Ah Grasshopper - February 28, 2010

Daily Reading

Numbers 11-13

Daily Verse

We saw the Nephilim there

(the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim).

We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes,

and we looked the same to them."

Numbers 13:33

Daily Thought

David had three chances to figure out he was too small to fight Goliath the Philistine.

First King Saul told him, "You can't fight Goliath. You're only a boy."

Then David put on the armor, but it didn't fit. Everyone knows if the armor's too big, the battle's too big.

Finally, the big Philistine himself laughed, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?"

A few hundred years before David, the Israelites had a similar problem. Someone thought they were too small.

It wasn't the Nephilim that thought the Israelites looked like grasshoppers.

It wasn't the Amalekites that thought the Israelites looked like grasshoppers.

It wasn't the Hittites that thought the Israelites looked like grasshoppers.

It wasn't the Jebusites that thought the Israelites looked like grasshoppers.

It wasn't the Amorites that thought the Israelites looked like grasshoppers.

It wasn't the Canaanites that thought the Israelites looked like grasshoppers.

It was the Israelites that thought the Israelites looked like grasshoppers.

It never occurred to David to measure himself.

He measured Goliath. He measured God.

"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel."

So, David killed Goliath with a slingshot. Then he cut off his head.

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Awesome God, You reign from heaven above with wisdom, power, and love. You are the Almighty, the Everlasting, our Stronghold, our Shelter, our Fortress in time of trouble. You are our Savior.

Our God is an awesome God. May we never rely on our own strength; but may we never forget Your strength. We shall always place our trust in it, in You. If our God is for us, who can be against us?

Amen

Happy Wife, Happy Life - February 27, 2010

Daily Reading

Numbers 8-10

Daily Verse

Moses answered them,

"Wait until I find out what the LORD

commands concerning you."

Numbers 9:8

Daily Thought

My son approached me with what seemed to be a perfectly reasonable request. "May I go to the movies tonight with my friends?"

Which movie? Which friends?

I asked the right questions.

"Son, it seems like everything is okay."

He started to walk away triumphantly. "But son, you know there is no 'Yes' until mom says 'Yes.'"

He knew.

This is not simply Happy Wife, Happy Life.

My wife knows better.

She knows if there is homework due.

She knows how he's behaved during the day.

She even knows more about his friends.

Okay, Happy Wife, Happy Life is important, too.

Moses answered them, "Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you." --Numbers 9:8

How often do I say 'Yes' or 'No,' before checking with the One who knows best?

Blessed is the man who listens to me,

watching daily at my doors,

waiting at my doorway.

--Proverbs 8:34

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Father God, You are wise, You are loving, You are good. What a blessing it is to bring our requests to You. We know that You will work all things for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. If we want Your wisdom, God, it begins with our love for You. God, may we love You fully.

May we show our love by our obedience. We say we trust You. May we show our trust by our actions.

Amen

The Weight of Glory - February 26, 2010

Daily Reading

Numbers 7

Daily Verse

But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites,

because they were to carry on their shoulders

the holy things, for which they were responsible.

Numbers 7:9

Daily Thought

Moses gave the Gershonites two carts to carry curtains, and the Merarites got four carts for tent poles. The Kohathites were responsible for the holy things. You know, the ark of the Covenant. Indiana Jones and all that. God's glory.

Did you know the word glory means "weight" in Hebrew?

As in several tons. That's how much the ark and the holy things weighed. A cart and a couple oxen would have been nice.

God said, "I want you to carry the holy things on your shoulders."

We can point to wonderful pictures of God's glory in this world. The elegance of creation, the beauty of sunsets, the majesty of mountains. "The whole earth is full of his glory," said more than one Hebrew poet.

But, if the world is going to see God's glory, it's still on our shoulders.

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

--Ephesians 3:10-11

God says, "I want you to carry my glory."

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Glorious God, Maker of heaven and earth, the seas and all that are in them, the land and all it's creatures, the skies and the birds that soar, stars and planets, painted with all the colors of the rainbow, which you made, as well.

