Who Am I?

Scripture

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Observation
Yesterday, there was endless news play of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and the upcoming Royal wedding. Why? Because Prince William is royalty. Guess what. Every person who is a believer in Christ is royalty. Comparing royalties, which one would I rather be in; God's Royal Family, or Britian's Royal Family. Absolutely God's. So in 1 Peter 2:9 when it says that I was a Chosen People(me!!!), I am Royalty(me!!), God's Special Possession(How do you treat your most special possessions?), I need to absolutely believe that.

Application
Some days I don't feel like royalty, I don't feel special. But what is the truth? Am I part of the royal priesthood or not? The Bible says I am so I am. The Bible also says that the devil is the father of lies, and he is wanting me to believe a lie that I am not chosen, or part of the royal priesthood, or God's most special possession. So those times/days when I don't "feel" like royalty, I need to turn to God's word and see/hear/believe the truth.

Prayer

Father, you chosen me to be your special possession, forgive me for not absolutely believing that because of how I "feel" sometimes. Your word is absolute truth and I believe that over any lie I may hear. Help my eyes and ears see and hear who you constantly declare me to be. Amen.

Christmas Goats from World Vision

Dear Friend,

I hope this finds you blessed.

For the third year in a row, I am gathering funds to purchases goats through World Vision, for Christmas Gifts for the needy.
The Bible is very clear about our responsibility to the needy. In James 1:27a it says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows". It is telling us to look out for those in need. The Bible also says not to just listen and read what it says, BUT TO DO WHAT IT SAYS.

So lets do it!!!! There are 1000's of people in need around the world, where a pair of goats would substantially better their life. I am attaching an article from World Vision on how a goat changed one child's life.

Goats nourish hungry children and families with healthy milk, cheese, and yogurt. Goats also give a much-needed income boost by providing offspring and extra dairy products for sale at the market.

A healthy dairy goat can give up to 16 cups of milk a day. Goat milk is easier to digest than cow’s milk and is an excellent source of calcium, protein, and other essential nutrients that growing children need. Goats are practical animals — flourishing in harsh climates while producing valuable manure to fertilize crops and vegetable gardens.

Teopista, an AIDS orphan and World Vision-sponsored child in Uganda, is proud of her first gift ever — two donated goats that will help provide her with a brighter future. “I was very happy when I got the goats,” says the 10-year-old. “They will be of use to us. We will get money from them. I thank World Vision for thinking about me, too.”

Her aunt Restetuta feels the same way. “When the goats give birth again, we will sell off some of the younger [goats],” says Restetuta. “We will use the money to buy Teopista a school uniform, books, and beddings. We can also buy food with some of the money. I thank World Vision so much for all the help they have given us … we know that those goats will be of benefit to us in future.”

Each goat is only $75.00. Goats are given to families in twos. Goats are such a blessing for the needy, as they can breed them-sell them for more money for the family, milk, fertilizer for their gardens, etc. I understand that many people may find $75.00 a real stretch. AND that is completely understood. But here is the power in coming together as a large group. If you can not buy a whole goat, then maybe you can do a little and contribute 1/2 or 1/4. That's what we did last year. And with lots of people buying portions of a goat, coming together we can buy many goats, you'll be a part of something that you could not have done individually. All contributions will be documented in your name, so you get the 2010 tax deduction. Write all checks out to World Vision.

My address is:
Warren Watson
10716 Sierra Dr. E.
Puyallup, WA 98374


So whatever you can send....THANK YOU. We can change a person, a family and maybe even a community, by blessing them with a goat. I will keep everyone up to date on how many goats we have purchased. Two years ago we all were able to purchase 32 goats.

I have attached a funny video which World Vision produced about Bruce the Goat.

God Bless,
Warren

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wpna49 has shared a video with you on YouTube: Bruce the Goat - World Vision Smiles What are you going to get for Christmas? Maybe you could cheer Bruce up? http://www.worldvision.com.au/smiles

Do It

Scripture
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do What It Says!

Observation
Went to church on Sunday; sat in the nice soft theater seats, felt the warmth of the HVAC in the air, people around me smelled good, everyone's hair was nicely styled, we sang, said "Hi" to a couple of people and then listened to the 30 minute sermon. It was a "nice" time. BUT in reading the scripture today, if I don't do something about the word I heard yesterday, then I have deceived myself. I can't just feel good about my Sunday ritual, I need to do what the Bible is telling me to do.

