Scripture:
Deuteronomy 5:32 — So you shall observe to do just as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left.
Observation:
God gave the people of Israel the Ten Commandments and instructs them to follow them. God gave order, a path to follow. It is true of all people that left to our own will get off the path. We all sin and miss the mark. In the verse I am journaling today God is instructing the people (all people) to not turn aside either to the right or to the left, but to stay on track. Right now I am looking out the window watching it snow like crazy (I am in Kansas City this week). Because of the snow I am not really feeling like spring is just around the corner, but I know that it is. And with spring comes the desire for me to ride my mountain bike. I have been riding for about 10 years now and love it. One thing that I noticed early on was this simple biking truth: Wherever you look, that’s where you go. Its true! I can be riding on a sweet single track trail that has big rocks that you have to maneuver around and if I look at a rock I will hit it. If I look at the space between the rocks I will miss the rocks. Its almost like magic. If I look at something I go towards it.
Application:
The lesson of riding the bike is obvious, isn’t it? Today’s verse reminds me that I am in danger of going off to the right or to the left. I have found that when I enter into sin it is almost always because I have taken my eyes, my focus, off of the way I should be going and placed it on something off to the side. It really is all about where I put my attention. If I place my attention on what other people have that I don’t, it is just a matter of time until my attitude becomes one of coveting what they have. If I were to place my attention on getting ahead no matter what I can only imagine that it would be just a matter of time and I would lie and cheat and steal to get what I want. But, if I make sure that my attention is placed on the path that God has set before me I find that righteousness is the outcome. It is not easy and there are always things that “sneak up” on me, that is why I so desperately need Jesus in my life to offer me salvation. Yet the rule of biking is so true – now to practice keeping my eyes on my God.
Prayer:
God help me to be focused on you and forgive me when I am not. God as I go through my life give me wisdom to discern your path from the ways that seem right to me at the time, but are not leading to you. Thank you for your guidance and your love. Your patience with me is long and gentle. Your love is amazing. Your grace more abundant than my sin. I do not deserve, nor have I earned your presence in my life, yet you offer it to me in love. O how great a God you are. Amen
— Darren Miley, student pastor
Friday, March 7, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
I Just Ain't Got The Words
Scripture:
Psalm 36:5 — Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. (NIV)
Observation:
I love this scripture because I love the song that Third Day sings based on Psalm 36. The first time I remember hearing this song, though, it was not Third Day singing the song, but Pinelake’s own Jason Elam. This was long before either of us had moved to Pinelake. In fact, I think Jason was still in school at Mississippi State. I had asked Jason to come and lead worship for a retreat that my church and another church were doing for our student ministries. Early one morning, right before we were to start a large group worship time, one of my adult leaders came in and got me and said, “Darren, you’ve got to come and see this.” I went outside and down on the pier by the lake was Jason. There was still a mist rising from the lake, it was early, and Jason was singing this song. He had his guitar and he was worshipping. Just Jason and God. Jason had absolutely no idea that anybody else was anywhere around. We just stood there and watched and listened to Jason play and sing, eavesdropping on a child of God telling God how amazing His love is. I was blown away. Not because I had never seen Jason worship before, and not because of the words of the song, but because it just seemed so natural…so right.
Application:
Now the truth of the matter is this: No worshipper will ever be able to say anything that will even begin to describe how awesome and amazing God is. We just do not have the capacity to comprehend or describe God. Yet as we attempt to do the impossible God will many times intervene. This is what I watched and experienced that day while Jason was singing. As we turned our attention to the indescribable nature of God, God met us there. By “there” I mean that the Holy Spirit of God began to make up for what we lacked. He met us there in something that could only be described as Holy. Now, I don’t know if Jason remembers this event the same way I do. I can’t remember if I ever even told him that we were watching him, but I remember being touched by God there. The ancient Celtic Christian used to refer to “thin places,” places where heaven and earth just seemed closer than others. I know that that morning the distance between us and God felt very thin indeed. I love the Psalms because in them we see the writers attempt to understand and connect with God. I love Psalm 36 because it reminds of one of the many times when God reached down and connected with me.
Prayer:
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness stretches to the sky.
Your righteousness is like a mighty mountain, and your justice flows like the oceans tides. And I will lift my voice to worship you my King, and I will find my strength in the shadow of your wings. O God my all the places we find myself be “thin places” so that in all things we see you. May your name be forever high and lifted up for you alone O God are worthy of our praise. Amen.
