December 13 2005 Psalm 7, Proverb 7, Acts 7
(Psalm 7) David is again crying out to God. You can almost picture trying to shove God into action. €œArise O Lord in Your anger.€ David is really trying to get God to do something but nothing is happening. These are the times of prayer that can be so frustrating. We see times that we want God to do exactly what we think He ought to do but, seemingly, He does nothing. How confusing this can be to the simple mind. I have cried out to God and told Him how I do not understand His inaction but it did not do anything other than give me more to repent from later. I have tried to reason, yell, plead, all to no avail. David still tries to do his best by giving God reasons to move but still nothing. In the end David declares that he will praise God according to His righteousness. This is where the victory lies. We declare the goodness of God over a situation and allow the anointing to move.
(Proverb 7) The writer tells how the unchaste man goes after the seductress like an ox to the slaughter. This is true indeed. Nothing good can come from that, unless you are the butcher.
(Acts 7) Stephen was a Deacon and an evangelist. So many people are waiting to be called the high priest to go out and do the work of God but Stephen went forward in boldness.

December 12 2005 Psalm 6, Proverb 6, Acts 6
(Psalm 6) David really wanted forgiveness. Here he is pleading with God to do a mighty work in him. Following Psalm 5, David is not only asking God for forgiveness he is giving Him reasons to grant his request. Life is better when we just walk in righteousness. This back and forth between sin and forgiveness is hard on us. Praise God that He forgives but it is so sweeter when we are not soaking our couch in tears asking for forgiveness.
(Proverb 6) The first thing that the writer talks about is vowing for a friend. I don€™t think that we are warned not to help out someone in need. However I think this warns us not to put our name on something unless we are sure that is what we want to do. The underlying assumption is that we will keep our word and if we give our word for someone we will have to live up to that.
(Acts 6) Servant leadership! You don€™t actually see this in the church much today. The people were instructed to put people that they trust in charge of the money. They did and the scripture says that the word of God spread and the disciples multiplied greatly. I wonder what would happen if we actually tried to emulate this in the church today.

December 11 2005 Psalm 5, Proverb 5, Acts 5
(Psalm 5) I believe that David was trying to get clean with God in this psalm. He prays that God would come near to him and hear his cry. This does not sound like the head of a theocracy, this sounds like a man far off from God. He declares that God only draws close to those who live holy lives. This was a declaration of God€™s holiness and man€™s uncleanness. David was telling God that he understands the way things work, that he did not deserve fellowship while still telling God that he desired to be close. David asks God to lead him into His righteousness. It is so great that we are not cast far off when we fall short. We can ask God to lead us into his righteousness. This really ministers freedom to me and casts off condemnation.
(Proverb 5) This proverb is really half proverb/half psalm. The writer is really telling us to keep pure in marital relations. He tells us to be satisfied with our spouse. Not to let our mind and desires wonder because our ways are before the eyes of the Lord.
(Acts 5) There is a lot in this chapter but the end ministered most to me. In it, Gamaliel told them to leave it alone and see what happens. This is so good advice. It is easy to try to rush in and attempt to right a situation in our own might. But often we need to sit back and let God sort things out. Rushing in and taking things in our own hands often causes more problems than it solves.

December 10 2005 Psalm 4, Proverb 4, Acts 4
(Psalm 4) I recently had a somewhat heated discussion with someone. The crux of the debate centered around what he called love. In his mind, forgiveness and love dictate that we are able to fellowship with all and if we are not capable of doing that then we need some inner healing or need to be able to sin. But verse 4 says to be angry and sin not. This is the righteous anger we are to have against sin and false doctrine. The next verse says that we are to offer the sacrifice of righteousness. There is a manner in which we are to behave and people should be confronted who willingly decide not to follow these instructions.
(Proverb 4) The writer hear is inviting the reader to have a relationship with wisdom. You really get the feeling that this has to be cultivated. It has to be nurtured, not taken for granted. It is so easy to allow other things to enter our minds or have other things occupy our priorities but we are to actively seed wisdom and be sure to keep it as the forefront of our desires and motivations. Solomon says that the wicked do not know what makes them stumble. They have no idea because they have no wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and they do not have that.
(Acts 4) Peter and John were filled with the Holy Ghost. There they were in the midst of all the religious rulers and nothing could be said because it was evident that they had been with Jesus and they had power. This is the testimony we should all have.

December 9 2005