Tag: boldness

August 5, 2023

August 4th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Matthew 14:22-33

Highlight Verse:

““Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I used to think that Jesus was the only person in history to walk on water.

I was wrong.

It says so right here. Peter walked on the water toward Jesus.

True, he lost sight of Jesus when he saw the wind and the waves and freaked out and started to sink.

He wasn’t perfect.

The only perfect person in all of history was Jesus.

Peter lost sight of Jesus in that moment. He messed up other times as well. But, in the end, he had a huge impact on he world.

We lose sight.

But if we are bold enough

to do the incredible things Jesus asks of us, we can make a huge impact as well.

Are there incredible things that Jesus has asked of you?
Have you been bold enough to do those things?
Will you be bold now?
August 3, 2023

August 3rd, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 2 Corinthians 11-13

Highlight Verse:

“I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You might think that Paul is putting on false modesty when he says he is an unskilled speaker. But he was known to ramble on all night, putting some people to sleep. (Acts 20:7-12).

But it was he who brought the Gospel to much of known civilization.

It was he who was one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament.

He was the perfect example of qualifying the called rather than calling the qualified.

So what did he have that made such a big difference?

He was willing and passionate.

That passion turned into action. That action changed the world.

What is one skill that you think you’re not good at?
Do you understand how a weakness in God’s hands, could be used to change the world?
August 1, 2023

August 1st, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 49-50

Highlight Verse:

“So Joseph and his brothers and their families continued to live in Egypt. Joseph lived to the age of 110.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭50‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT

Here’s a silly question –

Why?

Joseph lived in Egypt for many decades. Most of that time, his extended family was there too.

Why didn’t they go back to the promised land when Joseph, a powerful man in Egypt, was still alive?

Their land claims would have still been fresh. They could have resettled the land without much conflict.

Instead, the people of Israel chose to stay where it was comfortable. Egypt supported them as long as Joseph was alive. They had a good gig. They didn’t want to give it up.

Isn’t that just like us. We get comfortable and we don’t want anything that would challenge that comfort.

Let that go on too long and we end up just like the Israelites, gradually enslaved and trapped.

When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone to do the right thing at the right time?

How did it turn out?
July 27, 2023

July 27th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 2 Corinthians 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I switched to the NIV for this verse because I love the word they use to describe our spiritual weapons – “demolish.”

It’s not just tear down, defeat, get victory over – It’s “demolish.” Complete decisive destruction.

Those of you who know me personally know that I am not generally a timid person. I don’t tremble in fear whenever something difficult heads my way.

I’m that way because I have seen over and over again the power of the Holy Spirit at work in my life and the lives of those around me.

I don’t fear demons, or ghosts, and the devil himself because I have complete confidence in the power of my God. I may experience trials, but

I know who’s in that fiery furnace with me and I will come out unscathed.

Do you have confidence when faced with spiritual trials or attacks?
Do you know the spiritual power that is available to you as a Holy Spirit filled believer?
July 21, 2023

July 21st, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 19-21

Highlight Verse:

“But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭20‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The one thing I remember from my first writer’s conference experience (when I worked at Mount Hermon in the ‘80s I ran the sound for the conferences) was Tim Hansel talking about his

blazing urge to write.

He could not keep his ideas inside his head. And he had some very insightful ideas (check out You Gotta Keep Dancing.)

I write fiction.

But the stories I write illustrate the truths that I can’t keep bottled in my head.

One big difference between Jeremiah and me is the more he told the truth about God, the more he was ridiculed and punished. The more I write, the larger my audience.

That leads me to ask myself,

“Do I have the same passion for expressing the truth of God that Jeremiah had?

“If my speaking out meant punishment, torture, and jail time, would I still do it?”

I believe I would. But one never knows until faced with the situation.

Do you have a “blazing urge” to write or speak out the truths of God?
Would you continue to do so in the face of persecution?
July 10, 2023

July 10th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 13

Highlight Verse:

“For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭13‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have heard this verse from the mouths of missionaries on multiple occasions. I never really looked at the context.

It’s sandwiched between verses about being arrested and whipped and brought to trial.

This section of Mark is basically warning us that we will be persecuted but that persecution is a good thing because it will proved an opportunity to bring the Gospel before the leaders of the nations.

I’m not saying we should not go as missionaries or send missionaries. Mark himself went on a couple of mission trips with Paul and Barnabas.

