Jethro

How many times do we need someone who will just push us back into focus? Have you ever lost focused of something and needed to stop and take some time to re-focus. As I was reading today I came across a man in the Bible that served just that purpose. His name was Jethro.

Moses had a father-in-law that made him stay focused that gave him the push every one of us needs now and then. Moses had been faithfully serving Jethro and watching over the sheep, until one day Jethro said enough is enough, and pushed Moses towards the call that God had placed on his life. We may never know if Moses would have went on to do this on his own, but it was because Jethro said now is the time that we saw Moses go out an accomplish what he was called to do.

In the book 11, by Leonard Sweet, He says this about Jethro: We all need a Jethro; someone who boots you awake so you look at rather than look away, and blesses you forward with, "Go in vigor and strength in what you are going to do." Another wards, it is nice to have someone who believes in us that we can get the job done. There are times in each of our lives that we must find this kind of person that will push us to do the work we are called to do.

We all are looking to that peace in life and it is our Jethro's that push us towards it. Jethro's as Sweet says are blessers, not a flatterer. I know that from experience, I would rather someone get me focused towards the main thing and not just agree with what I was doing, because in the long run that is where I will be at peace. It is getting there that may be the problem. Jethro's push us out the door while telling us, Trust God. The way will open."

I know that there are time in my life where may people have played this role for me. I have been often times to comfortable and was not seeing the fullness of God. It wasn't until I got out of this comfortable place that I began to see the gifts of God and find the peace I was supposed to live in.

God please help me never to get comfortable in what I doing. Please help me value the relationships you have given me, and to never take for granted one that encourages me to move forward towards what God has for me. The future in You is bright, but often times can cause us to be comfortable where we are especially in a spiritual sense. I pray that I move forward spiritually this year more than ever before. Help me not to ever become comfortable in anything I do. Let everything that I do bring glory to your name. I pray for my family, my wife, my boys, and my other members of my family. I thank you for all that you have done already and pray that you continue to watch over Peyton and continue to move in his life. Be with us and let us love you with all that is within. Amen.

My God Doesn't Wear Pajamas

Have you ever just stopped to think about what kind of God we serve?  I mean, our God is a God who knows all, formed all, and has never taken His eye off of one of us.  I heard the phrase my God doesn't wear pajamas and thought about how much God truly cares for us.  He never takes a break from the action.  He never takes a vacation from the stress.  He always watches over us 24 hours a day.  He has our best interests at heart.  This is far more than we can say about us.  

I'm afraid that in the world we live in, we serve a God that desires for us to spend as much time with Him as we possibly can and yet we only can find just a few spare moments to squeeze in a memorized prayer.  Nothing we do is with much passion anymore.  It seems as our only real communication with an awesome God is rehearsed, and often times out of duty or obligation.  But why is this?  We know God created us, but why then didn't he wire us to want to spend time Him.  It is simply out of His amazing, unconditional love for us that He didn't.  It is true God does desire for us to become more intimate with Him, but he would rather have 5 minutes that we choose to give Him, than an hour he wired us to give Him.  

So why should this matter to us and what will we gain by spending this time with God.  The answer is very simple.  We have a chance of being close to the Father.  We have someone who will go before us and fight our battles.  We have one that will listen we are in need.  We can have life and have it to the fullest.  We can talk to Him anytime of the day, in any situation, good or bad.  The fact that He never rest means, no matter what, when, or where, we can get to our Father.  I know for me that is an answered prayer in itself, because there are times in which I just need someone to listen and desperately need the touch of the master.  I know from experience, that God never fails.  He never lets me down.  I have had to realize that praying His will be done, may be His timing, and His answers, but we always must remember, to get out of the way of what He may be doing!  

God I thank you for always being available to me and my family.  You are always there to hear me, and through it all you have shown your never ending love.  Love that I never deserved.  Please forgive me of the times I have failed You and help me have a desire to get to the place where I can daily hear your voice.  I thank you for the already answered prayers in Peyton and ask that you continue to bless Christina and Brayden until he arrives.  Let your light shine through me and give me guidance and direction in all that I do.  Amen.  

