DAN GOULD

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Author: dgould77

  • 2 Kings 22 & 23

    When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser: ‘Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.’” v. 11-13
    When Josiah heard the law, he tore his clothes in despair. He immediately instituted reforms. With just one reading of God’s law, he changed the course of the nation. Today many people own Bible, but few are affected by the truths found in God’s Word. The Word of God should cause us, like Josiah, to take action immediately to reform our lives and bring them into harmony with God’s will.

    Taken from the NLT LIfe Application Study Bible

  • 2 Kings 11

    “Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people that they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.” v.17
    Have you ever needed a redo, or a start over? The Israelites did! Jehoiada the priest anointed a new king, who happened to have been in hiding and was only seven years old. This covenant was, in fact, a recommitment to a very old covenant – the one set up in the book of Deuteronomy for the righteous rule of the nation. It was meant to function as a constitution for the people. This covenant, however, had been virtually ignored for over 100 years. Unfortunately, after Jehoiada’s death, the reforms were discontinued.

    Taken from the NLT LIfe Application Study Bible

  • Family Day

    Its been a long, but fun day with the family. It all started with one of my sons friends b-day party. Hayden turned three today and had a party at Going Bonkers. What a fun place!!! Josiah and I played in all the ropes/nets and slides together. It’s a lot easier on the knees than the tubes and tunnel stuff typically at a fast food places play place. It was so much fun! However, after watching the staff rush the party through I don’t know if I would pay to have a birthday party there. It seemed like we would just get done with one thing and we had to move on to the next. But this was just the beginning of out long day!

    Next we went to one of my favorite places Steak N Shake. It was the usual good food. But the best part came when Josiah (3) asked if he could go pay. So I gave him some money and the ticket and he went to the counter and paid. You could tell he felt so grown up!!! As he sat on the stool he told the manager that he was ready, then he looked to my wife and I who were watching him from our table and winked at us. Where he gets this stuff is beyond me, but it was so awesome to see him be so proud of himself!

    After Lunch we went to the Lewisville Mall (also known as the vista ridge mall). Not that we needed anything, we simply went to hang out and walk of all the good Steak N Shake we ate. Walked the whole mall, bought one pair of shoes that would send my wife on a hunt for shoes that would fill the rest of our day. After we left the mall we had to go to DSW, Famous Footwear, Payless Shoesource and the Shoe Pavilion, all to find out that non of these places had her size in the shoes that she wanted. After Josiah cried through the whole last store we took him to Toys’R’Us. He loved it. AND we actually walked out of there with two boys not crying and no toys. Suprise.

    We ended the night at Ihop for dinner, all to remind ourselves that the time changes tonight. Fun day, alot of memories, tiered boys and feet! We are so blessed!!!!

  • 2 Kings 5:1-27

    So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house. But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: ‘Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.’

    But Naaman became angry and stalked away. ‘I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!’ he said. ‘I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?’ So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.” v.9-12
    Naaman left is a rage because the cure for his disease seemed too simple. He was a hero, and he expected a heroic cure. Full of pride and self-will. Naaman could not accept the simple cure of faith. Sometimes people react to God’s offer of forgiveness in the same way. Just to believe is Jesus Christ somehow doesn’t seem significant enough to bring eternal life. To obey God’s commands doesn’t seem heroic. What Naaman had to do to have is leprosy washed away is similar to what we must do to have our sin washed away – humbly accept God’s mercy. Don’t let your reaction to the way of faith keep you from the cure you need most.

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

  • Dallas Desperados

    Taking my small group of 8th grade boys to an arena football game tonight. Should be fun hanging out and getting to know two of their dads better!

  • 2 Kings 2:13-25

    “Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. ‘Go away, baldy!’ Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them. From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel and finally returned to Samaria.” v. 23-25
    This groups of biys was from Bethel, the religious center of idolitry in the northern kingdom, and they probably were warning Elisha not to speak against their immorality as Elijah had done. They were not merely teasing Elisha about his baldness, but showing severe disrespect for Elisha’s message and God’s power. They may have also jeared because of thier disbelief in the chariot of fire that had taken Elijah. When Elisha cursed them, he did not call out to the bears himself. God sent them as a judgement for their callous unbelief. These young men mocked Gods messengers and paid for it with their lives. Making fun of religious leaders has been a popular sport through the years. To take a stand for God is to be different from the world and vulnerable to verbal abuse. When we are cynical and sarcastic toward religious leaders, we are in danger of mocking not just the person but also the spiritual message. While we are not to condone the sin that some leaders commit, we need to pray for them, not laugh at them. True leaders, those who follow God, need to be heard with great respect and encouraged in their ministry.

