Knowing How

Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
Eccl. 8:5-6

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Rom. 12:2

i often question the future: what is coming next? what should i be doing? am i doing what God desires me to being doing? am i where he wants me? am i best glorifying Him in a way that i am satisfied? and tho i question often, i still feel this is where He wants me and i'm doing what He wants me to do.

after reading the verse from Ecclesiastes, i can't help but think about Jesus' words when He says, "If you love Me, you will obey what I command." {John 14:15} I can nearly hear His voice saying that to me. so i scrutinize my heart, searching for ways in which i'm disobeying my King.

then, later in the new testament this is stated, "This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome." {1 John 5:3} i can still remember my youth director sitting me down to discuss this verse. she could sense that i was struggling to do all that God commanded me to do. i was feeling overwhelmed by the weight of my calling. i knew i was called to be holy, to be perfect as God is... i couldn't do. i couldn't live up to those expectations, and i was about to give up. deena, my youth director, spoke wisdom into my heart - and God is still calling me to holy living - to obey all His commands. and now my heart is learning to become more steadfast in pursuing obedience.

Jesus,
i praise You for calling me to be Your disciple. i fall so often, and Your love always restores me. i love You with all my heart. i praise You for filling me heart with desire to obey Your commands - to follow hard after You. in You i am made holy. i can't acheive holiness on my own - it is a gift from You... that is Your grace raining down on me. i love that way You rain down, the way Your spring up, the way you comfort my anxious heart. You are more that i could ever imagain. You're perfect!
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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Hotze's *May's *Barbara

Holy Discipline

Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
Job 5:17

Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:10-11

into Job's life now. he was a man of many words, once he decided to speak. (still amazed at the friends who sat with job for a week in silence while they mourned the great loss.) interesting that the passage from Job listed above is from one of the friends, Eliphaz who was trying with all his might to encourage Job thru his suffering.

discipline is a thought-provoking word because we've turned discipline into the word 'beating'. these two words don't necessarily go hand and hand. discipline is the process of correcting us, of making us the way we were intended to be - "pure". i know i need some of that, even when the method is not easy or fun. ultimately the goal is not to be fun, but to make us like Jesus who died on a cross. imagine that strong of discipline...

Jesus,
it is for Your glory that i come to You this afternoon. i know You are disciplining me into a strong, more submissive servant. it just seems strange/wrong to pray for brokenness, but i know that is what You desire. so i lay down my burdens and cling to Your cross. i open Your Word and hope to receive some insight into what You want me to hear. open my ears and eyes to see You, Jesus. i want to be like You. You are my King of glory.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Juanita *Janice *Dave

Petitioning for the Future

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Ezra 8:21-23

don't you love ezra's honesty? he was too ashamed to ask the king for an escort, so he goes to the King of all kings for protection? he'd rather humble himself before the God of the universe than before his friend, the king of babylon. but he wasn't the only one involved in this fast and petition - he involved all those traveling from babylon to jerusalem, approximately 1300 men. one would think that that many men would be able to protect themselves from bandits and theives. guess not.

as i've been reading thru ezra and nehemiah, i'm amazed at how they used fasting and prayer to call upon the Name of the Lord for various reasons. the one listed above is for protection for the future. in the first chapter of nehemiah, he fasts because of the devastation in his homeland, judah. so i started thinking about my future and the gartahotze future. we have some major changes coming in the near future. this sunday will be our last sunday at st. paul. the following week will be our first sunday at jasper. that seems to be a reason to fast and petition God's guidance and protection.

Jesus,
i know that You've heard the cry of the jews time after time. You've graciously responded when they've returned to You with humble hearts. You've provided them with protection and safety thru out their many journeys. You've granted them salvaton and a place to worship. i praise You for offering me salvation and the ability to worship You. i give You glory and honor for hearing my prayer and petitions. may You go before us and prepare the way. may You direct our relationships with the members at jasper. may You establish friendships among denise and the youth and youth leaders. may Your hand be upon her as she leads these young people into a deeper relationship with You. may You help me to know the purpose for my being in jasper. use my hands, feet and mouth for Your glory.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*kevin *kevin *valerie

Bound with a Curse and an Oath

"In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it."
Neh. 9:38

"The rest of the people-priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand- all these now join their brothers the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the LORD our Lord."
Neh. 10:28-29

