God's Issue with Israel

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See the past week's study an introduction and overview of Malachi.

Focus on Freelancing

I write all sorts of content as a freelance writer.

I have no real niche.  I write poetry and fiction.  I write about religion as much as I write about sports and community activities and events.  I blog, journal, present, teach, and edit online as a freelancer.

 I write e-zine articles and post to multiple blogs.  I write for a wide variety of audiences.

You can join me on my freelance journey at iWriter, too.

I have published articles on Squidoo and HubPages, too.  My articles include content related to writing grants and freelance writing opportunities.  I also publish my own books of inspirational poetry on Lulu.


Get a copy of one of the Bible studies offered by Life Path Ministries & Services.  Subscribe to get inspiration from one of my other blogs either Rev Bruce or Life Path.

Busy Online with Words

I have spent a few days mulling over publishing another book while still preparing for a 2013 full of events and activities that will fill my schedule and almost wear me down.  I have spent some time writing some articles online and feel that it is time to share with some of my blogging audience this side of both myself and Life Path.

My latest article has been posted on Wizzley about MLK.  It is one of those new ventures that I havebeen working on since I started freelancing online in 2011.  Post comments online and share your sentiments.

See more articles that I have posted online:

• Finding Time to Spend with God
• Using Observation for Bible Study
• How to Show Compassion
• Living Like Lazarus
• Basic Tools for Bible Study

more » HubPages

Proverbs as a Daily Bible Reading

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. - Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)

Start your day in devotion with the Lord.  Pray and seek God's face earnestly, seeking to hear from Him before you dare venture out beyond your abode.  Take in His Holy Word, the Scriptures.  Let the words from the Most High sink into your heart and ponder them as you go about your day.

Read from the Book of Proverbs daily.  Soak in the wisdom and knowledge that God has to offer us through these words written by Solomon.  Let them guide you through daily activities and interactions.  See how they speak of the things of this life.  Use them as daily meditations as you deal with the things that happen at work and home, even on the highways and byways.

Seek to take them in daily.  Read a chapter for each day of the month.  Study them and reflect on them.  Jot down your thoughts and reflections day by day.  When trouble comes, revisit them.  When you feel down, take a moment to see what God has already shared with you.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;

teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and

hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your

hearts to the Lord.

- Colossians 3:16 (KJV)

Live Wisely Day by Day

Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

-Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)

Look into God's Word daily.  Look in it and learn from it.  Let it lead you through your daily activities.  Let it nurture you throughout your day. 

Meditate on the Word.  Memorize a verse or two.  Let it sink into your soul and take root.



Gain from the Word daily. 

Get into a daily routine of reading God's Word.  Take your Bible with you on your lunch break and read on a bench for half an hour.  Listen to the Bible on CD or your iPod on your daily commute to and from work.  Read a daily dose of the Scriptures through an email or text message service.

Let the Word speak to you and guide you through your day.  Let the Scriptures set the tone for your day.  Let the Bible teach you daily.

*Daily Bible Reading Resources:

• Wisdom for Each Day (Billy Graham)
• Morning and Evening (Oswald Chambers)
• Daily in His Presence (Andrew Murray)
• A Year with Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Pursuing the Promises of God

7Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

8Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

- Joshua 1:7-8 (NIV)

Joshua was the newly-appointed leader of God's people.  He had a monumental task at hand.  He was facing some serious shoes to fill by replacing Moses.  He needed some guidance.

Moses was dead and gone now.  He was of no help to Joshua anymore.

The people were looking at Joshua as the leader, expecting him to have the plan necessary to get them into the Promised Land.  He couldn't ask any of them.  They were no help to him either.

Joshua got a visit from God.  Sometimes that's all that you need.  God speaks with him and shares some vital words of encouragement for him.  He was in need of those words from God.

Be strong and very courageous . . .

God offers Joshua words of encouragement and shares how he should stick with His Word dailky.  This would help Joshua as a leader.  Let the same be said of you as a Christian leader.  The Word can serve as your support when you have no other help in sight.  Let the Word lead you daily. 

