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Baskets Left Over

01
Mar 2010
By Andy

Scripture:

Mark 8:1-10 – Jesus feeds four thousand men with seven loaves of bread

Application:

Right now in my life I feel like both my time and my talent amount to seven loaves; I feel overextended. What I want is to get to the end of my day and feel like I have baskets left … but I don’t. I feel like it’s all gone, including my portion. Perhaps the problem is that I’m relying only on my seven loaves, or maybe I’m not sufficiently thanking for and asking God to bless them. Either way, I know there is more. I know that God has baskets for me, so that I can hand out everything I have and have baskets left over.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for my seven loaves – let me not be ungrateful for the bounty in my life. Please bless my time, and bless my talent so that everyone around me has received everything they need from me without want for more. Let my source be you, Lord. I know that my stores will never be enough – that I need to come to you in order to give more than I have, and I know you are more than capable. I love you, Lord.

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not enough time

24
Feb 2010
By Andy

There is nothing I need more right now than solid time with God, and I just can’t seem to make it happen. Either the girls are up at night leaving me exhausted in the mornings, or they sleep through the night (like last night) only to get up five minutes after I sit down to do this. I just can’t think with the babbling and chatting going on.

I once heard of a mom with a house full of kids – when she needed time, she just pulled her apron over her head and her kids knew not to disturb her. Maybe I need an apron.

ok… too much crying

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Priestly Blessing

19
Feb 2010
By Andy

Scripture:

Numbers 7:22-26 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Instruct Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:
May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.”

Observation:

I like this blessing. When I think about actually saying it to someone, I squirm. How do you lead into and out of an official blessing?

Prayer:

Lord, I don’t know if it’s selfish to pray these things for myself, but I do ask for your blessing and protection; I want you to smile on me and be gracious to me, and I crave your favor and need your peace.

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Purposeful Challenge

17
Feb 2010
By Andy

Scripture:

Acts 25:24-25 “A few days later Felix came with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified. “go away for now, ” he replied. “when it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.”

Observation:

Paul told them about Christ, and he talked with them about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. Righteousness includes the good we ought to be doing, self-control keeps us from doing bad (sinning), and we will be judged accordingly. This was Paul’s … salvation approach with Felix (and his wife). This seems really gutsy to me! Not just because of their position in relation to each other, but between any two people. Beyond this, it almost has a “good works” flavor to it, although I’m sure this wasn’t Paul’s only pitch. I guess this was recorded more for Felix’s reaction than for what Paul taught.

Application:

Our men’s group started last night, it went great and I look forward to future meetings. I think these topics are relevant to our group – I want to be purposeful about challenging each other through these topics.

Prayer:

Thank you Lord for friends – please bless our group. I pray it honors you, and develops each of us Christians and loving husbands and fathers.

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Rescue Me

16
Feb 2010
By Andy

Scripture:

Psalm 25:16-26:3 “Turn to me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins. See how many enemies I have, and how viciously they hate me! Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for I trust in you. May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you. Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and affections. For I am constantly aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth.”

Observation:

Last week was a difficult week. Not last Wednesday, but the Wednesday before, we started our commitment to move Jenna out of our bed. It meant 1 to 2 hour long fights in the middle of the night and by the beginning of last week both Nicole and I were exhausted. Although my present pain is always more difficult than my past pain, last week felt more tiring than any time since Jenna was born.

This is my first journal entry since two Fridays ago – it feels good to be doing this again, and this passage is a good reminder of Scripture’s relevancy to my life. Toward the end of last week I had a conversation that, after thinking and praying, makes me identify with David’s prayer, though not with quite so much passion. I think I’d write something more like

Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in distress. Oh, save me from them all! Forgive my sins. See the misplaced frustration of my friends. Protect me! Rescue my integrity from them. Do not let me be disgraced, for I trust in you. May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you. Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity. Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives. I am constantly in need of your unfailing love, and I try to live according to your truth.

Initially I wasn’t going to include vs 26:3 – “I am constantly aware of your unfailing love,” but it’s good to remember and helps put things in perspective.

Application:

I think the best thing I can do right now is to hold on to trusting in God. I don’t know how things are going to play out, but I can rely on God’s unfailing love.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for meeting with me. I missed this time last week. I pray the prayer above; declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity.

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