Oneiric (Daniel 1.1-17)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “oneiric.”  One of my favorite places in the Bible is the book of Daniel.  It is amazing the favor that God had on him and the others.  I am amazed at the faith that Daniel and his buddies had when following God.  In the beginning of the story, we read an important piece that tells us how we must discern each situation and live with in the confines of what God knows will get us the results to which we look.  The youths we see in this story understand both worldly wisdom, and God’s real truth.

“As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” ~Dan. 1:17

My question is: do you ask God for his blessing on your life, and with specificity?  I know that God wants to take care of his people and give them all that they need to succeed in life.  Not that life is going to be easy, but that you will have all that you need to be an active part of God’s family.  Daniel was quite oneiric, interpreting dreams and visions that would make an impact on those in this sphere of influence.  I do not expect to have this gift specifically, or anything from God… I am just happy to be a sinner saved by grace. However, I often ask for wisdom, as we are told to do in the book of James.  Just as God had his hand on Daniel, would you give God the opportunity to speak truth into your life.

Praying for you,

MO

Chronometer (Mark 4.35-41)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “chronometer.”  Today’s story is one of the first that I remember grasping pretty well.  I was a young Christian and learning about the stories and parables of Jesus.  When I came across this story I was pretty fascinated.  I actually thought to myself, could the story even be true?  As I continued on with my relationship with Jesus, I realized that there is pretty much nothing that he would not be able to handle.  In today’s story proves just that.

“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” ~Mark 4:39

My question is: where do you put your faith when you face difficult challenges and situations?  I’m the kind of person that likes to take things on myself and not ask for any assistance.  But, as we learned in today’s story, sometimes there is stuff that is out of your control.  At which point, all you can really do is look to Jesus.  Just like the people in the boat, who could not rely on the regular technology of the day – the chronometer – so must we put other things aside and realize that our true strength and answers come from Jesus.

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

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

Comminate (Psalm 146.5-9)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “comminate.”  Understanding God’s blessings can be pretty tricky sometimes.  If you’re like me, sometimes you feel like the world is against you and that they’re just is not enough time, resources, and help available to help you get through the stuff that you need to overcome.  I think that the people in the Old Testament felt kind of the same way at times.  That’s why I take a lot of comfort in reading the Psalms.

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.” ~Ps. 146:5-9

My question is: where do you put your hope and trust?  It’s easy to say that you believe in God and trust him, but it’s a whole other thing to actually do it.  I know that for me sometimes I have to step back and remember that trusting God is an active part of my life, and not something passive that I just let happen.  My prayer this morning is that you realize that God is not about comminating us for what we do wrong, but instead bestowing blessings upon us because he does it through his grace and mercy.  Remember that God loves you and wants you to succeed.  Make the decisions today that point you in God’s direction.

Praying for you,

MO

Totidem Verbis (Romans 1.16-32)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “totidem verbis.”  The apostle Paul didn’t really ever pull many punches.  He talked about how good the gospel of Jesus Christ was, as well as the wrath that can come from God to those who do not live by faith but rather in sin.  He simplifies what it means to have a relationship with Christ on more than one occasion.  Today’s passage shows that Paul was pretty clear-cut in his beliefs about God’s power.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” ~Rom 1:16-20

My question is: how do you express your commitment to Christ?  I think there are a lot of ways that we can be faithful to spreading God’s word.  My prayer is that you take your own life into account and see where it is that you need to get better in terms of the way that you spread the gospel.  Just as Paul talked about his commitment to Christ totidem verbis, so must we learn it to act out our faith instead of just talking about it.

Praying for you,

MO

Reliance (1 Peter 5:1-11)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is "reliance."  One of the great things about the Bible is the comforter brings in times of trouble and need.  I know that I have had my share of troubles, as each of you have.  One important lesson I learned from my mentor early on was that life was not always going to be easy.  But he did assure me that God would never leave me.  I now think back to the times where I had trouble in my life but did not have a relationship with Jesus.  I mean, really, how did I get through it?

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” ~1 Peter 5:7

My question is, how well do you give your concerns and fears over to God?  Just as Peter was talking to those in the congregation who were experiencing tough times in their lives, so do we have to remember that in our tough times we have a choice as well.  My prayer is that you step out on faith a little bit today and when you don't understand something, really tried to get over to God.  It's the times where we don't feel like we can trust God to take care of stuff that we really need to allow him to do so.  God will sustain you in times of trouble.  He made the promise, and you keep it.

Praying for you,

MO

Apocryphal (Hebrews 12:1-8)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “apocryphal.  The author of Hebrews was especially focused on helping his readers understand that the Gospel needed to be first and formost.  He realized that Jesus was the center of faith, and that because he made the ultimate sacrifice we are now able to share in his glory. 