• Learn from the Word daily. 
• Live by the Word daily.
• Lead by the Word daily.

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night . . .

Growing in His Word

“Don’t wait to fast, read, pray, or to do anything else.” – Charles Finney

Use the Good Book to get back on track.

Let truth show you the way.

You need to pray over some things.  You just need to get into some deep prayer and let loose.  I have one word of advice for you, though.  You do not have to hurry when praying, but you surely need to hurry up and pray.  Allow God to draw you in nearer and nearer, closer and closer.

Spend some time connecting with the Lord.  Go to the Word.  Read and hear the Word of God.  Listen to sermon podcasts and the Bible dramatized on iTunes. 

Take some time to make things work for you, especially as you work towards serving God daily.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. - Colossians 3:16 (KJV)



Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.- Romans10:17 (NIV)
 
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. -ColossiansNIV)
 
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.- James 5:13 (KJV)

Taking on The Messiah on the Move

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. - Mark 1:1 (NKJV)

 
The Gospel of Mark is an action-filled account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  It has oftentimes been referred to as the Gospel of Jesus in action or on the move.  It reveals Jesus' comings and goings, His teaching and doings.  The shortest of all four of the New Testament's Gospels, the Gospel of Mark shows Jesus in the midst of serving, performing miracles and preaching messages throughout the land.

 
Take this challenge.  Try reading the Gospel of Mark in one sitting.  If you cannot see yourself doing such a thing, try to get in throughout one single weekend.  It's only 16 chapters.  Even if you read a single chapter each day, you could finish the Gospel of Mark in its entirety in a little over two weeks. 
 
Reading may not be your thing either.  Try listening to the Gospel of Mark.  I often listen to the Bible over the Internet via sites like www.youversion.com.  I prefer the dramatic readings of the Bible.  That's just my preference.  You can even get a copy of the Bible on CD or downloaded to your MP3 or iPod, so that you can listen to it on your drive to work or while you work out or do the dishes.  Today's technology offers you many options.

 

Take in the Gospel of Mark.  Once you have taken it in, take on the Gospel of Mark.  See how you can serve with more sacrifice after experiencing the Gospel of Mark.  Make some changes to your approach to ministry and good works based upon what you read and what the red letters of the Gospel have stated as kingdom priorities.  Take it on and check yourself on how well you do in regards to the carrying out your calling of service in His name.

 

 

On the Move

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.- Mark 1:1 (NKJV)

The Gospel of Mark clearly opens with the words that explain that it is about "the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." The book is about Jesus.  In fact, as Jesus embarks on His earthly ministry by the Sea of Galilee, His words echo this opening verse: Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” The Gospel of Mark is about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When we read the Gospel of Mark, we see the Lord on the move and going to and fro as He interacts with mankind.  It is an account of the Almighty touching the flesh and spirits of man.  It offers a view of Jesus in communion with His fellow man, publicans, lepers, the blind, and countless others.

When He started His ministry, He was on the move.
When He called the fishermen to become fishers of men, He was on the move.
When He taught and touched others, He was on the move.
The Gospel of Mark shows us Jesus Christ as a man on the move.

Be sure to check out:

• Mark for Everyone
• The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary
• Mark: Gospel of the Servant King

Bible for the Busy

You may be one of those professional Christians who has everything scheduled for every moment of the day.  Meetings upon meetings seem to fill your calendar.  You may seem to find it hard to get in some daily devoted Bible intake due to your busy schedule.

Here are some simple strategies for taking in the Bible daily:

• Get the Bible downloaded to your iPod or MP3 player.
• Use the Bible on CD during your daily commute.
• Listen to the Bible at your desktop or laptop.
• Add the Bible app to your iPhone, Blackberry or Droid

These are just a few ways that a busy professional can take in the Bible daily without ever turning a page.  Use your technology to help you gain Bible knowledge as you complete your daily tasks day by day.

