Frank's Bible Blog

Psalm 39--Are You Really as Young as You Think?

Are you young or old? Now before you answer consider this: the concept of being young or old is really based on when we expect to die. If you are 20 and you figure you have at least 60 years left, then you consider yourself young. If you are 80 then you might consider yourself old. But should the 20 year old actually think he has plenty of time left? What if he is going to die in the next year? Then he really is old...he has limited time left. The point is this--we often do things or don't do things based on our concept of our age. If we are young, we may put off doing important things because we think we have plenty of time. If we are older, we may aggressively try to complete a"bucket list" while we have time and miss out on some bigger issues. In Psalm 39 David prayed a very interesting prayer. "Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days" (v4). He went on to ask the Lord to "let me know how fleeting is my life." In essence he was saying, "God, remind me today and every day that I don't have much time left." David wanted to make sure that he made the greatest impact possible for the Lord with whatever time he had left. David also saw that the greatest hindrance to that productivity was sin. "Save me from my transgressions," David pleaded, "do not make me the scorn of fools" (v8). Some live for wealth, but David reminds us that sin can consume that as well. "You rebuke and discipline men for their sin; you consume their wealth like a moth" (v11). Those who pursue wealth do so in vain, "he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it" (v6). The message is don't allow sin and worldly pursuits to rob you of years of productivity for the Lord. Whether we consider ourselves young or old, we all should keep our mortality in view and maximize every day that we have for God's glory.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 30--Seeing Your Way Forward in the Dark

It's the middle of the night and everyone in your home is asleep. It's pitch dark but you silently make your way to the kitchen to get a drink. Although your hands are out to feel your way through, you don't need them. You walk unhindered to the refrigerator. You have made that walk so many times before in the light that you know your way around even though you can't see a thing. You know without a doubt that the refrigerator is there even though that is not confirmed until you grab the handle. You are able to see your way forward in the dark because of your past experience. Life is like that for the person of faith. As we move forward it is like walking in the dark--we are traversing unchartered territory. But we go forward with confidence because of the experience we have had in the past walking with the Lord. Psalm 30 is a great reminder of this. What is especially insightful isn't in the verses themselves (although they are amazing) but what is in the title, which David also wrote.  "A song for the dedication of the temple." David never saw the temple dedicated. David never saw the actual construction of the temple even begin. But David knew it would be completed so he prepared for it in faith. What was the song that would be sung when the temple would be dedicated? "Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (v5) and "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy" (v11). The night is dark. The night brings sorrow. The night has tear-soaked pillows---but morning is coming! Rejoicing, dancing, singing--it's all coming in the morning! You can see it in the dark because you know the God of the morning. You can see it in the dark because all of your experiences with God declare His mighty power. You can see it in the dark because the Lord has been with you on past journeys and He has never let you down. You can see it in the dark because you walk by faith and not by sight. Faith is the incredible force that allows you to operate in the dark--but it's not blind faith. No, it is a solid faith based on the person and past work of Almighty God and the completed work of Christ on the cross. It is that faith that lets you see your way forward in the dark.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 25-- Lessons from the Karate Kid

Several years ago there was a popular movie and sequel called the Karate Kid. It was about a boy with a difficult home life who took up karate. The boy had a lot of potential but knew if he was going to be successful he needed training by a real karate master. There was such a person who agreed to train him. At first, however, the training was nothing like the boy thought it would be. The master had the boy wax his car! Not only that, but he was insistent that it be waxed a certain way with very deliberate strokes. "Wax on, wax off," the master kept repeating in a famous scene from the movie. Day after day the master had the boy do other seemingly meaningless tasks. After a while the boy got very frustrated. "When is he going to start teaching me!" he wondered in exasperation. He almost quit on the master but was persuaded to stick it out--and boy was he glad he did! When he went into the big karate match he discovered that he had not spent days doing worthless tasks. He actually was learning discipline and how to move his arms, hands and body in certain ways that were beneficial to karate. The master did not tell him why he had the boy doing certain moves, just that he needed to do them. In the end, the master knew what was best and the boy became a champion because he learned to intimately follow the master. I believe that you and I can become champions in life when we, too, learn to follow the Master--the Lord. Psalm 25 is a great picture of a learner--a student--desperate to follow the master and ready to reap the rewards of this discipline. "Show me Your ways...teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. On You I wait all the day" is how the psalmist-learner expresses it in verses 4-5. He was ready to wait "all the day" on the Master because he knew that the Master had the truth. He knew that the master knew the best path to take. He knew the master would lead him to victory. "Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity...the secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him" (vv12-14). Today, you and I can unlock the Master's "secret" and find true success if we will become desperate students. Desperate students who linger on every word of the Master. Desperate students who seek the Master's guidance in everything, even when it doesn't make sense. Desperate student's who turn only to their Master for truth and nothing or no one else. Desperate students who trust their Master (v20) and live in integrity as they wait on their Master's direction (v21). Are you a desperate student of the Lord today? Are you even teachable?


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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 21--Lasting Leadership

"I guess it was easier to fire one guy than to fire 15." Those were the words of an NBA player following the announcement that his basketball team's head coach had just been fired. This particular coach had good success with the team early on, but as trades occurred and personnel changes were made the coach found himself having a difficult time leading. His style, personality and approach just didn't work anymore. It is common in sports for a leadership change to be made and then the team begins to flourish under the new coach.  Successful leadership in sports is one thing, but what about successful leadership in life? What about successful leadership for a business, ministry or even a nation? Psalm 21 is a great chapter on great leadership--godly leadership. Notice some things about the leader mentioned here, who happened to be King David, the leader of Israel. He found joy in God's strength, not his own (v1). God gave him his heart's desire because his heart was set on God (v2). Likewise, God listened and responded to his prayers (v4). This leader discovered his glory by focusing on God's glory (v5). This leader loved to spend time in God's presence and trusted Him fully (vv 6-7). This leader saw the big picture of what God was doing in the world (vv8-12) and realized that the world revolved around God and not himself. Finally, this leader publicly praised the Lord (v13). Do you want to be a great leader that lasts? Then learn some leadership lessons from David's example. Let your leadership be an extension of God's glory not you trying to create your own glory.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 11-- When Having It All Costs You Everything

