Feliz Navidad!!!!

Feliz Navidad!!!!! Merry Christmas!!!!

New Happenings at Refugio

It has been great to watch what the Lord is doing here in Peru.  We had our second festival de niños.  It was a one day event held on friday the 23rd of November.  It was a great turn out with 50+ kids and we also had 16 moms who stayed and participated.  Once again the Bible college students did an amazing job.  The theme was Jonah and they had the church decorated with fish and they even made a HUGE fish that came and ate Jonah.  

We finished up 1st Thessalonians this last sunday and we will continue on into 2nd Thessalonians this sunday.  We have about 4-5 locals attending regularly and then we have around 16 kids per sunday in the children's ministry.  We are praying about restructuring our sunday morning services.  The Bible college semester has come to a close and the students will be heading back to their homes.  So we are going to be limited on helping hands, so we are planning at this point to hold children's church before adult service so the team that God has put together here can tackle the situation.   We will be running thin for a while because the Bible college will not have a next semester.  They have purchased some beautiful property out in Llacanora and are building the new facilities.  So next semester is a time of building and preparing for the following semester.  If anyone would like to come down and help with the construction, Pastor John would love to have you.  There is much needed work to be done.  You can contact me and I can get you into contact with the proper channels to come down and help on that project.

So as far as the new happenings at Refugio is concerned, we have a few new ministries that we are going to be kicking off.  First up, is this thursday evening, we will be starting a mid week service.  It will be from 7:30pm to 9pm.  Pastor Ivan will be teaching through the book of Philippians.

Next is starting this tuesday, we will be starting a more formalized time of playing in the street.  Every tuesday we will be out in the street in our neighborhood to play with the kids and love on them.  A young man named Kyle moved down here to serve and he is a great skateboarder and we are going to skate and play games and love on the kids.  Then we will share from the word with them.

Then starting this saturday we will be heading into Cajamarca where they have a skate park.  Ivan and his family, Kyle and my family will all head over there and do evangelism and some open air preaching.  It is a great place to do ministry.

Please be in prayer for all that is going on.  It is exciting to see what the Lord is doing.

Also if anyone has any new or old skateboards that you would be willing to donate to the ministry here, please contact me.  They don't have to be in great shape, we just want some so we can get more kids involved at a time.  If anyone knows any organizations who donate skateboard, please let us know how to get a hold of them.  Thanks so much for your support.

"The whole life of a Christian should be nothing but praises and thanks to God; we should neither eat nor sleep, but eat to God and sleep to God and work to God and talk to God, do all to His glory and praise."-Richard Sibbes

Festival de Niños

Festival de Niños

This last weekend we had our first Festival de Niños at Refugio.  We weren't sure what to expect, but the Lord blessed it and we were so excited with the turn out. It was a two day event starting on friday for a couple hours and then on saturday from 10am-1pm.  Unfortunately during the week, there was a protest and school was canceled during the week so many of the kids were not able to attend on saturday.  On friday 40+ kids showed up along with a few moms.  On saturday we had 20+ kids, but with more moms.  One of the gentle men who attends church on sunday mornings came and hung out with us for a while and watched the festivities.  The Bible college students served their hearts out and the kids were blessed.  We had face painting and balloons and a bunch of snacks.  We focused in on the birth of Jesus on friday and then saturday on the life of Jesus.  The kids and the moms heard a clear presentation of the gospel and we are praying that the seeds are planted and the Lord would bring them to harvest.

The Lord has been faithful and our children's ministry on sunday morning has been averaging around 18 kids.  Sunday service we have on average 5-6 locals attending and listening to the teaching of God's word as we go through 1st Thessalonians.  Please continue to pray for the people of Baños del Inca and the area of Cajamarca.

Faithful is the Lord!

In front of the building with our worship pastor and his family.

 We had our first service this morning and to God be the glory.  We had 5 local Peruvians come and listen to the study.  We also had 10 kids show up at our children's ministry.  The Lord has brought together such a great team!  We are blessed and humbled by all the help that we have received and blessed and humbled that God has called us to serve here in Peru.