“…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” ~Heb 12:2

My question is: what are the things that you spend most time on?  Some of us give a lot of time to work, others family, or maybe fun stuff.  I think that there is a kind of balance that we needed to have in life.  Not to say that everything is going to have an equal amount of time always, but that in certain seasons of life you know what is most important.  We don't have to worry about something fake, or apocryphal, when it comes to the gospel.  Jesus Israel and his word persevere.  My prayer is that the matter what you focus on, God is always part of that equation and central to the tasks and relationships in your life.

Praying for you,

Pusillanimous (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “pusillanimous.”  Towards the end of his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul gave a few salutations and encouragements.  In the middle of all this, he did what is said by any true pastor and evangelist.  He urged people in the church to love one another and stand firm together in their faith.

^“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men and women of courage; be strong.  Do everything in love.” ~1 Corinthians 16:13-14

My question is: what are some of the areas in your life that you are most diligent?  Paul talks right here about carrying out the will of God.  The Corinthian church had to deal with potential false teachers coming into their congregation, and so they needed a reminder to be strong and stand together.  This showed maturity for them as a community.  I pray that you would look at your own ability to mature just a little bit more today in the faith, as we build a strong community that makes a difference for Jesus.

Praying for you,

MO

Accidence (Ephesians 2:6-10)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “accidence.”  There is a lot of stuff that we need to know in life.  It seems like you are always trying to stay ahead of the learning curve.  With all of the technology, changes in education or business or whatever, we need to be focused on staying at the top of our game.  The apostle Paul knew what it meant to connect with others at a deeper level… it seemed he was always at the top of his game.  As his life became more in-depth and complicated, he made sure that the word of God stayed simple and easy to understand.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

~Eph 2:8-9

My question is: is your life simple, or complicated?  The good thing is, no matter what the answer is to that question, God can fit in somewhere.  It’s good to know that we don’t really have to work our way into God’s favor.  We have been given grace from God because we choose to believe.  So, my prayer is that you take hold of this full faith and let God bestow this gift upon you.  God’s grace is one of the essentials, or accidence of our faith.  Allow the Maker to work in your life… that you might boast in his power in your life.

Praying for you,

MO

Counterblast (Matthew 23:1-39)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “counterblast.” Have you ever been in a situation where somebody challenged your belief system? If you read the Gospels, you understand that Jesus was always up against somebody trying to bring him down. People would give him crazy questions and impossible scenarios, all of which he took in stride. But one of my favorite instances is when he gives a monologue on what is known as the Seven Woes. Pretty much for the end of it he says the following:

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?"

~Matthew 23:33

Whoa! Talk about a rebuttal to the questions that he was receiving. My question for you today is: how do you respond when somebody challenges the things that you believe in? I'm not saying that you have to use a sentence like the one above, because of course we know that none of us are Jesus. But what this passage shows us is that Jesus was very passionate about his mission here on earth. Are you passionate about the mission that God has given you? My prayer is that you study God's Word now so that you are able to give a calculated counterblast, or a vigorously powerful response, to any attacking statement against your beliefs. I believe each of you and know that you will be ready to defend your faith in love.

Praying for you,

mo

Moor (Hebrews 12:2)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “moor.” Things can get pretty hectic in our lives. Specifically in this season of the year, we are coming to the end and trying to fit a bunch of stuff in before the year is over. The author of Hebrews reminds people that in all circumstances we need to remember to fix our eyes on the Savior who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

~Heb 12:2

My question is: when is the last time that you lost focus of Jesus? I know that as Christians it is a top priority for each of us to make sure that we do not forget why, and for whom we live. My prayer is that each of you remembers that Christ died for you and is the perfecter of your faith. In all circumstances, and especially the craziness don't forget to moor, or fix firmly, your eyes upon Jesus will sustain you through all times in your life.

Praying for you,

mo

Extemporize (John 20:34-31)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “extemporize.” One of the cool things about the Bible is that you never know what you are going to get. In fact, the people that are talked about in the Bible are in some pretty crazy situations. It is almost like a soap opera much of the time if you think about it. One of the guys that gets a pretty bad rap in the New Testament is Thomas. A lot of peeps like to give him some grief, but he is the one who had enough guts to ask the Savior what the heck was going on.

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

~Jn. 20:24-31

Talk about a shocker! No one had any idea what was going on and all the sudden Jesus comes back and catches them off guard. So, not knowing what to do the disciple Thomas extemporizes, or improvises within the situation. My question is: what you do when you are caught of guard in your relationship with the Savior? How you ever been in a situation where you had to talk about God in you are not ready? My prayer is that you are always ready for the situations that God puts you in. It is not by accident that you are given the opportunities that you have.

Praying for you,

Mo