Tag: mental health

May 15, 2024

May 15th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Chronicles 19-21

Highlight Verse:

“But David was not able to go there to inquire of God, because he was terrified by the drawn sword of the angel of the Lord.”
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭21‬:‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today, this seems like an irrational fear.

After all, David was a “man after God’s own heart.” What did he have to fear?

Well, there was the little matter of 70 thousand people who just died in a plague because of his poor decision.

I might be a little freaked out too.

It’s easy to judge others when they have what seem to be irrational fears.

Perhaps it would be best to look at things from their perspective.

Maybe then we would understand.

But then, sometimes we don’t understand our own fears.

Do you tend to judge people for their irrational fears? (Guilty here)
How would it be different if you could see through their eyes?
March 16, 2024

March 16th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – James 1:2-8

Highlight Verse:

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is the exact verse that you don’t want someone to quote to you when you are going through the fire.

And it’s the exact verse that you need at that moment.

That makes it a prime candidate for memorization.

When those tough times come, you’ll have no one but yourself to get angry with when you repeat the verse.

And then it may spark that joy that goes beyond understanding.

That joy that makes no sense will bring you through the tough times that make no sense.

Take a moment to watch the video linked below.

Do you have the strength to pull through situations like that?
Do you know the One who does?
February 22, 2024

February 22nd, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Hebrews 8

Highlight Verse:

“They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.””
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse puts the Old Testament system of sacrifices and worship at the Temple into perspective.

That was but a shadow of the real one!

The Old Testament priests made repeated sacrifices in a futile attempt to remove all guilt.

Jesus made one perfect sacrifice for all time for all sin for those who trust Him.

While some may see the Old and New Testaments as night and day, this verse paints them as light and shadow.

The light cannot be seen except for the shadow it cast.

The new covenant could not be understood save for the old system of sacrifice.

Do you have a hard time dealing the differences between Old and New Testament?
Does the knowledge that the Old can be considered a shadow of the New help you understand the role of the Old Testament?
January 14, 2024

January 14th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 7

Highlight Verse:

”Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family.“
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭7‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is step one in protecting yourself from seduction.

First, let me make it clear that seduction comes in many forms.

This chapter focuses on a seductress tempting a young man. If you are a young man, that is a very tough temptation to fight off.

Your temptation may be very different.

Maybe those snack cakes are calling your name.

Or that one drink too many (which for me would be one drink) could be whispering to you how good it would feel.

Whatever your temptation, the key expressed in this verse is getting very familiar with wisdom long before the temptation arises.

That way, when that temptation arises, wisdom steps right up and blocks its path.

I’ve know several people who wanted to know wisdom so much that they read a chapter from Proverbs every day. That took them through the Book of Proverbs every month.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

Have you experienced the protection of wisdom against temptation? Can you share about it?
What has worked for you to make wisdom more and more familiar to you?
November 27, 2023

November 27th, 2023

Monday – Gospel

Reading – Matthew 23

Highlight Verse:

“So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s confession time again.

While I strive to always practice what I teach, there have been times when I catch myself doing something that I just taught students not to do.

Even more common, I’ll be studying for a lesson when I realize that I need to change a behavior if I want to teach the lesson honestly.

I’ve jokingly said, “Do what I say, not what I do.” But, I know that’s not the way to works.

People, especially children, will follow what you do far more often than what you say.

So, those of you who catch people acting differently than they teach, make sure you find the correct path and follow it.

And those of us who teach – and that includes all parents – watch out for how you act. Make sure it lines up with what you teach.

And if it doesn’t, don’t be afraid to fess up and change your behavior.

Have you ever caught yourself acting differently than what you teach?
Have you been able to change that behavior? Share your experience that we all may do better.
November 26, 2023

November 26th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 147-150

Highlight Verses:

“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We wrap up Psalms as we enter the Advent Season.

For some, this can be a tough season.

Some have lost loved ones during this time of year. Others are affected by loneliness. Some, like me, are affected by the lack of light and the cold days.

When I saw these two verses side by side, I realized that was no accident.

First, God provides healing for our hearts. He binds the wounds of loss with His love, He comforts the lonely with His presence, and He brings hope to those who struggle with darkness.

Then there’s the stars.

Keep in mind that the writer of this Psalm would have seen the stars as just tiny specks in the sky. If God knows each and every one of those billions of tiny specks, how much more would he notice each of us.

He knows each of us. He heals, he comforts, and He strengthens each of us according to our needs and our callings.

Are there things you struggle with through this time of year?
Have you turned to God for His healing, comfort, and hope?
November 23, 2023 – Thanksgiving Day

November 23rd, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Timothy 3

Highlight Verse:

“Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.”

1 Timothy 3:16 NLT

I admit that I looked for thankfulness in today’s reading.

