Ad Hockery (Psalm 119:1-10)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “ad hockery.”  It always seems to me that everybody else knows the way that I should proceed with my life matter what I do; everybody always has their opinion and thinks that they know what is best for me.  At first, I used to take the advice of pretty much anybody who had something to say.  The reason for this was that I figured that they had my best interests in mind.  And, for the most part, people usually did and still do.  But I realized very quickly that not very many people actually me on a level where they could speak truth into my life that would actually help me.

“Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!” ~Ps. 119:1

These are the kind of people from whom I seek my advice.  And, as you can imagine, there are very few people that fit this criteria.  I keep a high standard in my life for the people that want to help me grow to be a better person.  And that is why I put my trust and faith only in a select few.  My question is: who are the people that speak into your life?  My prayer is that you raise your standards for the criteria concerning the people that speak into your life. Put less time into ad hockery and fleeting plans, and fix your attention on the steadfast love and decrees that are from God.  Don’t take advice from just anybody.  They should be God-fearing people who strive with all their hearts to walk in the ways of Jesus.  Never waver.

Praying for you,

MO

Inutile (1 Peter 2.1-10)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “inutile.”  We live in a pretty crazy world.  There are always people ready to judge everything that we do, both good and bad.  Social media puts everything out in the open for others to see and scrutinize, at every turn.  We would be led to believe that life can sometimes be meaningless or passing without significance.  However, the next time you feel inutile, that you are of no use or service to this intensely critical world, remember that God has called you to be special and for a purpose.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” ~1 Peter 2:9

My question is: when is the last time you thanked God for allowing you to be part of this holy nation of his?  We are always pretty busy taking care of the issues life throws at us, and oftentimes just trying to stay afloat.  We must continue to remember that we belong to God, and as long as we proclaim his name then we are on the right track.  My prayer is that you remember today that God has called you into his marvelous light.

Praying for you,

MO

Gourmand (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “gourmand.”  I remember when I first became a Christian.  I was walking on pins and needles.  I didn’t want to mess up and make sure that everything I did was absolutely unblemished.  Well, that lasted for about a week.  I was so stressed out about being the best I could for God that I forgot what I really needed to be concerned with.  I needed to make sure that everything that I did from that point on was in good faith, and directed in a way that had God center of those decisions.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” ~1 Cor 10:31

My question is: what are the things in life that you are trying to succeed at doing?  I know that with all of the responsibilities and things that need to get done, often we forget to remember why we need to do them.  My prayer is that you keep God at the center of everything that you do, and whatever endeavors you have going for you, do them for God. Do not be like the gourmand, who lives his or her life in excess, but do only what is necessary to help others see God's goodness.  The best way to give him glory is to allow others to see that your life centers around accomplishing everything in his name.

Praying for you,

MO

Ballast (James 1:1-12)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “ballast.”  What are the things in your life that keep you stable?  Or, I guess another way to put it is to ask what things in your life keep you from going insane?  I know that I have to look to my friends and mentors to remind me of my need for perseverance within my many responsibilities.  I need others to walk alongside me and help me to get through the tough times.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” ~Jam 1:12

My question is: how are you when it comes to perseverance in life?  We see that God’s call to us is that when we face things in life that want to bring us down, it’s important to keep our eyes focused in the right direction.  My prayer is that you look to God, and remember that he is always the one who is on your side.  He keeps us steady, as the ballast of our lives.  Go forth in your endeavors today knowing that God has given you that stability, an unwavering friend in him.

Praying for you,

MO

Brolly (Isaiah 55:1-12)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “brolly.”  The symbolism and word usage in the Old Testament is second to none.  I would put the literary excellence of our Bible of to any other work out there.  As we see in today’s passage, we can be sure of God’s fulfillment in the elements, including rain and snow.  As I go outside and see the rain today and keep from getting wet because of the brolly I carry, I am comforted that God’s use of all of the elements make possible everything good that is at our fingertips.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater…” ~Is 55:10

My question is: are you praying for God’s will in your life?  Just as we see the good part of nature in today’s passage, we also see that resisting God is not necessarily what we want to be doing.  God is the one who makes everything that is good flourish and gives us what we need.  We must also know though that staying within God’s will is our best bet to be happy and secure.  My prayer is that you think God for the little things, as I am doing with the rain today.  May God bless you and allow you to grow and flourish where you are.

