SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2009
PSALM 91:9-16
MALACHI 3:6-4:6
MATTHEW 4:12-25
Welcome to the Lord’s day!
Once again, we see Christ in the Old Testament and we see Christ in the Psalms. This is a great Psalm to call to mind during and in the midst of temptation, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” That doesn’t just apply to Jesus. It applies to all of us. Our Lord wants us to be successful in beating off temptation. As I mentioned yesterday, be in conversation with God, asking Him to command His angels to be with us and protect us and we will be much more successful in beating temptation. He even promises us, “When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.” This is a promise to us. God keeps His promises.
This text from Malachi is a great stewardship text. It seems like we are seeing a lot of stewardship in the lessons lately. But it is that time of year. Anyway, in verse ten of our text we see, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” Just like prayer, worship, reading the Bible, keeping the commandments, giving to the Lord is a spiritual task. We need to give to strengthen our faith. We don’t give because the church needs money. We give because we need to give. Think about it. Pray about it.
Our Lord goes right to work after the temptation. Every act of our Lord’s was purposeful. He did nothing by chance. So Matthew tells us that He visits Zebulun and Naphtali to fulfill scripture. You will see that Matthew quotes the Old Testament a lot. He is writing to Jewish people and quotes the Old Testament to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesy.
Matthew lists the first disciples that Jesus calls as Peter and Andrew and then James and John. These are Jesus closest disciples. They make up the heart and core of the people closest to Jesus. And once He calls them, He is our preaching to the people. He quickly becomes popular all through the northern kingdom.
Have a blessed day. Worship and then enjoy an afternoon of football. Go Bears!
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009
PSALM 145:17-21
DEUTERONOMY 1:1-18
MATTHEW 5:1-20
It may be colder and cloudy and nasty outside, but our Psalm reminds us that God is faithful. “The Lord is righteous in all His ways.” Boy, does that differ from our actions where we are rarely faithful in anything. He is near to us when we call on Him. He preserves us. He takes care of us. Our response is to speak well of Him, praise Him and bless His name.
The word Deuteronomy means “repetition of the law.” The Hebrew name for this book is “copy of this law.” Moses is getting ready to transfer leadership to Joshua and is getting the people of Israel ready to enter the Promised Land. Moses was not allowed to enter because he had overstepped his instructions from God and was going to die and be buried by God in a secret location. In preparing to enter the Promised Land, Moses reads the law to the people of Israel a second time, reminding them to follow God rather than false gods so that they will live long in the land God was about to give them.
Just as Moses was reminding the people of Israel of their responsibilities to God and neighbor, Jesus in the Beatitudes gives us a kind of job description, a picture of what a Christian should look like. The life of a Christian is not easy. God never promises us that life will be a bed of roses. As a matter of fact, our lives are filled with tribulation just because we have a relationship with Christ. People hated Him and people will hate us because of our relationship with Him.
Oh, and by the way, the Old Testament moral law, remember the 10 Commandments? Just because they are in the Old Testament doesn’t mean that we don’t have to follow them. Just because Jesus fulfilled the law for us, doesn’t mean we don’t have to try to keep them too. We have to keep every Commandment. We should want to keep every Commandment in our attempt to please God and show our thanksgiving for our Salvation through Jesus death on the cross.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2009
PSALM 19:7-14
DEUTERONOMY 1:19-36
MATTHEW 5:21-48
Again, the Psalm focuses on the Law. It ties in nicely with the Deuteronomy lesson as Moses recounts in front of all the people the history of why they are just now getting ready to enter the Promised Land after 40 years.
A quick look at the Psalm and an examination of the adjectives that describe God’s law is interesting. The Law is perfect, right, pure, clean, true, desired and sweet. It would never have occurred to me to describe, “the fear of the Lord is clean.” If we trust God that is clean. If we put our faith in God it is clean. If we respect God and follow His Commands that is clean. I just never thought of it that way.
Back to Deuteronomy.
