LIFE JOURNAL 06-02-2021

Date: 06-02-2021

Title: Distracted By Ungodly Influences

(S) cripture:
    1 Kings 11:1-3 (NLT2) Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. 2 The LORD had clearly instructed the people of Israel, ‘You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.’ Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. 3 He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the LORD.

(O) bservation:
    The Lord had commanded the Israelites not to intermarry with the pagan people around them because their influence would distract the Israelites from worshipping Jehovah. Solomon ignored this command and did what he wanted and married many foreign women. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines, and they did just what God had said. They had Solomon build altars for them to sacrifice to their gods and soon Solomon’s heart was turned away from the Lord.

(A) pplication:
    Often we think that we are immune to the influences of the people around us. Solomon thought he knew better than the Lord and it cost him. In a humorous way I wonder just how wise he was to have 700 wives and 300 concubines he was trying to take care of. His disobedience led to his heart being turned away from the Lord and his kingdom being divided at his death. The consequences are real when we are being disobedient and they affect more than just ourselves. That disobedience is not just in relationships or the people we marry but also in our activities and pursuits in everyday living. Today I choose to walk with the Lord and to be obedient. I want my heart to turned toward the Lord and not away.

(P) rayer:
    Lord make me aware of when I am being drawn away from you. Grant me the courage to be obedient and to follow you each day. Amen

LIFE JOURNAL 05-03-2021

Date: 05-03-2021

Title: Our Majestic God

(S) cripture:
    Psalm 8:1-9 (NLT2) O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. 2 You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. 3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— 4 what are people that you should think about them, mere mortals that you should care for them? 5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority— 7 the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, 8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. 9 O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

(O) bservation:
    As the psalmist ponders God’s creation and then thinks of mankind, he is overcome with a sense of awe. His exclamation is “O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!”

(A) pplication:
    As I ponder this psalm, I am struck with what God has entrusted to us and how lightly we take that responsibility. I am amazed that God, knowing us, would entrust us so. I think we should be good stewards of the earth and the animals in it. When I think of that task and responsibility, I am amazed and yet it is what God has given us to do. To care for God’s creation appropriately can only be done with God’s help and direction. This task will also call out from us the same exclamation, “O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!”

(P) rayer:
    Lord, teach me how to care for your creation and not to abuse it. Today with the psalmist I also exclaim, “O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!” Amen

LIFE JOURNAL 04-22-2021

Date: 04-22-2021

Title: Keeping A Promise

(S) cripture:
    2 Samuel 9:6-7 (NLT2) His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.” 7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”

(O) bservation:
    David made a promise to his friend Jonathan, Saul’s son, to care for his family after he became king. Saul and his sons are killed in battle and there was an attempt to kill their families too. Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, was the only survivor because of the quick action of a servant to carry him away and hide him. In that escape he was dropped and became crippled. When David’s servants found him they brought him to David and he remained there and ate at David’s table as one of David’s sons. David also restored to him all the lands of his grandfather, Saul.

(A) pplication:
    David went to great lengths to keep his promise to Jonathan. I wonder how seriously we take the promises we make. I want to be a man of my word. Jesus said to let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no and anymore is not from the Lord. I want to be the one that keeps my promises. I should also be very careful in the promises I make. Proverbs says it is better not to make a vow than to make it and not keep it.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, help me to discern what promises to make and then remind and prod me to keep them. Amen

LIFE JOURNAL 04-21-2021

Date: 04-21-2021

Title: A House For God

(S) cripture:
    2 Samuel 7:1-2 (NLT2) When King David was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, 2 the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!”

(O) bservation:
    David is struck by the contrast of his house and God’s tent. David’s desire is to build a grand house for the Lord. As you read the rest of the story you find that God tells David that he will not build the house but one of his sons will.

(A) pplication:
    I appreciate David’s desire to be sure the Lord is provided a place that is at least as nice as the one he dwells in. I also see his obedience to the Lord’s direction. I am though also struck by the fact that David made sure his son had all the resources and materials needed to construct the temple. As I live I might be restricted from doing some good things in the kingdom but like David I can leave what I can to be sure those things can be completed by those that come after me.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, Thank you for an example to follow. Let me be a blessing to those that follow me. Amen

LIFE JOURNAL 04-20-2021

Date: 04-20-2021

Title: Dancing In The Streets

(S) cripture:
    2 Samuel 6:12-15 (NLT2) Then King David was told, “The LORD has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration. 13 After the men who were carrying the Ark of the LORD had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. 15 So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.

(O) bservation:
    There is great rejoicing as the Ark of God is brought from Obed-edom to the city of David. David and all the house of Israel danced in the streets as they brought the ark along. This rejoicing was because the ark represented the presence of the Lord and David could not contain his joy or the joy of the people.

(A) pplication:
    So often we take God’s presence for granted. The Holy Spirit lives in each believer and yet there is not much rejoicing. I am not sure what “dancing in the streets” should look like today but I am sure it is different that what most of us display in our lives each day. I am not interested in the superficial and shallow expressions but desire to see and live out that deep seated joy that can only come in response to God’s presence. I want to love God so much that I cannot contain my joy and want it just to spill out.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, teach me to see and experience your presence so much that my joy cannot be contained but will overflow on all those I meet. Amen

LIFE JOURNAL 04-19-2021

Date: 04-19-2021

Title: Testing the New Leader

(S) cripture:
    1 Chronicles 14:8-10 (NLT2) When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he marched out to meet them. 9 The Philistines arrived and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. 10 So David asked God, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The LORD replied, “Yes, go ahead. I will hand them over to you.”

