The Eyes Have It - June 30, 2010

Daily Reading

2Chronicles 19-23

Daily Verse

He told them, "Consider carefully what you do,

because you are not judging for man but for the LORD,

who is with you whenever you give a verdict.

2Chronicles 19:6

Daily Thought

I remember watching a movie with my college buddies. They laughed and I laughed. We had a great time.

I remember, several years later, watching the same movie with my Aunt Katie. She frowned and I squirmed. We had an awkward time.

Funny how the same movie is different depending on whose eyes you see it through.

"Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict."
--2Chronicles 19:6

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, righteous and good and holy, may I fill my eyes, my thoughts, my heart with heavenly things. May Your glory be reflected in all I do. Give me discernment to know what is right and what pleases You. When I ask You to give me the desires of my heart, God, I do not mean give me whatever I want. Rather, cause Your desires to become my deepest longing, so that whatever I want will be a consistent with Your character. Goodness. Truth. Faith. Hope. Love.

Amen

He Knew The Score - June 29, 2010

Daily Reading

1Kings 22, 2Chronicles 18

Daily Verse

King Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "I will enter the battle in disguise."

But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel

between the sections of his armor. At sunset he died.

2Chronicles 18:29, 33-34

Daily Thought

I coached my son's T-ball team. The parents in charge decided not to keep score in this league. Every game would end in a tie. It will make the kids happy, they said.

I overheard my daughter ask my son about his game. "We lost 8-3."

He knew the score.

Every kid knew the score. Of every game. (So did the parents, it turned out.)

The prophet Micaiah was encouraged to lie to the king. "Look, as one man the other prophets are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably."
--1Kings 22:13

It will make him happy.

So Micaiah went along. "Attack and be victorious, for the LORD will give it into the king's hand."

The king said to him, "How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD ?"
--1Kings 22:15-16

King Ahab knew the score. "The LORD has decreed disaster for you."
--1Kings 22:23

Tell the truth. It has a habit of showing up anyway.

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My Lord and Savior, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The world does not desire the truth, preferring darkness over light. In fact, telling the Truth put You in danger. You told it anyway. And died. But death could not hold the Truth. You rose again, and offered salvation to all who follow the Truth.

Praise God for the Truth. The Truth has set us free from the power of sin and death. May I always walk by the Truth, stand for the Truth, desire Truth and share Truth. You Word is Truth.

Amen

Suit Up And Say It On The Field - June 28, 2010

Daily Reading

1Kings 20-21

Daily Verse

The king of Israel answered,

"Tell him: 'One who puts on his armor

should not boast like one who takes it off.'"

1Kings 20:11

Daily Thought

If only the Jets had lost.

Nothing against New York, it's that silly guarantee.

Three days prior to Super Bowl III, Joe Namath brashly boasted, "We're gonna win the game. I guarantee it."

And they did. New York Jets 16 - Baltimore Colts 7

Now we get lots of guarantees, and just about half the time they are right.

Show me the player who competes with intensity, but without the bluster and bravado. He scores a touchdown and tosses the ball to the ref. "Been here before. I'll be back again."

Suit up and say it on the field.

Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
someone else, and not your own lips.
--Proverbs 27:1-2

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My God, I am glad to boast in You. Truth that You declare, I speak with confidence, because I know it is as true as if it had already occurred. What you say will happen, happens.

I will not boast of strength, wisdom, or riches, because what I have, if any, comes from You. Therefore, let all my boasting turn to praise. Let me declare only this, that I know the God of Creation, who exercises justice and kindness and righteousness on this earth. That I know Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord.

Amen

Forsaking All Others Keeping Only Unto You - June 27, 2010

Daily Reading

1Kings 17-19

Daily Verse

So Elisha left him and went back.

He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them.

He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat

and gave it to the people, and they ate.

Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.

1Kings 19:21

Daily Thought

For which of you does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.
--Luke 14:28

To have and to hold

from this day forward,

for better or worse,

for richer or poorer,
in sickness and in health,

to love and to cherish,
and forsaking all others,

keeping only unto you,
until death do us part.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
--Philippians 3:7-8

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Father God, You left heaven to come to me. May I return Your love with my own love, keeping You first, forsaking anything that stands in the way, following You wholeheartedly.

You are my first love.

Amen

Except For Adultery And Murder - June 26, 2010

Daily Reading

1Kings 15:25-16:34, 2Chronicles 17

Daily Verse

The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years

he walked in the ways his father David had followed.

2Chronicles 17:3

Daily Thought

For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD
...except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.
--1Kings 15:5

I remember Uriah. David had sex with Uriah's wife, then David murdered Uriah.