The people of Israel had sent spies to look over the land and they got scared. God had promised to go with them and fight for them, but even after seeing the 10 plagues and the parting of the Red Sea and all that God did, they were frightened and didn’t trust God. So fine, God was not going to let any of them enter, except Caleb, and they would travel the wilderness for 40 years until all of those people died. Can you imagine? So, what’s the point? Trust God. It’s that simple.
Jesus continues to teach the people after the Beatitudes. In each case, whether He’s talking about anger, lust, divorce, oaths, or retaliation Jesus expands on the intent behind the Command. He actually makes the demands upon the people great than the letter of the law. The message behind the instruction: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. That’s all He’s trying to say.
So the clouds continue. They should be white, fluffy clouds for this St. Michael and All Angels Day. That reminds me, I need to go find a St. Michael and All Angels card for my wife.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
PSALM 119:161-168
DEUTERONOMY 1:37-2:15
MATTHEW 6:1-15
Where did September go to? October is here way too fast and October is going to be a busy month for me: Camp LuWiSoMo with 27 of the finest 8th graders this weekend, A Mission India presentation for LWML next weekend, My parent’s 50th wedding anniversary celebration in Detroit the weekend after that, A wedding and Stewardship Sunday the weekend after that, the 25th Anniversary of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Ocala, Fl (I was their first preacher while on vicarage), and then our trip to London after that. Can I take a breathe now?
Once again in our Psalm we see that Christianity is active. It’s not just something we are, it is something we do. Oh, to be sure, we are forgiven and we are declared righteous by God and that is all His work, not ours. But in response to that we rejoice at His word, we hate and abhor falsehood, we praise Him, and we hope for salvation. Our faith is active in response to all that God has done for us.
I like verse 164, “Seven times a day I praise you.” I think I’ve mentioned it before that in order to combat depression; it is good to list at least three things you are thankful for. Well, listing seven is even better. Just bringing to mind seven things God has done for us today is good for our soul. It helps us see that He is active in our lives.
In Deuteronomy, Moses continues recalling the account of the Israelites travels in the wilderness. You’ve read it. What more can I say about it. They traveled for 38 years because they didn’t trust God. Now they trust God. We’ll read more tomorrow.
It’s kind of fun that we have reached Matthew 6 and the Lord’s Prayer. That’s the topic for our trip to Camp LuWiSoMo. I found out Monday that I need to lead an hour long session this Saturday at camp. How will I entertain 100 kids for a hour? Any ideas?
Obviously, many books have been written on the Lord’s Prayer. It is an awesome prayer. It covers all the bases: physical needs, spiritual needs, our sin, our protection, our neighbor’s needs, God’s supremacy. It covers everything. My point for the kids this weekend is that pray is not just a noun. Prayer is also a verb. It is what we do. It’s an action. And many of the petitions of the Lord’s prayer can be connected to a Commandment. “Hallowed by your name.” “Don’t take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” So we dare not just sit back an pray passively. We are active, as the community of God, in prayer and praise to God.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009
PSALM 130
DEUTERONOMY 2:16-37
MATTHEW 6:16-34
Welcome to October! Actually, I’m writing this in September so I get ahead a little because I won’t have wireless and internet access while I’m at LuWiSoMo this weekend up near that thriving metropolis of Wild Rose, WI. Plus, I won’t get a signal for my phone unless I am up on Meditation Hill, at least I haven’t in the past. So that means no texting and no phone calls all weekend. No Facebook either. How am I going to survive?
Ok, fine. I right after I write the above paragraph I read the Psalm for today and I realize that rather than calling on the phone or sending text messages or being active on Facebook, for the duration of this weekend, I’ll just cry out to the Lord and trust in Him and listen to Him and focus on Him. See, even the pastor needs to be reminded of stuff from time to time. Being on the phone, texting and being on Facebook can’t grant me forgiveness. Only God forgives. Only God saves.
And I can relate to the watchmen thing. Basically from the time we get there, I am waiting and watching for about 10:30 or 11:00am Sunday morning when we can leave. Oh, yes, my soul is waiting for the Lord and our departure.
