Back on Track - Day #3

1 Kings 8:27
"But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!"

Have you ever typed "the universe" into Google? How about "Hubble Telescope", "galaxies" or "NASA"?

Psalm 147:4 Does God know my name? Psalm 108:4 Does God love me? Isaiah 48:13 God put the stars in the palm of his hand and then spread them out in the universe... just how big is this guy?

Jeremiah 32:17, Job 25

Is it too difficult for Christ to restore me? Christ, by the way, is a co-creator (Colossians 1:15-17)

Psalm 8:3-4 - God is HUGE and we are tiny. Romans 12:1-2 says God can take us from the ooze of the mud to the ozone of the universe. Philippians 2:13, the Bible says that God works in me for his purpose. He can. He will. He does. The question is then, do I allow myself to believe that?

Google God. Then Choose God. Again. He is astronomical.

1. From what you know about the solar systems and space, take a few moments to contemplate how big God is. Now try to describe that immensity.
I have studied astronomy in high school and college. I know, or at least have an idea, how big the universe is... which is why I feel so tiny sometimes when I pray. I wonder if God is as big as I think he is, then why would he give my thoughts ANY KIND of consideration. God is bigger than the universe, he could probably wrap his arms around the universe, which makes me the tiniest cell within a cell to a mammoth of a giant.

2. If you could keep a clear view of an astronomical God in the forefront of your mind, how would that affect your faith?
It would make me much more humble. I would even think that it would squish whatever faith I had... why would a God that massive give so much a consideration to me?

3. If you viewed your life from God's perspective, what might you see that you don't now see?
I might have a better understanding of why God loves me.

4. List three things that a huge God could help do in your life and circumstances this year.
1: Get Restored 2: Overcome depression 3: Overcome Fibromyalgia

Back on Track - Day #2

Zechariah 4:6
So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.

This chapter is about the Dragon from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, one of the Chronicles of Narnia books/movies. Specifically there is a moment where the dragon /boy has to become humble to never be a dragon again. He has to "undragon" himself by allowing Aslan to undress him.

Ephesians 5:18
Be drunk on the Holy Spirit of God verses the unholy spirit of wine. Why? Because whatever you are filled with it will be noticeable to others. What are people noticing about me?

(1 Thessalonians 5:19) Do I quench the Spirit or put out the fire? God gave me a Counselor (John 16:7) because I need to be counseled. God gave me a helper (John 14:26) because I need help. God gave me a comforter (John 14:16) because I need comforting. God told the disciples it would be better for them if they when he left (John 16:7), saying that the Holy Spirit would live within them. Do I believe that?! Would I rather have Jesus next to me or the Holy Spirit in me? Jesus says it is better to have the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2 the Holy Spirit shows up. Acts 4:29-31, it shows up again. The book of Acts is a living testimony to people who were changed not by their own might or power but by the Spirit of our omnipotent God.

Acts 4:13
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

People realized these men were who they were because of Christ.

Questions at the end of this chapter:

1.What dragon-like characteristics do you naturally exhibit?
I like to think of Galatians 5:19-21 for the dragon-like characteristics. And if that is the case, I find myself struggling with impurity the most, followed by fits of rage.

2. Write down everything you know about the Holy Spirit.
It lives in you. This feels like a test ;) The Holy Spirit is a counselor, God living in me, a helper, a comforter, a guide for my life.

3. How have you seen the Holy Spirit change your life in the past and in the present?
I have seen the Holy Spirit change how I view people. I have also seen my character change some in regards to purity, money, basic values such as friendship, respect, and love for others. I have become more patient in a lot of areas and I continue to grow even now.

4. How can you tap into God's power today and see his strength unleashed in your life?
I think requires a lot of prayer and a lot of studying the Bible.

Back on Track - Day #1

The number forty recurring over and over in the Bible.

Genesis 7:12, Exodus 24:18, Exodus 34:28, Numbers 13:25, Matthew 4:1-2, Acts 1:3

Six areas of Devotion: My God, My Head, My Heart, My Hands, My Feet, and My Lips.