"When I arrest wealthy people, it is always because they feel there is no mystery to life. They have everything and can control everything, so they do illegal things to make life interesting." Those were the words of a veteran Dallas, TX police officer. What really struck me when he said that was the phrase, "no mystery in life." These people had the ability to plan out what would happen to them, and if things didn't go their way, they had the money to make it the way they wanted it. They turned to crime basically because they got bored. I don't know if boredom was the case here, but in Zechariah 11 we see a description of people who felt like they had everything, that they were in control. At the time it was given, Zechariah's words from the Lord were prophetic. There would be those in Israel's leadership who would have all they need and would show no pity to others, nor would they seek God (vv4-5). God told them that they would see their country come to ruin (vv 6,15-17). This is exactly what happened when the Romans later took over. Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter Heaven--not because the rich are worse sinners than the poor, but because it is difficult for them to trust in anything other than themselves. When we are all sufficient, we actually miss out on the fullness of this life, and we certainly miss out on the fullness of eternal life. Even for those of us who have trusted Christ as our Savior, we have to be careful that we don't slip into a state of daily self-reliance. A truly abundant and full life comes by allowing Christ to be in control. The "mystery" of the future becomes a wonderful adventure as we follow the Lord.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential.Please share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 9-- The Only Thing Constant is Change

I enjoy learning about history and the epic stories of generations gone bye. Whether or not you are a history buff, one thing is clear from even a cursory look at the past--things change. One day there is a global power and the next day that nation or empire's power is gone. We often think things are static and will always be as we know them now. The Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman and other world empires all thought their power and influence would continue forever. It didn't. God reminds us in Zechariah 9 of how quickly He can change the global scene, especially when an entity is known for being evil. We are told in verses 3-4 about great cities which had amassed enormous wealth but God promised to destroy them. We are promised in verses 9-10 that there is a coming King, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change the global power structure once and for all. We also see in verses 11-17 the promise of the ultimate deliverance of God's people. These are all reminders that what we see now is temporary and that no nation is rich enough or powerful enough to sustain itself when God rejects it. This is also a reminder to each of us that we cannot expect the future to be the same as the present if we get too proud. Whatever wealth, prestige, power, or accomplishments we have amassed could be gone in a moment. 

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 8--Rising from the Ashes

We remember the piles of twisted steel and other debris that sat smoking in New York City as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Massive 100+ story buildings reduced to rubble. We remember scenes in 2005 of flood waters engulfing the City of New Orleans and surrounding environs as the costliest hurricane in U.S. history devastated the Gulf Coast. Looking at those scenes of devastation, the question on many minds was, "Could these ever be rebuilt? Can something new rise from the ashes?" The answer, as we see even today, is "Yes!" But the rebuilding started with a vision--and a belief. A vision of people once again walking the streets of a city and the vision of workers once again filling office buildings. A belief that enormous obstacles could be conquered. In Zechariah 8, God inspires the Jewish people with a vision and a call to believe in order to overcome the destruction of their city, Jerusalem. Some of the elderly Jews who had returned to Israel from Babylonian captivity remember seeing their beloved city utterly destroyed. Even though they now had been back in the land for several years, the city was still in bad shape. The rebuilding of the temple was not yet complete. The city walls were non-existent. Few people actually lived in Jerusalem itself. In the midst of this despair, God gives them a vision of children once again playing in the streets (v5) and people growing old there (v4). But they would have to believe. They would have to believe enough to be strong in their current situation (v9). They would have to believe that God would be faithful to once again prosper them (v12). They would have to believe enough to change their actions by speaking truth and living justly with each other (vv16-17). Vision and belief are what enable the Jews to rebuild. You might be in a situation where you feel like your life is in ruins. "How could something good ever rise out of the ashes of my devastation," you ask. It can if you have two things--vision and belief.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 6-- Translating the Vision into Action

Vision is one of the greatest attributes that any leader can posses. If you study great leaders, you will see that they were all people of vision. Leaders need both a long-term vision and also a more immediate vision. But what really makes a great leader great is that they are able to translate that vision into action. In Zechariah 6 we find both a short-term and a long-term vision. They are reminders to us that we need to have both of these kinds of visions in our lives. The immediate need before the Jews who had returned to Israel from captivity was the rebuilding of the temple. In this chapter, God shows them that He is well aware of their situation. He also gives them a picture to symbolize that His glory will once again fill the temple. He tells them to construct an elaborate crown and put it on the head of the high priest whose name was Joshua. The crown was an encouragement to Joshua that he would be successful in his efforts. It also was a vision to the future of the Ultimate One, the Highest of high priests, the King of all kings, the Lord Jesus Christ whose glory will fill the whole earth. The chapter closes with a short but critical statement from God: "This shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God" (v15). While the long-term vision had nothing to do with Joshua's and the Jews obedience, the short-term vision had everything to do with it. If they wanted to be the ones to see God move to restore the temple and bring His glory to Israel once again, then they would have to do what God told them to do. They would have to translate that vision into action. Has God given you a vision for what He wants to accomplish in your life? Then translate that vision into action by diligently obeying the Lord one step at a time.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 4-- No Mountain High Enough

We stood along the bank of Alaska's Copper River and listened to our guide tell us the stories of how early settlers had reached that spot. Inspired by the prospects of gold, these adventurers traversed steep mountains, trekked across dangerous glaciers, and stared down the wildest of creatures. Most, however, never struck it rich. In fact, few found gold at all. The real "gold" was in selling supplies to these fortune seekers! I am inspired, however, by the determination of these people who were willing to risk it all in an attempt to better their lives. It also makes me wonder why we so many people give up when they are faced with even the smallest of obstacles. Zechariah 4 records God's challenge to Zerubbabel to not give up. Zerubbabel was called by God to lead the temple rebuilding effort following the Jews' return to Israel from captivity. Zerubbabel had faced various "mountains" of opposition but God said to him, "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain" (v7). It didn't matter the size of the mountain or the depth of the challenge because God was bigger than it all. There is, however, a critical fact that Zerubbabel, or for that matter anyone who seeks to overcome mountains in their quest to fulfill God's purpose, had to keep in mind. It is "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts" (v6). We fail at "mountain" climbing because we try to do it in our our strength and power. Some fail because the don't even try to venture out with God. They feel so insignificant and they can't see how God could ever use them. "For who has despised the day of small things?" asks God (v10). He has an unending supply (vv2-4, 11-12) of whatever is needed to enable you to fulfill the calling He has placed on your life. Let's venture out with God, knowing that there isn't a mountain too tall to climb when we are relying on His power and Spirit.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Zechariah 1-- Learning from History

