Mood:  hungry

S.

Psalm 42:6,7 (NKJ)  O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar.7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

O.

O my God, my inner man is weakened against me. As a result, I will bring You to my mind from the place of humility and dying to 'self'; I am promoted by 'dying to self' when I humble myself before You.

 The distraction and stirring up of Your Spirit's supply draws me to be distracted and stirred up by Your Spirit's supply, desiring more. Your Spirit is channeled into me and brings my spirit to attention with it's loud 'sound'. You're completeing me by breaking 'self' into pieces and by Your chastisement. You cause me to change. Your 'change' causes me to advance in my inner man, advancing me to more completion. 

A.

What is cool about God's Spirit is that the more you have, the more you want. The more He is channeled into my spirit, the more I 'see' what needs to be cut out of my life and broken up into pieces. These 'pieces' of me that aren't needed in my self, are really in the way of getting more of God's Spirit. Humility is the key. Humbling myself, as if to kneel as slices are taken off of me, makes me 'lighter' in my spirit. Being 'lighter' causes me to be 'changed'. When I am changed, then I can advance into the next stage of spirituality, MORE. It's uncomfortable to change, but it's always an adventure! And always for the good of God. Nothing can be better than a lighter, changed and adventurous spirit. It's the next step to being completely spirit...that, which won't happen, until after the second coming of Jesus. Then, and only then, can I have a new spiritual body and be complete. I'm just taking one step at a time in THIS life.

P.

Thank You, Lord, for cutting the un-needed pieces out of my life. I want YOUR change and YOUR spiritual advancement in my life. I desire MORE, Father. The more You give, the more I long for. Thank You, that You are advancing me. Teach me how to be humble...for that is the key to MORE!

Mood:  energetic

S.

1 Corinthians 14:20 (NKJ)

Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

O.

Fellow Believers; don't be immature in your heart, mind or sensitivity.

But be the opposite when it comes to 'spite' or 'holding grudges'; be simple minded...untaught, unskilled and childish.

The goal of Believers is to become whole; finished and completed in our hearts, minds and sensitivity. This is our aim and purpose as we walk on this Earth.

A.

To be 'simple' minded when it comes to 'pay back' to those who have hurt me, is a JESUS THING! It all stems back to what I have layed at the feet of Jesus. When someone hurts me, I need to lay it at Jesus' feet and LEAVE it there. I need to be simple minded in this area without thought or intention for revenge. God knew this would happen in my life and allowed it for a purpose. It's up to HIM to judge, not me. His Truth will always win in the end. I will lean on THAT...and NOT revenge!

P.

Father, I know Your Truth always reigns! I know that Your Truth always comes out. I pray that I would be a simpleton when it comes to being hurt; no thoughts or ideas of revenge...PERIOD! You, Father, are Judge, I am NOT! Help me to cross the finish line without malice, spite or grudges. They only slow me down.

Mood:  quizzical

S.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJ) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

O.

As an immature Christian, we are only given measured out pieces of knowledge or understanding as we walk through this life; from one puzzling experience to another, our understanding of it isn't complete.

As we become more mature Christians, we will find out definately, learn with certainty, according to what we have learn from the previous puzzling-experiences.

A.

AT the beginning of my Christian walk, I couldn't understand the reason for all the troubles and problems I had. But as I kept going and looked back on them, I could understand what I was being taught...how to grow spiritually. I couldn't understand what love was, for example, until I was challenged in that area; I then understood why love was taken away, or given to me more or was questioned. I was learning what 'love' meant and how to apply it to my spiritual life. These experiences were just 'pieces' of learning how to be a whole person. And as I walk through each puzzling experience, I begin to learn more and more the purpose for them being in my life in the first place. It's always for my spiritual growth and growing into a mature Christian. I can not be a completed whole without first putting all the pieces together. And I can not really learn without these 'puzzling experiences'.

P.

Father, I thank You for You allowing problems and troubles in my life. Without them I would never grow into what You created me to be in the first place. Now I pray for the watchfulness I need to quickly see and understand where these puzzle pieces fit in my life. Help me to grow because of life's riddles.

Mood:  bright

OR

S.

1 Corinthians 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

O

But the luminousness of the Spirit (the character, personality, work, power, disposition, influence, essence, nature and soul of God) is given to EACH and EVERY Believer, as carriers of His reflection. These 'carriers of God's reflection' hold all of the 'common fund and supply' for each other.

Jesus is the 'Light-Switch', Holy Spirit is the 'Wire' that carries the currant, God is the 'Ceiling-Light'....and Believers are the 'Fruit of that Light'; 'God's Light-Bulbs'.

A.

