Daily Reflections on Mt. 20:1-16 (It's Unfair)

At first glance, your reaction to the story might be the same as the hired hands who worked all day. It seems unfair for the guys who worked only an hour to get the same pay as those who worked all day. I confess, I'd be complaining myself. Yet, that is what they agreed to work for, so that should be good enough. However, it just doesn't seem right. It doesn't seem fair.

The story is about the grace of God. Grace isn't something you earn or deserve, that's why it's called grace. The story illustrates the generosity of God toward us. He gives us all the same ultimate reward, eternal life with Him. He doesn't measure out His grace to those who appear more spiritual than others. We measure people by looks, power, prominence, influence, performance, wealth, achievements, etc. Since God considers our righteousness as filthy rags, those things are irrelevant to God. One sin is enough to separate us from God and condemn us. So grace is grace.

Truthfully, I'm glad that God is a generous God. I'm glad God isn't fair. If God were fair, we wouldn't fair so well. I'm glad he lavishes His love and mercy and gifts upon us. I don't deserve His grace any more or any less than anyone else. I'm just glad I get to experience it.

You too can experience His grace. Since you can't earn it, it doesn't matter where you've been or what you've done in the past. You simply come to God and ask His forgiveness, calling on the name of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 and 21 are some of the richest passages in the New Testament. They state that if anyone is in Christ, has accepted Christ, been immersed into Him is a new creation. All the old stuff is gone. How does that happen? God made the perfect Jesus, who never sinned, be sin on our behalf. Bottom line: we assume the righteous of Christ or are considered righteous in Christ.

God, thanks for your grace and making it so easy to receive.

Daily Reflections on Ex. 8:1-8 (One More Night with the Frogs)

It's one of the most intriguing responses in the Bible. In Exodus 8, Egypt is experiencing the first of the ten plagues God brought on them for Pharaoh's hard heart (stubbornness) in not letting the Children of Israel go. Frogs have come out of the rivers, streams, lakes, canals and ponds and are everywhere. Now when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere. Not just outside. They came inside. Imagine swarms of frogs invading your house. You thought roaches and mice in your house were bad. Open up the cabinet and frogs jump out. Plop down on you couch and find it covered with frogs. Pull back the covers on your bed, and guess what frogs. Step into the shower and the tub is full of frogs. Go to your favorite diner and special of the day, frog legs.

I can't really imagine what that would have been like. Life had to be horrible. Noisy, slimy, smelly frogs everywhere. Moms had to be going nuts. Kids screaming. Brooms getting a work out. The only guy doing a big business, the exterminator. The only problem was that they kept coming.

Once Pharaoh had finally had enough of the frogs, he calls Moses and Aaron back and asks them to get rid of them. Moses says, "You name the time and I'll get rid of them." Now notice Pharaoh's response, "Tomorrow." Are you kidding me? Did he really say tomorrow. I don't know about you, I would have said, "How about fifteen minutes ago!" Is this guy completely nuts? Why would he suffer one more day of the frog invasion?

There's a famous sermon on this passage entitled, "One More Night with the Frogs." It's weird how when immediate relief is in sight, people put it off. Yet time and time again I've seen it. People in the midst of personal suffering, ensnared in some horrible or painful or unhealthy situation resist the help to get out. I've watched people in abuse situations stay there even though there was a way out. I've seen people living in negative environments continue down the path when hope was offering a hand. I've never understood it. Why live in that mess, when there is a way out? One more night with the frogs mentality takes over.

Is it stubbornness? Is it pride? Is it self masochism? Is it laziness? Is it stupidity? Is it paralyzation? Is it habit? Is it a misplaced sense of security? Can't tell you. All I know is that it's an all too common response.

To be honest, I see it in a different sense all the time. I watch people all the time refuse to accept God's grace in their life. For whatever reason people reject the hope of eternal life in Christ. I watch people ignore God's truths and plunge headlong into situations and lifestyles that they know will bring pain to their life. It's not just one more night with frogs, it's more like, "hey I like suffering so bring on the frogs, heck bring on all the plagues."

God, I'm so thankful for your grace and relief. I don't want to spend any night with the frogs. Deliver me from my own self destructive behavior. Guide me by your Spirit.

Daily Reflections on Mt. 19:1-12; Prov. 5:15-23 (Divorce, Remarriage, Sex, and Intimacy)

Divorce. It's become as common as the cold. It strikes people of all ages, race, economic level and background. The divorce rate in the US has steadily grown for several years. It used to be a negative stigma in society. Today, people don't give it a second thought.

A recent commercial tells the attitude of the day. The voice announces, "Nobody fixes things anymore. Don't like your car; get a new one. Don't like your job; get a new one. Don't like your spouse; get a new one." People go into marriage with the same attitude they buy a car. "When I get tired of this one, I'll just trade him/her in."

Unfortunately, historians tell us that divorce and remarriage in Jesus' day were at similar epidemic proportions. Jesus said, just because you could get a divorce you shouldn't necessarily. Unless of course your spouse has been maritally unfaithful to you. Even then, Jesus didn't encourage divorce.