We probably are all familiar with the quote, "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." It amazes me how much our society ignores history. I cringe when I watch politicians make the same decisions today that met with disaster 50 years ago, like somehow past mistakes will magically work in this era. I also cringe when I watch individuals and families repeat the past mistakes of their ancestors, or even their own past errors. Like the woman who got cancer after years of smoking. She underwent extensive chemotherapy and saw her cancer go into remission. What did she do next? Went back to smoking--and then couldn't believe it when cancer hit again. Or the family that is in a perpetual financial crisis because any time they do get some money they squander it on unnecessary things. Or the guy who can't hold down a job because he refuses to listen and learn from his bosses. I could go on and on but you get the picture. In Zechariah 1 God challenges the Jews who had returned to Israel from exile, and He exhorts them to remember their history (vv2-6). After 70 years of captivity, brought on by their forsaking God, they returned to their homeland only to repeat the sins of the past. With that exhortation, however, also came a wonderful promise (vv7-17). There was hope if they would learn from their past and return to the Lord. "My cities will again spread out through prosperity; the Lord will again comfort Zion" (v17). Friend, what blessings might you be missing out on today because you have failed to learn from your past? What mistakes do you repeat because you are too stubborn to repent of your sin? Let's learn some lessons from history.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Haggai 2-- When Comparisons Cloud our Faith

We all do it. Often, we don't even realize we are doing it, but we do it anyway. We compare things and we compare people. "That restaurant is not as nice as this one." "That athlete is better than this one." "She doesn't sing as good as this person." "He doesn't look like he will amount to anything." Sometimes we compare what we see right now, in the present, to the way things were in the past. We then begin longing for the "good 'ole days." All of these comparisons, however, may cause us to miss the potential of something or someone. This was the challenge faced by the Jews who were rebuilding the temple following their return from captivity. God confronted this head-on in Haggai 2. "Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory," asked God. "And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing" (v3)? We are told in the book of Ezra that when the foundation for the new temple was laid, the older folks who had seen the original one cried. The new one paled in comparison. Yet the old saying is true: "You can't judge a book by its cover." This is especially true when it comes to God. "The glory of this latter temple will be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts" (v8). It may not have been as exciting to look at as the old temple, but God promised that He would do even greater things through the new one. Friend, you and I must be careful not to look at people or situations and automatically write them off. With God everything truly is possible, and He may have something great in store for what we see as lackluster.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Haggai 1-- How to Stop Spinning Your Wheels

It seemed like a good idea at the time. A buddy and I were on a fishing trip when we decided to drive down a dirt road running alongside a river. We were looking for a good fishing spot. We were a good ways along when we drove through a dip in the road with water in it. Well, the truck we were riding in got stuck in the mud. The more my friend pushed the accelerator, the more the wheels spun. We got out and tried to push it, but before we knew it we were both covered in mud. We were going no where! We finally gave up and called a tow truck. Haggai 1 describes a time in the life of Israel when they were spinning their wheels, figuratively. They had returned to Israel after 70 years of Babylonian captivity with the primary objective of rebuilding the temple. Opposition from non-Jews stopped the project, and it laid dormant for years. The people went on with their business and basically forgot about what should have been their top priority. God said that "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house, therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit" (vv9-10). They were sowing seeds but reaping little fruit. They were working hard but never seemed to be able to get ahead. They were trying and trying but coming up short. They were spinning their wheels! God said it was because their priorities were wrong. They had placed themselves and their comfort above honoring God, and God withheld His blessings from their lives. Do you feel like you are just spinning your wheels? Do you feel like no matter what you do, you can never get anywhere in life? Maybe it is because your priorities are wrong. Instead of falling deeper into the mud, take a step back and prayerfully evaluate how you spend your time, money, and other resources. Look at your attitude and the goals that you have. Consider what you are passionate about and the things that drive you to do what you do. Are you seeking God first in all of these things? Let's fix our priorities and stop spinning our wheels.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Ezra 7-- How to Become an Overnight Sensation

I have a consultant friend who likes to say it takes 10-15 years to become an "overnight sensation." Whether it is business, ministry, music, art, etc. there is almost always a substantial amount of time that goes into becoming something that the public notices. Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers: The Story of Success actually documents that it takes the right opportunity plus 10,000 hours of "practice" to become a true success or true expert. He shows this with The Beatles, Bill Gates and others. We also see this in Ezra 7 as we are introduced to a Jewish priest and scribe by the name of Ezra. Ezra bursts onto the global scene as he leads another wave of Jewish exiles back to Israel and then goes on to institute spiritual reforms. He is seen as a strong leader with close ties to the king of Persia. Look deeper at this "overnight sensation" and you might be surprised by what you see. In verse 6 he is called a "skilled scribe in the Law of Moses." In the same verse we are told that the king gave Ezra "all his request."  The king acknowledged Ezra's "God-given wisdom" (v25) and authorized him to appoint magistrates and judges among the people. Finally, verse 28 says that Ezra gathered the leading men of Israel to go with him. When you put all of this together you see a man who had earned the respect and admiration of leaders over time. He became an expert in God's law through discipline, consistency, and effort. He sought God's wisdom and used that in his every day interactions. Most of all,  "Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel," (v10). Ezra prepared himself to fulfill God's mission for his life. That preparation paid off in a big way! This begs two questions for us to ponder today. First, are we committed to fulfilling God's mission for our life? Second, what are we doing to prepare ourselves to be successful in that mission? If we want to be a "success" in our walk with the Lord, we must be focused and put in a substantial amount of time and effort for that to happen. Remember, overnight sensations rarely happen overnight.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Ezra 6-- How to Get God to "Show Up"

I've had the wonderful privilege of taking people on numerous missions trips around the world. It is always exciting to watch what God does in people's lives as a result of their stepping out of their comfort zone and into the Great Commission. I especially love watching the "first timers." Inevitably they come back with similar stories--"I didn't think God could really use me, but I went and saw God do amazing things." Before they could see the work of God they had to first respond to the word of God. When they stepped out in obedience to God's word, then they saw God's might. The Jews who returned from exile to Israel experienced this process first hand in Ezra 6. After their work to rebuild the temple had been stopped by their opponents and the construction site laid dormant for years, they listened to God's word. They started working again as they sought official permission from the Persian King Darius. Not only did Darius allow them to continue, but he offered to pay the costs from his treasury (v8). He went even beyond that and said that if anyone tried to change his decree allowing the rebuilding, "Let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it, and let his house be made a refuse heap," (v11). Wow! No one wanted to block the reconstruction efforts after that! God showed up in a powerful way, moving the hearts of the powerful and empowering the hearts of His people. The Jews finished the temple, dedicated it, and re-instituted the sacrificial system (vv19-22). They heard God's word. They stepped out of their comfort zone, overcame opposition, and acted on God's word. Then they saw God "show up" and provide everything they needed. The problem with many of us, however, is that we want God to show His might first before we respond to His word. It doesn't work that way! Respond to His word, then you will see His work.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Ezra 3--Fear Factor

