The Golden Calf

Exodus 32:3-4
All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, "O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!"

Lord, I wonder if the gold came from their ears because they were listening to the wrong voices. Rather than listening to the voice of truth, they were paying attention to voices that were saying things like, "Where is this fellow Moses?" and "We need gods that we can see!" If we allow our selves to listen to those other voices too often, then they can become the object of our worship.

Romans 6:16

Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.

Lord, please help me to be aware of what voice I am listening to. I only want to obey you! I don't want to fashion any false gods for myself. You are the only one worthy of all my worship and adoration! In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSE

Salvation Not By Works

Titus 3:5

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5

Salvation Not By Works

Watch Out for Smooth Talk and Glowing Words

Romans 16:17-18

And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people's faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.

We have to be careful about who we listen to and what we read. Just because someone talks and sounds like a Christian doesn't mean that they are. They could be wolves in sheep's clothing using smooth talk and glowing words to deceive innocent people. The only way to avoid falling prey to this is by studying and knowing the word. We have to know and recognize the voice of truth before we can know and recognize impostors.

Matthew 24:11

And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.

Mark 13:22

For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones.

2 Corinthians 11:13

These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

MEMORY VERSES

All Have Sinned

Romans 3:23

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.

Romans 3:23

All Have Sinned

All Have Sinned

Isaiah 53:6

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.

Isaiah 53:6
All Have Sinned

Lord, Bring the Rain!

Genesis 4:17

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.

Genesis 4:17

Psalm 51:6 (NASB)

Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. 

Psalm 51:6 (NASB)

Micah 6:8

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

Hosea 6:3

So let us know, let us press on to know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.

Lord, what a beautiful picture you gave me of this verse this morning! Just as I was settling down to meet with you it started raining outside and you came to me like the rain. You refreshed my soul yet again.

Lord, you come to us like the spring rain in waves of blessing. Sometimes it's a soft, gentle outpouring. Then it becomes a deluge flooding my soul with your truth and washing away all the contaminants that I've picked up along my way. Just like a hard rain washes away the pollen from the air, you leave behind a fresh clean feeling and I can breathe again. I'm left dripping and soaked in your love and truth. Lord, may it splash out onto everyone I'm in contact with today! Please keep raining on my soul all day today!

Lord, use the rain that you've watered my soul with to water seeds that were planted in others! Let the rain you are giving me splash onto other believers leaving them soaked and dripping too.

Then they can pass it on to others as well.

Genesis 39:2-6a

The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master's household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar's household for Joseph's sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn't worry about a thing -- except what kind of food to eat!

Lord, I know that Joseph was a type of Christ. Jesus Christ, I want you to be in charge of our household and finances! I know that with you in charge all our household affairs will run smoothly and our crops and livestock will flourish. Help me to look to you to know how to run my household. Show me what you want me to do with every minute of my day. Do you want me to go do laundry? Please let me know and I will go do it. Is it time for me to check the kids' schoolwork? Speak to my heart and I'll do it. Help me to stop and ask for guidance each moment of my day.

Please be in charge of the kind of food I eat as well! Lord, I tend to want to let my stomach be my master. I tend to want to eat the kind of things that are not good for me. Help me to submit to your will in what I eat and how much I eat. Then my body will flourish and be healthy.

1 Peter 2:21-23

Lord, help my husband to know that the suffering he goes through at work is all part of what YOU have called him to. Remind him that Christ, who suffered for him is his example. Help my husband to follow in HIS steps. Jesus, you never sinned and you never deceived anyone. Help my husband to not retaliate when he is insulted. When he suffers, help him not to want to get even. Enable my husband to leave his case in YOUR hands God because you always judge fairly! In Jesus Name! Amen!

You Train My Hands for War!

Song of Solomon 2:15

Quick! Catch all the little foxes before they ruin the vineyard of your love, for the grave vines are all in blossom.

Song of Solomon 2:15

1 Peter 2:21-23

This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps. He never sinned, and He never deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when He was insulted. When He suffered, He did not threaten to get even. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

1 Peter 2:21-23

Micah 6:8

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

Psalm 144

Vs. 1-2

Praise the LORD, who is my rock.

He trains my hands for war

and gives my fingers skill for battle.

He is my loving ally and my fortress,

my tower of safety, my rescuer.

He is my shield, and I take refuge in him.

He makes the nations submit to me.

LORD, I praise you for you are training me for war! You are teaching me to journal, even though I struggle with doing it as consistently as I should. You are teaching me to cry out to you without holding back. You are teaching me to filter out the other voices, my enemies, and to run to you when I hear them. Lord, you don't just want to protect me, but you want to teach me to live in victory!

V. 11

Save me!

Rescue me from the power of my enemies.

Their mouths are full of lies;

they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.

Lord, my enemies, my sinful nature and those other voices, are constantly lying to me. They say things to me that breed defeat, depression and death. Lord, I only want to listen to your voice because you only speak life and peace to me.

V. 15

Yes, joyful are those who live like this!

Joyful indeed are those whose God is the LORD.

AMEN!

Lord, I want to hear YOU

Song of Solomon 2:15

Quick! Catch all the little foxes before they ruin the vineyard of your love, for the grave vines are all in blossom.

Song of Solomon 2:15

1 Peter 2:21-23

This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps. He never sinned, and He never deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when He was insulted. When He suffered, He did not threaten to get even. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

1 Peter 2:21-23

Micah 6:8

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

Psalm 143:8-12

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,

for I am trusting in you.

Show me where to walk,

for I give myself to you.

Rescue me from my enemies, LORD;

I run to you to hide me.

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God.

May your gracious Spirit lead me forward

on a firm footing.

For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life.

Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies

and destroy all my foes,

for I am your servant.

Lord, this is my prayer! I want to hear of your unfailing love each morning. I praise your name that you want to tell me of your unfailing love every day! All I have to do is open up my Bible and it is full of your unfailing love for me and the whole world.

Lord, I pray that you will show me where to walk. I do give myself to you. Lord, I know that you ache to have me listen to you so that you CAN show me where to walk. Psalm 81:13-14 But OH that My people would listen to me. Oh that they would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be on their foes. 

You want to rescue me from my enemies. Lord, my main enemies are my sinful nature and all the other voices that try so hard to drown out your voice. They don't want me to hear from you. But Lord, I run to you to hide m. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your Spirit will lead me forward on firm footing.

For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life. These other voices only want to bring me death and destruction. I know that you will be faithful to bring me out of this distress. In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies! Help me to only listen to your voice. Please show me when I'm hearing any other voice but yours. I know that there will come a time when all these other voices will be silenced and destroyed forever. But until then, use them to train me to come running to you! I am your servant. In Jesus powerful name I pray! Amen.