— Darren Miley, student pastor
Psalm 36:5 — Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. (NIV)
Observation:
I love this scripture because I love the song that Third Day sings based on Psalm 36. The first time I remember hearing this song, though, it was not Third Day singing the song, but Pinelake’s own Jason Elam. This was long before either of us had moved to Pinelake. In fact, I think Jason was still in school at Mississippi State. I had asked Jason to come and lead worship for a retreat that my church and another church were doing for our student ministries. Early one morning, right before we were to start a large group worship time, one of my adult leaders came in and got me and said, “Darren, you’ve got to come and see this.” I went outside and down on the pier by the lake was Jason. There was still a mist rising from the lake, it was early, and Jason was singing this song. He had his guitar and he was worshipping. Just Jason and God. Jason had absolutely no idea that anybody else was anywhere around. We just stood there and watched and listened to Jason play and sing, eavesdropping on a child of God telling God how amazing His love is. I was blown away. Not because I had never seen Jason worship before, and not because of the words of the song, but because it just seemed so natural…so right.
Application:
Now the truth of the matter is this: No worshipper will ever be able to say anything that will even begin to describe how awesome and amazing God is. We just do not have the capacity to comprehend or describe God. Yet as we attempt to do the impossible God will many times intervene. This is what I watched and experienced that day while Jason was singing. As we turned our attention to the indescribable nature of God, God met us there. By “there” I mean that the Holy Spirit of God began to make up for what we lacked. He met us there in something that could only be described as Holy. Now, I don’t know if Jason remembers this event the same way I do. I can’t remember if I ever even told him that we were watching him, but I remember being touched by God there. The ancient Celtic Christian used to refer to “thin places,” places where heaven and earth just seemed closer than others. I know that that morning the distance between us and God felt very thin indeed. I love the Psalms because in them we see the writers attempt to understand and connect with God. I love Psalm 36 because it reminds of one of the many times when God reached down and connected with me.
Prayer:
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness stretches to the sky.
Your righteousness is like a mighty mountain, and your justice flows like the oceans tides. And I will lift my voice to worship you my King, and I will find my strength in the shadow of your wings. O God my all the places we find myself be “thin places” so that in all things we see you. May your name be forever high and lifted up for you alone O God are worthy of our praise. Amen.
— Darren Miley, student pastor
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Once Upon A Time
Scripture:
Deuteronomy 1:1 — These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth and Dizahab.
Observation:
YYAAAAWWWWNNNNNN!! Just reading this first verse wears me out. All these place names and dates and people groups. Man, what a snoozer. The first couple of books of Deuteronomy is simply a retelling of the plight of the people of Israel. It is basically just a thumbnail sketch of what took long chapters in earlier books to convey. As I read these verses it just feels like another story. It really doesn’t even seem real – more like a sort of made up “Lord of the Rings” type of a saga. For me it is difficult to remember that this is the story of real people in real situations. I mean as I read some of these Old Testament stories I am just amazed at how hard headed and stupid the people of Israel were. There they were right at the point of going into the Promised Land and they chicken out and tick God off in the process. What faithless losers. But, remember that these are real flesh and blood people. So what if my wife, our three boys and I were in that crowd? Let’s just suppose that all we had known up to this point was slavery in Egypt? We had left the only life we had ever known and now we were facing a huge army and Moses tells us to that God wants us to go and take the land by force. Good grief, all I’ve ever done is make bricks and God wants me to go take a land away from an army. You have got to be kidding? It just isn’t logical. It’s well…crazy is what it is.
Application:
All of a sudden it seems a little more real now. Maybe I can understand why the people of Israel were so boneheaded after all. But what about today? A lot of people would say that they have never been in that situation or known anybody that has. Here is a question: Could it be that the reason that we have never been in a situation that would require us to do something that seems so ridiculous is because we never have left the land of our slavery? The people of Israel were never asked to walk in that level of faith while in Egypt. In Egypt they were in bondage. It was only in a state of freedom that God expected them to do such outlandish things.
Prayer:
God help me to live in your freedom so that I will be asked to so something for your kingdom that appears to be totally insane by the eyes of the world. And in that moment may I not hesitate to do something “crazy” for you. Amen.
— Darren Miley, student pastor
Deuteronomy 1:1 — These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth and Dizahab.