For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD
...except for that time he committed adultery and murder.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
--Romans 7:24

Too big to be covered up by murder,
David's sin could only be covered by grace.

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
--John Newton (former slave-ship captain)

David's sin was big. God's grace is bigger. You can't sin too big for God's grace.

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

P.S., Don't try.

Daily Prayer

My God, Blessed is he

whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
whose sin the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Thank You, God, for Your grace.

Amen

They Think The Cars Are Real - June 25, 2010

Daily Reading

1Kings 15:1-24, 2Chronicles 13-16

Daily Verse

You have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods.

Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams

may become a priest of what are not gods.

2Chronicles 13:8-9

Daily Thought

My favorite ride at Disneyland, when I was a child, was the Autopia. I felt grown-up pretending I was driving a real car.

Then I grew up and I was driving a real car. Cars that drive seven miles an hour and stay on a track are not real cars. I stopped driving on the Disneyland Autopia.

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My God, the world tempts me to leave You and chase illusions of delight. They are like bubbles, blown in the air, but when you grab them, nothing.

Meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Here is what matters: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is my whole duty.

Father, You are the way, the truth, and the life. Your Word, God, is truth. May I never give in to the temptation of what is not real, not god. May I always seek You.

Amen

Life Jackets? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Life Jackets - June 24, 2010

Daily Reading

2Chronicles 10-12

Daily Verse

After Rehoboam's position as king was established

and he had become strong,

he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD.

2Chronicles 12:1

Daily Thought

Sacramento summers cook. North of a hundred degrees is normal.

The American River, cool run-off from the Sierra snows, is a popular solution. The flow of the river is mostly calm and mostly shallow.

Wonderful for rafting. And surprisingly dangerous for drowning.

The victims are overwhelmingly young and male.

"We are old enough, we are strong enough, and we can swim," say the young men.

After Rehoboam's position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD.
--1Chronicles 12:1

"Life jackets? We don't need no stinkin' life jackets."

Of the 231 victims between 1962 and 2001, only one was wearing a life jacket.

Moses said to Israel, "Take to heart all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you - they are your life. By them you will live long."
--Deuteronomy 32:45-47

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My faithful Father, You are the Rock, the foundation on which a life will stand firm. What You say, You do. Your Word is true, right, and good. It shall be my guide in life, my constant companion.

Protect me, God, from myself. From becoming full of myself. May I always remember that the world is not friendly toward me because it is not friendly toward You. May my love for Your Word continue to grow.

Amen

God Is Gold - June 23, 2010

Daily Reading

1Kings 12-14

Daily Verse

Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem.

He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made.

So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them.

1Kings 14:25-27

Daily Thought

Gold: #1
Silver: #2
Bronze: #3

In 1963, Avis was satisfied with silver. We are #2. We try harder.

It's 2010. Avis is still silver. And still trying.

King Rehoboam was satisfied with bronze. Bronze is good, but it's not gold.

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
--Matthew 22:36-37

Sounds like gold to me.

What place is God in your life?

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

God, may You always be first place in my life. May You be my first love, my full devotion. With all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, may my love never waver or cease.

I love You. First. Fully.

Amen

When God Said It Was Very Good - June 22, 2010

Daily Reading

Proverbs 30-31

Daily Verse

A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

Proverbs 31:10

Daily Thought

God made light.

It was good.

God made sky.

It was good.

God made land and sea and carrots and broccoli and tomatoes, oranges and apples and bananas.

It was good.

God made sun and moon and stars, day and night.

It was good.

God made seagulls and guppies, hippopotamuses and giraffes.

It was good.

God made man. Just man.

It was not good.

Then God made a woman and he brought her to the man.

And it was very good.

Her husband lacks nothing of value.
--Proverbs 31:11

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My Creator, You made me in Your image, male and female You made us. What a grand plan. Man and woman, husband and wife, together displaying Your glory.

God, may I honor You by loving my wife. May I display Your wisdom in my marriage.

Amen

Dance With The One That Brought You - June 21, 2010

Daily Reading

1Kings 10-11, 2Chronicles 9

Daily Verse

As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods,

and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God,

as the heart of David his father had been.

1Kings 11:4

Daily Thought

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
--King Solomon, Proverbs 9:10

King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women.
--1Kings 11:1

You got to dance with the one that brought you,
Stay with the one that wants you,
The one who's gonna love you when all of the others go home.

"You shall have no other gods before me, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me."
--Exodus 20:3-6

Don't let the green grass fool ya,
Don't let the moon get to ya,
Dance with the one that brought you and you can't go wrong.
--Shania Twain, "Dance With The One That Brought You"

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen!
--Revelation 2:4-5

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

God of Love, I only know what love is because of You. My kind of love leans toward selfishness. What in it for me? But You, the God of all creation, considered me, the one You created, better than Yourself. Even while I had my back turned to You, You died for me. Your love is sacrificial. It is good. It is life.

