Tag: devotional

September 14, 2024

September 14th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Ecclesiastes 3:1-7

Highlight Verse:

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

It’s dark when I get up.

True, it’s still been hot here lately, but change is coming.

Part of me dreads it.

The cold makes my body ache, and snow wreaks havoc with traffic.

Nevertheless, I prefer the four seasons to warmth all year long.

Variety is good.

It is said the only constant is change.

Our society is constantly changing.

If we in the church do not stay relevant to our culture, we will be cast aside.

I’m not saying to compromise our morality.

I am saying we need to know whom we are reaching out to and meet them where they are.

So, as much as I’d love to sit around and listen to oldies all day, I choose to learn about the next generation so I can help bring them to Jesus.

In what areas do you struggle to stay relevant to the next generation?
What are you doing to positively change with each new cultural season?
September 13, 2024

September 13th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Nahum 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.”
‭‭Nahum‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today’s reading is full of warnings of impending doom for Nineveh.

In the middle of it is this little verse that sums up the source of confidence for those who trust God.

I know that no matter what comes my way, God will pull me through.

It might not be in a way I expect.

But I have seen Him provide for my safety and well-being more times than I can count.

Someday, when my time here is done, He will provide an eternal home for me in His presence.

What more do I need?

Do you trust God to stay close and protect you?
How has He protected and provided for you in the past?
September 12, 2024

September 12th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelation 7

Highlight Verse:

“For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.””
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The multitude spoken of in this passage has been interpreted in multiple ways. Some say that it is comprised of martyrs from all of time. Some say it is just those who suffered and persevered during the coming time of tribulation.

I say that the same God who honors those who go through tribulation for Him will lead and comfort all those who trust in Him.

Martyrs may be given special honor in the end times,

but Jesus will lead and comfort all those who follow Him.

Have you experienced the leading and/or comfort of the Lord?
Do you trust Him to lead and comfort, even in the greatest of tribulations?
September 11, 2024

September 11th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – Ezra 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: “He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid.”
‭‭Ezra‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Twenty-three years ago today, I ate my breakfast in front of the TV in my Prescott Valley, Arizona home, watching in disbelief as the World Trade Center burned.

By the end of that day, I had vowed to never forget it.

With much red tape, politics, and budget fights to deal with, it took 13 years to replace the main tower. Work continues on the complex even today.

In 586 BC, invaders destroyed the First Temple.

About fifty years later, Israelites began to return and started work on the Second Temple.

With much opposition to deal with, it took 20 years to complete.

There are tragic events in history that deserve to be remembered.

But I love what the Israelites did in today’s verse.

When they hit a milestone in their recovery, they celebrated, giving great thanks to God for the progress that He had helped them achieve.

What have been the milestones in your life?
How have you celebrated and given thanks to God for them?
September 10, 2024

September 10th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Deuteronomy 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“Instead, commission Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead the people across the Jordan. He will give them all the land you now see before you as their possession.’”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭3‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Moses asked to be allowed to enter the promised land.

God said no.

Instead, Moses was to pass the baton of leadership on to Joshua.

You might wonder why God didn’t show mercy to Moses.

I think He did.

He allowed Moses to see the promised land from the top of a mountain.

But the time had come for Joshua to lead.

If Moses had crossed the Jordan, it would have diluted Joshua’s authority.

Remember that Moses was 120 years old by then and did not truly have the health to continue.

You don’t have to be 120 years old for this principle to apply.

At one church I was at, I was a director of children’s church when a new next generation pastor wanted to revamp all of the children’s ministries. People looked to me for leadership, so I moved to another ministry so volunteers would look instead to the new pastor.

Have you had situations where you needed to step out of the way for new leadership?
Have you had someone do that for you?
September 9, 2024

September 9th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 13

Highlight Verse:

“Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭13‬:‭46‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul and Barnabas failed.

When the Jews rejected them, they could have gone on to the next town or high-tailed it back to Jerusalem.

Instead, they followed God’s true calling for them which was to reach out to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people).

God turned their failure into fruit, the rejection into redemption.

What is your first reaction when people reject you?
In what ways has God turned your failures around in the past?
Do you trust Him to do it in the future?
September 8, 2024

September 8th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 11-12

Highlight Verse:

“People who are at ease mock those in trouble. They give a push to people who are stumbling.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭12‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I wonder if Job knew how correct he really was.

And it’s still true today.

