your quiet time.org

05.17.11

2011-05-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

“You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere.”
-1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (NIV)

The people that Paul is writing to were baby Christians. He had been with them a few weeks, taught them about Jesus, and then had to leave--but he (and the other missionaries with Paul) had become mentors to these new Christians. You see, it wasn’t enough for the leaders to tell them to act like Jesus and to do what’s right...they modeled it in such a way that the Thessalonians could “imitate” them. That’s the best formula for teaching and learning:
1. I do.
2. I do--you watch.
3. You do--I watch.
4. You do.
5. You do--others watch etc...

When it comes to really living out a Christian walk and having Spirit-filled joy, it’s difficult. We can learn, however, from the example of Paul and the Thessalonians that if we look to Godly people as mentors (and small group leaders) to imitate and follow--that we can not only learn and grow strong, but our words, thoughts, and actions will ring out for a lost and dying world to see and hear! We can give people the hope that we have in Christ Jesus!

-Shane McKinzie

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Reflection…
Who are the top two or three Godly mentors you have had in your life?
Is there someone you are being mentored by now? If not, I encourage you to ask somebody you respect or to get involved in a small group.
On the flip-side, is there anyone that you can be mentoring and pouring your life into? Pray that God puts someone in your path to share Jesus with today.

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Prayer...
Pray that God brings the right people into your life for you to be able to help grow, and brings the people that will help you grow.
Unreached People of the Day - Darjee of Nepal

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Read the Bible in a Year...
Joshua 1
Isaiah 7
1 Thessalonians 1-2

05.10.11

2011-05-10T05:23:00.000-07:00

“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify him!” they shouted. “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
-Mark 15:12-14 (NIV)

Have you ever been blinded by passion? Have you ever done something or said something in a group of people that you'd never say or do alone? I've been out on Black Friday morning once in my life for shopping. I can tell you that anger and frustration reaches fever pitch when the doors are about to open. People begin to shove, and say things that normally they never would.

The same is happening here in this text. The people are crying out for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate tries to point out their inconsistency by explaining that Jesus was an innocent man. Yet they continue to scream out "crucify him!" They don't want to hear Pilate's reasons for not doing it. They simply want Jesus crucified. There is no motive checking, no moment to reflect, just a mob acting like a mob calling out for blood.

Don't get caught in the mob mentality. Today as you live your life, take a moment now and then to check your motives, to pause and ask if this is the right thing to say or do. It just might change some of your actions.

-Seth Caddell

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Insights...
When do you get most caught up in the crowd mentality?
When in your life do you see the crowd pulling you away from what Christ wants for you?

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Prayer...
Pray that God would give you the strength today to stand up against the crowd. Pray that He gives you clarity and focus on your goals.
Unreached People of the Day - Rabari, Hindu of India

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Daily Bible Reading...
Mark 15-16

05.05.11

2011-05-05T07:42:00.000-07:00

"Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand."
-Mark 6:41-44 (NIV)

Have you ever eaten a tiny meal and left hungry? When I lived in Kansas I went to a place one Sunday after church and had lunch with a friend. We ordered some sort of pasta dish and what came out looked like what I'd feed a child, not a grown man. We ate our samples left the restaurant and went and got a pizza. Seriously.

In today's passage we see Jesus feed 5,000 men with 2 fish and 5 loaves. Yet, the men ate their fill and there was even 12 baskets of leftovers. No one left hungry for food. Jesus had satisfied their hunger.

When Jesus shows up in a big way in my life though it does leave me hungry for more. I get a taste of what it means to follow him and I want more. I can't help but want to continue to follow Him. Continue to see Him work. Continue to see Him move in powerful ways. When was the last time you felt that way?

-Seth Caddell

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Reflection...
When was the last time you experienced Jesus? What was it like?
How did you respond to the experience? Did you freak you out? Make you want to know Him more? Make you want to cry?

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Prayer...
Pray that God shows up today. Pray that He does something mighty in your life and gives you that hunger for His presence.
Unreached People of the Day - Somali of Somalia

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Daily Bible Reading...
Mark 6-7

05.03.11

2011-05-03T19:15:00.000-07:00

"Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent."
-Mark 3:4 (NIV)

Jesus was not a slave to the Sabbath. He made it clear that He cared less about the stupid rules the Pharisees had made than about healing people. Jesus is the same today. He cares less about how many rules you've created. He doesn't care about whether or not you follow those self imposed rules. Don't get me wrong, he wants us to live lives of holiness. Jesus puts a strong emphasis on following His Word, but He totally disregards our legalistic regulations.

