Category: Uncategorized

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 44:24-47:7 ESV, 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17 ESV, Psalm 94:1-23 ESV, Proverbs 26:6-8 ESV

Daily Verse: “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22 ESV)

KATHAROS (2513): “Means free from impure admixture, without blemish, spotless.  Katharos refers to the Christian’s freedom from the defilements of the flesh and the world.”[1]

Without blemish.

Pure sheep have no marks.  No blemishes dirty the white wool. Black nose and hoofs highlight the perfection of what people used to sacrifice to God in atonement for sin.  Jesus had no defect, sinless; He died on the cross for us.

We have blemishes, every one of us.  My most recent temper tantrum resulted in stopping a round of golf on the sixth hole.  After enduring slow play, a rainstorm, and the club slipping from my hands, I had enough. But I could have handled the situation better than I did.  Only Jesus dealt with all things well.

Pursue positive virtues.

Paul’s asking Timothy to pursue positive virtues.  Even though blemished, we can still strive for perfection, understanding we can’t reach it on our own.  When we partner with Jesus, He makes us righteous. 

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 ESV)

God wants us to try.  When we center our hearts on Jesus, seeking His will for our life, God will direct our paths.  But we still must walk.  Do I believe God can bring the perfect partner to the door for a single person?  Absolutely. 

But I also believe you might meet someone sooner if you went out of the house.  During my season of singleness, I forced myself to join social groups to meet others.  I met Ron on the tennis court, where our relationship began.

Living life to the fullest means pursuing it with Christ.  We must understand that relationships matter more than anything else in the world.  Jesus comes first, others second, ourselves last, each relationship developing daily.

Strive for a pure heart by connecting with Jesus, allowing Him to search you for blemishes.  Embrace God’s grace and mercy, then share it with the world.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 124) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 42:1-44:23 ESV, 2 Timothy 2:1-21 ESV, Psalm 92:1-93 ESV, Proverbs 26:3-5 ESV

Daily Verse: “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:3 ESV)

KAKOPATHEO (2553): “To undergo hardship.  This word from kakos, “evil,” pathos, “suffering,” signifies “to suffer hardship.”  It is translated “endure hardness,” 2 Tim. 2:3.”[1]

Endure hardness.

Paul’s encouraging Timothy because he understands pain and suffering come with the journey.  No one on earth avoids the combination, no matter how they appear from the outside.  Everyone struggles in life, including Jesus, who endured harsh persecution and responded with love.

How we respond to the difficulties we encounter on the journey makes the difference.  We can’t control much in life, but we can control our actions.  Job’s response after losing his children, flock, and health amaze me:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return.  The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”  (Job 1:21 ESV)

Persevere with perspective.

Both Jesus and Job kept their eye on the prize.  They remembered the Lord and His sovereign power when troubles came their way.  Everything on earth will pass away, but things of heaven last forever.

Keeping the Son in your eyes as you travel through storm waters will help you stay afloat.  Trusting God’s plan when heartache comes upon you will help you persevere through it.

Paul’s encouragement of Timothy helps him overcome the trials the missionary faces.  In the same way, we can help spur others onward when they deal with life’s hurts.  Sometimes taking a step forward challenges the best of us; we need assistance to keep going.

Pain and suffering come with life on earth.  Only when God calls us home will we leave our struggles behind.  Until then, we can encourage others on the journey, as well as receive help when we need it.

God never meant us to walk alone; He gives us other believers to journey with us.  Become involved in a local church with solid, Biblical teaching, and you will find the assistance you need when you need it.

Respond well by surrounding yourself with fellow believers to help you.  Don’t try facing the struggles of this world on your own.  Tap into God’s strength by connecting with His family.  Together, you can overcome anything.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 126) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 39:1-41:18 ESV, 2 Timothy 1:1-18 ESV, Psalm 90:1-91:16 ESV, Proverbs 26:1-2 ESV

Daily Verse: “I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.” (2 Timothy 1:3 ESV)

PROGONOS (4269): “An ancestor, (grand-)parents: -forefather.  Used as a noun in the plural, forefathers.”[1]

Forefathers.

Paul thanks his forefathers for raising him in the faith.  Because of his upbringing, Paul knew the scriptures inside and out.  When the apostle met Jesus, Paul’s background helped him accomplish his mission.  Paul understood Jewish law and could debate anyone about the merits of faith in Jesus.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6 ESV)

God promises if we raise our children in the faith, they won’t depart from it in their old age.  Children do stray; I strayed.  But in my straying, I learned the truth about God’s promises.  His word lasts when nothing else does.

