“Done ‘n One” Blog - 1 Yr Bible Read

First of all if you are keeping up with your Bible reading you are no doubt being blessed. We are almost halfway home. I was going through the reading for today and was about to post something on the sabbath, but then something caught my eye/spirit. It is found in Luke 6:12 where it says, “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” I was pondering (sometimes I do that) and the thought hit me, “What if we spent one whole night just praying to God?” For some it would be a first, for insomniacs you have already done it. Why was Jesus up all night praying? Because the next day He would chose just twelve disciples to be His close companions on the journey with the Messiah, the savior of the world. Are you fretting over something right now? Do you have a major decision you need to make soon? Are you praying about it? No, I mean are you praying about it the Jesus way? Some of you have pulled all-nighters before (including myself) and they haven’t been spiritual or life-changing. Do you want to be like Jesus? Then embrace a night and allow the Father of all life to embrace you!! D.T.

Ephesians 4:32-”And be ye kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you.”

This excerpt from part of todays text seems to re-emphasize what is commonly referred to as “The golden rule” which is to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” But it is much deeper than it appears on the surface. “One another” has no boundaries, by race, religion, color, background, social status or soil-neither does “Forgiving one another.” This broad generalization of the human populace-”One another” could translate into everyone and would make following the theme of this verse even more difficult.

The angry driver on the road, the person who has crossed you in the wrong way, a business deal gone bad-Any number of events or persons in the daily life can cause malice toward another. We are taught however to be kind-tenderhearted and forgiving. Is it really that difficult to have a forgiving heart?

When in perspective with the grand scale that God the creator used to forgive mankind of the unknown number of atrocities committed throughout human history, it would seem not. When placed in comparison to the price which we were bought, many of our petty disagreements and troublesome circumstances seem to fade away.

If he is willing to forgive us, we in turn should forgive others, showing not only compassion for the fellow man, but more importantly showing Christ, setting us apart from the world.

Remember the Church song from our youth, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”
As adults may we remember that in following this text, that little light will shine, for all of those around you to see-Including those who may do wrong to us.-AB

I remember years ago a movie came out that sent a shockwave through the Christian community. The movie was called “The Last Temptation of Jesus Christ.” I never saw the movie myself, but I think according to the directors, His last temptation had to do with lusting after Mary (or something like that). But that is not what scripture says was His last temptation. If you are keeping up with your reading it was read by you today.

Lets go back in time to when Jesus was baptized into ministry. After His baptism, scripture tells us that He was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted. Satan watched and waited in the shadows for an opportune time. After Jesus had fasted for 40 days, satan saw his opportunity and sprung into action. Three times he tempted Christ. Three times he was thwarted and then Luke gives us some helpful insight, “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.” According to our reading, that time is at hand in Mark 15:16-32. Satan knows the time is opportune. He has watched from the shadows of the upper room, and in the olive groves in Gethsemane. Christ has never been more vulnerable, so satan comes one last time as he approaches the cross in between two others. And like the first desert showdown, he tempts Christ 3 more times, the only difference being is that the temptations come from onlookers, the religious folks, and criminals. “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save Yourself!” “He saved others…, but He can’t save Himself!” “Aren’t You the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39. And just as the first dual ended with Christ securing victory, so the last dual ends with Christ securing our salvation! His last temptation was to abandon His Father’s will, but He stayed the course. And because He stayed the course, you can be saved. Abandon your will and follow the Father’s, and the promise of His Glory and Kingdom are yours!-DT

I’ve never been fired from a job (a streak I hope will continue). One time I came very close to being fired. It was March 1984, I was working the night shift at the Baskin-Robbins on 5th Ave in Huntington WV. The owner would often stop in just before closing time - make sure everyone was doing their job - and lock up the place. I was one of several employees designated as “closers” - we were charged with locking up the money and shutting down the shop if the owner was not there at closing time. On this particular night, I was anxious to get home as quickly as possible - a basketball game I just had to see (Marshall University v. Villanova). It was 9pm, the owner had not shown up, so I closed down the shop, taking a few shortcuts along the way. I didn’t count the money before locking it in the safe. I didn’t sweep and mop the floors. I didn’t inventory the ice cream tubs in the walk-in freezer. I’m pretty sure I didn’t even change the “open” sign. I just locked the door and left, counting on the fact that the owner wouldn’t show up that night and the morning shift would pick up the slack - I had a ball game to watch!

Mark 13:32-37 warns us that Jesus, the owner of our lives, will return on an unannounced day and hour. Since the owner could come back at any moment, we better have the shop in order. We are to be alert, on guard, and watching. His return will not be un-expected, but it will be sudden. Jesus warns “don’t let me find you sleeping.”

It turns out that Mrs. Baskin-Robbins did come by her shop that night… just a few minutes later than normal. She expected to find me there mopping the floor, but I was home in front of the tv, enthralled in March Madness and mowing down corn chips. She should have fired me.

One day Jesus will show up. The first century Christians were convinced they were living in the last days. They didn’t fill their lives with short-cuts and compromises - neither should we. Be alert, be ready, have your shop in order! -MW

Well today was the day in your daily reading that we came upon one of the most famous Bible stories of all-time: David and Goliath. Do you ever wish you could be at a certain place and at a certain time? I sure do. This is one of those scenes in history that I would have loved to witness. Every time I read this story I get goose bumps. Day after day, this mass of a man comes out yelling and taunting like a big bully looking for his next victim. The only problem is, there are no takers. He is way to big to mess with. He is so big that he has a man walk in front of him as his shield-bearer. He is called a champion in 17:4, so he is no light weight, he has defeated all foes and he has a wealth of experience in fighting. No one dares to take up his challenge. That is until David comes along. David runs to the challenge, only to be met by more taunting. Have you ever been there? That one thing, that one sin that just keeps tripping you up, that challenges you every day. You can’t run from it and you can’t hide from it, so there is only one choice left: Face it. We have to be like David. We know we are whipped without the power and help of God. David, in the earshot of everyone around makes sure they know that God will gain the victory and get the glory. We all face our own giants and we will not win the war without the help of our God. That is what Celebrate Recovery is all about. Your giant may be anger, or pride, or worry, or drugs, or alcohol, or food, or pornography, or (you fill in the blank). Gear up for battle. Call on the Name of the Lord and watch your giant fall! D.T.

