Tag: faith

January 29, 2024

January 29th, 2024

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 5

Highlight Verse:

“In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Having an advanced case of leprosy 2000 years ago was a certain death sentence.

There was no hope.

Compounding this, people would have done everything possible to avoid that person. They wouldn’t want any chance of catching what he had.

Jesus turned those attitudes on their head. Through his preaching and healing others, Jesus brought enough hope for the man to plead for healing.

Instead of avoiding him, Jesus touched the man.

In that touch and in His words came complete healing.

As disciples of Jesus, we have the ability to bring that hope and healing to a hopeless and dying world.

We need to be willing to bring Jesus’ words of hope and healing and not be afraid to reach out and touch the hurting with God’s love.

Are you in need of a touch from Jesus? Reach out to him!
Are you willing to bring the words and touch of Jesus to the world around you? Be bold!
January 28, 2024

January 28th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 9

Highlight Verse:

”Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.“
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The older I get, the more I appreciate this verse.

My father was just 5 years older than I am now when he passed away. Unfortunately, he did not live wisely most of his life and the cigarettes and alcohol did not do him any favors.

Even as I write this, I think of those who did live wisely who did not live long lives.

Just in the past year or so, I’ve lost two pastor friends to heaven. Both were about my age.

What about them?

I cannot begin to understand God’s reasoning for calling them and many others home.

I can understand the peace in each of their lives in their last days.

One of them I had the privilege of seeing a couple weeks before he passed. In his presence, though I knew he was in pain, I felt such a sense of peace.

So, maybe this verse refers not just to time but to quality time.

In wisdom, these friends of mine were able to live out their days in joy and peace.

I pray for that joy in my life and in yours.

What is your take on this verse?
How has wisdom increased your days?
January 26, 2024

January 26th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 31-33

Highlight Verse:

”As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?“

Ezekiel 33:11 NLT

I will admit, I don’t always look forward to preparing these Friday lessons from the Prophets.

There’s a whole lot of judgement.

Sorrow and death are major themes of many of Friday’s chapters.

But there is a purpose to these doom and gloom chapters and that is summed up in this verse.

God’s heart is always for the good of His people. It’s not always easy. Sometimes it’s downright terrifying.

But it all comes down to the main story of the Bible. That is the reconciliation of man to God through the loving mercy and grace of God.

Let’s never forget that He loves us so much that He went to the most extreme lengths to save us. Even as far as sacrificing His only Son.

Have you ever stopped to think about what the overall message of the Bible is?

Can you believe that God loves you beyond every measure?
January 25, 2024

January 25th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Hebrews 3

Highlight Verse:

“Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My hands are pretty rough.

Years of working on copiers (my day job) with tools and harsh cleaners and washing my hands often have left my fingers calloused and dry.

A massage from me would feel like sandpaper.

In the same way, years of making excuses for sin and using the harsh tools of denial and even dishonesty can leave a heart calloused and dry.

When we start down that road, we usually know when we are doing something wrong. Over time and rationalizations, we may start to redefine sin. We build up such a defense against conviction that we no longer recognize it.

The simplest, most practical definition of sin I’ve heard is “anything that comes between you and God.”

Of course, there is forgiveness. But eventually a person may get to the place where they either don’t think they need forgiveness, or they don’t think they can be forgiven.

Let me make this clear. There is no sin that God cannot forgive short of denying His sacrifice.

Satan gives us guilt to drive us away from God and convince us to reason our sin away.

God gives us conviction, that we may be able to move ever closer to God.

Are there things that you have been rationalizing away even though you know they are putting distance between you and God?
Have you been wallowing in guilt thinking you sin is too much for God to forgive?
Can you trust God to do what He promised and remove the guilt of sin from you “as far as East is from the West”?
January 24, 2024

January 24th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Kings 18-20

Highlight Verse:

“Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve always been amazed that Elijah could oversee the spectacle of fire from God consuming his completely drenched sacrifice, defeat all the prophets of Baal, and correctly predict the return of rain after a severe drought, and then run for his life because of the queen’s threat.

I mean, it doesn’t make sense.

I would say to myself, “I would never do that.”

And then I stop to think about it.

How many times do I do that?

How many times have I seen God provide from my family and turn around and worry about getting the bills paid?

