Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 18:1-46 ESV, Acts 11:1-30 ESV, Psalm 135:1-21 ESV, Proverbs 17:12-13 ESV

Daily Verse: “When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose” (Acts 11:23 ESV)

CHARIS (5485): “Grace indicates favor on the part of the giver, thanks on the part of the receiver.  Although charis is related to sins and is the attribute of God that they evoke, God’s eleos (1656), the free gift of the forgiveness of sins, is related to the misery that sin brings.  God’s tender sense of our misery displays itself in his efforts to lessen and entirely remove it- efforts that are hindered and defeated only by man’s continued perverseness.  Grace removes guilt; mercy removes misery.”[I]

Favor and thanks.

Grace brings together favor and thanks.   Whoever offers grace extends favor; whoever receives it feels thankful.  Full confession, I still struggle to receive the grace God offers.  For some reason, extending forgiveness to others seems easier than accepting it for myself. 

In my family, my parents placed high expectations on me.  If I came home from school with an A, why didn’t I get an A+?  As a result, I set high standards for myself and others by default.  But God doesn’t place impossible expectations on us.  He gives us one requirement: to believe in Jesus.

Share grace.

If we want to imitate Jesus, we must lead with grace everywhere we go.  When Christ came to earth, He did so on a ticket of grace.  Extending forgiveness for our sins sets us free from condemnation and gives us a second chance at life.

During my undergraduate years in college, I rebelled against God.  Seven long and torturous years passed before I received my degree.  Graduating with debt up to my eyeballs and following my path did not make my life easier.  I created my heartache.

God gave me a second chance when I went back to school for my Masters.  I clung to my Maker as I worked through my classes after a 25-year hiatus.  Receiving God’s grace meant letting go of past mistakes and moving forward with a clean slate.

Whatever areas you struggle to forgive yourself, God’s already forgiven you.  When you submit your life to Jesus, He rebuilds the broken pieces, making you whole.  One day at a time, Christ leads you with His peace that surpasses all understanding.

Accept God’s grace with thankfulness, knowing nothing you do will ever separate you from Christ’s love.

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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. 270) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 15:25-17:24 ESV, Acts 10:24-48 ESV, Psalm 134:1-3 ESV, Proverbs 17:9-11 ESV

Daily Verse: “So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” (Acts 10:33 ESV)

PAREIMI (3918): “To be near, i.e. at hand. To be by, at hand or present, of persons, of things, of a particular season in the Lord’s life on earth.”[i]

At hand.

Picking up where we left off yesterday, Peter, now in Cornelius’ home, shares the gospel for the first time with Gentiles, non-Jews.  Cornelius explains how an angel told him to send for Peter.  Gathered in the presence of God, Peter speaks.

As followers of Christ, God’s presence never leaves us.  Our feelings don’t determine God’s attendance in our lives.  Don’t let your emotions trick you into believing a lie.  Often, God works in silence as we move through our days.  Seeds planted in darkness grow into the light.  Just because we can’t see the growth doesn’t negate it.

Draw near.

Trusting God’s presence in our lives allows us to draw near Him.  When events unfold in our day, we can look for God’s hand—running late to work because of an unexpected occurrence or maybe God’s way of protecting you from an accident.  Or perhaps not getting the promotion allows you to spend more time with your family, time you’ll never get back.

When my nephew died, I thanked God for my time with him on earth.  I’m glad I didn’t get the promotion to District Manager of the Midwest, requiring me to move 1000 miles away.  Disappointed at the time, now I’m grateful I stayed and spent those years with my nephew.  God knew what I didn’t.

God never leaves nor forsakes us.  Feelings don’t equal facts.  Trust God’s presence with you, even when you don’t feel it.

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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. 192) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 14:1-15:24 ESV, Acts 10:1-23 ESV, Psalm 133:1-3 ESV, Proverbs 17:7-8 ESV

Daily Verse: “And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” ( Acts 10:15 ESV)

KOINOS (2840): “Is translated “unclean.”  Where the perfect participle, passive, is used with the article, hence “them that have been defiled.”[I]

Made clean.

Peter, praying on the roof, had a vision.  The heavens opened, and a sheet descended with reptiles and birds.  God commands, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat” (Acts 10:13 ESV).  But Peter protests because eating these “unclean” animals goes against Levitical law.  Three times the vision occurred before God pulled the sheet back to heaven.

For a knowledgeable Jew like Peter, God’s revelation truly baffles him.  However, Peter quickly realizes the meaning of the vision:

“You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.” (Acts 10:28 ESV)

Equal in God.