    I read this psalm this morning and it blessed my heart:

         "Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah
For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name."
(Psalm 61:1-5 ESV)                                                            

We have refuge in Jesus!  We have a place of shelter!  How wonderful to know that we have a safe haven in God Himself.  This is why we felt led to name our fellowship and kid's ministry Refugio.  We want everyone to know this place of rest which is found in Jesus through His Word. Please be praying for our ministry and for the people that the Lord brought and will bring.  Be in prayer for the faithful servants that God has raised up. Here is a list: Ivan and his family, who are such an incredible blessing for us.  Truly like minded and full of Jesus, without them we wouldn't be were we are at.  Natalie who is taking on the great task of children's ministry. Viviana who has such a heart for Cajamarca.  Victor who is in Lima at this point, but we are praying the Lord opens the door for him to be able to come back and serve with us.  Alfredo, who is translating for me and just a close friend who has been a blessing for us.  All the students of the Bible college who are helping out.  Our great friend Mesod who helps us out with everything.  For  Estella who made all of our curtains and is just an amazing women of God.   And also Pastor John and his wife Pilar who have taken us under their wings and given us great wisdom and guidance in this step of faith.    
May the love and grace of Jesus shine through this ministry. Soli Deo Gloria!!!!!!!

Annyka sweeping!

Singing Praises to Jesus!

Teaching 1st Thessalonians with mi amigo Alfredo translating.

Our First Sunday Service at Refugio

This Sunday we will be having our first church service at Refguio!!!!!  We are very excited and nervous, but above all blessed that God has called us and given us the privilege to share His word and love on the people of Banos del Inca.  We start at 10 AM so please be in prayer for us.  We have a great worship team and great help in the children's ministry.  We are blessed by every one stepping up to serve.  May many come to know the grace of Jesus through this ministry.

My plans or His

"It has always been my aim, and it is my prayer, to have no plans with regard to myself, well assured as I am, that the place where the Saviour sees meet to place me must ever be the best place for me."  Robert Murray McCheyne

M'Cheyne isn't saying that he doesn't plan or that to plan is sin.  What M'Cheyene is saying is as far as mapping out what I will accomplish, I recognize the most important thing is not my plans but God’s plans. So when ever I make plans I am aware that I do not know what a day may bring forth. So no plans that I make, can I make them in such a way that I hold to them so tightly, with both hands, so if the Father says I am taking that, I will not be able to release them into his hands with great joy and confidence that He means to bless me in it.

There is that saying 'bloom where you are planted'.  Now more than other I am beginning to understand what that means.  I always thought that saying was a trivial phrase.  Never thought it carried any weight, just something to throw out there when you got nothing to say.  Lately though I am seeing that right where God has you is right where He wants you.  It might only be for a minute, but for some it could mean eternity.  There is nothing wrong with planning for the future.  James tells us to say "If the Lord wills" should be our planning.  We can get so caught up on the "big picture" that we miss what is going on right in front of us.  

If we get to attached to what we are planning, to what we are trying to accomplish, when the Lord plucks us up and moves us on, our hearts may become bitter.  Trust in the Lord and lean not on your understanding.  God means to bless us.  Make plans, but make your plans as M'Cheyene said "to have no plans with regard to myself".  If God chooses to uproot you, go with a joyful and willing heart.  In the place God has planted you, give it your all because that is where the Savior has placed you and it is the best place for you.

Devotional from Spurgeon.  This is something that I needed this morning, I hope it blesses you as well.

"I know their sufferings" Exodus 3:7

The child is cheered as he sings, "This my father knows"; and shall we not be comforted as we discern that our dear and tender Friend knows all about us?

1. He is the Physician, and if He knows everything, there is no need for the patient to know. Calm down, you silly, fluttering heart, prying, peeping, and suspecting! What you don't know now, you will know later; and meanwhile Jesus, the beloved Physician, knows your soul in adversities. Why does the patient need to analyze all the medicine or estimate all the symptoms? This is the Physician's work, not mine; it is my business to trust, and His to prescribe. If He shall write His prescription in a fashion that I cannot read, I will not be uneasy on that account, but will rely upon His unfailing skill to make everything clear in the result, no matter how mysterious the process.

2. He is the Master, and His knowledge is to serve us instead of our own; we are to obey, not to judge: "The servant does not know what his master is doing."¹ Shall the architect explain his plans to every bricklayer on the job? If he knows his own intent, is it not enough? The pot upon the wheel cannot guess to what pattern it will be conformed, but if the potter understands his art, the ignorance of the clay is irrelevant. My Lord must not be cross-questioned any more by one so ignorant as I am.