Sorry, it will actually be a good trip. It’s just the anticipation that is the worst. It will be fun to be with the kids.
And we read more history of Israel as they continue towards the Promised Land. I don’t know about you, but I had this vision (this image) come to mind as I read the text. Moses writes, “Let me pass through your land. I will go only by the road; I will turn aside neither to the right nor the left. You shall sell me food for money …” Okay. Remember how many people we are talking about? We are talking about 1.5 to 3.0 MILLION people passing through. And we aren’t talking a five lane highway here. We are talking about a road, maybe 10 or 20 feet wide, maybe. Can you imagine how long it would take 2 million people to pass through a space 15 feet wide on average? Wow … I can’t imagine.
But, King Sihon didn’t let them pass through. So they had to be defeated in war. And not a man, woman or child was left. Too bad.
Have you ever fasted? There is nothing wrong with it. I even hear there are benefits to it. A lot of time on Friday, my day off, I sleep in and then get up and just puts around and before I know it it is 2pm and I haven’t eaten. But that’s not fasting. Fasting is purposely not eating for a time so you can focus on God and meditate on Him rather than food. It’s a good practice. But it’s a private, voluntary practice.
How true verse 24 is, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Maybe that’s why I didn’t win the lottery the last time.
The Lord is just teaching me a lot of lessons here today. “Do not worry.” I have been dreading October for a couple months now because of all the activity. But the Lord will get me through. I will come home from LuWiSoMo and make an awesome meal for Sunday evening. I don’t know what yet, but it will be awesome. And the Lord will walk with me through the rest of the month.
Our Lord gives us the key, “See first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” There it is in a nut shell. Keep your eye on the kingdom.
No phone, no Facebook, no texting, sounds like a true vacation to me. I don’t text, but to go for a weekend without the other two, a blessing from God. One exception — good to have a phone in case of an emergency. We were having a wonderful time up North one year, when Darcy called and said, “Hate to spoil your vacation, BUT your power is out down here and you have three inches of water in your basement.” YIKES!! We had to pack up in a hurry and get back home. Too bad we were able to get a signal up there — we would have had three more days of fun.
Yeah, I know … for some that is a great vacation, but me, I’ll probably exhibit some signs of withdrawal. Fortunately, since I have to do a presentation, I’m bringing my laptop so I will at least be able to play Bejeweled during down times. Thanks for posting Judy.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2009
PSALM 3
DEUTERONOMY 3:1-29
MATTHEW 7:1-12
It’s Friday, so it’s my day off and I am sleeping in. I wrote this yesterday. Hope I’m not snoring too loudly.
I am really relating to the Psalm today anticipating the trip to LuWiSoMo. It’s not a bad trip, but being away from home and being in charge of 27 students adds a level of responsibility that just adds pressure. They are good kids, but one can relating with being surrounded by foes and enemies when they have to drive all those kids three hours away. But I have resolved that, “I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.” “Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God!” No, it’s not that bad. It will be fun and the kids will behave and it gives them a chance to get to know me outside of church.
In our Old Testament lesson we get more of the account of them entering the Promised Land. Our Lord gets a little impatient with Moses as he asks again if he can enter. “Do not speak to me of this matter again.” So Moses gets to see the land, but he can’t set foot on the land until Jesus’ transfiguration.
The long and short of it is that the Lord gives these nations into the hands of the Israelites one at a time. Day by day.
In the Gospel we see some amazing passages. “Judge not,” that’s a hard one to follow. We are always looking at people with a critical eye. But we need to be careful. How many times do we see that little speck in our neighbor’s eye and ignore the plank in ours? It happens all the time. But it’s not good. Be honest about your set backs.
And the whole paragraph about, “Ask, seek, knock,” is so important for us. Our Lord wants to give us what we need. You think Santa is generous? God is so much more generous than Santa. God is the God who keeps on giving.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2009
PSALM 119:9-16
DEUTERONOMY 4:1-20
MATTHEW 7:13-29
It’s Saturday and you are in your warm comfortable homes and were able to sleep in your own beds. I’m at Camp LuWiSoMo and slept on a bottom bunk that wasn’t my own. The poor 8th grade boys in my room had to listen to me snore all night.
