Tag: hope

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?
May 17, 2025

May 17th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Psalm 112

Highlight Verse:

“They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭112‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Bad news.

We’ve all had our share.

The expensive repair.
The painful diagnosis.
A friend’s betrayal.
The loss of a loved one.

Sometimes the news is saddening.
Sometimes devastating.

To say it will all work for the better is misleading and hurtful at best.

How can we live out this verse?

Trust that God is sovereign and compassionate before the bad news comes.

Know that terrible news comes to each of us.

The feelings of grief and anger and hopelessness are inevitable.

But so is the faithfulness of God that will outlast every feeling and doubt no matter how strong.

Trust and love Him with all your heart soul mind and strength and He will see you through it.

How have you gotten through bad news in the past?Are you in the midst of bad news now? Let us share in your struggle.
May 12, 2025

May 12th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – John 20-21

Highlight Verse:

“Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.”
‭‭John‬ ‭21‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There’s not a lot of detail before this story. We know that Jesus already appeared to the disciples. Apparently, some time had passed, and the disciples had been waiting.

Peter got impatient.

Maybe they were running out of food or money.

Maybe they were just bored.

But Peter said I’m fishing, and the others followed his lead back to their old profession.

It might have been the wrong thing to do.

They probably should have had more faith and patience.

But Jesus met them where they were, though He had to get their attention through the fish.

He then went out of His way to make sure that Peter felt forgiven from his denials (ch 18) and that knew he was to lead Jesus’ followers.

Sometimes we miss the path that God set before us.

We may not be doing anything bad, but God might have a better path for us.

Rest assured that He will meet us where we are and guide us to where we should be.

We have only to listen and trust.

What course corrections has God made in your life?
What did it take to get your attention?
May 11, 2025

May 11th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 56-58

Highlight Verse:

“I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭56‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I was young, I feared a lot of things.
• What do people think about me?
• What if I get lost?
• Is someone going at attack me?
• Will I get in a car wreck?

When I read this verse, I had to think about when the last time I had any fear.

I don’t fear often now but my fears mostly happen when one of my children or my wife is late getting home.

Then there’s the fear of any of my children not finding salvation in time – a very real possibility at this point.

As much as those are concerns to me, there is one in this household whose concern for our children is even stronger.

A mother’s love goes deeper than life itself.

She fears for her children every day and intercedes on their behalf constantly.

And if you try to harm her children, you’d better fear!

My mom has been in heaven for almost 5 years now.

With that in mind, I would urge those of you who still have their moms around to show her your appreciation today while you have her around.

Letting her know you’re doing well might help her feel better too.
May 8, 2025

May 8th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I glance at this verse and wonder if it gives me license to start preaching “hell-fire and brimstone” to those in the church acting sinfully.

Tempting, but I honestly don’t think that’s the point here.

Knowing the heart of God in the context of the New Testament and Paul and the church he is writing to, I see the Father using every means possible to guide His children to the best life possible.

I also see His heart wanting to save people from hell.

It should also be noted that the first readers of this letter would be the leaders of the church. It urges them to lead.

The leaders of the church at Corinth were doing a terrible job of guiding people away from sin. For the sake of those people, the leaders needed to recognize sin and warn them of it.

While the people’s sin would not cause them to directly lose their salvation, when they wander too far down the path of sin, they were in real danger of losing their trust in God, thereby losing salvation.

Quite often people that far off the path pull others down that path with them, prompting Paul’s warning not to associate with them.

The point is, stay as far away as possible from the path that leads to losing faith and encourage other to stay of the path of faith.

Have you seen people pull others with them down a path away from faith? (I have, multiple times).
Have you ever started down that path yourself? What brought you back?
May 5, 2025

May 5th, 2025

Monday – Gospel

Reading – John 19

Highlight Verse:

“When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“¡Todo se ha cumplido!” in Spanish (in honor of Cinco de Mayo).

“Tetelestai” (τετελεσται) in Greek.

“It is finished!”

The original Greek word implies an action that has been completed but has lasting effects.

In that moment, on the cross, the work for our salvation was completed.

No more work is needed. It is complete.

You don’t have to make sacrifices, do good works, or complete religious acts to be saved.

You don’t even have to behave.

It is finished!

Of course, there are good reasons to live a righteous life including gratitude to God and the positive effects it will have on your life.

Also, turning from sin and doing good things are usually the first evidence that you have accepted that salvation.

But your salvation is a done deal. All you need to do is accept it.

Does that make you breathe a sigh of relief?
Are you tempted to do good deeds out of guilt or duty? Have you tried doing good things just for the joy of it?
May 4, 2025

May 4th, 2025
Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 52-55

Highlight Verse:

“Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭55‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I moved to Colorado, I was nearly broke.

