Tag: faith

December 21, 2025

December 21st, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 3

Highlight Verses:

“Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I bet you thought I was going to choose the previous pair of verses.

They are a couple of my favorite verses, but these are the ones I need to hear today.

It’s easy to be fully convinced of our own correctness even when we’re not correct.

It’s harder to be humble and recognize that our ways are not always the best ways.

But when we stay humble, reverence the Lord, and turn away from evil ways, it’s always good for us.

It’s always good for us spiritually.

But did you know that it is also good physically?

God designed our bodies to work best when we follow the path of righteousness.

And when our bodies don’t cooperate, we have a God who never shied away from healing.

That’s encouraging as I get older and the aches and pains sneak in.

It was His strength in my bones that allowed me to complete the chores I had yesterday.

And it is his wisdom that will guide me through the rest of my life.

Have you experienced God’s physical healing? Tell us about it.
In what ways do you think that righteousness can bring about healing and strength?
December 13, 2025

December 14th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 2

Highlight Verses:

“Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I just watched a YouTube video from a family from New Zealand who were at their wits end because their flight was cancelled and there was no place to spend the night. This happened last summer but they had a group of fans who followed them in real time, so they literally cried out to them for help. One of their fans found a place for them and told them where to go.

It is with that kind of desperation that God wants us to call on Him for wisdom.

Even if you are not in a desperate situation, we need to desire wisdom desperately with an attitude that is willing to listen to His response.

Whether you are in a desperate place or a place of comfort, God always has a best path for you. It might not look like what you expect but it always be the best in the long run.

You just need to earnestly seek it and be willing to accept it when God shows it to you.

When have you desperately sought wisdom?
How did God provide insight or guidance in that situation?
December 2, 2025

December 2nd, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 27-28

Highlight Verses:

“Insert the poles through the rings on the two sides of the altar. The altar must be hollow, made from planks. Build it just as you were shown on the mountain.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭27‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You might be thinking that I chose the wrong verses. These are mundane instructions.

To that I would say that these verses among others in today’s reading show that God was a practical engineer.

The details of the designs He ordered for the temple and the priestly garments all make sense when you think about them.

The altar and tables had rings for carrying them with poles. They were hollow so they would be light enough to be carried.

In a very practical way, God was an engineer (who happened to make the practical beautiful).

He was practical when he designed us as well. Even the rules He gave us all have practical uses for us to have better lives.

What that tells me is that, while we already know that God can be trusted for spiritual matters, He can be trusted for practical matters as well.

Have you ever tried to solve all your practical problems on your own, thinking God wasn’t interested in them?
How do you think God would solve your practical issues?
December 1, 2025

December 1st, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 23

Highlight Verse:

““What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The word “hypocrites” occurs 6 times in this chapter. It literally means “actor.”

The teachers of religious law and Pharisees that Jesus dealt with were fakes and they knew it.

They played their parts for fame, importance, and wealth, not because they believed what they taught.

Maybe they started out believing, but the temptation of wealth and fame pulled them out of their faith and into their roles as perpetuators of a shallow legalistic faith.

Today, legalism remains a major factor driving people away from true faith.

I know several people who rejected church when they ran into judgmental attitudes. Some of them went as far as rejecting Jesus.

Worse, I’ve seen some get sucked into legalism to the point that they start driving others away.

Mind you, I am not advocating ignoring sin.

I am advocating bringing people to life through faith. If they have a genuine relationship with Jesus, they will seek to live a more holy life to get closer to Him.

Have you struggled with legalistic people in your life?
Have you struggled against becoming legalistic yourself? What do you do to keep your faith genuine?
November 20, 2025

November 20th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Timothy 3

Highlight Verse:

“These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

A pillar moment

is a time when God moved in such a way that the people came away encouraged, empowered, and anointed. In the Old Testament, God had the people erect pillars so they could look and remember the great ways that God changed them.

This word stood out to me because we recently became involved in a new church plant named, you guessed it, Pillar Church.

The mission of our church is to be a place where those pillar moments happen every week.

Regardless of where we attend church, we should go anticipating the movement of God to change our lives.

When we are willing to accept the Holy Spirit’s involvement in our lives, we not only have those moments at church, but we bring them home. It is then that we get the joy of seeing God move in every part of our lives and the lives of those around us.

Whether that sounds wonderful and too radical, try it.

If you trust God, how bad could it be?

Are you challenged when you attend a church service?
Are you open to taking on those challenges and letting God change you?
November 19, 2025

November 19th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Samuel 23-24

Highlight Verse:

““Take it, my Lord the king, and use it as you wish,” Araunah said to David. “Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This passage raises two glaring questions for me.

Who is Araunah and why did he act so generously toward David?

The passage points out that he was a Jebusite.

In other words, he was a resident of Jebus, the city on that site before Jerusalem came.

So, he was one of the people who were conquered by the Israelites when they took over the city a couple decades prior. He was a Canaanite.

He was not only allowed to stay but was treated with respect by King David.

Why was he generous?

Some would say it was out of fear of King David. In fact, that was my first impression.

Then I realized that he knew the importance of the sacrifices that needed to be made at his threshing floor.

He was a true believer in God.

He was willing to give whatever was needed to please God.

We all know the story of David saying that he wouldn’t sacrifice that which cost him nothing.

It was his wrongdoing. It had to be his sacrifice to correct it.

Araunah understood and accepted David’s payment.

What is the takeaway from this passage?

I believe Araunah would teach us the importance of sacrificial faith even in the face of great loss.

He would also teach us to be sensitive to the needs of others, even when they are unusual.

Have you ever been faced with the decision to give sacrificially?
Did you go through with it, or did God provide another way?
November 15, 2025

November 15th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Philippians 4:10-20

Highlight Verse:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today I am thankful for the same thing as the original pilgrims – God’s provision.