How many times have I seen God protect me from evil, yet I worry about safety?

How many times have I seen God heal my sickness, yet I stress about a little cough?

I’m not saying I should ignore finances, safety, health, or the million other stresses of life.

But why would I face them with a defeatist attitude?

I’ve seen so many victories in my life and I’ve seen God carry me through the defeats.

No matter what comes my way, I can be confident that God will deliver me or see me through.

What amazing victories have you seen in your life?
Can you look back at those victories and be confident that God will bring you though anything that comes your way?

Please share your stories. Here’s one of mine:

I moved to Colorado in 2006 in an old minivan. I left the Philadelphia area after my last day of work on a Friday evening. By 10pm, I had made it 230 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike with all my possessions in that van when the engine threw a rod.

I got towed to the closest town and made it to a motel by about midnight. At that point all I could do was pray, “God, I’ve got nothing. This is all in your hands.”

I truly believe it was God who provided a mechanic and an engine and the finances for me to get back on the road. On top of that, He gave me a much needed 4-day break in the beautiful town of Somerset.

I’ve been here in Colorado going on 18 years now and God has blessed me here more than I could have imagined.

Now I can look back at that and not have to get to the “I’ve got nothing” moment to trust God completely.
January 22, 2024

January 22nd, 2024
Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 4

Highlight Verse:

”When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.“
‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This part of Jesus’ story speaks volumes.
- Jesus was tempted just like we are.
- Jesus countered temptation with Scripture.
- Jesus prepared to face temptation with fasting and prayer.
- And so on..
Today’s highlight verse made me think, “When was Jesus tempted again?”

While there may have been unrecorded times of temptation for Jesus, the next time we hear of Him being tempted is in the Garden of Gethsemane.

That temptation is reflected in His prayer for the cup to pass over him.

We owe our salvation to the fact that He didn’t give in to that temptation.

I am not Jesus.

I give the devil plenty of opportunities to tempt me.

Perhaps that’s the real lesson here.

The devil watches for any opportunity to tempt us.

We would do well to be prepared for when He does.

Fasting certainly builds strength.
Learning Scripture to counter temptations is priceless.

Overall, the closer you get to Jesus, the more likely you are to be targeted for temptations but also more likely to be able to stand against those temptations.

Do you have stories of victory over temptations that you can share?
How will you prepare for the next temptation?
January 17, 2024

January 17th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Kings 15-17

Highlight Verses:

“So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭17‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you ever wondered why God didn’t just provide a bunch of food for this widow?

She could have fed Elijah and her son for as long as they wanted without fear.

But he only gave her just enough for a very simple meal every day.

I don’t think God forbids wealth.

If that were true, he wouldn’t have blessed Solomon with so much. He also used wealthy people to provide for the needs of the early Apostles and for Paul.

While the reason is never explicitly given to us,

I believe God used this time to build Elijah’s faith.

There are some scenes coming up in which Elijah needs an incredible amount of faith.

So, if my faith is already amazingly strong, is God going to bless me with a ton of wealth?

My faith, and, I dare say, yours pales in comparison to Elijah’s. And don’t forget that God sees a much bigger picture than we do.

If He thinks you can handle it, He might just send you that big deal that makes a fortune, or that winning ticket.

Or not.

Accept it, trust God, and Go about His business.

Have you ever had a “why me” attitude while God was trying to build your faith?
Conversely, have you ever had your faith built up during a lean time? Tell us about it.
January 16. 2024

January 16th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 39-40

Highlight Verse:

“Present Aaron and his sons at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and wash them with water.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭40‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why do I picture this verse with Moses standing there with a hose spraying down Aaron and his sons. Sorry, my imagination never got past middle school. This is probably why I write middle grade fiction (novels for those around 10-14).

But seriously, this cleansing of the priests was done to keep the tabernacle pure so that the presence of God could live there.

Even cleaned as they were, the priests could only approach because of the daily sacrifices to cover their sins.

Those sacrifices have ceased.

And we are no better than Aaron and his sons.

And this is why we need Jesus.

For most of you this is just a reminder.

For some this may be an eye opener.

God is perfect and cannot coexist with sin.

We are sinners. None of us are perfect. We all have our flaws and rebellions.

