Mar 17 Growth

Lord Jesus, we know very little about Your childhood from the scriptures.  We do know that You were remarkable.  From Your eighth day, we know that “He grew and became strong, was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.” 

And when twelve years old, You ”sat among the teachers in the temple courts, amazing people at His understanding and answers.”

Then we learn You were obedient to Your earthly parents and “grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

Lord, that is my desire as well, to grow “in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

I pray You would help me grow in being able to understand, remember, and apply learning and knowledge to my life; which we call wisdom.  But not just from a worldly viewpoint.  I would desire to have godly wisdom, from the Holy Spirit, to teach me of You, to know You better, to see things from Your perspective.

Lord, help me grow in stature, which means maturity.  That may require reexamining and putting away some childish thoughts and behaviors.  It means not being led only by ego, or emotions or selfishness.  Instead, lead me to develop a responsible sense of accountability when it comes to my relationship with You and with others.

Lord, I mostly desire to grow in favor with You.  Show me where I am missing that mark, and turn my path back to You.  Before I act, let me ask, “Will this draw me closer to the Lord, or move me farther away?”

Sometimes I feel close to You when I am strong, because I know that my strength comes from You.  Other times I feel closer to You when I am weak and in dire need of Your help, encouragement, and guidance.  I believe my trust in and dependence on You also honors You, as Your strength is shown through my weakness.

Father, let my favor with man be such that I can be a witness to man, rather than being taken in by the traditions and values of man.  As You give me favor, keep me mindful that my home is in heaven – this is just a temporary stopover.

How wonderful it would be to be like Jesus in this.  Thank You for sharing Your wisdom with me and giving me Your peace.  Amen

Let me be strong, and show others the peace that You offer and the grace that I live in, thanks to You.  Amen

Luke 2:39-52

May 22 Make me a seed

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

I love this picture!

Once again, an illustration that the people of the day would have understood intuitively.  I am not a farmer, but I have planted a few things.

When I put a kernel of corn in the ground, it produced a cornstalk with two ears and many rows of corn kernels on each ear.  Had I dug under the stalk to find the original seed kernel, it would not be found.  It grew into the new plant.  How it looked when it was put into the ground, changed as it gave its energy to the new growth.

Same thing when I planted peas and sunflowers.  I took a recognizable seed, the part we eat, and it was transformed into a new plant.  The pea, into a vine with many pods of several peas each.  The sunflower seed, into a giant sunflower with a disk of hundreds of seeds.

So, I believe, it will be with me.

Lord, make me a seed that produces a hundred-fold harvest of new seeds.  Take my words and my actions and let them reproduce, inspire, encourage and enlighten people.  Let them draw unbelievers to You.  And let believers be strengthened.

I can be the seed, Lord.  But only You can choose the type of soil, provide the rain, the sunshine, the nutrients that are needed to bring the harvest.

May the harvest You bring forth from my seed, bring glory to You and to Your name.  Amen

John 12:24

Mar 17 Growth

Lord Jesus, we know very little about Your childhood from the scriptures.  We do know that You were remarkable.  From Your eighth day, we know that “He grew and became strong, was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.” 

And when twelve years old, You ”sat among the teachers in the temple courts, amazing people at His understanding and answers.”

Then we learn You were obedient to Your earthly parents and “grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

Lord, that is my desire as well, to grow “in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

I pray You would help me grow in being able to understand, remember, and apply learning and knowledge to my life; which we call wisdom.  But not just from a worldly viewpoint.  I would desire to have godly wisdom, from the Holy Spirit, to teach me of You, to know You better, to see things from Your perspective.

Lord, help me grow in stature, which means maturity.  That may require reexamining and putting away some childish thoughts and behaviors.  It means not being led only by ego, or emotions or selfishness.  Instead, lead me to develop a responsible sense of accountability when it comes to my relationship with You and with others.

Lord, I mostly desire to grow in favor with You.  Show me where I am missing that mark, and turn my path back to You.  Before I act, let me ask, “Will this draw me closer to the Lord, or farther away?”

