Below is the daily Bible reading I am doing for the West Side Church. Please feel free to follow along.
I want to begin by apologizing for not getting the post up the last couple of days. I hope you have done the Bible reading. I also want to give an update on Crystal. She is doing great. They kept her overnight to monitor her blood pressure and to do a urine collection. Her blood pressure was great so they sent her home to finish the test. From now on we see the high risk doctor. However, this should only be for a few more weeks because then the baby should be here. Thank you all for your patience.
Today’ reading (Psalms 39 & 40) begins in an interesting way. Re-read these words of David:
I said “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.” But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased. My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:”
I think there are valid lessons we can learn from this short passage of scripture. The first; watching our ways and keeping our tongue from sin is a good thing. Doing so will allow you to honor God in many more ways. Watching our ways and our tongue will allow us time to think, time to act, and time to move positively. However, while we guard our tongue we must be careful.
There is a time and place to share what is on your heart. Guarding your tongue means that you are calculated. But we cannot keep silent. When someone hurts you, you cannot just harbor that hurt in your heart and never say a word. If so you will fall into the problem David saw: A fire will burn inside and your heart will grow hot within you. What it means to guard your tongue is to watch what you say. Saying nothing is not good while saying the wrong thing is even worse. By guarding your tongue, you are choosing the right words to say at the right time to resolve whatever situation has sprung up.
So when your feelings get hurt or your temper flairs, when and how do you respond? How you tend to respond will show the level you watch your ways and keep your tongue from sin.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Crazy Day
I apologize for now Bible reading today. My day has been turned upside down. Crytal called early in the morning and said they wanted to send her to the Hospital to check her for pre eclempsia, and possibly induce. She has not been induced, but they are screening her for the next 24 hours. I am exahusted and going to bed. I will be back to do a proper Bible reading tommorow.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Chucking Seeds – Preparing the Soil
Below is the daily Bible reading I am doing for the West Side Church. Please feel free to follow along.
Today’s reading (Mark 4) talks a lot about seeds. Seeds are very important to all life that moves on this earth. Seeds grow best in soil that is perfect for planting. Today’s reading teaches us a lot about the growth of seeds. Today’s reading is not about physical seeds but spiritual seeds. The seeds Christ was talking about are the seeds of hope and love that come through the message of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. We can learn two great lessons from Jesus story about seeds.
The first is this: we have the responsibility to be casting out seeds to all who hear. We must continually be sharing the message of the cross, the message of hope, the message of salvation with all people. Whether this through words or deeds the gospel must go forth. This type of evangelism takes place with people we may only have a few moments with, like the lady at a supermarket in a town we are visiting, or the gas station attendant on your trip to Florida. We might only have a few brief moments with them so we must continually be chucking out seeds not worrying were it lands. In this manner of evangelism we partner with God to allow him to grow the seeds in the soil they fall.
However, we must also learn this second lesson: the best crop is going to grow from good soil. Seeds grow best when the soil is perfect. While we have the responsibility of chucking seeds, we must also take time to prepare the soil. This is where we begin to do evangelism with friends and neighbors; people where we can invest time and energy. When we plant seeds in fertile prepared soil, then the message of the gospel is going to take hold and produce an abundant crop.
So how is your seed chucking when you around strangers? Do they see something that is inspiring, something different that they might investigate later? Do you have people where you are preparing the soil? Are planting seeds in people where the soil is getting more and more ripe to grow and abundant crop? If not, what are you going to do to change that?
Today’s reading (Mark 4) talks a lot about seeds. Seeds are very important to all life that moves on this earth. Seeds grow best in soil that is perfect for planting. Today’s reading teaches us a lot about the growth of seeds. Today’s reading is not about physical seeds but spiritual seeds. The seeds Christ was talking about are the seeds of hope and love that come through the message of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. We can learn two great lessons from Jesus story about seeds.
The first is this: we have the responsibility to be casting out seeds to all who hear. We must continually be sharing the message of the cross, the message of hope, the message of salvation with all people. Whether this through words or deeds the gospel must go forth. This type of evangelism takes place with people we may only have a few moments with, like the lady at a supermarket in a town we are visiting, or the gas station attendant on your trip to Florida. We might only have a few brief moments with them so we must continually be chucking out seeds not worrying were it lands. In this manner of evangelism we partner with God to allow him to grow the seeds in the soil they fall.
However, we must also learn this second lesson: the best crop is going to grow from good soil. Seeds grow best when the soil is perfect. While we have the responsibility of chucking seeds, we must also take time to prepare the soil. This is where we begin to do evangelism with friends and neighbors; people where we can invest time and energy. When we plant seeds in fertile prepared soil, then the message of the gospel is going to take hold and produce an abundant crop.
So how is your seed chucking when you around strangers? Do they see something that is inspiring, something different that they might investigate later? Do you have people where you are preparing the soil? Are planting seeds in people where the soil is getting more and more ripe to grow and abundant crop? If not, what are you going to do to change that?
Monday, April 12, 2010
Family Issues
Below is the daily Bible reading I am doing for the West Side Church. Please feel free to follow along.
In today’s reading (Mark 3) we see Jesus family enter into the picture. There is one verse about his family that really stood out to me … “When his family heard about this, they went to take chare of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
Jesus own family did not understand exactly who he was. Now they must have known that he was someone special. I mean Mary was visited by an Angel and through that visit found out she had been chosen by God to deliver the son of God. She then conceived without having sexual relations with any man. Within Jesus family it has to be known that he is there for something special. But they still do not get it.
Jesus is teaching things that are different than what Mom and Dad raised him to know. Jesus is performing all of these miracles and wondrous acts. Jesus is doing things that invoke the rage of the ruling classes. And now his family is scared of what the consequences might be. They have come to take charge of him, to calm him down and protect their relationship with him.
Families play a vital role in the lives of people. They help us make decisions, they help us vent, and even protect us when times get tough. However, sometimes family can harm us. Jesus family did not want him to continue down the path he was going, even thought it was the God ordained path. There may come a time in walk with Christ that your family does not want you to continue. It is during these times we must react like Christ, continue walking the path of righteousness, seeking God’s leadership and guidance, so that you can say in all things you sought to please God.
In today’s reading (Mark 3) we see Jesus family enter into the picture. There is one verse about his family that really stood out to me … “When his family heard about this, they went to take chare of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
Jesus own family did not understand exactly who he was. Now they must have known that he was someone special. I mean Mary was visited by an Angel and through that visit found out she had been chosen by God to deliver the son of God. She then conceived without having sexual relations with any man. Within Jesus family it has to be known that he is there for something special. But they still do not get it.
Jesus is teaching things that are different than what Mom and Dad raised him to know. Jesus is performing all of these miracles and wondrous acts. Jesus is doing things that invoke the rage of the ruling classes. And now his family is scared of what the consequences might be. They have come to take charge of him, to calm him down and protect their relationship with him.
Families play a vital role in the lives of people. They help us make decisions, they help us vent, and even protect us when times get tough. However, sometimes family can harm us. Jesus family did not want him to continue down the path he was going, even thought it was the God ordained path. There may come a time in walk with Christ that your family does not want you to continue. It is during these times we must react like Christ, continue walking the path of righteousness, seeking God’s leadership and guidance, so that you can say in all things you sought to please God.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Integrity
Below is the daily Bible reading I am doing for the West Side Church. Please feel free to follow along.
When I was in high school my FFA chapter would go to the Farm Science Review each year. The first year we went our Ag teacher Mr. Daniels caught wind that some of the students had chewing tobacco on them. When we were getting on the bus Mr. Daniels questioned each student. There was a group of us that got on and because of our character he didn’t even question us. None of us were the ones breaking the tobacco rule, and thus are integrity remained intact.
Today reading (Proverbs 11) discusses this very topic … “The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight” and “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” I think these are words that we need to use in our lives each and everyday.
As followers of Christ we are to be people of high integrity. Whether we are working for a company, playing a board game or get involved in a minor traffic accident, one of the best witnesses we can have is our integrity. Friends, that is what God is looking for. He delights when we are honest. He honors those who hold themselves to a higher scale. How is your integrity? Do you keep it high at all times, or are there times where you allow it to slip a little?
When I was in high school my FFA chapter would go to the Farm Science Review each year. The first year we went our Ag teacher Mr. Daniels caught wind that some of the students had chewing tobacco on them. When we were getting on the bus Mr. Daniels questioned each student. There was a group of us that got on and because of our character he didn’t even question us. None of us were the ones breaking the tobacco rule, and thus are integrity remained intact.
Today reading (Proverbs 11) discusses this very topic … “The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight” and “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” I think these are words that we need to use in our lives each and everyday.
As followers of Christ we are to be people of high integrity. Whether we are working for a company, playing a board game or get involved in a minor traffic accident, one of the best witnesses we can have is our integrity. Friends, that is what God is looking for. He delights when we are honest. He honors those who hold themselves to a higher scale. How is your integrity? Do you keep it high at all times, or are there times where you allow it to slip a little?
Friday, April 9, 2010
Running to God
Below is the daily Bible reading I am doing for the West Side Church. Please feel free to follow along.
Today’s reading (Mark 2) opens with a familiar story where a paralytic is brought to Christ to be healed. There was a man that for some reason was not able to walk. He had four friends that strongly desired to bring him to Jesus. But the house he was preaching and teaching in was too full for them to get in. So they got innovative. They climbed up on the roof, cut a hole in it, and lowered their friend down to meet Jesus. (I wander what people thought was taking place when they heard all of the racket above them, and just how did Jesus continue teaching?) Jesus saw this man’s needs and took care of them. First he forgave him of his sins and second he healed his paralysis.
This man had four great friends. They saw the hurt and need in their friends life and they took maters into their own hands. They knew that he needed Jesus in his life and they accomplished the task. How many friends, family, co-workers, and associates do you have that desperately need Jesus? Are you willing to strive at everything so that you can bring them to him? Would you take the measures that these men did? This is definitely something we must ask ourselves, because, we as Christians are to make disciples and be salt and light.
Today’s reading (Mark 2) opens with a familiar story where a paralytic is brought to Christ to be healed. There was a man that for some reason was not able to walk. He had four friends that strongly desired to bring him to Jesus. But the house he was preaching and teaching in was too full for them to get in. So they got innovative. They climbed up on the roof, cut a hole in it, and lowered their friend down to meet Jesus. (I wander what people thought was taking place when they heard all of the racket above them, and just how did Jesus continue teaching?) Jesus saw this man’s needs and took care of them. First he forgave him of his sins and second he healed his paralysis.
This man had four great friends. They saw the hurt and need in their friends life and they took maters into their own hands. They knew that he needed Jesus in his life and they accomplished the task. How many friends, family, co-workers, and associates do you have that desperately need Jesus? Are you willing to strive at everything so that you can bring them to him? Would you take the measures that these men did? This is definitely something we must ask ourselves, because, we as Christians are to make disciples and be salt and light.
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