Trust the process.

Raising children in the faith takes time and effort.  Teaching them about Jesus young gives them a firm foundation to fall back on when things get tough.  And the lessons they learn will help them flourish in life later.  Faith keeps us going when all else fails.

Working in the kid’s ministry encourages me; their pure hearts soak up the lessons taught in Sunday school.  Standing at the back of the class, I love watching their energetic answers to whatever question.  Singing worship with them always encourages my heart.

As adults, we understand that bad things happen in life and will test our faith.  But kids don’t know about crises of faith yet.  Teaching them to rely on Jesus will help them when difficult times arise.  And as they grow and mature, they will pass the lessons learned to the next generation.

Thank God for our forefathers who persevered in the faith, raising their children to believe and trust in Jesus.  Life on earth ends all too quickly, but our faith never does.  In God, we can always trust, and we have the opportunity to share that knowledge with the generations to come.

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[1]Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 211) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 37:1-38:28 ESV, 1 Timothy 6:1-21 ESV, Psalm 89:38-52 ESV, Proverbs 25:28 ESV

Daily Verse: “Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.” (1 Timothy 6:1 ESV)

ZUGOS (2218): “A yoke,” serving to couple two things together; is used of bond service to masters, 1 Tim 6:1.”[1]

Couple together.

About half the population of the Roman empire lived as enslaved people in the first century.  Paul’s concerned about how they treat their masters.  In other words, followers of Christ must treat their bosses with respect; in doing so, we share Jesus with others through our actions.

Thankfully, slavery no longer exists in America.  But we do have jobs and people in authority over us.  Whether or not you think your supervisor deserves the position doesn’t matter; they still have it. 

God’s authority

Ultimately, God’s our authority.  We will all stand before the Lord one day and give an account of our actions. And God places authority over us on earth.

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13:1 ESV)

God knows your boss and how they treat you. The Lord knows all the people in authority over us because He placed them there.  How we respond to the bosses in our life depends on our hearts.  God wants us to treat them with respect and dignity.  In other words, do your job well.

The best way to honor God and your boss happens when you do your job.  As an ex-manager, employees who didn’t do the job they agreed to do wore me down.   But those precious ones who came to work on time did their tasks and respected my authority; I couldn’t help but love them.

God wants us to do our jobs well.  When we take pride in our work and do it to the best of our ability, we’ll also respect our boss.  Nothing pleases God more than a heart set on Him.

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[1] 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: Jeremiah 35:1-36:32 ESV, 1 Timothy 5:1-25 ESV, Psalm 89:14-37 ESV, Proverbs 25:25-27 ESV

Daily Verse: “For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” (1 Timothy 5:18 ESV)

MISTHOS (3408): “Primarily “wages, hire,” and then, generally, “reward.”[1]

General reward.

Workers deserve payment for their efforts.  Paul’s reference to compensation for the elders quotes Deuteronomy to make his point.  Writing to Timothy, the second half of Paul’s sentence quotes Jesus, the first-time repeating Christ’s words as scripture.

God knows we all have bills to pay.  Part of our purpose unfolds in the work we do.  Whether a mail carrier or a physicist, paychecks mark the value assigned to the task.  People don’t feel appreciated if we don’t pay them for their efforts.

Tangible value.

I worked as a volunteer staff member for a local church a few years ago.  Working over forty hours a week in my position, I didn’t get paid.  As a result, my work had no value to the organization, and I received heartbreak as my reward.

We don’t value things that don’t have a price.  Jesus’ unconditional love for us came at a steep cost, His death on the cross.  Christ paid for our sins, even though He had none.  We have value because of God’s price for us, Jesus’s death.

In the same way, we should value others for the work they do.   When we assign a dollar amount to a job, we give it value.  Paying people for their work shows appreciation to them.  We devalue people’s work when we don’t pay them for it.

Local churches depend on tithes to run their organizations.  God’s provision for those in ministry comes from our obedience to tithe.   Many pastors work two jobs so that they can preach on Sunday mornings.  We live in an imperfect world; 5% of churchgoers tithe, each person giving an average of $17 per week.[1]

Wages show value for the worker.  Tithing grows our faith and helps pay the wages of God’s workers.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 166) Thomas Nelson

[1]https://www.vancopayments.com/egiving/church-giving-statistics-tithing#:~:text=Churchgoer%20Participation-,Tithing%20Statistics,%25%20(Health%20Research%20Funding).