The cool part about this verse is that it points out just how much Jesus cares about people. He loves this man, more than the Pharisees could ever know. He always puts people first. However, sometimes we don't follow his example. We put our emphasis on our rules. We forget about others because we get caught up in ourselves.

-Seth Caddell

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Reflection...
How can you put your emphasis on people today?
What can you do to get rid of some of your rules?

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Prayer...
Take some time to pray for others. Pray for the people you work with, go to school with, and your family.
Unreached People of the Day - Bedouin, Berabish of Mali

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Daily Bible Reading...
Mark 3-4

05.01.11

2011-05-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

"So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table."
-2 Kings 25:29 (NIV)

King Jehoiachin had been arrested. Israel had been taken into captivity. The Children of Israel were taken from their land and forced to work on someone else's land. Yet, here at the tail end of the story we read something that's interesting. After 37 years in prison the new Babylonian king decides that it's time to let Jehoiachin out. No more prison. No more orange jumpsuit. Instead, Jehoiachin is going to be eating at the king's table. Interesting turn of events, huh?

Well, the cool thing is that we have been shown the same grace. We have been freed from sin's prison to be welcomed at the King's table. Jesus' death has opened up the option for us to be in the presence of God. We are finally free. Free to put aside our former ways and dine with our God. Grace is a beautiful thing simply because we don't deserve it. God has given us a gift, just at Jehoiachin was given a gift. Neither he nor us have done anything to earn it. Yet it's there.

-Seth Caddell

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Reflection...
Take a few moments to picture yourself in Jehoiachin's position. Sitting in jail with no prospects of getting out. Then, you get word that you can leave whenever you want. Not only that, but you get invited to the palace to eat with the King.

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Prayer...
Pray for a new passion for grace. A new thankfulness for grace. A urgency to tell others about the grace you've experienced.
Unreached People of the Day - Kurd, Kurmanji of Turkey

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Daily Bible Reading...
2 Kings 24-25

04.26.11

2011-04-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

"So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. However, he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan."
-2 Kings 10:28-29 (NIV)

It's very tempting to do something halfway. When I was younger my mom would ask me to take the trash out and I'd go gather it all and tie the bag up, but then just leave it on the kitchen floor. The last 500 words are always the hardest to write when I'm working on Master's degree papers. The final couple hours of my cross country move were the worst (except for the time I spent in Missouri).

Finishing well is a tough thing. It's easy to give up, or get distracted when we're nearing the finish. Jehu was the same way. He stopped the Israelites from worshipping Baal (which was a pretty big deal), but he left up the golden calves. He was willing to take a stand against Baal, but not a stand for God. How can you prevent from only going half-way for God today?

-Seth Caddell

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Reflection...
What do you need to do 100% today? What would be the consequences of only doing it 50%?
How can you make God the most important thing in your life? How can you give Him 100%?

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Prayer...
Pray that God would give you the endurance to finish what you start and to live 100% for Him.
Unreached People of the Day - Bengali of United States

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Daily Bible Reading...
2 Kings 9-11

04.23.11

2011-04-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

"From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!” He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys."
-2 Kings 2:23-24 (NIV)

This used to be one of my favorite stories. It just seems so random. Is God bald? Is that why He would cause this to happen? I'll tell you this, I never made fun of someone because they were bald. But seriously, why is this even included in the Bible? It's really weird, kinda makes God look petty, and doesn't really have a clear teaching point.

Well, there's probably a bunch of different theories as to why this is included in Scripture. However, I think it's about respect. Not respect for bald guys (though you should respect them too, just in case) but respect for people. Obviously Elisha was an incredible man of God who did many great things in his life. Yet here we see him being openly mocked by young men. We see them mocking the way that his mentor Elijah had gone up to heaven, by basically telling Elisha to go away also. The baldy part, was just icing on the cake. God obviously takes respect seriously, maybe we should consider it also.

-Seth Caddell

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Reflection...
When have you been shown great disrespect? How did it make you feel?
Who is someone you have trouble respecting? Why is that?

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Prayer...
Pray that God would give you the ability to genuinely respect those who you don't. Ask him to open doors for you to be respectful of them.
Unreached People of the Day - Nasu, Southern of China

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Daily Bible Reading...
2 Kings 1-3

04.21.11

2011-04-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

"Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”
-1 Kings 18:23-24a (NIV)

The story ends with the prophets of Baal spending the better part of a day trying to get Baal to send fire from heaven. Elijah does a little bit of smack-talking and then has the prophets pour buckets of water on his sacrifice. After totally saturating the bull and the wood Elijah prays that God would reveal Himself. Boom. The fire falls from heaven, burns up the bull, the wood, the water, and even the stones of the altar. Today's devo is simple. God answers prayer. God will move if we ask Him today.

