Category: Uncategorized

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 12-13 GW; Luke 14 GW

Self accolades precede humbling.

Jesus is talking about guests at a banquet who choose places of honor to sit.  Instead of sitting in the reserved section, sit in the cheap seats.  This way, if someone more prestigious than you is coming, you don’t take their spot.  On the other hand, if you are an honored guest, the host will move you to the proper seat and everyone will witness the promotion to a better position.  (Luke 14:7-11 GW)  

Pride, laziness, and the desire for honor are in direct contrast to what we need to follow Jesus—chasing after Jesus requires humility, servanthood, and commitment.  We aren’t to honor ourselves; we’re to glorify God.  If God desires for us to take a different seat at the table, He’ll let us know.  Until then, we’re to sit humbly and wait.

Ultimately, Jesus is telling us we have to choose.  Our choice is simple:  Jesus or not.  We either believe Jesus and do as He says, or we don’t.  The decision is yours; God doesn’t give room for indecisiveness.

Yes or no.

Close-ended questions are those that have a one-word answer: yes or no.  In between doesn’t exist when it comes to Jesus.  You either say “Yes” to Jesus, or you say “No.” every time you say no, God grieves.  

When we choose to honor ourselves, God will humble us. If you have ever attended a party and taken the wrong seat, you know what Jesus means.  Public humiliation comes when the host asks us to move to a lesser spot. 

When faced with a daily choice to honor yourself or Jesus, say “Yes!” to Jesus.  Don’t sit in a place not meant for you.  Humble yourself before God.  Take a seat of humility today.  Allow God to change your position if it’s His desire

Lord, thank You for reminding us of what happens when we place ourselves in a position not meant for us.  Forgive us for those times when we have tried to honor ourselves.  Help us to live humbly today.  When faced with deciding what seat to take, let us take the least, not the greatest.  As we strive to follow You, bless our efforts.  Help us learn from our failures, and in all things, honor You.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What seat are you taking today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 11 GW; Luke 13 GW

God’s kingdom grows.

When you place the small pellets of yeast into a floury mixture, it will make the dough rise.  Growing up, any time I saw the giant metal pan sitting in the corner with a clean tea towel across it, I knew fresh bread was in our future.  Mixing the right ingredients and baking until crispy golden on top produces a melt-in-your-mouth experience like nothing else.  

Jesus is referring to a Galilean homemaker in this scripture.  He’s saying the labor she does in making the bread is enough to feed more than 100 people.  Jesus is using this metaphor to describe the kingdom of heaven. 

God takes our small actions of love and multiplies them for the kingdom.  Each time we step out of ourselves and love another, we’re doing kingdom work.  Your efforts are not in vain, even if you don’t see the outcome here on earth.  One day in heaven, someone you never met will thank you for helping them find Jesus.

Small actions have far-reaching effects.

Just like the yeast causes the dough to rise, your actions can change someone’s life.  One thing I’ve learned, you never know the impact you are having.  Sometimes, God will give you glimpses.  But most of the time, we don’t have a clue.

What we can do is trust God with our efforts.  As long as our hearts are pure and motive clean, God will take our humble offerings and turn them into life-change.  Just like the yeast takes time to rise, change occurs slowly.  Day-by-day, as we follow Jesus, we become a new creation.  Our past is left behind, our future filled with God’s purpose for us.  A mission that takes a lifetime to complete.

Don’t underestimate the small actions of love.  No matter how tiny the seed, God will multiply your efforts.  His kingdom will continue to grow.

Lord, thank You for helping us grow closer to You through the parables Jesus told.  Forgive us for underestimating our tiny offerings.  Help us today knead yeast into the dough of life, one act of love at a time.  Let our efforts grow Your kingdom as we share Your goodness with others.  In You, we have life to the fullest.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What small act of love changed your life?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 10 GW; Psalms 125 GW; Luke 12 GW

Riches don’t measure wealth.

Today’s scripture is the ending sentence in an interesting parable.  A rich man spends all his time making money.  Finally, he decides he has enough and can stop working (Luke 12:16-19 NIV). God gave him this message: 

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you’ve accumulated?’ (Luke 12:20 GW)

No matter how much the rich man had, it was never enough.  He felt the need for more.  Material things won’t fill the void only God can fill.  God created us for a relationship with Him and others.  Our first priority in life is loving God, our second loving others.  Anything that comes before those two things is stealing life from us.  In today’s parable, the man’s wealth got in the way of his relationship with God, which means his relationship with others as well.

Redefine your assets.

Typically assets mean cash, real estate, and equipment.  Running a business means managing whatever possessions you have.  People aren’t possessions, but they are resources.  Our most significant assets are the people God places in our lives.  