Right or Wrong

How is it that we can justify some things and others we cannot? I am overwhelmed with a responsibility to tell everyone about Christ, to live for Him with all that is within me, and to be child of Him the best that I can. But where does it stop for a Christian, how much can we actually do? How far must we be willing to stand our ground. It seems as if the world today has a major problem with right and wrong.

Take this for example. Today, less than one week in office, I get an email saying that President Obama has lifted a ban on federal funding for international groups that promote or perform abortions, reversing a policy of his predecessor, George W. Bush.Obama's actions mean that hundreds of millions of your tax dollars will go to help groups like Planned Parenthood perform abortions around the world. His actions came one day after the 36th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in all 50 states.

So where does this leave us as Christians? What can we do about this or is this just another sign of the times. I can only pray that we will stand up for what is right in the eyes of the Lord until the day He returns. Having another child on the way, I cannot imagine the possibility of aborting such a precious gift from God. I have heard fro years arguments of rape or unwilling mother, but I still stand firm to the belief that life is life at conception. Without God, creation would not be possible. I know many would argue different, but the fact and the truth is only God gives life. Without His hand in all of it, from the good to the bad, life would not begin. No one can stand up for the children but us. We must continue to share our thoughts on all things and not allow the worlds thought to warp what we know as truth.

Today, as I am writing this, across America in clinics everywhere there are over 115,00 of babies that will not get a chance to breathe. My only prayer is that the people of God would not back down from what we believe and stand up for Christ in the last days. If you are one that does not think this is the last days, then let me be the first to tell you, Christ is coming soon. Don't wait for a government bailout to save you. There is only one Savior, and His name is Jesus. We all must know Him for ourselves, and soon those that know Him will meet Him face to face.

God, it is my prayer today that I will never back down from the truths you have given us. When we don't know what to say or how to respond, give us the wisdom beyond our time. Help me to be the husband, father, son, and friend that you have called me to be. I thank you for the gifts of life that you have given Christina and I. You have chosen to bless us with two children and I am excited to meet our second. The awesome thing about that is you already know what he looks like. You know how many little hairs are on his head. Before doctors or machine could even see it you know the exact numbers. Thank you for putting so much time into each of our lives. May we be a true reflection of You in our daily lives. May the gospel be shared to all! Help us to live every day like it is our last. Forgive me, of any wicked way. I love you lord. Amen.

Alone

Alone. It can be one of the most loneliest places ever for us on this earth. No one likes to always be alone. It can leave you feeling hopeless, helpless, and insecure. However, being alone with God, is when we get God's full attention. Wow, think about that. When we feel like we are not wanted, loved, or even cared about, it is then we have the full attention of God. There is nothing more comforting to have the full attention of the master. To be held in His arms. To hear His voice.

God desires for us to get alone with Him. The problem is many of us have problems doing just this. We are so insecure with who we are alone, that we never want to get there. If we always have to have a choir, preaching, or even others, then we can never truly just be with God. One of the most awesome times that I have everyday is when I get to spend my time alone. It is because I can forget everything that is going on in life, and get to spend time with the One who cares about me more than I could ever imagine. It is then that I can sing my praises, cry out of a broken spirit, sit in the masters arms. The awesome thing about it is, we can be ourselves. We don't have to always be strong, we can be exposed with Him. After all He knows everything anyway. There are no secrets in the secret place. We don't have to be ashamed of anything in our lives. We can truly just be who we are.

The secret place. What is it? Is it a place where we have to hide from others. Absolutely not. It is the only place that we can come and be who we really are. It is the place where we can come face to face with a God that loves us. We can hear the voice of one who does not condemn us, but loves us in ways that we cannot imagine. It is in this place that we can find our purpose in life. It is in this place we can find answers we are looking for. It is in this place that we can stop hiding from whatever has been holding us back or pushing us down. The awesome thing is being exposed means that we can be pliable, and then we can be shaped into the image of God. We must get beyond the veil of God, and then he will reveal all, he will uncover all. It is only then can we bless the blesser. It is only then can we truly worship. True worship has to come when no one is around, because that means we have an audience of just one. No one to impress with big words, emotions, but we can truly just give all that we have inside.