-Seth Caddell

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Reflection...
Take some time to write out a list of people God needs to reveal Himself to.
Take a moment to list the events in your everyday life that you wish God would show up in a powerful way.

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Prayer...
Pray for those things you just listed and trust that God will work.
Unreached People of the Day - Baga, Nalu of Guinea-Bissau

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Daily Bible Reading...
1 Kings 18-19

04.20.11

2011-04-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

"because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed and had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols."
-1 Kings 16:13 (NIV)

Baasha and Elah "aroused the anger of the Lord" because of their idols. They totally disregarded God's plan for their lives and for the people of Israel, and instead decided to worship their own idols. It would be really easy for us to look down on these two as silly kings, I mean seriously, who would worship a golden statue? Of course you and I wouldn't fall into this sin... Or would we?

Everyday countless people across the United States come home from work and sit in front of their idol. They worship the gods they see and talk about their religious rituals the next day at work. It normally sounds like this "Did you see that episode of _____ last night?" We worship our TVs. Some of us worship our jobs. Some worship their money. We have an idolatry problem.

-Seth Caddell

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Reflection...
What do you worship? How much time do you spend with it each week?
How can you still use your idol, but not let it consume your worship? Is there a way to watch TV and yet, also live a life that's pleasing to God? How?

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Prayer...
Ask that God would open your eyes to the things you worship instead of Him.
Ask Him to reveal what gets in the way of your relationship with Him.
Ask for forgiveness for letting idols get in the way of your connection with Him.
Unreached People of the Day - Druze of Syria

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Daily Bible Reading...
1 Kings 16-17

04.19.11

2011-04-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

"He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been."
-1 Kings 15:3 (NIV)

Unfortunately this is the cycle for most of the kings from Israel and Judah. Over and over again we see them doing what they want to do, not seeking God. They decide for themselves that they want to follow after their father's footsteps instead of pursuing God's will for the nation. Eventually this leads to captivity.

But this isn't just reserved for the Israelite kings. No, there are plenty of people I meet everyday (and sometimes me) who live their lives this way. They decide that they want what they want, and normally God gets pushed to the back of their mind. God's plan for their lives gets discarded, in exchange for living in the here and now. They pursue their own desires whether it's money, love, or power. Perhaps today we need to take a chance to examine our own lives and see if we are pursuing God's will or our own will.

-Seth Caddell

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Reflection...
Who's will are you pursuing?
How can you make pursuing God's will a habit?
How can you know when you are pursuing your own will and not Gods?

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Prayer...
Pray for God to open your eyes to areas in your life where you aren't pursuing Him. Thank Him for the fact that He has a plan for you.
Unreached People of the Day - Bhisti of India

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Daily Bible Reading...
1 Kings 13-15

04.18.11

2011-04-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

"He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray."
-1 Kings 11:3 (NIV)

Solomon was a wise man. He was considered one of the wisest, wealthiest, and powerful leaders in the world at his time. Yet he did have a downfall. Eventually Solomon began to compromise. He began marrying women in order to build treaties with their homelands. Solomon expanded the Israelite territory, and continued to grow his influence. But after a while his wives began to lead him astray. Solomon began to build temples to their pagan gods to keep them happy. He began to waver in his solid stance in God.

People are often the same way. We waver and change our minds when times get tough. We have second thoughts, or struggle to stand up for what we believe. We compromise the very thing that we once held most important in our lives. Maybe, we aren't so different from the guy with 700 wives.

-Seth Caddell

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Reflection...
When have you been tempted to compromise your faith?
How have you recovered from a time when you compromised?

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Prayer...
Pray for God to give you the strength to hold to the truth of salvation. Pray that God helps you stay strong today.
Unreached People of the Day - Shawiya of Algeria

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Daily Bible Reading...
1 Kings 10-12

04.16.11

2011-04-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

"God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore."
-1 Kings 4:29 (NIV)

The best definition of wisdom I've ever heard was "knowing what is the right choice." Solomon had that. He was a great king and whenever he had a difficult choice to make Solomon had wisdom to do the right thing. He was a great judge and made several difficult rulings we can read about in Scriptures.

But what about us? I'm normally not the wisest person around. I don't always make the best decisions. I don't have a great deal of wisdom. However, according to James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." How awesome is that? God is willing to give us wisdom if we simply ask for it. It we just seek Him.

-Seth Caddell

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Reflection...
When have you made poor choices in your life?
Why do you think we don't ask for wisdom more often?