Although I discovered through the years that sex isn't the primary cause for individuals getting involved with "another woman" or "another man," it almost always slides into the picture. The attraction leads to a connection which leads to sexual intimacy. It starts with a brush of the hand, an embrace, a sympathetic or playful kiss and the next thing you know, off go the clothes.

Solomon had some pretty straight advice for keeping the eye (and other parts of the body) from wandering in Proverbs 5. He says to drink water from your own cisterns. In other words, satisfy your desires for love, intimacy and sex with your own spouse. He's saying to stop living in a fantasy world, stop drooling over the breasts of another man's wife. Breasts are breasts. Caress your wife's.

Solomon's advice is more than just about sex. It's about intimacy. Divorce happens when couples stop romancing each other, dating each other, celebrating each other, pouring their lives into enhancing each other. There's a tendency in the routines and stress of life to take one another for granted. The intimacy wanes. The passion for each other wanes. The sex wanes. The thrill is gone. It's no wonder we drift away from our partners.

Jesus said virtually that jumping from one relationship to another just because you can is ultimately unfulfilling, not to mention expensive. It also isn't the answer. Solomon's right. You want an exciting marriage and sex life, romance the person you married. Focus on them. Make him feel like a man. Make her feel special and loved. Anticipate your spouses needs. Surprise them. Tell them in words, actions, attention how important they are to you. Be captivated by your spouse and let it show.

God, marriage is tough. With all the stuff of life that comes down us, really loving, dating, romancing our spouses gets lost in the shuffle. Frantic schedules, the demands of kids, financial pressures all make it hard to focus on intimacy and make time for each other. Sometimes it's hard to do the caressing of bodies and egos and minds and spirits that's necessary to keep the flame alive. Stir my heart again with the desire to captivate and be captivated by the wife of my youth.

Daily Reflections on Mt. 14:22-33 (Look Mom No Jet Ski)

I have two books in my library by the same title. One is a collection of sermons on practical living. The other is by John Ortberg. "If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat." Great title. Great emphasis on acting in faith. The concept is taken from the story in Matthew of Peter climbing out of the boat to walk on water to meet Jesus coming to him.

As you can read in these passages, Jesus came walking on the water to the disciples in the middle of night. Winds were up across the lake so that meant the seas were swelling. I'm sure the disciples were already concerned about an impending storm on the lake, when this ghost like figure appears strolling atop the surface of the water. Since water skiing and jet skiing weren't invented yet, Jesus coming to them walking on the water was no doubt unsettling to say the least. Okay, it scared the bejeebees out of them.

After a brief conversation with a figure who claims to be Jesus, Peter decides to verify it's Jesus by climbing out of the boat and walking toward Him. Things went well for a while until Peter came to his senses and realized that what he was doing was impossible and down he went. Jesus called him Rock (Peter means Rock) for a reason, he sank like one.

As I look at this story, I've come to the conclusion that it's not climbing out of the boat that allowed Peter to walk on water. Oh sure, that played a part. But climbing out of the boat was more of an impulse. If you want to walk on water, keeping your eyes on Jesus and trusting Him seems to be the key. Any fool can climb out of boat. If you do, they'll be calling you Rocky too. What allowed Peter to walk on water was answering Christ's call to come to Him, trusting Him and focusing every step on Him, not the circumstances surrounding Him.

God, I want to walk on water, but only if you call me to. I don't want to be jumping overboard to draw attention to myself or just to show off or to prove something. I do want to rise above my circumstance by focusing on you, and walking daily step by step in you.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 42 (Guilt Is a Nasty Thing)

Guilt does funny things to us. As much as we try to ignore it, those things from our past keep surfacing in our mind. It causes us to cover up our mistakes, conceal our past, hide our transgressions. Guilt can play mind game with us. Suspicion and sometimes paranoia creeps into our lives. It makes honest relationships with others difficult. It creates self doubt. We live in fear that someone will find out or that our friends and acquaintances will forever hold our heinous act against us or over us. We feel disqualified, undeserving, broken.

It's also funny how long guilt hangs with us. Seems like we expect Karma to catch up with us at some point and punish us. Obviously, Reuben, in our passage, felt that way. If we go back and retrace the story of Joseph in the middle chapters of Genesis, we would find out from where Reuben's guilt emanated. Joseph, the second youngest of 12 brothers, was daddy's favorite. Joe had a couple of dreams that he shared with his brothers and father that indicated that in the future, they would bow down to him. It made his 10 older brothers mad.

Sibling rivalry can be a powerful thing. Joe's 10 older brothers grew in their jealousy and hatred toward him. One day Joe shows up in his fancy cloak that dad gave him to bring a message from dear old dad. His brother's saw Joe coming and cooked up a plan to get rid of him. At Reuben's (the oldest brother) insistence, they didn't kill him, but they did sell him into slavery, and then concocted some story about Joe getting killed by some wild animal to tell their father.

Now Joe was about seventeen when this happened. Through a twist of fate, Joe ended up being the second in command of all Egypt. And sure enough, his dream came true, his brother's showed up to buy grain during the famine. It was when Joe accused them of being spies and threaten their lives, that Reuben and the boys begin to quiver in their boots. They hadn't recognized Joe.

