16 Oct (Acts 10)

Acts 10

(v.2) We don't know how, but Cornelius was converted to follow Christ, and it turns out he was a generous giver. That is how we should be as followers of Christ...a cheerful giver since we realize what Christ saved us from...eternal torment in hell. 2 Cor 9:7

(v.4) We can't please God by our works...they are like filthy rags compared to the love and works of God. Isa 64:6 However, when we serve and love with a heart that is grateful to God, we do the work of God. Gal 6:2

(v.9) There are two points to make with our children here...first, God speaks to us when we pray. When we are praying, and mostly listening to God put thoughts and ideas into our minds, then we will see what He wants us to do. Secondly, notice that God is working in Cornelius and Peter at the same time.

This is important, for if you believe that God is speaking to you about someone, then more often than not, God is already speaking to that person as well. So when you talk to that person, they will immediately know it's from God, for He had been speaking to that person already.

(v.15) We Gentiles are clean by the blood of Christ. What God has cleansed, is set apart and not common to this world.

(v.25) Take note that only God allows others to worship at His feet...look up the times that angels and men had this done to them, and they immediately rebuked the person for showing worship to them. Only God has earned the right to be worshiped. We may admire and respect Christian teachers, friends and preachers, but we must never put them on the same level as God.

(v.43) This is Peter's version of John 3:16

8 Aug (Nehemiah 5-13)

Nehemiah 5

(v.14) Like Daniel, Nehemiah refused to eat of the Persian cuisine. Instead, he grew and provided for himself. Even though we have grocery stores today, it's wise for all of us to have gardens where we can eat vegetables and fruits of our own.

Nehemiah 6

(v.9) When we are feeling weak or doubtful, we need to call upon God to carry our burden. Matt 11:28

(v.12) It doesn't say why, but Nehemiah sensed that he was being lied to. We have a fail-safe way to know if we are being deceived...the Word of God! Compare it to what you're being taught (especially from here) and make sure it's true. Acts 17:11

(v.16) Often, when great things are accomplished, it was because of God. The speed and efficiency of the wall being built was a tribute to the people's faith, and God's provision.

Nehemiah 7

We often skim over the genealogies, but they are there for a reason...God put those people there to document His work and His people in history. We hear today that the Jews "stole" the land from the Arabs and Palestinians...when they weren't there until after the Jews were spread out to all the nations.

Nehemiah 8

(v.6) For Christians, it's common to bow our heads when in corporate prayer. But it's not common to raise hands during song, or to get on our knees in public. I personally am doing more of that, not to gain attention, but to show God my stature to Him...lowly. Worship should come from the heart, and if one is moved to raise hands, then that is good. However, one shouldn't make such a commotion to draw attention to himself, for that is not the reason for worship...it should be all directed to God.

(v.17) I make a point to show my kids that the Jews had forgotten to celebrate the Feasts. This was mandated by God, yet all it took was one generation to not pass this along to their children, and the Feasts were forgotten.

Nehemiah 9

(v.3) We have it so easy nowadays...we go to church for a couple of hours on Sunday, and we think we're giving God a great amount of time! Here we see that they worshiped God for 8 hours!

After repenting, confessing their sins, and hearing the Word of God, the people were really growing in the LORD. This is what we must do. We don't have to spend 8 hours on Sunday, but we should try to pray more, read His Word daily, and sing to Him numerous times during the week. After all, He gave us life, so we should spend a substantial part of our day acknowledging what God has done for us!

Nehemiah 10

(v.28) We keep seeing the phrase, everyone with knowledge and understanding...these are people who have repented and are studying the Word. When we make the effort to seek Him, He rewards us with wisdom and blessings. Acts 17:27

(v.36) The concept of the first fruits is crucial. This goes with tithing, and in the case of children, we are to consecrate the firstborn son of the family to be dedicated to the LORD. I have daughters, but all three of them are learning God's Word, and I expect them to give their lives to God. My oldest has already been baptized at the age of seven, and I expect when she is a teenager, she will do it again...to proclaim her dedication to the LORD.

Nehemiah 11

The Jews welcomed and blessed the foreigners who wished to dwell with them...this is following God's commandments.

Nehemiah 12

(v.43) I have felt such great joy when around others who love and worship God! When we get together and when we collectively worship God, we can feel God's presence there!

Nehemiah 13

(v.2) God turns curses and trials into blessings. The outcome may not appear a blessing at the time, but we're always better off, and in a better state to be used by God because of them. James 1:2

(v.19) On Sundays, after we've gone to church, my family either spends the day with other families who are believers, or we stay at home to be together. During the week, our kids and ourselves are mixed among the secular world, at school and at work, so it's important to have a day where you spend time with only believers.