In the letters, it is not usually hard to find. Paul tends to be outspokenly thankful for all the people he writes to. That includes Timothy. Just not in this chapter.

So, I fell back on something to be thankful for – or, rather, someone.

God came to the earth in the form of a man, Christ.

That’s a real story in history which we celebrate in a festival that is officially a month and 2 days from now. But really, we celebrate the birth of Christ for the entire next month.

As we celebrate thankfulness today, let us draw that thankfulness out through the whole next month and celebrate the season of Christmas with an eye on how thankful we should be for God coming to meet us here on Earth.

Have you given thanks for the miracle of the birth of Christ today?

As we enter Advent, can you find something to be thankful for each day until Christmas?
November 21, 2023

November 21st, 2023

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 26

Highlight Verse:

““For the inside of the Tabernacle, make a special curtain of finely woven linen. Decorate it with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭26‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I read this over and over and consulted commentaries trying to figure out what to say about curtains.

Some commentaries drew all sorts of farfetched conclusions about the symbolism of the different features of the tabernacle.

Maybe.

Nah. Not going there.

What I saw, the more times I read this chapter was that the inside of the tabernacle was exquisitely beautiful!

According to the description, it took some very talented people to make the tabernacle as good looking as the description.

Now the Old Testament tabernacle made by human hands has returned to dust.

The New Testament tabernacle is our bodies and spirits. It is constructed by God to be his tabernacle.

If the Old Testament tabernacle was very wonderfully made, how much more so the one made by the hand of God.

Do you realize what a work of art that you are?
During this week of Thanksgiving, can you be thankful for the temple that God has provided for you?
November 18, 2023

November 17th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Highlight Verse:

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today we venture back into the world of things that sound like they’re from the Bible but aren’t really.

“God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Is a common misquote of this verse.

God will show you a way out. We always have the option to take that way. But sometimes we fail miserably if we try on our own.

Very often the way out is through the accountability of a friend or mentor/sponsor.

Quite often we fail.

That’s when we need the forgiveness that Jesus provided. That is always there until we reach the point of rejecting it.

Mind you, many have let sin grow in their lives to the point of believing they no longer need or deserve God’s forgiveness.

I have good news. We never deserved God’s forgiveness. He offers it anyway.

So, the next time you feel like you’ve blown it one too many times, because you didn’t take that way out that God provided, realize that His forgiveness is still there.

The more you walk in that forgiveness, the less tempting that sin becomes.

And the more you take advantage of that way out through accountability, the more you triumph over that sin.

Are you struggling with discouragement because of a sin that you keep falling into?
Have you realized that God’s forgiveness is endless?
Did you know that the way out usually involves seeking help from others?
November 8, 2023

November 8th, 2023

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Samuel 19-20

Highlight Verse:

“Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭19‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I feel for David in this situation. He was already depressed since his son Absalom had stolen his kingdom. He had hoped to regain his kingdom without Absalom dying, but Absalom was killed.

He mourned the loss of his son.

Too much.

His mourning demoralized his troops.

Joab wouldn’t stand for it.

We all need a Joab.

We need that friend who is bold enough to call us out if we are way out of line.

To David’s credit, he listened to Joab. He did what he needed to do to maintain his authority as King of Israel.

As much as we need that Joab, we also need to listen to that person,

honestly evaluate what they are saying, and take the appropriate action.

Do you have that person to correct you when you need it?
Do you listen to them?

Tag: mental health

Today, this seems like an irrational fear.

Perhaps it would be best to look at things from their perspective.

But then, sometimes we don’t understand our own fears.

And it’s the exact verse that you need at that moment.

That joy that makes no sense will bring you through the tough times that make no sense.

This verse puts the Old Testament system of sacrifices and worship at the Temple into perspective.

While some may see the Old and New Testaments as night and day, this verse paints them as light and shadow.

This is step one in protecting yourself from seduction.

Your temptation may be very different.

Whatever your temptation, the key expressed in this verse is getting very familiar with wisdom long before the temptation arises.

People, especially children, will follow what you do far more often than what you say.

And if it doesn’t, don’t be afraid to fess up and change your behavior.

For some, this can be a tough season.

He knows each of us. He heals, he comforts, and He strengthens each of us according to our needs and our callings.

I admit that I looked for thankfulness in today’s reading.

As we celebrate thankfulness today, let us draw that thankfulness out through the whole next month and celebrate the season of Christmas with an eye on how thankful we should be for God coming to meet us here on Earth.

What I saw, the more times I read this chapter was that the inside of the tabernacle was exquisitely beautiful!

If the Old Testament tabernacle was very wonderfully made, how much more so the one made by the hand of God.

“God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Is a common misquote of this verse.

The more you walk in that forgiveness, the less tempting that sin becomes.

And the more you take advantage of that way out through accountability, the more you triumph over that sin.

We all need a Joab.

As much as we need that Joab, we also need to listen to that person,