The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.

Jeremiah 6

The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. v10

While I know I can be closer to God and my relationship with Jesus can be better, it's certainly better than it used to be as God has grown in my heart and life significantly - only through the grace of God (see Ephesians 2:8).  We must all get to a place where we find "pleasure" in God's word as it means we find pleasure in God Himself because the Word is God (John 1:1).  

We should all pray that He gives us a deep desire to get to know Him and to find more pleasure in Him and His Word - ALL of us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have done much to grow my desire for You and Your Word.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God as I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Isaiah 55

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. v6

John Piper calls this chapter The Great Invitation. This invitation must be treated with urgency as God's patience is not unlimited.  A few days ago, my reading and post reminded me how we live as foreigners in this world, and how we should focus on the eternity of God and His promises for us.

As I posted yesterday, we all need a Savior and Christ is that Savior.

I think about this quite often with respect to my teenage son who has yet to accept Jesus Christ as His Savior.  I believe I may have set the bar high for him to invite Jesus into his life.  Yet God makes it easy - all are welcome - just as they are as God knows all about us anyway so we don't come to Him with shame but with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).

We should not study God as an intellectual exercise - we should study God to experience Him.

"God is not a thing to be studied. He is a person to be experienced." John Piper

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God worthy of my study and I desire to experience You - to know You.  I need You...desperately...I too often focus on this world and I don't want to be entangled by sin.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel.

Joshua 24

Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel. v31

If you experience the Lord, you will serve Him - that is my takeaway from the above.  As a father, I worry about whether my own sons will have faith.  Yet my focus should not be on my worry but on my own faith and if I focus on my faith, God will transform my heart and life and my sons should experience the miracles of transformation in my life.

I must be a light - Lord, please help me be a light.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the World and the Heavens - the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings.  Without You, nothing would exist.  I know You sustain me, and You have blessed me beyond what I deserve - I must dedicate and devote my life to You.  Yet I often worry instead.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.