Thou Art God

 Guest Blog by Gary Riedel

S - SCRIPTURE: Psalm 90:1, 2 kjv)  Lord Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.

O - OBSERVATION: I love to visit this verse when we begin a new year, because it reminds us of the eternal unchanging significance of Almighty God. He is NOT here and gone tomorrow, He does not change His Word, His thoughts or His divine power and glory! He is our forever rock in a storm, with always the same everlasting love and provision for His children, (you and I).

A - APPLICATION: So what does this mean for us? It means God and His Living Word is our most stable fortress! It means whatever befalls us, whatever happens in our world and country,
God has us secure in the palm of His hand. In Psalm 91:12 He says He will give His angels charge over us to lift us up so that we will not trip over a stone. What an awesome everlasting
God we have! And than He gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins that we who sin, might inherit eternal life with Him!! 2Corinthians 5:21.  From everlasting to everlasting, He is indeed God!!! Let’s forever praise His Holy Name!!!

P - PRAYER: Almighty, everlasting God, we pray that many would know how everlasting and eternal You are. That the world would know about Jesus, and that He came that all might
be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. We pray that many more might  know You are God before the day of judgement.  All things we pray according to Your will and
In Jesus Name, Amen

Be on Guard - Know God's Word!!!

Event: Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders
S – Scripture
Acts 20 v. 29a, 30  I know that after my departure .. from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
 

O – Observation
Fierce attacks from the inside. Yesterday, the prior verse talked about attacks from the outside, today this verse is about attacks from the inside. Divide and conquer is a classic strategy. It’s a strategy that Satan loves to use. The word of God can be twisted, perverted to be anything but the intention of God. Whether it is pure legalism or having the words fit their needs of what people want to hear. It is important for us to know what the truth is so that we can discern the attacks of our faith from within. 2 Thessalonians 5 v. 21-22, "But test everything; hold fast what is good, abstain from every form of evil." Its right and fair for us to make sure that what we hear is based upon God's word.
 
A - Application
Am I able to test and discern the attacks from the inside?
 
P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to stay focused and pure for you.  Love Will.

Photo by Chris Sabor on Unsplash
 

Be on guard from the wolfs!!!

Event: Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders
S – Scripture
Acts 20 v. 29  I know that after my departure fierce wolfs will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
 

O – Observation
Fierce attacks from the outside. Paul was stating the facts. His insight back then is true today as well. The church, will be attacked. We need to NEVER forget that there is a battle going on for our souls. The Devil has plans for you. John 10 v. 10a, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." There's multiple ways that the attacks will come. Stealing. Struggling with you faith. Casting doubts. Providing distractions. Shifting your focus away from Jesus. Deadly. Killing. Enticing you with deadly (physical) sins. Drugs. Sexual Immorality (lots of deadly diseases out there.) Destroy. Destroying not only your own life and foundation but those around you.
 
A - Application
Do I recognize the fierce wolfs around me?
 
P - Prayer
Jesus, Protect me from the wolfs. Love Will.
 

Photo by Chris Ensminger on Unsplash

Invest time at your church

 Event: Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders
S – Scripture
Acts 20 v. 28 Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the Church of God.
 
O – Observation
Maintenance. Upkeep. Keeping things clean and in working order. I like to compare my wife's car with my older kids cars . Sandi keeps her car clean and protected. The Kids, well, the inside is a closet (except Paige). Its junky. It’s not as attractive. So it is with our churches. We need to spend time on our Church proper. We need to help with its functions.  The 80/20 rule really should not apply here. You know where 20% of the people do 80% of the work. It should be 100/100. Help with ushering, teach Sunday school, fold bulletins, help mow the grounds. There's always plenty to do. For me, God has given me an amazing Church in Alive in Christ.  It would only seem appropriate to give back to the Lord by giving my time and talents to my church.
 

A - Application
Am I investing any time in the operations of my church?
 
P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to manage my time so that I can give it to the operations of my church.  Love Will.

Invest your time wisely

Event: Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders
S – Scripture
Acts 20 v. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the Gospel.
 

O – Observation
Understanding the value of life's investment. Paul states it quite well. Our time here is short, we need to make the most of our time. After all, here today, gone tomorrow. Jesus helps us out in Matthew 6 v. 19-20a, "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." I'm not sure what all the treasures are in heaven, but heaven itself is the Greatest treasure I know. And Jesus is the only way to heaven. So investing your time and life in Jesus is critical. After all, Matthew 16 v.26, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?"
 
A - Application
Do I understand the value of my life's investment?  
 
P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to be a wise investor for you.  Love Will.

Photo by Precondo CA on Unsplash
 

Do hard things!!!

Event: Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

S – Scripture
Acts 20 v. 20 How I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house.
 
O – Observation
No slacking. Doing hard things. Paul not only told people how to live their lives for Christ, he did what he said. He took Jesus request to each one of us very seriously. Jesus last words to us is recorded in Matthew 28 v 19-201a, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commended you." Paul did this with great zeal. Paul did this even though it as hard. We need to remember, the same Father, the same Jesus, and the same Holy Spirit is present today. We really have no excuse, to not be reaching and teaching.
 
A - Application
How am I handling the hard thing of Jesus last words to us?
 
P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to do hard things for you.  Love Will.

Photo by Jess Zoerb on Unsplash
 

Live your life in Love

Event: Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders
S – Scripture
Acts 20 v. 18-19a And when they came to him, he said to them: you yourselves know how I lived among you all the time from the first day I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility.
 
O – Observation
Your actions speak for you. Your actions clue people that you are different, you have a purpose. One thing I know for sure, people watch you. People observe how you handle various situations, good or bad. The thing, the action that speaks the loudest is love. 1 John 4 v. 7, "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God." Love has changed the world. After all God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. Love is undeniable, unstoppable. Love is impressionable. Love is relationship, and relationship is what God wants with us and him.
 

A - Application
Are my actions - actions of love?  
 
P - Prayer
Jesus, Let me be about love for people.   Love Will.

Photo by Michael Fenton on Unsplash