3. He is the Head. All understanding centers there. What judgment has the arm? What comprehension has the foot? All the power to know lies in the head. Why should the member have a brain of its own when the head fulfills for it every intellectual office? Here, then, the believer must rest his comfort in sickness—not that he himself can see the end, but that Jesus knows all. Sweet Lord, be forever eye and soul and head for us, and let us be content to know only what You choose to reveal.

The Plan of God

      As I woke up this morning, I was looking out of our window, watching the sun rise over the mountain peaks.  The steam from the Banos is rising and the sounds of the traffic is starting to pick up.  On the one mountain straight out from our house, there is a lone tree on the top and then about half way down the mountain there is a line of trees.  When we first moved down here to Peru, my daughter told me that she saw this as a picture.  The tree that is standing on the top of the mountain is a picture of Jesus.  The trees that are lined up half way down are the people of Cajamarca and they are looking up to Jesus and worshiping Him.  She said these people need to learn about Jesus so they can worship Him.  As I was looking out this morning I was looking at that tree remembering what my 8 year old told me months ago.

     Upon returning from our 6 week visit to the states, the Lord has opened doors that only He could.  A building on the main road through town was available for rent.  After inquiring about it, we signed papers for a year lease.  While in the states the Lord provided for us additional financial support that was almost exactly what the cost of the building was!  He is so incredibly faithful.  The owners are going to repair the roof at our request and as soon as the construction is done we will acquire the building.  At the end of August we are hoping to start church services on Sunday mornings and then throughout the week using it to facilitate Refugio de Amor, the kids outreach.

     What is God's plan here?  I was reading and came across this quote from E.M. bounds,

"All God's plans have the mark of the cross on them, and all His plans have death to self in them.... But men's plans ignore the offence of the cross or despise it. Men's plans have no profound, stern or self-immolating denial in them. Their gain is of the world."


This is as much for me as it is for the people who God has called us to.  Though the people here maybe aren't trying to gain the world in the same manner that people back in the States are, the fact remains, self stands in the way.  The message of the cross is as Paul put it "is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God."  This morning looking out and seeing this beautiful creation, it all the more motivated me to preach Christ and Him crucified.  Creation declares the glory of God, but it is through the message of the cross that people will be saved.  Here in Cajamarca if it only took creation, I don't know how any wouldn't know the Living God.  See creation holds all accountable to know there is a God, but it is through the preaching of the Gospel that lives will be changed.  All of God's plans have the mark of the cross.  We long to see people here come to know Jesus for His glory, we long to see the people here radically changed for the cause of Christ.  We long to see the people looking up to Jesus high above, worshiping just as my daughter views the trees on the mountain.


Soli deo Gloria

In the States

We have been back in the States for about 3 weeks now and we have been super blessed by the love and support we have been receiving.  At the same time we are missing Peru and our family and friends down there.  Since being back, we shared at our sending church and it was such a great time to be encouraged and hopefully encourage others as well.  Last weekend we were able to share at Calvary Chapel Sonora which happens to be the first Calvary that I attended and it was the first place I ever heard the word of God being preached.  It is a special place for me, it is like the spring board that got us to the point we are at now.  We were tremendously blessed by there support and eagerness to know what is happening in Peru.

We have about 3 weeks left until we return to Peru and are looking forward to getting back.  We will miss everyone here, but when God has placed you somewhere and called you, He gives the grace to leave the "comfortable".

It still amazes me when I ponder back on my life.  God is an amazing God.  He chooses to use us in His plan of salvation. I would tend to argue that nothing is more significant in the history of the universe, than God's plan of redemption.  God is the creator of all things, and He could have used angels, rocks or whatever to share in His work, yet He chooses to use us.  What a God we serve.  What blows my mind even more is that He is the one doing it through us and then He rewards and blesses us.    All it takes on our part is to yield to the Spirit of God and allow Him to work in and through us.  We get to take part in God's work.  WOW!!!!  So amazing.

