Month: April 2022

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 21:1-22:20 ESV, Luke 20:1-26 ESV, Psalm 89:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 13:15-16 ESV

Daily Verse: “And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.” (Luke 20:26 ESV)

THAUMAZO (2296): “This word means to wonder, wonder at, and hence to be had in admiration.”[i]

Wonder admiringly.

Religious leaders know no bounds in their pursuit of discrediting Jesus.  Sending in spies, pretending sincerity, they asked Jesus sneaky questions to try and trap Him.  But God knows the plans of men, and with barely the blink of an eye, Jesus defeats them with His words, rendering them silent.

Watching Jesus in action does cause one to marvel.  Miracles begin to happen when we apply God’s word to our lives.  The impossible becomes possible when God gets involved.

From the pit of the valley, Jesus helped me find the mountaintop.  Like Jesus, I have people in my life constantly trying to trap me with my words.  Not believers, they continuously attack my faith, looking for chinks in the armor.  But with Jesus, my weakness becomes strength, chinks don’t exist.

Put on God’s armor.

Protect yourself against naysayers by clothing yourself in God’s attire.  Ground yourself in God’s truth, wearing righteousness as your breastplate and the gospel of peace for shoes, always at the ready.  Carry the shield of faith to extinguish the devil’s fiery darts. Allow the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit to protect you, remaining constant in prayer (Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV).

As you become comfortable in God’s armor, you’ll marvel more at His works in your life.  Watching as God defeats the enemy attacks will encourage and uplift you.  Truth destroys lies as God reveals it in your life.

When people attack your faith in Jesus, respond with love.  Don’t take their words personally; remember, we battle not against flesh and blood but spiritual forces.  Pray for them, asking God to illuminate their lives with His truth, letting them marvel in His wondrous works.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 113) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 19:1-20:9 ESV, Luke 19:28-48 ESV, Psalm 88:1-18 ESV, Proverbs 13:12-14 ESV

Daily Verse: ‘For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side” (Luke 19:43 ESV)

CHARAX (5482): “A palisade or rampart (military mound for circumvallation in a siege.”  The dirt for making the siege mounds came from digging a trench.”[i]

Entrenched hearts.

Jesus, God in the flesh, knows all things.  Including the knowledge, the Romans will one day lay siege to Jerusalem by building barricades around the city, starving the citizens into submission.

Barricades require work to build.  The dirt from digging trenches became the mighty mounds cutting off the entrance to the city.  In the same way, we can build walls around our hearts.  After we experience hurt, we create defensive barriers to keep the pain from happening again.

However, shutting out God and people cuts us off from life itself.  Like the people of Jerusalem, our hearts starve and wither.  But when we lay our pain at the foot of the cross, Jesus takes it upon Himself, healing our wounds.

Destroy the walls.

My favorite analogy of peeling away the layers of hurt came from Beth Moore.[i]  Every injury we encounter adds another layer around the heart, like layers of an onion. Barricades we build ourselves keep us from living life fully. As we allow Jesus into the dark places of our soul, He peels away the walls, one by one, healing us.

Don’t let past events keep you from living today.  Journeying through life comes with ups and downs. Working through the valleys helps us reach the mountaintops.  As the journey continues, allowing Jesus more and more control, our hearts will become whole once again.

Stop building barricades; instead, give your cares to Jesus.  Let Him handle the pain as you rest in the Father’s arms.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (pp. 269-70) Thomas Nelson

[i] https://www.lproof.org/

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 16:1-18:28 ESV, Luke 19:1-27 ESV, Psalm 87:1-7 ESV, Proverbs 13:11 ESV

Daily Verse: “And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.” (Luke 9:9 ESV)

 

SOTERIA (4991): “Rescue or safety.  Denotes deliverance, preservation, salvation.  Used in the NT of material and temporal deliverance from danger and apprehension.  Of the spiritual and eternal deliverance granted immediately by God to those who accept His condition of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, in whom alone it is to be obtained. Acts 4:12 and upon confession of Him as Lord, Rom. 10:10.  Of the Present experience of God’s power to deliver from the bondage of sin.  Occasionally, as standing virtually for the Savoir, e.g., Luke 19:9.”[i]

Fire insurance.

