JMD Devotional 155 Proverbs 30:4 Agur's Riddle

Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know?

Around 900BC this riddle had no human answer. It was the kind of thing a person asked to stump everybody; to remind people not to be too wise in their own eyes. Hints and clues from the Torah persuaded the Hebrews that there was to be an answer in the future, and they longed to know it. By 34AD, the answer was obvious to any Christian. Does knowledge come too easy to us today for us to appreciate the significance of it?

1 Peter 1:10-12 (NIV) Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

The knowledge of salvation comes to us with a weighty responsibility. Cloistered in Churches, we tend to forget about the spiritual ignorance next door, and the utter depravity of the human condition estranged from God. Worse, knowledge can be trapped in our mind and not benefit us; it can be cerebral and not heart-felt, recited and not practiced.

Luke 12:48 (NIV) But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Dear God,
Many earnest saints of old longed to know what is now 'common knowledge' in the Church. Forgive us for how lightly we sometimes esteem that revelation and how little we do with that knowledge. It should bring joy, knowing how carefully You planned, crafted and ushered in our--even my-- salvation: break through the numbness and spiritual paralysis so we can fully feel and walk and drink in your blessings. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and rid us of spiritual dryness.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 154 Psalm 55: 1-8, 22,23 Cry for Help

LISTEN TO my prayer, O God, and hide not Yourself from my supplication!
Attend to me and answer me; I am restless and distraught in my complaint and must moan
[And I am distracted] at the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression and threats of the wicked; for they would cast trouble upon me, and in wrath they persecute me.
My heart is grievously pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling have come upon me; horror and fright have overwhelmed me.
And I say, Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
Yes, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! I would hasten to escape and to find a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.

22, 23 Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).
But You, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in, lean on, and confidently rely on You.

Dear God,
HELP! You have promised to aid the 'consistently righteous'; but what about me? I am a reluctant saint; a person who when he is under pressure wants to medicate that pain or act out. Please impart the righteousness of Christ into my life; help me to really want to be righteous, and to cling to You through my trials. Have mercy on this double-minded sinner.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 153 Proverbs 28 The Slippery Slope of Self-Destruction

The first step is to envy the wicked:
Vs 4 Those who forsake the law [of God and man] praise the wicked, but those who keep the law [of God and man] contend with them.

The second step is to turn your appetite from the Word of God to profane things:
Vs 9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law [of God and man], even his prayer is an abomination, hateful and revolting [to God].

The third step is fostering secrecy to conceal your sins:
Vs 13 He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sins will obtain mercy.

The forth step is to become calloused and loose your fear:
Vs 14 Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is the man who reverently and worshipfully fears [the Lord] at all times [regardless of circumstances], but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

The fifth step is to form a double-life:
Vs 18 He who walks uprightly shall be safe, but he who willfully goes in double and wrong ways shall fall in one of them.

You are over the railing and on a treacherous slide when you identify with the lost:
Vs 19 He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless people and pursuits will have poverty enough. (Financial ruin will follow moral ruin).

Dear God,
Thank you for the counsel of your Word. Please help me to regard the railing; to observe the boundaries that protect me from self-destruction and that preserve the integrity of my life and marriage. May my heart be singular; fully devoted to You.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 152 Proverbs 27:7-8,19-21 Despicable Illusions

He who is satiated [with sensual pleasures] loathes and treads underfoot a honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

I remember a news report of a man caught breaking into single women's homes to steal their shoes while they were away at work. The odd behavior makes most of us laugh; how someone can so eroticize an object that they would risk their life, reputation and liberty for something that cannot possibly satisfy. It has something to do with the psychology of displacement: the primary desire is out of reach, so that craving is moved to something else that becomes magnified and given false attributes (a god). We can laugh at another's folly; but that is how Satan gets most of us. Sexual addicts get trapped into a cycle of seeking phantom fulfillment and when it doesn't pan out they drown in self-loathing. The pit of remorse leads them to medicate their pain, and the fantasy is cultivated again and again.

Vs 8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who strays from his home.

Vs 19 As in water face answers to and reflects face, so the heart of man to man. (Do you REALLY want to know yourself? It might not be pretty. The self-directed life is retched and ugly; submission to God makes us beautiful).

Vs 20 Sheol (the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the place of destruction) are never satisfied; so [the lust of] the eyes of man is never satisfied.