That way, when a crisis comes, like what the world is facing today, I would not only have the wisdom to know what to do, and the peace to act, but I would be able to share that peace with others to help them cope.

Thank You Father, that You have shared your wisdom with me, and that I do have peace.

Let me be strong, and show others the peace that You offer and the grace that I live in, thanks to You.  Amen

Luke 2:39-52

May 22 Make me a seed

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

I love this picture!

Once again, an illustration that the people of the day would have understood intuitively.  I am not a farmer, but I have planted a few things.

When I put a kernel of corn in the ground, it produced a cornstalk with two ears and many rows of corn kernels on each ear.  Had I dug under the stalk to find the original seed kernel, it would not be found.  It grew into the new plant.  How it looked when it was put into the ground, changed as it gave its energy to the new growth.

Same thing when I planted peas and sunflowers.  I took a recognizable seed, the part we eat, and it was transformed into a new plant.  The pea, into a vine with many pods of several peas each.  The sunflower seed, into a giant sunflower with a disk of hundreds of seeds.

So, I believe, it will be with me.  Lord, make me a seed that produces a hundred-fold harvest of new seeds.  Take my words and my actions and let them reproduce, inspire, encourage and enlighten people.  Let them draw unbelievers to You.  And let believers be strengthened.

I can be the seed, Lord.  But only You can choose the type of soil, provide the rain, the sunshine, the nutrients that are needed to bring the harvest.  May the harvest You bring forth from my seed, bring glory to You and to Your name.  Amen

John 12:24

Mar 17 Growth

Lord Jesus, we know very little about Your childhood from the scriptures.  We do know that You were remarkable.  From Your eighth day, we know that “He grew and became strong, was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.” 

And when twelve years old, You ”sat among the teachers in the temple courts, amazing childhood people at His understanding and answers.” 

Then we learn You were obedient to Your earthly parents and “grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

Lord, that is my desire as well, to grow “in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

I pray You would help me grow in being able to understand, remember, and apply learning and knowledge to my life; which we call wisdom.  But not just from a worldly viewpoint.  I would desire to have godly wisdom, from the Holy Spirit, to teach me of You, to know You better, to see things from Your perspective.   

Lord, help me grow in stature, which means maturity.  That may require reexamining and putting away some childish thoughts and behaviors.  It means not being led only by ego, or emotions or selfishness.  Instead, lead me to develop a responsible sense of accountability when it comes to my relationship with You and with others.

Lord, I mostly desire to grow in favor with You.  Show me where I am missing that mark, and turn my path back to You.  Before I act, let me ask, “Will this draw me closer to the Lord, or farther away?”  

Sometimes I feel close to You when I am strong, because I know that my strength comes from You.  Other times I feel closer to You when I am weak and in dire need of Your help, encouragement, and guidance.  I believe my trust in and dependence on You also honors You, as Your strength is shown through my weakness.

Father, let my favor with man be such that I can be a witness to man, rather than being taken in by the traditions and values of man.  As You give me favor, keep me mindful that my home is in heaven – this is just a temporary stopover.

How wonderful it would be to be like Jesus in this.  Thank You for Your help.  Amen

Luke 2:39-52

May 22 Make me a seed

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

I love this picture!

Once again, an illustration that the people of the day would have understood intuitively.  I am not a farmer, but I have planted a few things.

When I put a kernel of corn in the ground, it produced a cornstalk with two ears and  many rows of corn kernels on each ear.  Had I dug under the stalk to find the original seed kernel, it would not be found.  It grew into the new plant.  How it looked when it was put into the ground, changed as it gave its energy to the new growth.

Same thing when I planted peas and sunflowers.  I took a recognizable seed, the part we eat, and it was transformed into a new plant.  The pea, into a vine with many pods of several peas each.  The sunflower seed, into a giant sunflower with a disk of hundreds of seeds.

So, I believe, it will be with me.  Lord, make me a seed that produces a hundred-fold harvest of new seeds.  Take my words and my actions and let them reproduce, inspire, encourage and enlighten people.  Let them draw unbelievers to You.  And let believers be strengthened.

