God is NOT passive in his watching

History - Old Testament

S - Scripture
Exodus 3 v. 16  Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac and Jacob has appeared to me, saying I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt.'

O - Observation
God sees and acts. God knows everything. He knows the number of hairs on my head, he knows my struggles and victories. He knows what has been done to me and others. But, unlike watching a news report or a show, God is not passive in his watching, he will get involved. He acts upon the things that are going on. Especially to one of his own. Matthew 6 v. 26, 'Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you NOT of more value than them?' Gods way of acting is by sending someone, and being with that someone. For Israel, Moses - for the World - Jesus.

A - Application
Are you the someone that God will use? Are you resisting being used by God?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Thanks for seeing and acting. Use me as you see fit.  Love Will.

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Be aware of the impact of sin

History - Old Testament

S - Scripture
Genesis 3 v. 16 To the woman he said, I will greatly multiply your pain in child bearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.

O - Observation
The impact of Sin. This verse and subsequent verses is God's judgment on Adam and Eve when they violated God's command to NOT eat from the tree of knowledge of Good and evil. Webster defines sin as, "an evil act or the breaking of the law of God." Our sin separates us from God. Genesis 3 v. 23, "therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken." Our sin causes suffering. Both sexes. To them man, Genesis 3 v. 17b-18, "cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you." Because we sin, we need Jesus in our life. He forgives our sins.

A - Application
Am I aware of the impact of sin in my life? Do I realize how desperately I need Jesus?

P - Prayer
I need you Jesus to come to my rescue. Where else can I go?  Love Will.

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God's Love and Faithfulness!

Guest Blog by Gary Riedel

 

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 36:5 Your love, Lord reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies.

OBSERVATION: This is a Psalm of David, who even though he sinned and made many mistakes, just as we do, God never forgot him and always restored him when he repented.
David knew firsthand the great love and faithfulness of the Lord His God! That’s why he used these terms, “reaches to the heavens”; and faithfulness to the skies.” In other words His love and faithfulness are infinitely great, too great to measure!

APPLICATION: Therefore we too have access to God’s infinitely great love and faithfulness, it’s not just for those historical Bible characters. His great love and faithfulness are there for all who profess Jesus as Lord, enough for all the world as John 3:16 states; For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. The result of believing in Jesus is that we have full time access to God’s infinite love and faithfulness even when we are unaware of it! “The Goodness of God” is a song about God’s love and faithfulness.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your infinite love and faithfulness to Your people, help us Lord to share that love and faithfulness with the world around us.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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Recognize your place

Gospel - New Testament
S - Scripture
Luke 3 v. 16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thongs who's sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

O - Observation
Perspective. Recognizing your place. All the fame, glory, knowledge a person could get still pales in comparison to God. John the Baptizer, was well known, he was given the Gift from God to evangelize. Yet, even with all the following that he had, he still recognized Jesus as the one. Each of us has been given Gifts from God. 1 Peter 4 v. 10, "As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as Good Stewards of God's varied grace." We are to use these gifts to his glory. We are to recognize that God is in control, as Job said. Job 1 v. 21b, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away, Blessed be the name of the Lord."

A - Application
Do I recognize that all I have, who I am, is a Gift from God?

P - Prayer
Jesus, your are all knowing, all powerful and I am not. Thank you for loving me.  Love Will.

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Your name is important!!!

Gospel - New Testament
S - Scripture
Mark 3 v. 16  Simon who he surname Peter.

O - Observation
Nicknames. What a special honor it must be to be given a nickname by God. Simon was given Peter, which means Rock. Abram to Abraham, for God made a covenant with him to be the Father of many nations. Jacob to Israel. I think of the teams that I play on. There are folks that have nicknames. To have a nickname is an Identifier. The exciting thing is, God knows each of us by name, even if we don't have a nickname. Jesus says in John 10 v. 14, 27, "I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own and my own know me.... My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and the follow me." Jesus knows each of us personally. He knows our strengths and weakness. He is willing to do anything to save our lives, even die on a cross.
 
A - Application
Does God have a nickname for me? Am I listening when he calls my name?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Thank you for knowing me personally.  Love Will.

Image by Settergren from Pixabay

Get Plugged In!!!

Gospel - New Testament
S - Scripture
Matthew 3 v. 16 And when he was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him. 

O - Observation
The power of Baptism. Baptism is NOT a ritual, not some churchy thing you should do. No. Its a direct plug into the Power of God via the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the only one which people saw the actual "plug in" happening with the Spirit of God descending like a dove. Jesus tells us about baptism in Acts 1 v. 5, 8a, "for John (who baptized Jesus) baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit... But you shall have power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." What specific power does the Holy Spirit give us? The MOST important one. 1 Corinthians 12 v. 3b, "And no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit." We need the Holy Spirit in our lives.

A - Application
Am I plugged in? Am I using the power that baptism gives me?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit in my life.  Love Will.

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Remember the Gospel in a Nutshell

Gospel - New Testament

S - Scripture
John 3 v. 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

O - Observation
Its all you need to know. God loved, God Gave, We Believe, We Receive. I find it incomprehensible for God to sacrifice his Son (God) for us even though we do things that sadden, disgust and anger him. Romans 5 v. 8, "But God shows his love for us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." Jesus sacrifice is the only way for all of mankind to be saved. John 14 v. 6, "Jesus said to him, 'I  am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me.'" We can rest confidently knowing that Jesus victory over the grave is our victory. John 11 v. 25, "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me though he die, yet shall he live."

A - Application
Do I believe John 3 v. 16 will all my heart, soul and mind?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Thank you for your sacrifice that I might live.  Love Will.

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