Meditate

Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his Law Day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.  Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

What I love about this particular Psalm is that it goes beyond what we usually define Christianity as.  It goes beyond what we are to avoid.  Like the old adage “I Are a Christian, I don’t drink I don’t chew, and I don’t date girls who do!”

Now as I write about this, I want to make sure we are speaking the same language.  Sometimes we can use Christianese and not even know what the words mean.  The word “Blessed” for instance.  It means “Happy” but in a truly spiritual peaceful holy sense.  So this scripture teaches us how to be happy! In the right ways.  It then tells us what to avoid, that is bad company.  As it says elsewhere “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” [actually, quoting the Ancient Greek poet Menander])

But immediately goes into what we are supposed to do… Meditate on God’s Word.

I used to think Meditating was more like a yoga thing, ya know when you cross your legs, hold out your hands touching fingertip to thumb tip and moan “OOOwhhhhmmmmmm” repetitively.

But being the sophisticated redneck that I am, I think in a little different way.  Here the word in the Psalm Meditate reminds me of what cows do when they ruminate.  They take the food in and bring it up again later to chew on it.  That is what we should do with scripture.  We should take it in in our devotional time like this, and then throughout the day bring it back to mind and chew on it mentally. 

Now I am not going to suggest that we re-translate the scripture to “Blessed is he who ruminates on his Law Day and night.”  But you get the idea.  I hope this ministry helps you to ruminate on the word of God.  And that is precisely why I put a “Verse to Memorize or meditate on” at the end of these devotionals… To help you do just that!

Prayer: Jesus help me to keep your Word on my mind always, so that I will meditate on it, and apply it to my life.  Remind me to pay attention to whom I am allowing to influence me so that I might live a life that is holy and honoring to you.  Continue to speak to me by your spirit constantly reminding me of the words of Jesus, and be that voice behind me telling me the ways I should turn and walk in.

Amen

Verse to Memorize and Meditate on: Psalm 1:2 (Blessed is the one) whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his Law Day and night.

Point to Ponder: Do I Delight in God’s Word, or is it merely a task that I check off in my daily reading like brushing my teeth?  Do I see it as adding value to my life with truth, and wisdom as my spiritual food?

Apply it to your life:  Maybe, get some index cards, write down the memory verse of the day and put it in your wallet, then every time you make a purchase or pull your wallet out, take a moment to read the verse and commit it to memory.

Leave a comment below to share what God spoke to you specifically in this passage with others or text me back a question or comment.

Encourage One Another

Hebrews 3:7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”(Psalm 95:7-11)

See to it, brothers, and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.  But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.  We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.  As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”

Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work in many places where I had other Christians around me.  This gave me the ability to both encourage and be encouraged daily in the faith.  This I believe is one of the reasons I have been able to grow so deeply in my relationship with Jesus. 

However, I know that not everyone has that blessing.  There are those who work in environments that are less than godly, surrounded by co-workers who not only do not honor Jesus, but who degrade those who do.  In those instances, I think it is even more important and valuable to find a way to encourage and be encouraged “so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

This perhaps is an instance where we know what we ought to do, yet we do not do it.  (James 4:17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.) That is to reach out and encourage, or to ask for prayer and encouragement.  But we must remember that Christianity is not something we can drift through, it is an intentional discipleship (apprenticeship) program that the passionate grasp with fervor.  (Mathew 11:12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and the violent take it by force.)

The Kingdom of God cannot be experienced lackadaisically. (lacking life, spirit or zest) For we are encouraged in Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Prayer: Jesus forgive me for when I have been less than passionate and less than diligent about my relationship with you.  Forgive me for when I have not asked for encouragement and prayer or have not offered it when I should.  Help me to Encourage others daily in You.  And keep me from being swept away from you by the currents of busyness or laziness in this world.

Amen

Verse to Memorize and Meditate on: Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Point to Ponder: Do I Truly seek out Christian Community or do I merely engage with those who are around me, and allowing myself to be influenced by them more than the family of faith?