A Refuge of Love

      Over the past couple months the Lord has been giving us a clear vision for Banos del Inca.  After spending some time observing the culture and talking with the people we started to notice many areas that are in need.  Of course first and foremost the people need the gospel, they need clear and sound Biblical teaching. The gospel effects every aspect of our lives and it is the power of God unto salvation.  The Lord has been opening up doors for us to share the love of Christ and who Jesus is.  We noticed that the doors opened more as the kids from our neighborhood opened up to us.  For months we would be outside and I would try to get these kids to play.  They would just sit on the other side of the street and watch, but never in gauge.  We would continue to try every time we were out there.  My daughter would always ask and get no response.  I would kick the soccer ball to them and finally one day one of them took the bait.  Once one started playing then they all did.  Soon during their school break everyday more kids would show up.  The people would observe how we would play with them and interact.  The neighbors after that began to open up to us more.  They began to ask more intently why we were here and with a true intention to know about it.  We have been asked if we have a church that they can attend and learn more of the Bible.
        What we have noticed and since been told is that there is an acceptable and normal practice that takes place.  They have a name for it in Quechua, but what goes on is the man will have babies and then when he is tired or doesn't like the woman anymore leaves and moves on to someone else.  Then these kids have no father and no example.  These boys need to see an example of a loving father and we have the best Father who sent His own Son for us.  We want to show these boys and girls what a Biblical family looks like.  We have realized these kids were watching how I loved on my kids before they would let their guard down.
        With that quick and somewhat brief background, the Lord has put a burden for these kids and the families.  We are going to start an outreach center for these kids with the desire to reach the parents and community for Jesus. The kids get out of school at one o'clock and run around on the streets.  We are going to try to find a building with a nice grass area where we can open up and bring the kids in after school.  We are going to love on them and play games and then each day before we send everyone home, have a Bible study and teach them the love of Jesus.  It will be a refuge, a place to find rest and love.  We hope to be able then to invite the parents of the kids once of month and serve them dinner and feed them from the Word of God as well.  We have shared with some of the locals and they are super excited to see this happen.

 Please be in prayer for this.

- Pray that the Lord would provide a building for us.  A Refuge of Love-Refugio de Amor.  There is a building right in the center of town that has come available and it is perfect, but it is out of our budget at this point.  Money is no object for the Lord, He owns "the cattle on a thousand hills."  If this is the location, the Lord will provide and we are confident in that.

-Pray that the Lord would continue to open doors and soften the heart of the people.

-Pray that the Lord continues to bring the kids in.

- Pray that the Lord uses this for His glory and that lives are changed for the furtherance of His kingdom.

These are Exciting times. Thanks for praying and partnering with us in the gospel of our Lord.

RESURRECTION SUNDAY!!!!!!

   Today we celebrate the FACT that Christ has risen from the grave and is ALIVE!!!!  Many try to explain away the resurrection.  There are many theories floating around explaining away the resurrection.  Paul in 1 Corinthians sets before us historical evidence for the resurrection.  He mention various people the Lord appeared to and times that the Risen Lord had appeared.  These aren't just appearances where Christ flashes before their eyes or the people where seeing a vision or they were hypnotized.  The reason is, Christ not only appeared, but He interacted with them.  He spoke to them, He ate with them, He taught them.  Christ after His death was relational with His people and still to this day Christ desires to be relational with us.  So on this blessed day, remember all that Christ has done, remember the resurrection is fact and since Christ has risen from the dead those of us who are in Christ will rise again, but before that time remember also what He told His disciples before ascending back into heaven.  He gave them what is called the great commission.  Christ wants to live His life through us, He wants to continue the mission in which He has started, through us.  He is calling out a people unto Himself and we get to share in that goal.  This time of year is a great open door to speak of the things of Christ.  Can I encourage you though, this is the day we celebrate, but Christ is living everyday and we can use everyday as an opportunity to share the love of Christ and let others know exactly what Christ has done for us all.

Christ is the King

Here is a link to a web page that has the M'Chyene reading plan for the year:

http://www.esv.org/assets/pdfs/rp.one.year.tract.pdf 

Starting monday night I will be teaching a two week class on the gospel of Mark.  It is such a privilege to share God's word with students who are eager to study the word and grow closer to Christ.  It is going to be a good semester and we have a really good group of students.  It is a exciting time to be serving the Lord and we are looking forward to what He is going to do in these up coming months.  Be in prayer if you would for the staff and leadership of the bible college, they have a lot on their plate and could use the prayer.  Prayer is such an under used tool and I know some of you out there are mighty prayer warriors and the prayer is much desired.  Thanks so much and God bless!!!!!