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Prayer...
Pray for wisdom.
Unreached People of the Day - Tamang, Eastern of Bhutan

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Daily Bible Reading...
1 Kinds 4-6

04.15.11

2011-04-15T06:16:00.000-07:00

"Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him"
-1 Kings 1:5 (NIV)

As Americans selfishness seems to run rampant in our country. With taxes, health care, shopping preferences, and everything else we seem to always be looking out for number one. We don't care about the impact on others, we don't consider what would be best for anyone besides us and our families. Perhaps you aren't selfish, maybe you do shop at thrift stores and you give most of your income away to those who need it, but most likely you don't.

Adonijah got selfish. King David was getting old and had yet to declare a replacement for his throne, when Adonijah stepped up and decided to make himself king. He got his things together to give him a "kingly" presence and began recruiting important leaders to back him up.

Selfishness has been around since the fall of man. Mankind has struggled with it over and over through years and years. Most likely it won't be going away anytime soon. Yet, today perhaps we can make a small change to give it a little less of a foothold in our lives. Give something away. Money, food, clothes, whatever. By just giving something away we can take back a little of the area that selfishness has come to control.

-Seth Caddell

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Reflection...
What are you going to give away today?
Who can you give it to, so that is really makes a difference? (IE - Giving Donald Trump $5 is less effective than giving it to a single mom, or someone who is unemployed)

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Prayer...
Pray for God to use this gift to work in that person's life.
Pray that God would change you to become more like Him.
Unreached People of the Day - Azerbaijani, North of Azerbaijan

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Daily Bible Reading...
1 Kings 1-3

04.14.11

2011-04-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

“The LORD is alive!
My protector is praiseworthy!
The God who delivers me is exalted as king!
the one true God completely vindicates me;
he makes nations submit to me.
He delivers me from my enemies;
you snatch me away from those who attack me;
you rescue me from violent men.
So I will give you thanks, O LORD, before the nations!
I will sing praises to you.
He gives his chosen king magnificent victories;
he is faithful to his chosen ruler,
to David and to his descendants forever!”
-2 Samuel 22:47-51 (NET)

David sings a praise to God because God delivered him from his enemies. It is from his heart to God. How often do we praise God? Sure, we do it at church when we sing, but that’s only one way and at certain times. We should praise God all the time!

Read through all of this prayer of David as he praises God. Learn to pray and praise God like David did. God has delivered us all from our enemy of sin. Because of that, we are freed from the evil of the world and we can go to have eternity in heaven with God. Praise him for that.

Make praising God a daily thing in your life. Give him thanks for all that he has given you and done for you. Thank him for freeing you from sin’s control in your life. Praise him for how powerful he is. Pray like David, pray his prayers from here and from other places, like the book of Psalms.

In all we do, we should praise God. He has blessed us greatly.

-Josh “Speed” Reed

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Reflection…
What is a way I can praise God that I haven’t thought of before?
Who can I praise God with?

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Prayer…
Pray through all of this song of David’s, all of chapter 22.
Unreached People of the Day - Guhjali, Wakhi of Tajikistan

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Daily Bible Reading…
2 Samuel 22-24

04.13.11

2011-04-13T05:09:00.003-07:00

“They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin at Zela in the grave of his father Kish. After they had done everything that the king had commanded, God responded to their prayers for the land.”
-2 Samuel 21:14 (NET)

The reason for this action was because there was a famine for three years because of the sin of Saul. The people were able to be heard by God when they had removed Saul’s bones from the land. This wasn’t all that was done, but it was basically the icing on the cake. Saul had sinned and it had tainted Israel by hindering how they were able to interact with another nation.

Sometimes we have things that hinder us from having good relationships with others and with God. What are some of those things?

It can be a sin in our life that we have allowed to fester.

I think “fester” is a really gross word. It’s gross for a reason. It means that you don’t take care of a wound or something like that and it just gets all infected and nasty. That’s gross. That’s what happens with our sin if we don’t get it out. And we can bandage the wound all we want and make it look nice, but if we don’t get the bullet out, then it’s only going to get worse.

What might be in your life that is festering? Our relationships with God and with others are basically our Christian walk. How do you interact with God and how does that affect how you interact with people? If you have something against someone it is not only hurting you and the other person. It could be hurting you and your relationship to God and those around you.

Here’s the main point: Don’t let things keep you from God. Get rid of the things that are in you that are poisonous. They are going to bring you down. If you stay standing, who knows how many other people will know about Jesus’ love because of you? Stand strong and be close to God.