31 Jul (Esther 3)

Esther 3

(v.1) Here we have the villain of the story...Haman. If we look back, we see that other people's actions help create this situation about to unfold:

In 2 Samuel 16 we learn of a descendant of King Saul, that was angry at David, and threw stones at David, as David fled Jerusalem. David's nerves and feelings were undoubtedly at a high point, and it would've been understandable if David had this man, Shimei. Mordecai is a descendant of Shimei! Here, God was working, for if David had killed Shimei, then Mordecai would never have been born!

Also, Saul disobeyed God, and didn't kill Agag...Haman is a descendant of Agag! 1 Samuel 15

So, by David's obedience, Mordecai was able to be used to encourage Esther and save God's people. And by Saul's disobedience, Haman was born to torment and try to kill all the Jews.

God wants obedience...sacrifices and rituals don't impress Him. Our obedience to Him makes a difference in the lives of others. 1 Sam 15:22

(v.2) Like Daniel and his friends before him, Mordecai would not bow to a man. Only God deserves this type of homage. Rom 14:11

(v.6) This is a good time to remind you kids that ever since Satan knew that God was going to redeem mankind through a Messiah, he persecuted and tried to kill off the possible chain of descendants. He tried with Moses, with the time of Esther, and we will see him try again with Herod during the time of Jesus' youth.

(v.13) This is a type of what will happen in the Day of the LORD...the world will try to wipe out Israel and Jerusalem in one day. But God Himself will come down and save Israel, like Mordecai and Esther do here.

7 May (2 Chron 19-20)

2nd Chronicles 19

(v.3) God is angry at Jehoshaphat, but He also sees the good things he did. This is like us, where we mess up a lot, but God sees our hearts, and He knows we are trying to obey Him.

(v.6) If only our government in the USA would heed king Jehoshaphat's command, and work for the LORD, not for man. Of course, this also applies to us as ambassadors for Christ...even if we have evil or mean coworkers and bosses, we need to work for the LORD, and let Him direct our paths.

2nd Chronicles 20

(v.3) Fasting is crucial for growth in the LORD. There are different ways to do it, so think of something that you rely upon every day, and abstain from it. While doing that, pray at least five times that day, and see what God tells you. I have abstained from food for 24 hours, and only had liquids, and really felt God see me through the tummy grumbles, and a great peace comes over me. I try to do this the first Tuesday of every month, and depending upon my faith, I do it even more. I should do it more, and that is something I need to pray and seek the LORD with.

(v.11) I love how Jehoshaphat says that the land of Israel is God's land...not theirs! This king is showing us how to pray to God: acknowledge that He is Almighty, and that He is also Love. Then ask for Him to save you and guide you...then you are showing faith in Him.

(v.15) If we let God fight ALL our battles, we would be victorious every time! But we let our pride and flesh let us think that we can handle the "little" battles. If we hand our problems to Him, and walk in faith, we will see even more of His glory and blessings!

(v.18) We just had our National Day of Prayer, and oh how I wish our President would lead us in prayer and worship like king Jehoshaphat did here! Our Founding Fathers set up this country this way, and we have abandoned God in our public events. I pray all the time that God helps us go back to that kind of nation, where we seek His blessings and guidance in all our affairs.

(v.28) This is the way to take on our battles...let God fight them for us! I remind my kids that the people worshipped and sang to the LORD before the battle, and after the battle. This is key...they trusted in God that day, and they were blessed. We can learn a lot from this.

6 May (1 Kings 22)

1st Kings 22

King Ahab repented from his evil doings with Naboth, and God's heart was softened. God told Elijah that He would bring the consequences upon Ahab's son, Ahaziah.

However, Ahab tried to defy prophecy, yet he still suffered death at the hands of Aram and his men. We may think we can avoid God, or His plans for us, but in the end, God's plans are fulfilled.

Jehoshaphat was in total a good king, but he sinned like all of us do. He allowed the high places to remain (that is where the pagans offered sacrifices to their gods) and he made a deal with Ahab. God didn't tell Jehoshaphat to do that, so he died earlier than if he obeyed completely.

These chronicles of the kings reminds us to obey God, and we'll endure less hardships, and in most cases, enjoy more blessings. God doesn't want to force us to love and obey Him...He wants us to do it out of love and worship for Him.

Apr 16 (Prov 16-17)

Proverbs 16

(v.3) If we let Jesus be the LORD of our lives, that is the master of our lives, then we can see His plans for us. It is not only relieving to do this, but we see amazing things happen! It's one thing to say that Jesus is our Savior, but another to let Him be our LORD! When we do, we are truly saved and walking with Him.

(v.7) Love conquers all...it is so powerful. Often, we proclaim the gospel by our actions. If we are loving, considerate of others, and truly interested in other people's lives, then we are showing God's love through us. Even the most hardened person is softened by this!

(v.9) This is how I teach my kids to do this...pray and seek His guidance before you act. Then when you've made a decision, watch closely to see if God is blessing it.

(v.20) In the last few years, I've personally had more trials and tragic incidents than the rest of my life combined. But I've never been depressed or felt alone...I knew that God was guiding my life. Like Joseph, I was put into situations that didn't seem fair to me, but I trusted God to see me through...and He did!!! Faith in Him gives us joy and peace!

