Life Journal 07-10-2008 No Shallow Sacrifices

No Shallow Sacrifices

(S) Scripture
Micah 6:6-8 (NIV) 6 With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

(O) Observation
Micah has just delivered the Lord's case against Israel. He then expresses the desire of the people to please God. they are not sure and offer some alternatives. They wonder what it will take to please God. All their thoughts seem like they want to do something and "check it off their list" so God will be pleased with them. Micah reminds them that they know what God requires and it is not shallow sacrifices but rather it is a lifestyle of faithful living that God requires.

(A) Application
I find myself at times wanting to substitute a shallow sacrifice or act of obedience for a life of faithful living. The shallow acts come on my terms but God requires faithfulness. God's requirements are much more stringent and too often I look for the easy way. God does not want my shallow sacrifices. He wants my life. Today I want to be aware when I try to substitute empty shallow sacrifices for the integrity of faithful living. Today I will focus on doing what God requires and making that the norm in my life.

(P) Prayer
Lore, I need your strength and power to faithfully follow and live for you. Teach me not to play games with you but to trust you fully. I want my life to please and glorify you. Amen

Life Journal 07-09-2008 Perils of Lazy

Perils of Lazy

(S) Scripture
Hebrews 6:12 (NIV) 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

(O) Observation
The writer has just warned the people about persevering in their walk with the Lord. He tells them here not to get lazy but to press on in faith and patience.

(A) Application
It is easy for me to get lazy in my walk with the Lord. To become comfortable and then lax in the disciplines required to grow. To miss a daily devotion is one thing but to miss a week or month is another and we suffer from our laziness.

Patience is required because God is not on our schedule. It is tough to wait on Him. Sometimes when He doesn't work as quickly as we want we get discouraged and walk away. We get lazy and miss so much. Today I will exercise the disciplines I need to grow.

(P) Prayer
Lord it is easy to get lazy. Grant me the energy and will to do what I must to grow in you. Keep me exercising my spiritual muscles so I can be strong for you. Amen

Life Journal 07-08-2008 Sin Is Our Downfall

Sin Is Our Downfall

(S) Scripture
Hosea 14:1 (NIV) 1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall!
(O) Observation
Hosea has delivered a message of judgment from God to the Israelites. He has described their sins and God's judgment on them. This verse is his cry for repentance - the way for forgiveness. "return to the Lord your God" He reminds them that they are where they are because of their sins.

(A) Application
When I feel far from God the reason is my sin. That is my downfall. When I am not succeeding in my life by God's standards it is because of my sin. Sin is my downfall and separates my fellowship with the Father. My sin becomes like a cloud that blocks my clear view of God. The solution is to "return to the Lord your God" - I do that by Spiritual Breathing (confession of sin and appropriating the power of the Holy Spirit in my life). This is a concept I learned from Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ. It is the way we can experience God's love and forgiveness on a moment by moment basis.

Today I will practice spiritual breathing and experience God's love and forgiveness anew in my life. I want to live constantly in His favor.

(P) Prayer
Lord, forgive me when I stray. Keep me from falling. Let me "return to you" and follow you alone. Amen

Life Journal 07-07-2008 Jesus Knows

Jesus Knows

(S) Scripture
Hebrews 4:13 (NIV) 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

(O) Observation
The writer is reminding the people that God sees and knows everything and we will each have to give and account of our behavior to Him.

(A) Application
My mother-in-law quite often says, "Jesus Knows" when she is correcting the behavior of her grandchildren or great grandchildren or children or son-in-law. It is her reminder that even if no one else saw the deed, Jesus Did.

Today I want to live in such a way that it does not matter who sees me because I will be doing what the Lord desires.

(P) Prayer
Lord, forgive me when I try to sneak and hide my behavior. I want to do what you desire. Le me walk unashamed before you and others. Amen

Mini-Vacation at the Soo

My wife and I left Wednesday evening (right after the hail storm) for a couple of days in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. What a beautiful area. We both were glad to go when it is green and not white. We visited Whitefish Point, known as a "Shipwreck Graveyard,"where the Edmund Fitzgreald sunk in the 1970's. Here we visited the museum and other buildings related to the Coast Guard Station and rescue center there. The The temperature was in the mid 60's and with the wind it was quite chilly. My devotion that mrning was from Hebrews 1:3 where the writer says that Jesus is superior to everything. Although Lake Superior is spectacular and upredictable and fierce it still is nothing compared to Jesus.

From there we went to Tahquamenon Falls. We visited both the lower and upper falls. These were spectacular. The sound of the water was relaxing. The water is a copper color but it is not from mineral ores like we thought but from decaying trees. IT was a great day as we enjoyed God's creation on the walks to the falls. We ate in the restaurant at the falls and had the mandatory "pastie." We ended a great day in Sault Saint Marie across the St. Mary's River from Canada.

On Friday we did the tourist things. We visited the Bushplane Museum in Sault Saint Marie, Ontario, and then took the boat ride through the Soo Locks. The Soo Locks opened trade from the ports on Lake Superior to the Atlantic Ocean by way or the other Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. It was an experience to have the boat lifted 21 feet to the level of the river on the west side of the locks. The sun was bright and warm and it was a great day on the water, so relaxing that we both snoozed sometime during the cruise. We ate in two local restaurants, Antlers (hundreds of antlers on the wall and an experience in Yooper hospitality) and the Lockside Restaurant where we had fresh whitefish and it was wonderful. We ended the evening by going back to see the fireworks over the locks. It was not what we expected. They lit them one at a time for 30 minutes and as we left they apparently began the finale and what we expected but we missed it because we had already left.

It was a great time away and refreshed our souls.

Life Journal 07-06-2008 The Power Of Encouragement

The Power Of Encouragement

(S) Scripture
Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

(O) Observation
As the writer warns against unbelief he gives this antidote to the people. "Encourage each other" - We are in this together and need each other. We are to encourage and build each other up rather than to tear or put down.

(A) Application
I have been an encourager most of my life. I tend to look for and believe the best in people. As a young man I was also sarcastic and what I thought was humor really hurt many others. As a pastor my role now is especially to be an encourager. Sometimes I still revert back to that critical spirit that puts people down. Today I will look for the best in people. I will seek opportunities to encourage. I will watch what I say to be sure it pleases the Lord.

(P) Prayer
Lord, thank you for the encouragement I have I Christ. Let me encourage others. Forgive me when I am critical and sarcastic - make me aware so I can apologize and let me encourage others to be like You. Amen

Life Journal 07-01-2008 Redemption After Hypocrisy

Redemption After Hypocrisy
(S) Scripture"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)

(O) Observation
Isaiah has just delivered a litany of sins the people had and were committing. He declares that God is not pleased with their hypocrisy in worship (saying one thing with lips and living to the contrary). Isaiah then comes to this word of hope and reconciliation. Forgiveness is available if the people will turn to the Lord. Their sin will be covered and taken away.

(A) Application
I may not be committing the overt sins described in this passage but I wonder how often I am guilty of a similar hypocrisy. Sometimes worship gets to be routine or done out of duty and in my own efforts. That is not what God wants. He does not want empty promises or sacrifices. God wants my whole heart focused o Him and not just on what looks good or feels good. Today I will take inventory of my own life. Does my walk match my talk. Where I am deficient I will trust God. I want to experience his grace and love and power in my life.

(P) Prayer
Lord, today was a tough day. I decided not to go to Kenya. I am not sure you are in it and so I declined the invitation. I sensed that you were not in it at this time. It is difficult to disappoint people but I must do what I believe you are leading me to do. Thank You for your direction in my life. Let me live in a way that brings glory to you and points people to your Son. Amen