Peter’s vision signifies the equality of man.  Jesus’ actions on the cross fulfilled the law once and for all, opening the door for everyone to enter heaven.  We know little about the thief on the cross who hung beside Jesus, but we know he’s enjoying paradise.

“And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43 ESV)

Equality in Christ applies to everyone.  Ethnicity doesn’t decide entrance into heaven; faith does.  God loves all.  Whether they love the Lord in return remains their choice.  But I believe that if we love others well for Jesus, giving Him the glory, others can’t help but love Christ. 

Don’t call common what God calls clean.  In Christ, everyone has the opportunity to experience paradise.

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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. 141) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 12:20-13:34 ESV, Acts 9:26-43 ESV, Psalm 132:1-18 ESV, Proverbs 17:6 ESV

Daily Verse: “So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.” (Acts 9:28 ESV)

PARRESIAZOMAI (3955): “To be frank in utterance or confidence in spirit and demeanor.  This word means “to speak boldly, or freely,” and primarily had reference to speech, but acquired the meaning of “being bold, or waxing bold.”[I]

Speak freely.

Saul, not yet Paul, can’t stop telling people about Jesus.  After experiencing a blinding light that caused Saul to fall to his knees, changing his entire perspective on God, he’s got a lot to tell.  When God moves in our lives, we can’t help but talk about it.

Saul’s experience on the road to Damascus doesn’t happen every day.  However, God’s constantly working; if we seek, we will find.  And when we discover God’s activity, we can’t help but talk about it, just like Saul.

Tell the love story.

When I first started WW in my thirties, I lost 60 pounds in 8 months.  Every where I went, I talked about losing weight, eating the proper foods, etc.   My love of the program changed my life drastically, just like Jesus does, and I wanted everyone to know.

Talking about my weight loss journey came easy because I loved the results.  Saul’s telling his love story with Jesus.  How they met and how it changed his life.  Sharing with others our love story with Christ helps us speak boldly about Jesus.

Every morning, when I read God’s word, I begin again.  Whatever troubles I face, I know God’s with me.  When Jesus gives me glimpses of His work, it invigorates my heart.  I love God more each day as I place more faith in Him.  Somehow, someway, God always spurs me on at the right moment, helping me keep going.

And He will do the same for you.  Life in Christ gives you a lot to talk about to others.  Go all in with Christ, and make Him a top priority in your life.  Watch as Jesus amazes you with the work He does in your life and those around you.

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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. 194) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 11:1-12:19 ESV, Acts 9:1-25 ESV, Psalm 131:1-3 ESV, Proverbs 17:4-5 ESV

Daily Verse: “And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4 ESV)

DIOKO (1377): “To drive away, to persecute, suffer persecution.”[i]

Suffer Persecution.

Saul, who eventually became Paul, met Jesus on the road to Damascus.  On Saul’s way to Jerusalem, he planned on rounding up Christians, taking them to the city for persecution.  But then a light from heaven shone, bringing Saul to his knees, blinding him. 

After the encounter, the men with Saul led him to Damascus. Saul remained blind, not eating or drinking for three days.  God sent Ananias to Saul, explaining Jesus’ appearance to him.  Immediately, the scales fell from Saul’s eyes, filled with the Holy Spirit; he experienced baptism, then ate, strengthened for his new mission, proclaiming Jesus to the world.

Chosen Instrument.

When God sent Ananias to Saul, he didn’t want to go.  Saul killed and persecuted many Christ-followers, yet now God wants to use him to spread the Gospel.  I can understand Ananias hesitancy.  But God knows best:

“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:15-16 ESV)

Saul caused much suffering for the early followers of Jesus.  And once he met Christ, Saul suffered much for Him: beatings, shipwrecks, snake bites, stoning, all for Jesus.

We don’t understand the level of suffering Saul endured because we haven’t experienced it. During those three days of blindness, Saul did some soul searching, rethinking his entire worldview.  From Pharisee of Pharisees, he became Jesus’ most prominent advocate, giving his life for the Lord.

Following Jesus makes us His chosen instrument to impact the world we live in today.  Wherever you live, God planted you there for a reason.  Loving the people God gives you fulfills His mission for your life.  Sharing Christ with everyone, through word and deed, will grow God’s kingdom.  God multiplies our efforts.

Lay your past at the foot of the cross.  Allow Jesus’ Spirit to take the lead in your life.  If Saul could become Paul, what God can do with you has no limits.  Trust the Creator; let Him create a new life in you.

