Tag: miracles

August 21, 2024

August 21st, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Chronicles 31-33

Highlight Verse:

“But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭33‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did you read this whole chapter?

Manasseh was horrible!

He did every evil thing you could imagine and then some.

He sacrificed his own children IN FIRE!

How depraved and detestable can you get?

But when he repented, God forgave and restored him.

There is no one that God cannot restore.

Is there someone in your life on whom you’ve almost given up hope?
Does knowing about Manasseh renew your hope for them?
August 15, 2024

August 15th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelation 3

Highlight Verse:

““Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I must admit that part of me wants to be a prepper.

We already have a good amount of food and provisions for heat and refrigeration should there be a disaster.

If I had plenty of money, I would be tempted to prepare far more.

But I don’t worry about it.

This verse and others like it assure me that I will be protected in one way or another through any hard time.

Notice the verse does not say that we’ll be able to avoid the time of testing; just that God will protect us through it.

While there’s nothing wrong with being prepared for anything,

we should always trust God to see us through every time.

Are you currently in a time of testing?
Do you believe God will see you through it?
July 30, 2024

July 30th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 27-28

Highlight Verse:
“Prepare these special burnt offerings, along with their liquid offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its accompanying grain offering. Be sure that all the animals you sacrifice have no defects.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭28‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was about to start writing about how we should give our first and best when I realized that I hadn’t yet tithed on last Friday’s paycheck.

Let’s just say I’m preaching to myself today.

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has superseded the system of sacrifices and offerings spoken of in these chapters.

That doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can learn from today’s reading.

In fact, I’d say it’s very relevant.

We humans tend to be generous with what we have left over.

It’s easy to drop a little cash in the offering plate or donate some leftover items to the church yard sale or food drive.

In the old sacrificial system, the Lord required the first and the best of what a person had.

You see, when we give our first and our best, we demonstrate our faith in God to provide for us.

It’s an act that bolsters our faith when we find that God really will provide when we give by faith.

Our salvation no longer relies on what we sacrifice, but our faith will thrive when we do.

Usually, our financial situation will thrive more when we give than when we try to hoard our wealth.

What is your experience?
What has blessed you more, giving or getting?
April 2, 2024

April 2nd, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Leviticus 20-21

Highlight Verse:

“Give the following instructions to Aaron: In all future generations, none of your descendants who has any defect will qualify to offer food to his God.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭21‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Whoa! Is this God’s attitude toward anyone with physical defects of any sort?

Fair question.

A quick look at Jesus should dispel that notion.

Jesus healed the sick. He touched the leper. He had compassion on the hurting.

Not only did he not judge those who had physical disabilities, He made them whole.

That sounds a lot like what he did for sinners (that’s all of us).

Some of the sins listed in today’s reading are downright heinous. Some would come with some very serious legal penalties even today. (Sacrificing children is strongly frowned upon).

But Jesus provided eternal forgiveness even for murderers.

Yes, people still have to pay the legal penalties for breaking earthly laws. But Jesus makes them whole, even while they go through their just punishments on earth. When the sinner trusts Jesus as Savior and Lord, they are freed from the eternal effects of sin, welcomed to Heaven.

And whether or not they receive healing in their earthly body, the believing disabled person become physically whole in heaven.

Have you experienced or seen physical healing? Tell us about it.
Have you experienced healing from sin? Feel free to share your story.
March 20, 2024

March 20th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Kings 18-20

Highlight Verse:

“When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,”
‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭20‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Isaiah had just told Hezekiah that he was going to die soon. That’s tough news to take.

Hezekiah did exactly what I would have done. He cried out to God.

Here’s the part that stood out to me…

God heard him and acted on his prayers.

Despite the prophecy, God healed Hezekiah and protected him from attack by Assyria!

God is sovereign and will act according to His will. But He listens to his children and allows them to influence His will.

This happened long before Jesus came to earth.

It happened when Jesus was here.

It still happens today!

If you could influence God’s will (and you can), what would you want Him to do?
Have you witnessed prayer change impossible situations? Share your stories!
March 5, 2024

March 5th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Leviticus 13

Highlight Verse:

“As long as the serious disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean. They must live in isolation in their place outside the camp.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭13‬:‭46‬ ‭NLT‬‬

On the one hand, it’s commendable that they knew how to avoid spreading diseases way back then.

On the other hand, it was an awfully cold way to handle those who needed help.

Today we don’t shun people.

Unless, of course, you say the wrong thing on social media.

Then people will “cancel” you.

And in some churches, if you say or do the wrong thing… you get the idea.

In the New Testament, Jesus showed by example how to treat the unclean.

He didn’t “cancel” them. In fact, he reached out to them and healed them.

Maybe instead of trying to be the palace for the perfect it’s time to be the hospital for the hurting.

Instead of shunning, let’s bring healing.

Are you one who has been shunned? Have you found healing?
Are you one who has played the roll of the clean, rejecting the unclean? What would it take to turn you into a healer?
February 26, 2024

February 26th, 2024

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 9

Highlight Verse:

“Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?” Then he said to the man, “Bring your son here.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭41‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Can you hear the frustration in Jesus’ voice?

No matter how much he taught them, they didn’t seem to grasp the concept of faith.

But then, I would probably be like one of the disciples who failed to deliver the boy from the demon. I would try, but would I have the faith?

I profess faith but when the rubber hits the road and it comes to praying for miracles, sometimes my faith comes up short.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ll never be a “name it and claim it” kind of person. But, with as many miracles as I’ve seen, I should expect more.

The next time I pray for healing or some other miracle, I need to pray with a faith that expects the miracle to be the rule not the exception.

Have you seen God pull off the miraculous? Tell us about it.
Can you pray with me from a platform of faith rather than doubt?
February 25, 2024

February 25th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 12-13

Highlight Verse:

“A worthy wife is a crown for her husband, but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s face it – I’m blessed!

My wife is definitely my better half.

I married out of my league.

And I can fully attest to the first part of this verse.

The second part of this verse does not apply to her or me.

But I know some for whom it does apply.

All I can say about that is God can heal cancer so he can certainly heal marriages too.

So, to you who are blessed or are the blessing, may God richly bless you beyond what you can imagine.

For those who relate to the second half of this verse, I pray for your healing in every way, again, beyond what you can imagine!

If you are blessed with a godly spouse, feel free to give them a shout out here.
If you feel like you relate more to the second part of this verse, don’t be afraid to seek counsel and prayer, having faith that God can heal.
February 24, 2024

February 24th, 2024
Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Acts 16:16-40

Highlight Verse:

“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭16‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Every time I read this; I have to wonder what I would be doing.
- Trying to sleep?
- Brooding in anger at the injustice?
- Desperately praying for deliverance?
- All of the above?
But Paul and Silas sang as they prayed.

And when miraculous deliverance came, they chose to stay so they could minister to those around them including their jailor.

Paul would call those times “light and momentary trials.”

Most of us would crumble under those circumstances.

Maybe if we (me included) would pray and sing in the midst of our truly light trials, we would be able to stand up under the heavier ones.

What trials are going on in your life that you could stand to pray and sing in the midst of?
How would that change your perspective?
February 21, 2024

February 21st, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Kings 6-8

Highlight Verse:

““Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface.”
‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I’ve seen a lot of miracles over the years.

But I have never seen an axe head float.

Sometimes God uses some very unorthodox ways to get our attention.

Whether it be a mechanical miracle or the right words at the right time to encourage me, God has always known how to wake me up.

In what ways has God gotten your attention?
Have you always paid attention when unusual things happen?

Tag: miracles

Manasseh was horrible!

He sacrificed his own children IN FIRE!

There is no one that God cannot restore.

I must admit that part of me wants to be a prepper.

But I don’t worry about it.

we should always trust God to see us through every time.

Let’s just say I’m preaching to myself today.

We humans tend to be generous with what we have left over.

You see, when we give our first and our best, we demonstrate our faith in God to provide for us.

Whoa! Is this God’s attitude toward anyone with physical defects of any sort?

Jesus healed the sick. He touched the leper. He had compassion on the hurting.

That sounds a lot like what he did for sinners (that’s all of us).

Hezekiah did exactly what I would have done. He cried out to God.

God is sovereign and will act according to His will. But He listens to his children and allows them to influence His will.

On the other hand, it was an awfully cold way to handle those who needed help.

He didn’t “cancel” them. In fact, he reached out to them and healed them.

Can you hear the frustration in Jesus’ voice?

But then, I would probably be like one of the disciples who failed to deliver the boy from the demon. I would try, but would I have the faith?

The next time I pray for healing or some other miracle, I need to pray with a faith that expects the miracle to be the rule not the exception.

Let’s face it – I’m blessed!

All I can say about that is God can heal cancer so he can certainly heal marriages too.

Every time I read this; I have to wonder what I would be doing.

Maybe if we (me included) would pray and sing in the midst of our truly light trials, we would be able to stand up under the heavier ones.

I’ve seen a lot of miracles over the years.

Whether it be a mechanical miracle or the right words at the right time to encourage me, God has always known how to wake me up.