I’ve never been wealthy by American standards.

In fact, I’ve been terribly close to broke on multiple occasions.

But I’ve never gone truly hungry nor have I had to declare bankruptcy.

Every time I’ve wondered how I was going to pay the bills, God has worked things out for me. Sometimes with extra work, sometimes with the generosity of people around me, sometimes with mysterious unexpected provision. Occasionally, a little financial wisdom has come in handy.

While I don’t want to make this about generosity, I must share that the best blessing has been giving consistently even when the budget seems impossible.

God has honored every gift we have given with provision – not always like we expected but always what has worked out the best.

While we are reasonably comfortable now, the lessons I’ve learned throughout my life make me confident that God will provide for the rest of our lives.

In what ways has God brought unexpected provision to you?
Do you trust Him to provide today?
November 14, 2025

November 14th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 1-3

“From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Is this what God looks like?

Ezekiel’s visions are pretty incredible. He described living beings with, shall we say, very interesting details.

He goes on to describe God like He was on fire.

Was this a product of his imagination?
Is this what God looks like?
Does this description fit with other descriptions of God in the Bible?

In the New Testament, we have good descriptions of God in the form of Jesus.

While Ezekiel’s vision seems a little fantastical, I don’t doubt that He appeared to Ezekiel in that form.

This is what Ezekiel needed to see and how the exiles needed Him described.

Outside of Jesus, most Biblical descriptions of God say that His glory was too much to view.

Perhaps Ezekiel gets the welder’s mask view.

But the view of God in the New Testament is a God with us.

Jesus was both human and God, able to relate to his disciples, hang out with them, and lead them in a very personal way.

God may be radiant beyond comprehension, but He is also personal.

Through Christ’s sacrifice, we are able to be in His presence, with reverence and relationship.

Is your vision of God one of blazing radiance or personal familiarity?
What kind of vision of Him do you think God would want you to see today?

Today I am thankful that God wants to have a personal relationship with me and you.
November 7, 2025

November 7th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Lamentations 5

Highlight Verses:

“Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had! Or have you utterly rejected us? Are you angry with us still?”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

These are the final words of the Lament.

But they are not the last word on God’s relationship with us.

This book has an unfortunate end before the return from exile.

But the return happened.

And later, God Himself came in the form of Jesus.

And Jesus made the sacrifice that gives us the ability to enjoy new life with God.

It may be cliché but the saying “if it’s not good, then it’s not over” applies to every believer’s life.

If we trust in God, He will make a way for us to live fulfilling lives culminating in a heavenly eternity (literally).

Can you relate to the laments in this book?
Do you know the peace and joy of trusting in God?
Do you trust Him to turn your mourning into dancing? (Psalm 30:11)
Friday – Prophets

October 31st, 2025

Reading – Lamentations 4

Highlight Verse:

“We looked in vain for our allies to come and save us, but we were looking to nations that could not help us.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Years ago, I moved my mom from Illinois to here in the Denver area.

She didn’t have all that much stuff. It fit easily in a small rental moving truck. A few of her relatives helped us load it up.

I looked forward to the help from the several people who said to give them I a call when we back and they would help us.

When we got here, each helper backed out except one high school student.

We got her moved in, but it was a long frustrating day.

I don’t blame the people who couldn’t help. I will assume that each of their excuses were valid. No grudges here.

But it gave me a tiny taste of what the Israelites went through.

They put their trust in nations that had their own purposes in mind instead of the God whose purpose was to protect and prosper them.

How often do we do that?

We look for satisfaction to things that only demand more from us.

We give our devotion to ideas that make us feel good but offer no substance.

We ignore the creator of the universe because the lies of the destroyer feel better to us.

For the Israelites, it took the exile to come back to a place of devotion to God.

For many, it takes hitting rock bottom to turn to the rescuing arm of the Savior.

The wise course is to place your trust on the only one who is truly one hundred percent on your side.

On whom have you placed your trust?
What did it take to get you there?

Tag: faith

It’s easy to be fully convinced of our own correctness even when we’re not correct.

But did you know that it is also good physically?

And it is his wisdom that will guide me through the rest of my life.

It is with that kind of desperation that God wants us to call on Him for wisdom.

You just need to earnestly seek it and be willing to accept it when God shows it to you.

You might be thinking that I chose the wrong verses. These are mundane instructions.

In a very practical way, God was an engineer (who happened to make the practical beautiful).

What that tells me is that, while we already know that God can be trusted for spiritual matters, He can be trusted for practical matters as well.

The word “hypocrites” occurs 6 times in this chapter. It literally means “actor.”

Today, legalism remains a major factor driving people away from true faith.

I am advocating bringing people to life through faith. If they have a genuine relationship with Jesus, they will seek to live a more holy life to get closer to Him.

A pillar moment

Regardless of where we attend church, we should go anticipating the movement of God to change our lives.

Whether that sounds wonderful and too radical, try it.

Who is Araunah and why did he act so generously toward David?

He was willing to give whatever was needed to please God.

Today I am thankful for the same thing as the original pilgrims – God’s provision.

God has honored every gift we have given with provision – not always like we expected but always what has worked out the best.

Is this what God looks like?

This is what Ezekiel needed to see and how the exiles needed Him described.

God may be radiant beyond comprehension, but He is also personal.

Today I am thankful that God wants to have a personal relationship with me and you.

These are the final words of the Lament.

But they are not the last word on God’s relationship with us.

It may be cliché but the saying “if it’s not good, then it’s not over” applies to every believer’s life.

But it gave me a tiny taste of what the Israelites went through.

We ignore the creator of the universe because the lies of the destroyer feel better to us.

The wise course is to place your trust on the only one who is truly one hundred percent on your side.