Actually, it’s Friday morning and I’m in my family room writing this since I won’t have internet access this weekend. Hope I don’t go into withdrawal.
Our Psalm begins with a good question, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” With television, music, and print advertizing all parading attractive models, it is very difficult for practically anyone to keep their minds from going down a dark path. But the Psalm is right, if our minds are in the Word, if we are in the Word every day, our task is easier. Look at verse 11, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” The Holy Spirit works in the Word and He will work in our hearts as we study God’s Word. “I meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” We may not be able to avoid all sin, but our sinful ways will be decidedly less if we are in the Word.
Moses speaks to the people of Israel as they prepare to enter Israel. His message is very much in line with the Psalm, “listen to the statues and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may life.” If each family in the nation of Israel would have just continued teaching their children about God, then their nation would not have been destroyed. God knows what’s going to happen to them, and yet God gives them the Promise Land any way. But as He does so, He makes sure that they know that if they follow His rules and laws, that their life will be fine. Moses reminds them of some of their relatives were destroyed for following a false god. He reminds them that God is very close to them and that their rules and laws are the best ever, intended to keep them safe and sound and to be fair. He warns them not to worship anything God created as a substitute for the one, true God. Follow God and life will be fine. It’s the same message for us. Continue to be in the Word and the Lord will be with you.
The fact of the matter is that Christians show their faith through their actions. We aren’t saved by keeping the Commandments and following the Lord, but we show that we have faith by giving thanks to God and trying to keep the Commandments.
As Christians, we enter by the narrow gate. We keep our mind of God and follow that narrow way, going neither to the left or right.
Jesus message in this text today is right in line with the Psalm and the Deuteronomy text. Our faith is shown in action.
Well, I better get moving and packing. I think I have laundry to do before I leave. Have a blessed day.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2009
PSALM 91:9-16
MALACHI 3:6-4:6
MATTHEW 4:12-25
Welcome to the Lord’s day!
Once again, we see Christ in the Old Testament and we see Christ in the Psalms. This is a great Psalm to call to mind during and in the midst of temptation, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” That doesn’t just apply to Jesus. It applies to all of us. Our Lord wants us to be successful in beating off temptation. As I mentioned yesterday, be in conversation with God, asking Him to command His angels to be with us and protect us and we will be much more successful in beating temptation. He even promises us, “When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.” This is a promise to us. God keeps His promises.
This text from Malachi is a great stewardship text. It seems like we are seeing a lot of stewardship in the lessons lately. But it is that time of year. Anyway, in verse ten of our text we see, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” Just like prayer, worship, reading the Bible, keeping the commandments, giving to the Lord is a spiritual task. We need to give to strengthen our faith. We don’t give because the church needs money. We give because we need to give. Think about it. Pray about it.
Our Lord goes right to work after the temptation. Every act of our Lord’s was purposeful. He did nothing by chance. So Matthew tells us that He visits Zebulun and Naphtali to fulfill scripture. You will see that Matthew quotes the Old Testament a lot. He is writing to Jewish people and quotes the Old Testament to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesy.
Matthew lists the first disciples that Jesus calls as Peter and Andrew and then James and John. These are Jesus closest disciples. They make up the heart and core of the people closest to Jesus. And once He calls them, He is our preaching to the people. He quickly becomes popular all through the northern kingdom.
Have a blessed day. Worship and then enjoy an afternoon of football. Go Bears!
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009
PSALM 145:17-21
DEUTERONOMY 1:1-18
MATTHEW 5:1-20
It may be colder and cloudy and nasty outside, but our Psalm reminds us that God is faithful. “The Lord is righteous in all His ways.” Boy, does that differ from our actions where we are rarely faithful in anything. He is near to us when we call on Him. He preserves us. He takes care of us. Our response is to speak well of Him, praise Him and bless His name.
