Day 6

Genesis 13:5-15:21; Matthew 5:27-48; Psalm 6; Proverbs 1:29-33

Genesis 13:10-13 - We can't always trust what we see with our naked eye.  Lot was looking for a good place to live. On the surface, everything about this land around Sodom was great. Green fields, lots of water, a perfect place to pitch a tent and raise some livestock.  So he chooses that land but never took into consideration who his neighbors would be.  How often do we do that in our own everyday lives as well. We look at a situation and think everything looks great and so we jump in and fail to look at the whole picture. What is pleasing to the eye is not always pleasing for the spirit. Can I get an amen?!?! 
Verse 13 reads like a cliff hanger..."The men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord." And then it moves onto a different subject...talk about foreshadowing.  This great looking land of opportunity was about to be Lot's downfall in life.  Don't judge a book by it's cover. Be sure to consult God about every decision in your life. Already that is my message for 2011.  We need to let God back into our EVERYday lives.

Psalm 6 - Just for me. Just for today. Thank you God for your words.
I had a great night at church last night. (Love my Dickson Family)  When I got home I recieved some news that took my breath away  like a punch to the gut. I'm not/can't go into the details right now, but those words David wrote about "I drench my couch with my tears"... that was me last night.  Joy came down a really bad flu bug or something last night (pray for her) so I let her have the whole bed and I stayed out on the couch. But the news that I recieved late last night wouldn't let me rest. I tossed and turned and wept into the cushions.  My eyes this morning feel as though they are about to give out, just as David wrote. BUT praise God for His word, because not only did it describe how I was feeling, it also gave me the encouragement that I needed today. Because I know, just as David wrote, that God hears the voices of the weeping, and He does hear my prayers. Amen

Word of the day - "Supplication" - you'll read it alot, especially in Psalms so I figure you should have a really good grasp of it's meaning.  Look it up and share with the class.  Congrats to Mama V and Jason for the definitions of "jot and tittle." Still just fun to say, especially with a british accent.

Proverbs had one big point that stood out to me among everything else.  Complacency Destroys. Never forget that and never become complacent in your walk with God.

I wanted to point out something in Matthew and you'll have to read back a little to see the whole picture of what I'm talking about.  There has been two repeated phrases in chapter 5. 
1. "You have heard it said" - Jesus would start off with this statement and then tell them something they had already heard.  The people were probably standing there going, "Yeah, so what. We already knew that." But then comes the second phrase that is repeated.
2. "But I say to you"  - Now Jesus brings in the new revelation. 
The law that these religious people were trying to enforce was a shallow, just enough kind of religion.  You know they kind.  I'll do just enough good to make sure I get to heaven.  I'm not gonna kill myself for other people, but I'll help if I have time. Hey as long as I don't go too far, it's not really sin.  Jesus was laying the ground rules and making it clear. This is what I expect from you.  Never be satisfied with man's standard of living.  Instead, listen for what God says and strive for the standard that Jesus  Christ Himself has called us to live.