Date: 06-10-2020

Title: Under Construction

(S) cripture:
    Philippians 1:6 (NASB) For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

(O) bservation:
    God is not finished with us. Because He began the work in us, it will be finished. In the 1970’s Bill Gothard would conclude his “Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts” seminar by giving each participant a button with these letters on it, “PBPWMGINFWMY” meaning, “Please Be Patient With Me God Is Not Finished With Me Yet”. I need to view each person I meet as “under construction” and give them the grace to become the person God wants them to be.

(A) pplication:
    As I expect people to be patient with me, I must be patient with them. It is important for me to remember that it is God who is at work and He is on His schedule not mine. I must view people as “under construction” and watch as God completes His work in them. It will be far better than anything I could do. I also want to have God completing His work in me as I seek to live for Him each day.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for not giving up on me but for the promise that you will complete what you started in me. Make me who you want me to be, I am yours. Amen

Date: 06-09-2020

Title: Stand Firm

(S) cripture:
    Ephesians 6:13-14 (NASB) Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,

(O) bservation:
    When you see the word “therefore” you must ask, “What is the ‘therefore’ there for?” We are told to “be strong in the Lord”. How do we do that? By putting on the armor of God and standing firm. Interesting is that all the armor is defensive except for the sword of the Word. It is all on the front of our bodies leaving the back exposed if we decide to run away. We are told to stand firm not to charge or move forward or to initiate the battle, but we are to stand firm where God has placed us. Remember the battle is the Lord’s.

(A) pplication:
    Too often we think we are called to initiate the fight with the Devil. The evil will come to us and we are told to stand firm. We have all we need for protection and we have the sword of the word for offense. Today I will seek to use the Word rather than my schemes to engage the Devil. When the evil one approaches, I will stand firm.

(P) rayer:
    Lord give me strength to stand firm and to use the armor you have provided. Amen

Date: 06-08-2020

Title: It Not That Complicated

(S) cripture:
    Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NASB) The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

(O) bservation:
    Paul in Ephesians 5:8 (another part of today’s readings) tells us to “live as children of light”. That is the same message that we see in the verse from Ecclesiastes. Our whole duty is to fear God and do what he says. The demands from God are the same in the Old and New Testaments, “Fear God and do what He says. Two Testaments and one message. This is not complicated to understand it is just hard to do.

(A) pplication:
    I complicate the Christian life way too much. What God has made simple (not easy) I have made complicated to give myself the wiggle room to say, “I don’t understand”. Somehow, I think that gives me a pass on things when it only reveals my stubborn heart. Today I want to focus on the basics of fearing God and doing what he says. I will love, reverence and obey the Lord today

(P) rayer:
    Lord, make yourself so real to me that I will want to do nothing but love, reverence and obey you. Help me not to complicate what you have made so simple. Give me strength to simply follow you and the courage to obey you. Amen

Date: 06-07-2020

Title: Finishing

(S) cripture:
    Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NASB) The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.

(O) bservation:
    Solomon is giving some proverbs in this part of Ecclesiastes. He says that finishing is better than beginning and patience is better than pride. Both are true and our experience bears it out.

(A) pplication:
    I am good at starting things and often do not finish them. Not finishing something is frustrating and depressing. It is exciting to begin something new but here we are told that finishing is even better. Patience to complete a task is better than the pride in beginning it. There are some things in my life that need finishing and today I commit to moving forward with them and staying on task until they are finished.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, You know how easy it is for me to procrastinate. Help me finish these tasks. I will trust in you for the stamina to continue and the wisdom to move forward. Let me trust in your strength and power when mine begin to falter. Amen

Date: 06-06-2020

Title: Energy

(S) cripture:
    Psalm 18:28 (NASB) For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness.

(O) bservation:
    The psalmist reminds us that God is the source of our energy and is the One who dispels the darkness.

(A) pplication:
    The Lord is the source of my energy. When I lose sight of this is when I sense my energy waning and things begin to fade to black. If I want to walk in the light and have my energy continually renewed then I must trust in the Lord. Today I will renew my commitment to trust the Lord to keep my energy up and to dispel the darkness. Today is another day for me to walk with the Lord by faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

(P) rayer:
    Lord let me walk with you today. I trust you for my energy and to dispel the darkness around me. Keep me in your light. Amen

Date: 06-05-2020

Title: Good Works

(S) cripture:
    Ephesians 2:10 (NASB) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

(O) bservation:
    Earlier in this chapter Paul tells us that it is because of God’s great love for us that we are made alive in Christ. We are born again into God’s family. We are created there to do good works, not just what we want to do (sometimes selfish) but rather to do good works. That is what He has prepared in advance for us to do. Coming to Christ and being born again is not a random act. God has already prepared for our coming and he has good works for us to do. This gives great meaning and direction to living out our live in Christ.

(A) pplication:
    God has created me for a purpose and has works He intends for me to do, not necessarily everyone else but for me to do. I must be about those things or I have failed. Because of my love for the Lord I must do the good works he sets before me. Today I will seek to do what He intends me to do.

