Psalm 20-7.4.22
Scripture
Psalms 20:7-8 NLT
“Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.”
Observation-What does it say?
In this psalm, David writes about the hope that God’s people experience when they put their faith and trust in Him. David writes about God’s faithfulness to His people (especially when they put their complete hope and trust in Him). At the end of the day, certain kingdoms will rise and fall, but God’s Kingdom will reign forever.
Understanding-What does it mean?
Put my hope and faith in the unseen.
“Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” -John 20:29
It’s easy to get caught up in physical and material things in life. We can even judge someone’s power, strength, and importance based on it. But I like what David says here in verse 7:
“Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.”
David understands that it is God who gives and takes away. He understands that God is in control. He knows that God doesn’t judge power, strength, and wealth through human eyes. Rather, God judges someone’s strength through their faith. God calls us to not be concerned of our wealth here on earth, but rather store up our treasures in Heaven-(Matthew 6: 19-20). David knows of God’s faithfulness. Although he may have not seen God face to face, he has seen God’s strength, power, mercy, and love revealed to him throughout his life’s experiences. So David knows better to get caught up in the physical and material things. (If he did get caught up in that sort of stuff, he would’ve been too fearful to go out and face Goliath). He knows that his God is bigger than any physical circumstance he may face in life. That is why he can walk around with full confidence in life boasting about His God. Can we do the same? 🤔
Life Application
Use our life’s experiences (testimony) to reveal an unseen God, and make Him known.
As David boasts about his God, it reminds me if I do the same. God’s strength, power, healing hand, grace, mercy, love, and faithfulness has been so evident in my life. Shouldn’t I be boasting about my God the way David did? It’s actually a great way to share the Good News to unbelievers out there. They may not believe in God because they don’t see Him, but there is no denying God’s doings through someone’s personal experiences. It’s a great way to show just how real God is. It’s a great way to show that God is still alive today. It’s a great way to share with someone that God loves them too, and He is more than capable and willing to help them with whatever circumstances they may be experiencing, if they too would just believe and trust in Him. Can we boast about our God? Can we let the world know what He has done for us? Can we share what He has done and will do for them?
“Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”-1 Corinthians 1:31
-Moses Gaddi
Luke 2 - 7.1.22
Scripture
Luke 2:6-7
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Observation – What does it say?
The circumstances seem less than ideal for Mary and Joseph. About nine months earlier, Mary had received word from and angel that she would give birth to the Savior of the world. But though she is about ready to give birth now, on the surface everything else would seem to suggest God has abandoned them. How could this be part of his plan?
Surely God knew this census would take place, he couldn’t have adjusted the delivery date so they wouldn’t have to travel several days on horseback while she’s 9 months prego?
If God was in this whole thing, why did they show up and have no room to stay in?
However, what hit me is that the next verse says an angel appears to shepherds announcing the birth and a massive choir suddenly appears in the sky praising God for what he was doing through Mary in that moment.
Understanding – What does it mean?
Heaven often sees things differently!
There are times the circumstances seem terrible from our human perspective, but meanwhile all of heaven is rejoicing about what God is doing in and through us. We may be confused, wondering if we’re in the right place. We may be asking, “Didn’t God initiate this? Where is he now?” and “Why are we here?” and “Why is this so hard?” But meanwhile, heaven sees that God is changing history through us.
When God calls us or gives direction or a prophetic word about the future, we tend to fill in the rest of the picture and what we think he means and what it will look like. One of my biggest sources of disappointment has been my own fault: putting expectations on God he didn’t agree to, and then getting upset when he doesn’t meet them. Just because it doesn’t turn out like we imagined doesn’t mean God has left us or we mis-heard him.
Over and over in scripture we see that heaven views things differently. The cross looked terrible to the disciples until they understood what God was accomplishing through it. Prison looked terrible to Paul until he understood that it was God’s means for bringing the gospel to kings and governors.
Someone once said, “God never contradicts his word, but he often contradicts our understanding of it.” He will bring to pass every word he has spoken, though it may look differently than we hoped or imagined. His ways are higher than our ways and thoughts higher than our thoughts.
Life Application
Ask God to help us see from his perspective.
God, forgive me for the times I have complained and doubted when my circumstances didn’t seem ideal and when you didn’t answer my prayers in the way I thought you should. I trust you will be faithful to every word you have spoken. Even when things look bad on the surface, I trust that you are “working everything into conformity with the purpose of your will” (Eph 1) and “in all things you work for the good of those who love you.” May we not complain with men but rejoice with heaven. Amen.
-Levi Thompson
Luke 1-06.30.22
SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:37 NKJV
“For with God NOTHING will be Impossible.”
OBSERVATION:
Mary receives the Good News—that has long been waited for since Adam and Eve broke relationship with God in the garden of Eden when they brought sin into the world by disobeying God’s command.
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 NIV)
UNDERSTANDING:
This first chapter of Luke unfolds for us many miracles. We have Angel visitations—and not just any everyday ordinary Angel—but Gabriel—who “stands in the presence of God” (vs.19). We have the astounding News that Jesus is Coming—The Promised Messiah—salvation of mankind! We are introduced to an elderly couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth. God has kept His watchful eye on these two whose hearts we are told has remained faithful to Him. They had longed to have a child, but in their “old age” that now seemed “Impossible”. Yet, Gabriel comes to share “With God Nothing is Impossible”. Not only will they have a child, but he will grow up to become:
John the Baptist
“…he will be great in the sight of The Lord. And he will go on BEFORE the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1: 15a, 17 NIV)
LIFE APPLICATION:
Faith for the Impossible
For NOTHING is Impossible with God.
The SAME God who was at work in Elizabeth and Zechariah’s miracle baby is the SAME God at work in our lives TODAY. And the Greatest miracle of ALL time is that God so loved us that HE was willing to come down to earth and live among us. We can live in complete forgiveness of sins, restored relationship with God, and assurance of Heaven.
Born to a virgin, Jesus lived a perfect life because HE was wholly man and wholly God. HE showed us “how to” live a submitted life of loving God and loving others. He died on the cross so our sins could be punished and HE rose again conquering death so we could live eternally with Him in Heaven.
Now, anyone who calls on Jesus as the personal Lord of their lives and puts complete faith and trust in Jesus alone as their savior for forgiveness of sins—believing that God raised Him from the dead will be saved.
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:8 NIV)
Thank you Lord Jesus,
That YOU are the SAME Yesterday, Today, and Forever. For the Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s that are holding on to dreams that seem dead—may they know with YOU-Nothing is Impossible. You are the God of resurrection who breathes life into dry bones. As we look ahead to July which will be our half way point from our January fast, I am praying for God to speak to me and our church. May we have dreams and visions that reignite us to God’s heart, May we be renewed and expanded for our mission to evangelize, and may we live in a new birthing of Faith knowing all things are possible with God.
“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”
(Jeremiah 32:17 ESV)
Tina L Kudelka