FreshBread

Spend some scheduled time with God today….in a special place…..in a special way….it’s something He looks forward to.

Today’s Readings are: Judges 1-3, Acts 7, Jeremiah 16, Mark 2
Today’s Key verse is Judges 1:19
19The LORD was with the people of Judah, and they took possession of the hill country. But they failed to drive out the people living in the plains because the people there had iron chariots.

There are many blessings in this life that the Lord brings our way. Because of that, it is easy to worship the blessing instead of the blessor. For this reason, there are many things that God asks you to remove from your life which might keep you from trusting, serving and seeking him.

When the children of Israel had entered the promise land, God instructed them to remove all of the people that lived there, to drive them out. Well, as you can see from our readings this morning, the Israelites thought instead of driving them out, we will “get them under control” and live with them. For the rest of Israel’s history (including present day, I might add) these people, that they failed to drive out of the land, are nothing but problems for Israel, but worse yet, have caused them to keep their eyes on the enemies and not on God.

If God were to spend a day with you, what things would he ask you to remove from your life that you are trying to just “keep under control”? Don’t fool yourself, it will always be a problem. Your attention will have to be so much on these enemies that you will not have the time, energy or desire to seek, serve and trust in God. I urge you to listen to the Lord and drive these things out of your life…START TODAY…..START NOW!!!!!!!!!!

I am praying for you today and look forward to seeing you this weekend.

Scott

Spend some scheduled time with God today….in a special place…..in a special way….it’s something He looks forward to.

Today’s Readings are: Joshua 24, Acts 6, Jeremiah 14-15, Mark 1

14″So honor the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone. 15But if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”

I have a friend that is struggling with the very existence of God. It is not that he hasn’t believed in God, he has, almost his whole life. He was even in the ministry for a while….but now he is struggling with whether God even exists. One might ask why, why the change in belief? Most people believe in a direction toward believing in God not in giving it up.

The scripture this morning talks about serving God. Joshua tells the people to put away the false idols in their life and not go to church, but to serve the Lord. Joshua is saying that the whole life of a believer is different cause they live out every minute of service to God. That sounds like such a joy, or burden, or impossibility until it is done out of desire to serve the one who has changed all of life for you.

Here is the rub for my friend, he does not see evidence in the lives of “believers” that God has made a change. People that are angry before coming to Christ are still angry after. People who gossip before, still gossip after coming to Christ. I assured him these are people just playing a religious game, and not people who have been changed by the all powerful God, BUT…..he says there are too many game players and thus he questions the whole deal.

Serving God is what he deserves from us…..but the way we live our lives may have the ability to help others see God! So let me ask you the same thing Joshua asked thousands of years ago….choose this day who you will serve….may it be seen in your life! Have a great day, I am praying that God will use you today!

Scott

Spend some scheduled time with God today….in a special place…..in a special way….it’s something He looks forward to.

Today’s Readings are: Joshua 23, Acts 5, Jeremiah 14, Matthew 28

17When they saw him, they worshiped him–but some of them still doubted!

There is much questioning of the scripture these days. Many people say it was a band of Jesus followers who just made up the Bible and its story. If this was the case, why would you put today’s verse in there? Why would you tell anyone that you doubted….especially at this time?

The more I look into the scripture, the Canon, and these “new” hidden books that are being found, the more I am convinced that what we have in the scriptures is the very Word of God! I look forward to sharing some of my findings with you over the next few weeks, both here in FreshBread and on Sunday mornings. The Bile has not been the Number 1 selling book for centuries without reason. We live in exciting times when spiritual sensitivity and questions are being raised on a daily basis. It is important that we look at these questions and seek the truthful answers. I look forward to doing that together. Have a great day….keep talking about your doubts, it leads to investigation, study and discovery! Have a great day! Talk to you in the morning.

Scott