December 12

Today's Reading
Amos. "12 Then Amaziah sent orders to Amos: 'Get out of here, you prophet! Go on back to the land of Judah, and earn your living by prophesying there! 13 Don’t bother us with your prophecies here in Bethel. This is the king’s sanctuary and the national place of worship!'”Tragically, the history of faith is clouded with religious leaders like Amaziah the priest. They have fallen prey to the lure of power and money and are corrupted so much that they will protect their benefactors by any means possible.
Revelation. "You have little strength," Christ said to the church at Philadelphia, "but you have not denied Me." It is always tempting for us to categorize a church as successful or unsuccessful according to its size or other outward appearances. That is not the way He measures churches. I would rather be insignificant and standing firm than large and corrupt. Laodicea was the opposite of Philadelphia. They considered themselves strong and rich and wise, but were far from God.
Psalms."Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk." Spiritual maturity is visible by what we do when it seems that God is not paying attention to our needs. Do we panic? Do we question our own faith? Do we walk away from God and find something else to comfort us? Mature people wait upon the Lord (Isaiah 40) and trust Him, continuing to bear fruit in the "year of drought (Jeremiah 17)".
Proverbs. I have watched my preschool grandchildren get very hyper in their play time. They run and laugh and go a little crazy. I have learned that those moments tend to always end with someone getting hurt -- tears are around the corner. Pride is like that. It always and ultimately ends in humiliation.
What did you notice today?

December 11

Today's Reading
Amos. God sent hunger, drought, blight, mildew, locusts and plagues, but his people didn't repent. Perhaps we should have taken it to heart when we faced the devastation of our economy and heeded His call to repent and turn to Him. I don't think we did, however. We have become an arrogant nation, convinced that our strength comes from us and not The Lord. We are sliding down a slope toward judgment.
Revelation. In Thyatira, the people showed signs of God's love and of true faith, but they were full of grace to the exclusion of truth. They refused to deal with the very clear sin of sexual immorality in their midst. In Sardis, the church looked lively, but was near dead. They were like a church that has outstanding praise and worship music, but who shows little life and health on an every day basis. In both churches, a remnant of true followers was hanging on. These churches are so much like churches I know today.
Psalms. "3 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? 4 But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.

5 I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. 6 I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn." O, what refreshing words!
Proverbs. "21 A servant pampered from childhood will become a rebel." I am a softie at heart. I would rather encourage than scold and prefer to reward rather than punish. The truth is, though, that the best lessons of my life have been the harshest ones. We need large doses of unconditional love, but we must have stern discipline to fully form us into Christ's image.
What do you see today?

December 10

Today's Reading
Amos was a shepherd from the village called Tekoa. He was not from among the prophets, yet God called and used him. His announcements of coming judgment upon Israel, Judah and the surrounding kingdoms echo those of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. God really wanted them to see that they would face judgment and that He is the judge! I believe that He wants that for us today, too.
Revelation. Each of these letters was a specific message to an existing church. The messages were addressed to the angel, or "messenger", of the church. I believe that God assigns His angels responsibilities and that it is likely that every Christ-following church has an attending angel. The church at Ephesus had left its first love, somehow cooling to the faith of their past. Smyrna was holding up in the midst of persecution. Pergamum was collapsing under the strain of corruption, greed and immorality. I can think of churches today in all three of these categories. Which one represents your church, do you think?
Psalms. What would it be like to say, "From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me"? Most of us have never known such trial. I rather think that our lack of experience makes it hard to fully understand this Psalm.
Proverbs. It is always tempting to give someone a piece of our mind when we see them doing wrong. I recently heard someone speak of life before a complete surrender to Christ: "Why didn't I just read and believe what the Bible said back then?" The answer, of course, is that the person wasn't ready to listen and obey.
What have you noticed today?

July 12, Day 193

Today's Reading

10 Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent a message to Jeroboam, king of Israel: “Amos is hatching a plot against you right here on your very doorstep! What he is saying is intolerable. 11 He is saying, ‘Jeroboam will soon be killed, and the people of Israel will be sent away into exile.’” 12 Then Amaziah sent orders to Amos: “Get out of here, you prophet! Go on back to the land of Judah, and earn your living by prophesying there! 13 Don’t bother us with your prophecies here in Bethel. This is the king’s sanctuary and the national place of worship!” Amos 7:10-13 (NLT) We live in an age when messages from God are treated with the same disrespect!

 

July 11, Day 192

Today's Reading

Amos was (obviously) a contemporary of Isaiah.  This shepherd from Tekoa spoke God's judgment in a different way than Isaiah.  Just like God uses different communicators today to reach people in different cultures, God used different prophets to bring messages to different ones of His people.

Amos begins with words of judgment on Israel's neighbors, but quickly turns the spotlight on Judah and Israel.  God would judge them!  "Come back to the Lord and live!   Otherwise, he will roar through Israelt like a fire, devouring you completely."  (Amos 5:6 NLT) I think He could easily be giving us this same message in the U.S.

December 12

CHANGES IN 2011.  PLEASE READ ABOUT THEM IN THE COLUMN ON THE RIGHT.

Today's Reading

Amos. "12 Then Amaziah sent orders to Amos: 'Get out of here, you prophet! Go on back to the land of Judah, and earn your living by prophesying there! 13 Don’t bother us with your prophecies here in Bethel. This is the king’s sanctuary and the national place of worship!'”Tragically, the history of faith is clouded with religious leaders like Amaziah the priest. They have fallen prey to the lure of power and money and are corrupted so much that they will protect their benefactors by any means possible.

Revelation. "You have little strength," Christ said to the church at Philadelphia, "but you have not denied Me." It is always tempting for us to categorize a church as successful or unsuccessful according to its size or other outward appearances. That is not the way He measures churches. I would rather be insignificant and standing firm than large and corrupt. Laodicea was the opposite of Philadelphia. They considered themselves strong and rich and wise, but were far from God.

Psalms."Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk." Spiritual maturity is visible by what we do when it seems that God is not paying attention to our needs. Do we panic? Do we question our own faith? Do we walk away from God and find something else to comfort us? Mature people wait upon the Lord (Isaiah 40) and trust Him, continuing to bear fruit in the "year of drought (Jeremiah 17)".

Proverbs. I have watched my preschool grandchildren get very hyper in their play time. They run and laugh and go a little crazy. I have learned that those moments tend to always end with someone getting hurt -- tears are around the corner. Pride is like that. It always and ultimately ends in humiliation.

What did you notice today?

 

December 11

CHANGES IN 2011.  PLEASE READ ABOUT THEM IN THE COLUMN ON THE RIGHT.

Today's Reading

Amos. God sent hunger, drought, blight, mildew, locusts and plagues, but his people didn't repent. Perhaps we should take it to heart when we face the devastation of our economy and heed His call to repent and turn to Him.

Revelation. In Thyatira, the people showed signs of God's love and of true faith, but they were full of grace to the exclusion of truth. They refused to deal with the very clear sin of sexual immorality in their midst. In Sardis, the church looked lively, but was near dead. They were like a church that has outstanding praise and worship music, but who shows little life and health on an every day basis. In both churches, a remnant of true followers was hanging on. These churches are so much like churches I know today.

Psalms. "3 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? 4 But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.

5 I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. 6 I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn." O, what refreshing words!

Proverbs. "21 A servant pampered from childhood will become a rebel." I am a softie at heart. I would rather encourage than scold and prefer to reward rather than punish. The truth is, though, that the best lessons of my life have been the harshest ones. We need large doses of unconditional love, but we must have stern discipline to fully form us into Christ's image.

What do you see today?

 

December 10

CHANGES IN 2011.  PLEASE READ ABOUT THEM IN THE COLUMN ON THE RIGHT.

Today's Reading

Amos was a shepherd from the village called Tekoa. He was not from among the prophets, yet God called and used him. His announcements of coming judgment upon Israel, Judah and the surrounding kingdoms echo those of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. God really wanted them to see that they would face judgment and that He is the judge! I believe that He wants that for us today, too.

Revelation. Each of these letters was a specific message to an existing church. The messages were addressed to the angel, or "messenger", of the church. I believe that God assigns His angels responsibilities and that it is likely that every Christ-following church has an attending angel. The church at Ephesus had left its first love, somehow cooling to the faith of their past. Smyrna was holding up in the midst of persecution. Pergamum was collapsing under the strain of corruption, greed and immorality. I can think of churches today in all three of these categories. Which one represents your church, do you think?