Guilt raised it's ugly head. In Genesis 42:21-22, the brothers have a panic attack. They think fate has caught up with them for what they did to their little brother. Reuben says to his brothers, "Dudes, I told YOU not to do it, but YOU wouldn't listen. Now we're all gonna pay."

Here's the kicker: Joseph has to be around forty. That means that they have been living under the duress of their own guilt for at least twenty years. It was as fresh in their minds as if it had just happened. They had lived a lie for all these years. Every time they sat down with their father, every time a caravan passed heading for Egypt, every time they went by the cistern where they had held Joe, every time they killed a goat, the memory of their cruel act haunted them. They lived in fear that the other shoe would drop at any moment. For twenty years they carried their guilt.

My guess is that some of you have been carrying some guilt for a number of days, weeks, months, years. It doesn't go away on it's own. It doesn't get easier with time. It's heavy burden. But God wants to lift it. That's what His grace is all about. The Bible says that Satan is the accuser. He continues to stir up your guilt. In John 3:17 Jesus says the He didn't come to condemn, but to rescue us from our sin and guilt.

How do I get rid of my guilt? Confess it to God. Ask for His forgiveness. Accept His grace. Once God forgives, He remembers our sin no more. Jesus paid for our sin. He took the stripes of punishment for us. The bill has been paid, so forget it and move on in God's grace.

God, thanks for removing my guilt. It's too heavy for me to carry. I needed that relief.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 39-41 (Why Are People Ragging On Me?)

Conspiracy. That's really the only way I know to describe it. I'm not talking about some national or international event or cover up. I'm talking about what's happened to me. Ironically, it's come from people within my own church. People for whom I've poured my life out have repaid me by conspiring against me. It's happened to me more than once.

I confess, it's hard to understand and is downright painful. It messes up your life, hardens your heart and plays with your mind. Once it happens to you a few times, you become suspicious of everyone, which makes it difficult to trust anyone. You begin to protect yourself and develop a cynicism about people, church and life.

I've had people make up all sorts of stories about me, lobby against me, hold meetings with others to convince them how terrible of a person I am. I've been the object of the rumor mill and been accused of so many things I count recount.

What's a brother to do? I guess just what Joseph did, trust God. Of all the Old Testament people, I suppose I identify most with Joseph. I love David and some of the other OT heroes, but I sometimes feel more like Joseph. He was betrayed by his own brothers, who hated him for his success and position. He was betrayed by Potiphar's wife because she couldn't get what she wanted from him. He was forgotten by people he helped along the way, leaving him impoverished in prison.

Some how, through all that Joseph had to endure, God was still with him. He assured Joe by allowing him to find some favor and giving him small blessings. Mind you, Joe still spent a long time in prison, not a pleasant place. He didn't deserve to be there. But God saw him through his suffering and betrayal and eventually brought him out and honored him.

I'm reminded of a verse in James 4 which says, "Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up." And another verse in 1 Peter 5 which says, "Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you at the proper time." I've learned through the years and difficult times of false accusation by those close to me that I'm not working for the pleasure of people. I'm working to please the Holy One, my true master, my God and King. I answer to Him who knows my heart and mind and motives.

God, it's hard when people come after you for no reason or selfish ambition or misunderstanding or personal agenda. Give me the grace I need and the strength I need. I just want to be your person, to fulfill your calling on my life. Help me be like Joseph.

Daily Reflections on Mt. 12:33-37 (How You Know You Need Mouthwash)

A friend of mine speaking on a passage from Rom 12 once talked about our conforming to the world versus conforming to the image in Christ. He was talking about how easy it is to put on a show. Outward appearance can be deceptive. He was emphasizing that it's what's inside us that matters most to God. But he also said something that I've never forgotten. He talked about the real us, the reactionary us. In the midst of the daily line of fire, who are we really. Then he used this illustration, "When you're in a supermarket and someone runs into you, what spills out all over them, 'Watch it, Buddy!' or the grace of God?"

So what's in your cup? Is is warm, nutritious, satisfying, delicious? Or is it rank and moldy? Is it capriciousness and hate and anger? Is it bitterness and hurt? Is it selfishness or selflessness?

Jesus, in this passage, shares an incredible insight into the heart of people. He says that out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. In other words, what's boiling in the heart is going to come out of the mouth eventually, especially when the pressure's on. Watch and listen to the everyday activities, conversations, reaction of person and that's who they really are.

Self analysis time. What's coming out of your mouth? Whining? Complaining? Arguing? Encouragement? Blessings? Joy? Negativity? Questionable conversations or language? Praise? Curses? Pettiness? Optimism? Hope? The words of Christ? Gossip?

"Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up Lord." I want you to spill out on people. My heart isn't the purest. Some days when people bump into me, I'm afraid they get slimed. I need you to fill me daily, Lord so that your love and grace fills my heart.