God has established eternal principles of cause and effect; His Word will not be broken, rather we will make or break ourselves on how we regard or disregard His Word. Pain, struggle and trials can be an enormous BLESSING if we respond to them by examining our ways and repent and get on board with God's program of redemption. Be certain of this, He will chastise His children!

Vs 21 As the refining pot for silver and the furnace for gold [bring forth all the impurities of the metal], so let a man be in his trial of praise [ridding himself of all that is base or insincere; for a man is judged by what he praises and of what he boasts].

This verse convicts because it so aptly describes the addictive cycle of sinful indulgence. The only way to break the cycle is to die to self and live as a daily sacrifice. Sin has no power over a dead person.

Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.

Dear God,
I don't want Proverbs 26:11 to be my epitaph! Please help me completely apprehend the freedom You give to those who truly follow Jesus Christ. May my old life be left in the tomb; may all of my energies be invested into MY resurrected life. May I identify myself as a Saint and not a dog. Help me to see sin for what is really is and to despise the illusion. May I seek all of my fulfillment in You, my Lord and my God.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 151 Proverbs 26:20-28 Snare of Words

For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases. As coals are to hot embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man to inflame strife. The words of a whisperer or slanderer are like dainty morsels or words of sport [to some, but to others are like deadly wounds]; and they go down into the innermost parts of the body [or of the victim's nature].
Burning lips [uttering insincere words of love] and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel covered with the scum thrown off from molten silver [making it appear to be solid silver].
He who hates pretends with his lips, but stores up deceit within himself. When he speaks kindly, do not trust him, for seven abominations are in his heart. Though his hatred covers itself with guile, his wickedness shall be shown openly before the assembly. Whoever digs a pit [for another man's feet] shall fall into it himself, and he who rolls a stone [up a height to do mischief], it will return upon him. A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

**When someone hits you, you feel it. When they steal from you, you are apt to recognize something is missing and discover it. But when someone deceives you, you are oblivious. It is a stealth attack; false information like a computer virus twisting your perception. The God who loves honest weights and measures demands honest communication from us, and sometimes the best form of communication is silence when we can say nothing good.

Dear God,
Knowing how many times I have blown it, I feel condemned by my own words. Forgive me for the hurtful things I have said, the gossip I have shared, the wickedness I have propagated through careless conversation. Give me to good sense to keep silent rather than to sin further, and to challenge idle gossip that comes my way, to snuff it out.
Amen

**Douglass Weiss, PHD in the book, "Sex, Men and God".

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 150 Revelation 3:17-22 False Ambiance

Revelation 3:17-22 For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me.
He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne. He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

Jesus evidently did not ascribe to Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People". In polite company we would say, "Oh-the audacity!" at having our faults pointed out, exposed, and being put on the spot. Though multitudes followed Him, they were fickle, and the same crowds turned and cried, "Crucify Him!" Even some of the Twelve tried to use Him for their own advantage. He had to rebuke those closest to himself at times, and I am sure it (at least temporarily) put distance and a strain on those relationships. I am sure that Jesus wanted to be loved and accepted like any other person; but love and duty required confrontations that made people retreat and reject Him. (It would have been unloving not to point out the eternal consequences of sin in their lives). Hundreds of years earlier Isaiah had a picture of Jesus that you don't see touted very much:

Isaiah 53:3 (NIV) He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Dear God,
The 'burden' of knowing the truth weighs heavily on social interaction and relationships. Even knowing what I know, I still try to keep up appearances, so I cannot really point a finger at others.
I just know that I belong to another camp that I cannot see from here. Help me to find comfort in the life and character of Jesus Christ; His patient endurance and the constant sacrifices He made for the welfare of others. Observers might have said he was a lonely man, even in a crowd; but your presence was enough to keep Him company; He said, "My Father is always with me". Please be enough for me, too.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Daily Devotional 149 Proverbs 25:26-28 Mixed Signals

Like a muddied fountain and a polluted spring is a righteous man who yields, falls down, and compromises his integrity before the wicked. It is not good to eat much honey; so for men to seek glory, their own glory, causes suffering and is not glory. He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls.

I know it is not like this for everyone; but for me the Christian life is very lonely. I do not get much uplifting social activity, so in the rare instance when coworkers invite me out I do not know how to act. I try to blend in, say something witty; but inevitably, the adolescent desire to be popular and impress my lost friends leads me to make off-color remarks, to behave poorly, to operate from a worldly perspective indistinguishable from an indigenous 'Canaanite.' God's program for redeemed souls, that each of us must fully embrace, is primarily one to cultivate righteousness. The world will accept a false love, an empty peace, a drug-induced joy, and feigned faithfulness but they will have no part of genuine righteousness. It does not mix well. Then again, I could just be socially inept, depending upon how you look at it. None of the Christians I know seem to socialize for its own sake, just for fellowship. This makes me sometimes long for my old life.

