Thursday, January 7, 2010
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Scripture:
He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. Revelation 21:7
Observation:
Every year at this time people compile lists, typically top 10 lists of various categories. There are also stories of special people from the year. These are stories of people with special gifts and stories of people that have endured and overcome some type of hardship. They don’t see it as facing hardships, but rather as a challenge or opportunity. We are called to be faithful in everything, to be uncompromising in our view of worldly values, to reject our dependence on ourselves, and to persevere against persecution. It is not a one-time defeat of these challenges, but rather a continuous process. It is a lifestyle that we work at every moment. It is our opportunity to show the world that there is a better way to live. Each of us has our own special trials that we face, but we are all called to overcome. We do this simply because of who God is and He deserves the glory. God will provide everything we need. We will not need artificial light, because God will be our light. Water will flow from His throne to sustain us. It’s all there for those that overcome.
Application:
There is nothing quite like being a parent. We have watched them grow from toddlers to married adults starting their own families. They made some good decisions and some bad. We were there to guide them through both the good and bad. It is delightful to see them learn from there mistakes and avoid them again. I can imagine that we give God that same delight when we learn. I want to learn to be a better son, to strive to overcome, and to avoid situations in which I know I struggle. Just as I have a sense of pride in my children, I want God to have that sense of pride in me.
Prayer:
God, thank you for your promises that you provide to those who fully believe. I pray that you help me to grow in my faith and be strong in it. Help me to learn to be aware of situations that are dangerous to me and to focus on you every day and every moment.
—David Hardin, community missions pastor, Reservoir campus
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Scripture:
And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy; For all the nations will come and worship before you, For your righteous acts have been revealed” Revelation 15:3 & 4
Observation:
I have seen movies where one person saves another person’s life. After that there is a sense of obligation, that they owe that person something. They tell others about the heroic event. They declare to all who will listen the wonderful thing that you have done. The victorious believers here are celebrating there victory in Christ and their deliverance. Just as God had delivered them from the oppression of the Egyptians He provides the ultimate deliverance from the power of Satan. God had shielded the righteous from the plagues in Egypt and Revelation’s equivalent. God’s plan from the beginning had been completed and it is righteous and true. I am part of that plan. I have been delivered from the power of Satan and He has saved my life. Why wouldn’t I glorify His name? Who else would I fear and praise?
Application:
In a couple of days we will celebrate the beginning of a new year. It is a time to reflect on the past 12 months. The things that were good and the things that weren’t. It’s also a time to look ahead, to make changes in our lives and to be thankful for what we have been given. Just as the believers here reflected back to God’s deliverance and faithfulness in Egypt, I need to take time and recognize God’s hand in my life. The hard times He has gotten me through, the victories that we only possible because of Him and people He placed in my path to encourage me. I need to prepare myself to be used by God in His plan. I need to celebrate and praise Him for who He is.
Prayer:
God, teach me to be thankful and celebrate you for who you are: my Father, Creator, Deliverer, Provider. God, prepare me for the works you already have planned. Help me to be sensitive and aware of your plans.
—David Hardin, community missions pastor, Reservoir campus
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Scripture:
And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.” Revelation 14:6 & 7
Observation:
How do you get someone’s attention? When our children were teenagers our house always seemed to be filled with them and their friends. And a bunch of teenagers are loud. I had to talk louder maybe even shout to get their attention. Talking loud would get their attention, but continuing to talk loud indicated to importance of my announcement. The angel had an important message with eternal consequences and just like the angel that announced Jesus’ birth the revelation of the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection was to be for all people. This is the message that we have been called to share with the world. We are God’s chosen vessels to deliver the gospel message to every nation, tribe and tongue.