I can not stand alone as 'God's reflection' because I don't have all that I need to keep shining for God. The only way that I can receive what I need individually is to be with other Believers-bulbs. Together, we have the 'common fund and supply' for each other. One Light bulb shines dull compared to a thousand bulbs standing together and hooked up to the same Electric Current. All together, we ARE the 'Light of the World' and the Light for each other!

P.

Father, help us Believers to stand together as one mass of lit up Light bulbs for You. Give us understanding that standing together not only helps each one of us be brighter, but we illuminate YOU to the world as one HUGE Light!

Mood:  caffeinated

S.

1 Corinthians 11:24,25 (NKJ) and when He had given thanks, He broke   (dict.= to rupture the surface; to discover the system key for decoding or deciphering; to penetrate; to disclose or reveal) it and said, Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.

In the same manner He also took the cup (Greek; Thayer #4221: experiences, a drinking vessel (us), to recieve into the soul what serves to refresh, strengthen, and nourish it into eternal life) after supper (expense, cost; Greek Thayer #1173: symbol of salvation into the Kingdom), saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it (Greek; Thayer #4221: experiences, a drinking vessel (us), to recieve into the soul what serves to refresh, strengthen, and nourish it into eternal life), in remembrance of Me.

O.

Bread is what feeds our body but The Bible is what feeds our soul. Jesus was saying to 'rupture the surface' or the Word of God so that we can 'decode or deceipher' it. It was 'ruptured' for us so we can remember Jesus inside of it's pages.

The 'cup' represents our experiences in life; both good and bad. When we pay the cost of life experiences, while we recall all that Jesus taught and lived through, we receive wisdom and knowledge which "we receive into our souls to refresh, strengthen, nourish it into eternal life".

A.

I could write a book on my life experiences and it would look just like a soap-opra! My story would tell everything from having cancer to watching my grandson be born. The experiences I had in between those two things would knock your socks off. But because of these, I have become learned and a bit wiser. These experiences were necessary, the COST, that my soul/spirit would become more knowledgable. Life experiences, both good and bad, are to be lived through while looking at what Jesus lived through and the way He handled life. This makes us wise-up, spiritually. We learn by comparing what we are going through and how we handled it, with how the men in the Bible PLUS Jesus (remembering) went through like experiences and handled it. We could skip a few steps, the ones that took us off the path, if we could just decipher and break the surface of those same experiences in the Word of God. They are for our 'comfort and learning so that we....might have hope'!

P.

Thank You, God, for Your Bread/Word and Your cup/experiences. Show me how to merge the two together; the Bread and the cup; Your Word and my life's experiences. Help me SKIP A FEW STEPS! 

Mood:  a-ok

 S.

1 Corinthians 10:23, 24 (NKJ) All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify ("house-builder; architecture"). Let no one seek his own, but each one the others well-being.

O.

Everything is right for me to do in public, but not all things profit or contribute to others. Everything is right for me to do in public, but not all things prompt Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness or blessedness. (build the character of others; be their 'architect') Let no one seek your owh architecture, but strive to be the 'architect' to others.

A.

We are the church's 'builders'. We are the 'architects' of the church. We, each individual Believer, give the church, as the whole body of Christ, it's character. That's our responsibility. And it all starts by building up the character of the one who stands beside us. We are to embolden, restore, repair and rebuild each other. We are to build each other up, not tear each other down. We are to strengthen each others 'character' so as to show proof that we are the body of Christ....and hold the charcter of Jesus.

P.

Father, make me just one of Your church architects! Show me how to build my fellow Believer up in every truthful way. Make me Your architect, Father.

Mood:  quizzical

S.

1 Corinthians 9:1 (NKJ) Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

O.

Paul is confirming who he is to the Corinthians ('satisfaction'), just so they know his NEW reputation vs. the old one. He's says he's 'one sent on a mission', a messenger and an ambassador. He is not a slave but is unrestrained by the yoke of the Mosaic law...he's FREE! He has the reputation of being free! He has become acquanted with Jesus by having experiences with Him. Paul has attended Jesus and seen Him with his own eyes and his mind. Because of this, the church of Corinth ('satisfaction') have become Paul's assignment; his business. Paul is an instrument of Jesus, as Paul rests in what Jesus already completed; the cross.

A.

This scripture stood out to me because Paul is confirming who he is and teaching 'satisfaction' (Corinth). I am searching for who I am as just ME...and seeking satisfaction in my life.

Like Paul, I am FREE from the Law. I have experience Jesus, resting in what He has done for me (freed me, intercedes for me, conquered death for me, defeated satan for me, covers my sins, makes me the victorer, gave me the job of continuing on the same 'mission' He had on Earth, loves me no matter what). Like Paul, I attend Jesus and am His instrument. Like Paul, I've SEEN Jesus and I experience His Spirit.

