Mood:  bright

S.

Acts 28:1, 2 (NKJ) 1 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta ("affording/furnshing  honey").2 And the natives (Greek: 'foreigners') showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.

O.

The men who were supernaturally rescued by God were now favored by 'foreigners' in their own land.

A.

Because I have been rescued by Jesus and am a free woman, God blesses me with His favor. Freedom just shines out of those who are saved. Many times in my life God's unexplainable favor pours out on me. And it usually comes from those who are attracted to the 'shine of Jesus'. They don't understand this 'shine' on us, but they desire this same freedom. Freedom causes God's favor to pour out from the un-saved on the saved.

P.

Thank You, Lord, for Your shine of salvation! Thank You for Your favor over my life.

Mood:  hungry

S.

Acts 27:34, 38 (NKJ) "Therefore, I urge you to take nourishment, for this is your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you."...So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out (to purge out/test) the wheat  (what is crushed and kneaded) into the sea.

O.

*Because the men on the ship hadn't eaten in 14 days, they were loosing strength, clear thinking and energy.

+If I don't read God's word for awhile, this is exactly what happens in my spirit. My spirit grows weak, confused and sleepy.

*Paul encouraged them to eat.

+Holy Spirit prompts us to read the Bible to feed our spirit.

*When the men on the ship were satisfied, they threw the rest of the food overboard. This made the ship lighter so the ship could stay afloat during the storm.

+When my spirit is full and satisfied from God's Word, I am to 'lighten the load' of knowledge...throw the rest overboard so as not to have the burden of too much un-needed knowledge which causes confusion. I get exactly what I need for THAT storm/trouble.

A.

Jesus knows just what I need and knows the exact time that I need it. He knows which storm/trouble I am in and exactly the thing that will help me. When I read His Word, while being lead by Holy Spirit, my spirit is fed with the exact amount of knowledge and wisdom that is needed for that exact time; that exact storm. When my spirit is satisfied there and I recognize the answer to the 'storm-problem', all other 'wisdom and knowledge' that isn't needed is 'thrown overboard' in order that my spirit won't be overloaded (which could cause confusion...which is NOT of God)  If I need that wisdom and knowledge later, it will be given to me as the answer for a different 'storm-problem'.

It's as if God is saying to me, "Take one step at a time, My child. I will lead you in what you need to know right now, during THIS storm, because I know you.  I will not give you too little or too much but just the right amount for this time in your life".

P.

Father, I know that You know me so well that You know exactly what I need for the exact time I need it. In each 'storm-problem'You lead me to the exact help I need. Help me to always trust You in the amount of wisdom and knowledge that is revealed to me. Help me to not try to grab more than I need, for You know the exact amount. I am SO glad You know everything about me! I trust You, Lord!

Mood:  amorous

S.

Psalm 22:3 (NKJ) But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

O.

God is morally sacred, set apart, prepared, dedicated, shows Himself majestic, honored and appointed. He is sitting down, dwelling, inhabiting, settled, and remaining in the true colors and sounds of our praises to Him. We show ourselves, as we praise Him, crystal clear....nothing hidden. We show ourselves as who we really are; mad men/woman and fools, in love with our God. He loves this. Because our actions are louder than words. When we show ourselves as fools, who we really are, He inhibits us.

A.Praising God in front of people can be very hard, especially when we think we are being watched. But what if we ALL acted like the people we truly are inside; foolish for God. We would ALL be God's 'nothings'. The more we praise Him as 'foolish nothings' the more He can come into us and BE HIS-SELF! He can consume us in our praises to Him. And that's EXACTLY where I want Him to be!

P.Father, Help me to show You, in my crystal clear worship and praise to You, that You are EVERYTHING to me!

Mood:  sharp

S.But I replied to them that it was not the custom of the Romans (Strength, Power) to give up freely any man for punishment before the accused had met the accusers (satan) face to face and had opportunity to defend himself concerning the charge brought against him.

O.Festus told the king the history behind Paul's case and why he was being charged. He also told how Paul's accusers had no power in charging Paul with any crime until they came face to face with them.

A.There is no power in an 'accuser' unless you give him that power. Until the 'accuser' can come face to face with the 'accused', there is no accusation that can stand. That's where the 'Agent' comes in. When we stand behind the 'Agent/Attorney' and allow Him to defend us, no accusations will ever hit us. We give the 'accuser/satan' no handle to hold onto....no leverage to use in overpowering us with guilt or shame, fear or control. That is why it's so important to confess sin quickly. Jesus steps in between us and satan and destroys satan's handle on our souls. He has nothing to hold on to to accuse us with. Jesus has broken off that 'handle' of control.