Daily Reflection on Mt. 11:20-30; Ps. 14:1-7 (Blinding Pride)

We've often heard that love is blind, but what I've discovered is that so is pride. Pride and arrogance seem to be roommates that are almost inseparable. I not sure is pride leads to arrogance or arrogance leads to pride, but you can bet that where there is one, the other is hanging out pretty close.

Jesus talks about all the people who had the opportunity to witness, experience the presence of God in their midst yet blindly went on their own way. Jesus had performed miracles, healed the sick, raised the dead and it wasn't enough to turn their hearts to Him. Wow, the show was great but it did little to change them. It was back to the same ol' same ol'. What does it take to get some people's attention, to change hearts.

The psalmist says that a fool declares there is no God. A lot of people live that way. Oh they acknowledge God exists, but practically they live as if He doesn't. We just do life in total oblivion to God's presence, teaching, principles. God says that's dumb. That's why so often we crash and burn or have at least have a blow out. At minimum we'll probably stumble around and run into a few things.

Jesus says that if we really want to experience Him, live in His power, we've got to drop the arrogance, the pride. Coming to God humbly, seeking Him, His help, His power and that's when we get to live in His power. Our pride creates a blindness that doesn't allow us to see God.

God, I don't want to be blinded by my own self. Forgive me for doing life my way without acknowledging you. I need your power, your protection, your guidance.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 31:17-32:12 (Family Conflicts)

Family conflict has been around since there have been families. Sibling rivalry started when there were first siblings. Looking through the chapters of Genesis, you can't get very far in your reading before you encounter a family squabble of some sort. Jealousy, deception, manipulation, hatred, these early chapters of the Bible make some of the soap operas look tame.

Not all the of the family conflicts end positively. But many of them are resolved. I've noticed that those who are open to God's intervention or principles are able to find a way to dissolve the tension and find middle ground. Not always a lot of apologies, but somehow peace is attained and maintained.

Communication, boundaries and respect for God all seem to be components in resolving family conflicts. Concession and a desire for resolution also seems to play a big part. Even when family members don't trust each other, they are ways to settle disputes, draw lines and live by them. And interestingly enough, they did it without a family counselor. The only arbiter seemed to be their faith in God and their family heritage in Him.

Family conflict appears to be inevitable. Unresolved conflict appears to be dangerous and deadly. These family members here in the early to mid chapters of Genesis didn't want to lose favor with God and thus His promise. They found ways to work it out, get along, offer grace and support. I'm sure not everything was always smooth, after all they were still human. But peace remained between them because they made it work.

God, I'm not always the easiest person to get along with in daily life. I have a strong will. I'm selfish. I find myself in arguments with my family from time to time about all sorts of stuff, most of which isn't really all that significant. Help me look to you for wisdom, guidance, and resolution. Strengthen my relationships with your presence.

Daily Reflections on Mt. 10:1-26 (Faith Can Be Scary)

It must have been a weird experience for the disciples. Jesus takes His 12, gives them incredible power and sends them out two by two. He tells them to take nothing with them and go from town to town preaching the Good News. Can't imagine the conversation between each set of two along the way. At this point they really hadn't had a lot of training. The only one apparently who had had much formal education was Judas. Yet Jesus sent them off.

What a faith building experience for the disciples. No cell phone. No internet. No GPS device. No credit or debit cards. Not a lot of cash. No car. No reservations. No contacts. I'm sure the first town they hit they must have felt a little awkward. I wonder if maybe they started with a little miracle first, you know just trying to get the hang of it. Maybe they tried out a few prayer combo's first. I wonder how long it took them before they tried the big miracle or casting out their first demon.

I'm sure that the greater success they had, the bolder their preaching and miracle performance got. My guess is the local cafe was buzzing a few days after they came to town. After a few miracles, they probably didn't have to worry about a place to stay or where they were going to get their next hot meal. Oh sure, I bet they had their detractors, after all Jesus warned them that they would. But I would also bet the local paper gave them plenty of positive press.

When Jesus sent the 12 out, it wasn't initially so much to get the word out as it was to prepare the 12 and build their faith. They needed to experience this. They needed to gain a little confidence. It wasn't long before their timidness gave way to boldness and excitement as they witnessed God's power at work through them. He taught them not to rely on their own power or plans, but to look to God's power, direction and teaching.

Throughout the Bible God calls for leaps of faith. He gives assignments of great importance and gives His messenger little resources in their hands. But it's always enough. Sometimes it's only a staff. Sometimes it's only a few stones and a sling. Sometimes it's a handful of men with trumpets and lanterns to defeat a vast army. Sometimes it's only the ability to interpret dreams. It's about faith.

Answering God's call with no resources is a scary place to be. We like everything figured out, planned out, resources in hand before we ever start. We have to see it on paper and have proof that it's gonna work before we start or we won't start. But that's not faith, that's sight. Living by faith means taking a risk. It's means placing ourselves in a vulnerable position, letting go of what we know and putting ourselves in God's hands.

God, I confess, the older I get, the more I want assurances. Taking risks gets harder and harder. Living by faith doesn't get any easier. I want to follow you. Show me your power. Grant me success as I exercise faith in following your lead for my life and ministry.