In all of creation, You place Your image in us. Through the work of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are being transformed and Your image is becoming clear again. May we display Your glory, Your wonder, Your wisdom, You grace, Your love, to the world around us. May the glory of Your work in us brighten the world and bring You praise.

Amen

Solve For "X" - February 25, 2010

Daily Reading

Numbers 5-6

Daily Verse

Say to the Israelites:

"When a man or woman wrongs another in any way

and so is unfaithful to the LORD, that person is guilty."

Numbers 5:6

Daily Thought

If loving God = loving others,

then attacking others = attacking "X"

Solve for "X"

John Hinkley, Jr. was aiming at President Ronald Reagan. Instead, he shot Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy, because Secret Service agents take bullets aimed for the President. McCarthy threw his body in the line of fire.

Our words are bullets. Jesus said so. (Matthew 5:21-22)

Have you ever taken aim at anyone?

The King will reply, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me; whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."

--Matthew 25:40, 45

When we wrong someone in any way, Jesus is in the line of fire.

The solution: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

--John 13:34-35

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Our Father, You are good and just and loving and full of grace. Your Son was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, by His wounds we are healed.

Thank You, Father, for salvation, for forgiveness, for the atonement for our sins offered by the death of Jesus Christ. We praise You that Jesus conquered death. His is the name above all names.

In the Name of Jesus,

Amen

Every Week, Every Little Cup - February 24, 2010

Daily Reading

Numbers 3-4

Daily Verse

This is their duty as they perform service

at the Tent of Meeting:

to carry the frames of the tabernacle,

its crossbars, posts and bases,

as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard

with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,

all their equipment and everything related to their use.

Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry.

Numbers 4:31-32

Daily Thought

I know I left my bulletin under this chair last week. Someone cleaned up. In fact, all the chairs are back in order and the place looks good. Thank you, whoever straightened up the place.

There's a pencil in the pocket and a Bible underneath the chair in front of me. Thanks, pencil sharpener person.

It's cold outside, but I feel good in here. To the person who got in here early, turned on the lights and set the temperature, I appreciate it!

Who fills all those little cups for communion? Every week, every little cup. Whoever does that, thank you.

It is nice having the words on the screen. Thanks!

I love hanging out after the service talking to people. Thank you for the cup of coffee and the cookie (or two).

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

--Philippians 1:3-5

That was wonderful. I love Sundays.

Hope the last person to leave got the lights.

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Our Father, You are our God and we are Your people. The family of God, brought together by the sacrifice of Your Son, receiving full inheritance of Your great and glorious treasures. Thank You, God.

By our love for one another, we show that we are Your disciples. May we be people who look out for the interests of others, who are quick to serve, who seek out and fill needs. May we be people who love in action as well as word. May we be a family, Your children, brothers and sisters.

Amen

More or Less - February 23, 2010

Daily Reading

Numbers 1-2

Daily Verse

"Take a census of the whole Israelite community

by their clans and families,

listing every man by name, one by one."

Numbers 1:2

Daily Thought

He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

Psalm 147:4

There are 6,800,000,000 people on this planet, more or less.

Best guess is 100 billion people have been born since the dawn of the human race.

Approximately 255 babies are born every minute.

Right around 18,600,000 birthdays are on February 23.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31

God does not know more or less, best guess, approximately, right around, or just about. God knows exactly. By Name.

God knows you.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:14-16

To God's Glory,

Dave

P.S., There is exactly one God.

Daily Prayer

God, Your care for us is wonderful and amazing. As David wrote in his psalm, "Who are we that You think about us?" And yet You do. You think of us more than we think of You. Forgive us for that. May we walk with you all day every day.

Father, the value that You have placed in us, may we see that value in others. That each person is fearfully and wonderfully made, a work of art by You, our Creator God. Truly, God we love You as we love others, because they are Your workmanship. You have given us faith to believe in You, a certainty of hope for eternity, and You give us love, the greatest of Your gifts. May we be people who love.