Managing the people in your life means loving each of them like Jesus.  We can only do that with God’s help.  Asking God to see people through His eyes will change your perspective.  You’ll find wealth in the relationships you create.

Money is something you can always make.  Today in America, businesses are desperate for workers.  People are not replaceable.  When you lose someone, you don’t get them back, not until you meet in heaven.

Don’t make the same mistake the rich man did; make God and people your priority.  Don’t waste time on riches that won’t last.

Lord, we love Your parables.  Thank You for the lesson You teach us through them.  Forgive us for the times we’ve placed riches before a relationship.  Help us always put You first in our lives as we seek to love people for You.  As we draw closer to You, let us experience true wealth in You.  All glory is Yours.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Have you found wealth in Jesus?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 9 GW; Luke 11 GW

God answers all prayers.

Today’s verse is one of the most well-known.  Having a God you can ask for anything you want is something we all desire.  But that doesn’t mean God will give us our request. However, you will receive an answer.  

Over my lifetime, I’ve heard many sermons on God’s answers, which fall into three categories: yes, no, and wait.  Never have I listened to a message where God gives me everything I desire.  As you grow closer to Christ, your desires become what Christ’s desires, what you ask for changes as you become more mature in your faith.

When I first started following Jesus, I was 12 years old.  My prayer requests sounded something like this, “Lord, please let my parents say yes to me staying at Lori’s house.”  But now, forty years later, my morning prayer is this, “Lord, let me produce good fruit today.”  My prayers changed as I developed my relationship with God.  His desires become mine the more I align my heart with God’s.

Keep becoming new.

Every day as we walk with God, we become a new person.  Old ways slip away as we begin to understand God’s heart.  God’s love is for everyone.  Jesus died for the world; no one is left out.  When we ask God to help us see the people around us through His eyes, our vision will change.  Our hearts will soften in unexpected ways.

As you grow closer to God, watch as your prayer life changes.  Your conversations with God will become more intimate as you trust Him more.  When you ask for your heart’s desire, you’ll find it’s whatever God’s heart desire is.

Lord, thank You for always being with us; not a moment of our life goes by that You’re not present.  Forgive us for doubting You and Your love for us.  As we begin a new day, help us become more like Christ.  Help us to see the people in our lives through Your eyes.  Give us a heart full of love for all we see.  Whoever crosses our path, help us love them well for You.  In all things, the glory is Yours.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

How have your prayers changed since you started following Jesus?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 8 GW; Luke 10 GW

God needs workers.

Servant’s hearts are necessary for God’s church.  People willing to self-sacrifice to help others come to know Jesus.  Non-judgemental individuals who uplift instead of condemning.  Men and women who understand, life isn’t about them.  Fulfilling God’s purpose for your life requires commitment.  When God asks, respond yes.  Details aren’t necessary to serve God, just obedience.

As of 2019, 7.674 billion people live on the earth; in farming terms, that’s a huge harvest.  Of those, 2.382 billion are professing Christ-followers.  In other words, people following Jesus are outnumbered 3 to 1.  This statistic means a lot of people need Jesus in their lives.  The harvest is great, but the workers are few.

Saying yes to God means sharing His love with the world.  Those people in your life who don’t know Jesus, are angry at Him, or have turned their back on God need love.  People need others in their life who are willing to love all of them: good, bad, and ugly.  When we begin to love people like Jesus, they begin to blossom.

Commit to the bloom.

When I married my husband, we committed to love, honor, and cherish each other.  My husband loves me unconditionally.  His love in my life has changed me completely.  As we have grown together in Christ, we’ve become more patient, more understanding, not as easily angered.  Every day God gives us together, we become more and more one.  Love changes your life.  Our lights shine brighter when we actively share and receive love.

Wherever God plants you is where you are to bloom.  God will pour His love into your life; you can then share it with others.  As you love those close to you, they will begin to bloom as well.  The more they understand Christ’s love, the more they will grow.  

God’s work is love.  Ours is the same.  Work hard today at loving both God and people.  Watch as your garden begins to grow.

Lord, thank You for giving us purpose in life.  Forgive us for not working harder for you.  Help us today represent You well.  Every person we encounter help us to love them, somehow, some way.  Fill us to the brim with Your love; let it overflow to everyone around us.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Who needs tending in your garden?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 7 GW; Luke 9 GW

Questioning causes growth.

When Jesus was in full swing with His earthly ministry, people didn’t know what to make of it.  They didn’t understand the miraculous events.

Jesus turned the world upside down with His life.  Not only were Jesus’s teachings countercultural, but He also was healing sick people and calling out demons.  No one experienced such things before. 

Herod was one of the many; his questions needed answers.  