Daily Reflections on Mt. 9:1-17(My Nights Bar Hopping)

It has always bugged that churches think they exist to simply serve themselves. It has also bugged me that Christians often isolate themselves from people who really need to hear the Good News of Christ. Instead of building bridge relationships, they seal themselves off from the pagans. It's one thing not to hang out with savory characters who influence you to participate in ungodly activities. It's another thing to build bridge relationships with people in order to tell them and show them how much God loves them.

A lot of people I've met in my life who have not yet accepted Christ, don't think they'd ever be accepted by "church" people. Many people I've met can't see themselves hanging out with those same church people. Yet, those are the very people to whom Jesus went.

A few years ago, one of my associates and I went to a small group/cell church seminar led by Ralph Niebuhr. At the end of the first day he challenged us with the idea that we had no idea on how to reach unchurched people because we didn't know unchurched people really. So he divided us up in pairs with people we didn't come with and assigned each us a bar to attend that evening. We were to go visit the assigned local bar and sit and talk with some of the people there in an attempt to get to know them. We weren't allowed back to the seminar if we didn't bring proof that we were there and met someone. I'd never been to a bar, so it was a little awkward for me, as it was for ninety-nine percent of the attendees of the seminar.

But to be honest, once I was there I didn't feel out of place. I discovered that people were people. In fact, it was really easy for me to talk with people. We didn't "save" anyone those couple nights, but it helped me reacquaint myself with the mission of Christ. I fell in love with people once again, especially those who were without Christ. I found myself drawn to share, care, invest in pagan people. And I understood Jesus' disdain with the religious (or should I say pious) of His day.

Lord, help me to extend myself more and more to those who need your doctoring. Don't allow me to get so focused on "church" people that I forget the people Your Son came to redeem.

Daily Reflections on Mt. 8:18-34 (It's Worth the Cost)

What it is that keeps people from following Jesus or really surrendering their life to Him? Probably some of the same things that Jesus encountered when He was on the earth. Just looking through today's passage several things immediately pop up. But it's clear that following Jesus costs us something.

Most of us want to live life with the least amount of hassle and interference. We want to fit in with everyone else and not be bothered. We're jealous of our "free" time and "family" time. We want life to fit neatly into our little box. We want what we want, when we want it, how we want it. In these verses people are concerned about economics, homes, inheritance, and concept of extremism in following Jesus. Faith is an issue.

What I've discovered is that often people want what Jesus offers on their terms. If it doesn't interfere with their desired lifestyle, Jesus is great. As long as it helps get what they want out of life, they'll take him. But to jump headlong into following Jesus with everything, that's a different story. For many following Jesus requires abandoning their dreams in their minds.

It's true that following Jesus requires a life change. It means giving your life to Jesus to use however He wishes. But it's worth the trade off. Jesus said whoever wants to find life must lose it. He means that life in Jesus is a ride and a half. Not everything is easy. In fact, it's a narrow road that few can find. But growing in God's grace and knowledge is worth it. The rewards on the other end far outweigh the pleasures on this side.

God, when the disciples left everything to follow you, they had no idea what they would witness and experience. Sometimes it was tough and sometimes it was totally amazing. But by throwing in with Jesus, You used them to change a world and impact hundreds, thousands, millions and even billions of lives. God, I don't know what You'll do with my life, but I want in. I want to make a difference. I'm all in.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 24 (Choosing a Mate)

I was just doing the math. If Sarah gave birth to Isaac when she was ninety and she died when she one hundred twenty-seven, that would make Isaac at least thirty-seven when he married Rachel. And I thought I got married late at twenty-five. This was his first marriage. We don't know how many dates Isaac had or even if he had any girlfriends. We do know that Abraham wouldn't let his son marry a local girl.

The story of Isaac getting a wife is an interesting one. Abe sends his chief servant back to Abe's homeland to pick a wife for his son. He sends plenty of money and goodies as a dowry. Now the chief servant swore an oath that he'd get a quality girl from Abe's family background, from his father's family for Isaac. The chief servant wanted to take Isaac with him, but Abe wouldn't let him go. The chief servant goes to pick out a wife for Isaac and Isaac doesn't get a say so or even a look before it all goes down. At least on e-Harmony you can check out someone's profile. Not so in this case.

It's hard for us think about arranged marriages. It's not our custom these days. We date and romance and IM and chat and date some more, looking for our "Soul Mate." We spend tons of time and emotional energy searching for the right one. We put ourselves out there and then hope we won't get hurt. Maybe Abe and the chief servant had a better idea, let God choose.

The chief servant made the trip all the way back to Abe's homeland, which was the only criteria Abe set for his son's wife. When the chief servant got there he prayed a simple prayer, "God, I have no idea who to choose so help me out, please (Dave's paraphrase)." He laid out a simple identification plan and before he was done praying in his heart, God brought Rebekah to him. She met the qualifications, was outgoing and had an incredible servants heart.