Dear God,
I long to be consistently and uncompromisingly righteous because that is a part of my inheritance in Christ Jesus. It is a family trait; a part of my resemblance to You. But my old life of dysfunction and corruption is the ground I'm familiar with (at least I had friends). How can I be a witness when I feel like I do not belong around anyone, in any context? I just do not fit in. Where is MY place to hang out? Why do I have such a hard time just BEING? Everything is WORK to me; love and friendship should not be such a labor. Please tune me up so I resonate in harmony with my new life in Christ and broadcast a clear and true signal, and bring wholesome connection and authenticity to my relationships. Show me I belong! (Forgive me for being too honest).
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 148 Revelation 2: 1-5 Rule of Reason

TO THE angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him Who holds the seven stars [which are the messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, Who goes about among the seven golden lamp stands [which are the seven churches]:
I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars. I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name's sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary. But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lamp stand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.

Ephesus sounds like a busy church with successful programs; but it was missing the mark. Its heart was cold and Jesus Christ was not its Lord and center. In the Gospels, there are several accounts of those who would be His disciples fishing and catching nothing until He told them to cast their net on the other side. It did not make sense; in human reasoning it would have made no difference; but each time they obeyed the miraculous happened. Boiled down, the elements are: 1. Left to ourselves and our limited minds we often get it wrong. 2. God blesses what God directs. 3. God's ways are not our ways. 4. We are supposed to follow God's lead even when it does not make sense. (This expresses faith in His Lordship).

1 Samuel 15:22,23 (NIV) But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."

Dear God,
Please help me to make application of this truth; show me where Your will is violated due to my 'reasoning'. Worldly guidance says the "Church" is not built through ministering to the poor, sick and helpless; studies say to target a wealthy demographic; households with 2.3 children and disposable income, provide entertainment and filter out negative messages. Oh, Lord, my soap box is creaking...what is the counsel of Your Word to the churches today? Who should be the objects of our ministry? Restore the integrity of the Church. Help us do it Your Way.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 147 Proverbs 24 Two-Thirds Unwise

This chapter discusses three men; the Wise Man, the Evil Man and the Foolish-Lazy Man.

The Evil Man: Misdirected Potential
Vs 1,2 BE NOT envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them; For their minds plot oppression and devise violence, and their lips talk of causing trouble and vexation.
Vs 8 He who plans to do evil will be called a mischief-maker.
Vs 19, 20 Fret not because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked, For there shall be no reward for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
Vs 15, 16 Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God); destroy not his resting-place; For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

The Wise (Righteous) Man: Properly-directed Potential
Vs 3-6 Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong and is better than a strong man, and a man of knowledge increases and strengthens his power;
For by wise counsel you can wage your war (i.e. effectively execute major projects), and in an abundance of counselors there is victory and safety.
Vs 27 [Put first things first.] Prepare your work outside and get it ready for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house and establish a home.

The Foolish-lazy Man: Unutilized Potential
Vs 7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; he opens not his mouth in the gate [where the city's rulers sit in judgment].
Vs 9 The plans of the foolish and the thought of foolishness are sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men.
Vs 10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
Vs 11 Deliver those who are drawn away to death, and those who totter (vacillate) to the slaughter, hold them back [from their doom].
Vs 12 (People who don't get involved when they could make a difference) If you [profess ignorance and] say, Behold, we did not know this, does not He Who weighs and ponders the heart perceive and consider it? And He Who guards your life, does not He know it? And shall not He render to [you and] every man according to his works?
Vs 30-34 I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, behold, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles were covering its face, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I beheld and considered it well; I looked and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep--So shall your poverty come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.

Evil is active and easier to recognize than sloth, indifference and unproductiveness; but it is really just the other side of the same coin; the currency of rebellion against God's plan for your life. The Church seems to accept, even promote passive, half-hearted men and treat with suspicion anyone who has a passion, vision and desire to do something new. Is the status quo sacred to you? How would you quantify your potential? Are you making a difference? Why not?