(v.31) We are taught to respect our elders...this is important to teach our kids. That virtue has been lost on much of today's youth. Let's start with our own kids, and teach them to respect people in authority, and people with grey or white on their heads! Their experiences are invaluable to us, if we only listen to them.

Proverbs 17

(v.6) It is such a joy to be a Daddy, but everyone who is a grandparent tells me it's better to be that! I guess they get the joy of the kids, without having to teach, feed, change diapers, make sure they do their homework, etc all the time! They just get to see their family grow, and praise God for it!!!

(v.9) The original Hebrew here is talking about forgiveness. If someone speaks or finds a way to calm a situation, then it's a blessing. But if they bring things up again to stir up strife, then it's a sin.

(v.22) We are only here for a short time, when you consider we'll live forever, so we might as well smile and enjoy God's blessings. Of course, we'll have to endure hardships and trials, and there is a time for mourning, but the LORD wants us to be cheerful givers and servants!

(v.27) It is wise to keep your tongue in an argument, and to speak only when asked to speak. Then, when we have prayed and sought God's words, we will speak wisdom and help a situation.

Apr 10 (1 Kings 8-10)

1st Kings 8

(v.9) The ark is a wonderful item to remember and worship God, since in Moses' time, it had the two tablets of the Law, a golden bowl with manna in it from he Wilderness wanderings, and Aaron's staff that had buds grow on it. By this time, only the tablets of the Law were in the ark, so we don't know exactly what happened to the bowl and staff. It is suspected that when the Philistines took the ark from Israel 1 Sam 4 they valued the staff and golden bowl.

Personally, I agree with Chuck Smith in his commentary, that it would be awesome to see the original tablets with God's writing on it!

(v.17) David had a heart for God, and we see that by what God said about David in 2 Chr 6:8 and by what Solomon reminded the people about his father. As we know, God determined that David had been His warrior, so his son must be the one to build His Temple.

(v.27) God commanded the Temple to be built, but not because God needed the Temple to reside on earth. God is greater than the whole universe He created, but He determined that the Temple would be a place for the people to associate and worship Him.

1st Kings 9

(v.3) God has His eyes and heart in places that have His beloved gathered. This is true of the Temple, His Church, and in each of us individually. As long as we are worshipping Him and reading His Word...He is there to bless us and teach us!

(v.4) I point out to my kids that God speaks of David as upright and having integrity...these are key to our lives. David sinned badly quite a few times, but the whole time, God knew David's heart. We sin and will sin the rest of our lives, but if we have a heart for God, He will continue to bless us and guide us.

1st Kings 10

The Queen of Sheba is an interesting woman, and there is more to know about her than what is stated in the Bible. We know that Solomon and the Queen of Sheba met, since Jesus tells about it in Matt 12:42 and Luke 11:31.

The Ethiopians claim that Sheba was from there, and that when she visited Solomon to hear his wisdom, they made a child. The Ethiopians claim that they have a line from Solomon, and some scholars believe them to be truthful. Also, the Ethiopians claim to have the Ark of the Covenant in their possession today. I refer to the Base Institute site for more info.

http://www.baseinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=68

Solomon was blessed far beyond anything we can imagine today. I think it's because God so loved the nation of Israel, and because Solomon asked for wisdom in his heart. Unfortunately, we'll see that blessings can be taken away if we veer away from God, as Solomon did.

Apr 6 (Psa 45, 47, 111, 130, 131, 146)

Songs of Joy and Praise

Psalm 45

(v.3) Jesus is love, but He's also the Avenger of Blood, and will return to bring justice and judgment upon the unbelieving world. Jude 25

(v.4, 9) Jesus is the right hand

(v. 11) This is another OT reference to the Messiah who is God, otherwise, we wouldn't worship Him.

Psalm 47

(v. 5) Jesus has ascended, and He will come back again in the same spot. Acts 1:11

(v.7) God is our King, and we should turn our allegiance to Him, not man.

Psalm 111

(v.1) Praise the LORD = Hallelujah!

(v.4) The LORD is full of grace and compassion...we just have to look and see that He was incredibly patient with His people, even though they were rebellious.

(v.10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. If we are in awe of Him and what He's done for us, then we praise and study His Word...so we gather His wisdom!

Psalm 130

(v.4) The God of the OT is the same as the NT...He forgives if we repent.

(v.7) This is a prophecy of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for us!

Psalm 131

The picture here is a young baby suckling on Momma's breast...peaceful and contented. That is how we are when we are walking with Christ. We don't worry about things we can't control, and we lay those problems at the foot of the cross...He knows what to do with them.

Psalm 146

(v.3) It's ok to admire a person and try to emulate their good deeds and work ethic, but we must not idolize anyone. God is the ONLY being that should be worshipped and praised. When we lift up our leaders, we need to pray for them, that they follow God and rule righteously.

(v.5) If we are His, we are joyful and at peace. We know where our final destination is, so while we're here on earth, we need to serve and love others like Christ did.

Apr 4 (Psa 139, 145, 148, 150)

Songs of Joy and Praise

Psalm 139

(v.2) Who do we think we are kidding when we do things in private and think no one will know? God knows all our actions and our thoughts, so we should remember that, and focus on Him so He can guide our lives.

(v.8) The psalmist makes this point even more clear...God is everywhere...in heaven and He knows who's in hell.

(v.13) This is a great verse to remember when talking with someone who thinks the baby in the womb is a fetus...God is molding that baby the whole time.

(v.14) When my first daughter was in my wife's womb, I came back to Christ realizing the miracle that it is to have a baby! I decided right then, to learn God's Word, and to be led by God's Spirit to help me be the best Daddy to her!

(v.17) We have no idea the wonderful thoughts God has for us, but we can realize many of them if we just let Him guide our lives...He will bless us abundantly!

Psalm 145

(v.5) I have been blessed to sit in my backyard, and observe all the wonderful things in God's creation! From the plants with the pretty flowers, and the birds, and even the insects! The amazing complexity of it all is marvelous and worthy of praise to our Creator!

(v.8) The God of the Old Testament is given a bad rap by those who don't know Him. They think He's a mean and vindictive God who likes to punish. But quite the contrary, He is loving and merciful, and full of compassion.

(v.18) If we are reading His Word, praying and living out His commands, then we are walking with Him. And then we know He is with us...and in us...working in our lives.

(v.19) I love reading this verse to my kids! God loves to bless us, and He will never forsake us!

Psalm 148

What a great summary of the whole creation praising the LORD! We all need to take more time out of our day, and think upon what God has done for us. Some say the phrase, "Smell the roses" but I say "Taste the Grace!"

Psalm 150

One thing I learned about worship in church, is we can often get caught up with the song selections. Sometimes we love the song, and then we'll get bent out of shape if we don't like the next one! We need to remember WHO the worship is for...God...and let the Spirit lead the worship team, and we let the Spirit move us in worship.

Apr 3 (Psa 122, 124, 138)

Songs of Joy and Praise

Psalm 122

This psalm is focused on Israel, as is the majority of the Bible. God views all time and events with Israel as His focus. Only now, during the time of the gentiles, has God focused on putting together and bringing home His Church. Once the Church is raptured, God will once again focus on Israel, and save them from their enemies.

(v.8) The Bible tells us that Israel will not have complete peace, until the Prince of Peace comes. However, we are still to pray for the peace for Jersusalem and Israel. This is the same as God knowing what we need and desire, but He still wants us to pray and call out to Him.

The USA has been blessed because it's the nation that God established to evangelize the world, but also because it's been a friend and ally to Israel. Currently, in 2010, that has changed. If we don't change our mistreatment of Israel, then Gen 12:3 will be our epitaph. We are on a dangerous path.

Psalm 124

(v.1) This phrase is similar to "But by the grace of God, go I" since if we acknowledge that we are guided and protected by God. If we didn't have God, then we would be susceptible to evil and even more problems.

(v.8) We need to always remember that God created everything...He is all-powerful and mighty, and this is what is referenced when we see the fear of the Lord...His ability to destroy us, but He loves us, and wants to have fellowship with us.

Psalm 138

(v.1) We need to worship without fear of what people will think or say about us. We need to sing to Him like when we are alone and no one is there but God.

I also like how the psalmist says to sing to the LORD before the gods, or the worldly idols that many people worship. We need to be bold and open in our faith, not reserved, ashamed or fearful of what others will think.

(v.4) This is a reference to the Millenium, where all the leaders of the earth will worship and praise Jesus as He sits on the Throne of David in Jerusalem!

(v.6) Even though God is almighty and powerful, He cares about the lowly, poor and needy. He actually focuses on us, and rebukes the rich and prideful in their folly.

(v.7) God's right hand is Jesus, and He will guide us and protect us if we're walking with Him.

(v.8) After we have been saved and justified in Christ, the Holy Spirit works in us to perfect us. We will not be perfect until we're in heaven, when we're glorified in Christ. Until then, the Spirit will sanctify and purify us, through trials and God's Word.

Apr 1 (Psa 103, 104, 113)

Songs of Joy and Praise

Psalm 103

(v.1) To some of us, this seems backwards...doesn't God do the blessing, and we receive them? Well, yes, but we can bless God back as well. When we are faithful and obedient, we are blessing Him. When we love and serve others, we are blessing Him. When we let Him direct our paths and give Him the glory when we succeed, we bless Him.

(v.8) The God of the Old Testament is often confused with the God of the New Testament...the One in the OT seems judgmental and full of wrath, where the One in the NT is forgiving and merciful. He is all these things, at all times. If we look at how long God waited for the people of the world to repent, before He brought the Flood of Noah, we see that He's patient and longing for His creation to love Him. So many times throughout the OT, we see God answer the cries of His people, even though they didn't deserve His favor. I like to have my kids recall as many instances of mercy and grace God does in the OT.

