Galations 3 - April 26, 2011

S - ²⁶ For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
O - We have become sons of God through our faith in Jesus and what he has done for us.
A - When I think about being a son, I think about what it means to be a father to my sons. I want only the best for my sons and want them to enjoy life, prosper in life and influence many people throughout their life. Is it that much different how God feels towards us as His sons? He has promised life and life more abundantly to us. He has told us to go and make disciples of all the world. He not only wants for us what I want for my sons but He has went and demonstrated perfectly how we are to live and be an influence to the world around us through His son Jesus Christ. He has given us that same power to live victorious but we can only live that life when we are in tune with Him and have that authentic relationship with Him.
P - Heavenly Father, help me to be that father that my sons can look to as an example of how to live and to see what you as their heavenly father are like as well. Give me the desire to have that close relationship with you and that burn to be near you every single minute of every day. Thank you for the sacrifice of your only son to redeem me, my family, and the entire world. Help me to look on every person that I meet today as that dear child of yours and treat him/her as special and precious as they too are you children and may be in need of hearing about you through my word and/or actions. Amen.

2 Samuel 7 - April 14, 2011

O - David has talked to Nathan about building a temple for God. However, God doesn't want David to build him a temple.
A - Even though building a temple would be a very good thing for David to do for the Lord, he is directed not to do this. There are things in my life as well that are good and most people would assume that these might be what we should do, however, it is very important that I seek God's will for my life to ensure that I'm following what He wants me to do. Most times people don't miss doing great things because they are busy doing bad things but because they are busy doing only good things. God wants to use my life for GREAT things. I have to relinquish control of my life to Him so that He can use me.
P - God, Speak very clearly to me and guide me through this life. Use me for your kingdom and your glory. Help me to give control of my life to you and not struggle with want you want me to do but to immediately submit to you and obediently do want you want. I know that you will only use me for your glory and for my blessing and that you know all things. Help me to instill this same desire in my children.
Amen

1 Samuel 24 - April 11, 2011

S - ¹⁷ Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.
O - Saul realized that David had the ability to kill him while he was in the cave with him. However, David restrained himself from killing Saul even though there were members of his group that were urging him to do so. David had to think about that as he was running for his life and he now had the opportunity to kill Saul and get back to his life and even better yet, be the king.
A- People tend to judge us more by what we do and how we act than what we say. We are to be a shining light for the whole world to see. Even when the world may seem to be coming against me, I need to show loving kindness to others. How can I win others to my cause and to Christ without rewarding people to goodness and not evil.
P - Dear Heavenly Father, help me to show goodness to people. Use me to further your kingdom in heaven and to bless people on this earth. I want people to see you through me in everything that I do. Help me especially show this goodness to my family and to my wife. Forgive me for the times that I have not show this goodness and help me to be a great examples for my children to follow. I love you Lord!
Amen

1 Samuel 20 - April 8, 2011

S - ⁴¹ As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so.
O - Jonathon and David had such a tight relationship that even though they found out that Saul was trying to kill David they both had a very difficult time saying goodbye to one another. Jonathon was choosing sides in his father's eyes and also faced death as he through a spear at him when Saul found out that Jonathon allowed David to leave.
A - Not everyone in our lives will we bond with as Jonathon and David did but there will surely be a few that we do. It is extremely important to remember this bond and not let anything get in-between this relationship.
What better relationship than that of a husband and wife. I need to remember that even though there are many other people in the world, I need to put Christa's needs above everyone else besides God. This is not only good but what God desires.
P - God, help me to value those relationships that you have put into my life. Help me to nurture them and daily look for ways to improve them. Bless my wife and help me to value her and show her this more than anyone else that I know. Amen

1 Samuel 16 - April 5, 2011

S - For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
O - As Samuel was looking at Jesse's sons and trying to determine which son would be the next king, the first son Eliab must have been quite a strong and good looking man as Samuel was convinced that he must be the chosen one. God said otherwise as He is more interested on what is on the inside of a person than the exterior.
A - As I'm walking through life I need to be aware that things that I can see are not always the most important. It is critical that I hear God's voice and follow obediently as only He can see the heart and character of a person. As I work with many people that need to understand who they really are, I know that I can only understand this through God's help. I can use all of the self-help and good communication skills that have ever been written about but without God's guidance there is still a good chance the I'll be judging a book by it's cover and be mistaken by some individuals as to who they really are.
Additionally, I always need to remember that every person is a gift from God. Later on in the chapter Samuel chooses David to be king, much to the surprise of probably everyone there. Even as everyone dismissed David and didn't even think it important enough for him to be there in the first place, we tend to dismiss people because of the way they look or talk or even walk. I need to remember that these people are still God's creation and value them as highly as I value myself and my family.
P - Lord, help me to continually hear your voice. Speak to me daily and guide me throughout life. Help me to see people through your eyes and to work and talk with those that have the true characteristics that you show me. Help me to value all people even as your Son died for every single person in the world. How amazing and completely selfless to die for even those that you knew would reject Him but you still love them. Give me that same heart toward every person that I run into throughout my life. In Jesus' name, Amen