Tag: struggle

July 7, 2025

July 7th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 11-12

Highlight Verse:

“He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This scene always confused me.

Here’s the perfect man losing His temper over a tree that shouldn’t have had figs on it yet in the first place.

Huh?

We never covered this in Bible college (I didn’t get that far along).

So, I turned to my favorite commentary sites – Blue Letter Bible, and Enduring Word.

It turns out that, while not definitive, the Greek implies that either it was a bad season for figs or that tree was having a bad season.

That still leaves the disturbing image of Jesus losing His temper over a minor circumstance…

Unless…

Could He have been trying to teach us a lesson?

That tree had all the indications of bearing fruit. It was in full leaf, well past flowering. It should have had fruit by now.

It didn’t.

In our journey of faith, if we are past the initial blossoming of faith, we should be bearing fruit.

If something is wrong that is holding us back from bearing fruit, we shouldn’t act like that tree, like everything is normal.

But let’s face it, our default is to put on our best front and look to those around us like everything is fine.

That’s not fine.

Jesus was in a mode of cleansing the religious corruption and extended that mode to make an example of this fig tree.

But keep in mind that he brought redemption to those of the religious establishment who chose to follow Him – Nicodemus, Levi, Paul, etc.

If you or I find ourselves hiding behind a religious front, we still have the opportunity to step out from behind that fake front into a healed and whole faith.

Then we won’t be able to stop the fruit of faith that we will bear.

Have you ever recovered from a fruitless fake season of faith? How did you get past it?
Are you in that season now? Do you want help out? Let us know.
June 28, 2025

June 28th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Psalm 51

Highlight Verse:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The author of this song had messed up.

He stalked a beautiful lady.

It didn’t take long before he used his influence and position to bring her into his bed.

She got pregnant as a result.

To save his reputation, he did everything he could to cover it up, even to the point of having her husband killed and forcing her into marriage with him.

It wasn’t until an investigation brought the story to light that he repented.

Sound somewhat familiar today?

I’ve heard many say that Michael Tate’s (former lead singer for the News Boys) repentance wasn’t genuine since he waited until he was found out.

I won’t go into the details of his situation, mostly because I don’t know and don’t listen to the many crazy rumors going around.

Christian artists normally have a “purity clause” in their contracts that will end their careers if anything gets out that would harm their moral reputation.

That’s a good thing in that it holds them accountable for their message.

Unfortunately, it also drives them to cover up their failings, so they end up not getting the help and support that they need to get back on the right path.

That made me wonder if they should also have a “restoration clause” in their contracts that would kick in before the “purity clause.”

Ideally, that would lead them to seek help early and prevent irreparable damage to their message and their lives.

King David found restoration as seen here in this Psalm.

His repentance was genuine.

Despite the heinous nature of his sins, God restored him to a place where he became known as a “man after God’s own heart.”

There were consequences, but he got past them and back to a place of integrity.

I praying that Michael Tate would find that same kind of restoration.

Would you prefer public people who fail to be restored or cancelled? Please explain.
Have you been in that place where you needed restoration? How did you find it?
June 27, 2025

June 27th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 10-12

Highlight Verse:

““I have abandoned my people, my special possession. I have surrendered my dearest ones to their enemies.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you read this with a view of God as the old man in the sky judging every little bad thing we do,

you miss the point entirely.

This verse is part of a reply to Jeremiah when he complained about evil people prospering.

God basically says, “Quit your whining! I had to remove my protection from my children. There’s nothing that could possibly be harder.”

Jeremiah already knows the heart of the Father.

When he heard this reply, it would have reminded him how tough it was for God to allow His children, the nation of Israel, be conquered and taken captive.

He allowed that not out of a vindictive attitude toward them but because He knew it was the only way to turn their hearts back to Him in the long run.

He also knew it would set things up for Jesus to bring salvation to the world.

Trusting God’s wisdom when we can’t see the reason behind it is one of the toughest parts of faith.

