Scripture Nugget 3.29.2017

Scripture Nugget 3.29.2017

Scripture Read Psalms 36-38

Nugget Psalm 37: 3-6, 23-24, 34

“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. … Our steps are made firm by the LORD, when he delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the LORD holds us by the hand. … Wait for the LORD, and keep to his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on the destruction of the wicked.”

Devotional thought: In whose way are you journeying? God’s desired path for you or are you busting trail on your own? Take pause today as we journey further into Lent, closer to Holy Week, the Cross and the Resurrection. Are you on the way of Resurrection or lost in the wilderness?

Scripture Nugget 3.28.2017

Scripture Nugget 3.28.2017

Scripture Read 1 Samuel 11-15

Nugget 1 Samuel 12:13-15

“See, here is the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; see, the LORD has set a king over you. If you will fear the LORD and serve him and heed his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well; but if you will not heed the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king.”

Devotional thought: This is a powerful passage to sit with, meditate on and contemplate during this Lenten season. Who do I/you choose as king of my/your life? Who do I/you follow? God or another? If another, does he or she follow God? If not, why do I/you follow them? Maybe it isn’t another person but a thing, an idol, a false god. “Now therefore take your stand and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes.” O can’t you see…….

Scripture Nugget 3.27.2017 (3.28.17)

3.27.2017 (3.28.17)

Scripture Read Genesis 48-50

Nugget Genesis 48:21-22, 50:24-25

“Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your ancestors. I now give to you one portion more than to your brothers, the portion I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with by bow.’” … “The Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die; but God will surely come to you, and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.’ So Joseph made the Israelites swear, saying, ‘When God comes to you, you shall carry up my bones from here.’”

Devotional thought: In the last three chapters of Genesis there are at least four examples of Over-the-Horizon faith expressed. Two of them are captured above, one by Israel/Jacob and the other by his son Joseph. Faith in the future, faith that someone else will do what you ask, faith that God is not only in the past and present but in the future as well. Both of these men, leaders of God’s people had faith that at some point, God would lead His people out of Egypt and not only return them to the land that was promised but provide life abundant as well. As we journey by stages, only able to see what is directly in front of us, do we continue in faith to that which is promised but we cannot see?  

Scripture Nugget 3.26.2017 (3.28.17)

3.26.2017 (3.28.17)

Scripture Read 1 Corinthians 7-8

Nugget 1 Corinthians 8:9-12

“But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.”

Devotional thought: What have I/you done in the past that was observed by someone else that caused them to sin? It may have been something very innocent to me/you at the time, but for the person who was watching it was a huge temptation. O God forgive me if my actions have caused anyone else’s destruction, has caused separation from you. Give me awareness, eyes, ears, heart and mind, to always be aware of that which I do and say and how it affects others.

Scripture Nugget 3.25.2017 (3.28.2017)

3.25.2017 (3.28.2017)

Scripture Read Mark 3-4

Nugget Mark 3:4-6, 11

“Then he said to them, ‘Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?’ But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. …. Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, ‘You are the Son of God!’

Devotional thought: In my/your day to day life do I/you recognize the difference in life and death and who is the provider of life? Is my/your heart hardened in such a way that I/you would withhold life from someone else? Would conspire to kill the provider of life? Even unclean spirits recognize and worship the Provider of Life.

Scripture Nugget 3.24.2017

Scripture Nugget 3.24.2017

Scripture Read Isaiah 63-66

Nugget Isaiah 66:2b

“But this is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word. … Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word.”

Devotional thought: Are you listening? Do you hear? Quick check, when was the last time you trembled because of God’s word? Contemplate these questions for a moment. O God give me ears that hear, a willing heart and understanding mind. Anoint me/us with Your Holy Spirit, we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture Nugget 3.23.2017

Scripture Nugget 3.23.2017

Scripture Read Job 23-24

Nugget Job 23:6b-7, 17

“…No; but he would heed me. There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge. … If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face!”

Devotional thought: Job continues with his mental gymnastics attempting to figure out and explain why these atrocious things have happened to him, while continuing to proclaim his innocence. He is getting tired. He goes from hope to hopelessness. This is a dangerous place for a human to be. Having hope, is a wonderful thing, light shines and there is a way to follow. But if/when the light goes out or is perceived to go out, hopelessness prevails. Oh woe is me, no one loves me, no one cares for me, no one would miss me if I was not here. Thankfully Job’s” friends” are still with him and continue to respond to him. What they say might not be theologically correct and may not ultimately be much help to answer Job’s questions. But, they do keep Job engaged and alive. We are meant for community. With God, Others and ourselves. God loves and forgives, God desires we return that love to Him, share that love with others and believe in that love for our self. God’s love is the light for our lives, walk in that light, live life, life abundant. Check on your friends and neighbors, reach out, share the light. Ask God to identify anyone in your life that you may have abandoned, that may be on the edge of light/life and darkness/death – reach out, make contact share Christ.  

Scripture Nugget 3.22.2017

Scripture Nugget 3.22.2017

Scripture Read Psalms 33-35

Nugget Psalm 34:4, 17-18, 22

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all fears. … When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. … The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.”

Devotional thought: In the Wesley Study Bible Psalm 34 is entitled, “Praise for Deliverance from Trouble”. What an appropriate thought for all of us sinners as we journey through Lent. By our sins we are all in trouble, by others sins we are persecuted. Faith in God; that God is who He says He is, and does what He promises to do, gives us confidence to approach God. When we do, when we cry for help, ask for forgiveness, God answers, delivers, rescues, saves, redeems and provides refuge. Good News for a hurting people! No wonder the Psalmist says, “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1) Let’s come together, as the people of God, in that cry of praise. Let’s be a community of praise and thanksgiving!  

Scripture Nugget 3.21.2017

Scripture Nugget 3.21.2017

Scripture Read 1 Samuel 7-10

Nugget 1 Samuel 7:3-7, 8:19-20

“Then Samuel said to the house of Israel, ‘If you are returning to the LORD with all you heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Astartes from among you. Direct your heart to the LORD, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.’ So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the LORD only. … But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; they said, ‘No! but we are determined to have a king over us, so that we also may be like the other nations, and that our king may govern us and go before us and fight our battles.’”

Devotional thought: If only the people of Israel had permanently returned to God and put away their idols and idolatrous hearts forever. Maybe then they would have been focused on, seen and appreciated all the God had done, was doing and would have faith in what he promised to do for them. But no, they envied other nations, they wanted an earthly king not recognize Creator God. Read 1 Samuel 8:10-18, which predicts in detail what an earthly king will subject “his” kingdom to. God is a God of grace and mercy, earthly kings provide for themselves from the kingdom, the result for those who forsake God for an earthly king is pain. “And in that day you will cry out because your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the LORD will not answer you in that day.” (1 Samuel 8:18) How is it with your soul? How is your Lenten journey going? Have you returned all of your heart to God? Or are you distracted by other things, other people’s circumstances? Does God rule supreme in your heart? Or are you determined to have another king?

Scripture Nugget 3.20.2017

Scripture Nugget 3.20.2017

3.20.2017

Scripture Read Genesis 44-47

Nugget Genesis 47:4-6

“They said to Pharaoh, ‘We have come to reside as aliens in the land; for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks because the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now, we ask you, let your servants settle in the land of Goshen.’ The Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land; let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know that there are capable men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.’”

Devotional thought: From a handwritten note in the margin of my bible; don’t know who or where I got it from. “Be proud of who you are – the person God made you to be – don’t hide that which is abhorrent to others, let them know – they might surprise you, support you and give you an opportunity.”