Application
What is the application then? Specifics.....I think that will be different every day, depending on the word that I have heard or read. I guess today this verse has put me on alert status. The Bible says says in Timothy that people only want to hear what their "itching ears want to hear". They have no intention of putting it into practice. Hypocrite! So my alert status from James is that when I hear and read the word, the first response should be.."Father, what does that look like, how can I practice that, how I can I show that to a broken, depraved world?"

Prayer
Father, Thank you for your word; to show me the way, to lead me into truth and to remind me that it is not just for reading but a reminder of what I need to be doing. Amen.

Whatever...!!!!!!

<sup>Scripture
Colossians 3:17

17</sup>And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Observation
So the Bible is being very direct with me, in my words and deeds. Whatever I do....dedicate it, proclaim it, honor it in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Application

As I was reading this today, my mind flashed through the 1000's of things I do each day. And then it flashed to each one of those actions with me stopping and making this statement, " I do this (fill in the blank) in the name of the Lord". Guess what? Many; no most of the things(by word or deed) stopped.....because I could not do "that" or say "that" in the name of the Lord.
More from Chapter 3, in verses 8 & 9 the Bible tells me to rid myself of anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹Do not lie to each other. In verses 5 & 6 the Bible tells me to put to death sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. So as I walk through today and I see a nice car with 22" rims, waxed up, a slick looking guy driving it and I start to feel greed, and wish I could have something like that. If I take that feeling and stand it next to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that feeling because but a vapor. The jealousy of "that" could not stand nor would it make any sense if I said this ( because I am supposed to do all things in the name of the Lord) "I am Jealous about that guy having an expensive car and looking good, in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ". It just doesn't work. The name of Jesus dwarfs all "things". So the goal is to stop and dedicate my words and deeds to the Lord Jesus Christ before I do them, to see if I should really be doing that or not. This will keep my feet and eyes on the Path God has for me, not my path.

Prayer
Father, you have made a way for me that leads to righteousness, it is me who wants to get off that way and go my own...but that leads to destruction. Continue to renew my mind and help me put to death and rid me of the things you have spoken of. Today I dedicate whatever I do, through the words I say or the actions I take, to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Airlifted

Search and Rescue

Living in the NW, there are frequently Search and Rescue operations for people on Mt. Rainier, lost in the woods or missing on a river. For the first 24 hours it is usually a Rescue Operation, but after that it turns into a Recovery. Let's look into the Bible to see what Christ has done for us.

Scripture
Colossians 1:13-14
¹³For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Observation
The Bible is clear about where I was-living in the dominion of darkness. Ephesians 6:12 says that "struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms". We all know that this present world is and can be a nasty, ugly place. But look at what Christ has done for me. He came on a Search and RESCUE operation, looking for me, and He found me. So where did he extract me to? Into His Kingdom where there is forgiveness of all my sin and darkness. I wasn't airlifted, dropped off in a clearing and made to forge a survival for myself, but the airlift took me to a safe house, a place of healing, a place of rest, a place where love abounds-Christ made His Place my place.

Application
Gratitude, Thanksgiving that Christ is in the Search and Rescue business. In Ephesians 1:21 it says that I was alienated from God and was His enemy because of my evil/sinful deeds. Yes I was lost in sin. But Christ kept coming-kept searching, the rescue mission was NEVER called off and He rescued me from darkness into light and love.

Prayer
Father, Thank You for sending Christ on a Search and Rescue mission. Without your rescue operation I would be engulfed with darkness and evil. But you have airlifted me out of that mire, and placed me in your Kingdom. Today, let my lips and my life speak to others who are lost and in need of rescue, and all they have to do is ask you to come pick them up. Amen.

Arguing

Why is it that we sometimes argue, or are stubborn about things God is leading us into or telling us the best way?

Scripture
Luke 5:4-5
When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." ⁵Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.

Observation
Jesus told Simon what to do, and what the results of that obedience would be. But Simon(Warren) rebuffs God with his own idea and what his efforts got him.." we haven't caught anything".

Application
But the second half of verse 5, Simon(Warren) comes to his senses.

5b But because you say so, I will let down the nets."⁶When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

Because of obedience Simon was blessed with more than he could contain, and almost sank a second boat with the overwhelming catch.

So the application for me today is not to second guess God with a "Yeh, but.....". But be obedient to what God is doing and where He is telling me to go, and what He is telling me to do. Psalms 121 tells me that my help is from the Lord. Five times in eight verses the scripture tells me that God is watching over/out for me and that He will Keep me. God who is watching out for me, will direct me in the right way. I need to be obedient in that and know that Gods ways are SO MUCH better than what I could ever muster up and always be willing to say, "Yes Lord, Thank you for watching out for and directing me", instead of a "well God that is kind of a good idea, but lets do it my way first".