Dear God,
Sometimes zeal for Your house consumes me; other times I just can't bear to deal with my brethren. You know what blocks revival, and it is not outside the church. I'm tired of going through the motions as if it doesn't matter (aren't You insulted?!) Show idle people how short twenty two thousand days are; help them to realize the meter is running and that opportunity is passing them by. Make each day significant for us; help us to do the most with what we have for Your kingdom, to have a stake in your eternal program. Kindle the fire of godly passion in our hearts. Motivate us! Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 146 John 20:15-22 Badge of Honor

Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you crying [so]? For Whom are you looking? Supposing that it was the gardener, she replied, Sir, if you carried Him away from here, tell me where you have put Him and I will take Him away. Jesus said to her, Mary! Turning around she said to Him in Hebrew, Rabboni!--which means Teacher or Master. Jesus said to her, Do not cling to Me [do not hold Me], for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brethren and tell them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God. Away came Mary Magdalene, bringing the disciples news (word) that she had seen the Lord and that He had said these things to her. Then on that same first day of the week, when it was evening, though the disciples were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace to you! So saying, He showed them His hands and His side. And when the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy (delight, exultation, ecstasy, rapture). Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! [Just] as the Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending you. And having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit!

I can remember a scene in the movie 'Jaws' in which the three men hunting the shark end a long, hard day's work by having a drink in the boat's cabin comparing scars. Hardly a blue-collar guy gets through life without accumulating some doozies. This is a guy thing, we take pride in enduring and surviving injury; it becomes a badge of courage. It says you faced hazards rather than running away from them; you did what you had to do, even when it hurt; you made a sacrifice. The ultimate scars adorn our Lord; He has made even the most repugnant form of execution an emblem of glory by bravely facing Hell on our behalf. Faith plays a vital role; you have to believe that life holds rewards on the other side of the risk, trials and pain. An individual who goes through this crucible is transformed: dread to boldness, sorrow to joy, anguish to victory. Note that at first no one recognized Jesus after the resurrection; and no one will recognize us either when God's work is complete in our lives.

Dear God,
For the joy set before Him, my Lord Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame! Oh God, grant to me that kind of vision that makes the daily sacrifice, pain and struggle insignificant compared to the hope I have in You. Help me to see what glory lays beyond this travail. Make my suffering meaningful. Purify me by my hope in the promise of one day being mature and complete; perfected in Christ, pleasing to my God. May that joy be uncontainable!
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 145 1 Corinthians 1:9-13 You Can't Franchise the 'Truth'

God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions and judgments. For it has been made clear to me, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions and wrangling and factions among you. What I mean is this, that each one of you [either] says, I belong to Paul, or I belong to Apollos, or I belong to Cephas (Peter), or I belong to Christ. Is Christ (the Messiah) divided into parts? Was Paul crucified on behalf of you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?

Whenever I am in a witnessing situation to a lost soul I find the need to address the damage other 'witnesses' have left. Since I was not there, I do not know which approach they used; but I can tell from the impressions left behind that they had:
>Criticized other faiths, denominations
>Implied that their way was the only right way
>Were manipulative, controlling, coercive
>Made unrealistic promises (sold snake-oil cure-all)
Every Christian witness should read and reread C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity to learn the essence of the Gospel. When we criticize our fellow faiths, we paint a picture of a dark world with baffling nuances apparently designed to keep relatively 'good' people out of the heaven club. It is an insult to God and His workmanship in every nation, language and culture. I would never say 'all roads lead to God'; but I would say that even the pagan religions have some element of truth and to deny that is to shut out road markers that point to Christ. The story of redemption is told many ways; but the Bible tells it best. Present a positive message free from bashing any other group; focus on what Christ Jesus has done for you. You and I are not supposed to be forcing converts to be our disciples; but to encourage others to answer Christ's personal call to follow Him in ways we have no knowledge of.

Dear God,
I do not claim to do it well; but I want to. Please make of me a faithful witness, presenting a message that is right, wholesome, and effective. Most people will not respond to the truth, so bear witness with my spirit that I am doing the right thing when I obey You in this.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
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**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 144 Psalm 22:24 Being Heard

Psalm 22:24 For He has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither has He hidden His face from him, but when he cried to Him, He heard.

When I was in the Army I spent a year on a remote mountain top microwave site with eight other G.I.s. Every two months a chaplain came up and sat with each of us to see if we had any issues. When I went to the main base camp a few miles away, our commanding officer would ask how things were going and actually stopped and listened. It was not until my tour in Korea was almost over that I learned about a soldier who was assigned to my site two years prior. His family was going through a crisis, he needed to take leave, but no one responded to his burden. He was made to feel that keeping that microwave relay running (in peacetime) was more important than his family; so he broke into the gun cabinet and shot up the transmitter!