Praying for you,

MO

Augur (Matthew 24:30-37)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “augur.”  I remember the first time reading today's passage.  I was pretty young, and new in the faith.  I wanted to know as much as possible.  But, I realized that it was not for me to know when Jesus was coming back.  That bummed me out a little bit, but realized that it was probably best that I don't know.  That means that I always have to be ready, and gives me a kind of urgency to help others know Jesus on a more personal level.

"However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.” ~Matt 24:36

My question is: what are you doing with each day that God is giving you?  There is no guarantee that tomorrow will be here.  Whether he takes you from this earth, and it does, or sends Jesus back to get you, the reality is sobering and exciting all at the same time.  We do know that this crazy world augurs the return of our Savior.  My prayer is that you take each moment and make it special.  Make it your masterpiece and use today to further the kingdom of God.

Praying for you,

MO

Doggo (Lamentations 3:25)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “doggo.”  We live in a pretty hurried up world.  With everything that's going on sometimes it is difficult to slow down.  The lesson I learned from one of my mentors early on was never to neglect God, especially during the busy times.  In fact, many times when we may think that God has forgotten or neglected us, either because he is not happy with us, or that he just has more important things to do, it is really that God is just waiting for us, often doggo and out of sight,  to make a move in his direction, to respond.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” ~Lam 3:25

My question is: what are the obstacles in your life that cause you to keep from responding to God.  Seeking his will should be top priority, no matter what the circumstances of our lives might be.  I pray that God gives you a yearning in your soul to seek him.  Ask God to stir in your heart a willingness to wait for him.  Ask him to calm your heart and accept his blessings.

Praying for you,

MO

Effulgent (Matthew 5:15-17)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “effulgent.”  When someone decides to become Christian, they automatically have a responsibility.  Understanding that people would be looking at the way that I acted in my new Christian life was probably one of the toughest things I had to deal with.  Now everything that I did was looked at closely and with tons of scrutiny.  At first I did not think it was fair, but then began to understand that living a life for Jesus would have to be different than the life I had led up to that point.

“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” ~Matt 5:16

My question is: have you decided to live a little differently knowing that others are going to be looking at you and how you act as a Christian?  Although God does not expect perfection, he does want excellence, and for us to be effulgent in such a way that we shine brightly in our relationship with him.  My prayer is that others see a relationship with God and want to emulate you because of your desire to be a better Christian and follower of Christ every day.

Praying for you,

MO

Thaumaturge (Matthew 17:1-20)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “thaumaturge.”  I remember growing up as a young Christian.  I had just decided to put my faith in Jesus, and I was in high school.  So, by definition I pretty much thought I knew everything in the world.  It wasn't until I started reading the stories in the Bible that I was both filled with inspiration, all, and a whole lot of questions about some of the stuff that did not seem to fit within my confines of reality.  Namely, the miracles that I read in the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, were somewhat puzzling to me.  I mean, how could some of that stuff even happen.

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” ~Matt 17:20

My question is: where is your belief concerning the things that Jesus can do in your life, today?  I know for me, it is taken an entire Christian lifetime, even to this point, to continually put my faith in Jesus. He is more than just a thaumaturge, or a miracle worker.  I want to be the kind of man that can put my faith completely in God, who saved me.  My prayer this morning is that you live out your faith, even if you feel it is small.  God does not judge us in comparison to others, but instead our ability and willingness to love him to our fullest potential.

Praying for you,

MO

Epistolize (2 Thessalonians 3:17)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “epistolize.”  In today's society many of us have left the written word and replaced it with email, messaging, and other forms of social media.  It's just easier, faster, and suits our needs.  However, back in the time of the Apostle Paul, he did not have this luxury.  He knew that the letters he wrote to people should be methodically and meticulously written, realizing that it would take quite a bit of time for each of these letters to reach the other party.  Sometimes I'm sure that these letters did not even make it to their final destination.  For this reason, we know that Paul epistolized each and every letter to the believers with the utmost sincerity and thought.

“I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.” ~2 Thess 3:17

My question is: what kind of kind of thought put into the relationships that God is giving you, and your relationship with God himself?  Sometimes it's easy for us to just throw words out, whether in time of prayer or in relation to others.  Like when we tell someone that we will pray for them, and then just forget about it. 

Some of us are worse offenders than others.  One of my mentors once told me that much of the time when he tells someone that he will pray for them, he does so right there, either out loud in a time of prayer with that person, or even just silently as he leaves that conversation.  Either way, it's about being deliberate, both in relationship to God and relationship to others. 

My prayer is that you methodically and prayerfully consider the words that you speak to God, and as you communicate with others, whether it is written longhand or digitally, that you epistolize with the same amount of thought that Paul did in his letters.