Who am I?

I'm just like Paul! I'm freed, and as Jesus' instrument, I am on a mission to be satisfied, showing myself as the 'satisfied' to others. 

P.

Father, Thank You for Your Son, for in Him I can be all You created me to be; free and completed/satisfied! Thank You that You have gave me Jesus as my Way!

Mood:  surprised

S.

1 Corinthians 8:10,11 (NKJ) For if anyone sees you, who have knowledge, eating in an idols temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

O.

What I think Paul is saying here is that if anyone who has intelligence, and is watching you while you are being either appointed by God with His intentions, OR while you are being held in subjection under the power of the devil, AND you are being seen in a 'testing place' where your 'likeness' will show (either the likeness of Jesus or the likeness of the devil) THEN the soul of the 'watcher' will determine whether you are real or fake. He'll watch you from the outside to see if you are changed on the inside in this place of testing. If this 'watcher' is spiritually weak and impotant (powerless) but is trying to grow in Christ,then what you reveal to him could either cause him to trip up or cause him to desire what you have; growth in Jesus. If we aren't real in Jesus, the 'watcher' will be tripped up and could remain useless to God's Kingdom.

A.

I am being watched. YOU are being watched. If we are Believers or claim to love Jesus, we are being closely scrutinized. In this day of many 'idols' (those 'things' or 'people' who are put as #1 in our desires and obedience over and above God in our lives), we are being examined to see if we really do have the Answer. I know I have Jesus in me. I want Him seen in my life, AS my Life (how can you hide Jesus?...the REAL Jesus is too big to hide?). I know He's real because I know I'm changed from the inside out. The only way to let that show on the outside is to live for Him on the INSIDE! I have to be real! Not one fake molucule can be left alive in me because it will be seen by the 'watchers'. Anything fake in me has to be destroyed by fire...GOD'S fire! Then I will be pure both inside AND outside; seen by the 'watcher' as the holder of God's Authentic Secret, Jesus!

P.

Father, I ask that You destroy every little thing in me that not of your authenticity! Make me crystal clear, Lord, in front of You and all those who are watching me. Help me not to fail You in this, Lord. I don't want to trip anyone up, Father....just bring a longing for the 'Secret' inside of me to belong to others, too!

Mood:  irritated

S.

O.

Paul says that he is advising, in a yielding way and as a right or privalage...as a point in an argument. He says that his statement isn't an order from God. He says he desires, by choice, that all humans existed in the manner that HE does, with the exception that each person pssiss his/her own seperate deliverances and favors from God.

A.

Paul makes me angry! His pride shows in chapter 7. Is this godly? He wants every human being to be like him in being 'single'. He only SUGGESTS by his own OPINION, that they do. It's NOT an order from God. He does say that he understand each persons individual gifts of deliverance and favor from God. SO WHY DID HE EVEN WRITE THIS FOR THE CHURCH IF IT'S OF HIS OWN OPINION? Does this show that Paul was hurt by a woman and so shuns marriage? What exactly is he telling us...that marriage makes it harder to be intimate with Jesus?

P.

Father, show me why this angers me; why this stirs up my spirit. What is Your Spirit trying to sift out of me that doesn't belong. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear what You are trying to teach me in this scripture, Father. Help me to understand it clearly so that I can apply it to my life!

Mood:  bright

S.

1 Corinthians 6:11, 12 (NKJ) And such were some of you.(fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners) But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

O.

We were given a new, purified soul the very moment we gave our hearts to Jesus. We were given the same fixed position of innocence and freedom that Jesus has. We were given everything you can think of that is associated with the name 'Jesus'...and all it brings to mind; His character and authority. We were given the very Soul/Spirit that God holds; the nature of God.

Because of this, everything on this earth is 'right' for us.

The EXCEPTION? Those things that aren't for our spirit/soul's advantage. Those things that don't contribute to the good of our spirit/soul. Those things that could bring us under 'foreign' control or power. (and it's under OUR control what power/control we give away)

A.

I have Jesus and all His character and authority in me. Because of this, I also have the authority over what may try to control me. I can give away my power/authority to people or things. Or I can give my power/authority to Jesus in complete surrender to HIS power/authority.

I can let peoples oppinions of me rule my life, or let Jesus' oppinion rule.

I can give power to food, or I can take control of that.

 I can give power to many things or people, but that's my choice.

When I 'see' this, I get the control. When I understand the ability I have in who or what I give power to, then I can choose to take or give that power to the proper Person, Jesus.

Today, THIS is what I choose: to give Jesus all control, authority and power over my life.

P.

Jesus, take the wheel! I give You, and You alone, the control of my life. I choose to see what authority I have given away and I take it back. I give YOU that power, in Your name, authority and character!