God, I have one first love, and that is You. Above all else. And what is amazing is I am able to love others better because I love You fully. Thank You for loving me first.

Amen

I Sharpened My Axe - June 20, 2010

Daily Reading

Ecclesiastes 7-12

Daily Verse

If the ax is dull

and its edge unsharpened,

more strength is needed

but skill will bring success

Ecclesiastes 10:10

Daily Thought

Bill and Ted were chopping down trees. Bill worked steadily, hour after hour. Ted stopped on the hour, every hour, and rested ten minutes.

At the end of the day, Bill surveyed his work. Fine job. But Ted had cleared almost twice as many trees.

"How?" Bill asked Ted. "You stopped every hour. I didn't."

Ted replied, "When I stopped and rested, I sharpened my axe."

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Wise and Wonderful God, Your ways are good, Your work is mighty, Your love is never ending, Your grace is sufficient, Your salvation is glorious.

Teach me God, to number my days and to redeem my time. To be wise and to do good. To love others and to share Your good news. To seek always Your Kingdom and Your righteousness. To study Your Word and Your ways, so that righteousness becomes a habit.

Amen

Kobe Doesn't Win Championships - June 19, 2010

Daily Reading

Ecclesiastes 1-6

Daily Verse

Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down, his friend can help him up.

But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Daily Thought

2010 NBA Final, Game 7

LA Lakers 83, Boston Celtics 79

An old retired coach was asked by the reporter, "How many championships do you think Kobe Bryant can win?"

"None," he said, flatly.

"None?"

"Kobe doesn't win championships. The Lakers win championships."

Though one may be overpowered,

two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

--Ecclesiastes 4:12

To God's Glory,

Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Father God, what a surprise when You found something "not good" in Your Creation. With all it's majesty and wonder and beauty and precision, You saw that standing alone is not good. It was very good, however, once You brought a companion, someone with whom to walk side by side through life.

You created us for relationship and teamwork, God, to be together, to love each other, and then together to love others. Teach me to value and love people the way You do.

Amen

Practice For The Fourth Quarter - June 18, 2010

Daily Reading

Proverbs 27-29

Daily Verse

If a man pampers his servant from youth,

he will bring grief in the end.

Proverbs 29:21

Daily Thought

My Dad is a coach.

His teams look forward to each game. They love the battle, the competition, the scoring, the defense.

They also love the break. From practice.

For 90 minutes, Dad's practices push each player to the point of exhaustion. They are prepared to play three quarters.

The last 30 minutes prepare them for the fourth.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

--1Corinthians 9:24-27

To God's Glory

Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Dear God, it is often hard to consider it pure joy when I face trials. I don't like trials. It is not fun to suffer. But then I remember Your Son, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross. So, I look past the trial and see the maturity. That testing develops endurance, and the endurance takes me through the end to the prize.

God, you have told me to aim for perfection. I won't get there without your help, and not until the end when You complete Your work in me, but I commit to throw off everything that distracts or gets in the way.

Amen

The Baltimore Orioles vs. The Boston Red Stockings - June 17, 1894

Daily Reading

Proverbs 25-26

Daily Verse

As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

Proverbs 26:21

Daily Thought

The Baltimore Orioles John McGraw rounds second going for third. The baseball and McGraw arrive at the same time, McGraw slides hard planting a foot into the chest of Tommy Tucker, the Boston Red Stockings' third baseman. Tucker returns an elbow. Words are exchanged, then shoves,

then punches. The benches clear, a fist breaks a nose, a cold-cocked mouth bleeds, teeth go dancing into the air. Fans storm the field and swing at anyone wearing the wrong color shirt. In the right-field stands, a stogie drops. Paper cups catch fire, igniting wooden seats. The fire sends sparks into the air, and the ballpark and 107 surrounding buildings burn to the ground.

In the spring of 1894, the Baltimore Orioles came to Boston to play a routine baseball game. But the Orioles' John McGraw got into a fight with the Boston third baseman, and the kerosene of man's fury scorched a ballpark and a city.

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

--James 3:5

To God's Glory

Dave Price

Daily Prayer

My Righteous God, You passionately defend Your Name, because Your Name is good. You come with peace, but also with a sword. I love the fight of Your Son when He cleared the Temple courtyards of those who were abusing both Your house and Your people. You are the defender of the poor, the weak, the humble, and the broken.

God, You have not called me to be timid, but you have given me a Spirit of power and love and discipline. Give me also the wisdom to do what is right, to keep from sinning when anger is called for, and to love and promote peace whenever possible.

Amen