Psalms. What would it be like to say, "From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me"? Most of us have never known such trial. I rather think that our lack of experience makes it hard to fully understand this Psalm.

Proverbs. It is always tempting to give someone a piece of our mind when we see them doing wrong. I recently heard someone speak of life before a complete surrender to Christ: "Why didn't I just read and believe what the Bible said back then?" The answer, of course, is that the person wasn't ready to listen and obey.

What have you noticed today?

 

December 12

Today's Reading

Amos. "12 Then Amaziah sent orders to Amos: 'Get out of here, you prophet! Go on back to the land of Judah, and earn your living by prophesying there! 13 Don’t bother us with your prophecies here in Bethel. This is the king’s sanctuary and the national place of worship!'” Tragically, the history of faith is clouded with religious leaders like Amaziah the priest. They have fallen prey to the lure of power and money and are corrupted so much that they will protect their benefactors by any means possible.

Revelation. "You have little strength," Christ said to the church at Philadelphia, "but you have not denied Me." It is always tempting for us to categorize a church as successful or unsuccessful according to its size or other outward appearances. That is not the way He measures churches. I would rather be insignificant and standing firm than large and corrupt. Laodicea was the opposite of Philadelphia. They considered themselves strong and rich and wise, but were far from God.

Psalms. "Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk." Spiritual maturity is visible by how do when it seems that God is not paying attention to our needs. Do we panic? Do we question our own faith? Do we walk away from God and find something else to comfort us? Mature people wait upon the Lord (Isaiah 40) and trust Him, continuing to bear fruit in the "year of drought (Jeremiah 17)".

Proverbs. I have watched my preschool grandchildren get very hyper in their play time. They run and laugh and go a little crazy. I have learned that those moments tend to always end with someone getting hurt -- tears are around the corner. Pride is like that. It always and ultimately ends in humiliation.

What did you notice today?

December 11

Today's Reading

Amos. God sent hunger, drought, blight, mildew, locusts and plagues, but his people didn't repent. Perhaps we should take it to heart when we face the devastation of our economy and heed His call to repent and turn to Him.

Revelation. In Thyatira, the people showed signs of God's love and of true faith, but they were full of grace to the exclusion of truth. They refused to deal with the very clear sin of sexual immorality in their midst. In Sardis, the church looked lively, but was near dead. They were like a church that has outstanding praise and worship music, but who shows little life and health on an every day basis. In both churches, a remnant of true followers was hanging on. These churches are so much like churches I know today.

Psalms. "3 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,
who, O Lord, could ever survive?
4 But you offer forgiveness,
that we might learn to fear you.

5 I am counting on the Lord;
yes, I am counting on him.
I have put my hope in his word.
6 I long for the Lord
more than sentries long for the dawn,
yes, more than sentries long for the dawn." O, what refreshing words!

Proverbs. "21 A servant pampered from childhood
will become a rebel." I am a softie at heart. I would rather encourage than scold and prefer to reward rather than punish. The truth is, though, that the best lessons of my life have been the harshest ones. We need large doses of unconditional love, but we must have stern discipline to fully form us into Christ's image.

What do you see today?

December 10

Today's Reading

Amos was a shepherd from the village called Tekoa. He was not from among the prophets, yet God called and used him. His announcements of coming judgment upon Israel, Judah and the surrounding kingdoms echo those of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. God really wanted them to see that they would face judgment and that He is the judge! I believe that He wants that for us today, too.

Revelation. Each of these letters was a specific message to an existing church. The messages were addressed to the angel, or "messenger", of the church. I believe that God assigns His angels responsibilities and that it is likely that every Christ-following church has an attending angel. The church at Ephesus had left its first love, somehow cooling to the faith of their past. Smyrna was holding up in the midst of persecution. Pergamum was collapsing under the strain of corruption, greed and immorality. I can think of churches today in all three of these categories. Which one represents your church, do you think?

Psalms. What would it be like to say, "From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me"? Most of us have never known such trial. I rather think that our lack of experience makes it hard to fully understand this Psalm.

Proverbs. It is always tempting to give someone a piece of our mind when we see them doing wrong. I recently heard someone speak of life before a complete surrender to Christ: "Why didn't I just read and believe what the Bible said back then?" The answer, of course, is that the person wasn't ready to listen and obey.

What have you noticed today?