Daily Conditioning

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,

give careful attention to your herds- Proverbs 27:23 (NIV)

You need to have a handle on what you have under your care.  Management simply relates to how you handle business matters.  I love The One Minute Manager.  That's good stuff, but I can't totally depend on that to get me where God wants me to be a s a believer.

I need the Bible.  I don't need Bible-based material or Bible-inspired sources.  I need the Bible itself.  I need God's Word to serve as a light unto my feet and a lamp unto my path.

A close friend introduced me to the Book of Proverbs.  He suggested it as a daily study based upon something another Christian had shared with him.  I tried it out and found nuggets of wisdom in my NIV Bible day by day, rewriting verses of my daily chapter of Proverbs that stuck out for me or struck me in my heart and spirit.  That continues to this day in a more advanced study, but it is the same basic activity.  I am reading Proverbs daily.

Later, while I was in an airport back East, I discovered Steve Marr's Business Proverbs, a devotional based upon a study of Proverbs.  I love it.  I keep a copy.  I usually end up giving away a copy to some excited and enthusiastic entrepreneur or some freshly-called man of God.  I give it away because of what it has meant to me.  I give it away because it is like the goodness of the Good News.  It's just too good to keep to myself.  It has to be shared.

You need a daily dose of wisdom.  Proverbs can offer that to you.  Psalms has a gold mine of jewels in it, too.  Ecclesiastes gives 12 chapters of wisdom from Solomon.  Take these on daily.  Take in the words of these books of the Bible day by day.  Let them lead you and guide you.  become conditioned to get refreshed by these words daily.

for riches do not endure forever...- Proverbs 27:24 (NIV)

Cookie Cutter Crisis

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

- James 1:22 (NIV)

Ministry is not one size fits all. In fact, we see discipleship as a connection rather than coursework and evangelism as a calling as opposed to cold calling. Ministry is about putting your endowed spiritual gifts to work with the talent and abilities that God has afforded you in accordance with other believers to accomplish God's plan and purpose.

We need more doers of the Word. We have too many people searching for a mega-church model and seeking simplistic, bullet-pointed solutions on a PowerPoint or a webinar. God provides us gifts and puts us in position for the work of the ministry. If God can write 66 books of the Bible through the Spirit-led men of the past, He surely can provide the local church with skilled and able Bible teachers and writers to develop Bible lessons and children's programming.

We need to stop ordering the box and get back into the Book. Stop ordering evangelism in a box, VBS in a box, and discipleship in a box. If you discover that there is no relevant materials and resources that speak to your church's needs, pray for God to reveal the way in which you need to proceed. There may exist gifts and talents buried within the pews of the congregation. Pray and see what God wants you to do with His Word.

There is no "one size fits all" solution. There's no short list of quick fixes. We are called to be "doers of the Word." Go on and do as He leads you by His Spirit with what He has equipped and empowered you to do with His Word. Start by dropping the cookie cutter.

Achieving Divine Results

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself..." - Daniel 1:8 (NKJV)

What is offered does not have to be taken. Even when it has been set forth by the king, the supreme ruler over those held captive in Babylon, there is a way to say: "No way."

The king set up a daily provision for the youth of Judah that he held captive. He established this "daily provision" based upon what worked for his people and what he understood culturally about his own people, not his captives. We have to understand that this was a carefully designed and devised plan to assimilate these young men with the culture of their captors.

Yet, Daniel purposed in his heart to stand up and say no.

Daniel's Refusal (v.8)
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. . ." (Daniel 1:8, NKJV)

Daniel found inner strength and conviction within his heart first. Daniel sought to remain pure; he understood that the Babylonian delicacies would lead to his defilement

Daniel's Request (v.8, 12)
"Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink." (v. 12)

Daniel knew who to talk to and make his request. We need to teach our children and youth how to take a stand without causing more problems for themselves.

Divine Results (vv. 15-16)
"And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies." (v. 15)

Your refusal to be defiled can lead to some divine results. By giving God the time to work on you, He can cleanse you both physically and spiritually. Regardless of the circumstances or conditions, we must settle the matter in our hearts first. In our hearts, we must decide that we will stay true to God. No virgin retains her purity without commitment and conviction. No athlete conditions and trains for a race without sacrifice and avoiding temptation. The attitude must precede the action that leads to the accomplishment.