P.Jesus, THANK YOU that You are my Divine Attorney! Thank You for taking my sin on the cross and breaking satan's handle off my life. Forgive me, Jesus, for my sins...ALL of them. I don't want any handles on this utensil that satan can use! ONLY broken stubs!

Mood:  surprised

Scripture

Acts 24:15, 16 (NKJ) This being so, I myself always strive (train, to form by art) to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Observation

Paul is saying here that both he and his accusers agree that the dead will be risen, both the righteous and the sinful. This sorta puts the righteous man and sinful man on equal terms in that both the sinful and righteous will be judged. After we are risen, we are separated...the just and the unjust; two lines will form. The goats vs. the sheep. But until that time, we will be in the same line. In that same line, which is in THIS present time, we have no place in our lives to judge others. We are to ONLY see the good in others; actually train our minds to SEE only GOOD. In this way, we don't pre-judge ourselves or others wrongly and cause ourselves and others to stumble with our wrong judgment.

Application

I HATE offense/pre-judgment. It makes me feel terrible! This scripture tells me how to get rid of taking on offense. It says to train my mind to only see the good in people; to put on the 'rose colored glasses of God' in order to see through love. In this way, no offense or judgment can take a stand in my thinking. I will have 'God's eyes' and can see through love (only good traits) and not what is offensive to me!

Philippians 4:8 says:...whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

THAT is what I need to train my mind to do straight out of God's Instruction Book! THAT stomps out offense!

Prayer

Father, I ask that You open my spiritual eyes to only the good in others. I pray Philippians 4:8 over my life, Father. Blind me to judging and help me in my training to stomp out any offenses that I may take on or give to others.

Mood:  lyrical

S.Acts 22:1, 2 (AMP) 1 BRETHREN AND fathers, listen to the defense which I now make in your presence.2 And when they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew tongue they were all the more quiet. And he continued...

("Hebrew" comes from the meaning: "The opposite side of the Jordon" and Jordon means 'to go down' and "to cross over". The word tongue means"to mingle thought with thought". Translated in symbolism, "Hebrew tongue" means " those who have gone past the 'going-down -into-sin" stage and are coming up out of sin, and they are now speaking the language of freedom; "the mingling of our thoughts with the thoughts of OTHER Jordon crossers; Believers") 

O.Paul was trying to convince the 'orginal chosen' by God, the Jewish people, that he was obeying what God told him to do; to preach to the Gentiles, too. This enraged the Jews. They didn't want to believe that Paul had heard God through Jesus. But when they heard Paul speak in their language, Hebrew, they knew he was one of them. He understood them. They understood him. Because of this, they wanted to hear him out. 

A.I have met people that I just KNEW were Believers, without them saying a word about it. How? By the way they talk and the joy and freedom that is in their words and actions. They ooze Jesus through their demeanor! This makes me want to hear them, to 'mingle thought to thought' because this Believer speaks my language! They have 'crossed over the opposite side of the place of going down' (Jordon) like I have! We two, are the opposite of going down...we are going UP and speak the same Kingdom dialect! As we stand talking in the Kingdom Dialect, we hold fast in the fact of who we are; the sons and daughters of the Most High God....that makes us relatives! We quietly understand each other, as  Paul and the Jews were connecting through language in this scripture. Language connection causes people to listen!

P.Father I thank You for Your heavenly Kingdom Dialect! Thank You that the words You have given us through the Bible connect Your people and we recognize YOU in each others words! Open my eyes wider to see more of my bros and sisters in You! Open my ears to knowing Kingdom Dialect. Open my mouth more, to pour out Your Kingdom dialect to others, Father. I WANT TO KNOW YOU THROUGH KNOWING MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE KINGDOM!

Mood:  bright

S.Psalm 24:6, 7 (NKJ) This is Jacob( "Supplanter" or 'one who takes the place of something through force'), the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face, Selah. Lift up your heads (thinking), O you gates (opeinings to thoughts), and be lifted up (aided), you everlasting doors (entrance/to free/to plough), and the King of Glory shall come in.

