Nov 17

Jun 23

  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution The Desert
    It says that "the Spirit" led him into the desert where which He was tempted. When I've been led into a "dry place," "a place of hardship" or even "temptation"...I've generally thought that was the Devil's doing. Reflection: what deserts have I been in and what has God taught me while in them? Read more »

Oct 3

  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution The Devil is a Sneaky Bastard
    John 10:10...have heard this verse a ba-jillion times...could recite it in my sleep...yada yada yada. BUT WAIT...just had it explained to me in the Greek and God revealed some stuff that I had never seen before. The "steal" part...got it. The "destroy" part...got it. The "kill part"...got it...or at least I thought! Always heard this preached under the context that the devil wants to actually (physically) kill us. That, as Christians, he'd rather us be up… Read more »

Sep 13

  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution When God Says That LESS is MORE
    In verse 2, God clearly says that if Gideon and his 32,000 men win the victory...that HE won't get the glory. Even the 32k army was probably severely outgunned. Then 10k was STILL too many. God put them in a scenario where hardly anyone could point to them/man as the reason for success. Read more »

Aug 25

  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution Why Leave Any Chips on the Table?
    The Msg translation here references a trust in God that comes from "the bottom" of my heart. But what does that *really* mean? Lately, God has been taking these somewhat familiar scriptures and giving them a new meaning in my life. This *meaning* has always been there yet my head has gotten in the way of my heart. It has taken a lot of challenging experiences for my head to catch up with my heart on this one. Do I trust God with my finances? With my business? With my life? Am I… Read more »

Aug 21

  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution God..."s-a-y WHAT?!?!"
    You mean to tell me that how I act *outside* of the church means more to God than my actions *at* church (including my mere attendance there)?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! And to top it all off...he references my "justice with neighbors." Wow, what a powerful case for forgiveness and love. Read more »
  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution My sucky definition of leadership
    This verse says that "good leadership" is directed by God. But what is "good leadership?" Up until the other week, I thought that it encompassed things like setting the example, putting in the most work, motivating others and pioneering visions. While some of those certainly are attributes...I've seen this phrase with fresh eyes. Simply put, "good leadership" is the continual effort of bringing as many people along side you as possible when you cross the fi… Read more »

Aug 14

  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution Weddings vs. Funerals
    This verse goes hand-in-hand with what Preston shared the other day about the importance of funerals over weddings. This ties in with the story of David, Nathan and Bathsheeba when their son died and David comforted his wife. (2 Samuel 12) Read more »
  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution Slapping God in the Face
    Interesting translation here by the Message. When we're not honest with God, with others and with ourselves...it's showing disrespect to God. And that disrespect is like a slap to His face. How many times have I slapped God in the face? (a sobering thought) Read more »

Aug 12

  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution Embracing the "God-life"
    Interesting choice of words for this passage in The Message translation. The word "embrace" stuck out to me a bit. How often have I "said" or "thought" inside that I'm living a life of faith, a life following Christ...yet I haven't fully embraced it? Read more »

Aug 10

  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution The pinwheel of unforgiveness
    Proverbs talks about how hatred stirs up strife. So fi I don't like or don't forgive someone, then I am choosing to hate them. And if I hate them, then there will be strife between us. And with strife comes more forgiveness's...it's a pinwheel of bitterness! I will love others even when it's hard. Even when I don't want to. Even what I don't feel that I "need to." Even when it's not reciprocated. Even when it hurts my pride. Read more »

Jul 22

  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution What the heck is AGAPE?
    God says that if we show love to those that love us...big whoop! He says that if we do good to those that are good...big whoop! He says that if we lend to those of need but expect repayment...big whoop! Essentially...all of the above are "easy." But what if I'm called to show love when it's unreciprocated....or even worse, when it's in the face of someone who has wronged me? Isn't that what Christ did after all? Didn't he model the perfect example of what… Read more »
  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution God's *Litmus Test* - Fruit
    I'm noticing how God says where your "treasure is...there your heart is." And I'm realizing that he DIDN'T say that "where your heart is...there your treasure will be." Regardless of what I believe, feel or desire to do...my heart is made evident by my decisions. Simply put, the *fruit* of my life can serve as a litmus test of what my heart is like and where my priorities are in life. Fruit can be my treasure, time, etc... Read more »
  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution It's All About the Heart
    I've grown up hearing Luke 6:38 preached under the context of money and financial prosperity. Pastor Robert shared the other week about how God's Word starts out this passage and the one in Matthew under the context of judgment and forgiveness. How often to I "give to get" versus "give to give?" A lot of the root here for me is selfishness or a lust after material things. It's an issue of the heart ultimately...time to seek God on that. Read more »

Jul 16

Jul 15

  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution Living for the things of this world
    Solomon describes here that all of a man's labor under the sun can not be taken with him from this earth. Reflection: What am I spending the majority of my time on each day? Things of God (eternal) or the things of this world (trivial)? Read more »

Jul 11

Jul 10

  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution Trusting in God like it's nobody's business!
    HOLY FREAKIN' COW! This story is just plain crazy whenever I read it! So here's the backdrop...Abraham gets this HUGE promise from God...essentially that he'll have descendants as "numerous as the stars." But there's only 1 problem...he doesn't have a son plus he's freakin' old...so how is he going to have this huge legacy to live on then? So this HUGE miracle by providing him a son in Isaac. But then, he puts Abraham's faith to the test by… Read more »
  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution What Chokes Out "The Word"
    1. Cares of the world -Reflection: How often do I dwell on the worries of my own life? How often do I just ponder over the cares for "temporal things" such as business, visions, pursuits, etc...? 2. Deceitfulness of Riches -Reflection: How many value/weight do I place on earthly wealth? How about when compared to things of eternal value? The measuring stick would be where I spend my time. 3. Lust of the Flesh -Reflection: Are my desires lining up… Read more »
  • mdavis
    mdavis added a text contribution Motive
    It says that the hand of the diligent maketh rich. But for what? Or for whom? For the sake of only "riches"...or for "others"...or for God's Will? This is a good motive check for me...to not try and get rich for anything but God's purpose. Read more »