The wild thing is that Rebekah said yes to marrying Isaac sight unseen. She'd never met Isaac or Abraham. She really didn't know what she was getting into. No dates. No IMing. No chats. No pictures. No romance. No nothing. The only thing she had was the assurance of God that this was the right thing to do.

Is it possible that we go about finding a life mate the wrong way? Instead of looking for someone on our own, wouldn't we do better to ask for God's assistance? Attraction to the opposite sex is a natural thing. God put it there. But, just like everything else in life, it seems to me that we have a tendency to pursue things without the consult of God's wisdom. Marriage was God's idea in the first place. Since He created us, it only makes sense that we should seek God's person for us in His timing.

God, thanks for the gift of marriage. Your wisdom is far beyond ours. You know our hearts, mind, make-up as well as the other person's. You know the plans you have for us and our potential spouse. Give us the patience and wisdom to seek your direction for us.

Daily Reflections on Mt. 7:15-24; Prov. 2:16-22 (Chose Your Friends Wisely)

My dad taught me years ago to be careful about who I immediately embraced when moving to a new ministry. He counseled me that often the first persons who show up in your life and want to be your best friend, may not be the people you want to trust long term. I've found that advice to be pretty accurate. Often times the people that are eager to be your new found friend have their own agenda. And their agenda may not be to your best interest.

Jesus and Solomon both warn of seductive characters that could misdirect your path and get you into trouble. They are seductive in that they entice you by feeding your ego or gaining your initial trust through a supposed interest in you. They are often likable, charismatic or endearing. They draw you in before you know it. Jesus calls them wolves in sheep clothing. Solomon calls them seducers. Both warn to beware.

Let's face it. We're drawn to people who show interest in us. We all really want friendships and companionships, in fact we were created that way. However, choosing friends and companions can be a tricky thing. Our friends and companions have such sway over us. They influence our thinking and behavior. And because of the sense of comfort and intimacy, we will share and do things with those friends that we don't with other people. It's that familiarity that can lead us to trouble.

That's why Jesus says to beware. You really want to know what a person is like do a little research. Keep your eyes open. What do you know about past behavior. It should be a clue. Ladies, if a guy has been married two or three times and now is interested in you, the warning lights ought to be flashing. He's not misunderstood, he's got some real relationship issues. Guys, if she's got a shaky past and is real affectionate with you, HELLO, something's not right here.

You can always tell a person by the fruit they've borne in the past. Abusive guys will continue the pattern in the future. Shady characters will continue to deceive in the future. Although I know God has the power to change lives, you don't. Want to save yourself a lot of grief later, pay attention to fruit produced in the past.

God, give me wisdom to discern my friends, companions, models, mentors, and associates.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 18-19; Mt. 6:25-34 (Confronting the Negative Influence)

It's interesting that when the angels came to check out Sodom, Lot was sitting at the gate. It's almost as if Abraham had called ahead to warn Lot the angels were coming. Apparently, hanging out at the city gate was common for Lot. Maybe he was there to protect others coming to the city or maybe he was trying to stay away from all the corruptness of the city.

When the angels arrived, Lot met them and invited them home with Him. Hotels, as we know them, didn't exist in Lot's day. People often went to the city square to stay the night when came to foreign city. City natives might offer a place to stay. The angels were planning to go to the city square to spend the night. But Lot knew his own city very well and insisted for their own protection, that they stay the night with him.

Lot, obviously knew who the angels were or at least had a good idea. Abe knew when they came to visit him. He attempted to protect God's messengers from his world, his community. He locked them away in his house even when others came to find out who they were, with the goal of exploiting them. Ironically, they saved Lot not the other way around.

It seems to me that there is a tendency among God's people to try to hide, protect, defend and even keep God from their environment, workplace, community, neighborhood, friends and acquaintances. We don't want God exposed to them for fear of embarrassment or that God will get kicked around. News flash: God can take care of himself. He doesn't need protecting or shielding. He knew what was going on in Sodom and Gomorrah before He sent the angels to destroy it. He knows whats going in your life and lives of those surrounding you. You don't have to run interference.

If there is a lesson here, it has to do with Lot and his family. They continued to live in the vileness without being salt or light. They tried to keep God from intersecting with the people of his community. And then he was reluctant to leave when the angels told him they were going to destroy their city. When they took he and his family by the arm and drug them out for their own protection, they still begged to stay close instead of going where the angels told them to go. And Lot's wife ended up losing her life because she was so endeared to the people who wanted to violate God's angels.

God, Lot apparently was trying to live in both worlds. Help me live with clarity for you, to seek your righteousness. Let me be a light for you. I want to be salt, but not like Lot's wife. I want to make a difference. I want to lift up Jesus.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 16 (Waiting on God's Promises)

Ever wonder why God took so long to give Abraham a son or why He didn't let Abe in on the plan from the beginning? I mean Abraham is in his seventies when God calls him in the first place. Sarah was already in her sixties. God tells Abe to "go to the land I will show you." So Abe takes off without his Garman and just goes. To where? "God, could you give me a hint?" But God doesn't tell him, He just lets Abe wonder around for a while. "And what about the promise of fathering a great nation? I'd like to know more about this. I'm ready to get started. Am I going to have a harem, Lord?"