Prayer
Thank you Father for always caring for me. For watching out over me. Forgive my stubbornness in thinking I have any good in me and knowing what is best. That is sin, and I ask that you remove that from me. Thank you for that, and I ask that you help me to walk in your ways. Just as a child loves to put on the shoes of their father and walk around the house, let me slip my feet into your shoes and walk in your ways. Amen.

Scripture
Matthew 15:34-36
"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish." ³⁵He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. ³⁶Then he took the seven loaves and the fish.

Observation
In reading this, ONE thing occurs to me.....the disciples had 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish.
What did Jesus take from them? All of it.

Application
What is Jesus asking of me? Let's think about tithing. God has asked for us to return just 10% of the 100% He has given us, that's small compared to ALL. The question must be asked....What would I do if Jesus came to the door and asked how much money and food I had, and I told him, and he said "Great" and came in and took it ALL. How would I react? Would I be grateful that I am able to contribute to the Kingdom of God, or freaked out about what I was going to do about money and food? And there in lies the key....who am I relying on? Or how about this? Why don't I just give my ALL to Jesus instead of Him having to come and take it!!! My abilities alone or trust the Father to supply what I need because I have given all? Psalms 121:1 tells me that my Help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. The last question that has to be answered is...Have I given it ALL?

Prayer
Father, You gave me your ALL, your Son; you opened up heaven for me. I ask that you take away all the selfish compartments I have in my life, so that I will willingly give you my all. I don't want to be like the disciples who didn't offer their ALL first, I want you to have my ALL, for it is in You that I trust. Amen.

Who's In My House?

Scripture
Matthew 12:43-44
⁴³"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. ⁴⁴Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. ⁴⁵Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

Observation
This portion of scripture really spoke to me and prompted me to review my own house. There are many rooms in a house and each needs to be occupied, or it gets taken over. Have you ever noticed a closet that doesn't get used to much, and then you open it and there are spider webs in the corners, dead bugs laying around? A look at this scripture and it is clear that if my house(my life, my heart, my soul, my being) are not occupied by God, then drastic take over of my house will happen.

Application
So the question today is "What or Who is Occupying my Entire House?" When I accepted Christ I was made clean, my "house"(life) was cleared of all the garbage, but have I let Christ into all the rooms of my life, or am I still trying to keep one of them as my man cave, one where I still control the "type of carpet, the decor, the furniture", or is it unoccupied because I will get to that room some day. In this scripture, Christ is telling me that He needs to occupy all the rooms of my house, or my final condition may be worse then when I started. That's a warning I need to heed to and get straight.

Prayer
Father, I give you all the rooms of my life, come occupy them all and have your way in each of them. Amen.

Back To School

Scripture
Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Observation
A very familiar piece of scripture. I have heard it preached and taught on about casting my burdens on the Lord, that I will find rest and that following Christ will not be like a huge yoke around my neck, like that on an oxen. But there is something else that Jesus says right in the middle that I have never seen or heard talked about........"LEARN FROM ME".

Application
So I have to ask the question straight up! What have I learned from Christ? Have I learned how to love more compassionately, how to forgive quicker, how to pray for people, how to give Glory to the Father, or have I not been the type of student I need to be to Learn from the Creator of the Universe? Am I too busy to study( what types of grades do students who don't study get?), do I think that I am doing pretty well myself....don't need much help-been doing this for a while so no need for me to learn anything new?

Where am I in Learning From Christ? Where are you? Upon examination I know this, I want to stay in the classroom and Learn From Christ every day of my life and if I do that, Christ tells me that "I will find rest for my soul".

Prayer
Father, Thank you that you are constantly looking out for me. You don't want me to be burdened by that cares of this world, you want my life to be full and abundant. But you have not just given that to me on a silver platter. Christ told me to learn from Him. Help me Father to be the student who is attentive, talkative, asking questions and a Big, Big listener as I learn all things from You. Amen.

The Christian Attitude..Be Shrewd Like a Snake

Scripture

Matthew 10:16 Therefore be as shrewd as snakes, and as innocent as doves.
Matthew 10:34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Matthew 10:19 Do not worry.......

Observation
Christians. We are supposed to be nice and forgiving, passionate, loving, sincere, etc. I am reminded by Christ that there would be times where I will need to be shrewd like a snake, because I am living among wolves. The World and the Kingdom of God are in a battle. God is the Victor, but there is a battle raging. In Peter, he is inspired to write that as Christ came to this earth, it was an "invasion" into this world. Jesus came to fight for us, to invade enemy territory and Jesus tells me that in verse 34. He did not come to bring peace, but he came to fight for my life.