Do all things well (Mark 7:37)

Questions at the end of each chapter:

1. What has been the worst "train wreck" day of your life? Your past month?
I've had a few. All of them that are coming to mind are all based on what has happened wrong in a relationship.  Once a girlfriend went missing. Another time, a friend was unfaithful. Combine all that with drug use, it spells out a mental mess. The past month hasn't the drama as my long-term history. I do have a six year old who knows how to push my anger button. And when he pushes it over and over and over again, a train wreck can ensue for sure.

2. What event has most thrown you off spiritually?
I would say that the issues with pornography throw me off the most. Pornography tends to close me up and I don't share or stay open for very long.

3. What damage or repercussions have you seen in your spiritual life when you have gotten off track?
It has led me to leave God, the Church, and I even considered leaving my wife and suicide.

4. What can you begin to do today to make steps toward getting back on track?
I'm not sure. I have a number of things already in process in getting restored, such as staying open, studying the Bible, etc. and those things have really been helpful.

Daily Reading

Leviticus 15

• This is a discharge from a man that makes him unclean chapter. It also takes about a woman's period and how that makes her unclean. I think the key verse here is that you can die in your uncleanliness. That's why you have to separate yourself from the things that are unclean. I think this carries over into the new testament where you dispel the immoral person from the church. You have to keep the church clean spiritually as much as you can.

Leviticus 16

• The rules for the scapegoat. It is very interesting how the goat goes free but is carrying the sin of the Israelites with it. The key part is the Israelites have to confess their sin. It doesn't say to whom they confess the sin to, but I am sure it was to someone that was in their life on a regular basis. To confess for the sake of confess to a stranger wouldn't be beneficial.

Leviticus 17

• Some rules on sacrifices... mainly pertaining to eating the blood of the animal and where the animal is to be sacrificed. Violations of these rules would mean that you would be cut off from the people of Israel. And it doesn't give a way of how to be restored back to the people of Israel.

Leviticus 18

• You defile yourself by having sexual relations with family members, members of your extended family or animals, you get cut off from the people of Israel. That is this chapter in a nut shell.

Leviticus 19

• I think probably the most key scripture in the entire Bible is here in verse 2. Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. Does that not just sum up the whole Bible right there? Everything else centers around that whole verse. I could write a book on that verse alone.
• This chapter is full of what not to do and some things of what to do. Another key verse in here says to love your neighbor as yourself, something Jesus would say several times.

Confession Study #6

Psalm 51
God, be merciful to me because you are loving. Because you are always ready to be merciful, wipe out all my wrongs. Wash away all my guilt and make me clean again. I know about my wrongs, and I can't forget my sin. You are the only one I have sinned against; I have done what you say is wrong. You are right when you speak and fair when you judge. I was brought into this world in sin. In sin my mother gave birth to me. You want me to be completely truthful, so teach me wisdom. Take away my sin, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Make me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you crushed be happy again. Turn your face from my sins and wipe out all my guilt. Create in me a pure heart, God, and make my spirit right again. Do not send me away from you or take your Holy Spirit away from me. Give me back the joy of your salvation. Keep me strong by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach your ways to those who do wrong, and sinners will turn back to you. God, save me from the guilt of murder, God of my salvation, and I will sing about your goodness. Lord, let me speak so I may praise you. You are not pleased by sacrifices, or I would give them. You don't want burnt offerings. The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin. Do whatever good you wish for Jerusalem. Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with right sacrifices and whole burnt offerings, and bulls will be offered on your altar.

• Another example of confession and humility together. David had sinned with Bathsheba and made this Psalm in response. 

Micah 7:8-10
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the LORD’s wrath, until he pleads my case and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness. Then my enemy will see it and will be covered with shame, she who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will see her downfall; even now she will be trampled underfoot like mire in the streets.

• Coming out of the darkness into the light through confession and humility! What a great combination!

Confess is a verb.
Definition: admit, confirm
Synonyms: acknowledge, affirm, allow, assert, attest, aver, avow, blow, blurt out, chirp, clue in, come clean, come out, concede, confide, declare, disclose, divulge, dump on, evince, finger, fink, grant, humble oneself, leak, let on, level with, make clean breast of, manifest, narrate, open one's heart, own, own up, post, profess, prove, rat on, recognize, relate, reveal, sing, snitch, sound off, spill the beans, spit out, squeal, tip hand, unload, vent, weasel
Antonyms: conceal, deny, disavow, disown, hide, mask, repudiate, secrete