Tag: compassion

August 16, 2026

August 16th, 2026

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 3-4

Highlight Verse:

““Why wasn’t I born dead? Why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?”
‭‭Job‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is a tough chapter to read.

Actually, Job can be a tough book to read overall.

The depth of Job’s pain is obvious.

Remember that this is the Word of God.

Whether Job was a real person or not, this chapter shows us one very important thing.

Through the words of this chapter, we come to understand how well God understands the depths of human pain.

Job has a despair so deep that it blots out all the good memories of his life before disaster and makes him wish he had never been born.

If I’m honest, I cannot personally relate but I have witnessed such despair.

While I am not the most compassionate person, my heart goes out to anyone in such despair, wanting desperately to plant hope in that person’s heart.

If I can feel that level of compassion, how much more does God care for us when we feel despair.

We’ll read more about that later.

For now, I want to point out how honestly God’s Word deals with the human condition.

As we go through this book, keep your eyes open for more honest, if misguided emotion through this book and the healing that God brings to the situation.

In the meantime, may God always bring you hope, even in the midst of desperate times.

How does reading this chapter make you feel?
Can you relate to Job or is His situation foreign to you?
August 8, 2026

August 8th, 2026

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Psalm 34

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

One of the drawbacks to getting older is outliving friends.

We lost another this week.

Julian Pierce was a good friend in high school.

When I saw him a few years ago, we hung out for hours with a couple other friends after a class reunion. It was like no time had passed.

He was still a super nice guy who was easy to get along with.

I am saddened at the loss of yet another friend.

My heart goes out to those who were closest to him.

Loss is always hard.

Julian knew that from the loss of his wife some years ago.

We have all experienced loss on one level or another.

It is easy to blame our losses on God.

Why didn’t He intervene?

That is a question that I could go into detail about but for now let me bring what today’s highlight verse tells us.

When we suffer from loss, He is right there with compassion.

If we allow Him, He will comfort us like no other could.

Sometimes He even uses us or others to bring that comfort.

If you are broken-hearted, please allow the Holy Spirit to bring healing and comfort.

When have you felt the Lord’s comfort?
When have you seen God use you or others to bring His comfort?
August 6, 2026

August 6th, 2026

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelations 2

Highlight Verse:

““But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

These letters to the seven churches in Asia are loaded with wisdom that we can use today.

Verse 4 stood out to me because I usually think of the idea of losing our first love in terms of our love for God.

This verse includes our love for each other.

I would assert that the two go hand in hand.

If we truly love God, we will share the love He has for mankind.

He loved us enough to send his Son to suffer and die just so we can be in His presence.

If we love God, we will sacrificially lead people to eternal life.

Like Jesus, we will care for them, bring healing, and bring truth.

So, the next time you are expressing your love for God in worship, ask yourself, “What are you doing to love people?”

When your faith was brand new, did your love for God overflow as love for others?
What are ways that we can live out God’s love to those around us?
What else stood out to you in this chapter?
May 13, 2026

May 13th, 2026

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Chronicles 19-21

Highlight Verse:

“David said, “I am going to show loyalty to Hanun because his father, Nahash, was always loyal to me.” So David sent messengers to express sympathy to Hanun about his father’s death.”
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭19‬:‭2a‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Previously, (1 Samuel 11) Saul had so badly defeated the Ammonites that no two were found together.

It is implied here that Nahash survived and, with the remnant of the Ammonites, lived as a subject to Saul and then David.

David treated them with respect despite the fact that they had previously attacked an Israelite town (when Saul defeated them).

If you read the rest of today’s reading, you know that Nahash’s son, Hanun, did not realize how powerful Israel was.

He found out.

In case you think that David over-reacted to Hanun, take this story in context.

In that time and place in history, politics were not decided by debates and votes but by military negotiation and battle.

Given Hanun’s treatment of his delegates, David would correctly expect them to invade Israel.

He acted quickly and brought the war to them.

Hanun would have had the opportunity to negotiate.

Instead, he brought in allies with the goal of destroying Israel.

While it was brutal, David acted wisely for the situation.

The end result was peace with the Arameans and Ammonites.

In fact, David’s military and diplomatic actions throughout his reign led to peace in the whole region throughout the reign of his son Solomon.

David had compassion on his neighbors.

When he needed to, he acted decisively and powerfully and wisely.