I can be the seed, Lord.  But only You can choose the type of soil, provide the rain, the sunshine, the nutrients that are needed to bring the harvest.  May the harvest You bring forth from my seed, bring glory to You and to Your name.  Amen

John 12:24

Mar 17 Growth

Lord Jesus, we know very little about Your childhood from the scriptures.  We do know that You were remarkable.  From Your eighth day, we know that “He grew and became strong, was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.” 

And when twelve years old, You ”sat among the teachers in the temple courts, amazing people at His understanding and answers.”

Then we learn You were obedient to Your earthly parents and “grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

Lord, that is my desire as well, to grow “in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

I pray You would help me grow in being able to understand, remember, and apply learning and knowledge to my life; which we call wisdom.  But not just from a worldly viewpoint.  I would desire to have godly wisdom, from the Holy Spirit, to teach me of You, to know You better, to see things from Your perspective.

That way, when a crisis comes, like what we are facing today, I would not only have the wisdom to know what to do, and the peace to act, but I would be able to share that peace with others to help them cope.

Thank You Father, that You have shared your wisdom with me, and that I do have peace.

Grow and mature me now to put away childish thoughts and behaviors, to let go of ego and selfishness, and to be accountable to my relationships with You and others.

Let me be strong, and show others the peace that You offer and the grace that I live in, thanks to You.  Amen

Luke 2:36-52

Mar 17 Growth

Dear Lord, we know very little about Jesus’ childhood.  But we do know that He was remarkable.  From His eighth day, we know that “He grew and became strong, was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.” 

And when twelve years old, He ”sat among the teachers in the temple courts, amazing people at His understanding and answers.”

We then learn He was obedient to His earthly parents and “He grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

Father that is my desire as well, to grow “in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

I pray that You would help me grow in being able to understand, remember, and apply learning and knowledge to my life; which we call wisdom.  But not just from a worldly viewpoint.  I would desire to have godly wisdom, from the Holy Spirit, to teach me of You, to know You better, to see things from Your perspective.

Lord, help me grow in stature, which means maturity.  That may require reexamining and putting away some childish thoughts and behaviors.  It means not being led only by ego, or emotions or selfishness.  Instead, lead me to develop a responsible sense of accountability when it comes to my relationship with You and with others.

Lord, I mostly desire to grow in favor with You.  Show me where I am missing that mark, and turn my path back to You.  Before I act, let me ask, “Will this draw me closer to the Lord, or farther away?”

Sometimes I feel close to You when I am strong, because I know that my strength comes from You.  Other times I feel closer to You when I am weak and in dire need of Your help, encouragement, and guidance.  I believe my trust in and dependence on You also honors You, as Your strength is shown through my weakness.

Father, let my favor with man be such that I can be a witness to man, rather than being taken in by the traditions and values of man.  As You give me favor, keep me mindful that my home is in heaven – this is just a temporary stopover.

How wonderful it would be to be like Jesus in this.  Thank You for Your help.  Amen

Luke 2:36-52

Mar 22 Can I get a witness?

Lord what a seemingly complex system You dictated to the Israelites for justice.

You have told us before that the shedding of innocent blood pollutes the land, and that the blood has a voice. You heard the voice of Abel’s blood calling to You from the ground and confronted Cain.   Here, one who kills with intent is a murderer and is to be put to death by the blood avenger. The blood avenger is the male relative closest to the one who was murdered. He is to avenge the blood that was wrongly taken.

If there is a question about the motive, whether there was intention, the one who killed can flee to a City of Refuge to stand trial, and be safe there from the blood avenger. At the trial, no one is to be put to death on the testimony of less that two witnesses.

Today, we call a ‘witness’ to testify as to what they ‘saw’. However, they have no way of judging the intent, or what was in the mind of the person accused. But in the Hebrew culture, one teaching suggests that a person who is a ‘witness’ is one who had confronted the potentially guilty party, explained to them what they were doing is wrong, and the penalty they will bear if they proceed. Thus, they can testify that the accused was aware that what they were doing was wrong and that they had been warned of the penalty. If the accused proceeded with the act, it was with volition and intent.

