INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES

Today's reading: Micah

"The Lord will settle international disputes. All the nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. All wars will stop, and military training will come to an end." Micah 4:3 NLT

If you are scanning the news channels waiting for word of peace, you are looking in the wrong direction.

If you are tuned into the latest world politics expecting an announcement of worldwide peace, you won't see it.

If you are leaning towards one party or another, one peace treaty or another, one military move or another, to bring peace, you are about to find out they won't provide what you are looking for.

The Lord will settle international disputes.

His mighty hand will bring about peace. He will move in the hearts and minds of people. He will settle wars. He will restate the boundaries He has had set in place for many generations.

The Lord will do it.

Are you watching Him? 

There will be absolutely no doubt as to it being Him at work. No one will be able to explain it away. No party will be able to take credit for the final move. 

The Lord will settle international disputes--are you keep your eyes on Him?

SOLOMON'S WISDOM
Today's reading: Proverbs 29-30

"Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection." Proverbs 30:5 NLT

Of all the things King Solomon knew...

Of all the information he gathered over the course of his rule...

Of all the books he read and literature he absorbed... 

Of all the scientific evidence he studied...

He found the Word of God to be true, and protective of those who depend upon it.

Every word.

True.

ANCHORED

Today's reading: Psalm 119

"Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your law." Psalm 119:61 NLT

Did you learn Bible memory verses as a child?

For points? For candy? For the challenge of it? For competition?

Because your parents made you?

Interestingly, the pieces of candy we nabbed out of the 'prize bucket', the glow-in-the-dark cross we were given and the compliments we received for a job well done--well, they have all vanished.

But the words of the Bible?

They remain in our hearts and minds.

Probably, if you're anything like me, in King James Version English!

These are anchors that occasionally pop up to remind us of the long-lasting power of being in God's Word.

Maybe they show up in a conversation. Possibly a song reminds us of the words of a specific verse.  A sermon takes us back to the words we had memorized so long ago.

What a blessed gift it is to have this storehouse of verses banked in our minds.

And what a gift we have given if we have chosen to do the same thing with our children.

We have implanted, in their hearts, the same anchors.

Anchors that will keep them tethered to the Lord--no matter how far they drift.

Anchors that will be lifelines to God's goodness--when the world baits and switches at what is right or wrong.

Anchors that will keep them safe, lead them home, draw them back--from the enemy, from the far country, from the empty promises of life outside of Christ Jesus.

I'm so very thankful for the anchors of Scripture in my heart this morning! 

JAHAZIEL

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 16-20

"...the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel. son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendent of Asaph. He said, Listen, King Jehoshaphat! Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's." 2 Chronicles 20:14-15 NLT

Here is what I have noticed in regards to this man named, Jahaziel...

His 'fathers' mattered.

His bloodline was important.

His history was important.

How do I know that--because it was recorded. His daddy, granddaddy, great-granddaddy and great-great granddaddy were mentioned.

Oh, sure, what he said mattered, too. But what he said was prefaced by who he was.

Did you catch that?

Only by knowing who he was, his background, his 'people', did his message carry weight.

So what do I do with that?

I pray for a Jahaziel to come into your life today.

Someone who you know to be godly. A person whose history shows God's track record. A brother or sister in Christ whose life has been saved by, led by, encouraged by and strengthened by the blood of their Father.

Does that make sense to you?

I don't want you listening to just anyone. Especially in regards to the tough times you might be going through. I want you hearing the truth, God's truth, from God's people.

I want a Jahaziel to come alongside you and build up your faith, remind you of God's truths, point you to His feet, cheer you on along your faith walk...in Jesus's name.

I pray that a Jahaziel steps in and steps up in your life. Someone with credentials. Someone with a trust that goes so deeply into the Lord that they will not and cannot be swayed. Someone whose bio shows exactly Who they have been leaning on in their life!

I'm praying for a Jahaziel to bless your life!

 MY ITINERARY

Today's reading: Numbers 33-36

"This is the itinerary the Israelites followed as they marched out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.  At the Lord's direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress. These are the stages of their march, identified by the different places they stopped along the way." Numbers 33:1-2 NLT

To think, the Israelite's journey, all 40 years of it, was documented, stop by stop.