(v.9) Even though God is love and He's patient and merciful, He will one day bring judgment upon the earth. That will be a terrible day, since the world will endure great terror and darkness. Even though God is kind, He is just, and He must bring justice upon those who are wicked and refuse His offer of grace.

(v.12) Isn't it wonderful to read this verse?!? No matter what we did prior, once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our sins are forgiven! God will remove them from His memory, since when He sees us, He sees the blood of His Son on us, and we're righteous in His eyes!

(v.13) Anyone who is a parent can relate to this verse...we love our kids, so we discipline them, but we always love them. There is a big difference between punishing and disciplining. Discipline is constructive and loving. Here are some great verses to show our kids that discipline is done out of love:

Psalm 23:4

Proverbs 13:24, 22:15, 23:13, 29:15

Isaiah 11:1

Ezekiel 20:37

Psalm 104

(v.15) This is a great verse for two reasons. First, today's nutritionists have found that wheat germ is good for your heart...it has vitamin E in abundance in wheat. How did the psalmist know this? I tell my kids he didn't, but God did!

Secondly, Jesus said He is the Bread of Life in John 6:35

(v.19) The placing of the moon and sun in relation to earth is astounding! If either one is just a fraction closer or further away, life could not exist on earth. God holds all things together Col 1:17 and He keeps them there for His purposes. One day, that will change, but I like to show my kids that it's impossible and silly to believe that we have the fours seasons each year as a matter of chance. God designed it that way!

(v.26) Dinosaurs and ancient creatures are mentioned in the Bible, but not to prove that God made them, it is assumed and expected. I strongly urge all parents to keep a close eye on the teachings of evolution to our kids...it is not Biblical. God created EVERYTHING in six literal days, and to veer away from that is to deem the Bible as flawed. If it is flawed, then how do you know what to believe? Science today, more and more, is proving the Bible true, concerning the fallacies of evolution, confirming the Flood of Noah, and all the other events that are written in the Word!

Psalm 113

(v.1) Praise the Lord is also said this way: Hallelujah

(v.3) All of us get trapped and ensnared by our jobs, kids and personal lives, that we often neglect to worship God throughout the day. One way to remedy this, is to just talk with God in short prayers all day. Talk to Him as if He's right there next to you...because He is! While in school, or in the car, or at work, we should ask God to guide us in all that we do during the day.

(v.8) God uses the lowly and poor to teach the world. One day, all of us common people will be kings and priests, and rule with Jesus! Rev 5:10

Mar 30 (Psa 29, 33, 65, 66)

Songs of Joy

Psalm 29

(v.2) In our prayers, we need to always remember who God is...He is the Almighty, who made the heavens and the earth. He is all powerful, yet He is love. His grace and mercy are endless, and if we start our prayers with this frame of mind, we will be praying in His will.

The bulk of this song refers to the awesomeness of God's voice. There are many references to God's magnanimous voice in the Old Testament.

When we have a big thunder and lightening storm, I like to sit in our covered porch and watch the show with my kids. I teach them that God's voice is like the deafening thunder...but it's also soft like that is described in 1 Kings 19:12.

God speaks to us in times of trouble with a loud voice, and often in a soft voice through prayer, through reading His Word, or through friends or family.

(v.11) We need to remember that we are on God's team...we have the best Captain ever!

Psalm 33

(v.4) Although the Bible has been translated into many languages and formats, the Word of God is pure. If we look at the original Hebrew and Greek words of the Old and New Testaments, we will see that God is precise, and without error. If we let skeptics persuade us that the Word is tainted, then what do we have to base our beliefs on? If one part of the Word is false, then how can we trust it? We are then left to man's judgment and reasoning, and we see through history, that it is sinful and proud.

The Bible is the Word of God, and the more we study it and understand it, we see that all of the books of the Bible are inspired by God.

(v.12) God established the people of Israel, starting with Abraham and his sons, but making them a nation by Moses leading them out of Egypt. God chose to reveal His character and plans for us through the people of Israel.

God also established the United States of America. He used the USA to be a beacon of light to the world...through its freedoms, He used it to be the most evangelical nation ever. God used America to reach all the ends of the earth with the Gospel.

Today, our once great nation has pushed God away from it. We are not a nation that fears God in our institutions and laws. Individuals still love and fear God, but we've allowed the unbelievers to alter the intent of our Founding Fathers and of God. If we wish to see God back in our schools, courthouses and government, then it's up to us believers to lead the way.

Psalm 65

(v.4) All of us have a desire to know God. In that sense, all of us are chosen by God. However, few of us actually accept what Jesus did for us, and let God be the Master of our lives. If we do, then we are His Chosen Ones. If we don't, then we were called, but chose not to follow God.

