Tag: trust

January 10, 2025

January 10th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 4-6

Highlight Verse:

“Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.””
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve seen and met many missionaries.

Their stories are inspiring.

The things God does through them are amazing.

I’ve even imagined what it would be like if I were in their shoes.

Have I ever said “here I am, send me” when they invite people to join them?

Nope.

God hasn’t called me to that ministry.

But He has called me.

And I’ve said yes to what He has asked me to do. Sometimes reluctantly, but I eventually say yes.

God has a calling on each of his people. Sometimes it’s missions. Sometimes it’s local ministry. Sometimes it’s in areas some wouldn’t consider to be a calling.

Whatever it is, if it’s truly from God, by all means, just say yes already.

What have you been called to do?
Are you doing it?
January 3, 2025

January 3rd, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 1-3

Highlight Verse:

“Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting— they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

And that’s what God thinks of empty religion.

If your faith is an insurance policy paid for with pious acts of worship, singing on Sunday morning, paying your tithes, listening to the right music, not swearing, maybe even watching the babies at church once a month, then it is worthless.

But if your faith is visible through acts of love and charity (see verse 17) rooted in your love for God and trust in His leading, you have a true faith.

You may do all those religious things above, but you know that they are not your insurance policy.

If you have that true faith, you don’t need an insurance policy; you already have eternal life.

Out of the abundance of that life come all the good deeds, obedience, and yes, even meaningful religious acts.

Are you just religious, or alive in your faith?
When and how did you realize that faith ran far deeper than religion?
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 Eve, 2024

December 24th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Deuteronomy 32

Highlight Verse:

“He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why on earth did I schedule Deuteronomy 32 on Christmas Eve?

It’s a tough chapter that’s all about how bad people have become.

Which, by the way, ties right into the reason for Christmas.

You see, Christmas isn’t just another time for religious people to practice religious rituals or for party people to have another excuse to party.

It’s not even about feeding kids’ imaginations and giving them reasons to behave.

Christmas happened because humans are messed up.

God had to come rescue us.

He had to come as a baby so He could live a blameless life. That way, He satisfied the requirement of a perfect sacrifice to satisfy justice for the sin filled lives that all humans have lived.

Christmas is the beginning of the outpouring of God’s love for each and every person.

It is God with us!

Emmanuel!

May your Christmas be blessed as you enjoy the gift of God with us!
December 22, 2024

December 22nd, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 39-40

Highlight Verse:

““Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭40‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

At the beginning of the Book of Job, God was bragging on Job and how awesome he was.

Now God is in Job’s face, putting him in his place.

What happened?

Job complained. Not just a little but continuously throughout the book.

So,

God reminded Job who he was when compared to God.

And Job listened.

Stay tuned for the conclusion next week.

Have you ever complained so much that you forgot who God was?
Has God ever had to humble you?
December 20, 2024

December 19th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Malachi 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“You have wearied the Lord with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask. You have wearied him by saying that all who do evil are good in the Lord’s sight, and he is pleased with them. You have wearied him by asking, “Where is the God of justice?””
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is never my intention to get political here.

I do what I can to focus on what the Bible says, not what political leaders say.

But I will not water down the Gospel to remain politically sensitive.

I will not call sin or wrongdoing okay in the name of tolerance.

But I will make it clear that we have all done wrong.

If we claim that it is okay to do wrong, we say we don’t need Jesus or His sacrifice.

We do.

I do.

You do.

Because we have all done what is wrong.

We don’t have the power to overcome our wrongdoing before God.

But Jesus does.

And He did.

We look to Him for the power to overcome sin.

And for the times we fail, we accept His forgiveness and grace.

Which are you more likely to lean toward, calling what is wrong okay in the name of tolerance or judging others for everything they’ve done wrong?
Have you found that sweet spot where you strive to do good and accept God’s grace and forgiveness?
December 17, 2024

December 17th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Deuteronomy 31

Highlight Verse:

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.””
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Is it bad that when I see the phrase “Don’t Panic” I immediately think of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?

Oxford calls panic “sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behavior.”

Nobody would have blamed the Israelites for panicking when they faced the people of the promised land.

But whenever they remembered that the Lord went before them, they kept their wits about them.

Today’s American culture would have people think that panic is a normal part of life in this anxiety ridden age.

To some extent that’s true.

But it doesn’t have to be.

