Heart Disease

Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Kings 19, Hebrews 1, Hosea 12, Psalm 73

Have you ever had a situation with another person that kept having difficulty with other people and situations and kept blaming everyone else and everything within you just wanted to reach out to that person take them by the hand and tell them that the common denominator was in fact them not the other people? I’m sure we have, I can think of half a billion times where I’ve wanted to just tell the person that they were the problem not the other people, in a nice way of course (well sometimes). Now as many times as we’ve wanted to say that to another person, have you ever realized that you in fact were the one that was the common denominator? Those moments where you look in the mirror and realize “oh crap, it’s me, I’m the one with the issue.”    
We all want to tell other people they are the problem, but it’s a whole other ball game when you realize you’re the one with the problem. I had one of these “oh crap” moments a few weeks ago and honestly it wasn’t fun. I felt like the writer of this Psalm. All of a sudden a light clicked on, “Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant, I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.” I had a heart disease. I was messed up and thoroughly in the wrong. Little things creeped in and took root in my heart and hardened it. I had put on this facade of togetherness and strength so much so that I had fulled myself into thinking I had everything in control, that I was deserving of so much more than what I was getting. Once I recognized the disease in my life I quickly become aware of the broken state I was in. I was not deserving, nor did I have it all together and in face I was really quite weak.

We all have disease of the heart. Some of us are more willing to admit it than others but we all have it. Jeremiah 17:9-10 says, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts adn examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”  When we come to a place of honesty with ourselves we will realize it. Now as of now anyone who is reading this might be having an induced, “oh crap” moment and be feeling kind of helpless and broken maybe useless. The real test is not realizing you are broken, diseased and in desperate need of help the test is what your reaction is.

Today we talked about “If it had not been that God was on our side” stories in the bible and our lives at the ladies brunch. My favorite is the contrasting stories of Judas and Peter. Both men were idiots. They both experienced the greatness and awesomeness of God and got to live with Jesus in the flesh. They knew him, like they knew if he snored in his sleep and how he liked his eggs. They knew his miraculous life giving, death defeating power yet despite all this they both betrayed Jesus. Judas gave Jesus up for a bit of money. Peter did not want to even be associated with the guy that he denied him and even cursed him in order to save his own tail. They had a heart disease and they both had an “oh crap” moment where they realized just how awful, foolish and broken they were. Judas realized that he just condemned and innocent man, a man he loved and was close to to die and he was filled with remorse, so much so that he figured his story was over and he killed himself (Matt. 27:3-5). Peter’s moment happened when the rooster crowed and Jesus’ words came back to mind and so Peter went away weeping bitterly and what he had done (Matt. 26:75). Judas realized that nothing in his own power could fix heal his heart, Peter realized that only God could heal his disease. I love the picture of Peter running back to the tomb to find that indeed is was empty that Christ had risen and that Peter’s hope had too risen.
We are all diseased. Our hearts are wicked and bitter. The healing comes when we realize in the words of Psalm 74: 23-28:

Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

Today don’t let your disease cause you to perish, instead draw near to God, find yourself in Him and allow him to forgive your sins, heal your disease, redeem you and crown you with love and tender mercies, and fill your life with good things (Ps. 103:3-5).

Tomorrows Bible Reading - 2 Kings 20, Hebrews 2, Hosea 13, Psalm 74

Live Life Extraordinary,

Alayna

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Bible Reading - 2 Kings 17, Titus 3, Hosea 10, Psalm 70-71

Get A Mentor,

Not enough can be said about having people in your life that can both challenge you and encourage you into the great things God has in store for your life. There is an old saying that goes something like this, "show me a man's friends and I will show you that man's destiny". This statement is so true and becomes even more startling when you replace the word "friends" with "mentors". There are to many people pursuing a God idea, business, dream, etc without any mentors in their lives and the reality is that they probably will never achieve what God has for them. Or if they do not have the appropriate people/mentors around them then they will probably go down hill rather than up hill. We all need to get a mentor and choose a good one.

2 Kings 17 is a pretty good picture of what happens when you get the wrong people around you and a warning to get some great people around you. People that will challenge, correct and push you towards the greatness of God.

Yesterday I was talking to my friend and the vice president of Urban Church Inc and he was challenging me on a particular issue in you my life. He is the same age as me and probably has struggled in a similar way so at first I didn't want to listen to him. After setting my pride aside (which took some time) I took his advice and grew though that process. I am so thankful for my friend and vice president of the incorporation because he loves me enough to challenge me and correct me. It is painful at the time but it is worth it in the end. One of my other mentors back in Vegas used to say, "your mentor is often times your tormentor". Ahh how true that can be!

