January 29th – One more night with the frogs!

Exodus 8:1-9:35

Matthew 19: 13-30

Psalms 24: 1-10

Proverbs 6:1-5 

Tomorrow I will change!  Tomorrow I will diet!  Tomorrow I will make sure this never happens again!  It’s like that restaurant that had a sign up on the wall ‘tomorrow free steaks’ – the next day someone returned expecting to receive what was advertised only to realize  the sign still hadn’t changed.  ‘Tomorrow’ free steaks’! –No one would ever taste one of those! 

It sounds all too familiar though, doesn’t it?  Procrastination- what a curse word- but one we all play victim too in various shapes and forms.  We build our lives within a day that may never materialize.  We’re never promised tomorrow but we have the here and now. 

Egypt is going crazy, frogs everywhere.  There is no escaping their presence…in the bed, bath, couch, kitchen, den, pool, yard, hair…everywhere.  Pharaoh please do something about this.  Moses is called and asks Pharaoh when they should be taken away.  To my amazement as I read this passage he says ‘tomorrow’ – he had the power to say today, right now, but instead he chooses ‘one more night with the frogs’. 

What’s wrong with him, he must be crazy…but so must we!  How many times do we prolong our deliverance and freedom- how many nights do we lay down with something that God can remove today – right now. 

We don’t have to go through another night this way.  God’s word proclaims that ‘today is the day of Salvation’!  Your moment of freedom is right now.  It’s time we start to believe God and kick those frogs out. I’ve had enough nights with the frogs- tonight I’m sleeping in peace.  That needs to be the answer we give according to our deliverance.  Jesus already accomplished it once and for all, now it’s up to you to live in it. 

“No more nights with the frogs please”!

January 28th- Divorce

 

Exodus 5:22-7:25

Matthew 18:23-19:12

Psalms 23: 1-6

Proverbs 5:22-23

 Divorce

Matthew 19:4-8

Unfortunately all around us today screams the effects of divorce.  Unhappy people, families divided, kids suffering maybe the hardest, bitterness, anger and despair…the list could go on.  They tell us that the

divorce rate of this nation is approaching 50%- that’s almost one half of all marriages are destined for failure.  What’s sadder than that is it’s just as prevelant within the church.

 

 

Divorce is not Gods design – but rather the destruction to the plan.  Satan know that a divided house can help promote his kingdom and design.  The reason’s are endless – the excuses  are many- but the results are the same.  The destruction of the family unit.

 

 

 

Perhaps with better counseling and instruction.  Perhaps with people taking more time and consideration in their decision.  Perhaps with more listening to their peers this tragedy would be avoided.  For many the reasons are mainly all external factors – allowing the outside to infiltrate our homes.  I believe the problem goes down deeper than that.  Those things are just the symptoms but not the cause. 

 

 

 

Notice what Jesus replied to their question of divorce.  It was because of hardness of heart!  It was because of a heart that was no longer was soft and pliable!   In our relationships it’s so important to keep short accounts.  What I mean by that is not allowing ourselves to fuel the already present forces that try to oppose.  Life is hard…marriage is work…and a lot of it, but when we add fuel to the fire it will burn brighter and further

 

It’s so important that we learn to forgive and say I’m sorry.  It’s so important we don’t allow wedges to be driven between.  Don’t let the sun go down of your wrath – is what God asks.  In a society where it’s becoming part of the ‘norm’ it doesn’t have to be part of our world.

 

 

Work daily on keeping your heart soft and pliable.  Work daily on new understanding and communication.  Work daily on your relationship with God, as truly He is the only one that can give you a new heart.

Grow together and not apart – keep a soft and pliable heart.

 

January 27th – “Greatness”

Exodus 4:1-5:21
Matthew 18:1-22
Psalms 22:19-31
Proverbs 5:15-21

(Matthew 18:1-4)
What really is being the greatest? The dictionary tells us to be great, means you are the most important, the main, the chief. I’m sure we would have to all agree with that- but Jesus taught His disciples one day another meaning to greatness. A meaning which really requires a greater greatness.

We love to get mad and point the finger at others for their actions sometimes. We say things like “if only they could see ( or hear) themselves and see how foolish they are making themselves look ( or sound)”. Many times the image we judge can be a mirror looking back at us. Now whose reflection are you seeing? –Let me explain.

One day the Disciples are having a discussion amongst themselves. They really are arguing who is the greatest out of them. I’m sure opinion and reason were flying from the left and right. Each had a point to prove why it should be them. What would you use to get your point across? In the midst of this ‘squabble’ Jesus shows up. “Let’s let Jesus tell us who’s the greatest”! They all agreed.
The next words that came from the mouth of Jesus not only silenced their pride – but also taught them a lesson they would not soon forget. Expecting for one to be singled out Jesus brings another in their midst…a small child. Turning to the child He points and says “here is the greatest among you”!
‘What’? He’s been out in the sun too long today? He’s really lost it this time! No, He was showing them that in order to be the greatest you have to be willing to be first the least. Greatness is not a position to achieve, but rather a position to leave! Greatness is being willing to become humble, to become child like with no strings attached.

Too often our thoughts are to grow up and mature – where maybe our lives need to take a drastic u-turn. Perhaps it’s time to revisit the child in us…and allow greatness to be the foundation on which we build. A foundation of servant hood and humility. That’s what Jesus defines the greatest to be!