Oh, to dwell in the secret place, His presence! What will this presence do? It will dare us to believe all God says; it will make us believe all that he has promised. It is in this place that we can create a clean heart for God to come in and dwell in. Then we will have the power that is offered to us. Psalm 91:1 says, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. " This is the only place where I can truly find safety and protection from the storms of life. Lord help me to get to this place daily.

Lord I am nothing without you. Please help me to learn that being alone doesn't mean being without. Help me know that the most comfortable place is with You, alone. It is then and only then can I hear your voice. I can see your purpose and I can be myself. I pray that you be with Peyton today, he is your child, and only you can help. Help us to have patience, and give us wisdom to help him. I pray that you bless our church, our ministry, and our family. Be with us, let us know you are near. I know something great is about to happen, and I am ready to see all that you have for us. Thanks for hearing my cries. I love You.

A World of Change

Today is a day that will go down in the history books. We have seen an election come and go and the constant theme through the campaign was Change you can believe in. No matter what your thoughts on the matter what your thoughts are on this, the truth is we have a first in the History of America, an African American President. I know that many different sets of emotions have ran through many minds, but no matter how you voted, we must get behind the leadership of our country. Why, because this is what God has asked each of us to do. We must pray for guidance and we must pray that God get put back into the center of our nation. God has always been the center and will always be there, but the world tries its best to take Him out. We must however realize that true change doesn't come from the promises of man, but from an Unchanging God.

At this change today, we saw many different views discussed, and even prayers. As a whole our country is grasping for truth and I can say that truth can only be found in Christ. I find it very interesting that we saw that TD Jakes was asked to be apart of the morning chapel service, and that Rick Warren was asked to pray. I can only hope the the nation will see in the coming days the power of Christ. He has to become the center again. I know many think that this cannot happen, but if you are one of those people, then you are limiting God's power. God will restore His nation, but no one ever said it would be easy. Thank the Lord we serve a big God. So today I pray for our nation as a whole, our newly elected President, and the future of our country.

As I was riding in the car this morning with Peyton, I could only laugh as he asked for me to play a scene in a movie over, and over, and over again. He knows the movie by heart. But then I asked myself, how many of us get used to the same routine, the same lifestyles, the same food, and we go back again, and again because it is what we have become comfortable with. Just like Peyton, knows what scenes he like to see again, we do the same things with our relationship with God. We often go to what is comfortable. What is easy. What requires little effort or thought. We just do enough to get by. This is where change must begin.

How many of our prayer routines, and Bible reading plans are unchanged? Simply a checklist for the day. How much thought do we actually put into this time? In order for us to see change in our lives, as we have seen change in our country, we must be willing to get outside of the comfortable and move into a place where things are fresh a new. One person once said, "if we do things the same we have always done, then we will always get what we always have." I don't want to always get the same results. As a matter of fact I know God has more for each of us and I want to get as much as I can before He comes back. I want the power that comes from God when we simply ask. I want to see signs and wonders instead of just reading about them.

In order for us to be able to see change in our lives, we must be willing to put the effort in. I can honestly say one thing about our President, he undoubtedly gave a lot of time, effort, and money in his campaign, and was rewarded for this. I also know that if we give the same to God, we will also be rewarded generously, more than we an ever imagine.

So today, as change has happened, why can't we make a commitment to make a change for our spiritual health as well. I pray today Lord for the well being of our country. I pray for the leadership that is now in place and for guidance that can only come from above. I pray that in my own personal life, that I am willing to get outside of the norm, and see things as You see them. Do not allow me to put Limits or boundaries in prayers, but teach me the ways to receive all that you have for me and my family. Help me hear Your voice, and never to get into the routine of prayer or study that make me miss the personal things you have just for me. Search me and keep me in your will. I love you Lord.

The Power of Relationships

Have you ever been afraid of a meeting with someone close who can read right through you? Are meaningful relationships hard to come by? Is everything in your life surface level? I have honestly had to search my heart and I can honestly say that many times in my life I would have said yes to each of these questions. It is because relationships take work, and it is the work that we are often afraid of.

In today's passage Genesis 33, Jacob is about to meet up with his brother Esau. In Jacob's mind there is no way that this meeting could ever end well, and he is scared to death about meeting his brother! He was so afraid of what Esau would do to him, that he divides his family up and pretty much tells them goodbye and would as the Word suggest, would even go as far as giving them to Esau in exchanged for his life. He then crosses over to what he thinks could be his last day. He falls at the feet of his brother as if to beg for mercy. But this is when the story gets interesting. Esau doesn't respond out of anger, but responds with more love than Jacob could even imagine. When Esau takes Jacobs blessing, he is showing that everything is OK and that the past is behind them.

For us, often times relationships are not this easy. However the difference must be the way we respond to others. Just as Esau showed mercy on his brother, we must also have compassion on others. This week I have been reading a book called "11." In this book it talks about how many of us go through life with only one person in mind, ourselves. It suggests that we need others - and different kinds of relationships to make it in this life. Especially if we are going to be successful. After spending many year of doing things alone, I agree with that statement. It offers a word "withness," to add to our vocabulary. Basically suggesting that if we have healthy relationships we can become more effective, and we will not go through life alone. He also says a great quote in "it is not in the journey, but in relationships." The relationship that Jacob would now have with Esau would change not only his life, but everyone around him.

Lord I pray today for all of the people who have been different things to me. I thank you for the study group and friends I have grown to love and trust. I thank you for those that constantly get after me. I thank you for those who are willing to learn and listen. Without each individual you have placed in my life I would not be here today. Without relationships, it would be a lonely world to live in. Help me be strength and hope to others. And let everyone I come in contact with know what it is to be a child of the King.

The Heart of Worship

As I begin my devotion this morning, I am drawn to the passage that I was reading yesterday. It says that Jacob wrestled with God. That he was face to face with the King. Although I can't even begin to imagine what the must have been like to wrestle with the King, I can imagine what it would be like to come face to face with Him. I can feel the warmth of His smile and I am blinded by the beauty that is around me. Why is it then, if the sight would be so great, that we often times have a problem drawing close to God. Is it because we are afraid that he won't let us near, or is it simply because we know we are not worthy? I know for me it is both of those.

As a dad, there is nothing that means more to be than having my son love on me. Our father in Heaven is wired the very same. I see in the Scriptures, time and time again that is says this about encountering God, "do not be afraid." This is said to countless people who were in the presence or face to face with God. God tells these do not be afraid to approach Him. He created us to do just that, to be in a relationship with Him. How then can we be in a relationship with Him if we cannot approach Him?

God wants us to be unafraid to approach Him. He yearns for interaction with His greatest creations. He longs to spend time with the ones He loves. He invites us near Him just as we are, our faults, our imperfections, everything, just come as we are. We must not be so scared of God that we fail to get close to Him. The cool thing about God is that we don't have to be rid of our sin before we approach Him, but simply have a heart that wanted to be pure. He will do the rest. There have been many times in the past few months that there have been times that I was frustrated with Peyton. However, it makes it all better, if he just comes to be and hugs me and says,"I'm sorry Daddy, I love you." We can do this very same thing to our Father in heaven.

God wants us to have a heart of approach. He doesn't want to be distant from us. He wants us to come to Him in simplicity and innocence just like a child, with reverence for who He is. It doesn't have to be some elaborate prayer, a big show, or even use big words (thank goodness for this), none of this impresses God. He simply just wants us to come, and be face to face with Him. For when we get face to face with Him, our lives will change. Our worship will change. Our attitudes will change. Everything about us will change. It gives me great joy that I don't have to be afraid of my Father, I just have to come to Him.

