Pastor Bob DuPar
January 3, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 5:1-7:24; Matthew 3:7-4:11; Psalm 3:1-8; Proverbs 1:10-19

Observation

Just about everyone knows that Methuselah lived longer than anyone else in history: 969 years. His name means, “When he dies it will come.” And, when he died the great flood came. I had forgotten, however, that Jared lived almost as long as Methuselah – 962 years! I also think it’s hilarious that Noah did not start having kids until he was 500 years old! Talk about being embarrassed at back-to-school night: “Hey, is Father Time your dad?!”

Genesis 2:4 is just plain weird! Is this Scriptural support for the gods of mythology: Hercules, Zeus,.. This is a sketchy and isolated proof text – not worth building an argument or theory upon, but interesting nonetheless.

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Matthew 3:8

“It is written…It is written…It is written…” Matthew 4:4-10

Application

Matthew 3:8 is one of those passages which convicts and challenges me no matter how many times I read it. Does my life give evidence of true repentance? Is there visible, tangible proof of my gratefulness for my salvation – seen through the fruit of my life? I hope so! I am certainly not to keep sinning that grace may abound (Romans 6:1). I am to bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

Each time Jesus was tempted and confronted by Satan He responded by quoting Scripture. The Word of God is “living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword…” (Hebrews 4:12) Scripture is definitely the best way to ward off temptation and stand strong against the enemy’s attacks. Reason #1,000 for committing God’s Word to memory; and, for reading through the Bible on a daily basis!

Prayer

“Lord, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for the power, protection and wisdom of Your Word. Help me to be ‘diligent to present myself approved, as a workman who need not be ashamed, handling accurately Your Word of Truth.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
January 2, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 3:1-4:26; Matthew 2:13-3:6; Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 1:7-9

Observation

“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’ ‘…You will not surely die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:1b, 4-5

“At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.” Genesis 3:26b

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7

Application

Satan begins to tempt us and confuse us by first causing us to doubt God’s Word: “Did God really say…” He exaggerates the restriction in order to play upon our sense of injustice: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree…” Next, he questions the consequences of sin: “You will not surely die.” Finally, he makes us think that God is holding-out on us: “God knows that…you will be like (Him),” never mind the fact that the knowledge of evil was the worst thing for Adam and Eve (and all of us!)

May 2009 be a year when men (and women) begin to call upon the name of the Lord!

Prayer

“Lord, help me to always trust that You know what is best for me; and, that if You have commanded something in Your Word, it is for my own good. Grant me strength, discipline and passion to follow You faithfully in 2009!”

Pastor Bob DuPar
January 1, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 1:1-2:25; Matthew 1:1-2:12; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 1:1-6

Observation

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness… So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him: male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:26a, 27

“The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.’ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:23-24

“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.” Matthew 2:6

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked… but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:1a-2
Application

God spoke of raising up a shepherd for His people in Matthew 2:6. I love that this term is used. First and foremost we need(ed) a Messiah. But, God knew we also would need a shepherd. As leaders of God’s people we must never forget God’s heart: He wants shepherds – not dictators or CEO’s, but shepherds who care and have an investment in the sheep.

Prayer

“Lord, thank You that You are my shepherd. I lack nothing in You. Draw me to Yourself. Lead me in green pastures. Restore my soul. Comfort me with Your rod and staff. May I live in Your presence, both now, and forever more.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
December 31, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Malachi 3:1-4:6; Revelation 22:1-21; Psalm 150:1-6; Proverbs 31:25-31

Observation

“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”
Malachi 3:8-10

“You have said harsh things against Me,’ says the Lord. Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against You?’ You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out His requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty?” Malachi 3:13-14

“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 22:5

“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
Revelation 22:18-20

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30


Application

Sometimes we feel like it’s futile to serve God. But, this is because we measure the “gain” according to earthly standards. We don’t serve God to secure all the things we ever wanted. We serve God because He is worthy of our praise - even if we never receive any recognizable benefit; and, because only our Creator knows the means to our greatest fulfillment.

Prayer

“Lord, I can’t comprehend the future glory spoken of in the book of Revelation. I look forward to that day. Help me to be faithful now – to do my part. Thank You for Your promises, Your presence and the strength which You supply.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
December 30, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Malachi 1:1-2:17; Revelation 21:1-27; Psalm 149:1-9; Proverbs 31:10-24

Observation

“When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?’ says the Lord Almighty. …Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on My altar!” Malachi 1:8, 10a

“And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed.”
Revelation 21:2-6, 22-25

Application

God would rather have us close the church doors than to offer Him imperfect and insincere sacrifices. David wrote in Psalm 51:17,

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”

It’s easy for me to pay lip service to God, or to go through the motions of religiosity; and yet, my heart can still be far from Him, far from being fully-surrendered. God wants my heart more than anything else - everything flows from the heart.

Prayer

“Lord, create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. Help me to live fully-surrendered before You.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
December 29, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Zechariah 14:1-21; Revelation 20:1-15; Psalm 148:1-14; Proverbs 31:8-9

Observation

“On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem… The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and His name the only name.” Zechariah 14:8a-9

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9

Application

God gives each one of us opportunities to “speak for those who cannot speak for themselves,” to represent the “rights of all who are destitute,” and to “defend the rights of the poor and the needy.” The challenge is to not only recognize these opportunities but also to act upon them and be Christ’s tangible presence on earth.

Prayer

“Lord, help me to seize the opportunities You send my way. May I not miss the chance to see You through encounters with those who are in need.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
December 28, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Zechariah 12:1-13:9; Revelation 19:1-21; Psalm 147:1-20; Proverbs 31:1-7

Observation

“On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: ‘King of kings and Lord of Lords.” Revelation 19:16

“Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him! …He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is the Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.”
Revelation 19:1, 3-5

Application

Praise and thanksgiving are both pleasant and fitting for the King of kings and Lord of lords. It’s easy to praise God for the good things He does – for His kindness, mercy, grace and forgiveness. But, I need to praise God more for just who He is. God is good and awesome – even when there are challenges in my life. God does not cease to be worthy of praise when I experience trials that seem contradictory to my expectations of what a loving father would allow, should allow. He is sovereign. He knows what He’s doing. “His understanding has no limit!” (Psalm 147:5b)

Prayer

“Lord, may my life be one of continuous praise to You. Help me to bless Your name at all times. Help me to see Your sovereign, providential hand in all of life’s events. Help me to trust You – especially in times when I don’t understand You.”