1 Samuel 29-30, Jeremiah 30, Luke 17:20-37, Hebrews 9:1-10, Psalm 62: I have read the story of David and his men going back to Ziklag many times. Today as I read it what jumped out to me is how David treated the Egyptian slave they found who had been a part of the party who had invaded Ziklag. The slave had been left to die by the Amalekites who had invaded. He had been sick and they did not have time to tend to him. When David and his men found them they gave him food and water. They gave him time to revive. Then they asked questions about the invading Amalekites. The slave made a deal with them that if they would not kill him he would lead them to the Amalekite camp and that is exactly what he did.
As I pondered this I thought about how we treat those even in the family of faith who may have gotten sick along the way. Do we abandon them because we are on a mission and they are expendable? Do we consider the cost and just leave them behind feeling like to take the time to help them heal is too costly. I think about people who may not be physically ill but have emotional illnesses. I have heard it said that Christians are often guilty of shooting their wounded. I don’t know if we shoot them or we just treat them like this slave and leave them behind. This Egyptian man still had value and with a little time, taking care of his physical needs and listening to him he was able to provide for David and his men the information to retrieve their family members and possessions.
I wonder who in your family of faith could use a listening ear? Who could use and invitation to come back to church? Who would benefit from a meal you provide? Who is a wounded soldier that is valuable enough for you to just see and recognize? May we all spend a few minutes in prayer today for the wounded in our family of faith and when God prompts us call, text, invite, encourage or just be there with that wounded one. May we see their true value and be willing to help. As the military says, We leave no one behind.

1 Samuel 24, Jeremiah 26, Luke 15:11-32, Hebrews 7:11-19, Psalm 58: The song that is running through my head this morning is one we sang over 20 years ago. It’s title was Come Home. Some of the lyrics are “Come home, come home if you are tired and weary come home. The Father is waiting to welcome His own. Come home.” The story of the prodigal son is such a beautiful story of what our lives can look like if as the scripture says, Luke 15:17″But when he came to himself.” We must come to ourselves and the realization that we are far from where we want to be and where God wants us to be. It is only then that we can and will make the necessary steps to come home. The son looked around at the circumstances around him. He had gotten to the place he was willing to eat what the pigs were eating. He was filth and did not even have a decent place to live. He realized that if he confessed his choices to his father and asked to be forgiven and return his father was the kind that would forgive and at least have compassion and mercy to allow him to have a safe place to live and food on the table. In fear and practicing his speech to his father he returned. To his surprise he did not even get his speech out of his mouth. His father ran to him with open arms.
Something that son did not know is that his father had been waiting, looking for any sign of his return and planning for the day he came. The calf had already been fattened for the celebration. Rings had been prepared, a robe for him to wear. Our Father has made preparations for you as well. He is looking, longing, and prepared for any and all who will Come Home! Home to walking right with Him. Home to receiving the forgiveness and mercy we all need. Home to the loving arms of One who deeply cares for you. Home! Won’t you come home? Maybe you are home. Maybe you need to be praying for your brothers and sisters who are wayward. Have a clean heart and a forgiving attitude toward others. Love them as you desire to be loved. Welcome them home and instead of being like the brother in the story, join the celebration! The one who was far away has come Home!

1 Samuel 20, Jeremiah 23, Luke 14:12-24, Hebrews 5:11-6:12, Psalm 55: In Jeremiah’s days it was not a lot different than today in some aspects. People don’t want to hear truth. Instead they want as Paul said, their ears tickled and to be told by pastors and teachers what will make them feel good about themselves and what is going on around them. For Israel the result was that their prophets led them far away from God. God held the leaders who spoke untruth responsible. He still does when it comes to preaching only what makes us happy or feel good. Instead we must hear the whole counsel of God’s word and that judgment and wrath comes on those who disobey. That includes leaders, pastors, teachers and anyone speaking as though they hear a word from God. Here is a small portion of Jeremiah’s proclamation from God.
23″Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? 24Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.
God is everywhere and He sees, hears, and knows when we misrepresent Him and His word. Jeremiah’s message was not well received and he sure did not win friends, but he spoke the truth of God’s word and that met favor with God.
The question we must ask ourselves is what we are proclaiming to others the whole truth of God’s word. Yes He loves us all, but there will come a day when He will hold us all to account for each word and deed. He knows not just our outward thoughts and deeds but what we think and our motives.
My prayer for myself and for those of you leading is that God would keep us close and clean before Him. That our words will represent Him and His kingdom accurately and well. That by our testimony many will be brought into the kingdom. I am praying for you. Please pray for me as well.