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 33:1-34:22 ESV, 1 Timothy 4:1-16 ESV, Psalm 89:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 25:23-24 ESV

Daily Verse: “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;” (1 Timothy 4:7 ESV)

MUTHOS (3454): “That which is a simple account which attempts to explain reality; yet is unreal and fabricated having only the appearance of truth, not truth actually contained therein.  It primarily signifies “speech, conversation.” The first syllable comes from a root mu-, signifying “to close, keep secret, be dumb: whence, muo, “to close” (eyes, mouth) and musterion, “a secret, a mystery”; hence, “a story, narraetive, fable, fiction.” The word is used of gnostic errors and of Jewish and profane fables and genealogies, “fables”, in 1 Ti. 4:7.”[1]

Unreal and fabricated.

Myths abound in today’s world.  When God created humanity, He placed a God-sized void in each of us.  Three-fourths of the world try to fill it with things other than the Lord. But nothing can fill the void but Jesus.

Solomon talks about chasing after the wind in Ecclesiastes, things we think will satisfy us but never do.  I spent the first half of my life building my resume, always striving for the next promotion and larger paycheck.  But then my sister died from ovarian cancer, and I realized my misguided efforts.

Reality check.

My sister’s passing gave me a reality check.  No one cares about my resume, but they care how I make them feel.  Because of chasing the wind, I missed spending time with my sister.  Her death caused me to re-prioritize my life, leading me into a more fulfilling lifestyle as I prioritized people over position.

Everyone tells themselves a story; we create narratives in our minds based on our limited knowledge.  Reality checks help you see the myths you believe and refocus your eyes on Jesus.

“It’s so beautiful,” said my sister as she transitioned to heaven.  A lifelong follower of Jesus, her words encourage me in my walk.  One day we will meet again, but until then, I know her soul rests well with Jesus.

God exists, and only He can fill the void in your soul.  Connection with the Lord will give you life to the full.  Embracing Jesus and the truth of His teachings will help you discern the myths you believe and replace them with God’s truth.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 168) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 31:27-32:44 ESV, 1 Timothy 3:1-16 ESV, Psalm 88:1-18 ESV, Proverbs 25:20-22 ESV

Daily Verse: “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” (1 Timothy 3:1 ESV)

PISTOS (4103): “In the active sense means “believing, trusting.”  In the passive sense, “trusty, faithful, trustworthy.”[1]

Believing trust.

Timothy addresses those people who want to watch over the flock.  Trustworthiness marks the character of an elder.  Becoming a leader in the church has a noble task before them.  They must maintain pure hearts and not let pride lead them in their decisions.

When people look to you for guidance, basing their actions on words you say, the responsibility weighs heavily on them.  Becoming a devotional writer intimidated me as people began seeking my advice.  Underqualified describes how I felt.

But God provides wherever He guides and keeps our hearts in check.  Staying humble requires daily submission to the Lord. Allowing the Creator to search your heart will keep you in check for the work God calls you to do.

Daily cleansing.

Becoming a trustworthy servant of the Lord requires a daily cleansing of the soul.  Each day, when you quiet yourself before the Lord, spending time in His presence will impact your life.  As you follow Jesus, you become more sensitive to the sin in your life, which allows you to address it.

Following Jesus makes you a leader.  People who know you before Christ will see the life change.  Each day, as you apply Jesus’ teaching to your life, you become more like Him and less like your old self.

Five decades of following Jesus changed me drastically.  My juvenile prayers of selfish desires became a longing to connect with God’s will for my life.  Instead of judging others, I try first to understand them and their story.  And forgiving those who hurt me takes work, but with God, I can.

Most of all, I remember that everyone I meet has an unseen battle.  Everyone experiences pain and suffering.  They don’t need judgment; they need unconditional love, the kind Jesus offers.

Become a trustworthy servant of Jesus by making time with Him a top priority in your life.  Let God do the transformation as you submit your life to Him.

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[1] 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: Jeremiah 30:1-31:26 ESV, 1 Timothy 2:1-15 ESV, Psalm 87:1-7 ESV, Proverbs 25:18-19 ESV

Daily Verse: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,” (1 Timothy 2:1 ESV)

DEESIS (1162): “A petition: -prayer.  Prayer for particular benefits.”[1]

Particular benefits.

Praying for others means asking God specifically to meet the needs in their life.  The more specific I can pray, the better.  Paul urges the church to talk to God about its members’ struggles.

