Monday, April 25, 2011

Weekly Devotional - " GET WISDOM: GO BEYOND THE GOLD!" - April 25, 2011

from: Lenae, GEMS Training Manager

GET WISDOM: GO BEYOND THE GOLD!

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!
Proverbs 16:16

Recently I watched a Francis Chan video where he pointed out the difference between knowing God’s Word and obeying it. He used the example of telling his daughter to go clean her room. What if his daughter came to him and said things like, “Hey, dad, I memorized the phrase, ‘Go clean your room.’” Or, “I can say ‘Go clean your room’ in Greek.” Or, “My friends and I are going to get together once a week and study what it means to go clean my room.” Obviously, none of those things matter until she does what she was told – cleans her room!

God tells us in His Word, that it is better to get wisdom than wealth. But is that what we are doing? Are we obeying that command? According to a July 2010 Barna Group report, “No!” There’s been a shift in American’s priorities. Since a 2006 study, Americans (I’m assuming this is true for North America as a whole) have an increased emphasis on “wealth, financial stability, money, professional attainment, success, and paying bills. These types of priorities have nearly doubled over the past four years.” What’s lost ground is the percentage of Americans who say their top priority is family and faith. “Despite the fact that more than three-quarters of adults identify themselves as Christians and nearly nine out of 10 Americans believe in God, matters of ‘faith’ are surprisingly rare when Americans choose their highest priority in life.”

Proverbs 16:16 says, How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! We can memorize that verse, learn it in Greek, study it as counselor teams, and within small groups of girls, but none of those things matter until we do what we’ve been told – go get wisdom!

There’s nothing necessarily wrong with owning things like gold, silver, or other items on our wish list. What God wants us to understand in these verses is that if we must make a choice between getting wisdom or getting things, choose wisdom! It’s the best choice! The things of this world won’t help us walk wisely or give true joy, but wisdom will. Proverbs 8:10-11, Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

What is it that you most desire? If Barna contacted you and asked what your highest priority is today, what would you say? Would your answer be proven or falsified by your choices, credit card receipts, and checkbook register?

Wisdom Step: If getting wealth has trumped getting wisdom in your life, what course correction will you make today?

If you want wisdom, you must “seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures” (Proverbs 2:4). That means work! It means taking time to read, mediate, pray, and put truth into practice.
Warren W. Wiersbe

Monday, April 18, 2011

Weekly Devotion - "THE FEAR OF THE LORD" - April 18, 2011


from Lenae, GEMS Training Manger
THE FEAR OF THE LORD

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10

On July 8, 1741 in Enfield, Connecticut, American theologian Jonathan Edwards preached the sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” I was in middle school when it was first introduced to me and I sat wide-eyed at the imagery of the fierceness of God’s wrath. I closed my eyes as our teacher talked about the dreadful pit and the lake of burning brimstone. I opened them again to watch my instructor hold an imaginary spider on a slender thread above a raging fire as he quoted Edwards. “The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you . . . it is nothing but His hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. Oh, sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in.”

As I considered my personal peril, my heart sprinted into my loving Heavenly Father’s arms. I didn’t want to think on God’s burning anger. Instead I fixed my mind on the warmth of His grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness.

Looking back, I now realize that I mentally closed the door to the phrase, “the fear of the LORD.” Scripture and the Spirit have convicted me that we are not entitled to pick and choose who God is. He is both loving Heavenly Father and sovereign, righteous judge.

God is holy and perfect, almighty and absolute, and we must approach Him in a manner that is worthy of His name. To fear Him encapsulates a shrinking back in recognition of the holiness, power, and autonomy of God and a drawing close in awe, reverence, and worship. We don’t fear to be in His presence as much as we fear to be out of it!

Sadly, Romans 3:18 accurately describes our culture today. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Psalm 36 repeats the lament, I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked; There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they have ceased to be wise and to do good (vs. 1-3, TNIV).

In neglecting to fear God and His judgment, the world has gone wild instead of wise. Studies indicate there is little difference between how Christians make major decisions and live day-to-day when compared to secular society.

Now is the time for us to get wisdom and it begins by rightly understanding and living out what it means to fear the LORD.
 
Wisdom Step: Do a Bible word study on “the fear of the LORD.” Ask God to let that reverential fear keep you from sin and help you get wisdom.

Until you fear God and have a deep desire to follow Him you won’t care much about wisdom.
Jan Boone

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Weekly Devotion - "GOD SIGHTINGS 101" - April 4, 2011

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager

GOD SIGHTINGS 101

Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Psalm 34:8a

Every time we’re in a group setting where someone marvels at the favorable coincidences of his or her life, my hubby’s eyes dart toward me. He knows what’s coming as I say, “There is no such thing as coincidences – only God incidences!”

It is God who coordinates everything in His perfect wisdom and time. Proverbs 16:33 says, The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. And Matthew 10:29 says that not one sparrow will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

God is at work in our lives and in this world. Sometimes His hand is seen with exceptional power like the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Sometimes His finger is in the tiniest details like a timely reminder from His Spirit to respond with a gentle answer instead of a harsh word (Proverbs 15:1).