After talking to him I called another mentor of mine, someone that has spoken into my life for the past 14 years. He has just recently taken a church a few hours north of us. I am so excited to have him closer to us because he is one of the biggest encourager's I have ever known. We talked for an hour on the phone about his new adventure our new possibilities and life in general. By the time I got off the phone I was so encouraged and full of faith I felt like I could do anything. Looking back on the past 14 years I cannot think of a time where I ever left a conversation with this mentor feeling down. Even in those times he corrected me and challenged me I always walked a way faith filled. I am so thankful for mentors like him.

Tonight I had the opportunity to talk with one of my new mentors and coaches. He pastors a mega church in another state. I only mention that because you would never know that he was a mega church pastor because he is one of the most down to earth humble people I have ever met. He listened to me he coached me and he asked me about my family. He shared stories with me that helped me understand my situations better and helped me understand people better with a greater heart of compassion. I am blown away by this man and I am so thankful that I can call him one of my mentors.

I honestly do not know where I would be without all the great mentors I have had and currently have in my life. I am who I am today because of the people that I have put myself around and because of what they have spoken into my life. I encourage you today, GET A MENTOR! If you want to go far in the purpose that God has for you, you need one or two. Get someone who will challenge you in love and one that will encourage you into the promises of God.

Get a mentor it will make a huge impact on your life!

Tomorrows Bible Reading -2 Kings 18, Philemon 1, Hosea 11, Psalm 72

Dream Big - Ben

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Bible Reading: 2 Kings 17, Titus 3, Hosea 9, Psalm 69

Just Say “No”

Maybe you remember this phrase from an antidrug campaign a few years ago – “Just say No.” It was encouraging young people to say “No” to drugs, and to not become involved in destructive behavior. In today’s Bible reading Paul wrote to Titus “The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Titus 2:11

In some arenas “No” has almost become an unforgotten word. People don’t know how to say “No” to temptations that confront them. Instead they come up with excuses. “I don’t have any Christian friends.” So this is an excuse to hang out with those who will lead them into temptation and entice them to do something they intuitively know is wrong. “It caught me at a weak moment.” If they had not placed ourselves in a situation where they could be tempted their “weakness” would not be an issue. “I see lots of Christians doing it.” Other people we consider Christians are not our measuring rod. Only Scripture and what Jesus taught is how we are to judge our actions.

In 2 Kings 16 we read the story of King Ahaz of Judah who went to Damascus to meet the king of Assyria. While there he saw an altar that intrigued him. He made a sketch and sent it to Uriah the priest, and asked Uriah to build an altar just like it. God had given detailed instructions on how His altar was to be constructed and that altar was in place in the temple. Uriah, as priest, ministered before this altar on a daily basis. He knew better than to build an altar of his own construction even on order from the King, but instead of saying “No” he got busy and made the altar and had it ready even before Ahaz returned from his trip.

Ahaz returned and offered sacrifices on the new altar and then he moved aside the bronze altar that stood before the Lord. He gave instructions to Uriah to offer all the sacrifices on the new altar but he said he would use the bronze altar for seeking guidance!! He did a lot of other arranging of furniture in the courtyard of the temple to suit his own fancy. Ahaz decided to set aside God’s instructions and do things his own way. He wasn’t saying “No” to his own ungodliness. Scripture says that he “did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.” 2 Kings 16:2-3.

Prov. 21:2 says “All a man’s ways seem right to him but the Lord weighs the heart.”

Titus 2:14 says that Jesus “gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Jesus died to empower us to make right decisions¸ to live Godly lives and to say “No” when temptations come our way. We have the tools and the power available to us. It is up to each one of us to utilize that power and to use the “No” word when necessary. Say “No” to yourself, say “No” to the devil and say “No” to friends and acquaintances that would try to drag you into behavior that would not be pleasing to the Lord.

God is good all the time,

Naomi Brinkman

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Bible Reading: 2 Kings 13, 2 Timothy 3, Hosea 5-6, Psalm 64. 65

Boundary Stones

In Old Testament times property was handed down from generation to generation. They didn’t have surveyors as we have but they marked the corners of their property with boundary stones. These stones were not supposed to be moved. Moving them confused the boundaries and could essentially result in someone gradually encroaching onto someone else’s property. One of the commands given to Israel in Deut. 19:14 was “Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess. And Deut. 27:17, “Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.”

Hosea 5:10 says, “Judah’s leaders are like those who move boundary stones.” In other words, they were leading their people astray and bringing confusion; they didn’t know what to believe any more. Stability was gone. They leaped over laws; the walls of right were despised and broken, laws divine and human. Moving boundary stones consisted of setting aside ancestral laws. Boundary stones could be moved inch by inch. At first it would not be noticeable that anything had been moved but gradually big chunks of territory could be lost or stolen. The same is true of laws and principles. They can be gradually eroded and society will hardly notice.

