February 27 by Andy

Numbers 21:21-32

This chapter is probably my favorite in all of scripture. What we have is a man of God riding a donkey, headed to see the Israelite army. God wanted Balaam to go but Balaam was being hasty and moving too quickly. God sent an angel to deliver a message but only the donkey was able to see the messenger. 3 times the donkey saw the angel and stopped and 3 times Balaam beat the donkey. Finally God opens the donkeys mouth and Balaam actually has a conversation with the animal. After this Balaam sees the angel and repents for his ignorance.

The only thing that is funnier then a talking donkey is the man who has a conversation with that donkey. I wonder what was going through Balaam’s head when his trusty donkey spoke. Was he scared, confused, or even just a little weirded out? From the text I would say no. In fact I would have to come to the conclusion based on Balaam’s reaction that he thought nothing odd of it. He engaged in conversation with his pet donkey. When I read this first of all I laugh because it is pretty funny reading about a talking donkey. Once I am done laughing I start to wonder why would God use a talking donkey to tell Balaam that there is an angel in front of him. Honestly I don’t really know. Maybe God wanted to humble Balaam and let him know that his donkey is more in tune with what God wants then him. Maybe he just wanted to be creative and shock Balaam. At any rate God got his message across in a unique and I am sure a very memorable way.

I learn from this passage. I can take some of these principles and apply them to my life. I think one lesson I can learn is that if my dog ever tells me something that I better listen and that it is ok to have a conversation. On a more serious note I see God using unique methods that are outside of the box in order to communicate his desire. I hope I don’t get to the point where God has to speak through an animal to get the point across. My desire is that I would be able to hear God before that or to be an active listener to what God would have for me.

Dear Lord, you are an amazing and creative God. I thank you for all the way that you speak to us and I pray that I would always be a good listener and that I would always be in tune to what you would have for me. May I always be open to what you are saying to me. Amen

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 by Bob

Title: The Price for a Lack of Trust

Scripture: Numbers 20:12, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."

Observation: In this passage we find a complex situation between God, the Israelites, Moses and Aaron. This event occurred near the end of the Israelite’s 40 year journey through the desert, and yet they had not yet learned to trust their LORD. But in spite of this, the LORD’s mercy prevailed and he responded to their need for water. Meanwhile Moses and Aaron also rebelled against the LORD, so seriously that God took away their only hope in their life, to see and walk into the promised land of Canaan. What did they do to anger God so much to withhold their entrance into Canaan after loyally leading His people for almost 40 years? We don’t exactly know, but verse 12 uncovers their lack of trust in God. It was a Lack of trust the Israelites and finally Moses and Aaron harbored in their hearts that angered the LORD enough to take away their dream of entering the promised land.

Application: I have a gracious and merciful LORD who desires to provide me with everything I need. He asks for only one thing of me, that I trust him. To humbly come before him and submit my life to him in obedience and honor. It sounds so simple, yet if I am to be honest, I struggle with this from time to time. There is only one answer; I need God’s strength to fully trust him in my life. I cannot do it on my own.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive those times that I have failed to trust you in my life. I humbly come before you, asking for your mercy and grace, and your strength to build up by faith and trust in you. Help me to trust in you alone.

Monday, February 25th, 2008 by Randy

Title: This little light of mine.

Scripture
Jesus said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? Mark 4:21 (NIV)

Obersvation
Jesus used a simple lamp to illustrate a principle of his kingdom- it always dispels darkness. He asked his disciples what the purpose of a lamp using rhetorical questions - Do you put it under a bowl or bed? Dah--of course not, you put it on a stand for light!!The bottom line is if a lamp doesn't help people see, it is useless. (See Mark 4:21-25 and Mt 5:15)

Application
I remember that Sunday School song: "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine." How is my light shining? Is my life pointing people Jesus? What "bowls" in my life keep peopel from seeing Jesus? My attitudes and actions can so easily keep God's light from shining through me.

Also, I'm excited about our "OUTFLOW" emphasis at church. I really believe God is calling me and our church family to a new way of seeing our world. It's a call to take our light from under the bed and put it on the stand in order for our community and beyond to see God's grace!!

Prayer
Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I've hid your light under a bowl by my indifference and disobedience. Help me to be a light to the world around me, even today. AMEN.

February 22, 2008 by Nancy

Scripture: Numbers 10:29 and 31-32
"Come with us; we'll treat you well. God has promised good things for Israel...Don't leave us...If you come with us, we'll make sure that you share in all the good things God will do for us."

Observation: As the children of Israel set out, obediently following God's presence, Moses turns his attention to his brother-in-law. He wants the man to stay; he knows all the best places to camp in the wilderness and will be a great asset. But he is hesitant, thinking of his native country instead of the Promised Land. Moses' confident reassurance of God's blessings finally convince him to stay. His expertise and knowledge will be invaluable to the travellers; God's blessings in his life will be incomparable.