(O) bservation:
    When the Philistines heard that David had become king they immediately marched against him to test the new king. David, though, first sought the Lord’s counsel and then defeated the Philistines because the Lord fought the battle for him.

(A) pplication:
    There comes a time for every new leader when they are challenged. Sometimes it is overt and at other times it is covert. Those with agendas will seek to try the mettle of the new leader. Will the leader stand firm or cave to their demands. It is important for the leader to be confident in the place the Lord has called then to be. With that confidence the leader can stand and lead. Without it chaos comes. I choose to stand and lead because God has placed me where I am and called me to lead.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, teach me to seek you and to be confident in your call and direction in my life so I can lead as you would have me lead. Amen

LIFE JOURNAL 04-18-2021

Date: 04-18-2021

Title: Revenge Leads To Trouble

(S) cripture:
    2 Samuel 3:31-39 (NLT2) Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside. 33 Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner: “Should Abner have died as fools die? 34 Your hands were not bound; your feet were not chained. No, you were murdered— the victim of a wicked plot.” All the people wept again for Abner. 35 David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.” 36 This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them! 37 So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder. 38 Then King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel? 39 And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah—Joab and Abishai—are too strong for me to control. So may the LORD repay these evil men for their evil deeds.”

(O) bservation:
    Abner had killed Joab’s brother in battle. When Joab heard that Abner had visited with David and been sent on his way he was incensed. Joab then plotted and killed Abner in revenge. David rebukes Joab and pronounces a curse on him and his men for the evil they had done.

(A) pplication:
    Revenge never accomplished God’s purposes and most often leads to trouble for the one seeking the revenge. Today I will allow God to exercise judgment on evildoers. He does not need my help or input on the matter. I will seek to live a peaceable life that honors and trusts the Lord.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, help me to trust you to deal with those that wrong me. Help me not to seek revenge but to trust and follow you. Amen

LIFE JOURNAL 04-26-2020

Date: 04-17-2021

Title: David’s Mighty Men

(S) cripture:
    2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11 lists these men and what they did. I encourage you to read these chapter.

(O) bservation:
    These were ordinary men who were faithful to David and did extraordinary things. They are listed because of their mighty acts in battle. They were fierce warriors in David’s service. They are listed here for our benefit an as a memorial to their lives of service in David’s army.

(A) pplication:
    I wonder if I would be listed as one of God’s mighty men if a list was made today? Lord, today I want to be faithful to you and engaged in the battle you set before me. Let me not be afraid but courageous and to stand strong and bold for you. As I stand against the Devil’s stronghold in our community let me stand in your name and power. I want to be mighty for you and to bring glory to you alone.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, You are the strength of my life. I will trust in you as I do battle today. Let me do it as one of your mighty men. Amen

LIFE JOURNAL 04-16-2021

Date: 04-16-2021

Title: Wrong Sources

(S) cripture:
    1 Chronicles 10:13-14 (NLT2) So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD. He failed to obey the LORD’s command, and he even consulted a medium 14 instead of asking the LORD for guidance. So the LORD killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

(O) bservation:
    Saul sought advice and direction from a medium instead of going to the Lord. For that and not keeping the commands of the Lord, Saul died a terrible death in battle. The Lord is serious about obedience and staying away from the occult. Those things cost Saul his life and kingdom.

(A) pplication:
    The occult has become somewhat a normal part of life. Many Christians read their horoscope every day. Many people seek out mediums in an effort to speak to a dead loved one. We see it innocuous and humorous at times and yet God takes this very seriously. I think we should reevaluate. I want my priorities to be in line with the Lord’s. I have never been a fan of horoscopes or other occultic practices and for that I thank the Lord for his protection.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, I thank you that you alone are enough, and I need no other source especially those from the dark side. My desire is to walk in the light with you at all times. Amen

LIFE JOURNAL 04-15-2021

Date: 04-15-2021

Title: Loyalty

(S) cripture:
1 Samuel 26:6-11 (NLT2) “Who will volunteer to go in there with me?” David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother. “I’ll go with you,” Abishai replied. 7 So David and Abishai went right into Saul’s camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him. 8 “God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” Abishai whispered to David. “Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!” 9 “No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the LORD’s anointed one? 10 Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. 11 The LORD forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!”

(O) bservation:
On more than one occasion David has had the opportunity to kill Saul. David has already been anointed as king by Samuel, but Saul is still living and David respects and is loyal to “the Lord’s Anointed”. Even though Saul has sought to kill David to preserve his throne, David refuses to raise his hand against Saul. It is a demonstration of loyalty we do not see very often anymore.

(A) pplication:
Loyalty is a noble trait. We look for it in the people we associate with. One of the great gifts I have is some loyal friends. No matter the circumstance or inconvenience I can count on them. The loyalty goes both directions. Even when given reason not to be loyal, David was. I want to demonstrate that kind of loyalty to my friends.

(P) rayer:
Lord, for the gift of loyal friends, I thank you. Let me be loyal to them. Let us all be loyal to you. amen