Oswald Chambers wrote, “We can all see God in exceptional things, but it requires the growth of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail. Never believe that the so-called random events of life are anything less than God’s appointed order. Be ready to discover His divine designs anywhere and everywhere.”

So how do we see God everywhere – in the exceptional and in the details?
  1. Slow down and be still. Too often we listen with our mouths open! We’re too uncomfortable with the silence. We must learn to practice a blessed quiet. Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10a). 

  1. Examine your day. Be observant throughout every activity and conversation. At the end of the day ask: Where did I see God at work? What were the signs that He was present? Were there moments when I missed seeing Him? My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek” (Psalm 27:8).

  1. Write it down. Start a God sightings journal. After the defeat of the Amalekites when Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands, God said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered” (Exodus 17:14). Journaling helps us record and remember the ways God is at work. It’s a tangible way to recall His faithful presence in our lives.

PASSION Step: Where did you see God during this past season of GEMS? Where did you see Him at work within your ACTS area? Have coffee with your ACTS partner or GEMS counselor team. Share the God-sightings and give Him thanks.

In the end, one must finally come to see that if there is a God in heaven, there is no such thing as mere coincidence, not even in the smallest affairs of life.
John Piper

Weekly Devotion - "SEEK THE LORD" - March 28, 2011

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager
 SEEK THE LORD


Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
1 Chronicles 16:11

On ordinary days it’s a spiritual discipline or holy habit to notice God in the ordinary. When life is in upheaval, there’s a tendency for believers and non-believers alike to seek His face.

My sixth grade teacher, Mr. De Groot, used to say, “There’s no atheists in foxholes.” He knew firsthand the horrors of war. When life was mundane around camp, his comrades would poke fun of his faith. When bullets started flying or they heard orders to advance against the enemy, his bunker became a prayer closet. Even the toughest dudes would get on their knees, weep, and ask for prayer. When troubles came, soldiers sought the LORD.

The same was true in OT times. When the Moabites and Ammonites came to make war on Jehoshaphat, the king was alarmed. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him (2 Chronicles 20:3).

The world is not short on heartache these days. We need to look no further than the morning news, church prayer chains, caring bridge sites, or the hurts within our circle of family and friends. There’s much we can learn from King Jehosaphat and Judah about seeking God in times of distress.
  1. Remember who God is. When Jehosaphat stood before the assembly at the temple of the LORD, he prayed, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God of heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you” (v. 6).  
  2. Remember God’s wondrous works in the past. Jehosaphat continued, “O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” (v. 7).
  3. Remember what God will do in the future. The king prayed, “They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us” (v. 8-9).

As the men, women, and children of Judah stood in the temple courtyard, the king confessed to the LORD that they had no power to face the vast army that was attacking them. “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you” (v. 12b). And the LORD said, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (v. 15).

PASSION Step: Seek the LORD by keeping your eyes on Him. Notice Him in the ordinary and in the agony.

Enter into the inner chamber of your mind, shut out all things save God and whatever may aid you in seeking God; and having barred the door of your chamber, seek him.
Anselm of Canterbury

Weekly Devotion - "SEEING GOD IN YOUR STORY" - March 21, 2011

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager


But Joseph said to them [his brothers], “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, 
the saving of many lives.”
Genesis 50:19-20

There are a number of stories within God’s Word where I would’ve loved to be the proverbial mouse in the corner soaking in an eyewitness account. On my list includes the story of when Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers.

Think about what Joseph experienced. He was sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37), thrown into jail because of the lies of Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39), and lingered in prison because of the forgetfulness of the king’s cupbearer (Genesis 40).

In all these things did Joseph cry out to God like the Psalmist? Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion? (Psalm 77:7-9).

It does not offend God when His distressed people ask these questions, and Joseph may have, we don’t know how he processed it all, but we know where he landed. Scripture tells us that Joseph noticed God in the storms of his story and credited the Author of his life for using the hard times to accomplish good (Genesis 50:19-20).

There’s a stark difference between the ways Joseph responded to heartaches in comparison to his father Jacob.

When Jacob learned that a repeat trip back to Egypt for grain couldn’t happen unless his son Benjamin went along he didn’t see God’s sovereign hand at work. He responded by saying, “Everything is against me!” “Why did you bring this trouble on me?” (Genesis 42:36, 43:6). 

When the darkness settles in and we can’t see the hand in front of our face, much less God’s hand in our story, are we more like Joseph or Jacob? Do we say with Joseph, “God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done” or do we miss God’s providential care and say with Jacob, “Everything is against me”?

When we can’t see God in our present, like the writer of Psalm 77 we need to look to our past. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph” (Psalm 77:11, 13, 15).

PASSION Step: Where do you struggle to see God today? Review how God has helped you in the past and choose to trust that He’ll do the same in the days to come.

Every day we may see some new thing in Christ. His love hath neither brim nor bottom.
Samuel Rutherford