Application:
To whom am I shouting? Am I willing to take that stand? I meet and talk to a lot of people every day. There are a vastly larger number of people with whom I just cross paths. If I had a medicine that would save their lives, I wouldn’t keep it from them. In fact I would go out of my way to make sure that they got it, even if were inconvenient for me. The message I have to share will save their lives for eternity. To what lengths am I willing to go to share it with them? Will I give up a Saturday of my time once a month or maybe once a quarter to go to downtown Jackson to serve with local partners? Will I give up a week of my time to go to Africa? Will I walk across my street to love my neighbor and share with them? I need to keep myself open to where God wants to use me and to make sure I am both willing and able to go where He calls.
Prayer:
God, help me to be sensitive to your calling and to be ready, willing and able to be used by you. Help me to see others and the world through your eyes and not mine. Teach me to love as you love. Create in me a passion for others to know you.
—David Hardin, community missions pastor, Reservoir campus
Monday, December 28, 2009
Scripture:
"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands." Revelation 7:9
Observation:
The picture painted by this verse is a great image of what worship will be like in Heaven. I have been to worship services in a number of countries and I love to see the similarities and differences in the ways believers worship. It helps me remember how small my world view can be sometimes. It helps me to realize just how BIG our God really is and that we are part of a large family. At one time or another almost everyone has been part of a great worship experience where you can feel the Holy Spirit at work and it’s a truly spiritually moving event. You want to feel that way again. That’s what worship in Heaven will be like each time.
Application:
A number of times in Revelation the scripture says that a new song was sung. I’m not much of a singer, but I do like to sing. One image that comes to my mind about this verse is from an old Coke commercial where there are more people than you can count holding hands and singing, “I’d like to teach the world to sing.” There seems to be people from every nation.
What do I need to do to get ready for this celebration in Heaven? I need to remain strong and faithful. I need to be willing to follow God’s plan for me in teaching others about who He is. There are people in Jackson, Mexico, Kenya and the other countries that God has called Pinelake to go that need to see and hear the Gospel. We plan are objectives for one year at a time, but we need our lives to be part of God’s plan for eternity. I need to be will to sacrifice my comforts to see the Gospel reach the unreached, unchurched and unloved. One verse in the song is “I’d like to build the world a home and furnish it with love.” God already has that home ready for us. I want to make sure I make it known to others that it’s a home for them also.
Prayer:
God, thank you for your Son who provided the way to the home that you offer to us. Thank you for the hope that we have in Jesus and our Heavenly home. I pray that you provide me with opportunities to share and witness to others the Gospel message and the hope that they also can have in you.
—David Hardin, community missions pastor, Reservoir campus
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Scripture:
“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” Revelation 2:4
Observation:
The church at Ephesus was a busy church; verses 2 & 3 talk about their deeds, perseverance and endurance. They were busy doing good, but it appears they had forgotten why they were doing it. The church was doing lots of things to benefit themselves and the community. Paul had once praised them for their love of God and others (Ephesians 1:15). They were not motivated by the same love that they had in the beginning. They had lost their zeal for God.
Application:
Routine. Complacent. Satisfied. In January, Lynda and I will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We took time off about a month ago to just get away. No cell phones, no internet, no televisions, and away from lots of people. We just wanted to spend time together. We realized that even though we saw each other every day and talked every day, we needed an intentional time to focus on each other and our marriage. It has also made our time here special again.
I need that same type of time in my spiritual life. I can get distracted by the activities that we are involved with in Jackson (busy doing good) and forget why I’m doing it. I can also do the same thing in my quiet time and make it more about checking off a box than spending time with God. When I get to that point I have to get away from all distractions and just focus on God through prayer and reading of His Word. That gives me a chance to listen to God and not be rushed. It’s a great way to start my new year, with a renewed focus on God.
Prayer:
God, I pray that you help me with my focus on you. Take away the things that can distract me from spending quality time with you. I pray that I never great so busy doing good that I forget the reason I’m doing it.
