Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about true living!  The most famous line of Habakkuk is, "the righteous will live by their faith" (2:4).  God wasn't telling Habakkuk how people could live physically and escape the invasion.  He was emphasizing something deeper, more meaningful.  Let's compare Habakkuk's focus with what Jesus is focusing on.  Jesus quotes a verse that ha...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me the problem of suffering through the book of Job!  In this introduction we first talk through how God answers our most profound and troubling questions.  The Scripture isn't like a FAQ section on a website where you can just go and get a quick sentence on the most troubling questions.  We are made to sit, think, and ponder (!) the questions through the stori...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about some of the incredible things said about the church.  The way people view it and how Scripture views the church are often so different.  Many think of it as a "side benefit" of religion.  God views it as one of the greatest evidences of His wisdom, a perfect plan for growth, a defense against hardening hearts...and so much more!  Let's train...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me how amazing it is that God has communicated with us at all, but even more astounding that God would have it written down.  There's something dangerous about having something written.  It can come back to haunt you, if you're not completely faithful or can’t deliver on a promise.  God doesn't seem too concerned about that...even inviting it at times...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about the greatest danger of always putting others under the microscope.  It is so much easier to see other's failings.  It's such a temptation to many of us, because we conveniently aren't under the microscope ourselves when looking and talking about other people.  But what's the greatest danger of all?  Let's take a look into the life o...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about the completion of the wall in Jerusalem.  It didn't come easily!  They were jeered, threatened and discouraged.  There were internal threats along the way too, but Nehemiah stepped up in leadership every time there was a crisis.  So, the enemies make a full-on assault on Nehemiah in chapter 6.  He deals with every temptation beautifully and the wall is...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me the struggle to understand the world we live in.  Why isn't God swooping in and fixing our greatest problems?  Does He see them and why isn't He intervening?  Well, He is.  However, what God is doing will almost assuredly surprise you.  It did with Habakkuk.  He asked these very questions - what is happening and what are You (God) doing about it?  The a...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about the life of Paul and what made him such an effective teacher.  Paul was a regular dude!  We tend to exalt Bible characters to other-worldly status, but they were regular people and the goal of being like them isn't too far-fetched.  In this lesson I try to point out things about Paul that were true because of his discipleship, which we can imitate.  Le...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about the attacks of September 11th.  This episode might be good for older kids to think about.  We already have a generation of children that don't know what happened, but more importantly, those children will be wrestling with questions asked on this episode fairly soon (if they haven't already).   The events are so sad, but there is tremendous spirit...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about how we should never leave people behind.  The world doesn't seem to care about the "little people", but Jesus sure did and so does a revived church.  When Christians are truly awake to God's purposes, there is a tremendous effort to ensure no one is left behind or left out.  When Nehemiah finds out about the "little people" get...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about the silent killer - discouragement!  More importantly though, let's think about how we ought to attack it head-on.  Discouragement is not to be left alone.  Nehemiah will jump into action the moment he hears of it, and so should we.  Are you discouraged or is someone near you discouraged?  Be a Nehemiah, and let's jump into action.  To God be the...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about what it means to be a friend.  Being a true friend isn't easy!  It takes sacrifice, vulnerability, and consistency just to name a few.  I was in the room when someone within my family passed away peacefully when someone said something that touched my heart, "she was a friend to many."  Let's think about friendship, what it means to be Go...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about all the amazing gifts, talents, abilities that people have in the church!  As Peter mentions in I Peter 4:10, those gifts need to be used to serve the church.  However, unfortunately, because we are so different in so many areas, it can create frustration and even force us into comparing and measuring ourselves to one another.  Satan would love for us to do...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about why the sun's light failed the day Christ died.  Why did that happen?  Furthermore, why does the Holy Spirit want us to know it happened?  It's recorded 3 times.  God must want us to see something about the sun failing that day.  Let's dive into the Old Testament and see other times that language is used, and what the context was.  To God be...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me what it means to take personal responsibility!  Here I am, send me -- that was not said by Nehemiah but that perfect describes his attitude.  However, before he saw himself as part of the solution, he saw himself as part of the problem and then spent months praying about it.  But how did he come to care so deeply about Jerusalem to begin with?  To God be the glor...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about trusting in ourselves.  We look at Israel's trust in the Temple in Jeremiah 7 and then transition to thinking about self-righteousness.  Ultimately though, what does self-righteousness do to our relationships with others?  We all desperately need God to intercede in His grace and once that idea captures my heart, it helps me deal with others the same w...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about the importance of marriage and children!  Also, why did God create the family unit in the first place and are we honoring God with that fulfilled purpose within our families?  To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com

Send Allen a text - Ponder revival with me.  What is it?  What happens when God's people awake?  How does God respond, and what are the inevitable challenges that will come?  In the beginning lesson we talk about revival's definition and the purpose for the Israelites coming home from captivity.  To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com

Send Allen a text - Ponder the words Messiah and Christ with me!   Remember when Jesus called Peter "Satan"?  This lesson might have you feeling a little more sympathy for Peter and his thinking, but in the end, we'll challenge ourselves to think more like Peter (hang on to me!), this side of the cross.  To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gma...

Send Allen a text - Ponder the amazing fact that God so desperately wants to be with His people! From the garden of Eden to the Tabernacle, and on into eternity God shows us He wants to be with us.  This incredible desire should spark revival in all of us.  To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me - who is, or has the potential to be the most dangerous liar you know? Hint - you know them really well. To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me about how God's people took Scripture so seriously when they were revived.  Why is staying within Scripture so important?  To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me how difficult it is at times to trust God's promises.  There are times when it looks like all is lost, and for many of the Psalmists, they were bold enough to tell that to God in prayer.  Psalm 89 is one such Psalm.   We also ponder the beginnings of the Samaritans and the challenge to look at everyone as a soul needing salvation.  To God be the glory! Pleas...

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me why revival slows down.  Every single revival in Scripture slowed down at some point.  Some gained momentum again and others came to a grinding halt, but why?  Perhaps we are stuck in the past.  To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com

Send Allen a text - Ponder with me again about revivals slowing down.  Could it be that we've become friends with the world?  It's hard to tell sometimes because it happens SO SLOWLY.  James called friendship with the world enmity with God.  Do we?  To God be the glory! Please email me any comments or questions at grrreeley@gmail.com