When speaking of miracles, many atheists or Evolutionary proponents will suggest that miracles are impossible, based on the idea that they don’t see them happening now.

The Idea that something doesn’t exist based on the the concept that you have never seen it is not logical. I have never seen a live dinosaur, yet I know they existed based on the fossil record and what we find. the recorded acts of Jesus’ miracles are more than enough for me to believe they happened. One who can create the universe in a single spoken sentence (uni-Single-verse-spoken sentence) has more than enough power to bring sight to the blind.

The miracles of Jesus, while showing his compassion and power, showed the people of his time that he truly was the chosen one-the messiah. Surely others doubted him none the less, regardless of the miracles he displayed.

Today, we do see miracles, diseases cured, amazing rescues and incredible unexplainable life altering situations. The most visible miracles however, are those that occur inward, with the changing power the holy spirit places in believers hearts. -AB

As a minister I spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to please everyone. As I read these passages the word “many” stood out to me. In Mark 6:2 these people were face to face with Jesus. They were listening to him teach but still only “many” were amazed. Shouldn’t it be all were amazed? I mean, they were right there with him and still were not impressed. Not only that but it says they took offense to him. This tells me that I will never be able to impress everyone or make everyone happy. But what I also take from this is that it did not stop Jesus. He continued to plug along. He knew who he was and what his job was so those that doubted him did not effect him.TS

Okay, I have a confession to make: I love the Psalms! These are the prayers of God’s people. If you want to learn how to pray, the Psalms are where its at. There are always precious gems to be found there. Today was no different. I was reading along and all of a sudden, shining ever so brightly I unearthed it. It is in the latter part of 79:8, “…may Your mercy come quickly to meet us, we are in desperate need.” Anybody out there in some desperate need of mercy? I sure am. These people (Israel) have been ramsacked/judged for their sins and disobedience. Mercy is what is needed and mercy is what they asked for. Did they receive it? You bet they did. Why? Because they deserved it? On the contrary, they didn’t deserve and neither do I or anybody else for that matter. But God is rich in mercy and with the dawning of each new day, God’s word says, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning…” They asked for His mercy and it came running. I ask for it just about every day because I need it and the great thing about it is that it came/comes running to me as well. His mercy is both a world class sprinter and a long distance runner. It will always run to catch you, track you down, and run with you. Why? Because we need a running partner like that. Wait! What’s that running up behind you? I should’ve known. It’s mercy because you and I need it!!! D.T.

I hope you have been blessed as much as I have been in the course of reading through the Word this year! We still have a way to go, but we have already been through many books in the Bible.

In today’s reading of the first part of Psalm 78, two verses in particular grab my attention, and they are 78:23-24. There Asaph wrote, “Yet He gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; He rained down manna for the people to eat, He gave them the grain of heaven.”

This Psalm has been a history lesson so far of God’s dealings with Israel and their dealings with Him. God rained down manna in the desert to feed His people after they began to grumble about going back to Egypt instead of starving in the desert. We’ll take slavery over freedom. Are you kidding me? They saw the mighty hand of God time and time again and had cried out for deliverance and God delivered. It is so easy for us to look at them with disdain like we are so much better and far more spiritual, but the truth of the matter is; we are very much like them in every way (maybe worse). You see the Father rained down the True Bread from heaven which was His perfect Son to give us life and freedom from the deceptive table the world has put before us. Jesus said, “I am the Living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Each time we let anger consume us, greed encompass us, pride overwhelm us, money enslave us, covetousness blind us we are saying to God, we would rather be in Egypt. Look back at what God has done in your life. Look at what God is doing in your life now. Look forward to what God has prepared for those who love and obediently live for Him. There is nothing for you in Egypt except slavery and oppression. God has rained down the True Bread of Heaven, pull up a chair and eat abundantly at His table! D.T.

On January 22, 2006, LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors. 81 points is the second highest point total in NBA history. It’s an amazing statistical achievement. It’s also cool for the rest of the guys wearing Laker gear that night - guys like Brian Cook, who played 8 minutes in the game and scored 1 basket. But, years from now, he can delight his grandkids with stories about the night he and Kobe put 83 on the Raptors.

Romans 16:20 is an awesome verse… “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Whose feet? If the almighty God is the one doing the crushing, shouldn’t it be his feet getting the glory? Why your feet? Why mine?

Because thats what loving fathers do. When I was young, my dad would cut most of the grass, then let me do one strip in the backyard, so I could go to mom and say “we” just finished the yard work. At the paint store my dad worked in, he would let me and my little brother smash the cardboard boxes and throw them in the dumpster, but every once in a while there was a box too stout for me to crush, so my dad would come and, with one foot, pulverize it! Then my mom would say how proud she was of us boys. Loving fathers do the heavy lifting for their kids - then let the kids feel like they had a hand in it.

Always remember: what God wants most of all is a relationship with you. He could do it all himself, but He wants to share your life with you. He is the God of peace, but his shoes are too big for you to fill. -MW