Amen

Holding A Cat By Its Tail - February 22, 2010

Daily Reading

Leviticus 26-27

Daily Verse

I will walk among you and be your God,

and you will be my people.

Leviticus 26:12

Daily Thought

When you are God, then you are God. Obviously!

Yet, we carve God into our favorite image. "The kind of God I believe in..." As if we can treat God any way we want. Well, I guess we can, but...

"The man that sets out to carry a cat by its tail learns something that will always be useful and which will never grow dim or doubtful."

--Mark Twain

God said to Moses, "I am that I am." Our choice is not which kind of God we follow, but whether OR NOT we follow the God who is.

If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will look on you with favor.

Leviticus 26:3, 9

But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, then I will do this to you...

Leviticus 26:14, 16

"My God wouldn't do that!"

He will if you pick him up by the tail.

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

God, You are eternal, not created, but Creator of all things. You have no beginning, no ending. You are all in all. You are God.

You created us in Your image. Within us is a knowledge of You. We all have eternity in our hearts. We know You. Yet we chose not to follow You, but to follow our own creation. Thank You for Your Son, who showed us You again, and made restoration possible. May we follow You, may we conform to Your image.

Amen

Mine! - February 21, 2010

Daily Reading

Leviticus 24-25

Daily Verse

"The land must not be sold permanently,

because the land is mine

and you are but aliens and my tenants."

Leviticus 25:23

Daily Thought

"Mine!"

The word that starts all the fighting.

That's mine!

My toy!

You're on my side!

It's my month!!!

Sound familiar?

To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.

--Deuteronomy 10:14

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it.

--Psalm 24:1

For every animal of the forest is mine,

and the cattle on a thousand hills.

--Psalm 50:10

The silver is mine and the gold is mine," declares the LORD Almighty.

--Haggai 2:8

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

--Colossians 1:16

"God's!"

The word that starts all the sharing.

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

--Acts 2:44-45

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Father in Heaven, The world is Yours, and all that is in it. You are the source of every good and every blessing. And Your greatest blessing is our adoption into Your family because of the saving work of Your Son. We call it grace. We call it good news.

Teach us to share.

Amen

Closed on Sunday - February 20, 2010

Daily Reading

Leviticus 22-23

Daily Verse

"There are six days when you may work,

but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest,

a day of sacred assembly.

You are not to do any work; wherever you live,

it is a Sabbath to the LORD."

Leviticus 23:3

Daily Thought

In 1946, Truett Cathy opened a restaurant he dubbed the Dwarf Grill, because it was small. Right from the start, Cathy determined they would rest on the Lord's Day.

Closed on Sunday.

I guess you can do that when you're small.

Have you ever heard of Chick-Fil-A? That was Truett's next restaurant. Well, chain of restaurants. They're HUGE! They are everywhere.

They are closed on Sunday.

Truett Cathy explains why. "Our decision to close on Sunday was our way of honoring God and directing our attention to things more important than our business. If it took seven days to make a living with a restaurant, then we needed to be in some other line of work."

Wow! I want to support faith like that. I'm taking the family to Chick-Fil-A. So, right after church we hustled off to lunch.

They were closed.

How quickly I forget.

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Creator God, in six days You created the heavens and the earth. All the glory and majesty. All of life. On the seventh day, You rested. You show us how to work and how to worship.

Our desire, God, is to be like You. To reflect Your image. To be Christlike. Father, may we rest in You. Strengthen our faith so that we trust You enough to stop. To stop our efforts. To live in Your rest, Your care, Your glory.

Amen

Religious Cocktails - February 19, 2010

Daily Reading

Leviticus 19-21

Daily Verse

Keep my decrees.

Do not mate different kinds of animals.

Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.

Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

Leviticus 19:19

Daily Thought

The guy said that since there are over 3,000 different religions on the planet, none of them can be the right one. It would be arrogant of me to think I have the only right one. If there are 3,000 religions, he said, anyone who believes 2,999 of them are wrong is arrogant.

Didn't he just say 3,000 of them are wrong?

Here's the thing, within those 3,000 religions, there are so many beliefs that are appealing and positive and attractive and uplifting. It would be tempting to take a little bit from one and something else from another. To knit a magnificent tapestry of beliefs. I think I could mix a pretty tasty religious cocktail.

But it isn't about pleasing me, is it? If I thought it was about me, that would be arrogant.

It is about truth and reality. It is about God.

To choose God's way over my way is what Jesus describes as "poor in spirit," not seeking myself. Not arrogant.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

--Matthew 5:3

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

God, You so loved the world that You sent Your one and only Son. Anyone believing in Him will receive eternal life. In Your grace, You did not send Your Son to condemn us. In Your holiness, You would have been justified to do so, but Your Son became condemnation so we might receive justification in His Name.

The Name of Jesus is the Name above all names. May we never mix it with any others. May we always hold it high. May we walk in Your ways, increasing Your reputation in this world. May we humble ourselves and direct all glory to You.

Amen

Peeling An Orange - February 18, 2010

Daily Reading

Leviticus 16-18

Daily Verse

You must not do as they do in Egypt,

where you used to live,

and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan,

where I am bringing you.

Do not follow their practices.

Leviticus 18:3

Daily Thought

I was a teenager sitting shotgun. Dad was driving. Stopped at a light, he turned to me and said, "Just don't." The light changed to green and off we went.

I'd just had my "sex talk."

The Bible says "Don't" quite a few times. Read Leviticus 18. Twenty times it says "Do not have sex with..." and finishes the sentence 20 ways.

Is that all God says? "Just don't."

No, not at all. Sex is God's idea, his creation.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

When God says "don't," he is peeling the rind off the orange. An orange is delicious, but you don't eat the rind.

We hear the opposite message from the world around us.

"Just Do It."

Eat the rind and then wonder why the fruit doesn't taste as good.

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

--Genesis 2:24-25

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

God, You bring blessing and joy. You delight in Your work. Your will is Your pleasure. Your creation is full of beauty and majesty. You tell Your story in our history and You paint a work of art in this creation. We see in this world all the evidence we need of Your divinity, Your power, Your sovereignty, Your majesty.

And when You set us in this world, it was not only to care for it, but to enjoy it. You taught us how to enjoy it. Everything You create is good. And then there was that one thing. That very good thing. You brought us together, man and woman, and created marriage. God, may we show off Your goodness in all we do. May our marriages be very good.

Amen

Prevents Mildew Stains - February 17, 2010

Daily Reading

Leviticus 14-15

Daily Verse

These are the regulations for any infectious skin disease,

for an itch, for mildew in clothing or in a house,

and for a swelling, a rash or a bright spot,

to determine when something is clean or unclean.

Leviticus 14:54-57

Daily Thought

I spray my shower with Tilex® Fresh Shower®. You know why? It says it right on the bottle, "Prevents Mildew Stains!"

I looked it up: Facts about Mildew. Mold and mildew are more than just ugly stains in your bathroom. In your home, they can be harmful to your health.

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Job 22:12

"Is not God in the heights of heaven?

And see how lofty are the highest stars!"

Our God, Lord of heaven and earth, who placed the stars and the sun and the moon, who orders the day and the night, who filled the land and the sea...

This is the God who pays attention to us. Mildew, even.

Psalm 8:3-4

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

Matthew 6:31-33

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ...Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

For God so loved the world...

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Our God, You are love. You teach us love by extending Your love beyond the heavens, all the way to the cross. We love because Your first loved us.

God, teach us to trust. To leave our lives fully in Your care, because not only can You do everything that we could ever dream or want, but You know our needs. And You care. You, who would sacrifice Your own Son, how can we not worship You. Love You!

Amen