1 Sam 13; 1 Chron 2-3; 2 Cor 12

Scripture - 1 Sam 13:8-13 8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9 So Saul said, "Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me." And he offered the burnt offering. 10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. 11 And Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, 12 then I said, 'The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.' Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering." 13 And Samuel said to Saul,"You have done foolishly.

Observation - Samuel had given Saul instructions and a set of plans that he was to operate by according to the Lord. The priest gave instruction directed by God to establish Saul's kingdom forever through his faithfulness. This like many other things in his life was a test of his obedience to the Lord. Just like many of us Saul jumped the gun and when he saw the circumstances unfolding in front of him, did not wait for God to take care of it but decided to handle it himself. He offered and unlawful offering to the Lord. This action was "foolish". He should have waited to see what God would do. Too often we don't wait to see what God will do. We are jumping the gun all over the place and consequently shooting the wrong people. God wants us to trust in His word and His direction and not get so excited about the circumstances that we miss the goal all together.

Application - I have been in situations before, where I am waiting on something major to happen and just before it does, that moment that seems like nothing is happening, I take matters into my own hands, mess things up and then right afterward the solution is revealed. I know many times I have felt so foolish that I didn't just wait a little longer. If we can train ourselves to wait a little longer than normal, not be in such a rush, not look to the quick fix, but just wait - God will bring the answer and the resolution. We have to understand that it is all in his timing. Not in ours. We look foolish when we move too fast.

Prayer - Father help me to slow down and wait for you.

1 Sam 3-5; Ps 77; 2 Cor 8

Scripture - 2 Cor 8:7 But just as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us - see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Observation - Paul is encouraging this community of Corinth; which is a very modern, advanced culture. They are an industrious people that have capitalized on the trade industry by creating a thruway to deliver goods throughout the Asia minor region and the middle east. Paul tells them just as you have excelled in other areas excel in giving. Be better than you were, go for a higher standard. Up to this point the people of Corinth have had a lack of participation in giving and yet were excelling in other areas of their Christianity.

Application - Years ago after giving my life to Jesus I began to learn about the grace of giving. Admittedly it was challenging for me at first. Having the background of a banker I understood cash flow and income statements and that when you subtract 2 from 2 you get 0. Yet somewhere in me God began to challenging me that giving was a part of my relationship with him. So way back then I made the commitment - if God demands 10% then 10% he will get. Since then there have been times in my life where giving was difficult for us financially but never has their been a time where I struggled emotionally to release what God was asking. In fact Saundra and I are diligent not only to give our 10% but to find ways to give offerings.

Why then do people struggle to give tithe (10% of their income) and offerings (financial gifts to meet spiritual needs):

• Fear - they are just simply afraid that if they give up their tithe they won't have enough to fix the car if it breaks down or the stove if it goes out.
  
• Can't Afford It - kind of like fear but when they look at the in's and outs of cash think that if they give they won't be able to make it on what's left. When in fact God promises to make what remains go farther than if they hadn't given at all.
• Failure to take ownership - they haven't fully invested in the work that God is doing. Believing that all the needs are being met by others and failing to take an ownership interest in the work therefore is someone elses' responsibility.
• Comparison - in their minds they are probably doing more than the average person already and therefore to do what is required by God is not really necessary.
• Disobedience - refusing to give -Regardless
• Covetousness - the more they see, the more they want even if they have to spend God's money to get it.
• Greed - feel like its theirs and they aren't giving it up when in reality it isn't theirs and they are going to give it up one way or the other.

Prayer - Father help me to excel in giving. To make it an even greater part of my life. I know the blessing that I receive my making this part of my life and the honor you gain from my obedience.

Ruth 3-4: Ps 64-65; 2 Cor 6

Scripture - 2 Corinthians 6:2 For He says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

Observation - Paul is making proclamation that today is the day. If God's favor was ever on His people it is today. He is opening up the door of salvation to all that would come in. Today is the day. We constantly wait for God's timing and for His favor to point us in the right direction. Today is the day God has called. We must not wait. Paul is telling the fellow workers of Corinth not to waste what God has done. Done take grace in vain. It is for a purpose. God says that in a time of favor - He is listening to us. Our requests can be made know to him. He will answer. In time of favor salvation will come easy. People will be hungry for the heavenly meal and take part in God's divine plan.

Application - Today is the day. Everything has aligned in God's plan for today. We can't take His grace in vain. He has given favor today for today. We must seize every opportunity today. We are a favored people, walking in favor and occupying the place of God's purpose. We can see the doors of opportunity opening and God's favor upon His people. To take the land and claim righteousness throughout the land. God will be glorified.

Prayer - Father help us to take this day of favor and to expand the borders of your kingdom today.

Judges 9-10; Ps 49; 1 Cor 16

Scripture - Ps 49:13-15 13 This is the way of those who are foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah 14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them;
The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling. 15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me.