What I believe Jesus is saying in this section is to be aware that God may allow you to be arrested, thereby providing the opportunity to preach the Gospel before the leaders of the nations.

You could apply that to mean to be bold enough to share whenever strategic opportunity strikes.

Are you ready for when God provides the opportunity to share the Good News?
July 9, 2023

July 9th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 83-85

Highlight Verse:

“What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Interlude”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There’s a reason I chose to read the poetry books on Sundays. So much good praise!

I’m blessed to go to a church that has a really good worship band that does an amazing job of bringing the congregation to the throne of God.

But that’s not the point of this verse.

When this Psalm was written, the faithful came to worship God at the Temple in Jerusalem. This Psalm celebrated those pilgrimages.

But today, God comes to us.

We are His temple.

Therefore we are those who can live in the house of the Lord, always singing His praises.

It’s good to gather with other believers to worship but we would do well to remember that we have the privilege of singing God’s praises every moment of every day.

You might ask, “Wouldn’t other people look at me funny if I did that all the time?”

Of course you shouldn’t ignore those around you just so you can sing constantly. But haven’t you met that person who is constantly whistling, or humming, or quietly singing as they go about their days. Sure, it might be annoying at times, but –

Don’t you want that kind of joy?

I assure you that, for those people, it started with a decision.

“I choose joy.”

It might not come naturally, but if you choose it constantly, it will come!

Do you want to be one of those people who are constantly singing praise?
Are you one of those people? If so, how did you get there?
July 2, 2023

July 2nd, 2023
Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 80-82

Highlight Verse:

“Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭82‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the Old Testament, judges and kings were given this charge. They were to protect the poor, the orphan, and the widow.

While it is certainly the job of judges today to do this, it is also true that God has given us a direct relationship with himself. We do not need to go through priests or judges or kings. We are His children, thus we are His royalty.

With that great privilege, the responsibility now falls to us to defend the poor and helpless.

How can we do that in today’s world?
- We can find or be parents to the orphaned.
- We can be sure that those widowed are not forgotten.
- We can help provide for the poor and needy by donating to and volunteering for organizations who help them.
- We can stand up for those being treated unfairly.
Do you have stories of when others have stood up for you?
How have you been able to bless those who need it?
Where can you be helping now?
May 29, 2023

May 29th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 5

Highlight Verse:

“So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In case you didn’t read the first part, this man was just restored after being possessed by at least 2000 demons.

He’s not the kind of guy that people wanted to model their lives after.

If I had done the kinds of things this guy had done and then been freed from the demons, I’d probably want to hide in shame – maybe become a monk or something like that.

He didn’t do that.

In his joy and excitement over being freed, he told as many people as he could about Jesus.

And because of his past, they believed!

I guarantee that your past is not as bad as this guy’s. God can use your past too.

What would happen if you shared freely about your past and what Jesus has done to free you from it?
Is there anything keeping you from sharing it?
May 25, 2023

May 25th, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I like Paul’s attitude in this chapter. He’s all in. He doesn’t want money or pride to come in the way of making the Gospel known.

What if everyone who was called to preach and teach approached it with this fervor?

The world would be a different place!

Paul was a true missionary, going to lands that had never heard the Gospel while raising his own support.

To him, it could be no other way.

Which are you more interested in pursuing – A life of comfort or a life where the highest priority is making the Gospel known?

Tag: boldness

I was wrong.

But if we are bold enough

But it was he who brought the Gospel to much of known civilization.

He was willing and passionate.

Why didn’t they go back to the promised land when Joseph, a powerful man in Egypt, was still alive?

Let that go on too long and we end up just like the Israelites, gradually enslaved and trapped.

It’s not just tear down, defeat, get victory over – It’s “demolish.” Complete decisive destruction.

I know who’s in that fiery furnace with me and I will come out unscathed.

blazing urge to write.

“If my speaking out meant punishment, torture, and jail time, would I still do it?”

It’s sandwiched between verses about being arrested and whipped and brought to trial.

You could apply that to mean to be bold enough to share whenever strategic opportunity strikes.

We are His temple.

Don’t you want that kind of joy?

“I choose joy.”

With that great privilege, the responsibility now falls to us to defend the poor and helpless.

How can we do that in today’s world?

He’s not the kind of guy that people wanted to model their lives after.

And because of his past, they believed!

I guarantee that your past is not as bad as this guy’s. God can use your past too.

What if everyone who was called to preach and teach approached it with this fervor?