1 Samuel 16, Jeremiah 18, Luke 13:1-17, Hebrews 3:7-19, Psalm 52: Do you know people that once attended church and seemed to be believers yet over time they have just walked away? What happened? I wonder if some of it could not be what Hebrews 3 records today. It begins by setting the stage talking about the people who came out of Egypt and saw the signs and wonders God did to save them and set them free. But it goes on to say that over time their hearts were hardened because they did not believe God. Their testing whether it was food, water or even direction revealed their lack of trust in God. Then the writer of Hebrews writes this,
12Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
15As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
The scripture is a warning to not allow evil and sin to set up an unbelieving heart within you causing you to fall away from the living God. Some may ask are these people saved who were falling away. I don’t believe their were because they were considered unbelieving. However even if they were of the faith their hardened hearts toward God would make them into a category some in the old days would have called backslidden or far from God. One in that place doesn’t hear God’s voice because sin and unbelief blocks their way. The hardness of their heart is much like a callous. It makes that heart so that it is not tender to His voice and hear and obey.
Something else we need to note is that we the church are instructed to exhort or encourage one another so that we won’t get hardened heart due to sin. That means as believers we are to help those who are being tempted and fall into that temptation. We are to love them enough to speak truth to them. We are to be their friend and run with them toward God. It doesn’t mean we join them in any disobedience, but we are close enough to them we can see when they are headed in the wrong direction and encourage them back into the right way. May we all have tender hearts toward the Father and other believers who are in need of encouragement and strength.

1 Samuel 11-12, Jeremiah 14, Luke 12, Hebrews 1. Psalms 48: Are you rich toward God? In Luke 12 we read about a man who has all kinds of wealth and prosperity. He had eyes to see the logical next step in his preparing for his future and using his finances to make more. The problem was that God knew the number of days he had and his life was not going to be long. Though he had barns and more barns he did not have the treasures in heaven he would need. Long term investments are important. You just have to have eyes to see what the true long term really is. It isn’t the 80 years many of us will have here on earth. It is the eternity that will be just around the corner.
So how can you be rich toward God? It doesn’t always have to do with money. Although investing financially in things that are eternal are important. It is also being wise with the other gifts and assets you have. It is growing daily in God’s word and prayer and making those priority. It is asking God daily for His to do list not just your own. It is seeing the needs of those around you. Matthew tells us that when you have done a kindness unto the least of these you have done it unto Him. It is living with an eye on eternity asking God to help you see those who need a kind word or even a help in some way. Does that mean you are just a money machine or constant giver for others? No! It does mean that your finances belong to God and He can use them as He wills. He may have you build a barn, but that barn may be used to have a dinner for a mission project in Belize. He may have you print Bibles for people that work on the backside of a race track. He may have you share your testimony with someone who has lost their job and help them get some training so they can find employment again. Money is just a tool to invest in eternity. Hearing God’s voice is so necessary to know how to appropriately allocate His finances. I pray we are all rich toward God and those around us.

1 Samuel 9, Jeremiah 12, Luke 11:14-36, 1 Peter 5:1-14, Psalm 46: We are in a battle! Did you know it? We are. I was listening to a podcast this morning done by a young man with military background. He was speaking about standing in the ready position with the person of authority enters the room. That attention position is a sign of respect to the One in command, but it is also a position of the heart to be at the ready for the command of the One giving it. Jeremiah 12 includes this verse
12:5 “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?”
In Jeremiah’s days they would have competed on the battle field on foot. They were the line of defense, but when the next line came through many times it was on horse back increasing the ability to chase down and go after any that might escape. It was also a higher vantage point in the fight. The writer is asking if you are struggling with the foot soldiers, how will you make it when the horse and riders come? There are many of us right now struggling with the foot soldiers, the day to day things that are just a struggle. Yet the One in command is telling us that if we follow His plan, if we yield to His way, when the harder test and trials come we can not only stand, but win the victory! Psalm 46 is one of my all time favorite Psalms because it talks about how real life can shake us and cause us fear. Yet the answer is in who is in control or in command.
46:8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Oh my friend, stand at the attention to Jesus. Allow Him to order your world. Then attest to the mighty power at work within You because You are His! Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world!