I wish I had written documentation of my faith walk. Stage by stage. Lesson by lesson. Eye opening moment by eye opening moment.

I could look back and see...

-some things weren't as bad as I had 'worried' them to be.

-few things demanded the attention I gave them--attention that took my eyes off the Lord.

-very, very few things were worth the fear level I had attached to them.

-time gives me the perspective that I should have stopped and enjoyed certain 'detours' longer than I did.

-lessons come in the good times and in the bad times.

-I was never alone, never left to my own abilities, never without an audience to my faith and trust in the Lord.

The itinerary of my faith is not one I would have written, but also not one I would ever change. 

In the 47 years I have been walking with God, the path has been uphill and downhill, has been in rainy seasons and had plenty of sunshine-y days, has grown me, shaped me, honed me and amazed me. 

There have been times I have rushed ahead--and had to backtrack to find Him again, and times when I dug in my heels and refused to go any farther. I have given Him 'yes-es' immediately and have had times when I have had to have corrective discipline applied to my backside in order that I see things His way.

This walk with the Lord has proved to me over and over again that only He can be trusted to hold the map and lead the way!

So I'll keep walking beside Him--where ever it is He takes me!

ENTERING BOLDLY

Today's reading: Hebrews 8-10

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus." Hebrews 10:19 NLT

This verse is one of my favorites.

Why? Well, because of the 'word picture' I have of it in my mind. How I've applied its meaning to my life. The picture in my head of how it plays out in reality.

You see, to know I can boldly enter into God's presence sets my thought into full blown hyperspeed...

I can come bursting into the throne room of God's grace yammering on and on about my day--and He will listen to it all!

I can slink in the back door of the Most Holy Place and crawl up on my Daddy's lap to tell him all about what I've done wrong.

I can drag to His feet, mud and all, any doubts and concerns that I have been wrestling with--and He will soothe me fears. 

I can approach my Father, without appointment or protocol, and talk to Him about all that's on my heart.

I can tattle to Him. I can whine to Him. I can rattle non-stop to Him. Then He will send me back out to the world to minister for Him.

I can cry--not just sniffle, but sob in His presence. I can spew my emotions in front of Him. And He will still love me.

I can stand in front of Him with my arms crossed, mad as a wet hen, until He soothes me and changes my attitude, corrects my thinking and softens my heart.

I can repeat to Him his promises and remind Him of them.

I can shake my fist at Him, mutter my complaints, question His timing and He takes me into His arms and holds me tightly until the 'temper tantrum' has passed.

Why can I so boldly approach the God of the universe? Me? Little, ole me? Imperfect and far-from-holy me?

Because when I step into His presence, He doesn't see me. He sees the blood of His Son Jesus on me, allowing me entrance into His personal space!

HOW I AM KNOWN

Today's reading: Acts 3-4

"The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men who had had no special training. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13 NLT

What greater aknowledgement might one receive than to be known as 'one who had been with Jesus'?

An educational degree doesn't compare.

A stack of patents pending isn't comparable.

A grand monument inscribed with one's name cannot compete.

But to be seen as having spent time in the presence of the Lord? 

There is no greater honor in life.

Time spent with Jesus impacts one's words, deeds, responses, reactions, desires, relationships.

It intrudes upon one's thoughts, changes one's attitudes, increases one's awareness of those around us.

A daily time with the Lord will change the course of your day, the steps you might take and the lives of those to whom God might call you to minister.

Have you spent time with Jesus--are you ready for today's mission? 

MY RUNNING

Today's reading: Jonah

"Then he told them that he was running away from the Lord. The sailors were terrified when they heard this. Oh, why did you do it? they groaned." Jonah 1:10 NLT

Jonah didn't realize that when he laced up his tennis shoes to run from the Lord that others would be effected.

Nor do we.

There is 'fallout' related to disobeying the Lord. 

We must consider who else might be compromised when we choose to run from the Lord and what He is asking us to do for Him. We must weigh disobedience against the possible consequences. 