Lord, in all that I do, never let me get so busy that I fail to come to you. Thank you for loving me despite all of my imperfections and failures. With You I know that even these things can be changed and worked on. Help me to come to you with all my needs and desires and help me to know you better. I pray for my son, Peyton, that you help him with his actions, his hands, and his ability to relate to others. Watch over my family, wrap your hedge around them. Help Christina through this time in the pregnancy, and help Brayden continue to grow into the child you have created him to be. Help us all hear from You. Amen.

Wrestling With God

I can honestly say I know much about wrestling, but I can say that almost every night Peyton wants to wrestle.  I remember in my single days I wouldn't miss WWF on Monday Nights.  What is it about wrestling?  Why is it that thousands of people watch this on TV and that kids want to this as a pastime.  In Cleveland, our high schools have two of the best wrestling programs in the state.   I think it is that our bodies have to release energy and stress somehow and this is how many choose to relieve this energy.  

Now as for me personally, I can only wrestle for a few minutes with a 4 year old boy.  But I do remember watching our middle school boys wrestle for almost an entire weekend.  In Genesis 32, we find Jacob doing just what we are talking about.  Wrestling.  It seems as if he is giving it his all.  The Bible even says he wrestled all night long.  Wow, now that is a wrestling match worth watching.  But this one is one that is far different than any other matches that we might have seen or been apart of.  This one there is something unusual about Jacob's opponent.  It was clear that no matter what Jacob did, he was not going to defeat this opponent.  Why? Because Jacob wasn't wrestling with just another man, he was wrestling with God.  I can't imagine what it must have been like to wrestle God.  But don't we do this in our minds everyday?  Don't we argue back and forth with God, often times trying to plead our own case.  

That is exactly what Jacob is doing.  He is pleading his case.  Look what finally happens.  Verse 28, Then the man said, "your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."   Jacob gets a new start, a new name.  His past struggles are now gone and he has a new future, along with a new name.  It is when we get to this point in our lives, that we can move to the future that God has for us.  It will never happen if we are not willing to face God and allow him to forever change us.  It can never happen through things of the world, but it has to be from the Father.  

Jacob not only has a name change that will forever remind him of this encounter with God, but will forever walk with a reminder that he has come face to face with an Almighty God.  When we find ourselves out of options, and with no where to turn is when we will come face to face with God.  We must be ready to face the trials that will come our way, but He will be our guide.  As with Jacob, God will listen to all we have to say, then He will give us a chance to live our lives to the full potential He has planned.  It is when we wrestle with God that our character grows, our faith grows, and we can learn from all the mistakes that we have made.  These mistakes will be reminders of the grace that God has for each of His children, and after we see Him for who He is we will be forever changed.  

Lord help me to always bring my needs to you.  Let me never fear what you have for me, but always know that you have my best interests at heart.  For when I come face to face with you, let me be reminded of the grace and mercy you have shown me.  Let whatever energy or stress I may be have, become refocused on the one that can keep me from harm.  Let me be forever changed.  Amen. 

New Beginnings

I have often times looked through life through the eyes of broken glass. It seems as if things in life happen for no apparent reason, like the falling of a glass from the shelf. It may seem insignificant to most, however we should realize that how little it may be, the glass will never be the same. There is no glue or tape that can make the glass one again. Our lives are very similar, with the exception that our lives can be put back together by the Master. In His hands, there is nothing impossible.

This has been a month of new beginnings, as many have made personal goals to follow through the year. Many have to do with self-image, however that image may be. The problem is, often times the image we see is through pieces of broken glass. Because of this our image and perception of self may be distorted and imperfect. The good news is that we serve a God who never sees us through this same glass. He always see us with the loving eyes of a parent. The perfect parent. He never makes mistakes, He has made each one of perfect in His eyes. The world may never see the person God has created, but to Him, each one of His children have His stamp of approval on them. Which brings me to the question, why then must we try to line up with the standards that are merely the worlds, and why can't we begin to see life through the perfect lens that God has created. With this lens life seems worth living. With this view there is nothing to hard for God.

