Tag: faith

June 13, 2025

June 13th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 4-6

Highlight Verse:

““Shout to Judah, and broadcast to Jerusalem! Tell them to sound the alarm throughout the land: ‘Run for your lives! Flee to the fortified cities!’”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬

Our college newspaper was called “The Jeremiad” because they always printed bad news.

And that’s what Jeremiah was best known for.

How would you like it if God asked you to got tell a country that they were about to be invaded because of their sin. Not the most fun job assignment.

I am at a writer’s conference this week.

Sometimes writers feel like Jeremiah, called by God to bring news that some might not be excited to hear.

It’s easy for writers to get discouraged when we run into roadblocks to publication. When the calling is clear, we work past that discouragement and persevere until the right door opens.

I write this not to solicit sympathy (though I wouldn’t mind some prayer that the right doors be opened for my Wil Clarey series).

I am confident in God’s calling for my writing and know the right doors will open at the right time.

But God’s calling comes in many shapes and in many ways.

If you have heard God’s call on your life, know that if God is in it, nothing can stop it. Don’t give up when it gets tough.

Keep doing what you need to fulfill your end of God’s calling and wait for God to open the right doors, even if you are called is to tell a whole nation to repent.

What has God called you to?
What do you need to do to prepare for it?
June 12, 2025

June 12th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 15-16

Highlight Verse:

“And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

This is my least favorite verse of today’s reading.

But it kept coming back to me as I dwelt on today’s reading.

Why?

I believe it is also the most misunderstood verse in today’s reading.

I’ve heard people use it to say that if the Christian life isn’t miserable, you’re not living it right.

Balderdash.

Paul and the church in that time and region were heavily persecuted. If they rejected Jesus, they would escape that persecution.

That wasn’t an option.

But the joy that awaited them in heaven was worth every moment of pain.

And the joy in that hope and in fellowship with Jesus and fellow believers made their present difficulties bearable.

For most of us, the difficulties of this life pale in comparison to what Paul and the early church had to endure.

But for those who are overwhelmed with the troubles of this world – there is hope, there is help, and there is life.

How has that hope brought you through tough times?
If you are in a tough time, have you reached out to God and to fellow believers for help and hope? If not, what’s stopping you?
June 9, 2025

June 9th, 2025
Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 6

Highlight Verse:

“And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What does it take to amaze Jesus?
- Your faithfulness won’t amaze Him.
- Giving way beyond a tithe won’t amaze Him.
- People being healed won’t do it either.
People not believing in the light of His power and grace amazes Him.

He still appreciates all the good things you do.

But He has enough faith in you to expect that not doing those things would be the exception.

So, as strange as it may sound, let’s not amaze Jesus.

What other things that you have seen people do would, in the way we a speaking of today, not be amazing to Jesus?
June 8, 2025

June 8th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 69-71

Highlight Verse:

“Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT

That, my friends, is what it’s all about.

Okay, for me it might be called the next next generation. While it’s true that my youngest is still in high school for one more year, this fall will mark 43 years since I started serving in next generation ministry.

Why.

Years ago, I heard that some 85% of adult followers of Jesus started following Jesus at under the age of 18.

I don’t know what the current figure is, but I know it is vitally important to plant the seeds of faith at an early age.

For me, my earliest memory was in church. True, I was crying for my mommy in the nursery, but it shows that I started hearing about Jesus pretty much from birth.

While I didn’t fully understand the things I learned in Sunday School, they helped bring me to the point where 13-year-old me knew I should decide one way or another what I would believe.

People who felt called to serve and love the next generation through camp ministry and leading our church’s youth group convinced me that Jesus was real through the way they cared about me and others.

I don’t know where I would be without them.

In what ways have you invested in the next generation?
What can you do now to sow seeds of faith to those who need them?
June 6, 2025

June 6th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 1-3

Highlight Verse:

““I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.””
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jeremiah was called before He was conceived.

Let that sink in.

Does that mean that God has a calling for each of us?

I think so.

I believe I have the choice of whether or not to follow that calling. But that doesn’t make the calling less valid.

Jeremiah followed his calling faithfully.

As a result, the people of Israel were given a chance to repent.

Eventually most did, largely because Jeremiah’s prophecies gave them hope for life after the exile.

I pray that when I follow my calling, people will find hope.

And faith.

And love.

What do you know about the calling God has for you?
How closely have you followed that calling?
June 4, 2025

June 4th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse had to make me think, “How did he know?”

I’m sure the author wasn’t a Philistine so he must have heard a rumor of the superstitions of those who worshipped Dagon.

He knew better.

That empty idol had no power.

But he might not have realized that the ark had no power either.

The power was not in the ark but in the God that it represented.

He brought the plagues on the towns that hosted the ark for two reasons:
• To make the Philistines realize that their idols were powerless and
• To bring the ark back to Israel keep the Israelites from backsliding further.

God may have used the ark to encourage His people, but God is not found in any object no matter how beautiful.

The ark carried reminders of God’s Commandments and His faithfulness, but God is found in the hearts of His people.

Have you ever been tempted to put your faith in things that you can see and touch rather than the God who touches hearts?
What keeps your faith strong in those times that nothing you see or touch seems to point to God?
June 2, 2025

June 2nd, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 5

Highlight Verse:

“While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My first thought was I read this was “That was cold.”