-Josh “Speed” Reed

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Reflection…
Who should I talk to about sin in my life?
How should I let my faith in God impact my relationships with people?

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Prayer…
God, I thank you for forgiveness. Thanks for hearing my prayers and wanting to hear my words. Place me in company with people who want to serve you. Place me in company with people who need you. Strengthen me to be able to speak your message, even when I am messed up. You are amazing. I praise you.
Unreached People of the Day – Bosniak of Bosnia-Herzegovina

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Daily Bible Reading…
2 Samuel 19-21

04.12.11

2011-04-12T05:37:00.001-07:00

“The king then became very upset. He went up to the upper room over the gate and wept. As he went he said, “My son, Absalom! My son, my son, Absalom! If only I could have died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!”
-2 Samuel 18:33 (NET)

Absalom was a son of David. Absalom wasn’t exactly a good son. He tried to overthrow his father as King. He went to war with him and ended up dying in battle when his hair got caught in a tree. (He had long hair. And maybe it was a talking and moving tree, like Grandmother Willow or Treebeard. Probably not though.)

Even though this son of David’s had been against him, David still mourned for him. David loved his son, no matter what. He was probably mourning not only his death but the fact that David’s relationship with his son while he was living was in shambles. David might not have been the best father he could have been. David might have been able to save Absalom. Maybe Absalom really was that bad.

Whatever the deeper reasons for David’s weeping was, he was weeping. He lost a son who he loved, despite the fact that this son hated him.

God’s love for us is like that of David’s here. We each have gone against God and have made ourselves our own gods. We each have tried to overthrow his rule in our lives. God mourns over this. He doesn’t want anyone to be separated from him. We are his children if we hold to his name and to him. Stay close to God.

-Josh “Speed” Reed

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Reflection…
Who should I get into community with who can help me stay close to God?
What do I need to do to make God my ruler and not myself?

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Prayer…
God, you are my God. Thanks for loving me even when I betray and fight against you. Strengthen me when I don’t want to be strong. Help me up when I don’t want to be lifted. Your grace and love make me new. I praise you for that. I want to serve you and not make myself my god. You are my God.
Unreached People of the Day – Mongoi of China

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Daily Bible Reading…
2 Smauel 17-18

04.11.11

2011-04-11T09:50:00.001-07:00

“Nathan said to David, “You are that man!”
-2 Samuel 12:7a (NET)

I hate confrontation. I’m no good at it and it just scares me. But when it comes to it, confrontation needs to happen sometimes. There are times when I have been confronted and had to man up. Other times I have had to confront others.

Sin so easily creeps into our lives, right? Think about cooking:

Say you’re baking cookies. What all do you need?

-Eggs
-Flour
-Sugar
-Salt
-Vanilla
-Chocolate Chips
-Water

(Are you impressed I know all of this? I didn’t even look it up or call my mom!)

Those are your ingredients. You need a recipe, too. You’ve got to follow the recipe. Whenever my mom cooks or my sister or anyone else, I always suggest to put crazy stuff in there. Luckily for everyone, it never happens. Once, however, when I was in high school, my mom was making chili and she left me alone with it, instructing me to “stir it every once in a while.” I did. But I also added extra cheese and barbecue sauce. It was great! But my mom and sister didn’t like it. I messed it up for others when I thought it was just me being funny and making something good for myself.

That’s kind of a dumb example of sin and doing things wrong, but here’s the point: we all do stuff that is wrong. We have to follow the recipe. When we don’t things get messed up. We need to be confronted and confront those who we see slipping.

Do it with love and with Jesus in your mind. You’re not perfect. We are all trying to follow God together. Help each other up and be willing to be lifted up and grow when you fall.

-Josh “Speed” Reed

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Reflection…
How should I react when confronted?
Who should I talk to more about this and friends I see need help?

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Prayer…
God, I want to serve you. Show me what I need to do to get closer to you. Help me to strengthen those around me and to be strengthened myself. Thanks for the blessings you have given me!
Unreached People of the Day – Ersu of China

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Daily Bible Reading…
2 Samuel 14-16