“So Herod wanted to see Jesus.” (Luke 9:9 GW)

Herod’s questions made him want to see Jesus.  He knew the only way he would understand is by getting closer to the Son of God.  

When people begin to hear about Jesus, they will have questions.  Asking about something you don’t know is a good thing because you begin to understand.  No one knows everything, we all have things to learn in life.  Developing a relationship with Jesus requires questions.  The more you know, the closer your relationship with God will become.

Cultivate curiosity.

The reason Herod had questions was that Jesus cultivated his curiosity.  Jesus did what Jesus does: loved God and people.  His ministry brought a new way of life to earth.  No one did the things Jesus did before.  Jesus’s countercultural way of living made everyone curious.

Becoming more like Jesus will cultivate curiosity.

People will begin to see Jesus in You.  His love will light up the world around you.  Those around you will become drawn to the light within you.  People will want to know what your secret is.  The answer is simple, Jesus.

Encourage people to talk about Jesus.  Help them understand asking questions is perfectly fine.  The only way we know Jesus better is by asking questions.  The more you ask, the more you will know.  Every query will draw you closer to Jesus, growing your relationship in ways you can’t even imagine.

Questions are good.  They always lead to growth.

Lord, thank You for encouraging us to question.  Forgive us for not being more inquisitive.  As we move through our day today, help us become more like Christ.  As we respond with Christ’s love, let it cultivate curiosity in those around us.  When people begin to question us, give us a ready answer on our lips, Jesus in us.  All glory is Yours. IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What questions do you have about Jesus?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 6 GW; Luke 8 GW

Love is God’s fertilizer.

Jesus parables are my favorite part of the New Testament; today’s comes from one of the most famous, the good soil.  A farmer sows seed in different places.  Some seeds get trampled, some eaten by birds, others planted in bad soil, and some planted among thornbushes that choked them.  However, the seed planted in good soil produced a hundred times more.

One kernel of corn produces thousands.  One acorn grows a mighty oak, millions of times larger, creating even more acorns.  The size of the seed doesn’t equate to the amount of fruit it will produce.  When we plant single seeds, God multiplies them.  But we must plant them in fertile soil for them to grow.

Fertilize the soil.

When farmers are preparing their land for planting, they fertilize the soil.  When I was a child, growing up in the country, the smell of manure wafting through my elementary school windows meant spring had come.  Adding nutrients turned dead soil into good soil, allowing crops to grow.

If we want people to receive the good news of Christ, we must first love them.  Actions of hate don’t create good soil.  Judging and condemning others is not what Christ did, neither should we.  

What Jesus did was love people to the point of death, overcoming it with His resurrection.  In Christ, we find eternal life.  

Jesus loved us.  We’re to love as well.  

Becoming better lovers of people makes us better farmers.  Through kind actions, we fertilize the soil. Building trustworthy relationships with people based on God’s principles takes effort, but the reward is eternal.  Planting seeds in good soil will produce far more than you could ever imagine.

Fertilize with love.  Plant seeds everywhere you go.

Dear Lord, thank You for loving us unconditionally.  Forgive us for taking Your love for granted in our lives.  Help us today become better lovers of people.  As we seek You and receive Your love into our lives, let us share it with others.  Everywhere we go today, let us fertilize the soil with love.  Whatever seeds we plant multiply them beyond our wildest dreams.  Help us become better farmers today as we follow You.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

Who can you fertilize with love today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 5 GW; Luke 7 GW

Forgiven much, love much.

When a sinful woman found out Jesus was in town, she high-tailed it over to see Him.  When she arrived, she washed his feet with her tears.  Forgiven much, she loved Jesus without restraint, allowing all to see.  When she stopped crying, she dried Jesus’s feet with her hair and poured perfume on them.

Of course, the Pharisee in attendance, a.k.a. resident religious leader, disapproved.  He couldn’t believe Jesus allowed a woman of such ill repute to touch Him.  Jesus didn’t care what they thought.  Instead, Jesus told a parable about two men who owed money to a lender.  One owed Him five hundred coins, the other fifty.  When they couldn’t make their payments, the lender forgave each man their debt.  

“Now, who do you think will love him the most?” (Luke 7:41 GW)

The borrower forgiven much loved more than the one forgiven little.  Jesus made the point, the same applies to sinfulness.  The sinful woman knew all God had forgiven her; therefore, she was all in with Jesus. 

Jesus forgives all.

That thing you did back in high school, Jesus, forgave you the minute you asked.  When we confess to Jesus that we are sinners in need of grace, He replies quickly.  Jesus instantaneously forgives when we ask; we’re the ones who have a hard time forgiving ourselves.