Application: Moses has just finished explaining God's laws. They are specific, they are punishable by death, and they are many. That is not, however, where Moses begins his argument. He focuses not on what his brother-in-law will have to change or give up, not on wrongs, indiscretions, or offenses in his past behavior. His words are inspiring, full of hope and grace. He promises his brother-in-law not condemnation but blessing. He says, "Come with us, we'll treat you well...and...make sure you share in all the good things God will do for us."

I can see how home and country would be calling to him and I can see that a list of rules and restrictions, no matter how holy, would not be enticing. More than that though I can see that being included in the blessings of Jehovah-God would be more than he had ever imagined. That is what Moses offers him.

When I talk to people about God is that where I start? Am I so busy trying to tell them all the things that they must give up or change that I fail to explain God's blessings?!? Though God expects great things from his followers, it is His grace that saves us--not our works. Life change, discipline, and living a life in-bounds are all good things. They are honoring to God. But they are not where it begins. Christianity should be full of grace. It should be winsome. It should be inspiring. It should be joyful and sweet. That is what we have to offer. Is that what I live out? Is that what I invite people to be part of?

Prayer:
Jehovah-God,
Your blessings in my life are too many to count. I am so grateful for your salvation, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, your gifts of family and friends in my life. Will you help me to live a life reflective of those blessings--one that points to You because of Your light in me? Please fill me up so completely with Your Spirit that His fruits flow out of me.
Amen

Andy's Journal

Acts 27:25-26: So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.

Paul is on a journey to go to prison when he gets on this boat. On the 3rd day of this journey they run into a storm. During this storm everyone was freakin out thinking that they were going to die, and rightfully so. One night, from what I can tell it was the 3rd night, an angel tells Paul that everyone will make it alive and but the ship will sink. Later we read that the ship ends up running aground on the fourteenth day. There is a huge span in between when God says everything will be ok and when everything is actually ok.

I find this interesting that God would send an angel to comfort Paul and the crew and then 10-11 days later it happens. I think I’d I were on that boat that I would want that comfort to happen right away. I wonder why God did it that way? I see these types of things happen in my own life. Not in the way of a ship sinking in a hurricane but I see them in the areas of my life cause me to doubt that help will ever come. I know God’s promises in my life and I know that he will comfort me in all I do but I think I get caught up in the when more then I should. I need to rest knowing that God will take care of me. It doesn’t mean that nothing bad will happen to me. After all Paul did continue to spend 10 days in a hurricane and the ship did end up wrecking. In all of that God took care of Paul and I know he will take care of me.

“Lord, I thank you for taking care of me. I thank you for always being there for me when I need you. I am sorry for getting impatient when I am facing trials. May I always rest in you and take refuge in your Word. Thanks for always watching over me.”

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 by Bob

Title: Trust in the LORD

Scripture: Ps 22:8 "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him.

Observation: In Psalm 22, we hear King David singing a lamenting song as he cries out to our LORD in the face of danger and discouragement. This Psalm is filled with prophetic statements which point to Jesus’ crucifixion and his momentary separation from our Heavenly Father while on the cross. In the middle of his mournful song, David proclaims, “He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him.” This is the same statement made by the chief priest and teachers of the law (Matt 27:43) as they mocked Christ on the cross. But David’s comment were not sarcastic words, but instead a ray of hope in a sea of desperation. For in the midst of his calamity, David knew his true rescuer; it was his LORD, his strength, his God.

Application: Hopefully there will only be a few times in your life when you will experience the wrath of the world surrounding you from all sides. Hopefully during those times you will cry out to God as your only source of rescue. But in order to trust God with your life’s disasters when they come, you need to continually trust Him in the little things of your life; daily, even hourly. Only after a life time of dependence on God with the small things in your daily life will you automatically turn to Him in times of real trouble, like David did.

Prayer: O LORD, impart in me a desire to trust you for all the trials in my life, the small and the complex. Help me to develop a habit of looking to you for my strength, my grace, and my hope.

Monday, February 18, 2008 by Randy

Title The Resurrection

Scripture
[19] Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. Acts 25:19 (NIV)

Observation
As Felix recounted the events surrounding Paul's arrest, he told his friend, King Agrippa, how the issues caught him off guard. Acts 25:18 it records Felix's words, “When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.” Even though Festus knew little about Christianity, without knowing it, he hit the "nail on the head" -the central doctrine of Christianity was and is the resurrection of Jesus! Paul wrote to Corinthians, referring resurrection, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Corinthians 15:19). Why is the resurrection so important? Because Christ rose from the dead as he promised, we know that what he said is true—he is God. Because he rose, we have certainty that our sins are forgiven. Because he rose, he lives and represents us to God. Because he rose and defeated death, we know we will also be raised (from Bible notes).

Application
Growing up we used to sing a song entitled, “He Lives.” It goes like this:
I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say.
I see his hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
and, just the time I need Him, He's always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

This morning I’ve so grateful that Jesus is alive and that he lives in my heart! And, like Paul, I want to share Jesus and his love with others, even today!

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you that you are alive today. Thank you that you are alive in my heart. Help me see the open doors to share the Good News with others, just like Paul. AMEN.