Praying for you

Commensal (1 Corinthians 11:20-27)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “commensal.”  I remember growing up having dinner every night with my family.  That changed when both my brother and I were in high school.  By that time each of us were in a ton of extra curricular activities, including school and sports and anything else that you could think of that would take a family away from being able to eat every night together.  I think it was my junior year, about halfway through one of my sports seasons, that I came home one night around 11 PM, as hungry as a bear.  I opened up the refrigerator to find a plate of food with my name on it.  That was the first time that I realized that the once normal commensal meal with my family would no longer be a part of life.

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” ~1 Cor 11:26

My question is: when is the last time you have some really good God time? I know that there are a ton of things in your life pulling you in different directions. The tough part about all of that is knowing when to slow down and give God the time he needs to speak into your life; this is what leads to significance both in this world, but more importantly in eternity.

Praying for you,

MO

Brobdingnagian (Matthew 17:1-20)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is " Brobdingnagian.”  Early on in my Christian journey I remember I was often intimidated by people who had a stronger faith than me.  This was pretty much everybody at that particular time in my life.  I wanted to be someone who made a difference for God.  I wanted to do something that would allow me to spend my time serving God, not only helpful for my personal journey, but also help others around me to share the blessings that God had given to me.

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." ~Matt 17:20

My question is: where is your faith today?  I realize now that I do not have to be a person of Brobdingnagian-like faith, but need only have the smallest amount so that God can do with you more than you would even expect.  Take some time to ask God not to make you a spiritual giant, but to give you enough faith to allow others to see him work miraculously in your life, making you an example to others.

Praying for you,

MO

Tenebrific (John 1.1-10)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “tenebrific.”  I remember one of the easiest ways that the Christian life was ever explained to me.  One of the guest pastors that spoke at youth group one time talked about the difference between following God and not following God.  He used an analogy of darkness and light.  Now, I think that we’ve all heard the following anecdote, but I really believe that it is appropriate for today’s passage.  Remember with me, if you will, the illustration that this pastor used.  He turned off all the lights in the room and talked about how darkness was tenebrific, causing certain emotions and us, like confusion, uncertainty, and the like.  But, then he took a match out and struck it against the box, instantly creating a way for us to see.  He showed that just a little bit of light could overcome darkness.  It was actually pretty amazing, and simple all at the same time.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” ~Jn 1:5

My question is: if you were to have to put a value on the way that you live your life, what percentage of your days have you chosen to live in the light?  Now, that is a pretty deep question and has all sorts of implications depending on how you understand it.  But I guess that’s what I’m going for.  My prayer is that you take the simplicity of understanding that Jesus is the light that has overcome the darkness in this world.  And, the more that we bring his message to others, we are part of sharing that light.  Used today to encourage someone and see Jesus shine his light through you.

Praying for you,

Mo

Winnow (Matthew 25.31-46)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “winnow.”  I think one of very clear directives in the NT is when Jesus tells his people how they are supposed to treat others.  We see the Savior plainly telling peeps in today’s passage about what it means to follow and serve him.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” ~Matt 25:31-46

My question is: what are you doing for others that cannot be repaid to you? We live in a society where it is “all about me.” My prayer this morning is that you take a moment and focus your time of prayer and supplication to God in such a way that he puts your heart facing outward… praying for others.  We will be winnowed one day, the good from the bad, the followers of God for those who do not follow him.  How we use this life is up to us. God has given you life for this day and you can use it to further his kingdom in so many ways, most notably for the benefit of others. Go forth and do great things for the Lord, specifically for others.

Praying for you,

MO

Indemnify (Matthew 5.17-18)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “indemnify.”  A main theme of the bible is that God’s people need his love and grace to live, both now and eternity.  I love reading the OT and the NT because when put together they make such a great story. When JC comes onto the scene, he is a pretty controversial person. And when peeps accuse him of trying to abolish the law, he reminds them that he is the one who was sent to fulfill it.

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished…” ~Matt 5:17-18

My question is: what does it mean for you to have Jesus as a part of your daily life?  We often move through our days and forget to acknowledge our belief in Jesus as our Savior. Not that we want to forget, it’s just that sometimes we allow our minds to wander. Yet it is always comforting to know that God never stops working to fulfill his plan. Take some time today to remember that you are never far from God’s mind. My prayer is that God meets you where you are, as he always does, and helps you to realize that he is working to fulfill his plan, and that you are an important part of it.

Praying for you,

MO