Would you like to read through The Bible in 2013?

Hi Beloveds...

With the new year approaching and resolutions on the way, I thought this was a great article from Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds.

I think it's most important to get out of The Word what God has for us.  Explore, study, and go where He takes us.  Even if this means spending days, weeks, or months reading and researching the same scripture.

With that being said, at 10-15 minutes a day and countless mediums at our disposal, I believe it's possible to do this and still get through the Bible in a year.

Plus, for those who need a little structure, reading plans like this can be just what the doctor ordered to stay in the Word!

I hope you find it helpful.  Be blessed!

The Christmas Story In Scripture

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God." And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-38 NASB)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:18-21 NASB)

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7 NASB)

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-3, 9-11 NASB)

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." (Luke 2:8-14 NASB)

Merry Christmas Beloveds

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Hi Beloveds,

One of my favorite Christmas carols has always been "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". When I listen to it I'm reminded of all Israel has been through and God's unending love for her. It's beautiful!

2012 has been a particularly difficult year for Israel.  November saw Hamas militants in Gaza fire hundreds of rockets into her boarders.  Among the targets, for the first time in decades, were Israel's two most populated cities... Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.  Were it not for the grace of God and Iron Domes the damage could have been exponentially worse.

My heart cries for her.  I believe author of "O Come Emmanuel" felt the same way.

A funny thing happened this year though when I took time to actually study the lyrics.  I realized the author was most likely not Jewish but Christian.  I guess I'd just never thought about it before.  In an attempt to confirm my suspicions I did a little research.  To my surprise I found an article that picked up on some of the same things I was seeing, though I don't agree with everything in it.

To me the idea of a Christian "empathizing" with Israel makes the song even more attractive.

Here is a great version from Selah...

If you're a classical music fan this version is amazing!!!!

The Bible is clear when it comes to Israel...

Now the Lord said to Abram,

“Go forth from your country,

And from your relatives

And from your father’s house,

To the land which I will show you;

And I will make you a great nation,

And I will bless you,

And make your name great;

And so you shall be a blessing;

And I will bless those who bless you,

And the one who curses you I will curse.

And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

~Genesis 12:1-3(NASB) 

Please take time to bless her this Christmas!

Break Every Chain

There is power in the name of Jesus!

I love this song!  So simple, yet so powerful!

We all have those things which attempt to bind us.  For some it's addiction.  For others it's a past that haunts them.  Decisions made by us...  Decisions made by someone else that have effected us.  Physical giftings or lack there of.

Chains come in all different shapes, sizes, and strengths.

These chains are often accompanied by emotions...  Pain. Fear. Condemnation.  Regret.

The very picture of a chain brings thoughts of captivity, and I know this...  Jesus came to set the captive free.  We are His and His alone.  To be captive is to allow someone or something else to have us.  If you concede we serve a God and Savior Who is jealously in love with us then you know He will battle for us incessantly.

Let Him set you free!

Jump Off The Cliff

Hi Beloveds...

So, I heard this song for the first time today and it's amazing!  It expresses perfectly one of the deepest cries of my heart.  I don't know how I had missed it until now, because I think it's been around for a while.

The name of the song is "Without You" by Shane & Shane.  If you have never heard it, please give it a listen...

Isn't that one of the most beautiful songs you have ever heard?!  Haven't we all felt like that at some point?!  Haven't we all prayed this same prayer?!

As I listen to this song though, I hear more than it's skin deep beauty.  There is a sweet irony here that strikes at the very heart of human nature and our relationship with God.

This song is, at it's root, a song about faith.  The irony is there are times we are required to move with no confirmation or safety-net.  We just need to trust God and jump off the cliff.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

We are to just know He is with us.  A perfect example of this in the Bible is the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (Daniel 3:13-28).

I love the Old Testament stories of faith.  Daniel and the lions den.  Joseph and everything he went through.  Faith is the ultimate choice of free will.  To choose Him.

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:6-9)

Even if we make a step in the wrong direction, as long as we are seeking Him, He will catch us.  Even if we are not seeking Him, the moment we choose to start He is right by our side ready to catch us then.