Father, I pray You would send witnesses into my life if I begin to stray down a path leading to sin. Stop me in my tracks and confront me with the realization of where I am headed, so I can turn around before it’s too late.

Father, care for me as You care for the land. You “water the land and enrich it abundantly”. In the same way, pour out on me what I need for growth and fruitfulness in my spiritual life. Provide me with the nourishment I need to grow in maturity and grace. You “drench its furrows and level its ridges, softening it with showers, blessing the land and crowning it with bounty and abundance”.   Father, drench me in Your love, even out my rough places, soften my heart where it is hardened. Open my eyes to acknowledge Your bounty and abundance of blessing in my life, and I will shout for joy and sing praises to You. Amen

Numbers 35:1-34; Psalm 65:9-13

Mar 17 Growth

Dear Lord, we know very little about Jesus’ childhood. But we do know that He was remarkable.

From His eighth day, we know that “He grew and became strong, was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.”

And when twelve years old, He ”sat among the teachers in the temple courts, amazing people at His understanding and answers.”

We then learn He was obedient to His earthly parents and “He grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

Father that is my desire as well, to grow “in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man”.

I pray that You would help me grow in being able to understand, remember, and apply learning and knowledge to my life; which we call wisdom. But not just from a worldly viewpoint. I would desire to have godly wisdom, from the Holy Spirit, to teach me of You, to know You better, to see things from Your perspective.

Lord, help me grow in stature, which means maturity. That may require reexamining and putting away some childish thoughts and behaviors. It means not being led only by ego, or emotions or selfishness. Instead, lead me to develop a responsible sense of accountability when it comes to my relationship with You and with others.

Lord, I mostly desire to grow in favor with You. Show me where I am missing that mark, and turn my path back to You. Before I act, let me ask, ‘Will this draw me closer to the Lord, or farther away?’

Sometimes I feel close to You when I am strong, because I know that my strength comes from You. Other times I feel closer to You when I am weak and in dire need of Your help, encouragement, and guidance. I believe my trust in and dependence on You also honors You, as Your strength is shown through my weakness.

Father, let my favor with man be such that I can be a witness to man, rather than being taken in by the traditions and values of man. As You give me favor, keep me mindful that my home is in heaven – this is just a temporary stopover.

How wonderful it would be to be like Jesus in this. Thank You for Your help. Amen

Luke 2:36-52

Mar 17 Growth

Dear Lord, we know very little about Jesus’ childhood. But we do know that He was remarkable. From His eighth day, we know that “He grew and became strong, was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.”

And when twelve years old, He ”sat among the teachers in the temple courts, amazing people at His understanding and answers.”

We then learn He was obedient to His earthly parents and “He grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”

Father that is my desire as well, to grow “in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man”.

I pray that You would help me grow in being able to understand, remember, and apply learning and knowledge to my life; which we call wisdom. But not just from a worldly viewpoint. I would desire to have godly wisdom, from the Holy Spirit, to teach me of You, to know You better, to see things from Your perspective.

Lord, help me grow in stature, which means maturity. That may require reexamining and putting away some childish thoughts and behaviors. It means not being led only by ego, or emotions or selfishness. Instead, lead me to develop a responsible sense of accountability when it comes to my relationship with You and with others.

Lord, I mostly desire to grow in favor with You. Show me where I am missing that mark, and turn my path back to You. Before I act, let me ask, ‘Will this draw me closer to the Lord, or farther away?’ Sometimes I feel close to You when I am strong, because I know that my strength comes from You. Other times I feel closer to You when I am weak and in dire need of Your help, encouragement, and guidance. I believe my trust in and dependence on You also honors You, as Your strength is shown through my weakness.

Father, let my favor with man be such that I can be a witness to man, rather than being taken in by the wisdom and values of man. As You give me favor, keep me mindful that my home is in heaven – this is just a temporary stopover.

How wonderful it would be to be like Jesus in this. Thank You for Your help. Amen

Luke 2:36-52