04.10.11

2011-04-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

“King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point? And you didn’t stop there, O LORD God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant’s family. Is this your usual way of dealing with men, O LORD God? What more can David say to you? You have given your servant special recognition, O LORD God! For the sake of your promise and according to your purpose you have done this great thing in order to reveal it to your servant. Therefore you are great, O LORD God, for there is none like you! There is no God besides you! What we have heard is true! Who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation on the earth? Their God went to claim a nation for himself and to make a name for himself! You did great and awesome acts for your land, before your people whom you delivered for yourself from the Egyptian empire and its gods. You made Israel your very own people for all time. You, O LORD, became their God. So now, O LORD God, make this promise you have made about your servant and his family a permanent reality. Do as you promised, so you may gain lasting fame, as people say, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel!’ The dynasty of your servant David will be established before you, for you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have told your servant, ‘I will build you a dynastic house.’ That is why your servant has had the courage to pray this prayer to you. Now, O sovereign LORD, you are the true God! May your words prove to be true! You have made this good promise to your servant! Now be willing to bless your servant’s dynasty so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O sovereign LORD, have spoken. By your blessing may your servant’s dynasty be blessed on into the future!”
-2 Samuel 7:18-29 (NET)

This may be a world record for longest Your Quiet Time devo passage ever.

Here’s why I chose such a long passage: It’s a prayer from David.

You might have heard it said about David that he was a man after God’s own heart. I bet that a big reason he was so close to God was because of how much he prayed and how much time he spent with God. We need to do the same!

So, here’s what we should do to get closer to God.
1. Spend time with him.
2. Pray to him often

Basically, know who God is through and through. Find him in the Bible and life.

Talk to him. He wants to hear your heart! Cry out to God in pain. Cry out to him when you don’t understand. Cry out to him when you’re in pain. Praise him when things are going great. Praise him just because of who he is and what he has done!

Get closer to God each day.

-Josh “Speed” Reed

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Reflection…
Who should I surround myself with who can help me get closer to God?
How do I need to upgrade my prayer life?

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Prayer…
God, You are great. I want to know you and love you like David did. Help me to have a real relationship with you. Thank you for letting me know you.
Unreached People of the Day – Minyak of China

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Daily Bible Reading…
2 Samuel 11-13

04.08.11

2011-04-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

“So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead and told them, “May you be blessed by the LORD because you have shown this kindness to your lord Saul by burying him. Now may the LORD show you true kindness! I also will reward you, because you have done this deed. Now be courageous and prove to be valiant warriors, for your lord Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over them.”
-2 Samuel 2:5-7 (NET)

David became the king. He was not put there by anything less than the will of God. Throughout the book of 2 Samuel, we will see how David served God well and how he failed. David was not perfect! But David was who God chose.

None of us are perfect. But still, God wants us to be his. We might not be kings, but we still belong to God. We need to live our lives in ways that show God’s greatness to all those around us.

This devo is short, sweet and to the point. God uses people even when they mess up. No matter how much you or anyone else has messed up, God can and will use you.

-Josh “Speed” Reed

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Reflection…
Do I need to let myself be used by God?
Am I holding myself back from God’s love?

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Prayer…
God, use me. Thank you for letting me serve you even when I have failed so many times. Your grace and love are amazing.
Unreached People of the Day - Arab, Moroccan of Morocco

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Daily Bible Reading…
2 Samuel 3-6

04.07.11

2011-04-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

“David was very upset, for the men were thinking of stoning him; each man grieved bitterly over his sons and daughters. But David drew strength from the LORD his God.”
-1 Samuel 30:6 (NET)

David was “upset” because people were considering stoning him.
(My problems suddenly seem a little less ridiculous.)

But David drew strength from the Lord his God.
(The source of our comfort and strength is the same.)

I have gone through some very tough times. There have been times when I have grieved and times when I have wondered and prayed about what God wants me to do. I’m sure we all have. In those times, God is still God.

He gives us strength whether our problems are small or great. We need to seek out God in the times when we are “upset.”

For a couple years in high school, my grandparents lived with us because my grandma had Alzheimer’s. My mom took care of her mother like she was a child. She had to bathe her and tend to her like she was the mother to her own mother. We would watch Dora the Explorer with her and she would respond like a child.

Now don’t get me wrong – those two years were good. I love my grandparents! My grandma was still joyful and my grandpa is a really really really good cook! I learned a lot and got to serve in a way that not many get to.

My grandma died about a year after they moved back home. That was especially rough on my mom. Even though it stunk and was really hard, she trusted in God, knowing that her mom was now perfect and in community with God.

His strength is our strength, always. It doesn’t have to be some crazy situation. Look to God and lean on him for strength when the world is getting your life all shook up.

-Josh “Speed” Reed

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Reflection…
What do I need God’s help to get through?
Who can I talk to about God’s strength?