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

The point is just step.  Do something!  He will work with us.  He is so loving and patient through our weakness and doubt.  Just look what He did with Gideon, right? (Judges 6:36-40)

You and I are no different.  There are times He speaks to us, certainly.  But there are other times He has said all He is going to for the moment and is patiently waiting for us to move.  If you truly want to make an impact in this world, tap into that.

Forgiveness - Quick Word Study

...Forgiveness...

"They refused to listen,
And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them;
So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt.
But You are a God of forgiveness,
Gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness;
And You did not forsake them. (Nehemiah 9:17 NASB)

But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared. (Psalm 130:4 NASB)

To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him; nor have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets. (Daniel 9:9-10 NASB)

And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:27-28 NASB)

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 1:4 NASB)

"Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"- because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit." (Mark 3:28-30 NASB)

To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
To guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:77-79 NASB)

And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
"THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. (Luke 3:3-4 NASB)

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (Luke 24:45-47 NASB)

Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 NASB)

He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31 NASB)

Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." (Acts 10:43 NASB)

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. (Acts 13:38-39 NASB)

But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.' (Acts 26:16-18 NASB)

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him (Ephesians 1:7-10 NASB)

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14 NASB)

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:22 NASB)

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. (Hebrews 10:18 NASB)

Psalm 51

Hi Beloveds...

Psalm 51 has always rocked me.  I love it!  I am a huge David fan.  If there is one person in the Bible I can relate to it's him.

I have always struggled with his adultery though.  Don't get me wrong, we all fall.  We all have our sin that is just as great as anything David did.  As I read the story of David and Bathsheba though I am hit in a particularly sensitive and personal place.

Psalm 51 is David's cry to God after he has done this deed.  It's pure.  It's raw.  It's real.  I can feel and relate to his heart and the pain.  I love the wisdom and knowledge of God he shows in the structure and choice of his words.  I could go on and on pointing these things out by verse, but there is one in particular that hit my recently.

Good Songs About Forgiveness

Hi Beloveds...  I just wanted to share a few good songs about forgiveness.  Hope they bless you!

Sometimes He Calms His Child...

Hi Beloveds...

I was just thinking last night about being in the presence of God.  I was thinking about how there are times in our life where we can be "doing" everything right and yet things still look dark.

We run to God in moments of pure desperation after being tossed about.  We have spent time in the Word.  We have spent time in prayer.  We have fasted.  We have come to Him with a pure heart, begging Him to make things better, yet the hurt goes on.

Are we not in His presence?  Are we missing Him somehow?  Is there more we need to "do"?

What God Loves - Quick Word Study

What God Loves (Love, Loved, Loves)

 ....Love....

"The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, (Deuteronomy 7:7 NASB)

He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you. (Deuteronomy 7:13 NASB)

Yet on your fathers did the LORD set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them,  even you above all peoples, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 10:15 NASB)

He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. (Deuteronomy 10:18 NASB)

"He has brought me to his banquet hall,  And his banner over me is love. (Song of Solomon 2:4 NASB)

The Tale of Two Songs

Hi Beloveds...

I have two songs on my heart today and would like to share them with you.  Before I do that I would just like to reiterate the intent of this blog is healing and to help others know they are not alone.  I do not apologize for talking often about what I have gone through in my marriage and life.  If any of this helps to save one person or marriage then it is worth it.  Pain is real but there is healing and hope in God!  This is the true battlefield and real life examples help.

The first song on my heart is The Motions by Matthew West...

This song has a special place in my heart.  There was a time when my wife and I were seeing counselors at our church.  Things had been getting much better but then we hit a rough spot again.  In one of these sessions she came to the table with a heartfelt letter written to me.  This letter was full of pain.  I took it with the

Giving Him Pleasure - Quick Word Study

Giving Him pleasure...


Yet, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father's house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. (1 Chronicles 28:4 NASB)

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;  No evil dwells with You. (Psalm 5:4 NASB)

He does not delight in the strength of the horse;  He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. (Psalm 147:10 NASB)

Pleasing To The Lord - Quick Word Study

Pleasing to the Lord...


Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. (1 Kings 3:7-10 NASB)

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;  I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Let my meditation be pleasing to Him;  As for me, I shall be glad in the LORD. (Psalm 104:33-34 NASB)

Psalms In The Key Of Me #1

Father God I love you so much!