But He always acts out of a heart of absolute love, no matter what it may look like to us.

Have you ever complained to God only to have him remind you that He knows what He is doing?
Has He ever had to let you fail before you came back to Him?
June 13, 2025

June 13th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 4-6

Highlight Verse:

““Shout to Judah, and broadcast to Jerusalem! Tell them to sound the alarm throughout the land: ‘Run for your lives! Flee to the fortified cities!’”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬

Our college newspaper was called “The Jeremiad” because they always printed bad news.

And that’s what Jeremiah was best known for.

How would you like it if God asked you to got tell a country that they were about to be invaded because of their sin. Not the most fun job assignment.

I am at a writer’s conference this week.

Sometimes writers feel like Jeremiah, called by God to bring news that some might not be excited to hear.

It’s easy for writers to get discouraged when we run into roadblocks to publication. When the calling is clear, we work past that discouragement and persevere until the right door opens.

I write this not to solicit sympathy (though I wouldn’t mind some prayer that the right doors be opened for my Wil Clarey series).

I am confident in God’s calling for my writing and know the right doors will open at the right time.

But God’s calling comes in many shapes and in many ways.

If you have heard God’s call on your life, know that if God is in it, nothing can stop it. Don’t give up when it gets tough.

Keep doing what you need to fulfill your end of God’s calling and wait for God to open the right doors, even if you are called is to tell a whole nation to repent.

What has God called you to?
What do you need to do to prepare for it?
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 31, 2025

May 31st, 2025
Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – John 7:37-39

Highlight Verse:

“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!”
‭‭John‬ ‭7‬:‭37‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It was the last day of the festival.
- Some people were getting tired and homesick – ready to hit the road for home.
- Some were enjoying the festivities, hanging out with their party people.
- And then there those whose desire to worship God was coming to a peak.
They thirsted for a close relationship with their Heavenly Father.

Jesus called out to them.

He was the only one who could quench that deep thirst.

He still is.

The more we seek Him, the more He will satisfy that thirst.

Have you gone through times when you weren’t very thirsty for Jesus?
What brought on that thirst again?
What can we do to become more thirsty now?

(BTW, today’s verse choice is courtesy of the random selection of my daughter Grace).
May 30, 2025

May 30th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 64-66

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭65‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I caught a cold last weekend. Until today, I’ve just been powering through it.

Honestly, I only took today off because my workload was less, and it wouldn’t hurt anything to rest.

I’ve been taking meds and finally started taking supplements and the symptoms are improving slowly.

But reading this verse, I realized that I have barely mentioned this cold to God in my prayers.

My “power through it” mode didn’t leave much room for God’s help.

Maybe that’s kind of like what Israel was going through, though magnified in the extreme.

They got caught up in the region’s culture that valued military strength and local religious traditions.

They powered through, relying on their own strength rather than seeking the help and guidance of their Heavenly Father.

That didn’t go so well for them – at least until they turned back to God.

While my problems are minuscule compared to Israel when this verse was written, I can still learn from it.

As of today, I am expressly asking in God to carry me through this illness and to bring me back to strength quickly.

Don’t worry, I believe God would want me to continue to rest and take the right meds, But I will ask for help consistently in my prayers and be open to His guidance and support through it.

How quickly do you think of asking God for help in your day to day problems?
What does it take for Him to get your attention?
May 29, 2025

May 29th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 11-12

Highlight Verses:

“Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’m not sure why this is such controversial chapter.

Perhaps it is because we tend to focus on only parts of the chapter.

Dispensationalists tend to focus on these first two verses and a verse in the next chapter. They say the gifts are no longer needed and only lead people astray.

Pentecostals tend to focus on the gifts themselves. In my experience (as a long time Pentecostal) people can sometimes confuse emotions with spiritual gifts. That is an excellent reason to get to know the Bible well, because God will never contradict the Bible with a spiritual gift.