Abraham sure had a lot of unanswered questions, as apparently did Sarai or Sarah. "You want me to pack up everything and go where? Are you sure you heard God speaking to you or were you just a little sauced at the time? Father of a great nation? Now I know you were drinking." Yet it was twenty-five years before God gave Abe a son.

You know it was bugging them, had to be Abe. Apparently it was intense enough for Sarah to offer Hagar to Abraham. And Abe was so eager to have a son that he took Hagar to be a surrogate mother. We're not talking In Vitro here. And my guess is that it wasn't a one time occurrence. I wonder what Sarah really thought every time Hagar went into Abe's tent.

Nature worked. Hagar got pregnant. But that's not what God had in mind. Hagar had a son for Abe but it eventually caused trouble for Abe, Sarah, Isaac, Hagar and Ishmael. So let me ask again, why didn't God let Abe in on His plan? He could have saved everyone a lot of grief.

God calls Abe, makes him a promise of being a great nation and giving a land, yet waits until Abe is 100 before He comes through. Weird. When God makes a promise I'd like to collect on it right away. If if won the mega lottery today, I wouldn't want to wait until I was seventy-five before I collected on it.

God's timing and His ways are definitely not our timing and our ways. My observation is that Sarah had given up on God ever keeping His promise. She laughed, "So now I'm gonna have child at ninety." God rewards faithfulness and steadfastness. Perseverance is a quality God admires. God waited for several reasons before giving Abe a son. But one thing is for sure, the birth of Isaac was without question at the hand of God.

God, I confess I'm impatient. I want your promise now. The stirrings you put in my heart and vision in my mind I expect to happen right away. I'm always eager to make things happen in my timing, my way. I'm trusting you and waiting on you. So renew my strength, just as you promise.

Daily Reflections on Prov. 1:24-28 (Why Is This Happening to Me?)

"God, why is this happening to me?" That question or one like it has been spoken from the lips of many who sought my counsel in a crisis. It's not always an easy question to answer. But sometimes the answer is obvious. I admit that there have been times I've wanted to shout, "Are you blind? You did this to yourself. God had nothing to do with it." I've just wanted to grab my Louisville Slugger and knock some sense into people. When will we get that age old advice, "Play with fire and you'll get burned."

Now I realize that Job suffered great tragedy at no doing of his own. However, more often than not what's happening to us is of our own making. When we ignore the principles of God for finances, relationships, attitudes, business, etc. we can expect trials, struggles, difficulty. You speed to get a ticket. It costs you something. You get too many speeding tickets and they take away your license. That's life.

Ironically, God says here in Proverbs, "You ignore me and I'll ignore you. Don't expect me to bail you out when you purposely chose not to do what I told you." (Dave's paraphrase.) We have to accept the consequences for our actions. You can choose to do, to live however you want, but you can't choose or escape the consequences, nor will God remove them. Sure God is willing to forgive the error of our ways, but He will not take away the consequences of our ignorance or purposeful defiance.

The only reprieve we get is from eternal death when we come to Jesus and accept Him as our personal Lord and Savior. God grants forgiveness and remembers our sins no more. But we still can't escape the immediate consequences of our disobedience, rebellion or sin. Don't expect God to deliver you from something you chose to get yourself into.

God, thanks for your grace to forgive us through your Son, Jesus. Thanks for paying the ultimate price for my sin. Thanks for the sustaining power to deal with consequences of my past sin through your Holy Spirit. Thanks for showing me the path out of my own destructive patterns. Thanks for your Word which is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 8-10 (When You Have to Stand Alone)

Whenever I read the story of Noah I can't help but think of Bill Cosby. Several years ago, Cosby did a comedy bit on Noah. God tells Noah to build an ark and Cosby responds, "Right!!! What's an ark?" After several interplays between Noah (Cosby) and God, God says to Noah, "How long can you tread water?" So Noah (Cosby) decides to build the ark.

It must have been quite a sight to see, an ark being built on the plains. No lake in sight. Apparently it had never rained so I'm sure the neighbors had plenty to laugh at. My guess is the tourist crowd grew everyday. I can see the vendors lined up around the ark selling food, drink and mementos, maybe ark replicas. I'm sure they were merciless on Noah.

Sometimes living by faith is really tough. It's literally you against the world. In Noah's case, the only people standing with him was his family. Living by faith requires a not just belief but discipline and fortitude. Going against the crowd or conventional thinking is like standing against a current. Everything is pulling you in the opposite direction.

Noah's faithfulness ended up not just saving he and his family, it saved the world as we know it. Just like sin always affects others, so does acting in faith. When God calls or commands us to do something, even if it's hard, is the right thing to do. Had Noah refused not only would he have been lost so would we.

God, give me the courage to act in faith.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 7; Prov. 1:10-19; Mt. 4:1-11 (Resisting Temptation)

Temptations come at us from all sorts of sources. Most of them come from my own not so healthy desires. Let's face it, the Apostle Paul was right in Romans 7, we don't always do the right things. Our human nature gets the better of us sometimes even when want to do or say the right thing. Since I can't get rid of my human nature until I shed my human skin and God gives me a heavenly body, it's something I'm gonna have to continually face.