Observation - Psalms discusses a man who puts too much trust in his own ways and his own devices. He believes he is righteous but truly he is deceived and those that follow him are also deceived. It is amazing how many trust in their own ways and then begin convincing others that their way is correct. They are all led to the grave - death will begin to feed on those lives. Life comes through a relationship with Jesus. Allowing His righteousness to guide our lives and His opinions to supersede ours leads us to a redeemed life.

Application - When I think I have it all figured out, that is the moment to begin to stress. Understanding that I am what God has made me and I go where He tells me - is the only path that is right. God will not lead me astray. The bible says "Lean not on your own understanding but all your ways acknowledge him." Today I will allow God to lead my footsteps and go where He tells me to go.

Prayer - Father my life is in your hands. As always I give you permission to direct every footstep and every conversation today.

Judges 1-3; 1 Cor 12

Scripture - Judges 1:6 Adoni-Bezek fled, but they chased him and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.

Observation - I was thinking about why the Israelites do such a thing. Adoni - Bezek had done the same thing to people that he had captured and they were serving his table and picking up scraps. Looking deeper shows you that someone with no big toes and no thumbs is unfit for battle. The big toes carries 40% of the weight of the body and is the thrusting point for movement. The thumbs allow you to hold the sword and weapons of battle. Basically this man was no longer a warrior. He was stripped of all dignity and honor. We was only fit for picking up scraps. Too often the enemy tries to cripple us by taking our spiritual big toes and thumbs. He makes us Ill-equipped for battle.

Application - As we read in 1 Cor 12 we need all body parts to function. Too often the enemy tries to steal our thumbs and toes by having us touch unclean things and walking where we don't belong. It may not completely kill us but it makes us unfit for battle. Time to touch only holy things and walk according to the scripture.

Prayer - Father keep the unholy from my sight, my grasp and my walk.

Joshua 23-24; Ps 44; 1 Cor 11

Scripture - 1 Cor 11:29-32 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

Observation - Paul is giving some fairly strong instruction here in this passage. He is telling the church - when you take part in the Lord's Supper it is a very serious issue. If you eat and drink in this manner and have not taken a serious look at yourself you are setting yourself up for judgment. Paul says that we should take a close look at our actions, take a close look at our heart and judge ourselves so that we do not come under judgment. He goes on to say that this is the reason so many of us are weak, sick and asleep. That we fail to take a close look at ourselves and make corrections. We are afraid to evaluate our performance and discern the weak areas of our heart and actions. This is causing too many to fall away. Self evaluation is the key to growth in business. Business take a very serious approach to looking internally and evaluating performance, process, operations, corporate citizenship, effectiveness and vision. Believers won't do this and therefore are weak, sick and asleep. There is something about looking inside that keeps you alive, keeps you growing, keeps you looking for something more.

Application - The key to growth is looking for points of weakness and correcting them. Understanding that "We all sin and fall short of God's glory" puts us in good company. We all have some weak points. Looking internally at the ones that are causing judgment and correcting them, repenting of them is key. God cannot discipline for growth if we will not look and evaluate what is happening in our lives and in our hearts.

Prayer - Father - help me to continue to look deep inside to those places that are causing hindrance. Father I need you to help me not only identify the weak spots but to correct them.

Joshua 15-17; 1 Cor 8

Scripture - Josh 17:14-18 Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given us only one lot and one share to inherit, since we are a great people, inasmuch as the LORD has blessed us until now?" 15 So Joshua answered them, "If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you." 16 But the children of Joseph said, "The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of Jezreel." 17 And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph — to Ephraim and Manasseh — saying, "You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, 18 but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong."

Observation - The people of Joseph are complaining about the size of their inheritance. They are concerned that they don't have enough room and that their portion of land is too small to fit the people. Joshua responds - "if you think your land is too small go take some more. There is plenty of land in the hill country and the forest." But fear comes from Ephraim and Manasseh and they begin to look at the strength of the enemy. The iron chariots and the many soldiers. Joshua speaks as we should today - If you want more territory go do the work and you will get more territory. Some things are not free. Actually most things are not free. God knock down a few trees and drive the enemy out of your territory.

Application - Saundra and I have been dealing with this very issue as of late. We want more territory from God and the enemy is showing us his strength. His affliction and distractions continue to show us that he is very real and very present. While he doesn't have iron chariots and swords - he does have affliction, pain, distraction and sickness. I believe God wants us to drive them out today. God is telling us to cut down the trees right now and to take possession of the land. We need to keep clearing and keep cutting until we have complete control of the land around us. God is the victor - though they are strong we will possess the land.

Prayer - Father I speak right now to the enemies of our life and our ministry. I ask God for advancement not retreat. I ask for blessing and not curse. I speak life into our house, our church, our family and our ministry. God Bless abundantly.