There was a long running TV reality game show called Fear Factor where contestants would have to do a series of tasks in order to win the prize. These tasks usually involved something that most people would not want to do--jump across objects suspended high in the air, wade through a pool of snakes, or eat live bugs. The contestants tried to overcome their fears in order to win the cash. Honestly, you couldn't pay me enough money to do some of the things that they did! Now some of the contestants did quit--their fears got the best of them, while others stayed focused on the prize and overcame their fears. In Ezra 3 we see the Jews who recently returned to Israel from captivity overcome their fears in order to worship God. They gathered in Jerusalem "as one man" (v1) to sacrifice, worship, and begin the process of rebuilding the temple. Verse three tell us that, "Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases, and they offered burnt offerings." You see, they were not alone in Israel. There were many other people living there--people from foreign nations who had been captured and placed there. They didn't worship Jehovah, and I'm sure they were not too thrilled when 50,000 people suddenly showed up in their backyard! So even though this was the Jews' homeland, they were the outsiders. But they overcame their fears of "what would the neighbors think" and went ahead with their worship. They also freely gave of their money and possessions to rebuild the temple, overcoming whatever fears might have been associated with losing some of their assets. For some, there also was a fear that the future would not be as good as the past. When the foundation was completed, the older people, those who had seen the original temple, cried (v12). They feared this new temple would not be as good as what they experienced in the "good ole days." The younger folks shouted with joy--they had nothing to compare it to and were thrilled to see their dream starting to take shape. Whatever our fears might be--people, failure, loss of security, or the future--we cannot allow these to crowd out our faith or we will accomplish nothing for the Lord. Fear is a factor, but as people of faith, God's Spirit living in us enables us to do what otherwise would be impossible.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Ezra 1--Going Behind the Scenes

When I was just starting into full time ministry, a veteran ministry leader said to me, "Frank, there are people today making decisions that will affect your life five years from now." His point was that God is always at work, often unknown to us, putting things in motion that will accomplish His will at some future point in time. Ezra chapter 1 is a great example of the culmination of God's "behind the scenes" work. In this chapter we see Cyrus, the king of Persia, mandating that the Jews, who had been taken captive under the now defeated Babylon, could return to Jerusalem. He makes a beautiful proclamation about who God is, how God had brought him to global power, and how God desired for him to allow the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. He then made provisions for the building and to return some of the original articles taken from the temple before it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. What you don't see in this chapter is how God had been working "behind the scenes" to make this day occur. Isaiah 45:1-13 prophecies this day, even naming Cyrus, and telling how God would move so that Cyrus would recognize God's might and deliver His people. God was working, even when it must have seemed to His children that they had been forgotten. Plus, God was moving in the lives of individual Jews to take part in this rebuilding. "All whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the Lord" (v5). These people's lives would forever be changed as they made the move to Jerusalem to pursue what God had placed on their hearts. So here's the bottom line: just because you can't see God working doesn't mean that He isn't working. He may very well be putting things into motion that will one day intersect with His Spirit moving your heart to accomplish something great for Him.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Psalm 20-- Leaders with Praying Followers

We often talk about praying for our leaders, whether they are political officials, church leaders, or our boss at work. We need to pray for those who lead us, but what if we are in some kind of leadership role? Do we have people praying for us? If so, what are they praying? The kind of leader you are influences the types of prayers that followers can pray for you. A great example of this is Psalm 20, written by David while he was king of Israel. Although David penned this psalm and set it to music, it really was the prayer of the people he led concerning him. This psalm is how David's followers prayed for him. Notice a couple specific things in this prayer that reflect on David's leadership. They prayed that God would remember the offerings and sacrifices that David had brought to the Lord (v3). They had seen David's example when it came to sacrificing for the Lord. They knew he was someone who brought his best to the Lord. They prayed that God would give David his heart's desire and fulfill all of his plans (v4). They knew their leader's heart sought after God's heart and that he pursued God's plans above his own. They also knew David was a man of prayer (v5) and that he prayed the kinds of prayers that they would want answered. Thanks to David's example, the people had learned to put their trust in the Lord, not in their armies, military weapons, or anything else (v7). They had all of those things--but they knew ultimately that only God could deliver. They also knew that David was a leader responsive to their needs and concerns (v9). This chapter, then, begs the question, "What kind of leaders are we?" Are we the kind of leaders that exemplify godly sacrifices? Are our hearts set on things above and not on the earth? Do we seek God's direction first rather than planning first and asking Him to bless our plans later? Are we mature in our praying? Do we encourage others to grow in their faith? Are we cognizant of the needs and concerns of those we are leading? Maybe there is even a more basic question--do we desire and seek the prayers of others that we might be great leaders? These are some great questions for every leader to ponder.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Psalm 18-- Count Your Blessings and Make Good Decisions

Growing up in church, there was this hymn that we sang all the time titled, "Count Your Blessings." I don't think I have sung that song in years, but I still remember the lyrics. I sang the song as a child, but didn't understand lines like "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed." I did, however, understand, "Count you blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God hath done." It is important to have regular times in our life where we pause and specifically take note of what God has done for us. This is the case in Psalm 18. I get the impression that this psalm or song was one that David sang regularly as he paused to look back over his life and note what God had done for him. David was very specific in exulting God and describing all that He had done for David. This is also an anthem celebrating the benefits of making good decisions. In verses 20-24, David praises God for rewarding his choices to live right and blameless before God. I'm sure David had in his mind those occasions where King Saul was trying to kill him and David actually had the opportunity to kill Saul instead. His soldiers justified the killing to David, but David would not go along with them. He went against peer pressure, avoided rationalizing the situation, and stuck to his convictions. Now years later, David looks back at those decisions and rejoices. There are two questions that we are faced with as we look at this psalm. First, are we making decisions today that we will be proud of 25 years from now? Second, do we have regular times in our life when we pause and enumerate the blessings of God? Two very important questions for all of us to ponder.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Psalm 16-- "Stay Close, Children!"

The warning signs were abundant as we began walking around the national park--"Stay on the Path." There were numerous hazards if one wondered off the path and no further warnings or protections were available. If you stayed on the path, you would enjoy some of the most incredible beauty of God's creation. But if you strayed, the results could be absolutely devastating. My children were small, so I made sure I had a firm grasp on them and kept them close to my side. In Psalm 16, David is pictured as walking through life just like my children walked that path with me--right at the side of their father. Twice he refers to being next to God (vv8,11) and he says that, "I have set the Lord always before me" (v8). He stayed by God's side and stayed where he could see Him at all times. Because David had put such trust in God (v1) and maintained complete dependency on Him (v2), David experience some wonderful benefits. He received multiple blessings (vv5,6), had guidance for his life (vv7, 11), enjoyed gladness and hope (v9), and had the assurance of eternal pleasures (v11). He also knew that just as Christ would conquer death (v10), God would not leave him in the grave. We too can experience these same benefits as we put our trust in the Lord, and as we walk intimately with Him along life's path. Yes, there are unbelievable dangers in life, but when we hold God's hand and keep our eyes fixed on Him, we have nothing to fear. There is safety in the presence of Father.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Psalm 1--Who are You Listening To?

Have you ever sat down at a long, crowded dinner table where everyone was talking to each other? It is a bit overwhelming at first. There are so many different conversations taking place it is hard to know where to focus and pay attention. In life, there is a lot of noise around us vying for our attention. There are hundreds of cable TV channels and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter--not to mention the explosion of blogs--where everyone has something to say to you. To whom will you listen? In Psalm 1, the Psalmist eloquently reminds us that for us to be truly blessed and prosperous in life, we need to listen to and spend our time with the right kind of people (v1). We also need to filter out all that noise with the truth of God's word (v2). Who are you listening to today? Who or what do you allow to speak into your life? Is it the ungodly who are "like the chaff which the wind drives away" (v4)? Or are you surrounding yourself with godly counsel and encouragement? I have never forgotten what I heard a camp speaker say when I was a teenager: "You will be as godly as your friends; you will be as righteous as those you hang around." Those are good words to remember and live by.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 50--Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Have you thought about your legacy? Have you thought about the impact you will have even after you are gone? Most people never think about their legacy until it is too late to do anything about it. It is unfortunate that many people squander much of their lives when they could be living in such a way that glorifies God and impacts the next generation. In Genesis 50 we are told about the end of two men's lives--two men who made a difference in their world. Two men who left a lasting legacy. They were Jacob and his son Joseph. Jacob had moved his entire family and all they had to Egypt, at the request of his son Joseph who had become second in charge of the country. Verse 3 tells us that when Jacob died the Egyptians mourned for him 70 days. Jacob's body was moved to his homeland of Canaan for burial and it was accompanied by "chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering," (v9). On the way to bury him the group stopped and mourned for seven more days, causing the people there to proclaim "this is a deep mourning of the Egyptians" (v11). Jacob wasn't an Egyptian, but because of his influence and the influential life of Joseph, even the Egyptians were impacted. Jacob lived 147 years. His son Joseph's life was characterized by forgiveness and perspective, which we see again right after his father's death. His brothers, fearful that Joseph would seek revenge for the way they had mistreated him, begged his forgiveness (vv17-18). Joseph had already forgiven them because he realized "you meant evil against me; but God meant if for good...in order to save many people" (v20). Joseph died at 110 (v22) having saved not only his family from destruction but countless others as well. "One day," he told his family just before his death, "God will take you back to our homeland, the land of Canaan. And when you do, take my bones with you." Joseph's life impacted their past, their present, and even their future. Jacob and Joseph--what a beautiful legacy and what a great example they are to all of us. Pause for a moment and think about your own legacy. What kind of a legacy will you leave?
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 49-- Same Parent, Different Children

We have several friends who have large families of eight or more children. It is fascinating listening to them describe the differences of each child. Even though they try to be consistent in how they parent, the children still react to things differently. They each make their own decisions. As with all children, as they become adults they think for themselves and make their choices. Sometimes those choices are good, sometimes they are not. Jacob had 12 sons, all very different. And although Jacob loved God and worshiped Him with his life, his sons did not always make the right decisions. He certainly taught them the things of the Lord, but not all of them made choices that were honoring to God. When we think of Jacob, we usually don't think of him as a prophet, but he was. Genesis 49 is a fascinating passage where Jacob blesses his 12 sons and foretells their future. Five of the 12 predictions especially stand out, and they give us insights into the differences of these children. Jacob said his firstborn, Reuben, was "unstable as water" and "shall not excel" (v4). Reuben had an illicit relationship with one of Jacob's concubines. More than 40 years later his act was still a stain on the family. Instability characterized Reuben's life and it ruined him. Simeon and Levi were called "instruments of cruelty" by Jacob as he noted their fierce anger which led to them slaughtering an entire town of people (vv5-7). How crushing it must have been for these two men to hear their father, on his death bed, say in effect that he did not want to be associated with them. Judah, on the other hand, is predicted to be the fore-father of Christ (v10). Jacob eventually turns to Joseph and gives a beautiful summary of Joseph's life. "The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob" (vv23-24), which is a reference to the hatred he had received from his brothers. Joseph was made strong and became a "fruitful bough" (v22) because of his walk with God. There are a lot of principles that we can learn from this passage, but notice two principles for parents. First, we need to teach our children how to make good choices and to stick with them. Second, we need to be sure that they see the Mighty God through our lives. While there is no guarantee that our children will always make the right decision, we can be at peace knowing that we did all we could as parents to set them up for true success in life.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 48-- Imagining Your Children's Future

