Guarantee Victory - April 1, 2010

Daily Reading

Judges 6-7

Daily Verse

But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him,

"Are you going to plead Baal's cause?

Are you trying to save him?

Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning!

If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself

when someone breaks down his altar."

Judges 6:31

Daily Thought

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

--Matthew 28:5-6

Muhammad Ali told reporters he would knock Sonny Liston out in the first round.

He did.

Joe Namath of the New York Jets, before Super Bowl III, declared, "We're gonna win the game. I guarantee it."

They did.

Michael Jordan, before the Conference Finals in his final season with the Chicago Bulls, stated, "We will win Game 7."

They did.

A bunch of no-names have guaranteed victories. No-names because, quite frankly, who remembers. They lost.

If you don't have the game, don't make the claim.

Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

--John 2:19

He did.

...just as he said.

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Our God, You are God. Simple as that. In fact, It's Your Name, the Name You gave Moses. The Name we are to remember You by. "I Am That I Am." You are God. There is no other.

What You say, You do. God, I pray that my faith is full, that my devotion is pure, that I follow You without fail, that I never take my eyes off of You. You are God. There is no other.

Amen

Making Memories Or Wasting Gas - March 31, 2010

Daily Reading

Judges 3-5

Daily Verse

"When the princes in Israel take the lead,

when the people willingly offer themselves-

praise the LORD!"

Judges 5:2

Daily Thought

It was Friday night and gas was cheap. We'd all pile into a car and the night awaited.

Now what?

Someone had to take the lead, "Let's do this..."

Everyone else had to say, "Okay."

Seems simple.

When it happened, memories were made!

But too often, no one had an idea or no one agreed, and we'd just drive around.

What was true for Israel was true for a bunch of teenagers on a Friday night, is still true today. We need princes to lead and people to follow.

It is the difference between doing something that matters and wasting gas.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

--Matthew 9:36

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

--Matthew 4:19

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, by Your grace we are saved. Not from anything we do. We add nothing. Your Son, Jesus Christ, paid the price for our sins by His death on the cross. You have given us life, a life overflowing.

We are Your workmanship, made to do good works. Father, You lead and we follow and You get the glory and we have a life that is full and satisfying and good. Praise the Lord!

Amen

A Chance To Talk - March 30, 2010

Daily Reading

Judges 1-2

Daily Verse

After that whole generation

had been gathered to their fathers,

another generation grew up,

who knew neither the LORD

nor what he had done for Israel.

Judges 2:10

Daily Thought

In 2005, my son was in 8th grade history class at Springview Middle School. His assignment was to write an essay on the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

In 1945, my dad was in the 6th Marine Division on the Island of Guam. His assignment was to invade the mainland of Japan.

Until two bombs dropped.

I'm glad my dad and my son had a chance to talk.

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

My God, You enter history and You walk with us. You guide us, You lead us, You go before us. In the work of Your Son, Jesus Christ, through death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, is victory over death, over sin, and over evil. You are Almighty, the God of righteousness.

God, may we never forget what You have done. May we tell our sons and daughters, and their sons and daughters. May our faith pass from generation to generation.

Amen

You Cannot Not Choose - March 29, 2010

Daily Reading

Joshua 22-24

Daily Verse

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you,

then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,

whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River,

or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Joshua 24:15

Daily Thought

The guy couldn't choose between North and South. So he wore a Dixie gray shirt and Yankee blue pants.

Both sides shot him.

You cannot not choose.

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.

So, make a choice.

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

--Joshua 24:15

But, choose wisely.

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Father in Heaven, make Your love the foundation of my life. May my love for You express itself in eagerness to serve, to do good for others. May I learn humility from Your Son, sacrifice from the Cross, wisdom from Your Word.

You are God, most wise. Your wisdom confounds the world. May I think like You. May I listen to Your Spirit. Give me the desires of my heart - make Your desires become mine.

Amen

You Bet Your Life - March 28, 2010

Daily Reading

Joshua 19-21

Daily Verse

Not one of all the LORD's good promises

to the house of Israel failed;

every one was fulfilled.

Joshua 21:45

Daily Thought

Some things are a good bet.

Joe DiMaggio getting a hit. He hit safely in 56 straight baseball games. Not 57 though.

Ted St. Martin making a free throw. He sunk 5,221 consecutive free throws. He missed number 5,222.

UCLA winning a basketball game. They won every game from 1/30/71 to 1/17/74. 88 in a row. They lost on 1/19/74.

Only One is a sure thing.

God keeping a promise. Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

--Joshua 21:45

Every single one.

...and counting.

You bet your life on the sure thing.

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Our Father, God, Thank You for Your promises. Thank You for telling us what You are going to do, then doing it. Thank You that we can fully trust in You.

God, you are the beginning and the end, the first and the last. In You there is no change, no uncertainty. You are the Creator and Sustainer of all things. We read Your Word and we know what eternity holds in front of us. What a great God You are!

Amen

Start Bad - March 27, 2010

Daily Reading

Joshua 16-18

Daily Verse

So Joshua said to the Israelites:

"How long will you wait

before you begin to take possession

of the land that the LORD,

the God of your fathers, has given you?"

Joshua 18:3

Daily Thought

I learned to do things wrong by being in the wrong place, and it's the best thing I ever learned.

The wrong place was me and 300 women.

For a 27 year old single guy this might seem like the right place, except this was a Pastor's Conference and I was in a seminar on "How to Do Women's Ministry." I was a youth pastor, but someday I might be a senior pastor, and maybe a women's ministry would be a good thing, so I thought why not learn how.

Apparently, I was the only guy who had that thought. I stayed anyway.

"Start bad." That's what the seminar lady said. It's the only thing I remember. It's the best advice I ever got.

When I wait until I'm sure nothing will go wrong, nothing gets done because nothing gets started.

So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?"

--Joshua 18:3

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Father God, As I watch the world around me, my faith is strengthened daily. There are signs of You everywhere. The joys of spring as the world blossoms and new life emerges everywhere reminds me that You are the Author of all life.

God, I pray that my life, as well, is a continual reminder of You. That I reflect You in my actions, my thoughts, my faith. That I trust my life to You and walk forward in courage and faith, knowing that You go before me.

Amen

Don't Make Peace With Evil - March 26, 2010

Daily Reading

Joshua 12-15

Daily Verse

But the Israelites did not drive out

the people of Geshur and Maacah,

so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.

Joshua 13:13

Daily Thought

God made it clear. The land is filled with evil. Drive out all of the evil from the land.

They drove out a lot. Not all. Not everybody. Sometimes some cities didn't seem worth the battle.

Hypocrisy, pride, gossip, gluttony, lust, greed. These cannot continue to live among us.

We fear the war when we should fear the peace.

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

--Philippians 2:12-13

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Holy God, You called us to be perfect just like You. Which we cannot do... on our own. May my repentance be true. I choose to turn away from my sin, and God, I need Your Spirit to give me guidance and strength not to turn back. Thank You that even when I do, I can return and confess, and the once-and-for-all death of Your Son, Jesus Christ, covers all my sins.

I am so glad You are perfect and that Your standard is holiness. What other kind of eternity would be good? Thank You, Father, for doing the work which makes my holiness possible. It is only in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen