Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Day 86 Reading – 1Timothy 3:1-16

Theme: Elders and Deacons

Scripture : “Here is a trustworthy saying: if anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.” 1Timothy 3:1 NIV

Observation: Apostle Paul provided instructions for Timothy on the proper conduct of worship in the church, as well as qualifications for elders and deacons. Here’s the break down:

Qualifications for Elders/Overseers and Deacons

Application: I have learned that an overseer and deacon in the church is a function in the body of Christ to provide order. It is a serious role that should not be taken lightly. Such person has the responsibility to show others how to live right and be Christ-like.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, have your way in me. In Jesus’ name.

junn

Scripture: The Fall of Man (Genesis 3:1-6)

Observation:

Here we find Eve engaging in a conversation with a serpent – bad idea. Obviously the serpent was up to something. Eve was quick to doubt that she had more than enough in the garden because God is providing for her. She was quick to forget what God had said, “You must not eat fruit from the tree…. or you will die.” Her desires (what’s pleasing to her eyes, the thought of becoming like God and gaining knowledge of what’s good and evil) took control of her and she and her husband, who was with her, disobeyed God.

Application:

The devil is a deceiver. He is the father of lies and has been lying from the very beginning. Any thoughts that are not of God has only one place – out of our lives. We must submit to God every desire in our hearts. There is nothing wrong when we desire good things for our children. It is right to desire education for them, to provide for them, etc. But sometimes our desires (such as a car or vacation I cannot afford, etc.), if they’re not part of God’s plan for us, can get us into trouble. Ask God, “Lord, is this what you want for me?” As Jesus’ followers He is our Lord and we must always seek His will for our lives and be able to say no to things that will hinder us from being in right relationship with God (obedience).

Prayer:

Jesus, today I declare You Lord over my life. Help me to see things in my life that I need to let go, or run away from, or stop doing. I love you, Lord. And I will choose to obey You. Help me to hear you clearly when You speak to my heart.

tet

Today’s reading: Psalm, 65, 98, 138  & Proverbs 18

Theme: Praise

DAY 18

Scripture: The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Prov. 18:21 NIV)

Observation: Words are a reflection of the heart. Naturally our hearts should cause our mouth to speak. They have potential for great good or great harm. Words can affect us tremendously (Prov. 13:2-3). They can also grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30-31).

Application: As the book of James teaches, we should be quick to listen and slow to speak (Jas 1:19-20; Eccl 5:2; Ps 141:3). We should guard our hearts and mouths, especially, when we are angry and very emotional. The Holy Spirit will help us when we ask Him. Let us be encouraged today to fill our mouths with praise, thanksgiving to our God, and as Paul says, “whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – we are to think about these things” (Philippians 4:8), for “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matt 12:34-35 NIV).

Additional Reading . . .

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. (Pr 10:19 NIV)

But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (Pr 3:8 NIV)

Let the words of my mouth AND the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Ps 19:14)

Prayer:

Dear God, help us to be thoughtful with the words we utter in our every day lives. Above all else we guard our hearts and protect our lips from evil talks. May we not participate nor contribute to anything that are destructive. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

junn

Below, is a video from Relient K.   Be Blessed!

Today’s Reading: Psalm 6, 149 & 150, Proverbs 14

Theme: Music

Day 14

Scripture: 1 Praise the LORD. 2 Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness ………….. Psalm 150 (whole chapter)

Observation:

The word “praise” is mentioned 13 times. The psalmist has reached the “Hallelujah Chorus” of the Hebrew hymnbook, I would say. Here, the object of praise is God alone and no other. The ultimate reason for the Israelites to express this heartfelt praise towards their God is, mainly, because He had liberated them from the Babylonians.  Earlier, their temple was destroyed, Jerusalem was in ruins and they (Babylonians) took them as captives in Babylon. They lost everything and their lives were miserable beyond imaginable. Having been freed from their captors after hundreds of years, the Israelites had every reason to praise their God.