In our relationships at this point in history, actual physical battle is not appropriate, no matter how tempting it may be.

But sometimes we need to take decisive action to restore relationships.

What decisive actions do you need to take to restore your relationships?
Is there anyone who needs your compassion (like David expressed to Hanun)?
March 17, 2026

March 17th, 2026

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Leviticus 14-15

Highlight Verses:

““The following instructions are for those seeking ceremonial purification from a skin disease. Those who have been healed must be brought to the priest, who will examine them at a place outside the camp. If the priest finds that someone has been healed of a serious skin disease, he will perform a purification ceremony, using two live birds that are ceremonially clean, a stick of cedar, some scarlet yarn, and a hyssop branch.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭14‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The priests had to go outside the camp to where the lepers were to begin the cleansing process.

It was likely not a highly sought-after job among the priests.

Still, there were those compassionate souls among them who brought the restoration of God to those who were outcast.

Today is Saint Patrick’s Day and that 11% of Irish heritage in me is rising up again.

Patrick was a slave in Ireland in his younger days.

After he escaped and became a Catholic priest, he could have stayed in safer areas and settled in a comfortable Parrish.

Instead, like the priests who ministered to the lepers, he chose to go where he knew he was needed.

He used his knowledge of Irish culture and of God and brought the Gospel to Ireland.

With a little Holy Spirit intervention, the conversion of the Emerald Island from paganism to Christianity was comprehensive.

Even today, over 76% of residents of Ireland identify as Christian (though to many it is merely cultural).

How affectively are we reaching those who are rejected by the rest of society?
What can you and I do to make a difference?
March 1, 2026

March 2nd, 2026

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 9

Highlight Verse:

“But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Three words stood out to me in this chapter.

“You feed them.”

Of course, the disciples immediately saw the job as impossible and didn’t hesitate to let Jesus know.

Jesus could have accused them of being selfish or unfaithful.

Instead, He simply asked them what they had to give.

Then He took, that, blessed it, and miraculously multiplied it to feed the thousands.

I don’t make enough money to feed thousands. I think it would be foolishness for us to give beyond our means.

He didn’t ask me to do that. He just asked what I have.

God takes that and feeds the thousands.

And it is so worth it for us.

Two of the ministries we support are very different from each other – Compassion International and Via Love International.

The first has multiplied the gifts of the faithful through massive marketing and frugal management of their expenses largely through volume.

The second is a smaller ministry that is having a big impact on the lives of many families and individuals in Honduras. With a limited budget and a small staff, they have had multiple opportunities to see God do the miraculous to meet the needs of people in the area.

I will not use this platform to directly ask people to give. That is completely up to each person.

But I dare say that giving what we can to “feed them” has probably been more of a blessing to us than to those who received that giving.

How have you been blessed through giving?
Is there anything that stops you from giving?

Note: I’d be glad to supply links to the ministries I mentioned if you message me.
December 15, 2025

December 15th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 25

Highlight Verse:

““But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I admit that this parable has confused me in the past.

To be completely honest, I’m still not completely sure of the entire meaning of it.

I mean, why speak of bridesmaids when the groom returns and not the bride? Is there a subtle meaning there?

Some is lost in fully understanding the cultural context. A bride in that culture would traditionally have ten bridesmaids for whom it was an honor to serve the bride through the wedding.

Therefore, it would be a great dishonor to be barred from the ceremony for being unprepared.

To miss out on the ceremony would be a big disappointment, but today’s highlight verse zeroes in on the greatest pain.

They were cut off from relationship with God.

He did not KNOW them.

The other two stories in this chapter reiterate the theme.

The unwise servant did not have a close enough relationship with the Master to act on his knowledge of the Master and invest the money.

The person who doesn’t understand the Father’s heart enough to help their fellow man has that relationship with the Father completely cut off for an eternity of punishment.

As for me, I want to be prepared by doing all I can to understand the Father’s heart and act accordingly.

What stood out the most to you in this chapter?
What does it mean to you to be in relationship with the Father?
November 10, 2025

November 10th, 2025
Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 19-20

Highlight Verses:

““Lord,” they said, “we want to see!” Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus turned more than tables upside-down.

