Scripture Comes Alive...

So I have to admit as I was on vacation this past weekend, my quiet times were a little shorter, not as consistent, and my focus wasn't where I would have liked it to been. Yet, God still showed up everyday in my life, teaching me and showing me new "issues" in my own heart. As I was coming home on Tuesday morning - I looked out the plane window, and was blown away with the picture perfect sky I saw - it was incredible!! The sun was just rising and the unbelieveable part were the clouds that covered the whole sky, I mean the whole stinkin' sky- it took me awhile to realize it was all clouds and not just a frozen lake we had gone over - words can not even describe it (I so wanted to go jump in it)- BUT it is God moments like this - when I am not only thankful that I know to turn to God for praise, but also that He brings to mind scripture I have memorized, to bring even more glory back to Him. Psalm 19 - came to my mind, and as I turned to it, I had to look around a couple times to see if any other passengers were "getting this" - I don't think they were, but I was tempted to stand up and tell everyone...I would like to say I did and everyone on the plane accepted Christ, but I guess I am not Pastor Tom..... yet anyway!!... God's creation is truly a masterpiece, and I love those moments when God brings those scriptures alive in my life. I pray that I would never be to caught up in "my day" to miss out on what God wants to teach me or literally show me.

I will not deny you...Matthew 26

Observation - This chapter is jam packed with insights into the unique and dynamic personality of Jesus. But one thing that I found fascinating was the interaction between Jesus and Peter. Peter says this to Jesus "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." This was after Jesus said "...you will deny me three times." Peter believed with all his heart that there was no possible way he would ever deny Jesus, even though Jesus himself assured him he would. Luke chapter 24 gives us further insight to this passage telling us more to the story. Jesus tells us in Luke 24 that Satan had been granted permission by God to "sift" Peter like wheat. Jesus then goes on to tell him that he has prayed for Peter, that after Peter denied Jesus, his faith would not ultimately fail.

Application - Why wasn't Peter's response to Jesus "Jesus, please don't let it be. I am weak, you are strong. Help me. God protect me. God please send your angels to keep me from falling to Satan's attack. The reason Peter didn't respond like that seems to be that he thought his will was sufficient to persevere. He made a mistake that lead him to weeping. I far too often trust my own will and desire above the divine protection that comes from heaven. I was just thinking about my dream of going to the slums and having a healing and deliverance ministry like Jesus. The problem with the slums is that they are so difficult to live in that most die or leave within 6 months. I often find myself saying "I can make it" because I have been through a lot and am very mentally tough. I have been falling into Peter's trap of putting my trust in my flesh and will and competative sports background instead of the power of God. The only thing that will allow my wife and I to survive in a disease stricken slum is the hand of God, not my will.

Prayer - Father I look to you for protection on this day. I trust in you alone as the one to watch over me and to keep me from the evil one. Please deliver me from evil and keep me from temptation. I ask that you would give me my daily bread, not too much, and not too little. I pray with David (Ps 108) Oh give us help against the adversary, for deliverance by man is in vain. Through God we will do valiantly, And it is He who shall tread down our adversaries." I ask these things humbly in your name, the name you gave your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns as King and Judge to be honored like the Father.