Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 18:1‐46, Acts 11:1‐30, Psalm 135:1‐21, Proverbs 17:12‐13

1 Kings 18:39  And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”

Observations:

• The people worship after seeing
• They fell prostrate when they prayed.

Application: I need to let what my eyes see in my camp and church ministry drive me to my knees. 

What prompts to you to worship and pray in prostrate positions figuratively and spiritually?

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 15:25‐17:24, Acts 10:23b‐48, Psalm 134:1‐3, Proverbs 17:9‐11

Acts 10:43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

Observations:

• All the prophets bear witness to Christ.
• Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness
• Salvation is in his name

Application:  I want to use the words believe and receive when I share the gospel. 

How do you usually chose to share the gospel?

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 14:1‐15:24, Acts 10:1‐23a, Psalm 133:1‐3, Proverbs 17:7‐8

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity! 

...It is like the dew of Hermon... (Psalm 133:3)

As a camp director, unity is one of my primary prayer requests and goals as I lead.  As a husband and a father, creating unity allows our home to be pleasant.  As a deacon in my church, unity is fundamental for discipleship and grown.

Apply: I want to look for things that could destroy unity in my ministry and my home.  I want to be intentional about doing things that will promote unity.

What things prompt unity in your home?

Today’s Reading: 1 King 12:20‐13:34, Acts 9:26‐43, Psalm 132:1‐18, Proverbs 17:6

Acts 9:36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.

Observations:

• Context: Tabitha died, Peter healed her, “it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.”
• She was FULL of:
• Good Works
• Acts of Charity (eleemosune – Meaning: mercy, pity)

Apply: I want to be like Tabitha today – doing good works and acts of charity.  I also want to raise Anna to be like Tabitha and parent intentionally to that end.

Do you know a Tabitha?  Tell us about her.

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 11:1‐12:19, Acts 9:1‐25, Psalm 131:1‐3, Proverbs 17:4‐5

Psalm 131:1-2

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Observations:

• Move away from – heart being lifted up, eyes raised too high, occupy with things to great and marvelous for me.
• Work on – calming and quieting my soul.

Application: I want to change my goal orientation.  If I strive all of my life to attain something greater, I miss the boat.  Today, I want to focus on calming and quieting my soul through resting in the arms of my Father.

What calms your soul?

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 9:1‐10:29, Acts 8:14‐40, Psalm 130:1‐8, Proverbs 17:2‐3

Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 

Observations:

• Context: God directed Philip to talk to the Ethiopian eunuch and the eunuch asks him to explain a passage out of Isaiah.
• Philip did these three things:
• Opened his mouth
• Began with Scripture
• Told him the good news about Jesus – the gospel

Apply: I want to look for opportunities today to open my mouth, begin with scripture and share the gospel.

When was the last time you told someone “the good news about Jesus?”

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 8:1‐66, Acts 7:51‐8:13, Psalm 129:1‐8, Proverbs 17:1

Proverbs 17:1 – Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting with strife.

There are many different applications that you can take from this Proverb.  In my own words, it is better to be poor and have peace in your home than be rich with conflict in your home.  I grew up reading verses about the home and placing myself in the observer’s role.  However, I have to understand that I am LEADING my home.

Apply: I need to look for ways to lead my home away from strife and to peace.  I must understand that this is more important than gaining wealth for my family.

What are a few things you have done to establish peace in your home?

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 7:1‐51, Acts 7:30‐50, Psalm 128:1‐6, Proverbs 16:31‐33

Kings 7:1 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house.

Observations:

• The last verse of chapter 6 says that Solomon spent seven years building God’s house – the temple.  He almost spent twice as long on his own house.
• The text emphasizes – own and entire.  It was for himself and it was large.

How much of my life is spent building things for me?  I don’t want to be remembered as a man who put more time into building things for himself than for God.

Apply: I need to look closely at what I am spending my time doing.

How do you make sure that your life is not about you?

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 5:1‐6:38, Acts 7:1‐29, Psalm 127:1‐5, Proverbs 16:28‐30

Psalm 127:1-2 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Observations:

• God builds houses
• God watches over cities
• God gives sleep to his beloved
• Our labor apart from God to build, watch, toil, and rest is in vain

Apply: I must realize that there is nothing I can do apart from God.  This is especially applicable to my family today.  Lord, give sleep to your beloved!

How do you insure that you are not doing work apart from God?

Today’s Reading: Jun 8 1 King 3:4‐4:34, Acts 6:1‐15, Psalm 126:1‐6, Proverbs 16:26‐27

Psalm 126:5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!

Observations:

• In time of tears you can sow seeds.
• If you have sown in tears, you will reap with joy.

Application:  It is a tough time in Rebecca’s and my life right now.  There are many tears.  We must sow the seeds for growth in this time and keep our hope on the future joy that is promised.

How do you maintain a perspective of hope during times of tears?