Apply it to your life:  Today if you do not leave a comment below then you need to re-read the above encouragement LOL!  Also consider forwarding the text/email to someone you know who needs encouragement. Also Come back to this one tomorrow and read the comment left by others.

Leave a comment below to share what God spoke to you specifically in this passage with others or text me back a question or comment.

Abide

John 15:1-12 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

What does it mean to Abide in Jesus, what does it mean to have His Word abide in us?

Well, here’s the thing, True Christianity is exercised in the format of Discipleship. That is a daily learning process through relevant in the Moment teaching.  Yet most of our current style of Christian Education is diluted down to an Hour a week, A Sunday Sermon, with a prayer and a few songs oh, and don’t forget the announcements and the collection….

Yet the Gospels give us a very different picture of what Discipleship looks like.  Perhaps to better understand it we need to use words that we are more familiar with, like the word “Apprenticeship”.  Whether in the context of a Union worker or someone who is an intern who is learning a skill, we get what Apprenticeship is.  Now if we apply that to following Jesus, then we understand it is like on-the-job training.  With this view we would approach Christianity with a whole different perspective.    

Personally, I have been enamored with the concept of Digital Discipleship.  You see today we have the ability to be connected in ways we never had before.  This gives way to the possibility to Fulfill Christ’s Commission “Go and make Disciples” (Mathew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,) with new Methods!  Bringing a new perspective on the truth that Jesus proclaimed in John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

Abiding in Jesus is learning to see Him in every little Moment of our day.  Having His Word Abide in us is being able to relate the truths of scripture to our everyday experiences. This ministry tool is designed to help you do just that.

Prayer: Jesus give me the desire, and the ability to Abide in you more; to look for you in every Moment of my day and apply your word to every area of my life.  Thank you for this command and this opportunity may it become a powerful reality in my life.

Amen

Point to Ponder: Do I Abide in Christ as if He is standing here with me every moment of the day, or do I enter and exit His presence at certain “appropriate” times?

Verse to Memorize and Meditate on: John 15:4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Apply it to your life: Whether it is a “WWJ” braceleted, or something else, carry something with you or wear something that will help to remind you to abide in Jesus. 

Leave a comment below to share what God spoke to you specifically in this passage with others or text me back a question or comment.

Planting

Mathew 13:1-9 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.  Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.  Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

Jesus later explains this parable to the disciples telling them that the seed is the Word of God.  I was thinking the other day about Psalm 119:11. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. And I thought that a better word for Hidden, is “planted”.  Please do not think me arrogant to try to re-write the Bible, I merely try to paraphrase it in language I can understand.  I do believe that this word doesn’t change the meaning or intent of the passage. 

The Bible often uses the concept of planting, and its outcome harvesting.  Think for a minute about the outcome of your life, of your thought processes.  When we take a good assessment of our attitude and mindset it doesn’t take too much digging to find out what kind of seed we planted.  Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (But not just eternal, but divine life Zoe life, abundant life). 

Of course, you know When you plant corn seed, you get corn, when you plant alfalfa seed you get alfalfa, when you plant sunflower seeds you get sunflowers.  But when you plant nothing, what do you get?...

If you said nothing then you don’t know farming very well, because when you plant nothing, you definitely get weeds!

(One more quick question, what do you get when you plant bird seed!? LOL)

The issue we have sometimes is with everything that comes into our eyes and ears throughout the day, the one thing that we plant the least of is the word of God.  And often we wonder why we live such weak and powerless lives of faith.  We ought to remind ourselves of 2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Hopefully this ministry is helping you to plant the right kind of seed in your life!

Prayer: Jesus help me to cultivate the soil of my heart to receive the seed of your Word and have it bring about a bountiful harvest in my life.  Thank you for your Word that you make available to me, for your Spirit that speaks to me, and thank you for your servants, pastors, teachers, apostles and evangelists who present your word and make it plain. 

Amen

Verse to Memorize and Meditate on: Psalm 119:11. I have hidden(planted) your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Point to Ponder: What are all the ways that a farmer or gardener works to assure a healthy plant and an abundant harvest (irrigation, cultivation, fertilizer, weeding etc.) and how does that apply to the outcome of the seeds of the Word of God in my spirit?