(P) rayer:
    Father, reveal yourself to me in clear ways so that I will know what you want me to do. Grant me the courage and strength to do whatever you ask. Let me see you today and then act by doing the good works you have prepared for me to do. Amen

Date: 06-04-2020

Title: A Great Wife

(S) cripture:
    Proverbs 31:10 (NASB) An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.

(O) bservation:
    Your wife can be a great asset and honor or as it says in other proverbs a great trouble and dishonor in your life. It is obvious the writer here wants you to find a wife that will bring honor and not dishonor to you. I think the author would also encourage women to find a husband of like character.

(A) pplication:
    The Lord has blessed me with a great wife. Becky has lived out this proverb over and over in our life together. We are both products of families that loved and followed Jesus. Growing up we did not know anything else but loving Jesus. Our parents and grandparents modeled faithful living for us. We have sought to live that same example with our family and in our relationship. I am fortunate to call Becky my wife. I would not be the man, father, grandfather, pastor, and friend that I am today without her.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for leading me to Becky and then calling us together. I thank you for her life and love and her influence on me, the girls and the grandchildren. Thank you for allowing us to do life together. I am a better man for it. Amen

Date: 06-03-2020

Title: Integrity with the Word

(S) cripture:
    Romans 16:17-18 (NASB) Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

(O) bservation:
    Paul reminds these believers in Rome to watch out for those who misuse and misunderstand and falsely teach the Word of God. Some distort the Word for their own gain and therefore lead many astray. We are to avoid these people.

(A) pplication:
    As I read this passage I was struck with the importance of not becoming one who distorts or uses the Word for my own gain. There are plenty of those type out there preaching a “health and wealth”, or “name it – claim it” gospel. They deceive many and are lining their pockets with money. The gospel they preach plays into our sinful selfish natures. For those of us who are true to the Word this is tough to overcome because people like something that is focused on their gain. Today I renew my commitment to be true to the Word as best as I am able. I also ask the Lord to make me aware of when I am misreading, misunderstanding or distorting His Word so that I can be corrected.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, help me to stay true to Your Word and to teach the truth. Amen

Date: 06-02-2020

Title: What’s In Your Bucket

(S) cripture:
    Proverbs 26:20 (NASB) For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
    Proverbs 26:20 (NIV) Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.

(O) bservation:
    This simple proverb is so profound. Without fuel a fire goes out.

(A) pplication:
    As I read this today, I could not help but think about the rioting and looting and burning happening in so many cities in the wake of the senseless killing of George Floyd. I also was thinking about the peaceful protest here in Huntington and the powerful statement it made. I thought of the interview with and the moving personal testimony of T.C. Clemons, a teacher at a local Elementary School. She spoke powerfully to the issue of racism and its impact on her life in ways that did not add fuel to the fire but allowed contentions to die down so that deep and lasting conversations can take place. I was moved by the power of her testimony and her grace in sharing it. She was and is living this proverb. If only we would practice this truth. Too often we add fuel to a fire rather than starving the fire. I am reminded of the teaching I heard about this. To every fiery situation you are carrying two buckets, one filled with water and the other with gasoline. You get to choose which one you will throw on the fire. I want to be throwing water. I want to quell the fire not fuel it. Our words many times are like gasoline and only fan the flame of a tough situation to greater heights. I want to be one known as a peacemaker. I do not want to deny or ignore difficult and sometimes systemic issues. I want to resolve issues not exacerbate them. Today I want to use words that bring healing not harm.

(P) rayer:
    Lord help me to only carry water to fiery situations. Let my words bring healing not further harm. Help me to remember my calling to be a peacemaker. Amen

Date: 06-01-2020

Title: A Grateful and Proud Dad

(S) cripture:
    Proverbs 22:6 (NASB) Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

    Proverbs 23:22-25 (NASB) Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who sires a wise son will be glad in him. 25 Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

(O) bservation:
    In these two proverbs the writer has given parents a task and then outlined the rewards of following through with the task. Training our children to be persons of faith in Christ is our main task as parents. The rewards are many but great joy and delight are at the top of the list.

(A) pplication:
    Becky and I have two grown daughters, Sarah and Bethany. We knew that if we had great ministries but failed as parents we had not done what God expected of us. We have always understood that the priorities in our lives was:
    First our personal relationship with the Lord
    Second was our Family
    After that came our work and ministry and everything else

That was something we got right and it gives us great joy today. Both girls are growing in their faith, active in their churches and helping others to grow as disciples of Jesus, too. Sarah and her husband are teaching their daughter these lessons of faith with Bible Stories at bedtime and active participation in their local church. Bethany and her husband are teaching their three sons these lessons of faith with daily Bible stories and active participation in their church. Both girls and their husbands live their faith at work, too, Sarah and Ryan in Law Enforcement and Bethany in the medical field and Justin as a High School teacher and coach.. It is exciting to see your daughters and their families growing and living their faith.

The joy we receive is experienced nearly every day when they call to check in and tell us about their days and the adventures of our grandchildren. They are not only our daughters but are our friends. Great joy and delight.

(P) rayer:
    Father, I thank you for the faith and growth we see in our daughters and their families. I thank you for helping me keep my priorities straight. I have great joy because they are following you. Help me now to teach other parents how to have this same joy. Amen