Proverbs 21:13 (NIV) If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.

What does it take to wake us up to the needs of those around us? Do we have to wait until a crisis develops before we make their needs our priority? When I was going through marriage counseling, the first two out of five years was spent on communication and getting me to really listen to my wife. Like most knuckle-headed men, I just didn't get it. Whenever she tried to share, I got defensive, tried to fix things or evaded the issues. All she wanted was to be heard: for me to validate her feelings and share her burden for a while. To (really) listen is to love.

1 Peter 3:7-9 (AMP) In the same way you married men should live considerately with [your wives], with an intelligent recognition [of the marriage relation], honoring the woman as [physically] the weaker, but [realizing that you] are joint heirs of the grace (God's unmerited favor) of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered and cut off. [Otherwise you cannot pray effectively.] Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one another], loving [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble). Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God--that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].

Dear God,
Sometimes I really confuse my role and purpose; I don't know when to express my hard or soft side, my intellect or my heart; I so often get it wrong. Please help me to be compassionate and sensitive, especially when my wife or a friend needs to be heard. May I not be ashamed that I don't have all of the answers; may I not rush into remedies that miss the real need. People usually don't want me to fix them, they don't desire my lofty answers, they just need comfort and reassurance. Make me the tangible part of Your kingdom, the representative heart and soul of Jesus in those critical situations for Your glory. Help me to slow down and be accessible.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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*New International Version (NIV)
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**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 143 Proverbs 23:29-35 No Escape Earth Being

Most (not all) of us were shielded somewhat from reality in our childhood. It was in adolescence that we began to feel the overbearing expectations and demands of life weighing down upon us. In our teenage years we assembled a mental toolbox of responses to that growing pressure; denial, distraction, evasion and withdrawal. We practiced passing responsibility around like a hot potato; we found protection for our ego by blaming our parents and circumstances; we learned either to hide from our terror by posing among our peers; or by playing on others' sympathies as a victim. We have all learned unhealthy responses to the pressures of life that we carry into adulthood. Some means of medication are considered more respectable then others; but any unhealthy response just makes matters worse; and in the long run multiplies sorrows.

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness and dimness of eyes? Those who tarry long at the wine, those who go to seek and try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the wineglass, when it goes down smoothly. At the last it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.
[Under the influence of wine] your eyes will behold strange things [and loose women] and your mind will utter things turned the wrong way [untrue, incorrect, and petulant]. Yes, you will be [as unsteady] as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, and [as open to disaster] as he who lies upon the top of a mast. You will say, They struck me, but I was not hurt! They beat me [as with a hammer], but I did not feel it! When shall I awake? I will crave and seek more wine again [and escape reality].

To make life out to be all rosy is at best naive; a distortion, a deception and a delusion. The Gospel is conspicuously and uniquely "the GOOD NEWS". Our message looses credibility when we don't acknowledge how bad life can be without the difference Jesus Christ makes; the promise of redemption, of God's help, blessing, renewal and of our future happiness in Heaven. God is letting Satan run rampant for now because it contributes to the sorting process. People who have hit bottom in their addictions, who have tried every other way, may finally be receptive to the TRUTH.

1 John 5:19,20 We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one. And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true--in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal.

Dear God,
How sad it is that the people most likely to respond to the message of the Gospel are just those who feel most shunned by Christians and the Church. It is true that your people need to police the fellowship, we need to stay pure; but provoke us to go and carry the message to the retched, miserable, poor, blind and naked souls in bondage. Help us to be the compassionate voice, feet and hands of the Good News in every place.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 142 1 John 5:21 Miserable Substitutes

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)--[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be).

We may feel rather confident that we are not in danger of idolatry in the sense that stone effigies of fertility gods pose no temptation; but let us put this into a modern context. Is a credit card functioning as your 'savior' in every crisis? Has spending, or entertainment or any other 'benign' thing or activity become a 'pleasure button' in your life? (It is not wrong to enjoy things; but 'things' should not get the upper hand and control you). There is a hallowed place in every life meant for God and God alone; but fallen humanity fills it with miserable substitutes. What is much more insidious is when a saint swells with pride and vanity and places themselves in that hallowed place where God should rule. That person is following Lucifer's demise.

