think that I am in complete control of my life. God truly is the one that I need more than anything else in this world and the only one that I can count of 100% of the time. He knows where my life is heading and is able to help me through it to fulfill the purpose that he has placed on my heart.
P - Dear Jesus,
I love you more than anything else in this world. Thank you for being with me all of the time and for being my foundation that I can lean on. Help me through this day and through this time with family. Help me to be a blessing to them and serving and uplifting each and everyone of them. Help me to be that example to our children of who you are so that they can see you as a loving, caring, and just God that you are. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Matthew 6 - Doing good without looking for reward
S - Matthew 6:4, 17-18
4that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. 17But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
O - This contradicts most of what we see out in the world. If someone is giving in any capacity, whether it be time or money, or sacrificing, as in fasting or doing without, the tendency is to broadcast this to the masses. Many times this may be done by the benefactor but at times we also see this coming from the one doing the good.
The fear that I have in not letting people know what good I am doing is that many people assume that one is not doing something good if they don't hear about it. Jesus says here that it doesn't really matter what others might think or see but that God will reward us for the good that we do.
A - While living my life I have ample opportunities to do good; anywhere from small, somewhat meaningless acts to very large and visual acts. My focus should always be on God and what he wants in my life. If someone notices this outside of my Heavenly Father, fine, but this should not be my reasoning for doing good things.
With my business I need to keep my head down and do the necessary work to succeed. There will be a day when this work and success is very much visible and I look forward to that day, but until then, keep my mouth shut and do the work.
P - Heavenly Father. I give you all praise and honor and I thank you for always being with me and guiding me through life. Help me to do what you want and to fulfill the purpose that you have placed in my heart. Let me always focus on your desires instead of my own when I am doing good things. Help me to have a very humble heart when these acts are recognized and let me use this all for your glory and honor.
Be with me and my family and help me to be that example to my children everyday of my life. In Jesus' Name.
Amen
4that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. 17But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
O - This contradicts most of what we see out in the world. If someone is giving in any capacity, whether it be time or money, or sacrificing, as in fasting or doing without, the tendency is to broadcast this to the masses. Many times this may be done by the benefactor but at times we also see this coming from the one doing the good.
The fear that I have in not letting people know what good I am doing is that many people assume that one is not doing something good if they don't hear about it. Jesus says here that it doesn't really matter what others might think or see but that God will reward us for the good that we do.
A - While living my life I have ample opportunities to do good; anywhere from small, somewhat meaningless acts to very large and visual acts. My focus should always be on God and what he wants in my life. If someone notices this outside of my Heavenly Father, fine, but this should not be my reasoning for doing good things.
With my business I need to keep my head down and do the necessary work to succeed. There will be a day when this work and success is very much visible and I look forward to that day, but until then, keep my mouth shut and do the work.
P - Heavenly Father. I give you all praise and honor and I thank you for always being with me and guiding me through life. Help me to do what you want and to fulfill the purpose that you have placed in my heart. Let me always focus on your desires instead of my own when I am doing good things. Help me to have a very humble heart when these acts are recognized and let me use this all for your glory and honor.
Be with me and my family and help me to be that example to my children everyday of my life. In Jesus' Name.
Amen
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