You know my heart.  You know my weaknesses.  You know even though I fall short I still try.  Thank you for loving me as I am.  Thank You for Your forgiveness, grace, and mercy.  I am Yours!

My heart is heavy today.  Please be with me.  My thoughts are with my wife.  Father God please be with her.  Please send your ministering angels out to comfort and care for her.  Bind up her heart and let Your love surround her.  I believe where I have failed as a husband You are shown to be strong.  I know You love her more than I ever could.  I want that for her Father God.  I want You to be her true lover.  I want so badly for her to be healed.  I know all things are possible though You.

Though I will never be able to see her heart as You do, as her husband I have seen much.  I have seen how much she loves You!  I believe You have intended her for great things.  Father, with any and all authority

War

"Blessed be the Lord, my rock,

Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle;
My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My stronghold and my deliverer,
My shield and He in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues my people under me." ~ Psalm 144:1-2 (NASB)

Beloveds...


Shortly after I published my last post I came extremely close to deleting it.  As I looked it over one last time I thought to myself...  "This has to be some of the worst writing you have ever done".  It was not the image I wanted to put forward.  My finger was on the button but then a smile came to my face.


You see, since I have decided to start writing again, I have been suffering from writer's block.  I have thousands of things to say but when I sit down to put them to screen I jam up.  I start over-thinking things, sacrificing the good for the perfect.  So I sat back and I said to myself, SCREW IT!  :)  What you see is what you get, an imperfect warrior who has a bleeding heart for God and has laid everything at His feet.


I heard His voice say,  "That post was written for someone, as is, and I am going to bless them with it".  If that happens to be you... bon appetit.  He loves you!

It boils down to this...  This is a war.  The enemy of your soul would like nothing better than to keep you

What is good? What is right?

Hi Beloveds,

I was thinking today about my life and all the challenges I have before me right now.  I was even starting to feel a little down on myself.  We all make mistakes.  Sometimes the most difficult thing to do is forgive ourselves.  I was experiencing this.  I was thinking about my wife and marriage.  I was thinking about all the mistakes I had made.   How I had left her vulnerable and our marriage in the condition it's in.  Though we have been separated and not had contact for a long time there are still mistakes I make even today that have an impact.  I hate that so much.

It gets easy to focus on the negative.  (I get in this place where I start to think of all the things I could do to make things better.  There in lies the rub.  It has never been about what I can do.  It has always been about what God can do.  The best I can do is passionately seek Him and submit to His will.)

As I mentioned I was in one of these moments this morning when God started to work on me.

He is so crafty!  I love it!  I Love how He knows His child.

I was remembering a moment my wife and I had before our separation.  We were still in a place where we were working on things.  She was moved out of the house and staying with friends but we were still talking on the phone.  At one point in one of these conversations I told her that I missed her.  She asked me "What

Back

Beloveds...

It's approaching a year now since the last time I have posted. I apologize for that. The truth of the matter is shortly after my last post I was dealt a heavy blow by the enemy in a longstanding spiritual battle for my family. To say it knocked me on my ass would be an understatement and I needed some time with God.

This blog was initially intended to be a place for me to vent and heal. (Everyone needs this. Everyone is broken in some way. I don't care how "perfect" your life might seem.) At the time I was struggling to save my marriage, desperately trying to find God's direction on how to be the man that He and my wife needed me to be. To cry out and bleed on paper, or screen as it may be, helped.

That struggle has continued for years. The level of spiritual warfare that has occurred is enough to make even the most hardened spiritual warrior wince. I would like to sit here and blame the devil for every bad thing that has happened to my marriage, but I can't. As I look back I see countless decisions I could have made differently. I see opportunities given to me by God and my wife. We make decisions. Decisions have consequences. I take full responsibility.

For me it felt a lot like the Natalie Grant song "Held"...

For a man who has wanted nothing more than from the age of 12 to be a husband and father it was devastating. 

Please hear me clearly. I know we serve a God of healing. A God who continually glorifies Himself through transforming that which is dead into something that is vibrant and alive. To this day I believe that level of