February 17

““Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” (Matthew 6:2 NKJV)

Hypocrite is a word used to put others down but isn’t there a little hypocrite in us all? Jesus defines a hypocrite as doing for their own glory instead of God. Hypocrites seek their own glory rather than glorifying the glorious God!

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

February 16

““Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1 NKJV)

Why should Christians give? “Take heed”! Giving is an essential part of being a Christian and we should be generous as God has been generous with us. But just as important for us to give for God’s glory and not ours.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

February 15

“For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.” (Psalm 1:6 NKJV)

The Psalmist defines the two ways we can choose to live and walk.

We can choose to walk in the way of God and be made righteous by the sacrifice of Jesus.

Or we can choose a life where we reject God and seek to be our own god. Without God’s protection, Light and Life we become our own destruction.

Which way will you choose?

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

February 14

“Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” (Psalm 1:5 NKJV)

How can we “stand” in the presence of the God we have run from? How can we be part of the “congregation” we ignored, laughed at or even hated? God does not hate the ungodly but gives them what they lived and desired their lives.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

February 13

“The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.” (Psalm 1:4 NKJV)

Without God we are left with the ever changing wisdom (?) of humanity. What a frightening thought! We are constantly chasing the wisdom of humans and being driven farther from God.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

February 12

“He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:3 NKJV)

Fruit is natural on a healthy tree. The psalmist lists the requirements of a healthy tree which is able to produce fruit. An apple contains life renewing seeds surrounded by the tasty nourishment the seed needs to grow. Be a healthy tree through whom God can bring life to others.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

February 11

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:2 NKJV)

The law is a fence to protect us who are drawn to roam, believing “the grass is greener on the other side”. I once asked a farmer why they put up fences for their animals. Did they do it to harm or limit them. They said fences keep the animals from bad weeds which can make them sick or even kill them. The fences also keep animals from getting out and either getting hurt or hurting others. Is that what the law does? Is that why it is written in what we should not do?

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

February 10

“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;” (Psalm 1:1 NKJV)

How we walk, stand and sit defines who we are and the life we will live. God defines what it means to be blessed in our lives but is this a material or a spiritual blessing? Or is it both? Read all of Psalm 1 and discover what a blessed life is.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

I hurt therefore I am,

I am therefore I hurt.

1/24/2021 Ron Ramsey

 

February 9

“See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”” (Jeremiah 1:10 NKJV)

It is easy to fear the powers of this world as Christians because we do not seem to have armies or an earthly king but God reminds us of the power we have through Him. Look at these statements of God’s power which by faith can work in us and through us.

set you over the nations

and over the kingdoms

To root out and to pull down

To destroy and to throw down

To build and to plant

Meditate on each one and write what each means in your life and in the world.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

February 8

“Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.” (Jeremiah 1:9 NKJV)

Thus says the Lord! What an intimate moment as God touches Jeremiah’s mouth and put God’s words in Jeremiah’s mouth. From God breathing life into us, the first CPR, to God touching John to be cleansed to speak God’s Revelation we see the intimate touch of God.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

February 7

“7 But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 1:7-8 NKJV)

Humility is not giving up because we can’t but realizing we can because God will deliver us to fulfill His call for our life! God tells Jeremiah to go face to face with them and know God will deliver him.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

February 6

“Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”” (Jeremiah 1:6 NKJV)

Humility is essential to be used by God. Look through the Bible and it may surprise you how many of those used by God believe they are unable to meet God’s call. But maybe that is the point. God can use those who know they need Him!

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

We will implode. The center, the heart, dies and weakened we are defenseless. Without the heart we are defenseless and destroy ourselves. It is the story of a fallen world. It is a song of the screams of the victims. What we knew is gone. What we had disappears. We are lost even before the implosion. The implosion does not make us lost but because we are lost we implode.

 

What will shake the world? What will cause our collapse?

Having too much ================================ not sharing

Seeking our own power ============= at the expense of other

Courts biased ================================= injustice reigns

Power through division ====================== fear corrodes

Turning people into “others” ===================== hate burns

De-voice opponents =========================== fracture begins

Demonize others ================================ hell explodes

The ungodly reign believing they are god.

This will shake the world! This will cause our collapse!

1/19/2021

 

February 5

“4 ¶ Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”” (Jeremiah 1:4-5 NKJV)

What amazing words! God reveals to Jeremiah, and us, God’s active relationship with us in the womb and even before. God has a plan and a call for us long before others know we are!

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

February 4

“It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.” (Jeremiah 1:3 NKJV)

Once again the prophet Jeremiah is set within his history in amazing detail. Some have said this book was written over many years but God gives such detail that long before these arguments would be made. Will you believe God is beyond the limits of time and is capable of prediction or will you try to explain away what is beyond explaination?

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

February 3

“to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.” (Jeremiah 1:2 NKJV)

God reveals to us a deeper knowledge of when the “word of the LORD” came to Jeremiah. Does this give us a peek at who the message is for? We may be tempted to just look over verses like this and get to “good” stuff. But verses like this help us understand how God is working.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

Gospel of John 2

      At this first miracle done by Jesus Mary becomes the “mother of Jesus”. “Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”” (John 2:4 NKJV) Mary becomes Woman. Why?

      At this moment in time Jesus is revealed as the Son of God and Mary as the mother of Jesus. Overcoming time Jesus compresses the constant miracle of sunshine, rain, soil and seed which brings forth wine to instantly turning water into wine.