The callousness of the messenger serves to emphasize the compassion of Jesus.

I envisioned Jesus hurting in empathy for the father fearing the loss of his cherished daughter.

I could see Jesus recoiling at the harsh news of the messenger.

And then I decided to see it as others envisioned it and watched the corresponding episode of The Chosen.

Yes I know today’s devotion is a little bit of a cop out referring you to a TV show but I genuinely think you will get more out of it for today’s story than from me.
It is Season 3 Episode 5,

How do you think Jesus reacted to Jairus, the messenger, and the interruption of the woman who touched the hem of His robe?
Can you relate to His compassion, or do you have a hard time grasping it?
May 29, 2025

May 29th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 11-12

Highlight Verses:

“Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’m not sure why this is such controversial chapter.

Perhaps it is because we tend to focus on only parts of the chapter.

Dispensationalists tend to focus on these first two verses and a verse in the next chapter. They say the gifts are no longer needed and only lead people astray.

Pentecostals tend to focus on the gifts themselves. In my experience (as a long time Pentecostal) people can sometimes confuse emotions with spiritual gifts. That is an excellent reason to get to know the Bible well, because God will never contradict the Bible with a spiritual gift.

If you look at the whole chapter, the main point is how all the parts of the body of Christ work together. The gifts of the Spirit are the different functions of those parts that work together to make for a whole and healthy body.

We are still the functioning body of Christ so, yes, the gifts of the Spirit are still valid for today.

We do well to practice them as parts of the body of Christ.

Have you had difficulty making yourself available to the Holy Spirit to practice the gifts of the Spirit?
Have you ever found yourself so focused on the gifts of the Spirit that you lost sight of their place in the Body of Christ?
May 25, 2025

May 25th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 62-65

Highlight Verse:

“My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭62‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

David was a poet.

David was a King.

But here, in this Psalm, David was a warrior.

His battles were fought for the Lord alone.

He accepted honor from God alone.

Yet we do well to honor him still as he laid the groundwork for our Messiah to come and bring us spiritual freedom.

This weekend we honor those who gave their lives for us in the US military.

Many, if not most fought for God.

All fought to win and maintain our freedom.

We do well to honor them!

As you enjoy the weekend with your family, traveling or relaxing at home, take some time to honor those who gave everything that we may be a free nation under God.

If there is someone you know of that gave their life in military service for our country, feel free to name them here.

I’ll start with Staff Sargent Howell Thompson, USMC, my great uncle (Grandma Clarey’s brother). Lost over the Bermuda Triangle on December 5, 1945 along with 26 other Marines and Navy airmen.
May 20, 2025

May 20th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 33-34

Highlight Verse:

“Hamor and his son Shechem agreed to their proposal.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭34‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ll give you a minute to go read the rest of this chapter.

Did you read it?

Pretty messed up, huh?

Rape, political maneuvering, deceit, genocide, looting.

It’s almost like one sin led to another.

Oh wait! It’s exactly like one sin led to another.

The sins in this chapter were heinous but the same principle applies to all sin.

Sin unchecked always leads to more sin.

Very often, sin compounds into greater sin with worse effects.

Eventually, it can break down faith and lead to the rejection of Jesus.

Instead of compounding sin, what if we confessed to each other and to God; sought accountability; and prioritized fellowship with each other and the Holy Spirit?

In other words, what if we got involved in a good local church?

If you haven’t already, I suggest you give it a try.

What does your local church do to help you escape from the grasp of sin?
How do you help others do the same?

Tag: faith

How would you like it if God asked you to got tell a country that they were about to be invaded because of their sin. Not the most fun job assignment.

If you have heard God’s call on your life, know that if God is in it, nothing can stop it. Don’t give up when it gets tough.

Keep doing what you need to fulfill your end of God’s calling and wait for God to open the right doors, even if you are called is to tell a whole nation to repent.

This is my least favorite verse of today’s reading.

I believe it is also the most misunderstood verse in today’s reading.

But for those who are overwhelmed with the troubles of this world – there is hope, there is help, and there is life.

What does it take to amaze Jesus?

People not believing in the light of His power and grace amazes Him.

But He has enough faith in you to expect that not doing those things would be the exception.

That, my friends, is what it’s all about.

Years ago, I heard that some 85% of adult followers of Jesus started following Jesus at under the age of 18.

I don’t know where I would be without them.

Jeremiah was called before He was conceived.

As a result, the people of Israel were given a chance to repent.

I pray that when I follow my calling, people will find hope.

And faith.

And love.

He knew better.

The power was not in the ark but in the God that it represented.

My first thought was I read this was “That was cold.”

I envisioned Jesus hurting in empathy for the father fearing the loss of his cherished daughter.

And then I decided to see it as others envisioned it and watched the corresponding episode of The Chosen.

Perhaps it is because we tend to focus on only parts of the chapter.

We do well to practice them as parts of the body of Christ.

But here, in this Psalm, David was a warrior.

We do well to honor them!

Pretty messed up, huh?

Sin unchecked always leads to more sin.

In other words, what if we got involved in a good local church?