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Prayer…
God, You are good! I praise you for that. I need your strength. Help me to look to you when I’m struggling and to guide others to know you. I am weak, but you are strong. You make me strong by who you are. Thank you for loving me and creating me.
Unreached People of the Day – Koi of India

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Daily Bible Reading…
1 Samuel 30-31
2 Samuel 1-2

04.06.11

2011-04-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

“Samuel said, “Why are you asking me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and has become your enemy? The LORD has done exactly as I prophesied! The LORD has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor David! Since you did not obey the LORD and did not carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this thing to you today. The LORD will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines! Tomorrow both you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines!”
-1 Samuel 28:16-19 (NET)

Saul was a troubled man. He didn’t do what God directed him to do. He turned against God. He then sought out another way to contact God and got to speak with Samuel while he was dead. (Crazy, right?)

Samuel tells Saul he and his sons are going to die the next day in battle and that his army will be lost to the enemy. Is there any worse thing to say to a king?

“Tomorrow you will die and your line will be broken. You will lose in battle.”

That cuts deep! That hurts.

Saul was not obedient to God. Saul was always trying to kill David and David had plenty of chances to kill him but didn’t. Saul was a great king of Israel, but he fell to himself above God.

Sometimes following what God wants us to do is tough and doesn’t make sense. But following God is what we are to do. Wherever God has placed you and whatever he asks of you, do it.

I’m not saying that if you don’t you’ll die in battle and lose all your sons. I’m saying that the work of God is serious business. We have to go about his work for real. Don’t treat it lightly. People’s souls are at risk.

-Josh “Speed” Reed

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Reflection…
What is God asking me to do that is strange or tough?
Who should I talk to in order to gain wisdom about this?

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Prayer…
God, help me to follow you. I want to serve you, no matter what. Put people around me to help me love you more each day. Guide me in how I should help others see you.
Unreached People of the Day – Kazakh of Kazakhstan

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Daily Bible Reading…
1 Samuel 26-29

04.05.11

2011-04-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

“Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David left and went down to the desert of Paran.”
-1 Samuel 25:1 (NET)

Let’s refresh our memories.
1. Samuel’s mom couldn’t have children.
2. Samuel’s mom prayed to God that she could have a child.
3. Samuel was born and was dedicated to God.
4. Samuel receives word from God.
5. Samuel serves God as a prophet.
6. Samuel dies.

That’s really brief and not at all sufficient, but this is a devo, not a giant research paper! What a life Samuel had! He was the prophet of God when the Israelites wanted a King. He anointed both Saul and David as King and served God then, too.

His mom was a faithful woman. She asked God for a child and said she would dedicate him to the Lord, and she did. His mom was no doubt proud as well. Samuel is sort of a sub-character in this book at times, even though there are two books named after him! But he has a huge role to play. He serves God and ministers before the Lord.

Maybe it’s time we dedicate something to God. Our time? Our lives? What do we need to dedicate to God? Imagine what could happen. Let God take you and use you. Big things will happen, little things will happen. God will work through you.

-Josh “Speed” Reed

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Reflection…
What might God do with your life if you dedicate yourself to him?
What does your reflection look like in the mirror?

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Prayer…
God, Help me to know what I should dedicate to you. Help me to do it! Put people around me who can help me and who have also dedicated themselves to you.
Unreached People of the Day – Giay, Nhang of China

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Daily Bible Reading…
1 Samuel 23-25

03.04.11

2011-04-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

“Then Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David.”
-1 Samuel 19:1 (NET)

In these chapters, Saul is becoming an enemy of David. He is trying to kill him. Saul was a king of Israel, a servant of the Lord. He wanted him dead because David was becoming greater than him, and Saul didn’t like that idea. David was going to become the next king, and not Jonathan, Saul’s son. Saul wanted David dead.

Think about the sides of this situation:
You’ve got Saul. You’ve got David. What’s going on? Is it just drama or is there something bigger? Saul, who is King, is faltering a bit. He doesn’t like David so much that he wants him dead. David was the kid who killed the giant and from that day forward rose to ultimately become the King of Israel and have Jesus be his descendant. Let’s focus on Saul.

Have you ever let something get in the way of you serving God? Have you ever become jealous or unhappy that someone else was doing something that seemed bigger and better than you?

Don’t let that bother you! Just imagine how great David and Saul could have been together if Saul hadn’t ended up trying to kill him. Our relationships with people are so crucial to serving God. Let the ones you have be rooted and based on God and his will instead of your own pride. Don’t ruin relationships because you like yourself too much. Lay down your pride.

-Josh “Speed” Reed

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Reflection…
Who do you get to serve with?
Who might you need to talk to and pray with about staying strong together?
Make sure you check out 1 Samuel 19:13-16, for the first ever fake body in a bed trick in the history of the world.