"We will not neglect the house of our God."
Neh 10:39b

moved on from Ezra to Nehemiah. learning how passionate Nehemiah was about prayer and the pursuit of holiness. it rocks! in the verses listed above, the jews were making an agreement with the God of the universe that they would pursue holy living. they were confessing their inability to follow the law, yet confirming their faith to obey it with all their heart. they are also confirming their willingness to give their tithe for the sake of God the Father. it became a life-style change.

we say our world is so much different than it was in the days of nehemiah. but get this: they chose to not purchase from those who opened their booths on sunday. sunday is the sabbath, the day set apart for the Lord...the holy day.

the people came back to the Lord wholeheartedly. they had to make many adjustments, i sure. their boats were rocked, their normal lives was inconvenieced, but they became holy people again. Nehemiah led these jews back into a sacred romance with the Savior of the world. their first love became their heart's desire again. how cool is that?

Lover of my soul,
i love You. i am amazed at the way you opened up the way for me to enter into Your presence. i praise You for drawing me close to You, just like You drew these jews back into Your embrace. thanks for calling my name and having me respond with joy. i love the way You love me. i confess my inability to follow Your law completely. i've sinned and not done all You've asked me to do. Jesus, i pray for Your forgiveness. may Your Spirit dwell in me richly and may i find favor in Your sight. thanks for going before us to jasper to prepare our way. i trust that You've ordained this move.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Kaylen *Stacy *Tom *Susan

Ezra's Honesty

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
Ezra 7:10

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Ezra 8:21-23

Last night after youth group i read thru ezra ...(still on my quest to finish the bible in one year.) the first 6 chapters of the book of ezra interestly are not about ezra. (who knew?) they are about the jews returning to Judah from captivity by the babylonians. they've returned to rebuild the Temple. they went thru some hardship to finish the Temple, but it was completed before ezra arrived in Jerusalem. and once he arrived some changes were made - some holiness was instructed upon the people.

the last 2 chapters, 9 and 10, tell of the struggle of intermarriage with foreign women. intermarriage with foreign women had been prohibited, because of the women's belief in foreign gods. it's a spiritual reason, not because of race. ezra's heart is broke for the thing that breaks God's heart; ezra's prays this incredible prayer of brokenness. and while he as praying, weeping and laying prostrate before God, the jews gathered around him. they also began to weep. so this guy, shecaniah, says that the people are willing to confess and returning their wives and children to their homelands. can you imagine what that must've been like? these men bowing before their Master, and rising from their brokenness only to face more heartache? that had to have been a very intense moment. the women and chilren were sent back to their countries...

hey Dad,
what's going on? i love Your Word. it moves me to understant more about You. thanks for allowing me to read and hear Your voice. thanks for drawing these israelites back from captivity so they could worship You in Your House. thanks for allowing me to worship You, too. i love the way You've opened up the path for foreign women to come to believe in You also. may You help ed to relax on vacation and enjoy his time with his in-laws. and may this week between You amd me be a vacation together also.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Ed *Susan *Kathy *Doug

Repent Upon Hearing

Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord." He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 'Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you,' declares the Lord.
2 Kings 22: 8, 11, 19

Josiah was the king at this time. he took that position when he was only 8 years old. he followed a few very lousy kings who desecrated the Temple, made shrines to false gods and encouraged worship to Asherah poles. but josiah stepped up to the plate with prudence and wisdom. he cleaned out all the false worship shrines, poles and everything else used to distract from worship of the Lord. he ordered the priests and leaders to clean out the Temple, and Hilkiah found the book of Law. i guess it must have been hidden, neglected for far too long, dusty...

but then something amazing happened. the Word was opened, hearts were changed, and God turned his wrath from Josiah. a miracle happened. often that is what the Word does for my heart as well. my heart transforms into soft clay instead of a dried up clump of stone. the Word is still living and active. (heb. 4:12) it still changes hearts of stone to tears of love. it converts years of abuse and torture into compassion for the violators. we truly worship a magnificent Savior!

Jesus,
i know that You had an active part in finding that lost book. You opened the Word so that josiah could come before You in his brokenness. You have done the same for me. i once was lost, but now i'm found in You. i was stone, now i'm pliable clay. You continue to annihilate my wretchedness. be praised for Your transforming power. may You continue to move among us. i love You for what You've done for me.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen!

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*Steven *Zack *Herb

Go to the Source

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the Lord. and Hezekiah prayed to the Lord : "O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. "It is true, O LORD , that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men's hands. Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God."

after receiving some 'hate mail' from a distant aquaintance, hez took the letter into the sanctuary, spread it out and prayed with earnestness over this letter. man of faith! i would prolly cry, become defensive, highly irritated, and spout off to whomever was within earshot. oh how i want to be more like hezekiah. i want to be the one to go directly to my Source of strength and comfort, to the One who can change the situation. i want to cry out to Him when trying times come my way. i want to be like that... discipline! discipline! discipline!

Lord Jesus,
i know that You are the One who created all the earth and the heavens. You know what makes people tick, and what can cause a grown man to fall on his knees in repentance. You are the Source to whom i want to retreat. You are my resting place, my comfort, my hope of the future. i lay aside my tendecies to retaliate to men, instead of clinging to You. please draw me close to You when satan rears his ugly face. let me be discerning to know when the battle is raging with me and with others. let these weapons which You've taught me how to use be effective in this war. don't let me give up ground which belongs to You. You're my God, my Salvation. i love You, Jesus.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Justin *Carrie *Brandon

Seeking God

This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.
2 Chron. 31:20-21 NIV

Hezekiah carried out this work and kept it up everywhere in Judah. He was the very best--good, right, and true before his God. Everything he took up, whether it had to do with worship in God's Temple or the carrying out of God's Law and Commandments, he did well in a spirit of prayerful worship. He was a great success.
2 chron. 31:20-21 MSG

for the past few days, i've been studying hezekiah's life. from the first month he began his reign of Judah, he followed the Lord's commands. immediately he instructed the priests and levites to clean out the temple. hez restored the consecrated priests and levites to their holy positions: worship leaders. he had a Passover feast which was out of this world. the people celebrated the Lord's greatness for 2 weeks straight! and once the fesitval was complete, the worshipers went out into the community and smashed all the Asherah poles, the high places and sacred stones...they smashed all their foreign gods! one worship experience changed their lives! can you imagine the smile on God's face when that was taking place? go hezekiah!

so what made hezekiah the man that he was? 'he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly.' 'he did well in a spirit of prayerful worship.' he was a james 1:22 type of guy...(don't just listen to the Word, but DO what it says!) he was obedient to the Law - God's Word. he chose to do what was right, even tho it was against the norm of society. i want to be more like that.

Jesus,
You are worthy of my praise. i can only imagine how You enjoyed those worshipers singing and dancing for You glory. i can bet that You were dancing and singing with them! thanks for using hezekiah to examplify Your obedience and faithfulness. thanks for equipping him to change the society. i know that You can do the same today. i know that You still desire for Your people to give You their offerings, and worship You alone. thanks for calling me to be Your servant. i confess that i've not sought You in all i've done. i can't worship You without Your help. Jesus, please come and teach me how. let me be faithful, right and good. i want to please You. i want to know Your Word and obey it. may You use me to draw others back into a right relationship with You. may my words and actions be used for Your purpose. i'm seeking You.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Mike *Sean *Brett

Trascending Faith

I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD , I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
Hab.3:16-19

Just before these words were written, Habakkuk had a vision from God which was not what Habakkuk wanted to see. the vision was one of God reigning down in power - overpowering the people who were attacking the israelites. it was when God showed Habakkuk that the Israelite people would be devastated by the Babylonians, and yet God would still conquer the war. Habakkuk's mind had to be rushing 4 million miles a second... he knew that he and his family were in danger. yet his faith rose up within him, out-weighing his instinct to protect them. he says, "i will wait patiently for the day of calamity to comeon the nation invading us.".

habakkuk knew that hard times were ahead. yet he chose to look at the situation thru the eyes of the Beholder. ultimately the Lord was going to win - it was shown to him in the vision. all he had to hold on to was that fact...that his Holy One, his Lord, was the conqueror.

you and i have that assuarance also. tho the battles rage around us, tho we know our time on this earth is not easy, we ultimately know that our God reigns. we worship and are faithful to the Conqueror. He has already won. tho we die trying to win the battle, the war has already been completed. our eternity lies in the hands of the Beholder. we are not victims, but victors thru Him who gives us strength!

Jesus,
be praised for Your victory - Your victory over death. the grave couldn't even hold You!i praise You for raising me to be in the heavenlies already - i'm already seating in Your palace. thanks for choosing me to be in Your infintry. Jesus, when the battles rage all around, i praise You for lifting my eyes and heart to know that i am part of the team which has already won. i pray for others who are in the midst of their battles right now. may Your strength come upon them, lifting their eyes to see Your prevailing glory. please don't let them give into the temptations, the addictions, the habits which have gotten a strong grip on their hearts. set the free, Healer. let them run the race without all that baggage. may Your praise rise from Your people. let us lift up our voices in a shout which can bring down the strongest of walls. i know Your healing power can set all the captives free. please speak to them; show them Your glory, Lord. let their faith rise up within them - drawing them closer to You.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Ben *Brett *Derrick

Light of Men

In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
John 1:4, 9

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."
Matt. 5:14-15

i love the concept of light. i love waking up in the morning and the sun is shining thru my windows. i love knowing that there was a time in my life when i was living in darkness, but now i have been called to be a light to the world.

and the concept about me being light is powerful. i have a light which shines brighter than the sun (b/c He is the Son who created the sun.) and people all around me are living in darkness, and i am responsible for shedding Jesus' light with them. i've been appointed, called, instructed, entrusted to accomplish this mission. it's a granduer request of the Savior of the world. how incredibly awesome is that? like a match lit in a dark room is how my actions should represent Christ. that is bold, outrageous, outside of the box type of faith.

Jesus,
because You have loved me and entrusted me with the mysteries of Yourself, i desire to share Your light with men. i want to give my all because You cared enough to me to give Your all. may You create opportunities for me to share what You've blessed upon me. let me to an instrument for Your light. draw those living in darkness to me, so that i can have a chance to represent You. may Your light radiate from my smile, from my kindness, from my love. i want to be so full of Your light that others question what is different about me. Holy Spirit, let Your light shine.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Donald *George *Jason

Believe This!

When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?' " At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
Luke 7:20-23

i've been thinking of these verses later, and i don't quite understand why. do you ever do that? some verses come to mind, over and over again...but for no apparent reason. so i'm blogging about them, trying to put to rest this insatiable questioning of why i have these verses pressed hard against my heart.

last night i grabbed one of my old books from college (NIV Harmony of the Gospels) and started searching for answers about this passage. mostly what i found was discussions about why John had sent the disciples. many scholars believe John thought Jesus would be glorified before his death. they insist that John was asking, "how are You going to prove to be the Messiah?" i tend to lean that way, instead of thinking that John was questioning if Jesus truly was the Messiah. none-the-less, i don't think that is the part of the story which i am to be focused on.

so far, my heart has been most contented in understanding the lesson to be, "Believe what you see! even if you don't believe all that i teach, please believe in the miracles for Your proof!" that's just my simple lesson...

Jesus,
i lay down my veiled understanding of this passage. please show me what You want me to learn. let it be clear, distinct, and comprehended. don't let me miss Your voice, please. i long to understand more about You. please continue to reveal Yourself to me. i love You. thanks for giving me an insatiable curiosity for Your Word. i need it. my trust is in You and in what You've done. You are the King of glory, the Great I AM. i worship You.
In Jesus' Name ~ Amen!

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*Oliver *Eden *Colin

Against Authorities' Will

In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
2 cor. 11:32-33

You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon-Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego-who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."
daniel 3:10-12

sometimes it's right not to obey the authorities. if what the authories are trying to uphold is directly opposed to what the Spirit of Christ is saying, then i can only assume that it is ok to obey Christ and not the human authorities. i can only assume that Christ wants His message proclaimed in areas where the authorities do not want His message proclaimed, even if this means becoming a martyr. i've heard it said, "nothing is worth becoming a martyr over," but i beg to differ. i believe there is a calling higher than our very lives which may lead us to surrender ourselves to death. just ask Jesus - He went thru it. and if the Father would chose to give His Son to death, why would i be so arrogant to think that i would be saved from brutal treatments?

in the verses listed above, paul, meshach, abednego and shadrach were all willing to go against their earthly authorities. and i respect them immensely for their boldness. they all knew the punishment which was ahead, and yet they didn't compromise under the extreme circumstances. they faced the challenge with great bravery and faith. that's the type of faith Christ is calling each of us to live up to.

Jesus,
thanks for allowing me to read these accounts of these men of faith. thanks for their courage and trust in You which transcends all knowledge. You've called us to a higher living. may Your Spirit guide and direct us to live our faith out boldly. let our worship for You burn so the world can see. it is for Your cause that i lay down my life and desire Your will to be done. have Your way, O Lord, have Your way.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen

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*Flora *Ed *SPRC