There have been many times when I have "day dreamed" about what the future might hold for my children when they become adults. I've thought about their future careers and the spouses and children they will one day have. I imagine what the future might be based on what I see in them today. But we need to be careful about the assumptions we make about people's futures, especially our children's. In Genesis 48, Joseph brings his two sons to visit their grandfather Jacob just prior to Jacob's death. Jacob not only blesses his grandsons, but prophetically describes their future (vv19-20). The problem, as Joseph saw it, was that Jacob placed his right hand on the younger child and pronounced a greater blessing on him. "Surely he is mistaken," Joseph thought, "the oldest son will be the greatest." But Jacob knew exactly what he was doing--and history shows that he was right. Like Joseph, sometimes we think we have it figured out. We think as parents we know what will become of our children when they are adults. We don't. God gives different gifts and abilities to each. Some go farther and accomplish more than others. While we can't assume what will happen in the future, we can lay a solid foundation in the present. That is what Jacob did as he recounted God's promises and told of His faithfulness (vv3-4, 15-16). Jacob had walked with God a long, long time. Now it was time to pass that heritage on to his grandchildren and their generation. Their ultimate future would not be in Egypt, but it would be as part of Jacob's "tribes" who eventually came to enjoy God's promised land (vv5-7). Jacob was a prophet--we're not! While we can dream about what the future might hold for our children and grandchildren, there are solid, practical things we can do right now to prepare them for it. Those certainly include laying a strong spiritual foundation. Nothing wrong with dreaming about the future, but let's also act in the present.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 46--The Knock that Changed Everything

You've seen the commercials. A small group gathers at the front door of an unsuspecting person's home. They are carrying balloons and a large cardboard check. They knock on the door, and when the home owner opens it, they all yell "Congratulations! You just won $10 million from the Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes." One moment the home owner is watching TV re-runs and the next moment she is a multi-millionaire. I imagine this is how Jacob felt at the end of Genesis 45 and into chapter 46. He is sitting there in his home watching camel races (just kidding!) when he hears a knock at the door. It is his sons, and behind them are carts brought by Egyptian servants. His sons burst in and excitedly tell Jacob that his long lost son Joseph is alive. And not only is he alive, but he is the second most powerful person in Egypt. And, if that wasn't news enough, Joseph had made provisions for Jacob and his whole family to live on the best land in Egypt where they would be well cared. Jacob could not believe what he heard. This was better than winning a sweepstakes! As he began the journey to Egypt, God reassured Jacob that He was in all of this. "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down into Egypt...I will go down with you to Egypt" (vv 4-5). I love that phrase "I will go down with you." Jacob was starting a new journey, headed to a new place. It was exciting but I'm sure Jacob also had his apprehensions. For years, God had been working "behind the scenes" preparing things for Jacob and the development of his family into a great nation. Now it was time to realize all that God had done for Jacob. Jacob made his way into some prime land in Egypt and soon was reunited with Joseph (vv29-30). What a day that must have been! Jacob lived 17 years in Egypt before his death. These quite possibly were some of the best years of his life. You may not get a knock on your door that positively changes everything for you, but know that God has your best interest at His heart. Know, too, that wherever He leads you and whatever new adventure He takes you on, God will "go down with you" and see you all the way through. God has something great in store for you!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 41-- Your Big Moment

Have you ever been in one of those "big moment" situations? You know, where you have the potential for the opportunity of a lifetime if you don't blow your chance? Maybe it is interviewing for your dream job or auditioning for a theatrical or even television role. I had one of those big moment situations when I was a teenager. I grew up in southern California and had won several local talent shows doing ventriloquism. I managed to get an audition for a children's TV show. My big moment came in a small office in Hollywood as I performed for the show's executive producer and director. I think the director liked me but not the producer. I never got called back. So much for my big TV moment! Well, Joseph in Genesis 41 didn't have a big moment in front of TV producers, he had something even bigger. He had an audience with the Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Joseph, as you may recall, was in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Pharaoh had a dream that greatly troubled him and no one could interpret it for him. His butler, who had spent time in prison with Joseph, remembered his cell mate and told Pharaoh about his ability to interpret dreams. After a quick shave and a change of clothes, Joseph now stood before the most powerful person in the world at that time. This was his big moment! He could plead his case and beg Pharaoh to release him from prison. This was possibly a once in a lifetime chance for a pardon. But that is not what Joseph did. Instead of focusing on himself, he focused on Pharaoh's situation and on the Lord. When asked to interpret, Joseph immediately replied, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace" (v16). You see, Joseph's life did not revolve around himself. His first reaction was not to save his own skin but to glorify God with the abilities God had given him. He put God and others first, and God greatly blessed him. He not only was released from prison but was made the number two leader in all the kingdom. More than that, he became the savior of countless numbers of people as a famine griped the world--a famine for which Joseph had prepared. "So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands" (v57). By placing his focus on God's glory and not his temporary gain, Joseph not only got what he wanted (freedom) but more than he could ever have imagined. You see, God's definition of "big moments" and how they are to be handled may be very different than ours. Let's seek to glorify God, use our gifts and abilities to help others, and then we can leave the "big moment" outcomes to the Lord.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 30-- True Business Success

The audience listened intently as the chairman of a billion dollar business told the audience about his personal struggles and emptiness as he was building his great enterprise. Success at work did not translate to success at home, nor did it leave him with a sense of true fulfillment. Externally it looked like he had it all, but that was just a facade. "My life was spiraling out of control and I did not like the person I was becoming," he said. That all changed, however, when he discovered salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. His company's mission statement now reads, in part, "To glorify God as we supply our customers world-wide..." This man discovered that when God is first in his life everything else falls into place. In Genesis 30 it is evident that God's hand was on Jacob's business affairs. Jacob worked smart (vv37-43) finding innovative ways to prosper his livestock business. You can look at this story as two sides of the same coin. On one side was the desire to honor God and the acknowledgment of Him in all that Jacob did (v30). On the other side was a solid, smart work ethic. That is a great combination. God's doesn't put His hand of blessing on laziness or poor decision making, nor is it on those who are self-sufficient or self-focused. There was balance. Evangelist Billy Graham, when training workers for his great evangelistic crusades, would say that they needed to pray like everything depended upon God but they needed to work like everything depended upon them. Jacob was experiencing true success--not just material success but the success of a life lived for God. Now that didn't mean that everything went smoothly for Jacob. There was a lot of drama at home with his wives Leah and Rachel (sisters) vying for his attention and having children (vv1-24). (By the way--the Bible never condones polygamy, it just reports what happened as this was an acceptable custom at the time. Actually, in every instance of polygamy in the Bible, we see heart-ache, grief, and trouble). In the midst of everything, Jacob did his best to stay balanced. That is a good lesson for all of us!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 29-- When Years Seem Like Mere Days