2 John 1:7-10 For these [traveling missionaries] have gone out for the Name's sake (for His sake) and are accepting nothing from the Gentiles (the heathen, the non-Israelites). So we ourselves ought to support such people [to welcome and provide for them], in order that we may be fellow workers in the Truth (the whole Gospel) and cooperate with its teachers. I have written briefly to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to take the lead among them and put himself first, does not acknowledge my authority and refuses to accept my suggestions or to listen to me. So when I arrive, I will call attention to what he is doing, his boiling over and casting malicious reflections upon us with insinuating language. And not satisfied with that, he refuses to receive and welcome the [missionary] brethren himself, and also interferes with and forbids those who would welcome them, and tries to expel (excommunicate) them from the church.

Dear God,
Every time I think my pride is conquered, it resurfaces with a vengeance! In moments of sanity I despise the blindness, delusion and strife it fosters; but most of the time I confess that I'm in league with it to my own ruin! Subdue this dragon, Lord! It changes colors instantly when challenged into false humility, which is just as repugnant. Please keep reminding me of Your sovereignty, that You are in charge, that it is Your will, Your church, Your kingdom and Your way that will prevail. May that ultimate truth bring great comfort as I quit trying to manage the Universe for You. Help me to rest under Your capable management of all things.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 141 2 John 1:9 Treacherous Sprint

Anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ [who is not content with what He taught] does not have God; but he who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ [does have God], he has both the Father and the Son.

How might one run ahead of God? Could we make 'being in Christ' an initiation rather than a daily walk (reality)? Could we be a 'living sacrifice' that only offers certain cuts of meat; and that only at the time and circumstance of our own choosing? Could we be annoyed at the people who keep being placed in our path because they are detours to our own agenda? (Not our 'target' ministry?)

Luke 9:23-25 (NIV) Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

Some fear that their 'personality' will dissolve and dilute in the sea of conformity to Christ; but only in Christ will your best self come out. There is a lot of our old selves that has to die and stay dead; only on these terms will new life, UNIQUE, godly attributes emerge and blossom; the REAL YOU!

2 Corinthians 5:14,15 (NIV) For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

We can be sure of not running ahead of Christ when we live for Him and let Him lead our lives. Centered, abiding, deeply rooted and communing with our Lord is where we need to be; it takes the greatest faith to entrust the REST of our lives to one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism.

Dear God,
Where do I tend to run ahead of You? Please reveal even the ugly truths so I can repent. Do I consistently resist and resent the opportunities that You place in my life? Do I dismiss divine appointments in favor of my other plans? Please don't let me persist in fooling myself only to be shocked at judgment day to how off target I was!!! Correct me NOW, I beg of You. I'd rather suffer up front and end right.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 140 Proverbs 16:32 Reactive Armor

Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city.

There is a kind of tank armor with explosives built into it; the premise is that it is better to blow off the impact of an anti-tank rocket along with the armor than to absorb the brunt of its assault. I know that I sometimes go around 'primed' with a 'hair-pin trigger'; the least little thing will set me off; but this does not become a saint. It is the downside of being a passionate man, of caring too much and in the wrong way, and of carrying too much baggage.

James 1:19, 20 Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. For man's anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires].

Proverbs 25:28 (NIV) Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

Having been to four or five anger management classes, I know that counseling, self-talk, 'time-out' and psychological techniques only go so far. There are some things only God can do in my heart; and I just need to humble myself and express faith in supernatural actions that I cannot understand or control. Prayer changes things; primarily ME.

Galatians 5: 22, 23 (NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and SELF-CONTROL.

Dear God,
Anger is a great motivator; but I often do not know how to direct this energy into something constructive. Please help me not to lay trip-wires and land mines on my relational ground. Forgive me for the many times I have blown my stack; and heal me and my relationships. May the life of the Vine flow into me; may I depend on your power manifested in my life to make me what I cannot be on my own; please give me self-control as I abide in You.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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*New International Version (NIV)
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JMD Devotional 139 1 John 4:15-19 Ignorant Beginnings

Vs 18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].

I have been in the presence of a stranger and noticed he was carrying a concealed weapon, which sent a shiver of fear and dread up my spine. I had no idea of what kind of person he was, or his intentions, in the absence of knowing these things my mind raced. At another time I was sitting at the counter of a donut shop, and an officer sat on a stool next to me with his side arm conspicuously between us. Even though I had not robbed a bank, I felt so intimidated by the uniform and the weapon, its power and proximity made me feel very insecure even though I knew this person’s office was to maintain the peace; maybe because he didn’t know me. But then there is my friend David, who I have known for years, who is a police officer, and carries a gun that doesn’t intimidate me. I know him as a good, moral person, and as a friend who I would entrust my life and security to. The only difference between these three men is my relationship to them.