If Jesus forgives you, shouldn’t you do the same?

At 52 years old, I can look back on my life from a different perspective.  Just this morning, I was beating myself up for something I did twenty years ago.  All of a sudden, I had this thought. “You’re not that person anymore!”  Following Christ helps me become something completely new.  Jesus will do the same for you.

Understand today, Jesus wipes your slate clean when you placed your trust in Him.  You can love much because God forgave you much.  Don’t cling to the past; embrace the future with Christ.

Lord, thank You for forgiving each one of us wholly and ultimately when we turn to You.  Forgive us for not forgiving ourselves.  Help us today forgive ourselves of the wrongs we think are unforgivable.  As we grasp the truth of Your promise, let us embrace forgiveness and love without abandon, knowing, You love us just as we are.  And You’re helping us become more like Jesus every day.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What are you struggling to forgive yourself for today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 4 GW; Luke 6 GW

Jabez asked and received.

In the long line of descendants from Judah, we discover Jabez.  His name means “Painful” because his birth was so difficult.  According to Ezra, author of Chronicles, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers” (1 Chronicles 4:9 GW).  Hidden in the lineage, we find today’s verse.  A bold prayer prayed by an honorable man who received a favorable answer from God.

Because Jabez asked, he received.  “God gave him what he prayed for” (1 Chronicles 4:10 GW).  Immediately after this verse, Ezra picks back up with the genealogy of Judah.  

What made Jabez special?  Why did God give Jabez what he wanted? Because Jabez lived an honorable life and made specific prayer requests.  God loves prayers that are detailed and precise.  If we aren’t particular with our requests, how can we know if God answered?

Pray specifically.

Whatever situation you are dealing with today, lift it to God with details.  Ask Him for specifics, then wait for God’s response.  Remember, planting seeds means waiting for the harvest.  God isn’t a vending machine in the sky.  You don’t put money in the slot, and out pops whatever you want.  God doesn’t work that way.

What God does do is listen to your requests.  He understands the heart behind the ask.  Jabez was honorable; he wanted more so he could do more for the Lord.  God knew Jabez’s heart; his heavenly Father knew his intentions were pure.  God knows the same about us.  He knows the motives of our hearts.  If we’re in line with God’s will, He’ll grant the request.  If not, He won’t.

Bring boldness into your prayers as you lift specific requests to the Lord.  Check your motives and make sure they are in line with God’s.  If what you’re asking for helps you to love God and His people, odds are, God will expand your territory too.

Lord, thank You for granting our requests.  Forgive us for asking for things that don’t further Your kingdom.  As we align our hearts with Yours, help us to have pure motives.  When we lift specific prayer requests to You, help our faith grow as we wait for Your answer.  In all things, let us have pure motives and a heart for You.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What are you praying specifically for today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 3 GW; Luke 5 GW

God’s word draws crowds.

Today’s verse comes at the beginning of Jesus’s earthly ministry.  Simon Peter was washing his fishnets when Jesus commandeered his boat.  Jesus asked Peter to push off from the shore so that He could speak to the crowds.  Then Jesus sat down and taught the people from the boat.

Can you imagine how unique this experience was?

I can see people walking down the beach, seeing a crowd gathered, wondering what was so interesting.  And Simon Peter having a front-row seat to hear all Jesus said; obviously, it changed his life. But then, just a few verses later, Simon leaves everything behind and follows Jesus.

God’s word is the catalyst to drawing a crowd.  Listening to the truth of your Creator changes your life in a myriad of ways.  Once you begin experiencing God’s truth in your life, you can’t help but want more.

Join the crowd.

More than likely, your day is mapped out in your head.  With a million things to do, fitting Jesus into the mix seems impossible.  But it’s not.  Just because you’re not standing beside the Sea of Galilee doesn’t mean you can’t listen to God’s word.  YouVersion offers a great app that will read the Bible to you.  

Discover God’s truths that can change your life by engaging with His word.  Then, crowd around Jesus through the gospels.  Listen to His stories, engage with Jesus’s conversations, place yourself into the account.  Become a new creation each day as you follow Jesus.  Overcome life’s troubles with Jesus’s divine solutions.

Become part of the crowd.  Listen to God’s word.  Ask God to change you from within as You follow Him.

Lord, thank You for Your word, for Jesus, and for life, You’ve given each one of us.  Forgive us for crowding around the wrong people.  Help us today to join the right crowd, the one following Jesus.  As we listen and read Your word, give us divine understanding.  Help us apply what we learn to our lives, becoming a new creation every day.  Let us experience the freedom Christ offers us.  Today, help us live our life to the fullest as we crowd around Jesus.  Only with You can we truly live.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

How can you listen to God’s word today?