Observation:
YYAAAAWWWWNNNNNN!! Just reading this first verse wears me out. All these place names and dates and people groups. Man, what a snoozer. The first couple of books of Deuteronomy is simply a retelling of the plight of the people of Israel. It is basically just a thumbnail sketch of what took long chapters in earlier books to convey. As I read these verses it just feels like another story. It really doesn’t even seem real – more like a sort of made up “Lord of the Rings” type of a saga. For me it is difficult to remember that this is the story of real people in real situations. I mean as I read some of these Old Testament stories I am just amazed at how hard headed and stupid the people of Israel were. There they were right at the point of going into the Promised Land and they chicken out and tick God off in the process. What faithless losers. But, remember that these are real flesh and blood people. So what if my wife, our three boys and I were in that crowd? Let’s just suppose that all we had known up to this point was slavery in Egypt? We had left the only life we had ever known and now we were facing a huge army and Moses tells us to that God wants us to go and take the land by force. Good grief, all I’ve ever done is make bricks and God wants me to go take a land away from an army. You have got to be kidding? It just isn’t logical. It’s well…crazy is what it is.
Application:
All of a sudden it seems a little more real now. Maybe I can understand why the people of Israel were so boneheaded after all. But what about today? A lot of people would say that they have never been in that situation or known anybody that has. Here is a question: Could it be that the reason that we have never been in a situation that would require us to do something that seems so ridiculous is because we never have left the land of our slavery? The people of Israel were never asked to walk in that level of faith while in Egypt. In Egypt they were in bondage. It was only in a state of freedom that God expected them to do such outlandish things.
Prayer:
God help me to live in your freedom so that I will be asked to so something for your kingdom that appears to be totally insane by the eyes of the world. And in that moment may I not hesitate to do something “crazy” for you. Amen.
— Darren Miley, student pastor
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Who Told You That You Could Do That?
Scripture:
Mark 11:27-28 — They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?”
Observation:
A short time prior to what is happening in this passage Jesus goes into the temple and overturns the tables of the moneychangers and runs them out of the temple. This sends the chief priests and the scribes into a fury. Verse 18 says that this event leads them to seek ways to destroy Jesus. In this passage Jesus is again in the temple there in Jerusalem, and the chief priests and the scribes (the same ones who got so angry because of Jesus running the moneychangers out of the temple) come up to Jesus and begin to question Him. They want to know by whose authority He is doing the things he is doing. I absolutely love the response Jesus gives in verses 29 – 33.
Application:
Now there is so much that I could journal in regards to this passage, but at the moment my thoughts are on the idea of what is going on with the chief priests and the scribes. They were upset about what went on with the moneychangers. Why they were upset is a conversation for another time, but the fact is that Jesus was right and they didn’t want the truth to be told. Since they had no firm ground on which to stand they decided to simply question by whose authority he was under. These guys questioned God. They had the audacity to actually confront Jesus in regards to His authority. How dare they? Yet I know that I have sometimes been just as audacious. God requires something of me and I have been known to walk up to God and ask Him what is up with that.
This passage has reminded me to not follow after the way of the chief priests and scribes, but to remember that God is God.
Prayer:
God forgive me of the times when in my heart I have questioned you and acted as if you were my equal. You alone are God! There is none like you. You possess all authority and power. My response to you should always be one of submission for the life I now live in you. You are life. You are my God. Amen
— Darren Miley, student pastor
Mark 11:27-28 — They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?”
Observation:
A short time prior to what is happening in this passage Jesus goes into the temple and overturns the tables of the moneychangers and runs them out of the temple. This sends the chief priests and the scribes into a fury. Verse 18 says that this event leads them to seek ways to destroy Jesus. In this passage Jesus is again in the temple there in Jerusalem, and the chief priests and the scribes (the same ones who got so angry because of Jesus running the moneychangers out of the temple) come up to Jesus and begin to question Him. They want to know by whose authority He is doing the things he is doing. I absolutely love the response Jesus gives in verses 29 – 33.
Application:
Now there is so much that I could journal in regards to this passage, but at the moment my thoughts are on the idea of what is going on with the chief priests and the scribes. They were upset about what went on with the moneychangers. Why they were upset is a conversation for another time, but the fact is that Jesus was right and they didn’t want the truth to be told. Since they had no firm ground on which to stand they decided to simply question by whose authority he was under. These guys questioned God. They had the audacity to actually confront Jesus in regards to His authority. How dare they? Yet I know that I have sometimes been just as audacious. God requires something of me and I have been known to walk up to God and ask Him what is up with that.