Vs 15 Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God.
Vs 16 And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.
Vs 17 In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.
Vs 19 We love Him, because He first loved us.

Dear God,
When I was very young, I confessed my faith in You not knowing You very well. Your authority and power frightened me; your awareness of every detail made me want to hide my transgressions. I was afraid that in your righteousness and holiness You would have no compassion for my shortcomings and weakness. I am so glad that your work in my life did not end there; but You continued to reveal yourself, and to build a relationship with me based on love. Over the years, your mercy and grace have won my heart; your goodness has provoked a deeper repentance in me than what I had from fearing You. The better I know You, the more I want to cooperate with your will and work in my life. Thank You for showing me that ‘the fear of Lord’ is the beginning, but not the end, of wisdom.
Amen

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JMD Devotional 138 Evil Filter

Proverbs 17:22 A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad.

Proverbs 15:13 A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.

A gloomy, impatient, unthankful spirit, springing from pride and undue attachment to worldly objects, renders a man uneasy to himself and others. (Matthew Henry, Pr 15:14(sic 13))**

People who know my personality and theology find it hard to believe I read Dr. Robert Schuller, “Mr. Positive Possibility Thinker.” I take his words as medicine (not diet) for my negative bent. Somewhere along the line I (unconsciously) learned to protect myself from the sharp pain of disappointment by filing away the edge of my expectations. I let cynicism grow which attached a dark element to everything good. I was challenged last night on the news, when a woman who was the victim of a purse snatching was telling her story. She was knocked down, and dragged across the asphalt when she wouldn’t let go of her purse. The strap broke and the villain ran away with it. But two citizens observed the incident, and got in his way, forcing him to repeatedly change direction, slowing him down. Then an off-duty police officer jumped out of his car and took him down. How did the woman respond? “One bad guy, three good guys! I feel better about life! I feel safer! I’m grateful for these good citizens!”

Dear God,
What’s wrong with me?! If I were that woman, I’d be focused totally on how I was violated. But she saw past the evil of her situation, and was blessed. Please help me to be more like that; to be free of my negative mind-set, my harsh outlook, my knotted reasoning. I am always asking You to change the world; but I find myself most in need of change: transform my mind and renew my spirit, heal my heart, Lord. Please give me good eyes and honest understanding. Help me to be a man who expresses positive faith in every situation.
Amen

**Note: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible is available in the Public Domain.
Retrieved from BibleGateway.com is © Copyright 1995-2005 Gospel Communications International
All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Daily Devotional 137 John 15:1-8 Not Afraid to Prune and Be Pruned

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.
You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you]. Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned. If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.

We live in a performance-oriented society; and in general, the Church tries to be free from looking at individuals through the worldly measures of social status, pecking order and 'payback.' A true measure of an individual's value to God's Kingdom has primarily to do with their connectedness to Jesus Christ, of living a life that exhibits growth in spiritual fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.) These things are not particularly tangible, but are spiritually discerned, and they are acutely tested by our interaction with other people, making our deficits painfully clear. When a believer violates a clear moral boundary, the Church rightly makes an issue of it, as in the case of adultery. On the other hand, we do not beat people up for being 'unloving', we just persuade and encourage them and demonstrate love to them when they are unlovable, and leave the pruning to God. However, when evaluating the performance of a program, here is nothing 'unspiritual' about critical analysis. Good stewardship of time and resources should have us examine how effectively we are serving the Lord and should always be asking the question, "How can God's Kingdom be better served?" I have seen programs institutionalized and maintained out of tradition, past glory or ego that used to meet a need but no longer seem to accomplish anything positive. Does 'roping in' some poor sap into leading or attending a class that nobody benefits from really serve the Living God? The Church should be willing to prune and burn the deadwood programs. If we really did this, you would see everything else invigorated. We would not settle for so little value-added in our professional life; so we should be more zealous for making the Church work better. The work of the Lord should be dynamic, adaptive, inspiriting and consuming: free to respond to God's work and the Holy Spirit's movement in the community. God prunes the individual; but we prune the Church programs.