I had all my worldly goods packed in and on an old minivan.

About 10pm on that first travel day, 10 miles from the nearest exit on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, in nearly freezing rain, the van threw a rod.

The engine was toast.

When I finally got towed off the Turnpike and got myself safely into a motel, I had a little talk with God.

All I could say was,

“I’ve got nothing God,

this is all up to you. Please provide a way to complete my move so I can be near my kiddo.”

I was overwhelmed.

Granted, I wasn’t being chased by enemies, but it felt like it.

And God provided.
- He provided a mechanic.
- He provided an engine.
- He provided a much needed 4 day rest.
- He provided a generous relative.
- He provided a patient new employer.
- And He provided a patient new landlord.
He’s been providing ever since.

If you’ve heard this story before, I apologize but I felt like someone needed the encouragement today.

Have you been in impossible situations before?
How did God bring you through?
April 29, 2025

April 29th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 27-28

Highlight Verse:

“Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The LORD (this passage uses the name YHWH) met with Isaac personally in his dream to give him this message.

It may have been a dream but that doesn’t make it any less prophetic.

The Lord foretold of the incredible blessing that Jacob’s family would be to the whole world.

That blessing came in the form of Jacob’s descendant Jesus.

I have only a third of the children Jacob had but I am already seeing them bless others.

I don’t doubt that their children will bless others and so on.

While I may not have had a face-to-face encounter with God giving my family a prophetic blessing, that doesn’t mean that God can’t use them to bless many others.

As a parent, I want to do whatever it takes to set my kids up to bless people!

I believe God will honor that and bless my descendants.

Have you seen your children or grandchildren bless others?
Can you imagine the long-term effect your family can have on future generations?
April 28, 2025

April 28th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – John 18

Highlight Verse:

“Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.”
‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus was not surprised at what was going to happen to Him.

Even though He knew He was going to be tortured and killed in the worst way possible,

He stepped forward.

He stepped forward into the judgement set for us.

He stepped forward into the worst pain possible – separation from His Father for 3 days.

He stepped forward into the greatest act of love for all time.

May we at least step forward into accepting that sacrifice and trusting the one who loves us beyond all comprehension.

Have you considered the incredible depth of Jesus love for us starting in that step in the garden that night?
How should we react to such an act of love?
April 25, 2025

April 25th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 49-51

Highlight Verse:

“I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.””
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭49‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Isaiah was what Bible scholars call a Major Prophet.

He not only spoke out against the enemies of Israel; he advised kings and gave numerous Messianic predictions that came true with Jesus.

Yet here he testifies that he felt useless.

There are times that I can relate, though I certainly can’t compare to the likes of Isaiah.

But, if I make myself available to the Holy Spirit, I do believe that I can be effective to bring people closer to God.

A famous TV chef in the 80’s, Martin Yan, used to always say, “If Yan can cook, so can you!”

With that in mind I think Isaiah would say, “If God can use me, He can use you!”

Have you ever felt discouraged especially in how effective your ministry is?
Have you ever left the real work up to the Holy Spirit?

Tag: hope

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.

Bad news.

How can we live out this verse?

But so is the faithfulness of God that will outlast every feeling and doubt no matter how strong.

Peter got impatient.

But Jesus met them where they were, though He had to get their attention through the fish.

Rest assured that He will meet us where we are and guide us to where we should be.

As much as those are concerns to me, there is one in this household whose concern for our children is even stronger.

With that in mind, I would urge those of you who still have their moms around to show her your appreciation today while you have her around.

Tempting, but I honestly don’t think that’s the point here.

The leaders of the church at Corinth were doing a terrible job of guiding people away from sin. For the sake of those people, the leaders needed to recognize sin and warn them of it.

The point is, stay as far away as possible from the path that leads to losing faith and encourage other to stay of the path of faith.

The original Greek word implies an action that has been completed but has lasting effects.

No more work is needed. It is complete.

But your salvation is a done deal. All you need to do is accept it.

The engine was toast.

“I’ve got nothing God,

He’s been providing ever since.

The Lord foretold of the incredible blessing that Jacob’s family would be to the whole world.

I have only a third of the children Jacob had but I am already seeing them bless others.

As a parent, I want to do whatever it takes to set my kids up to bless people!

Jesus was not surprised at what was going to happen to Him.

He stepped forward.

He stepped forward into the greatest act of love for all time.

Yet here he testifies that he felt useless.

With that in mind I think Isaiah would say, “If God can use me, He can use you!”