We are living in a society where moral and spiritual boundary stones have been moved. Moral conditions that a few years ago would have been frowned on by society, let alone the church, now hardly raise an eyebrow. We are being conditioned to accept diversity and in fact in some situations we have laws demanding it.

2 Timothy 3 talks about this exact situation. “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying the power.” What an exact description of the time we are living in.

2 Timothy 3 ends with this verse. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” We are not to conform to the norms and morals of society but to follow the principles set forth in God’s word. The Scriptures were breathed by God so that we would have a guideline to follow, would have some boundaries that are stable.

The same principle given in the Old Testament stands today. Do not remove the boundaries set forth by God. As in every situation, God’s way is the best way. Examine your boundaries and see if some of them have been moved. It’s not too late to restore them.

Tomorrows Bible Reading - 2 Kings 14, 2 Timothy 4, Hosea 7, Psalm 66-67

God is good all the time,

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Cancer or the Cure

Today’s Bible Reading- 2 Kings 12, 2 Timothy 2, Hosea 3-4, Psalm 62-63

“Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them. Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. This kind of talk spreads like cancer.” 2 Tim 2: 14-17

My simple question today is are the words we speaking spreading cancer or the cure. If we aren’t speaking life giving words then we are spreading death. To be personally honest I am convicted by this passage. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I have found myself in debates over the word of God and different types of doctrine both publicly and privately. Not just arguments over the word of God but Paul tells Timothy to start fighting over all words, not just words about theology. Really when you stop for a moment and really think about it you’ll realize most of the arguments you’ve been in have probably started over something that way said or something that was said and misunderstood.

When we quarrel over stuff like this it is useless for one but Paul warns us that it can actually ruin those that overheard them. When I was little I witnessed an argument between too people that I looked up to. Now that I think about it the argument was rather trivial, but when I saw that argument it forever changed my perspective of those people. Now I know we are all human and we lose our temper occasionally or we lose control of our mouth. Almost always though people are watching us. They are watching the words that we say and how we respong to other peoples words. If we give in and lose control of our mouth and the words we speak we can actually ruin people. We can ruin their perspective of Christianity, we can ruin their salvation process and we can ruin the work that God wants to do in their life.

Paul goes on to say that we should work hard then to present ourselves before God a worker that doesn’t need to be ashamed of the words we speak or what we do so that we can correctly explain the word of truth. The more we study God’s Word and hear the words that he speaks the greater ability we will have to speak life. It is when we are not in God’s word that we get loose with our mouth and start speaking worthless, foolish words. Anytime I have said anything really really stupid or just worthless like gossip I can speak back and with almost 99.9% certainty say that I had let my time in God’s word slip. Matthew 12:34 tells us that out of the abundance of what we have in our heart our mouth so speaks. What is in abundance in your heart? Have you taken Psalm 119 seriously and hidden His word in your heart so that you might not sin against Him?

One of my favorite Proverbs is Proverbs 10. It has so much wisdom in it about the words we speak. Verse 11 says, “The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of teh wicked conceal violent intentions.” My favorite those is verse 20-21, “The words of the godly are like precious silver; the heart of a fool is worthless. The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.”

I am not sure where you are at today, but I know I want my words to be a life-giving fountain, to be precious and costly like silver and to encourage people. I want to spread the cure, not cancer. Today watch the words that you speak, guard your mouth and see what type of talk you engage in. If you find that you are speaking more cancer than life take heart to God’s words through Paul in 2 Timothy and really begin to delve into and study the Word of God.

Live Life Extraordinary,

Alayna

Tomorrow's Bible Reading - 2 Kings 13, 2 Timothy 3, Hosea 5-6, Psalm 64-65

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Today's Bible Reading - 2 Kings 10-11, 2 Timothy 1, Hosea 2, Psalm 60-61

Prayer and Bible Reading

Today as I was getting ready to write the daily devotional I felt like the Holy Spirit told me to tell you, "write your own devotional". Today I want to challenge you to read these verses pray and then leave a comment with what God is speaking to you. It does not have to be long and it does not have to be in devotional style, just simply write down whatever God is speaking to you today. Cant wait to read it!

I'm so grateful today that God is my refuge and my strong tower against the enemy! - Psalm 61:3

Tomorrows Bible Reading - 2 Kings 12, 2 Timothy 2, Hosea 3-4, Psalm 62-63

Dream Big - Ben

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