This passage has reminded me to not follow after the way of the chief priests and scribes, but to remember that God is God.
Prayer:
God forgive me of the times when in my heart I have questioned you and acted as if you were my equal. You alone are God! There is none like you. You possess all authority and power. My response to you should always be one of submission for the life I now live in you. You are life. You are my God. Amen
— Darren Miley, student pastor
Monday, March 3, 2008
Children should NOT be seen or heard
Scripture:
Mark 10:13 – And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.
Observation:
In this incident many people are bringing their children to Jesus so that he may touch them. It is safe to assume that some of the children would have been sick or lame and that their parents, having heard that Jesus was a healer, was hoping that the touch of Jesus was going to provide healing. And it is also safe to assume that some of the children were being brought to Jesus with the hope that he would touch them and bless them. Whatever the motivational factor this verse makes it clear that the disciples were going to have no part of it. After all, these men knew that their leader, Jesus, was a very important man and they were getting used to large crowds pressing in on Jesus to receive from Him. They perceived part of their purpose to be to provide security for Jesus – sort of like Jewish bouncers. It is clear from Jesus’ response to them that they felt that a bunch of little kids were too insignificant to deserve a one-on-one with Jesus. Yet Jesus goes so far as to say that, “…whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all” (verse 15).
Application:
When I read this Scripture and attempt to find a way to apply it to my life, two things emerge. The first is what I perceive to be the most obvious and clear application. If I desire to understand and take part in the kingdom of God then I must be humble and trusting, much like a child. To come to God any other way is impossible. The second thing that I pick up when reading this scripture is that if I am not careful then I may, like the disciples, end up keeping those that Christ desires to come to Him from actually doing so. Many Christians have been guilty of either pressuring people to clean up their lives so that they could then come to Christ or by making the process of coming to Christ way too difficult and cumbersome. How many people have walked away from faith in Christ because well intentioned Christians have turned them away and kept them from coming to Christ? May I always remember that we are all to come to Jesus as one of these little ones.
Prayer:
Holy and loving God please help me to understand what child-like faith is all about. I desire to have that type of faith and trust in you. Forgive me for not approaching you like that all the time. I also pray that you will help me to learn the lesson of this incident with the disciples. May I never be guilty of keeping anyone from coming to you. Amen.
— Darren Miley, student pastor
Mark 10:13 – And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.
Observation:
In this incident many people are bringing their children to Jesus so that he may touch them. It is safe to assume that some of the children would have been sick or lame and that their parents, having heard that Jesus was a healer, was hoping that the touch of Jesus was going to provide healing. And it is also safe to assume that some of the children were being brought to Jesus with the hope that he would touch them and bless them. Whatever the motivational factor this verse makes it clear that the disciples were going to have no part of it. After all, these men knew that their leader, Jesus, was a very important man and they were getting used to large crowds pressing in on Jesus to receive from Him. They perceived part of their purpose to be to provide security for Jesus – sort of like Jewish bouncers. It is clear from Jesus’ response to them that they felt that a bunch of little kids were too insignificant to deserve a one-on-one with Jesus. Yet Jesus goes so far as to say that, “…whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all” (verse 15).
Application:
When I read this Scripture and attempt to find a way to apply it to my life, two things emerge. The first is what I perceive to be the most obvious and clear application. If I desire to understand and take part in the kingdom of God then I must be humble and trusting, much like a child. To come to God any other way is impossible. The second thing that I pick up when reading this scripture is that if I am not careful then I may, like the disciples, end up keeping those that Christ desires to come to Him from actually doing so. Many Christians have been guilty of either pressuring people to clean up their lives so that they could then come to Christ or by making the process of coming to Christ way too difficult and cumbersome. How many people have walked away from faith in Christ because well intentioned Christians have turned them away and kept them from coming to Christ? May I always remember that we are all to come to Jesus as one of these little ones.
Prayer:
Holy and loving God please help me to understand what child-like faith is all about. I desire to have that type of faith and trust in you. Forgive me for not approaching you like that all the time. I also pray that you will help me to learn the lesson of this incident with the disciples. May I never be guilty of keeping anyone from coming to you. Amen.
— Darren Miley, student pastor
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Trusting
Scripture:
Mark 9:32 — But they (the Disciples) did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him (Jesus).
Mark 9:32 — But they (the Disciples) did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him (Jesus).