One of my friends, when describing salvation, sums it up in two words, fire insurance.  Placing faith in Christ means a one-way ticket to heaven, not into hell’s fiery depths.  Jesus rescues us from the flames when we put our trust in Him.

However, salvation begins now, the moment we start following Jesus.  Instead of doing life alone, we have a Saviour who wants to do it with us.  We have guidelines on every aspect of life in God’s word, helping us live each day to the fullest.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30 ESV)

Lighten your load.

Placing faith in Jesus lightens your load now.  Instead of navigating life on your strength, you have His.  Jesus wants to take your burdens from you, giving you His peace in exchange.

The things of this world won’t last for eternity, but God’s peace does.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 ESV)

Place your faith in Jesus.  Get to know Him through God’s word.  Apply Christ’s teaching to your lives.  Discover the peace that surpasses all understanding as You accept Jesus’s saving grace.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (pp. 245-6) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 15:1-63 ESV, Luke 18:18-43 ESV, Psalm 86:1-17 ESV, Proverbs 13:9-10 ESV

Daily Verse: “And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18 ESV)

AIONIOS (166): “Perpetual. The adjective describes duration. Denoting ‘eternal’ is set in contrast with prosdkairos (4340), lit., ‘for a season.’ It is used of that which in nature is endless.” [I]

Describes duration.

Ever since childhood, I’ve tried to understand eternity.  And I can’t.  When I gaze into the starlit night, myriads of bright dots sprinkled across the sky; my mind becomes overwhelmed with the enormity of life.  Trying to understand forever challenges me.

“For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity.” C.S. Lewis[i] 

Living in the present means enjoying this point in eternity.  When you blink, the moment no longer exists.  

Pastors often use the analogy of missing heaven by 18 inches, the distance between our heads and hearts.  Faith comes from the heart but doesn’t always make sense to the head.  Some people can’t get past the illogical part of faith, so they miss out on heaven.

Embrace now.

Don’t miss out on eternity because the concept doesn’t make sense.  Instead, understand eternity lives now, the present moment part of the ongoing story of Christ.  No one can honestly explain the spiritual side to life, not from our earthly address.  We’ll have the answers we crave one day, but not until we get our heavenly home.

God never meant us to understand everything; He wants us to trust.  Begin to experience God’s eternal peace by placing your faith in Jesus.  Spend time each day becoming more like Christ.  Share the grace of heaven with all you meet.

Eternity meets time in the present moment.  Place your faith in Jesus; let the Holy Spirit take up residency in you.  Experience God’s eternal peace, now and forever.

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[i] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/93898-destines-them-to-eternity-he-therefore-i-believe-wants-them#:~:text=For%20the%20Present%20is%20the,and%20actuality%20are%20offered%20them.

[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.10) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 13:1-14:15 ESV, Luke 18:1-17 ESV, Psalm 85:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 13:7-8 ESV

Daily Verse: “And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’” (Luke 18:3 ESV)

EKDIKEO (1556): “To vindicate, retaliate, punish.  That which proceeds from justice, means “to vindicate a person’s right” in the parable of the unjust judge, of the ‘vindication’ of the rights of the widow.”[i]

God vindicates.

God’s wrath exists.  When you read through the Old Testament, you can’t deny God gets vengeance against those who oppose Him.  Reconciling God’s anger with His love can challenge the best of us.   Sin’s consequences lead to death.  Jesus overcame death, so we don’t have to suffer the repercussions.

We all deserve God’s wrath for the sinfulness in our lives, every one of us.  Accepting your sinful nature will help you become more graceful to others. 

When someone hurts us, we want justice for their actions.  But remember, you’ve hurt someone too.  Each of us has intentionally or unintentionally hurt someone’s feelings.  Instead, look for the pain.

Pain causes hurt.

If we don’t learn how to manage our pain, we will inevitably hurt others.  Misery loves company.  Hurting hearts want companions.  Cries for help come in the form of offensive actions.  People respond unkindly instead of saying, “I’m hurting and don’t know what to do with my pain.”

Picture a cornered rattlesnake, coiled up, tail rattling, head lifted, tongue striking at you; its poison deadly.  People’s inner pain can act as a defensive rattlesnake, damaging relationships.

The best thing to do if you encounter a rattlesnake freeze don’t make a move.  Assess the situation, then slowly back away, giving the snake room to leave. 

If someone strikes out at you, don’t respond.  Instead, pray, asking God to help you see them through His eyes.  Assessing the situation with God’s lens will reveal their pain to you.  Back away, give God room to work on their broken hearts.

We all deserve God’s justice.  God gives us grace instead.  Share the gift with everyone.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.80) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 11:1-12:24 ESV, Luke 17:11-37 ESV, Psalm 84:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 13:5-6 ESV

Daily Verse: “And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:19 ESV)

PISTIS (4102): “Conviction of the truth of anything, belief: of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.  It is related to God with the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ; to Christ with a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah; through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God.”[i]

Convicted truth.

Faith believes in the unseen, trusting God’s existence and word.  God doesn’t intend for us to understand some things in this world until we get to heaven.  As my husband said recently, “I’ve got a lot of questions for God.”  Don’t we all.

Hope comes from faith, which leads to love:

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV)

One day, when we enter heaven, we’ll no longer need faith or hope. Seeing the King in His glory means we no longer need faith in His existence.   All we ever hoped for in life, we will have eternity with God.  Love, however, remains forever.

Love eternal.

From God’s love, He created us for love.  Placing faith in Jesus binds us to our heavenly Father.  Becoming more like Christ means learning about God’s love for us, then sharing it with others.  Throughout history, God’s circle of love continues onward.

If we love others as God loves us, no one can resist Him.  The unconditional affection God pours into our lives every day has no replacement.  Without His divine affection, we can’t care for others.  In Him, we find the strength to love those who require extra grace.

The journey begins with faith in God.  Hope blossoms as you follow the Creator.  Growing closer to Jesus leads to a love that endures forever.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.202) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 9:3-10:43 ESV, Luke 16:19-17:10 ESV, Psalm 83:1-18 ESV, Proverbs 13:4 ESV

Daily Verse: “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.” (Luke 16:25 ESV) 

ZOE (2222): “Life in the absolute sense, life as God has it, which the Father has in Himself, and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself and which the Son manifested in the world.  Eternal life is the present actual possession of the believer because of his relationship with Christ, and that it will one day extend its domain to the sphere of the body is assured by the resurrection of Christ.  Describing the present sojourn of man upon the earth with reference to its duration.”[I]

Whole life.

Earthly struggles may overwhelm us sometimes, but we haven’t received the reward yet.  Lazarus suffered on earth, but he enjoys the rewards of heaven.  The rich man on earth, blind to God’s warnings, already enjoyed his best moment in eternity.  Lazarus’s sufferings pale compared to the prospects of eternity for the lost soul.

Life with Christ brings fullness you can find no other way.  Embracing His grace and mercy into your life will change you.  As the spring buds blossom into magnificent flowers with vibrant colors, you too will bloom.  Our earthly journey leads us to the heavenly realms when we follow Jesus.

Live fully.

Introducing someone to Jesus means helping them get to know Him. Applying Jesus’ teachings to your life will help others do the same.

“And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19 ESV)

Jesus shows us how to live our lives so we can do the same for others.  Living for Christ means helping others do so as well.  Together, the body of Christ grows as we seek Him diligently, assisting others on the journey.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21 ESV)

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.110) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 7:16-9:2 ESV, Luke 16:1-18 ESV, Psalm 82:1-8 ESV, Proverbs 13:2-3 ESV

Daily Verse:  “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” (Luke 16:10 ESV)

AKIKOS (94): “Unjust; by extens. Wicked; by impl. Treacherous; spec. heathen: unjust (8x), unrighteous (4x). Means ‘not in conformity with dike (1349-right) and is rendered unjust.”[i]

Build trust.

Trustworthiness, as a character trait, develops over time.  Each day, we have an opportunity to build our character with the decisions we make.  Small acts of faithfulness prove our trustworthiness, leading to greater responsibility.

On the way home from our honeymoon, my husband and I created our first budget.  Since I didn’t marry until my early forties, I hadn’t shared expenses before, always able to spend and do whatever I wanted with my money.  But now, I couldn’t because my spending directly affected another person.  As a result of our budgeting, we each have a certain amount we can spend without asking permission from the other. 

I will never forget when temptation hit me. Grocery shopping, using our shared account to pay, I realized I could steal money from the grocery budget. If I got cashback while paying, Ron would never know. My husband doesn’t check the receipt; he would overlook the extra $20 added to the total.

Choose honesty.

God grew my character as I learned financial accountability to my husband.  As tempting as taking the $20 seemed, building trust with my husband meant more to me than the cash.  Ten years later, we still budget; rarely do we argue about money.  Choosing honesty in small moments builds trust.

And one lie can empty the bank account.  Trust takes time to build and moments to tear down.  One false tale destroys relationships as it becomes another and another. 

Lying never ends.  To cover up the first lie, we tell another one, leading to yet another.  Like the spider weaves the web, lies become more intricate the longer we spin the tale.  But eventually, the truth will come to light; somehow, it always does.

When the temptation to lie overtakes you, remember this, the truth will come out.  Save yourself the trouble of covering up lies.  Choose honesty, tell the truth.  Build trust, don’t tear it down.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 6) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 5:1-7:15 ESV, Luke 15:1-32 ESV, Psalm 81:1-16 ESV, Proverbs 13:1 ESV

Daily Verse: “And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2 ESV)

DIAGOGGUZO (1234): “To complain throughout a crowd, murmur.”[i]

Murmured complaining.

Constantly complaining describes the Pharisees well.  Time and again, the religious leaders challenge Jesus about His activities, especially the fact Jesus hung out with sinners.  In today’s verse, the grumbling happens as they approach Jesus, which Jesus heard.

God looks at the heart; Jesus understood why the Pharisees grumbled.  Speaking in parables, Jesus shared the story of the lost sheep.  Even though the shepherd’s flock numbered 100, he goes after the lost lamb.

Chase the lost.

Like when my little dog Sophia broke free from her harness on our morning walk, running loose, I chased after her.  Grabbing my car keys, I fervently prayed as I started the engine and began the search.  When she came home, tears of joy flooded my cheeks.

God rejoices much more when a lost soul finds its way back to Him.  Chasing after “sinners,” as the Pharisees like to say, God doesn’t want a single person to miss the benefits of heaven.

Every moment of every day, God pursues you.  Whether through the people you meet, the situations you encounter, or the challenges you face, God wants to connect with you.  Even as followers of Christ, we stray from the narrow path.  When we do, God draws us back to Him.

Learn from the Pharisee’s mistake.  Recognize everyone sins, including religious leaders.  We all need Jesus to draw us back into the fold from time to time.  Everyone strays, but praise Jesus; He chases us down and brings us back to Him.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 65) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 3:1-4:24 ESV, Luke 14:7-35 ESV, Psalm 80:1-19 ESV, Proverbs 12:27-28 ESV

Daily Verse: “But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.” (Luke 14:10 ESV) 

TOPOS (5117): “Of a place which a person or thing occupies, a couch at table.” [i]

Perfect place.

Each of us has a different place in the world, one chosen by God for us to occupy. At a conference recently, one of the speakers made the statement:

“You cannot fail when you are in God’s perfect will.” Johnathon Falwell.

Jesus, dining with the ruler of the Pharisees on the Sabbath, talks about choosing your place at the table. Instead of assuming the seat of honor, take the lowest seat at the table. If the host wants you to have a better seat, all at the table will see him bestow the honor upon you.

Searching for God’s will happens daily. God doesn’t give us a blueprint for our entire lives; He directs us one step at a time. 

Wait patiently.

Seeking God’s will requires patience. We do what we know to do, then wait for God to guide us. Inch by inch, God leads us into His perfect will.

Walking my dogs recently, Sophia, my oldest, wrangled out of her harness, taking off for parts unknown. After searching for her, I realized she would either come home or not. A rat terrier, her speed and agility far outweigh mine. I could do nothing but pray and wait, recognizing my helplessness.

Her shenanigans took place right before I had a therapy appointment. Gratefully, she didn’t go far, and we found her before I left for my appointment. Because of her little excursion, my therapist and I discussed death and loss, bringing healing to me.

God used Sophia’s antics to nudge me closer into His will. Finding healing allows me to live life to the fullest, one day at a time.

Find your place in God’s will. Seek Him diligently, looking for signs of God’s activities. Let your Maker guide you to the perfect place at the table for you.

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[i] [i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (pp. 251-2) Thomas Nelson