It reads like a great romance novel. "So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her" (Genesis 29:20). That is romantic--but it also gives us a great principle for living. Hardships go much easier when their is a goal--a prize--for which to strive. A goal gives hope. This chapter describes Jacob's search for a wife (vv1-10), his love at first sight when he sees Rachel (v11), and their eventual marriage (v28). But it wasn't all storybook. To have Rachel, her father required Jacob to labor for him for seven years which, as we saw in verse 20, Jacob did with ease. Then the father does the bait and switch, substituting his older (an apparently much less attractive) daughter for Rachel on their wedding day (vv23-26). Imagine Jacob's shock the next morning when he finds out that the woman he worked seven years to marry wasn't the one he actually married! He could have Rachel, the father said, but Jacob would have to work another seven years. Jacob did his "time" putting in 14 years to get the love of his life. That is a long time and certainly was not part of his original plan. Now think about this: when things take a wrong turn in life and we end up facing something we didn't expect, it is easy to get swallowed up in self-pity. It is easy to want to quit. Things didn't go the way we planned so let's throw in the towel. But if we will set our eyes on something beyond the immediate, then we will have hope. What goals do you have in your life? What special thing do you have to look forward to? Everyone needs something. It doesn't have to be extravagant, just something that will encourage you and motivate you to press on. Marriages need this as well. We need something special that we are looking forward to doing together. Maybe it is an annual vacation, a weekend getaway, or just a relaxing day walking in the park, but we need something that we periodically plan for that will help us to look beyond the immediate.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 26-- When Good Work Ethic Causes Trouble

Have you ever had a job where your co-workers were jealous because you did so much better than them? Maybe you always went the extra mile but they did the least amount necessary. One person I know started a new job where he did service calls for a company. Under the union contract, employees were supposed to complete five calls per shift. This guy found that he could usually complete more than that in a typical day. It didn't take long, however, before he started getting heat from his co-workers. If he could do more in a day, then they would be expected to do more--and they didn't like that. It seems that there always are people around us trying to pull us down because our getting ahead makes them look bad. Such was the case for Isaac in Genesis 26. There was a famine in the area, so Isaac relocated his family to Gerar, the same place where his father had spent time. He worked hard and God richly blessed his efforts (vv12-13). Soon he became so prosperous that everyone around him was jealous. They tried to make life difficult for him (v15) and eventually kicked him out of the area. Isaac sought peace with those around him, even giving up wells that rightfully were his in order to avoid strained relations (vv18-22). He had plenty and was able to dig more wells. There are some things worth fighting for, but to Isaac, this wasn't one of them. He did his "thing" and didn't get deterred by those who were jealous of him. Now, before we leave this chapter, there are two negatives that we need to notice. First is that Isaac lied about Rebekah being his wife when they arrived in Gerar. Rather than being honest and trusting God to take care of him, he tried to devise a plan to protect himself. As we saw in the last chapter, he was looking out for his own interests and not that of others. Nor was he thinking about long-term ramifications. The second negative is that son Esau marries not one but two pagan women, causing Isaac and Rebekah great grief (vv34-35). Esau is another example of being self-focused, and he is the product of a dysfunctional family (see chapter 25). So here is the take away from this chapter: do what is right in both your business and family affairs, and leave the outcome to God. Some people give great attention to their work but let their family suffer. Others are lazy and have a poor work ethic. Don't let either be true of you.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 23-- When the Going Gets Tough...

It has been said that tough times reveal the true character of a person. When things go bad and the pressure intensifies, then we see the real person. Such is the case in Genesis 23 with the death of Abraham's beloved wife, Sarah. She was 127 when she died (v1). How would Abraham handle this? What would his testimony be in this very difficult time? We immediately notice that Abraham was just like any of us--he mourned and cried for his dear wife. Just what any of us should and would do. It is Interesting, however, that the bulk of this chapter focuses on the business transaction of Abraham securing a burial place for Sarah. We would expect Abraham to mourn his wife, but how would he conduct his affairs immediately after her death? This is where we see several things about Abraham's character. First, he was well respected wherever he went (v6). He had established his character and that did not change when things got tough. Second, he was respectful and considerate of others even though he was grieving (vv7-9, 12). Finally, he did not try to take advantage of others who were sympathetic to him; instead, he made sure his business dealings were fair and above-board (vv12-18). In other words, he didn't try to cut corners or compromise himself just because he was going through a difficult time. Abraham's godly lifestyle was consistent. In fact, the reason he was able to handle himself so well in the hard times was because he learned how to handle himself well in the good times. If you wait until times are tough to establish a good reputation it won't happen. Character is something we work on every day of our lives.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 21-- Better than the Midas Touch

We've heard the fable of King Midas and how everything he touched turned to gold. A lot of people wish they had that ability--especially in this day. But what if you could have something better than the Midas touch? What if there was something better than the ability to turn things into gold? Well, there is. In Genesis 21, King Abimelech of Gerar makes a profound statement to Abraham. He said "God is with you in everything that you do" (v22). Wow! God with Abraham in everything he did? That is far better than the Midas touch! It was evident to everyone around Abraham that God's hand was on him. But that same statement can--and should--be said of us. When we walk in faith and obedience to God, with a passion to please Him, we have something that others don't. We have God's favor on our lives because our lives glorify Him. In this chapter, we see God fulfilling His promise to give a son to Abraham through his wife Sarah. We see God protecting Ishmael, Abraham's son by his handmaid, as he and his mother tried to survive the desert after being banished by Sarah. We also see God's blessing on Ishmael because of Abraham (v13). Abraham was concerned about what might happen to Ishmael, but God assured Abraham that He would work it all out. Abraham rested on that promise, just like he had on so many other things he had heard from the Lord. You see, when God's hand is on us, we realize His promises, others are blessed because of us, and His presence permeates all that we do. This didn't happen to Abraham by accident, nor does it happen to us accidentally. Can it be said of you that God is with you in all that you do? If not, maybe it is because you haven't included God in everything that you do--from the very beginning. Too often we plan and then ask God to bless our plans. Too often we ask God to bail us out of a mess when we should have asked God for direction in the first place. We want to tack God onto what we are doing rather than seeking Him from the very beginning. "Seek first the kingdom of God," Jesus said. If we will do that, then we can experience the hand of God on our lives just like Abraham did. Having God with us is better than any fabled super-human ability!