The word Deuteronomy means “repetition of the law.” The Hebrew name for this book is “copy of this law.” Moses is getting ready to transfer leadership to Joshua and is getting the people of Israel ready to enter the Promised Land. Moses was not allowed to enter because he had overstepped his instructions from God and was going to die and be buried by God in a secret location. In preparing to enter the Promised Land, Moses reads the law to the people of Israel a second time, reminding them to follow God rather than false gods so that they will live long in the land God was about to give them.
Just as Moses was reminding the people of Israel of their responsibilities to God and neighbor, Jesus in the Beatitudes gives us a kind of job description, a picture of what a Christian should look like. The life of a Christian is not easy. God never promises us that life will be a bed of roses. As a matter of fact, our lives are filled with tribulation just because we have a relationship with Christ. People hated Him and people will hate us because of our relationship with Him.
Oh, and by the way, the Old Testament moral law, remember the 10 Commandments? Just because they are in the Old Testament doesn’t mean that we don’t have to follow them. Just because Jesus fulfilled the law for us, doesn’t mean we don’t have to try to keep them too. We have to keep every Commandment. We should want to keep every Commandment in our attempt to please God and show our thanksgiving for our Salvation through Jesus death on the cross.
Jesus loves you. Have a great day…
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2009
PSALM 19:7-14
DEUTERONOMY 1:19-36
MATTHEW 5:21-48
Again, the Psalm focuses on the Law. It ties in nicely with the Deuteronomy lesson as Moses recounts in front of all the people the history of why they are just now getting ready to enter the Promised Land after 40 years.
A quick look at the Psalm and an examination of the adjectives that describe God’s law is interesting. The Law is perfect, right, pure, clean, true, desired and sweet. It would never have occurred to me to describe, “the fear of the Lord is clean.” If we trust God that is clean. If we put our faith in God it is clean. If we respect God and follow His Commands that is clean. I just never thought of it that way.
Back to Deuteronomy.
The people of Israel had sent spies to look over the land and they got scared. God had promised to go with them and fight for them, but even after seeing the 10 plagues and the parting of the Red Sea and all that God did, they were frightened and didn’t trust God. So fine, God was not going to let any of them enter, except Caleb, and they would travel the wilderness for 40 years until all of those people died. Can you imagine? So, what’s the point? Trust God. It’s that simple.
Jesus continues to teach the people after the Beatitudes. In each case, whether He’s talking about anger, lust, divorce, oaths, or retaliation Jesus expands on the intent behind the Command. He actually makes the demands upon the people great than the letter of the law. The message behind the instruction: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. That’s all He’s trying to say.
So the clouds continue. They should be white, fluffy clouds for this St. Michael and All Angels Day. That reminds me, I need to go find a St. Michael and All Angels card for my wife.
Have a blessed day…
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
PSALM 119:161-168
DEUTERONOMY 1:37-2:15
MATTHEW 6:1-15
Where did September go to? October is here way too fast and October is going to be a busy month for me: Camp LuWiSoMo with 27 of the finest 8th graders this weekend, A Mission India presentation for LWML next weekend, My parent’s 50th wedding anniversary celebration in Detroit the weekend after that, A wedding and Stewardship Sunday the weekend after that, the 25th Anniversary of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Ocala, Fl (I was their first preacher while on vicarage), and then our trip to London after that. Can I take a breathe now?
Once again in our Psalm we see that Christianity is active. It’s not just something we are, it is something we do. Oh, to be sure, we are forgiven and we are declared righteous by God and that is all His work, not ours. But in response to that we rejoice at His word, we hate and abhor falsehood, we praise Him, and we hope for salvation. Our faith is active in response to all that God has done for us.
I like verse 164, “Seven times a day I praise you.” I think I’ve mentioned it before that in order to combat depression; it is good to list at least three things you are thankful for. Well, listing seven is even better. Just bringing to mind seven things God has done for us today is good for our soul. It helps us see that He is active in our lives.
In Deuteronomy, Moses continues recalling the account of the Israelites travels in the wilderness. You’ve read it. What more can I say about it. They traveled for 38 years because they didn’t trust God. Now they trust God. We’ll read more tomorrow.