If you look at the whole chapter, the main point is how all the parts of the body of Christ work together. The gifts of the Spirit are the different functions of those parts that work together to make for a whole and healthy body.

We are still the functioning body of Christ so, yes, the gifts of the Spirit are still valid for today.

We do well to practice them as parts of the body of Christ.

Have you had difficulty making yourself available to the Holy Spirit to practice the gifts of the Spirit?
Have you ever found yourself so focused on the gifts of the Spirit that you lost sight of their place in the Body of Christ?
May 27, 2025

May 27th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 35-36

Highlight Verses:

“Now that Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again at Bethel. God blessed him, saying, “Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel.” So God renamed him Israel.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭35‬:‭9-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is the second time God told Jacob this (see ch 32).

That either indicates that God is emphasizing the name change or the fact that Jacob/Israel didn’t do anything about it the first time.

The name came about because Jacob had struggled with God.

Off-hand that sounds like it should have a negative connotation.

Think about it, though.

Would you rather have a relationship with someone who struggles to understand you, or with someone who doesn’t really care to understand you.

God chose the struggle.

Our relationship with God has been a struggle from the beginning.

• We struggled with and failed to keep His commands.
• We struggled to make enough sacrifices to atone for our sins.
• Even now, we often struggle to accept the totality of His love for us.

But He does love us – not just in spite of our struggles but because of them.

Do you struggle in your relationship with God?
Does that struggle cause you to try to learn more about Him?
May 26, 2025 – Memorial Day

May 26th, 2025

Note – If you are looking for a Memorial Day message, look at yesterday’s post. Today’s reading didn’t really line up with a Memorial Day Post.

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I wonder how awkward that man felt.

Imagine being singled out because of a defect you were probably embarrassed about anyway.

Now you’re in the middle of a conflict between the person you think is the Messiah and the religious leaders.

Awkward doesn’t begin to describe it.

But sometimes we are called to be that person on the spot.

Would you rise up and be put on the spot for Jesus?

I’m very glad this man chose to accept his healing.

May we have that much faith when the time arises.

Have you ever been “put on the spot” for Jesus?
How did that work out?

Tag: struggle

This scene always confused me.

In our journey of faith, if we are past the initial blossoming of faith, we should be bearing fruit.

If you or I find ourselves hiding behind a religious front, we still have the opportunity to step out from behind that fake front into a healed and whole faith.

Sound somewhat familiar today?

Unfortunately, it also drives them to cover up their failings, so they end up not getting the help and support that they need to get back on the right path.

Despite the heinous nature of his sins, God restored him to a place where he became known as a “man after God’s own heart.”

you miss the point entirely.

God basically says, “Quit your whining! I had to remove my protection from my children. There’s nothing that could possibly be harder.”

Trusting God’s wisdom when we can’t see the reason behind it is one of the toughest parts of faith.

But He always acts out of a heart of absolute love, no matter what it may look like to us.

How would you like it if God asked you to got tell a country that they were about to be invaded because of their sin. Not the most fun job assignment.

If you have heard God’s call on your life, know that if God is in it, nothing can stop it. Don’t give up when it gets tough.

Keep doing what you need to fulfill your end of God’s calling and wait for God to open the right doors, even if you are called is to tell a whole nation to repent.

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.

They thirsted for a close relationship with their Heavenly Father.

He still is.

The more we seek Him, the more He will satisfy that thirst.

But reading this verse, I realized that I have barely mentioned this cold to God in my prayers.

My “power through it” mode didn’t leave much room for God’s help.

That didn’t go so well for them – at least until they turned back to God.

Perhaps it is because we tend to focus on only parts of the chapter.

We do well to practice them as parts of the body of Christ.

The name came about because Jacob had struggled with God.

God chose the struggle.

But He does love us – not just in spite of our struggles but because of them.

Awkward doesn’t begin to describe it.

Would you rise up and be put on the spot for Jesus?

May we have that much faith when the time arises.