Psalm 114-11.11.22
Scripture - What stood out?
Psalm 114
1 When Israel came out of Egypt,
Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled,
the Jordan turned back;
4 the mountains leaped like rams,
the hills like lambs.
Observation - What does it say?
A psalm that gives you a very wide lens view of a few great miracles that God performed to bring the Hebrew nation out of Egypt.
Understanding - What does it mean?
The mountains leaped like rams.
‘I want you and Deborah both to pray and fast about this decision. Take at least a week. Pray and fast and listen to what God is telling you.’
‘Ok I will.’ I replied to pastor Gary.
‘Alright. I’ll be praying for you both. Let me know what happens. Love you.’
I still remember leaving that meeting filled with so much hope and so much direction in my life. I knew what I had to do for the next week! I had to not eat! And still figure out a way to climb telephone poles while I was starving in the middle of a Los Angeles heat wave in June!
I still remember the final day of that particular fast. I had been working in the heat for the past 5 days(the first two days of our fast happened to be my off days). I hadn’t been eating. And I had done some of my best work to date. I knew God was at work in my life. My body was devoid of any worldly nourishment yet I had produced some of my best work yet. And I felt great. I knew the Holy Spirit was at work in my life. I knew the direction my faith was headed in. I knew what God was speaking to me. And that night after a week of prayer and fasting my wife and I knew what we were going to tell pastor Gary!
Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?
The mountains leaped like rams.
My wife and I have been reminding ourselves about faith today, Father God. Thank you for reminding me of a time in my life when I felt like my faith in you could accomplish anything. I serve a God who is capable of the incapable. You can turn the sea, move mountains and hills, and use whomever you want for the furthering of Your kingdom. Help me to stretch my faith today, Lord. I lift my hands up in surrender, show me what my next act of faith is Lord. Thank you Father. In the name of Jesus do I pray. Amen.
-kenneth lee
Psalm 113-11.10.22
Scripture:
Psalm 113
1 Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, you his servants;
praise the name of the Lord.
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised,
both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord.
Observation-What does it say?
“In this Psalm, we are invited to give glory to God; to give Him the glory due His name (Matthew Henry commentary on blueletterbible.org).”
Understanding-What does it mean?
As His servants, we must praise the name of the Lord, for the sole reason that He is worthy to be praised.
Life Application
“Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore (Psalm 113:2).”
During our All Leaders meeting this week, Pastor Levi encouraged us to honor God this month, both privately and publicly. Here are some practical ways that he suggested we do that:
Privately: Set aside some time to get alone with God and worship; give thanks; write Him a note of appreciation.
Publicly: Tell someone about what God has done for you; a prayer He answered; a way you noticed Him at work in your life; something God has been speaking to you about through your times with Him.
How will we honor and praise the Lord today?
-Michelle Gaddi
Esther 6-11.9.22
Scripture
Esther 6:3 NIV
“What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.”
Observation-What does it say?
The King couldn't sleep and all of a sudden requested that the book that chronicles his reign be retrieved and read to him. In the process, it was found that Mordecai saved the King's life by exposing 2 men who planned to assassinate him. These men were his own trusted officials! The King wanted to know if Mordecai was honored and recognized for his noble deed. He was told that nothing was done for Mordecai, so King Xerxes made sure to do what was necessary to honor him. Haman was getting ready to request the death of Mordecai, but instead, the King asked him for ways that he could be honored. Haman thought the King was talking about honoring him, so he suggested the most prestigious and noteworthy way that he could do it. Haman later found out that he would be honoring Mordecai the way he suggested for himself! Talk about humiliation!
Understanding-What does it mean?
Every deed a man or woman does, whether good or bad, always comes to the light.
“For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” Luke 8:17 NIV
Mordecai and Haman were men who were part of two extremes. One was prideful, wanting all of his good deeds to be exposed and honored, while Moredecai was a humble man, who was not even honored or cared to be honored for saving the King's life. But, Mordecai's good deeds were eventually brought to light later on and exalted, while Haman's evil plans were halted. God protected Mordecai, while Haman suffered humiliation as a consequence for his evil plot and prideful heart.
“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:3-4 NIV
““So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”” Matthew 20:16 NIV
“Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.” Proverbs 27:2 NIV
Life Application
Let's learn from Mordecai's humble example and also learn from Haman's prideful and revengeful mistakes.
Humility comes before honor. Pride before the fall. (Proverbs 18:12)
The life of a Christ follower is one where we must die to ourselves daily for the cause of Christ. We lose our lives in order to find it. (Matt. 10:39). Being a disciple of Christ is a very humble calling, with many deeds uncompensated for, unseen and overlooked. However, our all knowing, all seeing and ever present Father sees it all and it is He who we honor and please. We please Him for His glory alone, to further His Kingdom and so that through our good deeds, men will praise Him. (Matthew 5:16). There's no room whatsoever for pride in the life of a servant and disciple.
Dear Jesus, please forgive me for the times that I seek to be honored and recognized for the good deeds I do for people, like my family, church family and other people you have called me to serve. May Your affection and recognition be enough and all that I seek. May I be more like Mordecai than Haman. In Your Name I pray, Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi