Tag: joy

March 3, 2025

March 3rd, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – John 10

Highlight Verse:

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you follow Jesus and your life is boring, you’re doing it wrong.

Sure, I’ve had some fun and excitement when I’ve done things my way. But that doesn’t compare with the joy, wonder, and peace that come when I follow what Jesus taught.

If we are open to it, God will challenge us beyond what we ever thought possible.

He’d have us step out of our safe zone into a life full of the miraculous.

He’d have us experience joy that goes beyond definition.

He’d have us change the world.

So, if life is boring right now and you are willing to let it get interesting in a good way, ask God to show you where He wants you to step out in faith.

Can you share any interesting stories of when God led you into a time of trusting God beyond the ordinary?
How has God blessed you when you have been willing to step out in faith?
February 8, 2025

February 8th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Luke 14:1-24

Highlight Verse:
“Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you ever want to see pure, unrestrained joy, volunteer at a Night to Shine (or attend if you have special needs).

Last night was the 10th annual Night to Shine, a prom event for people with special needs.

People with physical and mental challenges are often overlooked. In some parts of the world, they are actively shunned.

Night to Shine reverses that, shining a positive light on people with special needs; crowning them as Kings and Queens in God’s eyes.

Jesus taught in today’s verse that people with special needs should be included in celebration.

When Jesus encountered those with special needs, He listened to them, touched them, and healed them.

We should do no less.

How do you show respect and honor to people with special needs?
What can you do to invite those with special needs to your celebrations?
February 2, 2025

February 2nd, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 13-16

Highlight Verse:

“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why is it that people often think that following Jesus is boring.

Even among Christians, sin is considered to be “fun”.

But what is fun about damaged relationships from sexual sin, weakened bodies from drug and alcohol abuse, or injury or death from violence or driving impaired?

Just as importantly, there is great joy and pleasure from life in a loving marriage and a caring family. And there is great fulfillment, satisfaction, and joy in helping others.

Even the very act of singing praise and worship to God bring pleasure.

So the next time you get FOMO (fear of missing out) when your buddies invite you to the bar or that attractive person flirts with you,

remember there is so much more joy and pleasure in sticking to the directions God has given you.

What do you do to protect yourself from temptation?
What gives you the most pleasure in following Jesus? (For me it is teaching youth).
January 11, 2025

January 11th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Isaiah 40:26-31

Highlight Verse:

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This time of year, it’s dark when I leave for work. By the time I get home it’s getting dark again.

The older I get, the more the cold Colorado weather makes me ache.

If you haven’t guessed by now, winter is not my favorite season.

I love the longer days and warmer temperatures of spring and summer and the colors of fall.

In winter, I want to push the fast forward button.

Today’s verse in most translations begins with “they that wait upon the Lord.”

While the NLT might more accurately convey the meaning of the text,

I love the imagery of waiting as trusting.

So, instead of hibernating until spring, I’ll trust God to see me through the winter.

And if you see an eagle fly by, you might want to take a look and see if I’m up there with it.

Are you affected by the seasons?
How do you get through the tougher seasons?
What does soaring like eagles look like for you?
January 5, 2025

January 5th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 1-3

Highlight Verse:

“They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Whenever I read Psalms like these, I get a picture in my head of young David sitting down in a field with his sheep with a pencil and a pad of paper.

Yes, I know it’s a silly image since we don’t know that David penned this Psalm, nor did he have a pencil or paper.

But the beautiful poetic imagery of what constantly thinking about God’s Word can do for us brings that image to my mind.

So, what did they do without paper to write down the Psalms?

They did get written down by scribes eventually. Until then, they had another method.

A psalm is not just a poem; it is a song.

There are verses that I memorized 50 years ago and never forgot, because they were put to music.

We sang them in Sunday School and in worship. Some of the songs we sing today are Scriptures set to music.

It helped the writers of the Psalms remember al the words.

And it helps us remember the Word of God.

Do you remember any Scriptures as songs?
Have you ever tried to put verses to music so you could remember it better?
Did it work? (It did for me)
December 27, 2024

December 27th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Malachi 3-4

Highlight Verse:

““But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do you remember the first day of summer vacation?

Three months with no homework or having to get to school on time.

The walk or ride home from school had a feeling of freedom that we had waited for all year.

The end of the Old Testament has that kind of anticipation of a time of freedom.

Freedom from the bonds of sin by the grace of God through the work of Jesus came with the Gospels on the very next pages in the Bible.

When you remember the grace God has shown you, celebrate like calves set free in a pasture, or like children set free from the old of school.

Only remember your celebration is forever.

How do you celebrate your freedom from sin?
Can you celebrate it with the heart of a child?
Christmas Day 2024

December 25th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – Esther 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“He told them to celebrate these days with feasting and gladness and by giving gifts of food to each other and presents to the poor. This would commemorate a time when the Jews gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy.”
‭‭Esther‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus was born at a time when there was great sorrow in the land.

Israel was occupied by Rome.

Poverty and oppression were the norm.

To make things worse, Caesar declared a census that required people to move to their ancestral lands during the taking of the census.