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Prayer…
Pray that God would open opportunities to serve those around you.
Unreached People of the Day - Chechen, Shishan of Russia

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Daily Bible Reading…
1 Samuel 19-22

03.03.11

2011-04-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

“David replied to Saul, “Your servant has been a shepherd for his father’s flock. Whenever a lion or bear would come and carry off a sheep from the flock, I would go out after it, strike it down, and rescue the sheep from its mouth. If it rose up against me, I would grab it by its jaw, strike it, and kill it. Your servant has struck down both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be just like one of them. For he has defied the armies of the living God!” David went on to say, “The LORD who delivered me from the lion and the bear will also deliver me from the hand of this Philistine!” Then Saul said to David, “Go! The LORD will be with you.”
-1 Samuel 17:34-37 (NET)

I like to do big things. I like to do things that get me noticed. Recently at my school, Ozark Christian College, I got to preach in chapel to the entire student body, the professors and everyone else who was there, including some of my family. I was so excited to get to do it! I had been looking forward to it for a long time, even though I was very nervous.

Now, that may be a big thing, but if I had neglected to do so many of the small things, I wouldn’t have been able to do that, or I would have been doing it under the illusion that I had done other things.

Learning at school can be a tough thing. But it is so important. At OCC, I’ve had to write thousands of papers, do lots of homework and memorize several million Bible verses. Though it’s homework and can get really discouraging, I did it.

I also serve at a church near my college. This is definitely not a “small thing” as the students I serve are just as important as the ones at the big churches in town. But, not many people see what I get to do there. If I had neglected to teach them or spend time with the students there, maybe I wouldn’t have been ready or enabled to preach in chapel.

Here’s my point. David killed Goliath and encouraged all of Israel that God is alive. But before he did that, he had to serve in places like watching the sheep in the fields. There, he tells Saul, he defended them from a lion and a bear. That’s intense! We need to serve God with that kind of ferocity and dedication no matter if we are watching sheep or defeating the greatest enemy in front of an entire army. It’s fun to get the attention of people after they see you do something pretty cool, but if that’s all we do, then it’s not as good. Serve God even when the only person watching is him.

-Josh “Speed” Reed

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Reflection…
What do you do that only God can see?
Where might God be leading you to go to serve him and defeat a giant?

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Prayer…
God, I want to serve you when no one is watching but you. Help me to not want to put on a show so that people can see me serve. I want to have a heart that really wants to serve you and not myself. Help me to be like David watching his sheep. I want to treat what you have given me with care and respect. Guide me to serve.
Unreached People of the Day – Kurd, Sorani of Iraq

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Daily Bible Reading…
1 Samuel 16-18

04.02.11

2011-04-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

“Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will intervene for us. Nothing can prevent the LORD from delivering, whether by many or by a few.”
-1 Samuel 14:6 (NET)

I love sports. One of the greatest things about sports is that it can all come down to the final seconds or the last play. You need to have a player who can finish the game with a last-second shot or nail a 45-yard field goal to win the game. Imagine you’re a fan of the Chicago Bulls when they had Michael Jordan on their team. Say you’re in the playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers and it’s all going to come down to the last shot. If you miss, you’re done. But if you win, you still have a chance to win it all. Who do you want shooting the ball? Michael Jordan, of course. He can (and did) make the shot that kept his team alive on their way to the championship, one of many.

But say that Michael Jordan missed the shot…

There is a pretty cool Gatorade commercial that shows this in an edited way. You can’t always count on a person to deliver your team from a loss. Michael Jordan no doubt had many buzzer-beaters for his team. But he probably missed some, too. You can’t say of Michael Jordan, Adam Vinatieri or Luis Castillo, “Nothing can prevent Michael Jordan from delivering us.”

But with God you can. He is in total control.

God can and did deliver all of us from our enemy that had us beat. We had sinned and lost the game, until our deliverer came. God sent his son Jesus to rescue us from defeat. Jesus defeated our enemy. Nothing can stop Jesus from saving us.

Since Jesus has delivered us, we should work wherever we are to tell others about his power and victory over the enemy of the whole world. Jesus died, but he rose from the dead and defeated death.

00:03…00:02…00:01…

It’s good!

-Josh “Speed” Reed

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Reflection…
What has your enemy done to fight against you?
Who should you tell about Jesus?

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Prayer…
God, I thank you so much for delivering me. Thank you for saving us all from our enemy. I can’t be alive without you! Give me the courage to stand up and show other who you are. I don’t want to be quiet about your power and victory.
Unreached People of the Day – Ghao-Xong, Western of China

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Daily Bible Reading…
1 Samuel 13-15