Yesterday and Today's Daily Bread 1 Tim 3 and Ps 147

1 Timothy 3:1-16
1 It is a true saying that if someone wants to be an elder, he desires an honorable responsibility. 2 For an elder must be a man whose life cannot be spoken against. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exhibit self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home and must be able to teach. 3 He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, peace loving, and not one who loves money. 4 He must manage his own family well, with children who respect and obey him. 5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church? 6 An elder must not be a new Christian, because he might be proud of being chosen so soon, and the Devil will use that pride to make him fall. 7 Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not fall into the Devil's trap and be disgraced.
8 In the same way, deacons must be people who are respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers and must not be greedy for money. 9 They must be committed to the revealed truths of the Christian faith and must live with a clear conscience. 10 Before they are appointed as deacons, they should be given other responsibilities in the church as a test of their character and ability. If they do well, then they may serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not speak evil of others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. 13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.
14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15 so that if I can't come for a while, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and support of the truth. 16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ appeared in the flesh and was shown to be righteous by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and was announced to the nations. He was believed on in the world and was taken up into heaven.
~Lena's Journalin'~
As I was reading about the qualifications of elders and deacons, I began to read then as one who had a choice to "take the job" or not. I soon felt the Holy Spirit interpreting the spirit of the words for me. No, these are "jobs" God wants all Christians to have in His Body. He is looking for men and women who will be proven in life for purpose. He is looking for a person who will choose to love, be hospitable, teach etc, for the furtherance of His work in the earth. He’s looking for more than just a "few good men", but if a few will say yes, He’ll take any and all who will say yes. These are qualifications for all of us to attain to as goals of spiritual maturity and growth. Who cares if we ever have a title of ministry- elder, deacon etc? God does. He wants to put a title on us, a name on us, so others can and will know in a very clear way, who we are, what we’re about, and who we represent well. He is looking for people willing to represent Him well. Not perfect people, but humble people who will step up in faith and say- yes I will do this for the Kingdom of God on earth, to bring the answer to Jesus’ prayer (Jn 17). It is not self-aspiration, it’s an answer to a call to come up higher, into the fullness of the stature of Christ. Why would a man take the time to manage his household well? To represent Christ better, Why would he change and welcome people in His well-managed home? To show Christ and make Christ known in a personal and intimate setting. If we lift up Christ in all we do and all we are where we are, God will draw others to Christ, THAT’s why!

Psalm 147:1-20

1 Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how right! 2 The LORD is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds. 4 He counts the stars and calls them all by name. 5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! 6 The LORD supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust. 7 Sing out your thanks to the LORD; sing praises to our God, accompanied by harps. 8 He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the green grass grow in mountain pastures. 9 He feeds the wild animals, and the young ravens cry to him for food. 10 The strength of a horse does not impress him; how puny in his sight is the strength of a man. 11 Rather, the LORD's delight is in those who honor him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.
12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For he has fortified the bars of your gates and blessed your children within you. 14 He sends peace across your nation and satisfies you with plenty of the finest wheat. 15 He sends his orders to the world – how swiftly his word flies! 16 He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes. 17 He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? 18 Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends his winds, and the ice thaws. 19 He has revealed his words to Jacob, his principles and laws to Israel. 20 He has not done this with any other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD!
FOOTNOTES:F4 Greek overseer; also in 3:2.F5 Greek be the husband of one wife; also in 3:12.F6 Or he might fall into the same judgment as the Devil.F7 Or the women deacons. The Greek word can be translated women or wives.F8 Greek Who; some manuscripts read God.F9 Or in his spirit.F10 Greek in glory.

~Lena’s Journalin’~
You know that new old song we sing and love? How Great is our God? HE IS GREAT ya know, or do we? If we have the revelation of how Great He is, we will see everything in life in comparison to His excellent Greatness. If He is great what measure do we put on our problems? These things that are so "Big", how do they even compare with His Greatness? Why do we magnify things that are not God, or have nothing to do with the promotion or working of His kingdom? Because if we bring attention to other things, even problems, we won’t attend to and give praise to God, our energy or even our faith to praise Him will have been all spent on those other things we’ve attended to. They are distractions vying for our attention and energy. It is all a part of God’s enemy’s ploy against God, to take God’s praise away from God, to take our participation in God’s praise out and lesson the strength and power of praise in the earth. Ya know there is a certain characteristic trait in me called rebellion, and I used to rebel against God, now I rebel against the enemy’s tactics that keep me away from manifesting God’s image, I stubbornly refuse to participate with or give them my praise or attention or energy. Once I find out what is insistent on taking my attention away from God’s plans and purposes, I refuse to give up what belongs to me, by way of the will, and I purposely offer them to whom they are due-God! It’s got to become a daily refusal, a daily rebellion, a daily practice against sin and evil.