12 Things to Change Your Ministry

Ministry Mechanics:
12 Things to Change Your Ministry (And This World)

1. Pray for God's will, not just success (Matthew 26:39)
2. Study the Bible (morning, noon and night) (Psalm 1:2)
3. Promote Christian fellowship (Romans 14:19)
4. Reach out to someone like Christ did (Mark 16:15)
5. Speak kindly of and to others (Matthew 5:44)
6. Give graciously (Luke 6:38)
7. Support others in recovery and restoration (Exodus 6:6)
8. Train your replacement (John 13:15)
9. Market your ministry (Psalm 34:1)
10. Build a community (Acts 2:44)
11. Develop a personal mission statement (Isaiah 61:1-2)
12. Worship while you "work" (Psalm 100:2)

There are numerous other activities that one could do, but these 12 serve as a starting point to keep in mind as you seek to bring about change. If you are going to serve as an "agent of change," you will need to be ready and willing to implement change.

Signs of a Dying Church

"If you are not growing, you're dying."- Rick Warren

It was a profound statement in The Purpose Driven Church. It stood out. It said a lot in a brief conditional statement. Not growing? You most probably are dying. You may not want to hear it, but its sting is real.

• 
  
  
  Are there unmet needs within your church?



• 
  
  
  Are you evangelizing?



• 
  
  
  Is your congregation making an impact on its community?



• 
  
  
  How is your participation for Sunday school, prayer meeting, and Bible study?



• 
  
  
  Is there demographic diversity within your church (gender, age, ethnicity, etc.)?



• 
  
  
  Are you baptizing and indoctrinating new members? How often? Do they stay?



• 
  
  
  What do people say about your church in the community (barbershop, beauty salon, social gatherings, etc.)?

Beyond all of these questions, you have to take a long hard look at what is happening around you. Is there a drop in offerings and tithes? Is your attendance off? Is it just a gut feeling? or, do you really know so because of the data. Have your staff or trustee board develop spreadsheets and charts that give you some accurate numbers to start working with as soon as possible. Start talking with stakeholders like staff, key volunteers like ministry leaders, deacons, elders, and trustees, and others. See what is really going on.

Have you noticed these signs in your church? One or more may be present at the same time.

Signs of a dying church?

• 
  
  Complacency


• 
  
  Conflicts


• 
  
  Commonplace


• 
  
  Closed-mindedness

There are more signs, but this is just a short list of the signs that lead to death. If these are recurring problems for your congregation, start thinking of how to change hearts and minds. Do you need to start a church-wide campaign like a Bible study series on discipleship or church conduct? Could you conduct a retreat with your key stakeholders? How about conducting a S.W.O.T. analysis and developing some concrete action steps? Maybe your congregation would benefit from a simple sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount or the Beatitudes, even the early church, with a follow-up study in small groups or Sunday school.

You need to stop the bleeding at least. You need to bring the life back into your church. Remember: if you are not dying, you may be simply decaying which is only a slow death nonetheless.

"The minister is to use all means to save some."- C.H. Spurgeon

Power Tools

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.- 1 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

As a "workman," you need to be sure that you use your tools and use them correctly. Definitely, you need to be sure to have yourself some power tools of faith. Those are the ones that give you power when nothing else will.

Power Tools (of Faith):

• Prayer: Stay prayed up so that you stay powered up.
• Bible Study: Stay connected to the Lord through His Word, allow it to enlighten and empower you as your primary source of power.
• Fasting: Go without so that you can appreciate when and what God provides for you as well as feel empathy for those who go without day and night; the poor and the needy.
• Meditation: Pick a verse or a phrase from the Word and focus on it. Allow it to minister to you throughout the day. When you're up, meditate on it. When you're down, meditate on it. As you prepare to end your day, reflect upon it.

Use your "power tools" to keep you powered up for the good fight.