Tag: trust

December 2, 2024

December 2nd, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 25

Highlight Verse:

“If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!””
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭25‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

At first, I thought it brave of Paul to say he doesn’t refuse to die.

But, of course, he hadn’t done anything worthy of death.

What if he had?

I know Paul hadn’t but there are plenty of people who have done illegal things and then repented.

God forgives them of all sin no matter how severe.

But that doesn’t exempt them from the penalties of the law.

I’ve had a handful of speeding tickets and several parking tickets over the years.

I assure you that God forgave me of those violations.

But I still had to pay the fines.

The same is true for every illegal action, even if the penalty is death.

We should be willing to face our earthly penalties, knowing that they are temporary and if we trust in Jesus and His grace and mercy,

they won’t follow us into eternal life.

Are there earthly penalties you’ve had to pay?
Are there penalties you’ve been avoiding?
November 30, 2024

November 30th, 2024

Held over from Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelations 18

Highlight Verse:

“Rejoice over her fate, O heaven and people of God and apostles and prophets! For at last God has judged her for your sakes.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭18‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Confession time.

Every once in a while, I buy a lottery ticket.

You don’t have to say it, I know it’s foolishness.

I imagine all the good things I could do for people and the ministries I could support.

And then the longing for material things creeps in.

Scholars call the Babylon of Revelations 18 the commercial Babylon as opposed to the religious Babylon of chapter 17.

In other words, the Babylon of chapter 18 is the temptation to seek worldly wealth and pleasure.

That is why we should rejoice at its destruction.

In the end of time, those temptations will be gone, along with my temptation to buy lottery tickets, and the many other temptations the world has to offer.

That, my friends, is reason to celebrate!

In the meantime, we must keep up the struggle against such things and help each other seek after that which matters.

What is it that matters most to you?
What are ways that you’ve used to combat temptation?
November 23, 2024

November 23rd, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Luke 17:1-19

Highlight Verse:

“And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This man was the only one of ten who came back to Jesus after being healed of leprosy.

He was also the only one who heard Jesus say to him, “Stand up and go.”

He was not just healed, he was released.

Released to live a life free from leprosy.

Released to live among other people.

Released to share his joy at being healed and given purpose.

Thanksgiving is not just a time of giving thanks once a year to a vague divine being who may have helped you get through the year.

Thanksgiving is a time to be released to share the joy of all that God has brought to you and brought you through.

Let’s live in that freedom and share the joy to all those around us this and every week.

What special blessings has the Lord given you this past year?
What has He brought you through in this past year?
November 20, 2024

November 20th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – Esther 1

Highlight Verse:

“These events happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia.”
‭‭Esther‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I didn’t realize until today that the Persian Empire was huge.

2.1 million square miles to be exact.

That’s more than half the size of the United States.

It had 50 million people, 2500 years ago.

That was almost half the world’s population at that time.

And God put Esther, a refugee from a small country, right at the heart of the Empire.

Right where He needed her to be.

If God’s calling on your life seems way too big; if you feel inadequate for the position,

Think again.

To what do you believe God has called you?
Do you believe He can get you there?
He can!
November 18, 2024

November 18th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 23

Highlight Verse:

“That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.””
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭23‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I couldn’t help but focus on God’s words in this chapter.

Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, came right out and gave Paul a message – Paul was to preach in Rome.

To preface he gave the purpose of the prophecy – “Be encouraged.”

I’m not the Holy Spirit but I can assure you that the same message is for you – the “Be encouraged” part.

You might not be called to preach in Rome, but each of us is called to ministry.

That ministry may not take the shape that we envisioned. I’m pretty sure Paul didn’t plan on traveling to Rome as a prisoner.

But God will make a way for you to step into the ministry role He has planned for you.

I would even be bold enough to say that the amount of determination you have to fulfill God’s calling on your life will help determine the number of obstacles God will help you overcome to fulfill that calling.

Where have you seen God move proverbial mountains so that you can move toward fulfilling the call on your life?
Are you willing to press on to overcome even more obstacles?
November 16, 2024

November 15th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Matthew 8:23-27

Highlight Verse:

“Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Several years ago, I was at an outdoor Christian music festival. In the evening, a time of worship and ministry had begun on the main stage as a nasty looking thunderstorm headed our way. The thousands there prayed.

I am not exaggerating when I describe the storm splitting in two and blowing past to the north and south of us.

As I write this, a tropical storm is pounding Honduras where a dear friend of ours runs a ministry in San Pedro Sula. The people she ministers to often live on the edge of survival already and flooding and winds threaten very many in that country.