O.Those whose hearts desire to know God's presence need to THINK! We are to lift up our thoughts, actually HELP them up, to think on the everlasting freedom that God has given us. In that way of thinking, our Abba Father can then enter our thoughts! This is being a 'Jacob', the supplanter who FORCES to replace our own way with God's way! Holy Spirit enters us here, and the circle of change in our mind and spirit begins and constantly continues. We are rerouted around those 'mind-mines' that satan has strategically placed in our thinking. Then God completely defuses them...destroying the lies satan has told us!

A.How many times have I allowed satan through the door of my thoughts to set up his 'mind-mines'? In this scripture Holy Spirit has shown me that I can avoid those 'mind-mines' by being a GOOD "supplanter"! I can FORCE out untruths and replace them with God's truths. Thinking on God's Word opens the door to 'higher thoughts', HIS thoughts, and reveals where satan has set those 'mind-mines'! I am in a state, right now, of constant change by Holy Spirit. He teaches me the way around those 'mind-mines' while He permantently defuses them...and I LOVE it!  

P.Father, I know that my thoughts go round and round, because that's how I change. I thank You that You have come into my mind, that was full of 'mind-mines' and continue to reroute my thinking. I pray, Father, that You would continue to strengthen my thoughts into Your Truths! You truly are my Hero!

Mood:  bright

S.Acts 20:7, 8 (NKJ) ......Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.

O.It was midnight and dark as it can get...outside. But INSIDE this 'upper room' it was ILLUMINATED with the LIGHT of MANY LAMPS! The 'upper room' represents our thoughts. The 'lamps' are lit in our minds by the Word of God. When we THINK GODS WORDS, we light the wick of our thoughts...and our mind becomes illuminated, shining light in the darkness of negative thinking, the thoughts put there by the evil one.

A.Negative thinking truly has darkened my thoughts at times, especially in times of trials or difficulties. Satan loves this. He loves to twist my thoughts into thinking I am NOT what God made me to be...and what God says I am! But when I seek the Light of God's Word, all those dark and negative thoughts scatter. Negative thinking can not STAY in darkness when I expose it to God's Light. I have the mind of Christ and all darkness has to flee because I have lit the fuse of His Word!

P.Jesus, I SO thank You for the Word, and that YOU are the Word! I praise You for illumination of Your Word in my mind and spirit! You truly Light up my life, Lord!

Mood:  quizzical

S.Acts 18:14, 15 (NKJ) And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrong or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. 'But if it is a question of words and names (character) and your own law (regulations), look to it yourselves (Greek; "GAZE BACKWARDS"); for I do not want to be a judge of such matters."

O. The Jews were about to learn a lesson from the governor of Achaia (Greek for 'governor of trouble'). The lesson was to LOOK TO THERESELVES...LOOK BACKWARD to see if they were DOING what they were PREACHING! He was not willing to judge them in right or wrong. They needed to judge themselves, first, by HOW THEY PRACTICED WHAT THEY PREACHED!

A.Am I living out what I say? Do I look backwards at myself to see if I'M living out what I tell others about? Do I judge others without judging myself first? If I am, then I have NO right! Keeping my eyes off others and onto myself when judging should be my way of life. My words, character and God's regulatons should not just be spoken of, they need to be LIVED OUT....by ME!

P.Father, help me to practice what I preach. Help me to live out what I know You want me to be...and in front of others. Help me be true to myself; YOU IN ME!

Mood:  spacey

S. Acts 17:16 (NKJ) Now while Paul waited for them (Timothy and Silas) in Athens ("Uncertainty"), his spirit was provoked (sharpened/stirred) within him when he saw that the city (place of warring/battle) was given over to idols. (full of too much devotion and obsession to false notions or to a visible thing of which has no substance)

O.Paul was expecting his friends, Timothy and Silas...but he waited with uncerainty, not knowing when they'd show up. As he waited, anger was stirred up in him because this great city was full of false idols and had THE God as just one of them. Could God's presence even dwell here?

A.Paul waiting for his friends reminds me when I wait on the presence of God. And when I wait, I never know when or where He'll show up. Sometimes what hinders my spirit from His presence is sin. These sins could be 'false idols or notions'. Am I putting worries higher than God? Am I giving fear or intimidation dominion over my thoughts instead of letting God have them? These are sins. Thoughts that BLOCK God's presence. My mind needs to be free of worry, fears, intimidation and anything that 'sets itself higher than God'. Then His presence, His very Spirit, can freely move in and around me.

P.Father, forgive me for setting my mind on anything but You. I ask that You raise up in me a hate for sin and any of the things that could try to set itself up higher than You in my mind and spirit. I want You alone to be first in my life!