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

  • The Book On Leadership – Taking Charge

    I have to apologize, for my lack of discipline in getting through this book. The book started out really good, but then seems to be redundant as we glean in-depth insite to the passage. At times, I feel like saying “I got that already”. We are getting ready to look at what Paul says is leadership in the next couple of chapters in the book. So that will be nice. Here is what I underlined from chapter 4:

    *** True leadership is tested and proved in crises. The real leader is the one who can handle the stress. He is the one who can solve the problems, bear the burdens, find the solutions, and win the victories when everyone else is merely flustered, confounded, and perplexed.
    * Leadership Principle #7 – A Leader Never Compromise the Absolutes!
    *** When God has spoken, there can be no compromise.
    *** The person who refuses to compromise under any and every circumstance is obstinate, unreasonable, and selfish. That sort of strong-willed inflexibility is sinful and has been the ruin of many relationships and organizations.
    *** But when it comes to matter of principles – moral and ethical foundations, biblical absolutes, the axioms of God’s Word, God’s clear commands, and the truthfulness of God Himself – it is never right to compromise. The true leader understands that and knows where to hold the line.
    *** Too many people are timid and fearful of confrontation in circumstances like these. Not the real leader. Real leaders have a clear understanding of what is absolute and what is negotiable, and they hold the line on the principles that truly matter.
    *** For the spiritual leader, the absolutes are established by the Word of God. A leader who applies all the other principles of leadership can perhaps achieve a measure of pragmatic effectiveness. But this principle will test your true mettle as a leader. No one can be a truly effective spiritual leader unless he understands the essential truths of Scripture and refuses to compromise its absolute authority. This principle applies, I am convinced not just to pastors and church leaders, but also to Christians in any walk of life who desire to be good leaders.
    * Leadership Principle #8 – A Leader Focuses on Objectives, not Obstacles!
    * Leadership Principle #9 – A Leader Empowers By Example!
    *** Paul’s triumph was the triumph of great leadership. Tested in the crucible of crisis, he stepped up and showed how a true leader acts. He was decisive. He was determined. He was clear thinking and levelheaded. He took control when things were otherwise out of control. And God honored his efforts with amazing success. He didn’t compromise the absolutes, nor was he distracted from his objective by the obstacles. And he led by example.

    Taken from John MacArthurs book, “The Book On Leadership”

  • More Snow in Texas


    Yesterday, 65 . . . Today, 30 and snow. Some of the biggest snowflakes I have ever seen . . . and I have seen a lot of snow!

  • 2 Kings 2:1-12

    When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. . . . As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, ‘My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!’ And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. v.1 & 11-12
    Elijah was taken to heaven without dying. He is the second person mentioned in scripture to have this honor. Enoch was the first (Genisis 5:21-24). The other prophets may not have seen God take Elijah, or they may have had a difficult time believing what they had seen. In either case, they wanted to search for Elijah. Finding no physical trace of him would confirm what had happened and strengthen their faith. The only other person taken to heaven in bodily form was Jesus after his resurrection from the dead (Acts 1:9).

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible!

  • 1 Kings 22:29-40

    “An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. ‘Turn the horses and get me out of here!’ Ahab groaned to the driver of his chariot. ‘I’m badly wounded!’” v.34
    Ahab couldn’t escape God’s judgement. The king of Aram sent 32 of his best chariot commanders with the sole purpose of killing Ahab. Thinking he could escape, Ahab tried to disguise himself, but a random arrow struck him while the chariots chased the wrong king – Jehoshaphat. It was foolish for Ahab to think he could escape by wearing a disguise. Sometimes people try to escape reality by disguising themselves – changing jobs, moving to a new town, even changing spouses. But God sees and evaluates the motives of each person. Any attempted disguise is futile.

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible