Focus on the Eternal!!!

Minor Prophets - Old Testament
S - Scripture
Nahum 3 v. 16 You increased your merchants more than the stars of heaven. The locust spreads its wings and fly away.

O - Observation
Focus on things eternal. For.... Here today - Gone tomorrow. Just as a swarm of locust will seem impressive while they are here, soon they will move on and there will be nothing. Matthew 16 v. 26, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?" So if the things of this world will come and go, what should we focus on? Matthew 6 v. 19-20, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal." So how do we go about getting eternal treasure? We invest our focus on Jesus. Matthew 6 v. 21, "For where your treasure is, there will be your heart."

A - Application
What is my focus? What am I placing as my treasure?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to focus on the eternal and not the temporary.  Love Will

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We need to be on Guard

Minor Prophets - Old Testament
S - Scripture
Joel 3 v. 16 And the Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and earth shake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the People of Israel.

O - Observation
Judgment will come. And when it does it will be a fearful event. But not so for those who place their trust in Jesus. We need to be ready for this event. Matthew 24 v. 42, 44a, "Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Therefore you also must be ready." I think of a Guard, who watches, protects things at all times. A guard knows what to do. Knows how to act, is on a mission. That is how we must be. We need to watch, keep ourselves in God's word vs. getting entangled in the way of the world. We need to protect our minds from the lies of Satan. We need to be on a holy mission to live our lives for Jesus.

A - Application
How good of a guard am I? Am I prepared for Judgment Day?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to stay focused on you.  Love Will

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Stand Tall for Jesus

Major Prophets - Old Testament
S - Scripture
Daniel 3 v. 16  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered the King, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

O - Observation
Stand Tall. Stand for what is right at all costs. This is my favorite account in the old Testament. These 3 guys knew that their life was on the line. The King had made a decree that when music played you would bow down to a golden image or be thrown into a fiery furnace.  They did NOT bow down!!! They stayed true to God, in spite of huge peer pressure and life pressure. So when the King asked them if they worshiped the Golden image - they said NO. They were promptly thrown into the fire, but God saved them.

A - Application
What is our answer when the music plays? Do we bow down after the idols of money, fame, position, beauty, status? Do we stand firm when asked about our faith?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to STAND TALL for you in ALL circumstances.  Love Will

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Allow God to cook in you

Major Prophets - Old Testament
S - Scripture
Ezekiel 3 v. 16 And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me.

O - Observation
Simmer. Slow Boil. Crock pot. This verse reminds me that God likes to work in his time. So often we want things, God's help NOW. I am reminded of 2 Peter 3 v. 8, "But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." If we recognize that we are in God's time, then we can recognize that God wants' routine, methodical, consistent, daily, dedicated, constant focus on him. And like things that we cook in an oven, some things take 20 minutes, some 2 hours, so it is with our walk with God. If we slow down (hard for me) and spend some time in Spiritual disciplines, (Daily reading of the bible, Prayer, Meditation on his word, fasting) God will cook us to perfection.

A - Application
Am I being patient? Am I allowing God to cook in me?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Create in me an awesome work for you.  Love Will

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God's love for you is ALWAYS there

Major Prophets - Old Testament

S - Scripture
Lamentations 3 v. 16  He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cover in ashes.

O - Observation
There is a purpose for all our trials. Sometimes we wonder why God is letting all these things happen to us. Sometimes we may feel that we are unworthy of the Lord. But, there is some great news. Just a few verses later, comes a great verse to Remember. Lamentations 3 v. 22-23, "The steadfast love of the Lord NEVER ceases, his mercies NEVER come to an end; they are new every morning; Great is thy faithfulness." The FACT that God loves us all the time should give us heart as we walk thru our struggles. He wants us to draw closer to him. He wants us to reach out to him. Psalm 30 v. 2, "O Lord my God, I cried to thee for help, and thou hast healed me."
 
A - Application
How am I facing my struggles? Am I crying out to Jesus?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Be by my side as I face my struggles, save me from the things that cause me to stress. Help me to trust in you always. Love Will

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I Was Glad

 Guest Blog by Gary Riedel

S - SCRIPTURE: Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord.

O - OBSERVATION: I’ve always loved this verse because it’s always been a statement of exactly how I feel. I have always loved going to church and being in the Lords House, even as a young lad. Not because I understood what was going on, nor did I have any inkling of the eternal significance of what was being talked about. Rather, I always enjoyed  singing and being allowed
to sit in the front row with my friends if I behaved myself. Later I learned to pay attention to what was said and began to grow in faith and knowledge of our God.

A - APPLICATION: So today I’ve reached the point where I just never want to miss or stay home. The Covid months when we weren’t allowed to meet were extremely difficult. I could still hear it, and watch it, but I missed the people, the fellowship and the personal involvement. Virtual worship is a good tool for outreach, but will in my mind NEVER replace the active, relational church. Hebrews 10:25 gives us the Lord’s viewpoint: Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and all the more as you see the day of the Lord approaching. 

I agree 100%!

P - PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we give You thanks that You’ve told us to “Remember the Sabbath.” Help us to remember Lord, that guideline is not to serve You, but it’s for our own good, it’s to help us build a better and closer relationship with You that should become an every day relationship between us. Thanks for loving us Lord and sending Jesus. It’s in His Name we pray, Amen

Don't get distracted by the pursuit of Wordly Things

Major Prophets - Old Testament

S - Scripture
Jeremiah 3 v. 16  And when you have multiplied and increase in the land, in those days, says the Lord, they shall no more say, 'The Ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It shall not come to mind, or be remembered, or missed; it shall not be made against.

O - Observation
Don't get distracted!!! Pursuing dreams provided by the world; wealth, fortune, fame, power has a way of diluting the Pursuit of God. It can cause short term pain. 1 Timothy 6 v. 10, " For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is thru this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs." Pursing worldly goals is NOT fulfilling. There will always be heartache and emptiness, since our bodies are always craving more. Pursuing the worldly dreams impacts the eternal as well. Matthew 16 v. 26, "For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?" 

A - Application
Am I distracted? Am I pursing worldly goals or Godly goals?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to keep my eye on the prize, you. Love Will

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