Dear God,
My heart bears restless discontentment with so much of what I have experienced in the Church. Am I unspiritual for wanting it to be better, for its activities to be more significant? Help me not to judge and discourage those who are working hard, doing the best they can to serve You; may I not snuff out a 'smoking flax.' But I pray that You inspire your people to take your work in this world seriously, and for them to be diligent, accountable, effective and compelling in their service. In all of Your creation there is nothing lame by design; may your Church be made more glorious for Your name's sake.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
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*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Daily Devotional 136 Psalm 12:1,2,6-8 High-Rated Baseness

Psalm 12:1,2,6-8 HELP, LORD! For principled and godly people are here no more; faithfulness and the faithful vanish from among the sons of men. To his neighbor each one speaks words without use or worth or truth; with flattering lips and double heart [deceitfully] they speak.
But...
The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over. You will keep them and preserve them, O Lord; You will guard and keep us from this [evil] generation forever. The wicked walk or prowl about on every side, as vileness is exalted [and baseness is rated high] among the sons of men.

Proverbs 16:4,5 The Lord has made everything [to accommodate itself and contribute] to its own end and His own purpose--even the wicked [are fitted for their role] for the day of calamity and evil. Everyone proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting, hateful, and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; be assured [I pledge it] they will not go unpunished.

Did David and Solomon have the WB or Fox networks? 'Sin-o-max'? Celebrity 'Justice' and 'Entertainment Tonight'? The words, "vileness is exalted [and baseness is rated high] among the sons of men" make me think particularly of Spring Break. Why does society tolerate such debauchery? Drinking beer through a funnel and hose till you pass out and vomit; gross sexual abandon; was that what their parents sacrificed for? Are these tomorrow's leaders? Does a college education contain any moral training today? Has 'higher knowledge' become so compartmentalized that it has no application to daily living? A liberal society points to education as the panacea for every social ill; but in truth we have just better trained reprobates. However, it is not just society that is in need of change...

Dear God,
Lot was grieved by the vile people of Sodom; yet he didn't have the moral integrity to leave on his own; his family was 'comfortable' there; You had to send angels to drag him out. Help me not to be so dependent on worldly benefits that I look the other way, and compromise or accommodate with what is repugnant to you; help me to remain distinctly true, separated and sanctified. I see a Church engine that lacks power due to fuel contaminated by the world, a bad timing belt (that does not recognize its hour to stand up) and is three quarts low on oil (lacking your anointing). We have more knowledge than at any other time in history, but we do not use it for your Kingdom; wake us up, send us reliable mechanics (pastors) and whip us into shape, however unpleasant that may be.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

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JMD Devotional 135 John 11:32-37 Private Pain

John 11:32-37 When Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she dropped down at His feet, saying to Him, Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who came with her [also] sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. [He chafed in spirit and sighed and was disturbed.] And He said, Where have you laid him? They said to Him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. The Jews said, See how [tenderly] He loved him! But some of them said, Could not He Who opened a blind man's eyes have prevented this man from dying?

Scholars have many conflicting ideas concerning the interpretation of the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept." (Every Baptist kid knows John 11:35 because somewhere along the line we were forced to memorize verses, but were allowed to pick and we are inherently lazy creatures.) Some scholars say it was Jesus' humanity expressing itself. Others say He wept not for Mary but for poor Lazarus, who was in a far-far better place than planet Earth! He had to bring him back to a virtual hell with which we are accustomed!

Proverbs 14:10,13 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is heaviness and grief.

The reality is that God gave us some privacy, and that privacy is bound up in our pain. The most nonsensical thing you can say to another person is that "I understand" or "I feel" your pain. Only God shares the naked reality of what each individual feels. That heaviness and grief that follows laughter comes from the inner recognition that we are banished from Eden; that this world is a constant reminder that life is not as it should be, and we were meant for better but blew it.

Dear God,
There are times I feel like the mountains I set my hopes on are melting like wax. Like Martin Luther, I get so frustrated with my fellow Christians that I want to shake this planet into pieces. I have have often been angry with You; but I acknowledge my ignorance; my anger misplaced. It is hard to be a prisoner of my own thoughts, having insights that can never be adequately shared, to only communicate in part, to commune superficially. Let me rest under your wing closest to your heart beat; may I not have to explain anything knowing You know my pain. You know my pain. You know my pain. Oh Jesus...
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to
my daily devotional, please forward.
jamesdinsmore_32907@yahoo.com
Short, concise, thought-provoking.

More features:


http://saintjamespoetry.blogspot.com/

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http://jamesezadventures.blogspot.com/