The sacrifices at the altar at the tabernacle and, later, the temple daily balanced the scales so the priests could approach the presence of God.

Jesus, fully God and fully human, being the only human to ever live a sinless life, sacrificed himself to balance those scales permanently, so that anyone who chooses to accept that sacrifice may enter the presence of God. That means both in heaven and now through the Holy Spirit.

So there you have it. The precursor to the Gospel can be found in a group of priests willing to allow themselves to be cleansed.

The Gospel message brings that cleansing to all who would accept it.
January 15, 2024

January 15th, 2024

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 3

Highlight Verse:

“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I believe in giving a legacy of faith to my children.

That said, my children, just like every other person in the world, must have their own faith.

I hope and pray for that faith to be in Jesus. But, if it isn’t their own faith, it means nothing to them.

The church I grew up in was more about culture than faith. Everyone there would identify themselves as Christian but that didn’t mean they had faith in Jesus. For many it was just the cultural group they associated with.

The same was true in the Hebrew faith in Jesus’ time.

There were many who were culturally and often genetically Hebrew but never took the time to really think about faith.

John the Baptist saw that and hit them right between the eyes with that fact.

And many came to faith for the first time because of it.

What are some ways that we can confront those who mistake culture for faith without driving them away?
How deep does your faith go? Is it a culture you identify with or God in whom you place all your trust?
January 12, 2023

January 12th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 25-27

Highlight Verse:

“Son of man, Tyre has rejoiced over the fall of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Ha! She who was the gateway to the rich trade routes to the east has been broken, and I am the heir! Because she has been made desolate, I will become wealthy!’ “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am your enemy, O Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the waves of the sea crashing against your shoreline.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭26‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is said that the LORD is a jealous God.

But that jealousy is another manifestation of His love for His people.

Most of Ezekiel is full of rebukes against Israel, but today’s reading is against the surrounding nations.

Why?

Because they bullied Israel.

Even when God allows the bullying to teach Israel a lesson, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t get emotionally involved when someone is picking on His kids.

In fact, I believe that is proof that God is a person, not just a power. But that’s another subject entirely.

The bottom line to me is the fact that God loves His children so much that He goes to extreme lengths to protect them.

Even when He disciplines His children, He loves and protects them.

If you trust in God for forgiveness and new life, you are His child!

Have you ever felt like God couldn’t love you because of the things you’ve done?
Have you come to the point where you realize that God’s love is not dependent on your actions but on your identity as a child of His?

Tag: faith

There was no hope.

Instead of avoiding him, Jesus touched the man.

We need to be willing to bring Jesus’ words of hope and healing and not be afraid to reach out and touch the hurting with God’s love.

The older I get, the more I appreciate this verse.

I can understand the peace in each of their lives in their last days.

So, maybe this verse refers not just to time but to quality time.

But there is a purpose to these doom and gloom chapters and that is summed up in this verse.

Let’s never forget that He loves us so much that He went to the most extreme lengths to save us. Even as far as sacrificing His only Son.

My hands are pretty rough.

In the same way, years of making excuses for sin and using the harsh tools of denial and even dishonesty can leave a heart calloused and dry.

Let me make this clear. There is no sin that God cannot forgive short of denying His sacrifice.

And then I stop to think about it.

But why would I face them with a defeatist attitude?

No matter what comes my way, I can be confident that God will deliver me or see me through.

Please share your stories. Here’s one of mine:

Today’s highlight verse made me think, “When was Jesus tempted again?”

The devil watches for any opportunity to tempt us.

We would do well to be prepared for when He does.

Have you ever wondered why God didn’t just provide a bunch of food for this widow?

I don’t think God forbids wealth.

I believe God used this time to build Elijah’s faith.

Accept it, trust God, and Go about His business.

But seriously, this cleansing of the priests was done to keep the tabernacle pure so that the presence of God could live there.

For some this may be an eye opener.

That said, my children, just like every other person in the world, must have their own faith.

There were many who were culturally and often genetically Hebrew but never took the time to really think about faith.

John the Baptist saw that and hit them right between the eyes with that fact.

It is said that the LORD is a jealous God.

Even when He disciplines His children, He loves and protects them.

If you trust in God for forgiveness and new life, you are His child!