It’s kind of fun that we have reached Matthew 6 and the Lord’s Prayer. That’s the topic for our trip to Camp LuWiSoMo. I found out Monday that I need to lead an hour long session this Saturday at camp. How will I entertain 100 kids for a hour? Any ideas?
Obviously, many books have been written on the Lord’s Prayer. It is an awesome prayer. It covers all the bases: physical needs, spiritual needs, our sin, our protection, our neighbor’s needs, God’s supremacy. It covers everything. My point for the kids this weekend is that pray is not just a noun. Prayer is also a verb. It is what we do. It’s an action. And many of the petitions of the Lord’s prayer can be connected to a Commandment. “Hallowed by your name.” “Don’t take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” So we dare not just sit back an pray passively. We are active, as the community of God, in prayer and praise to God.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009
PSALM 130
DEUTERONOMY 2:16-37
MATTHEW 6:16-34
Welcome to October! Actually, I’m writing this in September so I get ahead a little because I won’t have wireless and internet access while I’m at LuWiSoMo this weekend up near that thriving metropolis of Wild Rose, WI. Plus, I won’t get a signal for my phone unless I am up on Meditation Hill, at least I haven’t in the past. So that means no texting and no phone calls all weekend. No Facebook either. How am I going to survive?
Ok, fine. I right after I write the above paragraph I read the Psalm for today and I realize that rather than calling on the phone or sending text messages or being active on Facebook, for the duration of this weekend, I’ll just cry out to the Lord and trust in Him and listen to Him and focus on Him. See, even the pastor needs to be reminded of stuff from time to time. Being on the phone, texting and being on Facebook can’t grant me forgiveness. Only God forgives. Only God saves.
And I can relate to the watchmen thing. Basically from the time we get there, I am waiting and watching for about 10:30 or 11:00am Sunday morning when we can leave. Oh, yes, my soul is waiting for the Lord and our departure.
Sorry, it will actually be a good trip. It’s just the anticipation that is the worst. It will be fun to be with the kids.
And we read more history of Israel as they continue towards the Promised Land. I don’t know about you, but I had this vision (this image) come to mind as I read the text. Moses writes, “Let me pass through your land. I will go only by the road; I will turn aside neither to the right nor the left. You shall sell me food for money …” Okay. Remember how many people we are talking about? We are talking about 1.5 to 3.0 MILLION people passing through. And we aren’t talking a five lane highway here. We are talking about a road, maybe 10 or 20 feet wide, maybe. Can you imagine how long it would take 2 million people to pass through a space 15 feet wide on average? Wow … I can’t imagine.
But, King Sihon didn’t let them pass through. So they had to be defeated in war. And not a man, woman or child was left. Too bad.
Have you ever fasted? There is nothing wrong with it. I even hear there are benefits to it. A lot of time on Friday, my day off, I sleep in and then get up and just puts around and before I know it it is 2pm and I haven’t eaten. But that’s not fasting. Fasting is purposely not eating for a time so you can focus on God and meditate on Him rather than food. It’s a good practice. But it’s a private, voluntary practice.
How true verse 24 is, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Maybe that’s why I didn’t win the lottery the last time.
The Lord is just teaching me a lot of lessons here today. “Do not worry.” I have been dreading October for a couple months now because of all the activity. But the Lord will get me through. I will come home from LuWiSoMo and make an awesome meal for Sunday evening. I don’t know what yet, but it will be awesome. And the Lord will walk with me through the rest of the month.
Our Lord gives us the key, “See first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” There it is in a nut shell. Keep your eye on the kingdom.
Have a blessed day.
No phone, no Facebook, no texting, sounds like a true vacation to me. I don’t text, but to go for a weekend without the other two, a blessing from God. One exception — good to have a phone in case of an emergency. We were having a wonderful time up North one year, when Darcy called and said, “Hate to spoil your vacation, BUT your power is out down here and you have three inches of water in your basement.” YIKES!! We had to pack up in a hurry and get back home. Too bad we were able to get a signal up there — we would have had three more days of fun.
