Utensils
Many things have distracted me from sitting down with You this morning, Father, but I know that it is so very important that I do so. This investment of time yields great benefits!
2 Timothy 2:20-21 (<<click here)
We are all utensils, Lord, created by You. Every one of us has been created for noble and honorable things but many choose to go through their entire lives being used only for the mundane. When we give ourselves over to You we make ourselves available to be used for things beyond what we are even able to imagine. But there are followers of You, Lord, who never get beyond the mundane. They are Your children but allow the “world” to have too much sway in their lives – they cannot let go of what the world offers. But in doing so, they remain bound to the world. Only in letting go can they be truly set free.
Lord, help me to “keep myself pure” make me holy; set me aside for “honorable use.” Clinging to the things of this world hinders what You can do in and through me. Once more, Lord, I give myself over to You. Use me for whatever task You deem worthy – fill me up, pour me out. I am Yours to use to accomplish Your purposes. I give myself over to You, holding nothing back.
Nov 11th, Wed, 8:30 am
Stand Firm
Father, looking back I cannot help but note how greatly blessed I am. I see Your mighty arm guiding me, sustaining me, protecting me and sometimes plain holding me up…but You have always been with me. Thank You, Father. Then looking ahead I have the utmost of faith in that You will always be there – You are faithful and my trust is firmly placed in You – for nothing can separate me from Your love. (Romans 8:31-39)
2 Timothy 2:16-19 (<< click here)
Lord, mulling over this passage I realize that, beyond my proclamation from the pulpit, I don’t have a whole lot of opportunity to get into theological discussions. I’ve done so some with Massey and Dad… and our regular Bible study at church would apply. I truly strive to abide by the precept of avoiding “worthless, foolish talk.”
Good, solid theological discussion is important and is beneficial. I guess I struggle with processing everything quickly. In my mind I have to think things through. I am firm in my faith but to be able to articulate why I believe or to be able to immediately back up those beliefs with scripture is difficult for me. Even here at this point I am very methodical as I write.
Of course, after almost 5 months of blogging my journal entries, it is obvious that I do think, that You, Lord, have enabled me to communicate what You have laid on my heart and basically it was all theological in nature. I do proclaim Your truth every week from the pulpit and have done so for more than 13 years now. So I am not incapable by any means.
Lord, help me to stand strong for You. When I am called upon to defend my faith may I do so with confidence, and with Your help, may I do so with accuracy. Amen.
Nov 9th, Mon, 5:03 am
Attentive
As I sit here, Father, I wonder what You have in store for me this day. Certain elements are planned but in actuality I realize that every moment is under Your control. Use me this day. May I be attentive to Your voice, may I be obedient to Your direction, may I be an overflowing vessel of Your love. Amen.
2 Timothy 2:15 (<<click here)
The last couple of days at work have been trying, busy enough to not really get in to any big projects but no so busy to not allow for a few lulls. Lord, I am grateful for Your abiding presence that reminded me to stop playing with my phone and to focus on the task at hand. I had a job to do and was being paid, not to entertain myself, but to faithfully do my job. I’m also grateful that You are my motivator. In those times my mind goes to You – not my managers – thinking that I need to get back at it. Everything I do reflects on You. My heart’s desire is to please You. And again I am so grateful that I hear Your voice. I truly want to be obedient, for my goal is Your approval.
And more important than any day at Kohl’s is the responsibility I will shoulder this morning. Lord, direct my heart and mind as I fulfill Your calling on my life as Your instrument of teaching to Your people. May I be Your minister throughout this morning – not just in the pulpit. Help me to be attentive of Your will as I am getting ready and dressed, as I eat breakfast, as I drive to each church, when I get out of the van, as I greet others, as I set up, as I sing, as I pray, as I sit and when I stand to proclaim Your word. I pray that I will “be a good worker…who correctly handles the word of truth“ not just at church, or Kohl’s but every moment of my life.
Nov 8th, Sun, 6:32 am
Reality of the Truth
It’s been on the unusual side for me the last several days but thank You so much, Father for waking me to spend quality time with You. I’ve benefitted way more from our interaction than from a few more hours of sleep.
2 Timothy 2:11-14 (<<click here)
Many over the last 2000+ years have given themselves over to You, Lord, in faithful service – while many more have wanted nothing to do with You at all. And it continues today. For those who denied themselves and followed You our reward will be the privilege of serving with You for eternity. For those who deny following You or for that matter, even deny Your very existence, they cannot – simply by their denial – avoid the repercussions of their choice. I truly believe many have the mentality that if they believe You don’t factor in then that’s it. In their mind they won’t have to answer to You. We can deny You. We can be unfaithful to You. But that does not change who You are. You will remain faithful to who You are. Just because we don’t believe it does not change the reality of the truth. Many will stand before You on that great Judgment Day and will no longer be able to deny the truth. They will come face to face with their Creator and there will be no more denial – only incredible, excruciating loss… and separation – eternal separation.
Lord, enable me to be faithful in my calling to You. Give me an urgency to proclaim the salvation that You extend to everyone. Give me the words to say. Help me to see through the many layers of pretension that people put up. Peirce through the darkness of their lives with Your love. Use me as the conduit to touch them for You.
Nov 7th, Sat, 6:57 am
Cannot Be Chained!
Father, thank You for the ability to get so much done yesterday. Preparations for Sunday are almost complete. I would ask that I and everyone that will be in attendance would be open to hear Your voice, to listen to what You have to say and to act as You call each of us.
2 Timothy 2:8-10 (<<click here)
Lord, in this passage Paul once again proclaims the Gospel – the Good News – that You came to this earth to set things right.
You came to make it possible for humanity and God to be in right relationship – to tear down the wall of sin that separates us. And only because You gave Yourself in Your entirety – giving Your very life! – was this accomplished. Praise Your name!!
Paul may have been in chains for his proclamation but he made it very clear that “the word of God cannot be chained.” v9b Humanity tries to control it, tries to tie it down, tries to limit it, to box it in. But, praise to Your, O Lord, it “cannot be chained”! We have fought against Your word from day one, but it has never been conquered. You and You alone, have been victorious. And because of it humanity has found its salvation – only in You!
Thank You, Lord, for loving us in spite of who we are. Thank You for believing in us and seeing who we were meant to be. Thank You for sharing with us Your strength and wisdom and tenacity so that we, too, can be victorious! AMEN!
Nov 6th, Fri, 5:48 am