GEN 45; MARK 15; JOB 11; ROM 15

IN 2 TIMOTHY, PAUL SAYS THE SCRIPTURES MAKE US WISE UNTO SALVATION.  THROUGH GOD'S CREATION WE HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, WITHOUT EXCUSE, BUT IT IS THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES THAT WE COME TO SEE JESUS.  JESUS IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH.  SPEND SOME TIME TODAY IN THE WORD "SEEING JESUS".  IN TODAYS READING, IN ROMANS 15:4 PAUL TELLS US

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

WE SEE THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE.  BE ENCOURAGED THAT GOD, WHO WAS FAITHFUL THROUGHOUT THE AGES TO HIS PEOPLE, IS STILL FAITHFUL TODAY TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD.  THAT IS NOT TO SAY LIFE WILL BE WITHOUT TRIAL AND CONFLICT.  CHRIST BRINGS ABOUT CHANGE IN OUR LIVES THAT CAN ONLY COME AT TIMES THROUGH SUFFERING.  BUT CHRIST IS IN THE MIDST.


SUNDAY:
GEN 45
MARK 15
JOB 11
ROM 15

MONDAY:
GEN 46
MARK 16
JOB 12
ROM 16

TUESDAY:
GEN 47
LUKE 1:1-38
JOB 13
1COR 1

WEDNESDAY:
GEN 48
LUKE1:38-80
JOB 14
1 COR 2

THURSDAY:
GEN 49
LUKE 2
JOB 15
1 COR 3

FRIDAY:
GEN 50
LUKE 3
JOB 16-17
1COR 4

SATURDAY:
EXOD 1
LUKE 4
JOB 18
1 COR 5

Blind Bartimaeus

Mark 10:52 (ESV)

⁵² And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.  

Jesus told blind Bartimaeus to "Go your way"  Bartimaeus could have ran back into town and told all the people he knew what had happened.  He could have looked upon his family and friends for the first time.  Think about it, if you were blind and for the first time in your life, you could see your surroundings, the town you grew up in the people you grew up with, what would you do?  We wouldn't fault someone for wanting to go out and see the world right?  But check out what Bartimaeus does, Jesus tells him to "Go your way" and immediately when he receives his sight, he followed Christ on the way.  The way Christ was going.  He followed Him down the road into Jerusalem.  The road to the cross.  Jesus had told His disciples earlier in Mark that to be His followers you must take up your cross and follow Me.  Bartimaeus chose to follow Christ, follow Him to the cross.  Not to spiritualize the text, but we were also blind.  Blind in our sins and Christ has made us see, has given us vision.  He tells us "Go your way"  And the question we can ask ourselves is, our we following Him on the way?  The choice is ours, Christ doesn't force us to walk with Him, but how can we not when we have been blind and now we see?  I think Bartimaeus would rather take his new found vision and use it to look upon the one who gave it to him.  He saw how glorious Christ is and his way was to follow Christ.  Like Bartimeous our way needs to be the one following Christ.

GEN 39; MARK 9; JOB 5; ROM 9

Romans 9:30–33 (ESV)

³⁰ What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; ³¹ but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. ³² Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, ³³ as it is written,

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Here is the reading plan for this week:

MON-GEN 39; MARK 9; JOB 5; ROM 9

TUE-GEN 40; MARK 10; JOB 6; ROM 10

WED-GEN 41; MARK 11; JOB 7; ROM 11

THU-GEN 42; MARK 12; JOB 8; ROM 12

FRI-GEN 43; MARK 13; JOB 9; ROM 13

SAT-GEN 44; MARK 14; JOB 9; ROM 14

GEN 38; MARK 8; JOB 4; ROM 8

Yesterday's GEN 37; MARK 7; JOB 3; ROM 7

Have a blessed Sunday!!!!!

GEN 35-36; MARK 6; JOB 2; ROM 6

Romans 6:16–18 (ESV)

¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.  

Obedience comes from the heart not from keeping laws and regulations.  We know that the law is good and holy, but the law doesn't have the power to change us.  The power comes from Christ and when we look to the cross and see what the Lord has done on our behalf, the response should be obedience to His word.  We do it from the heart, out of love.  If we love, we will obey.  We don't keep the law as a means of earning righteousness, we trust Christ for our righteousness.  We are being transformed into the image of Christ, that means we will walk in union with Christ, the more we will be obedient to what He commands.  We we graze upon the cross and the wrath that Christ endured on our behalf, we see His love, and we love Him because He first loved us(1 John 4:19).  Jesus told His disciples in John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments"  Our obedience to the Lord is one of of love, it is from the heart.  

