Tag: hope

October 6, 2024

October 6th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 19-20

Highlight Verse:

“And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!”
‭‭Job‬ ‭19‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Some say that resurrection is a New Testament concept.

Job just blasted that theory out of the water.

Yes, it’s true that Job spent much of this chapter blaming God for what Satan did.

But that doesn’t negate the fact that Job or at least the writer of Job had a concept of the resurrection long before Jesus was resurrected.

I for one, take comfort in that.

Do you believe in resurrection?
Are you looking forward to it?
October 5, 2024

October 5th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – 1 Thessalonians 11-18

Highlight Verse:

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“I hate going to funerals because I’m not a mourning person.” – the joke of the week as found on the wall of a medical examiner’s office.

It’s a subject no one likes to talk about.

But it is a subject that we will each face. Most of us have already faced it within our group of family and friends.

I bring it up because of the sense of humor of the people who worked at the last office I visited yesterday – the medical examiner’s office.

Don’t worry, they were respectful.

It’s just that, in their line of work, they seemed to have learned to value life.

We all want to enjoy life and make a difference while we live it here on Earth.

But this life is but a split second compared to Heaven.

I don’t know what difference we can make in heaven – I’m sure there is some.

But I know I can make a difference here.

So can you.

I say, let’s get to it.

Have you set goals that will help you make a difference in the lives of others?
What is the next thing you are going to do to meet those goals?
October 3, 2024

October 3rd, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelations 10

Highlight Verse:

“He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭10‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Make no mistake. There will be a day when all this will come to pass.

The people in the early Church thought it would be at any time.

It’s been 2000 years.

More and more of the prophecies leading up to the end times have come true.

Now more than ever, the second coming of Jesus is imminent.

It could be tonight.

It could be another thousand years.

It’s best to live like Jesus could come back any moment while also being prepared to live a long, full life here on Earth.

In other words, live out this life of faith to its fullest and most faithful.

When you think about the second coming of Jesus, are you excited or scared (or both)?
How are you preparing for a long full life on Earth should Jesus delay that long?
October 1, 2024

October 1st, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Deuteronomy 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“But recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy them. He will subdue them so that you will quickly conquer them and drive them out, just as the Lord has promised.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭9‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How many times have you been stuck in the wilderness, stuck on the edge of “The Promised Land” but you just can’t seem to make it?

I’ve been there.

Those battles that stand in the way seem impossible.

They are.

But it’s not up to us to fight them.

It is up to us to trust the one who will fight for us.

When we trust, we can step over that border in victory, praising the one who bought that victory for us.

Can you share any victory stories?
Can we pray for the victory in your situation?
September 24, 2024

September 28th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Deuteronomy 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭7‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God blessed the Israelites because He loved them, and He was faithful to His promises to their ancestors.

That’s why He treated Israel so well.

That’s why He treats us so well.

I may not be an Israelite, but I was adopted into the family of God.

I inherited all the rights and responsibilities of an Israelite.

I have no genetic ties to three of my four children. But the moment I married their mother, they became my children. I love them as much as I love my oldest daughter, who does carry my genes.

If I, a far from perfect man, could love all his children that way, how much more could God love all His children, both Hebrew and Gentile?

Do you truly understand the depth of God’s love for you?
Can you believe He is faithful?
September 23, 2024

September 23rd, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 14 (Note: Last week I accidentally did this week’s chapter, so this is last week’s).

Highlight Verses:

“When the apostles learned of it, they fled to the region of Lycaonia—to the towns of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area. And there they preached the Good News.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You might think it was terrible how much violent opposition Paul and those with him encountered as they spread the Gospel.

Notice, if there wasn’t opposition, they might not have covered as large of an area.

When the opposition grew violent, it forced them to move on. Eventually, they covered the entire region.

When we encounter opposition, it might be time to move on.

Granted, they stayed until the opposition turned violent.

If opposition reaches that level today, that doesn’t necessarily mean failure. It may signal the beginning of a new opportunity.

Have you ever had to deal with violent opposition?
We’re you able to find another opportunity in the midst of the opposition?
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 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 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 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?

Tag: hope

Some say that resurrection is a New Testament concept.

Job just blasted that theory out of the water.

I for one, take comfort in that.

It’s a subject no one likes to talk about.

But this life is but a split second compared to Heaven.

But I know I can make a difference here.

Make no mistake. There will be a day when all this will come to pass.

Now more than ever, the second coming of Jesus is imminent.

In other words, live out this life of faith to its fullest and most faithful.

How many times have you been stuck in the wilderness, stuck on the edge of “The Promised Land” but you just can’t seem to make it?

But it’s not up to us to fight them.

It is up to us to trust the one who will fight for us.

God blessed the Israelites because He loved them, and He was faithful to His promises to their ancestors.

I may not be an Israelite, but I was adopted into the family of God.

If I, a far from perfect man, could love all his children that way, how much more could God love all His children, both Hebrew and Gentile?

Notice, if there wasn’t opposition, they might not have covered as large of an area.

If opposition reaches that level today, that doesn’t necessarily mean failure. It may signal the beginning of a new opportunity.

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

What more do I need?

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.

Paul and Barnabas failed.

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

I’ve felt that way.

Micah would have recognized the symptoms right away.

But there is hope.