In the midst of all that stress and hardship, Jesus was born.

The festival of Purim celebrates how God saved Israel from her enemies.

Jesus, would save far more than just Israel.

I just spent three Christmas Eve services explaining the gift of Jesus coming as a baby to 4- and 5-year-old kids.

For the most part they didn’t really get it.

But they understood that Jesus coming as a baby was the reason behind the biggest celebration of the year.

That’s a great reason to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Simply put, Jesus came to rescue any who would reach out to Him for rescue.

It is the best cause for celebration ever.

In what ways do you bring the real reason for the season into your Christmas celebrations?
Are there more ways you can think about to highlight the Gospel aspects of Christmas?
December 15, 2024

December 15th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 38

Highlight Verse:

“as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”
‭‭Job‬ ‭38‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Finally, God speaks back to Job.

There’s so much good here that I’ve already covered on other days.

This verse stood out to me like never before. There’s a few little ideas I never noticed before.

First, it appears that the stars preceded the creation of Earth.

Second, the angels were already around during creation. They rejoiced at the site of it!

Which brings me to my third point. Creation is something to celebrate.

I don’t know about you but seeing the beauty of God’s creation thrills my heart.

Imagine seeing creation unfold before your eyes.

Pure joy!

Do you see the thrilling beauty of creation?
What part of creation thrills you the most?

Here’s my favorite part of creation, where the waves meet the shore. (This is West Cliff Drive that I spoke of a week ago).
December 3, 2024

December 3rd, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Deuteronomy 27-28

Highlight Verse:
“You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God:”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭28‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God’s mercy takes away the curses in these chapters when you put your trust in Him.

God’s grace will supply the blessings if you trust Him, even if you mess up sometimes.

It could be argued that the more closely you obey God’s commands and principles, the more blessings you will receive.

I can’t say if that’s 100 percent true, since there are faithful followers of Jesus in this world who struggle to make ends meet, even to survive in some cases.

I can say with certainty that the more you follow God’s path for your life, the more joy and contentment you will experience.

What more blessing do we need?

How has God blessed you in your obedience to His call?
Have you ever experienced frustration and pain during times of disobedience to God?
November 9, 2024

November 9th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Psalm 148

Highlight Verse:

“fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather that obey him,”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭148‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My childhood was spent in California.

Where I lived it snowed exactly one time during my childhood. Us kids were ecstatic.

Except me.

I was sick.

Mom wouldn’t let me go outside.

Fifty-two years later, I live in an area where snow is common.

In fact it’s snowing now.

And I don’t really want to go outside.

But there’s still something special about snow.

The world is clothed in white under a coat of billions of snowflakes, each unique.

The complexity of weather is mind boggling. Even the greatest minds have trouble predicting it accurately.

But the mind of God created it.

I’d say that’s a good reason to bring God praise.

And there are many more good reasons.

What is your biggest reason for praising God?
What’s stopping you from praising Him right now?

Tag: joy

If you follow Jesus and your life is boring, you’re doing it wrong.

He’d have us experience joy that goes beyond definition.

He’d have us change the world.

If you ever want to see pure, unrestrained joy, volunteer at a Night to Shine (or attend if you have special needs).

Jesus taught in today’s verse that people with special needs should be included in celebration.

When Jesus encountered those with special needs, He listened to them, touched them, and healed them.

Why is it that people often think that following Jesus is boring.

Just as importantly, there is great joy and pleasure from life in a loving marriage and a caring family. And there is great fulfillment, satisfaction, and joy in helping others.

remember there is so much more joy and pleasure in sticking to the directions God has given you.

If you haven’t guessed by now, winter is not my favorite season.

I love the imagery of waiting as trusting.

So, instead of hibernating until spring, I’ll trust God to see me through the winter.

Whenever I read Psalms like these, I get a picture in my head of young David sitting down in a field with his sheep with a pencil and a pad of paper.

So, what did they do without paper to write down the Psalms?

There are verses that I memorized 50 years ago and never forgot, because they were put to music.

And it helps us remember the Word of God.

Do you remember the first day of summer vacation?

Freedom from the bonds of sin by the grace of God through the work of Jesus came with the Gospels on the very next pages in the Bible.

Only remember your celebration is forever.

In the midst of all that stress and hardship, Jesus was born.

But they understood that Jesus coming as a baby was the reason behind the biggest celebration of the year.

It is the best cause for celebration ever.

This verse stood out to me like never before. There’s a few little ideas I never noticed before.

I don’t know about you but seeing the beauty of God’s creation thrills my heart.

Imagine seeing creation unfold before your eyes.

God’s mercy takes away the curses in these chapters when you put your trust in Him.

God’s grace will supply the blessings if you trust Him, even if you mess up sometimes.

I can say with certainty that the more you follow God’s path for your life, the more joy and contentment you will experience.

Where I lived it snowed exactly one time during my childhood. Us kids were ecstatic.

The complexity of weather is mind boggling. Even the greatest minds have trouble predicting it accurately.

But the mind of God created it.

I’d say that’s a good reason to bring God praise.