 

TENDER CONSCIENCE

Today's reading: Proverbs 28

"Blessed are those who have a tender conscience, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble." Proverbs 28:14 NLT

Medical degree or not, we all have a way of soothing the hurts and bruises of the people we come in contact with.

Thoughtful gestures, kind words, hugs and smiles are 'tablets of healing' we pass out all throughout our day.

Are you conscience of the needs around you?

Are you slowing down to notice frowns, furrowed brows, tears?

Are you tuned in to tones of sadness, discouragement, frustration and hopelessness in the conversations you have with others?

Blessings come, according to God's Word, to those who have tender consciences towards others.

Want to be blessed? Notice others.

HIS UNFAILING LOVE

Today's reading: Psalm 117-118

"Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For he loves us with unfailing love; the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!" Psalm 117

I often ask you to look at what the passage of the day says, but not today!

Today I am asking you to take a look at what it doesn't say...

It doesn't say, Would you praise the Lord?

It doesn't say, Would JUST the church praise the Lord.

It doesn't say, Praise Him because of our unfailing love, our unwavering faithfulness, our enduring commitment to Him.

It says, Praise Him because He is wonderful, His love for us never changes, He is (with all that He is) faithful to us.

We don't have to come up with reasons to praise God--He is worthy, entirely and utterly, worthy of all the praises we can muster!

 

SEEING A CHANGE

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 11-15

"The prophet Shemaiah then met with Rehoboam and Judah's leaders, who had all fled to Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah told them, This is what the Lord says: You have abandoned me, so I am abandoning you to Shishak. The king and the leaders of Israel humbled themselves and said, The Lord is right in doing this to us! When the Lord saw their change of heart, he gave this message to Shemaiah, Since the people have humbled themselves, I will not completely destroy them and will soon give them some relief..." 2 Chronicles 12:5-7 NLT

The king and the people could have declared a day of prayer...

They might have attended Temple more regularly...

They could have even voted a new law into effect that would have added to the Temple offering plate...

Instead?

Instead, they changed their hearts.

They humbled themselves.

They allowed the eyes of their hearts to be opened to their own sins.

They repented, which is being sorry for AND turning away from sin.

And God saw the change.

And God chose, after a time, to reward them.

I'm reminded this morning that God sees my heart--the intentions, the conscious acts, the deliberate choices, the willingness in what I do. Does He see that I am purposeful in staying away from yesterday's sins?

Does He see a change in my heart?

THE TRANSJORDAN TRIBES

Today's reading: Numbers 29-32

I'm intrigued by the account of Numbers 32, subtitled, The TransJordan Tribes.

It baffles me as to what might have led this group of 2-1/2 tribes to want the land on the east side of the Jordan River, instead of inhabiting the Promised Land.

Did they settle for less? 

Upon reading the chapter, they were willing to put the blood, sweat and tears into obtaining the land of Canaan--they just didn't want to live there.

After all they'd been through? 

Following a 40 year journey?

Knowing all they knew about the bounty and blessing of the land on the west side of the Jordan?

And God let them?

I have lots of questions about this arrangement. I can't wrap my head around the agreement. I just don't understand the 'how and why' of it all. But I've come to this conclusion:

God had a reason for His people to be there, or they wouldn't have been there.

Isn't that the point at which all of our unknowns should converge?

God has a reason.

And He doesn't need to explain it to us--as if He could!

LEARNING OBEDIENCE

Today's reading: Hebrews 5-7

"So even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered." Hebrews 5:8 NLT

I'd never really thought about it, but Jesus taught us obedience by the hardships he endured during his 'tour of duty' on earth.

He could have told God, 'No, thank you', when it came to his earthly mission.

He might have become so intolerant of the human race, in his mere 33 years, that he wiped us all out with one spoken word.

He, understandably so, might have refused the pain of the cross.

But where would we be?

What hope would there be for us IF he had called the legions of angels instead of enduring punishment, crucifixion and death?

So friend, consider your own suffering. While not in the league of what Jesus endured, might it be a lesson for you in obedience?

Will you obediently trust God through it all?

Will you believe His promises even when you cannot see His hand?

Could you endure for the purpose of another coming to know your Lord and Savior?

Are you willing to learn obedience through the things you suffer?