Devotional Thoughts

Hey Element Church. I was doing pretty good consistently posting some devotional thoughts of mine from my morning quiet times. I think the last time I posted on here I was way back in the OT somewhere before the prophets. Thought it was time to post a few things. I just finished Matthew today. Cool to read through the Easter story two days after Easter. Here are some thoughts from my devos. There is lots more but I've waited to long to share it. These are some of my favorites from the past several months.

Daniel 3 --- The story of Rack, Shack and Benny (veggie tales names) inspires me EVERY time I read. That story never gets old. The courage and resolve of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is motivating. Their "But even if..." moves me.

Daniel 6:10 --- King Darius signed a decree saying no one could pray to anyone but him for 30 days and this verse describes Daniels response. "But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with it's windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to God." He didn't shut the window. He didn't change his routine. He didn't cry out "WHY ME LORD?" He thanked God, AS HE ALWAYS DID! Love that. I want that attitude.

Hosea 6:3 --- Great prayer "Oh that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him."

Hosea 13:6 --- Good warning for a new church like ours experiencing success. "But when you had eaten and were satisfied, you became proud and forgot me." #1 I don't EVER want to be satisfied. Unless every person in our city is saved I don't want to be satisfied. God's desire is for "all men to come to repentance". It should be ours as well. #2 Only one person deserves any credit for what's happened at Element. THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN'S ARMIES! I can't explain what's happened at our church. Sure I wanted it to happen when we started, but God made it happen. No amount of planning or vision can MAKE something happen. Only God can. I will continue to seek vision from God and cast it as best I can. We will continue to plan and "orchestrate" to the best of our ability, but without the divine intervention of Almighty God our efforts are in vain. All that from one little verse. lol May we NEVER forget God or take credit for what is done.

Amos 5:20-21 to long to type it out. Read it here. You can also read another post about this passage I did here. God doesn't want our traditions, our methods, our liturgy. He wants an ENDLESS RIVER of righteousness and justice.

Amos 7:14-15 Read it here. This is exactly how I feel most of the time. I'm not a professional, but God called me.

Micah 2:7b --- "If you would do what is right you would find my words comforting." The reason most people don't like God's words is because they are not doing what is right.

Micah 6:6-8 --- Again, God doesn't want our sacrifices, our offerings or words. This is what the Lord requires of you. Read it here.

Zechariah 4:10 --- God gave me this verse when we started Element. "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand."

I'll post my thoughts from Matthew another time. This got too long.

Following Christ,

Jeff