Even Jesus faced temptation as human. Hebrews tell us that Jesus was tempted in all ways as a man and yet did not sin. That's both encouraging and disconcerting. It's disconcerting in that apparently it's possible to live your entire life without sin, but I've already blown it. It's encouraging in that Jesus showed us a way to overcome temptation.

In the Matthew passage Jesus is in the process of officially beginning His earthly ministry. He comes to John the Baptist to be baptized by him. Why would Jesus need to be baptized? John's was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. Jesus was submitting completely His will to the Father's, committing to His human element completely to the Father. God anointed Jesus for His task, marking Him with the Holy Spirit.

It was after His baptism, that Jesus faced one of His tough temptation periods. Satan came directly to Him to in order to tempt Him into following His own path to Kingship. The devil appealed to Jesus' human side in tempting Him. Popularity, Prominence, Power are enticing seducers to most humans.

But Jesus didn't bite (no pun intended). He warded off temptation by staying committed to God's Word. He recalled God's directions and focused on doing His will, openly quoting scriptures. He was able to remain steadfast by devouring God's truths and teachings and living in them. He relied on God's power through His spirit to overcome the temptation.

In Proverbs 1, Solomon says to be wary of people with whom you hang out. Don't let them drag you into improper behavior. If you do, it will only come back to bite you. Peer pressure is hard to overcome. It's not just the voice of Satan in your head. It's the voices of people around you urging you to join in their sinful practice. Not only are you now dealing with the temptation, you're dealing with being loved, accepted, included by others. That makes the peer temptation even harder to resist.

Solomon's advice to this temptation is simply don't fall for it. Resist! If that is where your friends are headed, you have the wrong friends. They're headed down the wrong path. It will lead to destruction, pain, etc. eventually.

Noah had to stand alone for 600 hundred years. Talk about peer pressure. It was he and his family resisting the entire human civilization of his day. But God rewarded his faithfulness and steadfastness. Depending on God for help is the only way out of temptation. We don't have the power to resist on our own. We need His help.

God, I'm so thankful that you provided a way out through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Empower me. Keep into your Word throughout this year and aware of your Spirit.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 3 (Temptations, But It Looks Sooooo Good)

Temptation is a menace! It looms there, capturing our thoughts, distracting us. Like the leftover Christmas sweets calling to us from their protective containers. We've made the vow to put them aside and lose that weight. But their pull is just too strong. I'll start that diet tomorrow.

That serpent may have to crawl on his belly, but he still gets around quick. He's everywhere. He won't leave me alone. His tempting words echo in my mind. What would it really hurt?

As I read through this passage on the fall of man, Adam and Eve eating of the forbidden fruit, it dawned on me that that not everything the serpent told Eve was a lie. It was pleasing to the eye. It looked really good in other words. It tasted great. And the little side benefit, it would make her like God, knowing good from evil. Okay, the last one was a partial truth. She wouldn't really be like God. But she would know good and evil.

The temptations we face have some truth. They could be pleasing to the senses if we indulge. But just because they might be enjoyable for the moment, doesn't mean it's beneficial. Yesterday, I saw a commercial about taking care of your pet. It cautioned against allowing your dog to drink from puddles and to watch out for antifreeze. Apparently, antifreeze tastes sweet, but is very deadly if consumed. Indulging in some temptations may taste sweet to us, but like drinking antifreeze, it can have a deadly affect on our lives, relationships, career, health, emotions, etc.

God, give me clarity of mind and wisdom to choose the right things this year. Help me to overcome temptation. Help me keep my eyes fixed on you and your Word in my mind and heart.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 1 (New Year, Fresh Start)

It's another beginning! Beginning of a new year that is. New years always give new opportunities. Here's your chance to create a new life, a new focus, a new path, a new healthy habit. Everything is behind you now. Today is a new day. You can cut a new path beginning today.

I was reading this passage thinking what the real beginning would have been like, watching creation come into existence. It struck me that when God spoke the heavens and earth into existence it was still dark. Darkness covered everything. It was formless. It was void. Then God spoke these simple words and everything changed, "Let there be light."

What's interesting to me is the darkness, formless and void. God created the earth, but that was it until God spoke. God saw the potential of a dark, formless blob. He spoke and His vision began to take shape; day, night, oceans, skies, continents, plants, trees, sun, moon, fish, birds, animals, and finally human beings. Only man He added a touch, He breathed into Him life.

I was just thinking, man didn't created himself. He didn't make himself. God did it. Instead of trying to recreate yourself, how about letting God do it. If God can take a formless, void blob and create the earth with all it's beauty and splendor, what can He do for you? Why not ask God to form you into His image this year? Ask Him to take control of your life. Ask Him to mold you and use you and work His work in you.

God, forget New Years Resolutions, I can never keep those anyway. I need you to form me, recreate me, change me into your image. I realize this is a daily endeavor. I want you, I need you to work your work in me. Thanks for new beginnings.