 

February 2

“The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,” (Jeremiah 1:1 NKJV)

God reveals to us the person – Jeremiah, place – Anathoth and by revealing two generations - Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah. God reveals the messenger so he can become not just a character but a real person.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

February 1

“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.” (Psalm 36:7 NKJV)

What an amazing picture! God’s lovingkindness surrounds us and protects us. We are loved, comforted and protected by the glorious God as we are enveloped within God’s “wings.” In times of trouble and distress you can have faith and trust in God’s loving protection!

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

God, all is falling apart ripped by fear and hatred. We are so blinded by our desire for the darkness of evil we are not only destructive but self destruction. Our fear of change strengthened our arrogance leaves us controlled by events rather than effecting them. Help us to allow You as Truth to be our Truth, as Light to follow Your guiding Light and as You are Life help to value our Life and the Life of others.

So Be It.

1/10/2021

 

January 31

“Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O LORD, You preserve man and beast.” (Psalm 36:6 NKJV)

Their is an old children’s song:

“Deep, deep deep as the sea

High, high high as the sky

Wide, wide wide as the ocean blue

Is Jesus’ love for me and you”

Here is the combination of the Creator preserving man and beast.”

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

January 30

“Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.” (Psalm 36:5 NKJV)

Our mercy is stained by our communal sin and our personal sin and is very limited, but God’s mercy is unstained and is for our good and God’s glory. God’s mercy is offered from the faithfulness of God. Our promises, no matter how well meaning, are limited by our own failing but God’s mercy reaches back, is now and forever.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

January 29

“So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.” (Nehemiah 8:8 NKJV)

There is an old saying you cannot give what you do not have. To share the “sense” of the Bible so others can read with understanding we must first read and receive the “sense” of the Law of God.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

January 28

“5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.” (Nehemiah 8:5-6 NKJV)

Even before the book was read they prepared their heart through humility and worship. The Bible must be treated with awe and reverence because it is God’s expression of who He is and who we should become. The people responded “Amen, Amen!” which means So Be It, So Be It.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

January 27

“This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” (John 2:11 NKJV)

The Bridegroom of the Body of Christ began His miracles providing wine for a wedding. How would you respond to experiencing the glory of God in Jesus? Seeing this amazing and wondrous miracle so awed them they believed in Jesus. Would you? Do you?

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

 

January 26

“His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”” (John 2:5 NKJV)

Mary makes her prayer and faith public in her expectation of fulfillment by Jesus. She tells the servants “Whatever He says to you, do it.” They are commanded to do what they are told even if they do not understand, despite not understanding. Would we be able to draw a pitcher from the water pots and serve to those expecting wine?

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

January 25

“And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”” (John 2:3 NKJV)

Mary expresses a pure prayer of faith in Jesus. Mary asks her son to do a miracle of time as God’s provision of wine usually takes months to produce.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

January 24

“7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.” (2Corinthians 12:7-8 NKJV)

God allows a thorn in our life to strengthen and humble us as we live in this fallen world! (The Holy War by Bunyan is a helpful book.) God is more concerned with our spiritual health than our physical health.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

January 23

“And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”” (John 1:51 NKJV)

The greatest miracle is coming to Jesus and receiving a heavenly life! Jesus describes the view of not just the heavenly life but of God’s workings of those who’s eyes are spiritually open.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

Help me God to not look for human solutions to all which is around me. Remind me, like Habakkuk, that Your will can be painful and mean the loss of what I hold dear.

Congregations will come and fall

Denominations will come and fall

The Kingdom of God is forever

Earthy kings will come and fall

Proud nations will come and fall

The God of creation is forever

Amen – So be it

1/6/2021

 

Ring around the Truth

hiding from the Truth

“ashes, ashes

we all fall down”

1/6/2021

 

January 22

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”” (John 1:50 NKJV)

Life with the glorious God is a life of wonder and is never boring! A miracle experienced now is a promise of miracles to come. It is easy to not see God’s miracle in your life which makes it harder to see the next. Live looking for the miracles the glorious God surrounds you with.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

January 21

“Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”” (John 1:48 NKJV)

You are never alone or unseen which is both a blessing and a concern. Jesus adds to His understanding of who Nathaniel is by declaring where Nathaniel was by saying “I saw you.”

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

January 20

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”” (John 1:47 NKJV)

God knows not only who we are but who can be. To Nathaniel's doubt Jesus responds by not declaring who He is but declaring who Nathanael is. If we are honest we are a mystery to all – except God!

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

January 19

“And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”” (John 1:46 NKJV)

When asked if Jesus makes a difference our response should be “Come and see.” But many will respond Jesus cannot and will not do good or be good. How will you respond?

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

January 18

“The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.”” (John 1:43 NKJV)

Salvation is not limited to a space and time but is a constant journey of following Jesus. Each of us will be “found” by God at least once if not many times when we are called to follow Jesus. Listen. Come!

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

January 17

“Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”” (1Samuel 3:10 NKJV)

God always communicates with us but will we respond “Speak, for Your servant hears.” That God came and called is understandable but what does it mean God “stood”? Stood has the meaning of being present in a continuous action. When God calls us He is present in a continuous action as we live our call out.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

January 16

“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.” (Mark 1:9 NivUS)

“At that time”. Mark is declaring Jesus came into time and lived in a very real place. This is not a myth or a heroic story but is a real God coming into a real place at a real time. Jesus even was baptized – by John – in the Jordan and we are left with the real question of why Jesus was baptized.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.