If someone is experiencing trouble, people tend to talk behind their backs by people wondering what they did to cause the trouble.

Some will bad mouth them behind their backs.

Some will bad mouth them to their face.

Imagine if Jobs friends came to listen to him and bring him comfort instead of harassing him about what they assumed he did wrong.

Imagine what would happen if, instead of bad mouthing, we came alongside people in their problems, listened to them and helped them out.

Forgive me if I’m wrong but I think that’s one of the most important jobs of the Church.

Have you experienced insults in your tough times?
When those around you are having problems, is your first impulse to support them, ignore them, or insult them?
September 7, 2024

September 7th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Isaiah 40:21-31

Highlight Verse:

“God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was a Physics major in college…

For one year.

When I flunked Calculus (officially took an incomplete) I realized that I would not be a great scientist.

I was reminded tonight while helping my daughter with homework that

math is integral to physics.

But I still love science.

That’s why today’s verse delights me.

I know the Bible is not intended to be a science textbook.

Despite that, every once in a while, I run a across a verse like this that shows an understanding of science beyond that of the civilization that existed at that time.

At a time when the Earth was thought to be flat, Isaiah described the Earth as being round. He then gives an aerial description of the land.

I’d say he had an inside view from the Creator.

What other science have you seen confirmed in the Bible?
Does the accurate presentation of science in the Bible affect your faith?
September 6, 2024

September 6th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Micah 7

Highlight Verse:

“How miserable I am! I feel like the fruit picker after the harvest who can find nothing to eat. Not a cluster of grapes or a single early fig can be found to satisfy my hunger.”
‭‭Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you ever felt like that, especially for the same kind of reasons as Micah.

Micah was upset that Israel had gone so far away from God – “not one honest person is left on the earth.” (V. 2)

I’ve felt that way.

Even tonight as my daughter told me about how the students at the high school football game she attended just left their trash all over.

I know that’s only trash but it’s a symptom of the entitlement generation that would say, “they don’t pay me to pick up the trash so why should I?”

Micah would have recognized the symptoms right away.

You drop God from the equation, and you cut the main motivation for doing good.

But there is hope.

Micah would point us to verse 7 where Micah is confident in the help that the Lord will send.

There are many in the next generation who, like my daughter, look to God for their hope and their value.

They are reason to hope!

Are you helping to reach the next generation?
Are you willing to do what you can to help bring hope to a generation in great need of it?
September 5, 2024

September 5th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelation 6

Highlight Verse:

“Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Mankind has already had a taste of the first four seals. Conquest, war, famine, and disease have already reeked havoc over parts of the world.

Theologically, it seems likely that what is described here will be far more widespread.

Regardless of that, the fifth seal is different.

I can’t say that I fully understand it.

What I do understand is that those who stood up for God under threat of death have a special place in God’s kingdom.

Here they are given special privileges (signified by the white robe) and encouragement.

I certainly have no desire to be faced with the decision to renounce God or die, but

I’d like to believe that I would stand firm if it did come to that.

What would you do if you were faced with the decision to renounce God or die?
How can you prepare yourself to make the right decision before you get in that situation?

Tag: devotional

Variety is good.

It is said the only constant is change.

I am saying we need to know whom we are reaching out to and meet them where they are.

I know that no matter what comes my way, God will pull me through.

What more do I need?

I say that the same God who honors those who go through tribulation for Him will lead and comfort all those who trust in Him.

but Jesus will lead and comfort all those who follow Him.

By the end of that day, I had vowed to never forget it.

There are tragic events in history that deserve to be remembered.

But I love what the Israelites did in today’s verse.

Moses asked to be allowed to enter the promised land.

Instead, Moses was to pass the baton of leadership on to Joshua.

You don’t have to be 120 years old for this principle to apply.

Paul and Barnabas failed.

God turned their failure into fruit, the rejection into redemption.

I wonder if Job knew how correct he really was.

Imagine if Jobs friends came to listen to him and bring him comfort instead of harassing him about what they assumed he did wrong.

Imagine what would happen if, instead of bad mouthing, we came alongside people in their problems, listened to them and helped them out.

math is integral to physics.

But I still love science.

I’d say he had an inside view from the Creator.

I’ve felt that way.

Micah would have recognized the symptoms right away.

But there is hope.

Regardless of that, the fifth seal is different.

What I do understand is that those who stood up for God under threat of death have a special place in God’s kingdom.

I’d like to believe that I would stand firm if it did come to that.