Application:

We, as followers of Jesus, have been called to live a lifestyle of praise. We can praise God for what He has done for us, His “mighty acts”. We can also praise Him, simply for Who He is, His “surpassing greatness”. God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). To experience the awesome presence of God means we should acknowledge that He IS God and we are not. He IS worthy to be praised and He deserves our praise! So, we shouldn’t wait for our circumstances to change to praise the LORD. Let’s make a commitment NOW to live a life of praise not only in the sanctuary, but also at home, at work, and in between. For as long as we have breath, let’s praise the LORD! Read also, Luke 19:37-40

Prayer:

Dear God, I praise you with all my mind, soul and strength because you came to my rescue when I needed you the most. I don’t know where I would be today if you didn’t show up. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You.  Truly, I praise You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

junn

Enjoy viewing!

S – cripture :  Acts 28:31 

 He boldly preached about the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ, and no one tried to stop him.

O – bservation :

 Paul continues the work Jesus has called him to do.  Inspite of the many emotions he went through in every trial along the way, Paul did not live by those emotions.  He felt his feelings and kept on! He was not a man controlled by his feelings.  He was led by the Holy Spirit.  He obeys and continues to obey Him. 

 A – pplication :

 I will feel my feelings and keep on!  I will not be controlled by my feelings.  I will continue to obey the Lord in everything with the help of the Holy Spirit.

 P – rayer :

 Jesus, thank you for the Holy Spirit, whom You have given to help me, so that I can do what You want of me until the very end, Amen.

tet

S – cripture : Acts ch. 24 vv. 22; 24-25 (NCV)

Felix already understood much about the Way of Jesus…. After some days Felix came with his wife and         asked for Paul to be brought to him. He listened to Paul talk about believing in Christ Jesus. But Felix became afraid when Paul spoke about living right, self-control, and the time when God will judge the world. He said, “Go away now”.

O – bservation :

Felix is, clearly, familiar with the message Paul had spoken to people about Jesus. He already understood much about the Way of Jesus but when he heard about living right (righteousness), self-control and judgment by God, he rejects and dismisses it.

A – pplication :

Jesus constantly speaks to us. What am I going to do when He speaks to me about sin in my life? I have a choice. Just like Felix, I can reject and dismiss it, or, I can accept it, learn from it, and let it change my life.

P – rayer :

Jesus, show me if there is sin in my life that I may repent and ask for Your forgiveness. Lord, I want to         become the woman you want me to be. Amen.

tet

S - Scripture:  ”I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus and there you will be told all that you are to do.’ I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led into Damascus by my companions,” Acts 22:10-11 (NLT)

O - Observation:  Upon Encountering Jesus, Paul recognized him as Lord of all, asked the only appropriate question, “What shall I do?” and obeyed without reservation.

A - Application:  This ought to be each believer’s continual, daily response to God. Renewing the mind, requires seeing Jesus as the one who controls all things and who alone deserve to direct our lives.

P - Prayer:  Father God, take all of me - I submit to your Lordship - show me the way that would please you. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

junn

S - scriptures: ³¹“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. ³²All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.  ³⁴“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ^35’For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25: 31-36 NIV)

O - observation: These passages remind me that God cares for the poor, the foreigner, the sick and the lonely. So much so that when we care for them it is just as if we did it to Him. (Read also James 2:15-16, James 1:27; Acts 4:32-35) God will separate those who will obey this mandate and those who will not. And He is ready to give His Kingdom to those who will.

A - application: Our lives can be filled with so much concerns as well, but in this passages, I am reminded of those that Jesus cares about.

P - prayer: Father God, may I never be caught up with so much worldly concerns to the point that I forget those who are needy around me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

junn

Everyday around 4pm I listen for someone to walk in through our door – whether it’s my husband coming home from work or my boys arriving from school. Knowing that everyone’s home, “safe and sound”, always gives me a sense of peace. This week I heard a disturbing news about 2 students (from the same school where one of my sons go) being involved in a stabbing incident. I wonder what drives a 13 or 14 year old to such violence. And as a mother, I realize that everyday we have more and more reason to be prayerful over our children. Not just for our own but for kids, in general, living in a world we live in today. Recently, I was reading about Eunice and Lois – mother and grandmother of Timothy who was a close friend and helper to the apostle Paul. These women, as mentioned by Paul, were women of faith and have clearly passed on their faith to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5), who became a man of God. This passage reminded me of the importance of living our faith everyday and teaching our children while they are young - about God, about the Scriptures and about how to live. I believe Eunice and Lois were good influencers and they lived in such a way so that everyone can see their faith. I believe we can, too.

tet