People regularly text prayer requests. Praying for others energizes me.  Knowing we serve a mighty God, I get excited, wondering what He will do.  The Lord always comes through, never the way I think, but He never fails. My friend Lynda says, “Praying for others is an honor.”

Honor others.

Praying ranks as the best thing to do for those you love.  Chatting with God about their problems allows two things to happen.  First, you talk to the One who can help, no matter the situation.  Talking to a mechanic about a heart transplant does no good.  But when you speak to a heart surgeon, you’ll get some answers.

And secondly, the Lord assigns divine tasks.  Something tangible you can do to help the person through whatever the situation.  Sometimes, God asks you to continue to pray or send them a text or meal. The Creator’s reply differs as much as the problems do; no two the same.

Praying for others honors them.  Not only does praying build a better bond with the Creator as you watch His plan unfold, but it also helps you tap into God’s peace.  Knowing you can’t control what happens to the ones you love, at least you can talk to the one Who does.

Whoever asks you to pray for them today, ask for details.  Find out the little things they hope will happen, and petition God on their behalf.  Ask God to let them feel His presence as He guides them through their circumstances.

Nothing beats the power of prayer, especially when you pray for others.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 63) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 28:1-29:32 ESV, 1 Timothy 1:1-20 ESV, Psalm 86:1-17 ESV, Proverbs 25:17 ESV

Daily Verse: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Timothy 1:15 ESV)

PROTOS (4413): “IN time, place, order, or importance.  In 1 Tim. 1:15-16, of a sinner.”[1]

First place.

Paul calls himself the prize winner for sinners.  Considering he killed followers of the Way before meeting Jesus, I would give Paul the trophy if one existed.  Thank God, Jesus forgives our sins and cleanses us, making us new.

And thank God for Paul, whose life changed so drastically; he truly does set an example of a new creation.  From killer to a preacher, Paul’s meeting with Jesus made the difference between the two extremes.

Paul’s decision to follow Christ meant doing things differently.  In the same way, I decided to do things Jesus’ way in my late 20s after spending a decade following my desires, ending in despair.

Discover joy.

Life didn’t become one long vacation when I placed my faith in Jesus.  No, God gives us purpose.  Allowing Christ to prompt me from within made me think differently; instead of putting myself first, I began to put others first.

Following Jesus helped me learn to set boundaries.  Christ taught me unhealthy people couldn’t have healthy relationships.  Jesus continues to teach me that I’m not the Savior.  My purpose on earth doesn’t include running it, but God does expect me to love the residents.

Every day, I continue to learn as I pursue life with Jesus.  Going deeper in my relationship with the Lord takes me places I didn’t want to go.  But only by trusting God can I find healing from the hurts. 

As you journey with Jesus, you discover His joy.  Amid heartache, God’s peace descends, helping us out of the pit.  Forgive yourself for the sins God forgave long ago.  Let go of the past and embrace the future, one filled with the hope of the Lord.

Admitting your sins will enable you to have life to the fullest in Christ as you embrace His grace and mercy, experiencing His joy.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 217) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 26:1-27 ESV, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18 ESV, Psalm 85:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 25:16 ESV

Daily Verse: “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV)

KATEUTHUNO (2720): “This word means to make straight, remove all hindrances in order to guide or direct.”[1]

Make straight.

God makes our paths straight when we let Him direct our hearts.  We will feel the twinge inside when starting down the wrong road.  Like a pinprick, my heart winces when I turn in the wrong direction.

Since I run the website for our tennis academy, I handle registration.  Physical space limits the class size; they fill up immediately.  Chaos ensues as I try to untangle the rapidly firing emails. Unintentional miscommunications happen.

When fall registration opened, I received an email from an unhappy parent.  The immense traffic to the website caused a crash in the payment system; as a result, her daughter didn’t get into the class.

God’s guidance.

Reading the angry email caused my blood to stir.  If you’ve read “Three Word Prayers for Everyday Living,” you know I struggle with anger issues.  Accusing me of things I didn’t do, my fingers tapped rapidly on the keyboard with a response.

But then God.  My heart felt a ping as I reread my words.  Anger screamed from the screen, and I knew I didn’t want to head down that road.  Backspacing does show maturity when it comes to written communication.

And so, I backspaced, and prayed, then answered with love.

When God directs our hearts, He makes our paths straight.  Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians also applies to us.  May God direct your hearts today to His love and Christ’s steadfastness. 

If your heart winces when you head down the wrong path, listen to it.  Our connection with God happens in the heart.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 135) Thomas Nelson