GEN 33 MARK 4 ESTHER 9-10 ROM 4

Romans 4:20–21 (ESV)

²⁰ No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹ fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

It is said of Abraham that he was as good as dead and God approached  him and told him that he was to have a child.  Abraham trusted in the word of God. He was fully convinced that God was able to do what He promised.  The God that Abraham trusted and brought about the promise He made, is the same God that is dealing in the lives of men today.  Lets not limit God and what He can do.  Lets not neglect the promises that have been made.  Like Abraham we need to be fully convinced that God will bring about what is said in His Word.  And notice that it is God who is able to do it.  Abraham tried to take things into his own hands if you remember.  That is were we get Ismael.  The work of the flesh.  To do the work of the Spirit is to trust in the Word and allow God to work.  God is faithful, my friends, we can trust in His Word!!!!!

Tomorrows readings as I will be traveling to Lima and won't be able to post them are as follows:

GEN 34

MARK 5

JOB 1

ROM 5

Illuminated by the Word

      For the past few years I have used the Robert Murray M'Cheyne reading plan to go through the bible.  It is a great plan that when used you read through the Old Testament once and Psalms and the New Testament twice a year.  As Christians we need to be in God's Word and meditating on it.  I recently saw an article about the presidential campaign and it had a poll that stated nearly half of evangelical Christians thought that mormonism wasn't evangelical, mormons aren't Christians.  Nearly half!  That means more than half of professing evangelical Christians think that mormonism is Christian!  Another denomination or something. Why is this happening?  There are numerous reasons, but first and foremost I think it is the biblical ignorance of Christians.  The church is biblically illiterate.  We can blame the pulpits and other areas, but the fact of the matter is, the responsibility falls on us.
   
      The daily reading plan isn't that much reading, typically it is 4 chapters a day.  2 from the Old 2 from the New.  However your schedule works, but maybe you could read 2 in the morning before work or school or whatever it is you do.  Then 2 more before you sleep for the night.  However you can work it out, do it.  Think how much time is wasted during the day.  We focus on so many other things that may be legitimate concerns.  School, work, homeschooling kids, dinner, shopping, all these things need to be done, but we need to align our priorities.  Christ needs to be first and all those things need to be done for His glory.  Ephesians 5:15-16 says"Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of time because the days are evil"  Our time should be focused on Christ and though we have worldly responsibilities we need to place Christ at the top of the list and everything else we do needs to be governed by this.

       As we are reading through the Scriptures it is also important that we are pursuing Christ and not just reading to read.  We shouldn't just be dissecting and breaking down the text.  We need to read it as it is, God's Word.  When we come to the Scriptures for any other reason than to seek God and to hear from Him we rob the Word of it's purpose.  God has revealed Himself in the Scriptures and He desires for us to know Him.  So many want to hear from God yet do they open the Bible?  Everything we need is found from Genesis to Revelation.  Psalm 119 is a great psalm about God's Word.  In verse 135 the psalmist states"Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes"  God's face shines on us when we are in His Word, learning and seeking His face.  When we go to the Scriptures for this purpose we receive God's favor and have communion with the living God.  To know Christ should be our focus when we read.  Jesus said in the Gospel of John that the scriptures testify of Him, and then in Hebrews chapter 10 Christ says that the "volume of the book was written of me".  Do you want to know Jesus?  Do you want to become more like Him?  To fall more in love with Him and experience His grace?  We find this In His Word.  You want to learn the will of God?  You want to know the mind of Christ?  Open His Word.  Calvin says "we ought to believe that Christ cannot be properly known in any other way than from the Scriptures, and if it be so, it follows that we ought to read the Scriptures with the express design of finding Christ in them." If you aren't in the Scriptures daily then start, start today.  I will be posting the reading plan daily and trying to just give some devotional thoughts that go along with the reading.  Lets grow closer to Christ and truly get to know Him as the days draw near to His coming!!!!

Todays reading list:
Gen 32      
Mark 3
Esther 8
Rom 3

Psalm 63:1-2, 5-6

O God you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of night.

Psalm 63:1-2 5-6