In Psalms 11 David spends time looking at just this. He sees God for who He is and how perfect His creation is. He says that God knows everything, His eyes never leave us. He hasn't changed nor has His creation. David accurately states that God always sets things right, and makes everything perfect. The key part of this passage is for us to understand that without the hand of Christ we will never stand straight or walk on the path He has for us. It is only when we finally listen to the voice of God, that we can look into the eyes of God. That we can see things not from the broken glass, but the perfect lens of God.

As I think about this and as our church begins a 40 day prayer journey, I am reminded of my son Peyton. There are times that it seems impossible for us to help him. There are times that I question if how we react and respond is what God wants for us. But then I realize that God has made Him in His perfect image and it this son, the child of the King that we must never take for granted. God has allowed us to take care of Him, and we must with all that is within us, trust that God has made us the perfect fit for Him. We must see who God created us for first, before we can ever be the parents that He needs.

As our prayer journey begins, I would fail God if I didn't start out by praising and saying thank you to the God that has breathed life into me. Lord often times I take for granted the many blessings that you have given to me and my family. You have never changed. Your have known all from the beginning. You have created me to worship you. It is amazing to know that I have a Father that loves me through it all, my shortcomings, my many imperfections, and more, your love never fails. As one songwriter says Your love is extravagant, we don't deserve it. Lord I pray that you capture my heart again. I pray that your turn heads back towards you. Create in me a clean heart in all that I do. Give me a passion for others, and always let me see them through your eyes. Lord be with Christina and Brayden at work, Peyton at school, and all of my family and friends. Let each one of them know how much you love them. Give me the opportunity to share the truth with someone this week. Lord I love you. Amen.

The Promise

Today is a very fun day for us. It is Peyton's first day of school, the second time. We are praying and believing that God has everything under His hand. Peyton has had a hard time of adjusting to school, and so I am just claiming the promise that God has given each one of His children. Ask, seek, and knock, and the door will be opened. I know that God hears each one of our prayers. This is one that is so dear to our hearts and I know He will not fail us. God please wrap Peyton in Your Loving arms!

In this mornings devotion, Genesis 18-20, we God appearing to Abraham. This is very unique because throughout the Bible God doesn't appear to many. Abraham in the middle of the day stands face to face with God. As he recognizes who is near him, he immediately begins planning the welcome party. Isn't that just like each one of us. When a special guest arrives we feel like we have to cater to them, when in fact all he really needed to do was listen. God just wants us to stop and listen to His voice. He had something important to tell Abraham. God always has something to tell us if we will just stop and listen.

In this passage, God was about to give the promise to Abraham and his wife Sarah. He told them that the next time He returned they would have a son. Then, as many of us do, we laughed at God. The one thing that I can never doubt is God. God has promised several things in my life, and He has not failed yet! He is faithful to His word, unlike many of us. A promise to you may be different than the promise to me, but we must know whatever the promise may be, if God said it, you can take it to the bank.

We then see the mercy of God as Abraham pleads for the city of Sodom. We see how much God loves Abraham, and how much he loves His children. The problem is that many are to busy to recognize who God is. We also see in this same passage of scripture God keeping His word, and wiping out the city. Many would say could this be a loving God? The answer is simple. God gives us a choice to serve Him and will never force anything especially love on us, however this city was far from Him. God could not even find 10 that were righteous, so he kept his promise, he destroyed the city.

We must learn from this that no matter what the promise is God will keep it. As I look back on my life I can think of a recent request to God, Christina and I prayed for a healthy baby. What we got was more than that. We got the most beautiful child in the world. He is definately a work of art. There cannot be many kids like Peyton. God has created Him with special prints off of his hand. There are times with Peyton when there is no greater joy, and times we fell like pulling our hair out, what little is left of mine. But through it all God has shown me that there is a promise with me every day. Soon we will have another ray of light in our life, Brayden.

So today God, I pray for Peyton, I ask that you wrap your arms around him and never let go. I ask that you watch over Christina and Brayden as the term continues, and that Brayden is healthy when he is born. I trust you in all things, and I thank you for the promise. If I ever forget to stop and just listen, please draw me back to you. I love you, Amen.

The Flood

So today is a very unusual day in the city of Cleveland. Schools were actually cancelled because of rain. That's right, rain! The truth is we only got like 7-10 inches of rain, but it did cause many of the streets and streams to overflow onto the roads.

How fitting is it that the devotion this morning then would come from the great flood of the Bible. In Genesis 8 there is a covenant that has been made between God and Noah. We have seen a lot of rain over the past few weeks, but nothing like the flooding that Noah and his family experienced. They saw all that they formally knew, flooded. Their lives as they knew them were forever changed. However, the outward part of them had definitely been changed, it was the inward act of confidence in God that would forever change this family. They could never doubt God again, and even though there may be trials, and it may not come easy, they will know that God will always be with them.

Our lives are very similar. Although I have never personally seen floods as bad as Noah saw and experienced, this little flood reminded me this morning that we still serve the same God. God has promised us all that He will never leave us or forsake us. He is with us always. How many times have we failed to remember that He is always with us. I know many times I get in a hurry and try things on my own, only to find out that if I would have waited patiently for God, He would have had the right answers.

Think about Noah for a moment, if he had gotten in a big hurry like I often do, He would have drowned. If he had failed to listen to the voice of the Lord, he and his family would have been destroyed. It was only because he obeyed God from beginning to end that his life was spared. How true is this in our walks with God. We are only passing through this world and the world to come is eternal, forever. We must not get so focused on the things of this world and focus our attention on the One that matters the most.

Father, it is my prayer today that you make me realize that without You, I am nothing. Just as the covenant was made with Noah, You have also made the same covenant for me and my family. You have promised to save us from our sins, and give us eternal life. If we can only leave the past behind and look toward the future that we have in you. Thank you for the little reminders like yesterday's rain that you are still God. Let my focus be on You!

Psalm 6

This psalm is a one that captures my attention right off.  It is as if David is crying out to God for mercy.  There is no doubt that we all have to do this, without the mercy of the Lord we could not even stand.  There are definitely times in which we must suffer, but most of these times we bring them upon ourselves.  However, there are definitely times when God brings them upon His children.  

It is often the times that we are weak in body that we also can grow weak spiritually.  As David cries to God in verse two, he knows that without God, he will not make it.  How many times have we been in this very same situation?  How many times have we been to the point of quitting...BUT GOD.  When we are not confident in God's love and assistance even the small trials feel unbearable.

In verse 3, David knows what it means to be under pressure when he even asks God how long will this go on.  I know that many times I ask the same kind of questions.  I have come to the conclusion that God will not give us more than we can bear, but without Him, any task can seem impossible. David sensed he was under the rebuke of God, but he still knew he should ask God to shorten the trial.  God wants us to yearn for higher ground and to use that yearning as a motivation to seek Him and get things right with the LORD.  Shane and Shane sing a song called yearn, and it simply says Lord I wanna Yearn for you.  Lord Let that be my prayer today.  Let me yearn for you with all that is within me.  

Verse 6 we see David in a way that I know I have felt many times in my life.  In a pool of tears.  Not knowing what to do or how to get there.  David uses extreme exaggeration, but how many times have I cried myself to sleep, or even not been able to sleep.  He is tired of the games and he is looking for the closeness that he once had with the Lord.  

As with David, I know there have been times in which I have allowed the world to tempt me in different manners, however Like the prayers of David I must beg for God to intervene and save me from the world.  There are always going to be people who want us to fail, but we must remember we don't serve them, we serve God.  