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 17-- The Countdown to Lift Off

We've all seen the countdowns to a Space Shuttle blast off. For the astronauts on board, however, their countdown started long before the clock that we see. It started years before as they anxiously awaited time for their mission. They began counting down the various missions ahead of theirs as they trained and prepared for their moment. Their countdown is in months not just seconds. I have heard astronauts talk about that waiting time--how everything they do is looking ahead to that time when they will enter space, and how they want to make sure they are prepared for that moment. In Genesis 17 God starts the countdown clock on the fulfillment of His long-standing promise to Abraham. Twelve months and Abraham and Sarah would give birth to the son with whom God would establish His covenant (v19, 21). It had been 13 years since Abraham's "false start" with the birth of Ishmael (chapter 16) but now God reiterates His promise that Isaac would be born. Abraham initially laughed at this (v17) but when God started the countdown (v21) Abraham got serious. God told Abraham that male circumcision would be the sign of His covenant (v10-11), and Abraham complied (vv 23-26). As difficult as that must have been, Abraham followed-through on what God told him to do in preparation for the fulfillment of His promise. You see, waiting doesn't always mean inactivity. In fact, waiting often involves lots of activity--preparations for the anticipated moment. Just like the astronauts prepare as they wait for their mission, there often are things that God would have us to do as we wait on the fulfillment of His promises to us. Part of believing that God is going to accomplish something is preparing ourselves for it. What is it that you are waiting on God for today? What is it that you believe with all your heart that God is going to do in and through your life? Follow the example of the astronauts and start preparing now for lift off!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 13-- Keeping a 20 Foot Long Nose in Perspective

Mount Rushmore is amazing! I vividly remember my first visit. We drove around a curve in the road and there it was--larger than life! For our international readers who may not be aware of it, Mount Rushmore is where the heads of four U.S. presidents are "engraved" (blasted is a better word) into the side of a mountain. Each head is massive--60 feet tall. Their noses are 20 feet long. It took 14 years and the removal of 800 million pounds of stone to complete the project. I imagine it would have been easy when working on, say Lincoln's beard, to get so caught up with the small details that workers would lose sight of the bigger picture. But they didn't. They had to make sure that each smaller detail was proportionate to the whole. It is important, not only in constructing monuments but also in life, that we keep things in perspective. Sometimes that means making small sacrifices in order to accomplish something bigger. Abraham in Genesis 13 is a good example of this. When the livestock and possessions of both Abraham and his nephew Lot grew to the point that they couldn't stay in the same area (vv6-7), Abraham dealt head-on with the situation. He offered a solution rather than allow strife between members of his family and between their employees. He allowed Lot to choose any of the land that he wanted and Abraham would move his enterprise the opposite direction. It is interesting that although Lot chose what looked like the best land, his move almost cost him his life. He moved toward the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (v10). Abraham took the less-desired land but in the end, got it all. "Look from the place where you are," God said to Abraham, "for all the land that you see I give to you and your descendants forever" (vv14-15). Abraham made a temporary sacrifice for the sake of others but God rewarded him many times over. I have seen this over and over again in my life. When I kept perspective of God's bigger picture and willingly made sacrifices to achieve His will, God blessed far beyond anything I could have imagined. I wonder how many people there are who will never experience all the incredible things that God has for them in this life because they lose perspective or fail to make the necessary sacrifices. Let's do what's right, even if it is inconvenient, and leave the outcome to God.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 5-- What's On Your Tombstone?

If you could choose how long you live, how many years would you pick? Would you be satisfied with the average? Or maybe you want to hit the century mark? But what if you could live to age 300 or even 600? I don't know that I would want to live quite that long--life can get pretty difficult at times. We see in Genesis 5, and the genealogy of Adam's family, that hitting your 800th or 900th birthday was commonplace. Try putting candles on those cakes! One person in this list, however, didn't make it that long. He went "early," not because he died but because "God took him" (v24). Enoch lived a mere 365 years, and in that "short" time, he distinguished himself from everyone else in the world. You see, Enoch walked with God. While others were pursuing their own ambitions, Enoch was spending his days pleasing God. Enoch was taken to heaven without seeing death. May it be said of each of us, no matter how many years we have on this earth, that we walked with God. I don't know of any better inscription for a grave marker or tombstone than he or she "walked with God."
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Genesis 1-- A Good Question

"Tell me again, Dad, why am I doing this," my daughter questioned as I dropped her off at our high school early one Saturday morning. "Why am I spending half of a Saturday to take an optional test?" The seventh grader had a good question. She was taking a college entrance exam test along with high school seniors but she was more than five years away from college. "This will help you in the future, " I tried to explain. This opportunity was provided to my daughter as part of a national program that identifies and encourages gifted students. It was a reminder to me of the times we ask God, "And why am I doing this?" He responds, "This will help you in the future." In Genesis 1 we see three truths that should help our perspective on life and the future. First we see that everything God does is good. Seven times in this chapter God comments "it is good" on His work. You cannot improve on God's plan, design, or work. This should speak volumes to us as we live our lives. How many times do we try to do our own thing? How many times do we substitute God's plan for an inferior plan of our own? Second, we see that we have an intimate connection to God. We were created in His image (vv26-27). From the very beginning, God did with man what He did not do with any of the animals. He created us in His likeness to have a lasting relationship with Him. Anytime someone is out of relationship with God then everything is out of place. Our very being, our very DNA if you would, is to relate to God and to reflect who He is in this world. This is why our relationship with God affects every other area of our lives. We cannot compartmentalize our lives--everything is inter-related. Finally, we were created with a purpose--to manage this world (v28). When we side-step God's plan, have an estranged relationship with Him, or fail to pursue our God-given purpose, then we miss out on God's blessings and only hurt ourselves in the long-run. "This will help you in the future," God says to us today as we consider these three truths from the creation story.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 10-- Done in by the Little Things

The world watched with amazement as swimmer Michael Phelps took home a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics. Before Phelps was even out of the pool, his agent's cell phone began to ring non-stop with endorsement offers for the 23-year old super star. Those endorsements evolved into what some estimate as $100 million or so in Phelps' pocket. But all of that may disappear thanks to a moment of "folly" at a college house party when Phelps was photographed apparently using marijuana. The words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 10 ring loud: "Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor" (v1). One moment of "folly" can undue years of respect--not just for the super stars but for each one of us. So how do we avoid getting tripped up in life? Here are five areas in this chapter that may seem "small" but can come back to haunt us if we are not careful. 1) How we respond to authority and power, both ours and others (vv4-7). 2) How we respond to risks in life (vv8-11). 3) How we talk to others (vv 12-14). 4) How we view work and what we hold as our personal work ethic (vv15-19). Finally, whether or not we are engaged in gossip or negative discussion of others (v20). While these may not seem like big issues, any one of these areas can entangle us. Let's be vigilant to protect our character, reputation, and most of all our Christian testimony. One careless moment can erase years of hard work.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.