I believe God is more than capable of calming that storm as well.

While I know that God does not always calm the storms when we pray for the miraculous. But I know He listens, and I believe that our prayers make a difference, whether it be calming the storm or helping people weather it.

Would you pray with me for the people of Honduras and that region?
November 11, 2024

November 11th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 22

Highlight Verse:

“The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, “Away with such a fellow! He isn’t fit to live!””
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭22‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What made the crowds so violently angry with Paul?

He just told them that he would take the message that they rejected and give it to the Gentiles.

At first, this makes no sense. Why would they care as long as Paul quits trying to share that message with them?

Someone among them knew there was power in that message. They knew their agenda would be hindered if the powerful message of salvation got out into the world.

They did everything they could to stop it.

What I love about this situation is that, not only could they not stop the message from spreading, but their violent reaction also helped spread it farther by giving Paul the means to bring it to those in charge in Rome.

Sometimes we run into roadblocks as we try to spread God’s love to the world.

When that happens, we don’t need to wallow in self pity. We just need to look for the new opportunities opening up as a result of that roadblock.

Have you experienced roadblocks to sharing the Gospel?
What new opportunities opened up for you?
November 7, 2024

November 7th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelation 15

Highlight Verse:

“Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.””
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Can you imagine the day when all nations will worship God?

It seems impossible.

Today the world embraces diversity and tolerance with devout fervor.

But truth is truth.

The truth is that God alone is holy and worthy of our worship.

In the very end, this will be obvious to all.

Then the prophetic words of this chapter will come true.

Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess (Isaiah 45:23).

What do you imagine this scene will be like?
Can you see yourself there?
November 5, 2024

November 5th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Deuteronomy 19-20

Highlight Verse:

““When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you!”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭20‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Remember this verse the next time you face horses and chariots.

Okay, I think this could apply to other situations when the odds are against you.

I’ve seen it in action. God provides for a need just in time. Or He protects you from certain unforeseen circumstances.

When you take it in context of the rest of the Old Testament, especially the Pentateuch (first 5 books of the Bible) you must realize that

it only applied when facing battles that God called the Israelites to fight.

In other words, if you keep fighting a losing battle, are you sure that it is one you were called to fight?
If the battle is against sin, are you fighting that battle wholeheartedly?
October 19, 2024

October 19th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – 1 Peter 5

Highlight Verse:

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve often heard this verse used flippantly.

It’s sometimes used as the “Don’t worry, be happy” verse of the Bible.

This chapter, however, is full of tough commands.

Care for the flock, be humble, stay alert, watch out for the devil. Oh yes, and you’ll suffer.

Add to that the toughest command, cast your cares to God.

It’s not a promise that life will be happy and carefree.

It is a promise that God will carry you through it.

Is it harder for you to “Watch out” or to “give your worries and cares to God?”
Can we pray for you and each other as we all do the tough job of giving our worries to God?

Tag: trust

What if he had?

But I still had to pay the fines.

they won’t follow us into eternal life.

And then the longing for material things creeps in.

In other words, the Babylon of chapter 18 is the temptation to seek worldly wealth and pleasure.

In the meantime, we must keep up the struggle against such things and help each other seek after that which matters.

He was not just healed, he was released.

Thanksgiving is a time to be released to share the joy of all that God has brought to you and brought you through.

Let’s live in that freedom and share the joy to all those around us this and every week.

I didn’t realize until today that the Persian Empire was huge.

That was almost half the world’s population at that time.

And God put Esther, a refugee from a small country, right at the heart of the Empire.

Think again.

To preface he gave the purpose of the prophecy – “Be encouraged.”

I’m not the Holy Spirit but I can assure you that the same message is for you – the “Be encouraged” part.

But God will make a way for you to step into the ministry role He has planned for you.

Would you pray with me for the people of Honduras and that region?

What made the crowds so violently angry with Paul?

What I love about this situation is that, not only could they not stop the message from spreading, but their violent reaction also helped spread it farther by giving Paul the means to bring it to those in charge in Rome.

When that happens, we don’t need to wallow in self pity. We just need to look for the new opportunities opening up as a result of that roadblock.

Can you imagine the day when all nations will worship God?

But truth is truth.

The truth is that God alone is holy and worthy of our worship.

Remember this verse the next time you face horses and chariots.

it only applied when facing battles that God called the Israelites to fight.

It’s sometimes used as the “Don’t worry, be happy” verse of the Bible.

Care for the flock, be humble, stay alert, watch out for the devil. Oh yes, and you’ll suffer.

It is a promise that God will carry you through it.