DAILY READING
Such raw pain! Such fierce despair! There’s NO MENTION OF HOPE in Job’s words today (and is almost absent in psalm 88 as well). This blameless, upright man who feared God and shunned evil, wanted to die. Yet at this crossroad of faith, we see Job begin to pour out his heart before God. We see him ultimately choose to remain faithful to his Creator in the face of extreme tragedy.
Thank you Father for speaking through Job’s life today. Thank you for not abandoning us in our deepest darkest hours because of the eternal HOPE we cling to in Jesus Christ. Just like you heard and recorded Job’s laments, you hear us when we cry out in pain with broken hearts. Sometimes we are slow, like sheep, not always understanding - and even sometimes wishing death over moving forward, but ultimately we know your voice and choose to follow you.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
SACKCLOTH TO RICHES
READING
This story stirs such emotion in me. Earlier we see faithful Mordecai wailing loudly and bitterly in the city and wearing sackcloth and ashes after hearing the king's edict to annhialate the Jews. After such a death sentence, one could have lost hope. However God's plan was greater and he chose to use this man who humbled himself to play a great part in his plan.
Now Mordecai is wearing a crown! 15 Mordecai left the king's presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.
I admire this man's faithfulness and his humility before God. It's also exciting and comforting to see that God heard his prayers, used him in his grand plan of lovingly restoring his people, and exalted him to such a high place in Xerxe's kingdom.
Father, thank you for hearing our prayers today! Thank you for giving prosperity and hope in place of our dark clouds! Thank you for your divine love toward your people!
This story stirs such emotion in me. Earlier we see faithful Mordecai wailing loudly and bitterly in the city and wearing sackcloth and ashes after hearing the king's edict to annhialate the Jews. After such a death sentence, one could have lost hope. However God's plan was greater and he chose to use this man who humbled himself to play a great part in his plan.
Now Mordecai is wearing a crown! 15 Mordecai left the king's presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.
I admire this man's faithfulness and his humility before God. It's also exciting and comforting to see that God heard his prayers, used him in his grand plan of lovingly restoring his people, and exalted him to such a high place in Xerxe's kingdom.
Father, thank you for hearing our prayers today! Thank you for giving prosperity and hope in place of our dark clouds! Thank you for your divine love toward your people!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
COLOSSAL POWER
READING
"For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty." Esther 1:4
Evidently the power and splendor of King Xerxes' wealthy kingdom would take your breath away. What a extraordinary show he must have put on for all to see and admire. Imagine six months of gloating over one's power and colossal wealth.
In contrast, all of King Xerxes' "stuff" is like dirt compared to the eternal power and glory and splendor of our King in heaven!
"You alone are to be feared." Ps 76:7a
"What god is so great as our God?" Ps 77:13b
Awesome, holy, omnipotent God, you stand alone!
"I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds." Ps 77:12
"For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty." Esther 1:4
Evidently the power and splendor of King Xerxes' wealthy kingdom would take your breath away. What a extraordinary show he must have put on for all to see and admire. Imagine six months of gloating over one's power and colossal wealth.
In contrast, all of King Xerxes' "stuff" is like dirt compared to the eternal power and glory and splendor of our King in heaven!
"You alone are to be feared." Ps 76:7a
"What god is so great as our God?" Ps 77:13b
Awesome, holy, omnipotent God, you stand alone!
"I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds." Ps 77:12
Sunday, July 20, 2008
WHATEVER THE COST
DAILY READING
"One day I went to the house of Shemaiah . . . He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you."
"But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!" Neh 6:10-12
Oh to have such courage! Self-preservation would have been a natural response but Nehemiah overcame this temptation and identified that this man was not sent by God. Nehemiah was committed to his God-given task whatever the cost.
Father, please help me to also vanquish whatever temptations come my way today. Help me have the same courage and unwavering commitment to your purposes.
"One day I went to the house of Shemaiah . . . He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you."
"But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!" Neh 6:10-12
Oh to have such courage! Self-preservation would have been a natural response but Nehemiah overcame this temptation and identified that this man was not sent by God. Nehemiah was committed to his God-given task whatever the cost.
Father, please help me to also vanquish whatever temptations come my way today. Help me have the same courage and unwavering commitment to your purposes.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
LOOKING UP
Psalm 70
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. Ps 70:20
Many of us have experienced bitter troubles, but like the psalmist, we can cast our eyes upward to the King of kings and Lord of lords, who will work it all out for good for us. Father I anticipate the good you will do in my life today! Even if you do not bless, I will praise you because I am redeemed.
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. Ps 70:20
Many of us have experienced bitter troubles, but like the psalmist, we can cast our eyes upward to the King of kings and Lord of lords, who will work it all out for good for us. Father I anticipate the good you will do in my life today! Even if you do not bless, I will praise you because I am redeemed.
Friday, July 18, 2008
TO BE HEARD
PSALM 66
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.
20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
These words bring tears of joy. Oh I am so grateful for God's love for me!
Psalm 66 brings to mind the time Jesus told Nathanael that he saw him under the fig tree. I envision that Nathanael was praying there and later how he must have felt to physically hear the words from the lips of Jesus the first time they were face to face, "I saw you". And here we are given the same assurance, as long as we have confessed our sin before God, he hears us! What joy!
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.
20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
These words bring tears of joy. Oh I am so grateful for God's love for me!
Psalm 66 brings to mind the time Jesus told Nathanael that he saw him under the fig tree. I envision that Nathanael was praying there and later how he must have felt to physically hear the words from the lips of Jesus the first time they were face to face, "I saw you". And here we are given the same assurance, as long as we have confessed our sin before God, he hears us! What joy!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
AS ZEALOUS AS EZRA
"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
Father, thank you for revealing yourself in this snapshot of your chosen servant Ezra this morning. Thank you for godly leaders you have given us to emulate, here in the Word and at Compass. May our zeal be as holy as Ezra’s and may your gracious hand also be upon our lives.
Father, thank you for revealing yourself in this snapshot of your chosen servant Ezra this morning. Thank you for godly leaders you have given us to emulate, here in the Word and at Compass. May our zeal be as holy as Ezra’s and may your gracious hand also be upon our lives.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
A REMEDY FOR SCARY THOUGHTS
PSALM 56
A few nights ago my daughter came to me asking me how to get the "scary thoughts out of her head" as she was trying to sleep. It was a simple remedy . . . I turned on the word of God in her room (the Bible on cd), and she fell asleep listening to God's truths that she has grown to love.
"In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid." Ps 56:4
Praise God for the power of his word!
A few nights ago my daughter came to me asking me how to get the "scary thoughts out of her head" as she was trying to sleep. It was a simple remedy . . . I turned on the word of God in her room (the Bible on cd), and she fell asleep listening to God's truths that she has grown to love.
"In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid." Ps 56:4
Praise God for the power of his word!
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