Application
Where does that leave me, What am I supposed to do today....be rude to people and treat them with a sharp, piercing attitude? No. The Bible is alerting me that the World is not peaches and cream. There are going to be battles and tussles along the way. How do I over come those? From what Christ is saying I can apply this:

1. Jesus came with a sword and God has armed me with His armor, you don't need armor is you are not going into battle.
2. Be shrewd in the battle, but act in love (as innocent as doves)
3. Don't worry about "what is going to happen", Christ commanded me not to worry...WHY..Because The Holy Spirit will speak through me.

So I can battle my way through life and "probably" be perceived as rude, angry, unloving because I am just fighting things my way, or I can walk today knowing there is a fight but that God has given me the armor( Ephesians 6) and the attitude(Matthew 10:16) to take on whatever is coming. I'm ready.

Prayer
Father, You have not left me unprepared. You have instructed me that there was going to be a fight, how you want me to approach the fight and given me all the tools needed to take the fight. Thank You for giving me all I need. Amen.

What Am or Was I Thinking?

Scripture

Matthew 9:1-4 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. ²Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."

³At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"

⁴Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?

Observation
Jesus has been healing people on both sides of the lake. The Religious men of the day did not like what Jesus said to the paralytic....that his sins were forgiven. Jesus did not hear them say this, but he knew their thoughts. Then he asked some rather direct questions of "these religious men". Why their hearts are evil, but on the outside they are "very religious, maybe what we would call today "Do Gooders".

Application
The question today is am I the same as the religious men? Do I look good on the outside but think evil thoughts in my heart? Evil seems like a strong word so what does that word mean. A few definitions are anger, irritability, immoral, harmful, mischief, misfortune, bad. Yep, I've thought that way. Angry about something that seems unfair to me, thinking about how I could speed up and cut that person off like they just did to me, irritable because of.....life and stuff. That is NOT the way Jesus wants me to live. Romans 12:1-2 tells me to offer my body as a living sacrifice to God, to have mind renewed by transforming the way I think and act. How is that going to happen? Exactly the way it says. I have to offer myself up to the the Father and His ways and live a pleasing life to God. Doing that will transform the way I think. Is this being a "Do-Gooder"? No, far from it. A Do-Gooder is doing things because he thinks he is supposed to be good, ie.."I just want to be a good person". But rather if I transform my mind so I think more in line with God and His Ways, then I will "do things" (whatever they are) so there is Glory given to the Father. Jesus healed to give glory to His Father, not to heap praise on himself, that is why he told people not to go around telling everyone what had just happened, BUT rather to go to the temple and give praise to God for the miracle.

So what will I be thinking about today? Because Jesus knows my thoughts, so will my thoughts bring glory to his name and kingdom, or will they be evil in nature?

Prayer
Father, You have told me that if I offer myself to you as a walking, working, living sacrifice to you wanting to please you, that that would transform and renew my mind. You know my thoughts, and I want them to display your good, pleasing and perfect will through me, instead of any evil, worthless thoughts which only shows my sin. Thank you that you care enough for me to walk with me and change me. Amen.

What Do I Believe In Today?

Scripture
Matthew 8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would". And his servant was healed at that very hour.

Observation
Jesus has just been approached by a centurion leader who had a sick servant, and Jesus said he would "go and heal him". But the centurion told Jesus that he knew the power of Jesus's words as he was a man of authority and that his men HAD to do what he said, and that he believed that if Jesus would just say the healing word, that the servant would be healed. Jesus recognized he strong belief, agreed with him and it was done. Jesus also used this moment as a teaching moment to demonstrate that many people will come to the table of Abraham, Issac and Jacob but in the end be thrown out into darkness because they did not really believe.

Application
So what does this mean for me? It means that through the FAITH that GOD gave me, I am capable of believing for things and Jesus honoring that belief. God is the same yesterday, today and forever so the things demonstrated in the Bible are for me today. So what should I believe for today, like the centurion? Should it be a bigger this or that, will it be something that helps me, or do I follow what the Bible says and NOT be BUILD more barns to hold "my own stuff". So today the application is for me to believe for God to work in me, through me to display HIS Glory to a hard-hearted, stuff necked generation. So today I believe that God is watching out for me, for my good, to walk in his plan so there will be glory given to him. How will that work out? It's going to be GREAT! ( As Tony the Tiger would say about Frosted Flakes)

Prayer
Father, You have given me the faith to believe for things. Thank you for such a wonderful gift. I pray that my belief's would display your ways. That the things I believe in and for, would not bring any recognition to me, but to show how greatly you care for me. Amen.