Observation:
What is happening here is that Jesus has just foretold His death and His resurrection. He basically tells them that He is going to be killed, and after His death He will rise three days later. Now as I was reading over today's Scripture I knew that I would journal about this verse before I even had finished reading all of the Scripture. In and of itself verse 32 just really gives so little information. The Disciples didn't understand something Jesus said, and for some reason they were afraid to ask Him to explain Himself. Now why they were afraid is not specifically stated, but we can only imagine that if has to do with the difficulty that they had earlier with casting out the unclean spirit from the boy (verses 14 – 29). Don't you just know that they were so embarrassed by the whole thing? Not to mention that over and over Jesus has been asking then when will they ever understand. Whatever the reason, they were afraid to ask for clarification on what could possibly be the most important thing Jesus had ever said to them up to that point. Here it is all laid out for them and they let their fear place them in a position so that they missed it. Unfortunately, I think I can relate all to well with the Disciples on this one.
Application:
Sometimes when I come across Scripture that is hard to accept or when I sense that God is leading me to do something difficult, instead of going to God and seeking understanding and clarification, I allow fear to freeze me up. I hate it when it happens, I feel so defeated and so cowardly. You see, here is the rub: I know that I can trust God? He has proven that to me over and over again, yet I still fear Him at times. I think it has to do with the fact that so many times I want what I want and not what God wants. Its not like that all the time. Sometimes I follow hard after God. There have been many times when I have made very risky decisions because I believed I was following God. Still there are times when I, like the disciples, don't understand what God is saying and I am afraid to seek better understanding.
Prayer:
God please help me when I fear you. I know that your plans for me are to prosper me and not to cause me harm, yet I so often hesitate to follow you fully. Forgive those times and help me to be bold, for you are God and therefore worthy of being followed without question. Thank you for your patience with me. Please continue to teach me how to follow hard after you. Amen.
— Darren Miley, student pastor
Saturday, March 1, 2008
The Cost of Discipleship
Scripture:
Mark 8: 34 — “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”
Observation:
To take up your cross in Jesus’ time was a sign of accepting a shameful slaves death. Nothing about this statement was exactly appealing, yet it was Jesus’ call to His disciples. So many times today, I think we downplay the cost of following Christ. There is a cost to following Christ. It’s not simply the act of salvation followed by church attendance and a moral life. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross. That’s the cost. It means refusing to follow the worldly desires that surround us. It means letting God lead and guide every step we take. Yes, there is a cost to discipleship but after receiving the undeserved gift of salvation, it is the natural inclination of your heart to want to follow God on the path He has for your life.
Application:
I must consciously lay down the worldly desires of my flesh and follow Christ in obedience. I need to learn to see myself as a modern-day disciple, following Jesus, sharing His Word and His love with those around me. I must never take my salvation for granted, getting comfortable with the fact that I’m saved for all eternity and forget that I must daily follow and grow with Christ.
Prayer:
Shepherd, help me to daily lay down my rights of freewill to your perfect plan for my life. Help me to not pawn off salvation as simply a “fire insurance” plan but as a way of life. Spur me on in the times I struggle to lay down selfish and worldly desires. Thank you for your willingness to grow me in Your word. Thank you for laying down Your life for mine.
— Crystal Stringer, high school minister
Mark 8: 34 — “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”
Observation:
To take up your cross in Jesus’ time was a sign of accepting a shameful slaves death. Nothing about this statement was exactly appealing, yet it was Jesus’ call to His disciples. So many times today, I think we downplay the cost of following Christ. There is a cost to following Christ. It’s not simply the act of salvation followed by church attendance and a moral life. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross. That’s the cost. It means refusing to follow the worldly desires that surround us. It means letting God lead and guide every step we take. Yes, there is a cost to discipleship but after receiving the undeserved gift of salvation, it is the natural inclination of your heart to want to follow God on the path He has for your life.
Application:
I must consciously lay down the worldly desires of my flesh and follow Christ in obedience. I need to learn to see myself as a modern-day disciple, following Jesus, sharing His Word and His love with those around me. I must never take my salvation for granted, getting comfortable with the fact that I’m saved for all eternity and forget that I must daily follow and grow with Christ.
Prayer:
Shepherd, help me to daily lay down my rights of freewill to your perfect plan for my life. Help me to not pawn off salvation as simply a “fire insurance” plan but as a way of life. Spur me on in the times I struggle to lay down selfish and worldly desires. Thank you for your willingness to grow me in Your word. Thank you for laying down Your life for mine.
— Crystal Stringer, high school minister
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