1 Samuel 7:3-8:22, Jeremiah 11, Luke 11:1-13, 1 Peter 4:12-19, Psalm 45: Do you ever just wish Jesus was right here with you to ask Him questions? The Disciples felt the same way, and in today’s passage in Luke their question was “Will you teach us how to pray?” Jesus gladly accommodated their request just talking to His Father.
Luke 11:2 “Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,
4 and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
This prayer is also mirrored in Matthew’s gospel as well. In both accounts Jesus did not put on a show or use big language. He simply address the One He loved and knew. He honored God for who He was and submitted to His will. Then He asked for daily needs and asked for forgiveness of sin not just toward God but toward others as well.
Then He went on to talk about it being okay to ask God for things we need and that because God is a loving Father He will meet those needs. I wonder sometimes if we don’t get off track because we consider God to be more like us and we get tired of people asking us for things. God isn’t tired of hearing you ask. He is glad to hear your voice and meet those needs. He loves you and longs for a relationship with you that is so much deeper than a want list of needs. He is here to be your constant companion. As you talk to Him more and more you will find He is a friend, a comforter, a listener even when you don’t even know what you are really saying. He cares about the things you care about and He longs to give you abundant and eternal life. Don’t miss the joy of daily conversations with Him.

1 Samuel 3, Jeremiah 8:4-17, Luke 10:1-12, 1 Peter 3:8-17, Psalm 42: Yesterday Les was called to be the new pastor at FBC Pleasant Grove Alabama. It is a bedroom community of Birmingham. It is a changing community due to a tornado that came through 11 years ago and wiped out a mile wide of the city. The beautiful people, homes and trees that once took root in small city were wiped out in a matter of seconds. Much of what people had built and invested their lives in was no more. Some chose instead of rebuilding in the community they would move to another area of town. Due to that housing has become much less expensive and as the inner city has expanded out the church has seen a reduction in attendance. I write all of that because God has give Les and I a real passion for this community and a longing to see God’s presence in a mighty way changing the community not just the church. Our prayer is that fear will be replaced with faith. This may be crazy, but I am praying for over 60 professions of faith in the year to come. I know that may seem to be a lot, but I am believing God for miracles and for vision to know how He wants to reach these people for Christ.
Luke 10 says 2And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” I am praying that we will see God bring in the plentiful harvest of souls in Pleasant Grove. I am praying for workers to join us in the this project. Not sure how it will look completely, but I am believing God for mighty things. Pray for your own harvest field. Come join us in our field. No matter where you field is, just get busy. If you need help identifying your field, ask me I am glad to help you in any way I can. The best place to begin is through prayer and you can start that right now!!!

Ruth 2-3; Jeremiah 4:5-31; Luke 9:1-17; 1 Peter 1:13-25; Psalm 38: As I read Ruth today I could not help but recall our trip to Bethlehem last fall. We went to the field where the shepherds saw the angels that proclaimed the Savior’s birth. As we were walking toward the field we passed restaurants and roads with the names of Ruth, Boaz, Naomi. It dawned on me that day that the fields and community that Ruth and Naomi returned to were the very fields where the shepherds heard the good news of Jesus’ birth. Jesus was born in the same community that Naomi’s family line lived in. Boaz, Ruth and Naomi were family to Jesus though many years separated them and several generations. Still the story of redemption started in those very hills and remained even to this day a part of the family story of anyone who calls upon the name of Jesus for Salvation. Jesus was the ultimate Kinsman redeemer and He redeemed us by His blood! Glory Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!!!!! I read Ruth’s story so differently now because without Jesus I too was bitter and without hope, but because of My Redeemer, Jesus I too am once again filled with hope and joy. Tomorrow we will complete the story, but I am so grateful for all that happened in the hillside village of Bethlehem that changed my life forever!

Ruth 1, Jeremiah 3:6-4:4, Luke 8:40-46, 1 Peter 1:1-12, Psalm 37: Yesterday our travels took us to Mt. Saint Hellens Washington. If you are my age you might remember that in the 1980 the volcano that formed that mountain erupted and took off over 1300 ft. of the mountain face. The results were devastating. Everything within miles were charred and even more was covered with ash. Everything was scorched! It took years for vegetation to begin to grow again, but today even to the mountains edge there are trees, grass, flowers and wildlife.
You may wonder what this has to do with our scripture today. I believe it is a beautiful picture of the book of Ruth. Naomi had left her homeland when things were good for her family. As she said, she was full. But with the death of her husband and then her two sons everything blew up and her life was charred. She was scorched and as she said she was bitter. In the next couple of days we will see how her life becomes full again, but as I read of her great loss my heart felt for her just as those who suffered so much loss at the hand of the volcano. Ash may be covering your life right now, or you may even be feeling the effects of a scorched heart from burning fire of hurt of anger. You too may be bitter as Naomi said, BUT in time there will be life again if you turn to the Creator of All things. He can and will make all things new again. That is the message of Jeremiah and the story of the woman with the issue of blood that we read about in Luke today. Each one that chose to turn to God saw new life. You will to my friend.
And just as the base of Mt. St. Hellens teams with life and beauty today you too will find joy again. Your life may never be the same again and you may have lost a part of you, but you will live again.