During the bombings of London during World War 2, the British government brought their stoic wisdom to people with these signs.

When we’re tempted to panic, we have additional help to keep calm.

Knowing the source of all peace, we are well equipped to keep calm.

When have you seen yourself panic?
What helps you remain calm?
December 16, 2024

December 16th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 27

Highlight Verse:

“When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭27‬:‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse makes me think of some of the storms in my life.

I finally get through the darkest parts and the light of a new day in life dawns.

But nothing looks the same.

Nothing looked the same for Paul.

It was an unknown coastland that they couldn’t quite reach.

They had to adjust their plans as new problems arose.

But Paul knew they would make it ashore. And they did.

I’ve been through times when I had no idea how I was going to make it through.

Multiple times I’ve thought life as I knew it was over.

But God always brought me through.

I’m alive and thriving today despite life’s complications.

What has God brought you through?
Did you believe God would protect you through it all?
December 8, 2024

December 8th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Job 37

Highlight Verses:

““My heart pounds as I think of this. It trembles within me. Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice as it rolls from his mouth.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭37‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love thunderstorms!

There’s something about the the massive power unleashed in each lightning bolt.

But that’s not the part of nature that really stirs my heart.

When I lived in the Santa Cruz area, I would go down to West Cliff Drive and sit by the edge of the cliffs watching the waves pound the walls.

If there was a storm offshore, the waves would make the ground vibrate and would send water high above the edge of the cliff.

There are 390,000 miles of ocean shoreline in the world holding 352,670,000,000,000,000,000 gallons of water.

Imagine if you could hear the symphony of all the waves crashing around the world.

God can.

If your heart needs stirring at the grandeur of God’s power, I highly recommend a trip to the ocean.

Then remember that God made all that with the sound of His voice.

What stirs your heart in regards to the grandeur of God?
When is the last time you experienced that?
December 7, 2024

December 7th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Luke 1:26-38

Highlight Verse:

“Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The morning of December 7th, 1941 was a very confusing time for Americans, especially those on the island of Oahu.

When the forces of Japan attacked, they must have felt desperate and alone.

But they answered the call with many more of the Allies to fight and to support the fight for freedom.

They rallied and over the course of the next four years accomplished the victory that was so desperately needed.

The day that Gabriel appeared to Mary, she must have felt confused and alone.

Her world was crashing around her at the news that she would bear a child that didn’t belong to her fiancé.

But she humbly submitted to God’s challenge for her.

She and Joseph rallied and accomplished the task of parenting the most important child of all time.

We would be wise to bravely face the challenges God has set before us and rally for the heavenly victory He has promised.

With what has God challenged you?
What is your response to that challenge?

Tag: trust

I’ve seen and met many missionaries.

God has a calling on each of his people. Sometimes it’s missions. Sometimes it’s local ministry. Sometimes it’s in areas some wouldn’t consider to be a calling.

And that’s what God thinks of empty religion.

But if your faith is visible through acts of love and charity (see verse 17) rooted in your love for God and trust in His leading, you have a true faith.

If you have that true faith, you don’t need an insurance policy; you already have eternal life.

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.

Which, by the way, ties right into the reason for Christmas.

Christmas happened because humans are messed up.

It is God with us!

May your Christmas be blessed as you enjoy the gift of God with us!

What happened?

God reminded Job who he was when compared to God.

And Job listened.

I will not call sin or wrongdoing okay in the name of tolerance.

If we claim that it is okay to do wrong, we say we don’t need Jesus or His sacrifice.

But Jesus does.

But whenever they remembered that the Lord went before them, they kept their wits about them.

But it doesn’t have to be.

Knowing the source of all peace, we are well equipped to keep calm.

But nothing looks the same.

I’ve been through times when I had no idea how I was going to make it through.

But God always brought me through.

I love thunderstorms!

Imagine if you could hear the symphony of all the waves crashing around the world.

Then remember that God made all that with the sound of His voice.

The morning of December 7th, 1941 was a very confusing time for Americans, especially those on the island of Oahu.

They rallied and over the course of the next four years accomplished the victory that was so desperately needed.

The day that Gabriel appeared to Mary, she must have felt confused and alone.

She and Joseph rallied and accomplished the task of parenting the most important child of all time.

With what has God challenged you?What is your response to that challenge?

With what has God challenged you?
What is your response to that challenge?