—David Hardin, community missions pastor, Reservoir campus
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Scripture:
“And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.” 2 John 6
Observation:
What is love? In this scripture the answer seems to be to live in a way that we are keeping the commands of God. At first when I read this I was a little perplexed – I mean we all try to think of love as something much more abstract and mystical than simply doing what we are told. Yet, as a father, I got to thinking about this. When my kids behave in a way that I have instructed them, without me having to always be on them and threaten them with punishment, then I must admit that I feel like I am being loved. If this is true for me, how much more true is this for God?
Application:
So if keeping the commandments is showing love then that changes everything for some people. There are so manly people who think of the commands of God as a punishment or, at least, an end to their fun. But how many people’s world would change if they saw their following after God’s commands as an act of love? And that is exactly what it is.
Prayer:
God, may I show love to you today by the way I choose to live. May I follow after your and be reminded that I love you because you loved me first. Amen.
—Darren Miley, student pastor, Reservoir campus
Friday, December 25, 2009
Scripture:
“We love, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
Observation:
I love the simplicity of this verse. Its so cut and dry; so to the point. The reason we love is because God loved us to begin with. He is the author of love – the inventor of the idea of love. It all started with him. His love compels us to respond. It demands it. He loves, therefore we are to love others as a response to the love he bestows upon us. Its simple really, but there is a catch.
Application:
The problem arises in that we are always using our love as a way to get what we want. Whether its from other people or even from God we extend or withhold our love to manipulate things to our liking. Not always, but enough so that we miss the point entirely that our love is to be given our freely because we are loved by God when there is not any good reason that he should, other than he is love.
Therefore, we are to pursue love, for by doing so we enter into a holy enterprise. It is what is fitting for one loved first by God.
Prayer:
God thank you for being a God of love. Help me to show love to others, not for what it gets me, but because you loved me first. Amen.
—Darren Miley, student pastor, Reservoir campus
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Scripture:
“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25
Observation:
So after writing all of this down John ends his gospel with this verse. Hyperbole aside, it is very obvious that there was so much more that Jesus did in the three years of his public ministry that didn’t make it onto paper. And that’s what got me wondering. Not about all of the thing that Jesus did that we are ignorant about (though I wonder about that too), but what about my life…what are the things that go on with me that no one knows about?
Application:
I am certain, without a doubt, that all of the things that were not told about Jesus would only be more of the same. Here’s what I mean, those things would only prove to solidify what we already know. Nothing that could be written about Jesus would tarnish his reputation or make us think any less of him. I don’t think that is true of me. Oh there are things that no one knows about in my life that would make me look good…Godly even. But there is so much that would be humiliating to me and would cause everyone to lose respect for me. Thats not the way I want it to be. I would much rather lead a life so that everything I do represents God in a way that is justified. But, instead I am desperate for his grace in my life, and I’m so thankful for it.
Prayer:
God help me to live more like you everyday so that the things done in secret in my life are things that I would not have any issue with them being written down and passed around to my friends. Amen.
—Darren Miley, student pastor, Reservoir campus
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Scripture:
"I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” John 16:12
Observation:
It never ceases to amaze me at how impatient we all tend to be, especially when it comes to the important things in life like our relationship with God. I remember so many times that I have wanted to be at a certain place in my walk with God, to have certain character traits, and have been so frustrated that I couldn’t just pray a prayer (or have someone pray it for me would be even better) and — BAM — just have that trait come over me. Kinda’ like it was just downloaded into my heart. In this verse we are told that that is not at all how God is going to deal with us. There are things that he will only give us when we are ready.
Application:
I must be willing to wait and seek God above all else. So that in the waiting and in the seeking I will be able to be developed so that I can bear all of the things that God wants me to have. If I was to get what I want when I want it, then I would not be able to handle those things properly. In the end I think that I will wait so that I can use the gifts of God to please Him not me.
Prayer:
God thank you for giving me the things you want me to have in your timing, not mine. You are a perfect gift giver, help me to be a better gift receiver. Amen.
—Darren Miley, student pastor, Reservoir campus