Tag: confidence

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 3, 2023

July 3rd, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 11-12

Highlight Verse:

“So he is the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious error.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The people who had made the error were the Sadducees who didn’t believe in an afterlife.

Jesus used Scripture to prove that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been raised to eternal life. With that, He showed that we too would be raised to eternal life.

It should be noted that the language here made it clear that Jesus was speaking of physical resurrection.

While we won’t be here on this Earth and we will have different bodies from the imperfect ones we have now, it’s clear that

we will have bodies.

It won’t be an eternal life of floating around the ether in spiritual form. We will have physical form with senses and voices.

While there won’t be marriage in heaven, it is spoken of as a wedding feast so I’d say there’s a good chance there will be food.

There are more hints and descriptions of heaven that have been interpreted in a wide variety of ways.

I think we can rest assured that it will be paradise.

That’s the word Jesus himself used to describe it from the cross.

What are you looking forward to in heaven?
What do you think it is going to be like?
June 28, 2023

June 28th, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 11-12

Highlight Verse:

“But Saul replied, “No one will be executed today, for today the Lord has rescued Israel!””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If I were Samuel, I’d been feeling pretty good about this time.

The man he anointed as King had stepped up and led Israel to rescue Jabesh.

Not only that but King Saul kept the attention on God and not himself.

Most of you know the path Saul veers onto in the years after this story. He starts off strong but goes astray. Way astray!

I’ve seen that happen with other people as well. I’ve personally known people who started strong, led people to Christ with infectious joy.

Then pride, or doubt, or selfishness crept in. Bit by bit, they backed away from leadership, from ministry, some even from God altogether.

Saul struggled with doubt from day one, but it wasn’t until pride took over that he really began to slide.

I can relate. I struggle with pride, over-confidence, sometimes even arrogance.

I need to remain diligent to keep those kinds of things from taking over my life and destroying my ministry.

Have you had the chance to step out into your calling through taking action?
If you take a serious look at your life, do you struggle with pride, doubt, or selfishness?
June 23, 2023

June 23rd, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 7-9

Highlight Verse:

“They pile lie upon lie and utterly refuse to acknowledge me,” says the Lord.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love science.

In college, I started as a physics major. Granted, I couldn’t hack the math so I changed majors, but what I learned in freshman Physics for Physics Majors has helped me tremendously in my career of fixing machines.

Another favorite class was astronomy. I remember having a very honest professor. When someone asked him if he believed in the Big Bang Theory, he gave a very telling answer.

He informed us that the study of science must exclude the existence of God in order to be consistent. Thus, with no Creator, the Big Bang Theory was the only viable explanation.

That’s what today’s verse reminded me of. If science is based on the lie that there is no God, then every assumption and theory based on that is also false. When you look at science with a mind believing in a Creator, the possibilities are endless.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

That makes honest science exciting!

What scientific possibilities do you see open up when you believe that God exists?
How do you think the world began?
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 20, 2023

May 20th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Acts 8:26-39

Highlight Verse:

“As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.””
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭8‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Phillip is among those who had recently been kicked out of Jerusalem for following Jesus. This drove Phillip first to Samaria where he saw many Samaritan’s find faith in Jesus.

Then came this odd command from the Lord. “Go down the desert road.”

I don’t know about you but a walk in the desert would not be my first choice, especially if I was eager to share the Gospel.

But that’s exactly where God wanted Philip.

In the midst of the heat and dust, God put Philip in the exact spot where he could speak to an important Ethiopian.

History records that the church in Ethiopia likely traces its roots back to this very meeting. In fact, Ethiopia is the only country in that region that remained primarily Christian when Islam swept through that area. Today two-thirds of the population identifies as Christian.

All because Philip obeyed a rather odd request from God.

God may have you on a desert road.

Your life may not have gone according to your plans. That doesn’t mean that you’re not smack dab in the middle of God’s plans for you.

If you are open to being used by God in whatever way he chooses, the results may blow you away.

How have you seen God use you along the “desert road” of your life?
Are you open to sacrificing comfort to do God’s will?

Bonus:

Here’s Casting Crowns new song “Desert Road” – the idea of which came from this passage.
May 17, 2023

May 17th, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – Ruth 3-4

Highlight Verse:

““Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.””
‭‭Ruth‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have so many questions!

Why did Boaz sleep in the barn? How would Naomi know he would? Why didn’t Boaz pursue Ruth earlier?

I think it’s safe to say that it was tradition for farmers to sleep at the threshing floor at harvest time since Naomi knew he would be there.

In a time when everyone in Israel did as they pleased, Boaz stands out as a man of integrity.

Because of this, he would have assumed that Ruth would be claimed by the closer kinsman redeemer. Despite Ruth’s forwardness, he maintains his integrity by waiting to claim her until he gets the okay from that other man.

The real story here is Ruth.

With Naomi’s guidance, she sees the solution to their problems and boldly steps up and seeks that solution by asking Boaz to marry her (That’s what asking him to cover her meant in that culture).

Her boldness is balanced with humility that seeks what is right, not just what is best for her.

Because of her boldness her and Naomi’s poverty is ended.

Because of her boldness, she has a great grandson named David who would rule Israel with a heart after God.

Because of her boldness, we have a Messiah descended from her.

We would do well to imitate her balance of boldness and humility.

Have you had a time when you had to be bold and humble at the same time? Tell us about it.
Do you lean to boldness or humility or are you able to balance the two?
May 15, 2023

May 15th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“And they left their nets at once and followed him.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We start a new Gospel today. Mark is one of the synoptic Gospels. That means that it draws on the same material as Matthew and Luke. Many scholars believe Mark to be the source of the material which those other two Gospels build on with other sources.

It is believed that Mark (John Mark in Acts) got his accounts of Jesus from Peter.

You will see as we go through it that Mark gets right to the point. He moves the narrative along quickly and tends to have the subjects move quickly with terms like “immediately” and “at once”.

Whether the “at once” in today’s verse is literal or just expressing the fact that they left without second thought, it is obvious that the first apostles Jesus called were fully committed to following Jesus. They left behind their livelihoods and families to learn from the Messiah.

While we are not called to ditch our families, we would do well to have a strong commitment to learning from Jesus and following the mission that he has for us.

Are you fully committed to learning everything you can from Jesus?
Are you willing to do what you need to follow the mission Jesus has for you?

Tag: confidence

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?”

we will have bodies.

I think we can rest assured that it will be paradise.

If I were Samuel, I’d been feeling pretty good about this time.

Saul struggled with doubt from day one, but it wasn’t until pride took over that he really began to slide.

I need to remain diligent to keep those kinds of things from taking over my life and destroying my ministry.

I love science.

That makes honest science exciting!

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.

But that’s exactly where God wanted Philip.

If you are open to being used by God in whatever way he chooses, the results may blow you away.

In a time when everyone in Israel did as they pleased, Boaz stands out as a man of integrity.

The real story here is Ruth.

Her boldness is balanced with humility that seeks what is right, not just what is best for her.

We would do well to imitate her balance of boldness and humility.

While we are not called to ditch our families, we would do well to have a strong commitment to learning from Jesus and following the mission that he has for us.