Vernacularize (John 8:1-10)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “vernacularize.”  Who is the best storyteller that you know? I remember going across the country on family trips.  My dad would tell the best stories.  In fact, some of them were always the same, and a few of them  would change every time.  I'm guessing that he made those up.  Well, in the New Testament Jesus used stories for a much different reason.  He needed to convey certain information to people and wanted to do it in the simplest form possible.

“At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.” ~Jn. 8:2

My question is: who is it that you look to for teaching concerning the important matters of your life?  We all learn how to be better people based on taking action, and steps that will move us in a certain direction.  My prayer is that you reach out to others who can teach you those things that you need to learn to move to the next step in your spiritual life.  There are a ton of stories in the Bible, and when we allow Jesus to penetrate our hearts with these words, and listen to the words of others toe present day stories, we set ourselves up for success.

Praying for you,

Mo

Expatiate (Psalm 32:1-11)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “expatiate.”  The Bible is rich with information on a ton of subjects.  I know that even though it has been some years since I began studying God’s word, it will take more time and effort to develop and understanding of the lessons that and be learned in each story - more than likely a whole lifetime.  I am excited because God has given me the yearning to learn more about his word each day. Without that feeling i would have a pretty tough time.  I stay intrigued because each time I open up the Bible, there is a newness presented.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” ~Ps. 32:8

My question is: what are you learning that is new each time you hear or read God’s word.  I know that as we learn more about the teachings in his book.  My prayer is that you remember God loves you and wants nothing more than for his peeps to learn and apply his word.  Take a moment to think of a couple of the most important lessons that God has taught you in the past few months.  The more we are open to his expatiation of principles and love, the better chance to be a witness to others.

Praying for you,

MO

Expatiate (Psalm 32:1-11)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “expatiate.”  The Bible is rich with information on a ton of subjects.  I know that even though it has been some years since I began studying God’s word, it will take more time and effort to develop and understanding of the lessons that and be learned in each story - more than likely a whole lifetime.  I am excited because God has given me the yearning to learn more about his word each day. Without that feeling i would have a pretty tough time.  I stay intrigued because each time I open up the Bible, there is a newness presented.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” ~Ps. 32:8

My question is: what are you learning that is new each time you hear or read God’s word.  I know that as we learn more about the teachings in his book.  My prayer is that you remember God loves you and wants nothing more than for his peeps to learn and apply his word.  Take a moment to think of a couple of the most important lessons that God has taught you in the past few months.  The more we are open to his expatiation of principles and love, the better chance to be a witness to others.

Praying for you,

MO

Wanion (Deuteronomy 32:34-36)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “wanion.”  I've always really liked the Old Testament.  Knowing that God fights for his people has always inspired me both as a young Christian, and now as a more mature Christian.  Sometimes it seems in these old stories that God was just pretty upfront and blunt about the way things needed to be.  And that is what we see in today's passage.

“Have I not kept this in reserve and sealed it in my vaults? It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” ~Deut 32:34-35

My question is: do you believe that God will come to your rescue when you are in times of trouble?  I know that it's not always easy to trust God, especially in things aren't going our way.  But, my prayer is that each of you takes an extra moment today to ask God to fight for you in the areas of your life that need a little bit more.  The best thing about having a great God is that he can do incredible things in tough circumstances.  Give God a chance today to fight for you.

Praying for you,

MO

Temerarious (Luke 8:4-15)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “temerarious.”  Jesus told some pretty awesome stories while doing ministry on earth.  One of my favorites to read is the one about the farmer who sows seed.  I remember early on in my journey, really enjoying this parable because I could relate with it on so many levels.  It is a simple tale of what it means for some people to experience Jesus, each in a different way.

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it. Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn’t have good roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it. Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop.” ~Luk 8:4-8

My question is: what kind of Christian are you… do you spread the word of God wherever you go. One of the simple truths that we learn in the story is that the Lord wants you and me to spread the Gospel generously, without too much thought of what peeps might think.  Don’t you think God can handle peeps and the way they understand his word?  My prayer is that you are more like this farmer, who is temerarious in the way he generously distributes the seed, as we should do with the word of God.  Let someone know today about your love for God and the Gospel… and let God do the rest.

Praying for you,

MO

Specter (James 4:1-9)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “specter.”  I love the book of James because the dude pretty much just lays it all out there. He tells us that it is imperative that we stay away from sin and anything that can trip us up and take away from our relationship with God.  He realizes the need for repentance, and to be in sync with the actions consistent with what it means to grow as a Christian.  And so, in this passage he tells them a very simple and effective way to stay out of trouble…

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” ~Jam 4:7

My question is: are you doing the thing you need to stay away from trouble? Resisting can be as easy and not putting yourself in a position to do something wrong.  One of my mentors said that applying wisdom to one’s life is easy… “Just think of something stupid, and then don’t do it.” I love this. How many times do we find ourselves in situations or relationships that are not good and know that we need to make a change… but we don’t! My prayer is that you take inventory of your life and find a way to resist the Evil One today.

Praying for you,

MO

Nosophobia (1 Corinthians 13:1-4)

Good morning all,

The word of the day is “nosophobia.”  I have been reading from the book of first Corinthians lately.  The church there had a pretty big task.  They were pretty much in the middle of some straight up sin madness!  It was almost like planting the very first church in the middle of Las Vegas.  Could you imagine having that task?  Most of us would not be able to handle that kind of pressure.  But, the Apostle Paul knew that the people could survive.  He wrote the church a couple of letters, of which we know.  I love what he has to say right before the famous love passage in chapter 13.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” ~1 Cor 13:1-4

I would imagine that there were probably some moments in this church where the people do not think they are going to make it.  With all of the sin that was around them, this disease spread by the Evil One was very rampant.  And I think we can all relate… this being flu season, I feel like sometimes I am suffering from an acute case of nosophobia, - the fear of disease!  Well, this is what the people in Corinth were dealing with.  Sin was trying to overtake them at an incredible rate.  The only hope that the people had was to cling to one another and love each other like their lives depended on it; and their spiritual lives DID depend on it.  

Here’s my question: is your life a clanging symbol, or something that others could look towards as a spiritual melody?  My prayer is that you read the Scriptures and ask God to give you an attitude of love, and all situations.  As Christians, we are called to love one another so that each person might have a good representation to follow.  I know you can do it.  God has his hand upon you.

Praying for you,

Mo