When God hears our prayers, our enemies will be in trouble.  The good news is, our temporary pain or struggle is just a stepping stone for us to draw closer to Him, and He in turn will take care of our enemies.  

Lord I thank you for loving me through it all.  Without you the daily struggles that we face would be insurmountable.  It is through you that I find peace and comfort knowing that we are only passing through this world.  Today I pray especially for Peyton as he starts school tomorrow.  I pray that you strengthen him to listen, learn, share, and respect.  I know that this too shall pass and I know that you have created him in the perfect form of what you desired.  Thank you for trusting Christina and I to lead him.  Be with us always.  Amen.  

 

Psalm 5

As i read through this simple passage of scriptures I am drawn to a few of the verses that seem to stand out from the others. 

It seems as if every morning I often find myself in the same routines.  From getting up, to getting ready, to driving to work, it is as if nothing changes.  I have often caught myself in a routine with God.  It is as if I can almost recite a prayer that has become tradition every morning.  The problem is God is a God who likes things to be from love and not from habit.  I don't want to ever get out of the habit of spending time with God, however, I don't want the same routine to affect me listening for the true voice of God.  

As verse 1 says, every morning we must cry out to our God and pray that He hears us.  David prayed to God. This may sound elementary, but it is an essential aspect of prayer. Often we come to prayer so full of our request or our feelings that we never consciously focus on God and sense His presence. David was a great man of prayer because His prayer time was focused on God.  David made it a point to pray in the morning. He did this because he wanted to honor God at the beginning of his day, and set the tone for an entire day dedicated unto God. I am just glad we have a God that is never to busy to hear our cries.  As David drew closer to God he became more aware of God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness. “This is a good way to measure how well you are praying and whether, as you pray, you are drawing close to God or are merely mouthing words. If you are drawing close to God, you will become increasingly sensitive to sin, which is inevitable since the God you are approaching is a holy God.”

My attention is drawn to verse 6, God loves us so much that matter what we have done, we our still His invited guests.  I have the privilege of entering the courts of the Lord.  I have the privilege of getting in His presence anytime anywhere.  It is only when we get to this point, verse 8, where we can truly hear the voice of the Lord, and he can then give us directions of where He wants us to go.  We need God to lead us and to make the ways straight. It is only God’s power and work in me that can keep him from the way of the wicked.

 

Verse 11 brings a lot of joy to me, knowing that if I trust in Him, that I can forever "sing" for joy.  I find comfort in the fact that God loves to hear me make a joyful noise.  Our worship shouldn't be based on our feelings, but on his reverence for a righteous, merciful God.

 

It is my prayer that today as verse 12 says, Lord cover me with favor as with a shield. We must always remember that a shield does not protect any one area of the body. It is large and mobile enough to cover any and every area of the body. It is armor over armor. This is how fully the favor of God, our standing in grace, protects us.  I just want to thank you Lord for welcoming me with open arms into your house and presence.  Let me never take for granted those things you have trusted me with and let me truly begin to draw near to you. 

Draw Me Close

I have never been one to record my thoughts for others to see, but I have always been one to keep things inside.  Knowing that only friends and family will be the ones reading, I am going to try to journal thoughts this year about my morning devotions.  If for any other reasons it will help me stay focused on my Father, God the creator.  I hope that at the end of this year I will see my life and all that I do is being used for the glory of God.  God I pray that this will make me focus on drawing closer to you.  It is my prayer that this year, I can help lead others to Christ, I will see my son, Peyton, get through some of the issues that have been bothering him, that my son, Brayden, is born and healthy, and that my wife has a wonderful year ahead of her. My family is the most important thing to me and I pray that I can be a better husband, father, son, brother, cousin, and friend to all that I hold dearest to my heart.  I pray that one person would receive the words I plan to share, and like me Draw Closer to our God.  He loves us so very much and His desire is that we share every moment we can with Him.  Lord let me live a pleasing and acceptable life for you, and let all that say or do glorify you.  Amen