Today’s reading highlights several teachings and attitudes of the religious that Jesus turned upside-down:
- The ease which divorce could be granted to men. (19:6)
- The idea that He shouldn’t be bothered with children. (19:14
- The hopelessness of truly finding a relationship with God. (19:26)
- That God would favor the hardest workers. (20:16, 26)
- That the Messiah would overthrow the Romans. (20:18-19)
- That the imperfect should be ignored.
The true Gospel turned all these ideas around.

In two of these cases, Jesus also met a basic human need – touch.

He touched the children when He blessed them, bridging the gap of formality.

Then Jesus brought a healing touch to the blind men, turning around the idea that the imperfect need to be kept separate.

Jesus turned the religion of the day on its head.

He is still flipping our pious religious ideas around when they contradict the Gospel.

What religious ideas do we harbor now need to be flipped?
Are there any specific things this passage inspires you to do to live out the Gospel? What are they?
October 17, 2025

October 17th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Lamentations 2

Highlight Verse:

“All the strength of Israel vanishes beneath his fierce anger. The Lord has withdrawn his protection as the enemy attacks. He consumes the whole land of Israel like a raging fire.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Most of this chapter is Jeremiah lamenting what God does to Jerusalem and Judea.

Jeremiah seems to be adding up the bad things God has done against Israel, like God was personally responsible for it.

What did God really do there?

He withdrew his hand of protection from the land.

And then Jeremiah writes about the terrible things God did.

Keep in mind that Jeremiah was a prophet.

As such, he could speak with the mouth of God. That is, God is speaking these things to and through him.

It is God’s broken heart that carries the pain of seeing Israel destroyed to the point of taking the blame upon Himself like a Father who failed to protect His children.

Only He didn’t fail. It was a painful part of His plan. Very painful, but it was still part of His plan of redemption.

As such, we get a glimpse of the heart of God, who was willing to go through the pain of being seen as hurting His children.

Lamentations are not just Jeremiah lamenting the fall of Jerusalem, it is God’s lament for Jerusalem’s fall.

Have you gone through times when it feels like God is attacking you?
Were you able to see the bigger picture of God’s hand on the plan for your life afterward?
October 6, 2025

October 6th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 12

Highlight Verse:

““A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There are plenty of people obeying all the rules, living impeccable lives and having zero effect on those around them.

Then there are those who mess up time and again but love Jesus with a passion and do anything they can to show that love to everyone around them.

Which of these two people are bearing good fruit?

It’s true that neither of these situations are ideal.

But I would rather err on the side of love.

While sin can hinder your positive influence on those around you, lack of compassion will kill your influence.

The best way is to live a life of purity and action, showing Jesus’ love while staying pure and repenting quickly when you mess up.

Who in your life can you say is bearing good fruit in abundance?
What do you do to avoid bearing bad fruit?

Tag: compassion

This is a tough chapter to read.

Through the words of this chapter, we come to understand how well God understands the depths of human pain.

In the meantime, may God always bring you hope, even in the midst of desperate times.

One of the drawbacks to getting older is outliving friends.

Loss is always hard.

If you are broken-hearted, please allow the Holy Spirit to bring healing and comfort.

Verse 4 stood out to me because I usually think of the idea of losing our first love in terms of our love for God.

He loved us enough to send his Son to suffer and die just so we can be in His presence.

So, the next time you are expressing your love for God in worship, ask yourself, “What are you doing to love people?”

In case you think that David over-reacted to Hanun, take this story in context.

While it was brutal, David acted wisely for the situation.

But sometimes we need to take decisive action to restore relationships.

Still, there were those compassionate souls among them who brought the restoration of God to those who were outcast.

With a little Holy Spirit intervention, the conversion of the Emerald Island from paganism to Christianity was comprehensive.

“You feed them.”

Instead, He simply asked them what they had to give.

And it is so worth it for us.

He did not KNOW them.

The other two stories in this chapter reiterate the theme.

As for me, I want to be prepared by doing all I can to understand the Father’s heart and act accordingly.

Jesus turned more than tables upside-down.

He is still flipping our pious religious ideas around when they contradict the Gospel.

Most of this chapter is Jeremiah lamenting what God does to Jerusalem and Judea.

What did God really do there?

As such, we get a glimpse of the heart of God, who was willing to go through the pain of being seen as hurting His children.

Which of these two people are bearing good fruit?

But I would rather err on the side of love.

The best way is to live a life of purity and action, showing Jesus’ love while staying pure and repenting quickly when you mess up.