I tell my kids that this is like when your friend sends out birthday invitations out. You were chosen to enjoy the party, but it's up to you to accept and attend. Those that attend and enjoy the party are like those that accepted Christ and will be joyous for eternity in heaven with Him.

Psalm 66

(v.5) We read about the awesome miracles that God did for the Jews of Israel, and we sometimes wonder if God is still around. Yes He is...He is in the starving child in Africa who accepts Christ, He is in the terrible earthquakes that devastate a land, but bring revival and many people to accept Him. He is in the emergency room, where a person is near death and there's no hope, but people are praying for healing, and defying all reason and medical logic, the person is restored.

Miracles happen all around us every day...we just need to have our eyes open to see them!

(v.10) God doesn't cause us to sin or make mistakes, but He does allow trials to come into our lives, so He can mold us and strengthen us. James 1:2 tells us that God uses hard times for us to make us stronger and more useful for Him. It's when we are in hard times, that we stop and think about our priorities...not when all is going smoothly.

(v.16) The hardest part about being a Christian for many people, is to share God with others. We have a fear of looking or sounding foolish. We are still learning the Bible, so how can we bring others to Christ?

The best witness to others is to tell them what God has done for you in your life. No one can argue with that, and it's a personal thing that connects with people.

After that, when your friend has questions, you can share the Word with them and let the Holy Spirit bring them to Christ.

Mar 28 (Psa 90, 92, 112, 115)

Songs For Right and Wrong

Psalm 90

The heading to this psalm in my NKJV reads:

"A prayer of Moses the man of God."

(v.12) Moses teaches us to make the most of our time here on earth, because we don't have another chance, and we don't know when we will die. It's impossible to evangelize and do missionary work every day of our lives, but we can be a light to the lost who are in darkness. We can show love and kindness every day. And most of all, in different ways, we can worship God every day.

(v.17) Mose rightly calls upon God to establish the work of our hands. If we are in prayer and walking with God, He will guide our steps and lead us to His purposes. Prov 3:5-6

Psalm 92

This is a wonderful song, and it's said to be sung on the Sabbath. In Israel, the first day of the week is Sunday, and the seventh is Saturday. According to creation and the Law, Jews observe the Sabbath starting Friday afternoon at dusk until Saturday afternoon. The Sabbath was ordained by God before He gave Moses the Law, so God must have had all believers starting with Adam observe the seventh day as a day of rest.

Unfortunately, the Jews have taken this and gone to the extreme, where they won't even answer the phone on the Sabbath! God rested on the seventh day, not because He was tired, but because He wanted to hallow it and make it holy. We are to remember what God did in the creation and in our lives on the Sabbath.

The Church observed the Sabbath on Sunday, since Jesus was Resurrected on Sunday. This is why we have church services on that day. However, Jesus is our rest, and He is our Sabbath, so in reality, our Sabbath is every day of the week! Luke 6:5 & Matt 11:28

Psalm 112

Psalms 112-116 are called the Hallel Psalms. Hallel in Hebrew means praise, and during Passover, the Jews would sing these songs in celebration for what God did for them. It is believed that Jesus and the disciples sang these psalms in the upper room at the Last Supper.

Psalm 115

(v.1) Give God the glory for our successes...He gave us the mind and body to perform our achievements. He created us and if we are His, He guided us, so we should praise Him when we succeed.

(v.8) Idols have been in existence for thousands of years. Those who don't have faith in God, make something to replace Him in their lives. They want something to hold or see when they worship. But if we are His, we see Him in His creation, we see Him in the love of a friend, and we see Him in His Word.

There is a saying that I believe is true:

We become like that we worship.

If we worship money and power, we may become rich and powerful, but we also become cold and proud. If we worship our cars or homes, we will become like them, where we are shiny at first, but we fade and become broken down.

But if we worship Christ, the Holy Spirit will sanctify us and mold us to be more like Christ.

Mar 25 (Psa 91, 95, 108, 121,143-4)

Songs For Times of Trouble

Psalm 91

This is a comforting song of David that stresses to us where our focus should be when faced with hardships. We have a safe place to go...God!

I tell my kids that I used to play the game "Tag" a lot in grade school. When someone was chasing me, I was filled with excitement and some trepidation, since I didn't want to be caught and be "it." But once I touched safely to home base, I was immune to becoming "it" and I had a great feeling of relief come over me.

This is much like what David is describing when he realizes that God is our home base...our refuge and safe zone. If we turn our troubles over to Him, we can abandon fear and trust in Him to handle our problems.

Psalm 95

This psalm is encouraging us to worship and praise the LORD! If we are His, and we have His Spirit in us, we should be worshipping Him in many ways, and in many instances during each day.

We worship the LORD in church through songs, tithing, prayer and teaching. We worship the LORD by encouraging others, helping others and comforting fellow believers. We also worship the LORD by living more Christ-like and being His ambassadors on this earth.

There is an old saying that exhorts us to live a life of worship to the LORD:

Preach the Gospel, and if you have to, use words!

Our lives need to be evident of salt and light to the world. Not only are we to study the Word and come to know Him better through it, but we are to live the Word, by loving and serving others.

Psalm 108

(v.1) This is what we need...a steadfast heart towards God! If we focus on Him in good times and in bad, we will be under His mercy and love, and He will see us through.

(v.8) Judah is My lawgiver...this is another reference to the Messiah and King of Kings coming from the tribe of Judah.

(v.13) It is so hard for us to remember to let God lead our battles. We are so wired by our sinful nature to do things on our own. But when we are born again, we realize that we are empowered by the Almighty, and He can fight our battles for us, and He will win!

Psalm 121

(v.4) This is a very important verse! God made an unconditional covenant with Abraham and the nation of Israel in Genesis 12. God is not through with His covenant! He will see Israel through its troubles in the last days after He has called His Bride home in the rapture.

God doesn't sleep or take time off. He is outside time, where He can see the beginning and the end at the same time. The best way for us to understand this, is to picture a helicopter hovering over a parade. Compared to us on the street, seeing the parade pass by, the helicopter can see the front and back of the parade at the same time.

(v.7) Once we become born again by accepting what Christ did for us, and allowing Him to be our LORD and Savior, our souls are sealed and untouchable by Satan. We are justified to the Father by the blood of His Son! Once we are justified, we are free from the penalty of sin. To illustrate further, here are the stages of salvation:

Justification ~ Free from the PENALTY of sin by Christ's blood

Sanctification ~ Free from the POWER of sin by the Holy Spirit

Glorification ~ Free from the PRESENCE of sin in heaven with our Father

There is the Holy Trinity...the Elohim...in action for our salvation!!!

Psalm 143

(v.5) David gives us the secret to times when we are overwhelmed with fear and grief...meditate upon the love and mercy of God! By remembering what God has done in the Bible with all the people in it, we can have faith that He will do the same for us now.

(v.8) It's good practice to pray first thing in the morning, to start your day in prayer and worship. It's also good to read some of His Word before we face the day...He speaks to us this way, and we often come upon situations that His Word has spoken to us that morning.

(v.11) God saves us because that is His name...Yeshua (Jesus) means God Saves! He saves us because that's who He is. If He were to do anything else, it would be against His character.

Psalm 144

David sung this song to the LORD before going out to battle. He references God as his Rock, and his shield.

We too are in a battle...the battle for the hearts of mankind. Satan and his demons are fighting the angels of God and us for the hearts and minds of the lost. The Apostle Paul tells us to gird ourselves with the Armor of God:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

~ Ephesians 6:11

~ waist of truth

~ breastplate of righteousness

~ feet with the Gospel

~ shield of faith

~ helmet of salvation

~ sword of the Spirit

~ protection of prayer

Mar 16 (2 Sam 12)

2nd Samuel 12

God sends Nathan, the prophet, to confront David's sin. God often does this with us, He sends a friend or family member who rebukes us, but with love. When we hear tough love from those we love, we need to listen and not be quick to discard their words...often it is God who is speaking to us through another believer.

(v.13) Even though David had Uriah killed and made his wife a widow, he says he sinned against the LORD...why? If we remember Joseph in Gen 39:9 he views the act of adultery not as a sin against the spouse, but against God. The word, sin, means to miss the mark, and that is what we do when we fail to live up to God's perfect holiness and purity. We may wrong others, but ultimately, we fail God. That is why we needed a Savior to pay for our sins...God Himself...Yeshua (Jesus)!

(v.14) This is important for all of us to know...even though we may repent, there are still consequences for our actions. David was again walking with God, but the result of David's sin was the death of his offspring from that sin. David showed great remorse and pleaded with God to spare his son, but just like our Heavenly Father, His Son had to pay for our sins.

(v.20) David held vigil at his son's bedside, fasted and prayed for seven straight days. Fasting and praying is good for all of us to do, since it brings us closer to God. However, God is fair and just, so David's sin had to have a consequence.

I marvel at how David reacted to the news of his son's death...he ate and worshipped God! It's hard for me to picture myself worshipping God if I lost a child.

This is a moment to teach our kids this one very important thing...God provided us with the way for salvation in the death and resurrection of His Son. Everything else in life are additional blessings...we need nothing more than Jesus. None of us have the right to assume we, or our loved ones, will live long lives. As the Word in Psalm 90:12 and Prov 27:1 teaches us, we don't know what tomorrow will bring, so make the best of today. If we have that kind of grateful heart for today, then whatever happens tomorrow won't worry us.

(v.23) David teaches all of us about what happens to children when they die. They haven't been born again in the Spirit, nor have they matured enough to fully understand what Jesus did for us. Yet, they are God's children, and they will be in heaven waiting for us when we get there! As best I can tell, there is a time in each of our lives when we are at an age and consciousness of accountability to God. Some say 10 years old, or even as late at 13, but what matters is our heart, and whether we have heard the Good News and accepted it or not.

(vv.24-25) David and Bathsheba name their next son Solomon, but Nathan named him Jedidiah, which in Hebrew means "Beloved by Jehovah"

We will see that Bathsheba also had some other names for Solomon in Prov 30

(v.28) I love Joab! Not only is he a great general, but he loved David and told David to take the city so that he would get the credit, not Joab who did all the work.

This is a valuable lesson to us when we're in the workplace or even the military...it is our duty to honor God, by honoring those in authority over us. We shouldn't seek our own fame and glory, but seek to lift up those in front of us. If we do that, God will surely bless us as well as our superiors.

Mar 13 (2 Sam 6-7; 1 Chr 13-16)

2nd Samuel 6

(v.6) My kids ask me why God killed the man who merely steadied the ark when the oxen stumbled. After all, it seemed that he was concerned for the ark! But God gave rules about how to handle the ark (Num 4:15) which stated to never touch the ark with bare hands.

David realized that all Israel needed to be in tune with God's Word, and to take what God says with respect.

(v.16) David came to fear the LORD more, and because of it, he danced in worship to the LORD. We need to do this more ourselves! It doesn't say exactly why David's wife, Michal, resented David for doing this, but perhaps it was two things: first, she may have thought he looked silly, and worried what the people would think, or secondly, she wasn't in fear of the LORD, and thought David's actions were unjustified.

Either way, David rebuked her for her vain thoughts, and Michal never bore children the rest of her life.

2nd Samuel 7

David wanted to build a Temple for the LORD, in the fashion of the Tabernacle. This in itself was not wrong, since David wanted a place where he and all Israel could come and worship the LORD, but God didn't want it this way. David was God's warrior, and he had too much blood on his hands from doing God's work. God had planned for one of David's sons (Solomon) to build the Temple, and God promised to bless him...and He did!

(v.16) This is a key verse...Your throne shall be established forever. David would never sit on the throne in the Temple, but one of his descendants will...Jesus!

When Jesus returns, He will sit upon the throne of David and rule for 1,000 years called the Millenium. Jesus purchased us and the ownership deed of the earth when He died on the cross. He will be coming back to take residence, and rule in righteousness for 1,000 years! It is our duty as parents to teach our kids to know the LORD, and to look forward to His return!

Mar 6 (1 Sam 23-24; Psa 63)

1st Samuel 23

(v.2) David does a wise thing...he asks the Lord to give him direction before acting. This is a good thing to remember in our own lives. Often, we seek other people's counsel (Prov 11:14), and that is ok only if those people have been praying and seeking God's direction as well. God sometimes speaks to us through other believers.

(v.6) An ephod is the vest worn by the high priest. It has twelve gems on the breastplate which represents the twelve tribes of Israel.

The rest of this chapter reveals Saul's obsession with killing David. Not only is Saul fighting David, but he's fighting God as well...and we all know what happens to those who try to fight God! Another thing to keep in mind, is when we are so focused and even obsessed with one thing, our main responsibilities can be neglected. While Saul was pursuing David, the Philistines attacked Israel.

I teach my kids that if they have all their duties and responsibilities done, THEN they can do a hobby or play. If they obsess with their hobby, then their responsibilities suffer.

Psalm 63

David wrote this psalm while hiding in the wilderness of Judah. He was greatly troubled, and frantic from being on the run constantly, but David made time to worship God and be grateful for His guidance. This is so hard to do, but essential. It's at times like these, that we should lay aside all the unimportant things, and focus on God. He is the only one to save us and guide us.

Another thing I stress with my kids, is that David often speaks of declaring God's love and glory to all in public. So many people believe that being a Christian is a personal thing...it is, but it's not private. If we have Christ in our lives, then we should want to share that with others...not keep it to ourselves.

1st Samuel 24

(v.3) Saul goes into a cave to "attend to his needs"...he had to go the bathroom! David is already in the cave, and could have killed Saul and ended the whole cat and mouse game. David could have seen this as a sign from God that He was giving Saul to him, but David didn't kill Saul. David allowed God to deal with Saul in His own way, and on His own timing. This is key for us to remember...God's timing is perfect, and most often, not our timing. We need to practice patience and faith, and He will see us through at just the right time, and in just the right situation.

(v.4) In my version of the Bible (NKJV), it says that David cut off a portion of Saul's robe. What he actually did was cut the hem of the robe. In those times, a leader would have his insignia and wording on the hem to show all that he had authority. Picture it like the stripes on the sleeve for a sergeant, or the stars on the collar for a general. David shows kindness while reminding Saul of who put Saul in his place of authority in the first place...God!

(v.14) David shows Saul that he was merciful and respectful to Saul. David kills Saul with kindness, and lets the LORD decide the outcome.

(v.17) Saul shows humility and gratitude for David's obedience and kindness. This doesn't last long, but it does make Saul give up his pursuit of David for the time being.

(v.21) Saul acknowledges that David will be king, and he asks the same thing Jonathan did...that David would not harm their descendants when David is king.