Apply it to your life:  Many of us pick up a newspaper or book or our phone or pull up a game on the computer when on our breaks throughout the day, what if instead we chose to read a passage of scripture at those times or a devotional like this one? 

Leave a comment below to share what God spoke to you specifically in this passage with others or text me back a question or comment.

Hey! Do you Got a Minute?!

No, really Friend, do you have a minute?  Now that I got you to click this link, do you have a minute to actually read it?  Not just skim it but read it.  If I’m honest sometimes even with the things I volunteer to receive, I don’t take the time to actually concentrate and give them my full focus. I am not sure why that is, why I am so distracted.

But I’ll let you in on a little secret, there is one huge benefit to serving and sharing the way I do.  It is the added incentive to look for something to share.  Like sharing “Moments” for instance, in sharing these stories with you it is the added push to look for a Moment to show up.  But like you my life gets busy, and with all the things to do, it seems a week can go by, and I can’t think of anything spectacular to talk about.  Add to that that I am a total procrastinator, and sometimes you have a Last Minute me trying to come up with something to write about.  This story was one of those times. I was staring at my screen, trying to remember a Moment where God had shown up in a meanignful way for me that I could share with you…

Then God spoke….

Sometimes you have to “Create a Moment”

I’m sure you want to experience these kinds of moments in your life as much as I do.  Ok, I’m assuming… You do, right?  Well sometimes we have to give God something to work with.  When God made Adam, He had something to work with, the clay.  When God made Eve, He had something to work with, Adam’s rib (Genesis 2:7, 21-22).  In order for God to show himself in the moment, sometimes we need to give Him a moment.  James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and he will draw Near to You….”

God is at work all around us, always moving, always speaking always active sometimes we need to just slow down and give Him a moment.  Why don’t you give God a Moment of your time and say good morning! (After all, He gave you every moment of your time anyway!)

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Willie Vaughan (Just in case you didn’t already know LOL) I’m So glad you’ve joined me and others on this Devotional journey!  I want to tell you a little bit about “Moments Devotionals” and how they came into being!  When I was Pastoring the Sussex Wesleyan Church, each Sunday Morning I would ask members of our congregation to share (in three minutes or less) how God had worked or moved or spoken to them throughout the week. 

Now there were a few regulars who would think of something to say each week.  But even for myself I was amazed of how little I could remember seeing or hearing God.

Yet I know the Bible says God is always there with us. 

Psalm 139:7-12 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.  If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

And I believe that God is always active, always moving, always speaking to us.  I do not believe that God is up in heaven twiddling his thumbs or napping most of our lives.  I realized that the issue was that we (myself included) are so busy, so distracted and so unaccustomed to looking and listening for God in the normal routines of our days.  We don’t see Him or hear Him, because we don’t expect to or don’t think about Him. (Now I do know part of the reason I didn’t get a lot of engagement at the church is because not everybody wants to get up and talk in front of the whole church, and sometimes we just go blank when we are put on the spot) 

But have you ever noticed that when you buy a certain type of car or are looking to buy a type of car you all of a sudden see them everywhere?  It isn’t like they weren’t there before.  It is just that you are now noticing them because your mind has keyed into recognizing them and spotting them in the vast sea of images that come at you constantly. 

I believe that it is the same with God “Moments” That if we train ourselves to expect and look for God our mind and our Spirit will start seeing more and more of Him at work and speaking in our everyday lives. 

So I created “Mid-Week Moments Email” to start training myself and others to recognize when God shows up. 

It has been and continues to be my hope that this Devotional Inspires you and illustrates for you how to notice the God who is Always there, Always Active and Always Speaking in your own life!

God is Always There, Always Active and Always Speaking!

This format will also help you get to know other members of the Outa the Box Ministry Family.  So, engage in and enjoy the comment section, go back to previous days’ posts and see what others are saying.  And I (We’d all) Love to hear about the “God Moments” In Your life!

Leave a comment below to say Hi and maybe share what you might like to expect out of this Digital Devotional over the next week.