Yeah, I know … for some that is a great vacation, but me, I’ll probably exhibit some signs of withdrawal. Fortunately, since I have to do a presentation, I’m bringing my laptop so I will at least be able to play Bejeweled during down times. Thanks for posting Judy.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2009
PSALM 3
DEUTERONOMY 3:1-29
MATTHEW 7:1-12
It’s Friday, so it’s my day off and I am sleeping in. I wrote this yesterday. Hope I’m not snoring too loudly.
I am really relating to the Psalm today anticipating the trip to LuWiSoMo. It’s not a bad trip, but being away from home and being in charge of 27 students adds a level of responsibility that just adds pressure. They are good kids, but one can relating with being surrounded by foes and enemies when they have to drive all those kids three hours away. But I have resolved that, “I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.” “Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God!” No, it’s not that bad. It will be fun and the kids will behave and it gives them a chance to get to know me outside of church.
In our Old Testament lesson we get more of the account of them entering the Promised Land. Our Lord gets a little impatient with Moses as he asks again if he can enter. “Do not speak to me of this matter again.” So Moses gets to see the land, but he can’t set foot on the land until Jesus’ transfiguration.
The long and short of it is that the Lord gives these nations into the hands of the Israelites one at a time. Day by day.
In the Gospel we see some amazing passages. “Judge not,” that’s a hard one to follow. We are always looking at people with a critical eye. But we need to be careful. How many times do we see that little speck in our neighbor’s eye and ignore the plank in ours? It happens all the time. But it’s not good. Be honest about your set backs.
And the whole paragraph about, “Ask, seek, knock,” is so important for us. Our Lord wants to give us what we need. You think Santa is generous? God is so much more generous than Santa. God is the God who keeps on giving.
Oh Lord, thank you for all you do…
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2009
PSALM 119:9-16
DEUTERONOMY 4:1-20
MATTHEW 7:13-29
It’s Saturday and you are in your warm comfortable homes and were able to sleep in your own beds. I’m at Camp LuWiSoMo and slept on a bottom bunk that wasn’t my own. The poor 8th grade boys in my room had to listen to me snore all night.
Actually, it’s Friday morning and I’m in my family room writing this since I won’t have internet access this weekend. Hope I don’t go into withdrawal.
Our Psalm begins with a good question, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” With television, music, and print advertizing all parading attractive models, it is very difficult for practically anyone to keep their minds from going down a dark path. But the Psalm is right, if our minds are in the Word, if we are in the Word every day, our task is easier. Look at verse 11, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” The Holy Spirit works in the Word and He will work in our hearts as we study God’s Word. “I meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” We may not be able to avoid all sin, but our sinful ways will be decidedly less if we are in the Word.
Moses speaks to the people of Israel as they prepare to enter Israel. His message is very much in line with the Psalm, “listen to the statues and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may life.” If each family in the nation of Israel would have just continued teaching their children about God, then their nation would not have been destroyed. God knows what’s going to happen to them, and yet God gives them the Promise Land any way. But as He does so, He makes sure that they know that if they follow His rules and laws, that their life will be fine. Moses reminds them of some of their relatives were destroyed for following a false god. He reminds them that God is very close to them and that their rules and laws are the best ever, intended to keep them safe and sound and to be fair. He warns them not to worship anything God created as a substitute for the one, true God. Follow God and life will be fine. It’s the same message for us. Continue to be in the Word and the Lord will be with you.
The fact of the matter is that Christians show their faith through their actions. We aren’t saved by keeping the Commandments and following the Lord, but we show that we have faith by giving thanks to God and trying to keep the Commandments.
As Christians, we enter by the narrow gate. We keep our mind of God and follow that narrow way, going neither to the left or right.
Jesus message in this text today is right in line with the Psalm and the Deuteronomy text. Our faith is shown in action.
Well, I better get moving and packing. I think I have laundry to do before I leave. Have a blessed day.