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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. 71) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 9:1-10:29 ESV, Acts 8:14-40 ESV, Psalm 130:1-8 ESV, Proverbs 17:2-3 ESV

Daily Verse: “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.” (Acts 8:14 ESV)

DECHOMAI (1312): “This word signifies to accept by a deliberate and ready reception of what is offered, adding the idea of appropriation, to the heart.”[i]

Deliberate and ready.

Acceptance requires intention. Rebelling against unchangeable circumstances exhausts me.  Inevitably, whether I like it or not, I must accept the facts of life.  Jesus spoke the truth in love, and thankfully, the Samarians received it.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace.  Taking as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.  Trusting that You will make all things right, if I surrender to Your will.  So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with You forever in the next.  Amen”

Reinhold Niebuhr

Accept with grace.

Reinhold Niebuhr wrote the Serenity prayer in 1932-1933, the first half famously used in Alcoholics Anonymous.  Our pathway to peace comes from the hardships we suffer.  In this world, sin abounds, but with Jesus, we can overcome the world.

Accepting Jesus into your heart means understanding the temporary nature of the world we live in today.  Like a vapor of smoke, our lives pass by in an instant.  In the blink of an eye, we move from earth to heaven, leaving behind the troubles and embracing the beauty of heaven.

Our physical lives will end, but our spiritual lives span eternity.  God’s spirit within us provides His eternal peace.  Whether on earth or in heaven, we can experience Christ’s calm that surpasses all understanding when we submit our will to His, accepting what we cannot change.

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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. 64) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 8:1-66 ESV, Acts 7:51-8:13 ESV, Psalm 129:1-8 ESV, Proverbs 17:1 ESV

Daily Verse: “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 7:51 ESV)

SKLRETRACHE (4644): “Obstinate”[i]

Obstinate resistance.

Fifty-two percent of Americans don’t believe in Jesus’ divinity, thinking Him a “great teacher and nothing more.”[i]

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” (Romans 1:25 ESV)

People have plenty of excuses for not following Jesus.  Critical spirits find plenty to criticize.  God forbid a Christ-follower make a mistake; people quickly point fingers when a believer falters.  And Lord knows, forgiveness does not come easily from others.

Pride goes hand in hand with stiff necks.  For some reason, admitting failures doesn’t come easy.  Becoming vulnerable requires confessing our struggles, but we don’t want to talk about them.  Pointing fingers at others take the attention off ourselves.

Stay humble.

If we don’t stay humble, we’ll become stiff-necked.  Stubbornness affects our physical health. In a 2019 study, researchers found that 90 percent of heart failure people don’t make the necessary lifestyle changes.[ii] In other words, 9 out of 10 people refuse to make the minor changes essential to extend their life.

Softening your heart towards Jesus means extending grace to others. We must pray for the stubborn people in our lives.  Ask God to soften their hearts towards Him.  Pray for other believers to come into their lives and help them accept the truth of Jesus in their hearts, allowing His Spirit to take up residency within them.

People miss heaven because of the 18 inches between their heads and heart.  Pray for their stiff necks to become more flexible, allowing the reality of Jesus to change them 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. 229) Thomas Nelson

[i] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-majority-of-americans-think-jesus-is-a-great-teacher-yet-reject-his-claims-to-be-god-301119281.html

[ii] https://www.healthline.com/health-news/most-people-with-heart-failure-conditions-dont-follow-prescribed-lifestyle

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 7:1-50 ESV, Acts 7:30-50 ESV, Psalm 128:1-6 ESV, Proverbs 16:31-33 ESV

Daily Verse: “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?” (Acts 7:49 ESV)

OIKOS (3624): “Denotes a house, a dwelling.”[i]

Dwelling place.

God lives within us, our body His temple.  When you begin to think of your body as God’s home, how you take care of it makes a difference.  Battling the bulge becomes more than a vanity issue; maintaining a healthy weight honors God.

What type of home do you want to build for God?  He leaves the decorating up to you.  When my brother built his house, he asked people to write their favorite scriptures on the bare boards beneath the drywall.  Entering their home, you pass under these words:

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh. 24:15 ESV)

Firm foundation.

Building your house on the foundation of scripture will ensure its survival during the storms.  God’s promises have stood the test of thousands of years; they’ll stand for that many more. 

You determine the house you build by the materials you use.  Feeding your soul with God’s word will fortify your structure.  Allowing the Creator to work from within will produce an outward light no one can distinguish.  God’s love will pour from you effortlessly to those around you.  But only if you build a firm foundation.

Invite Jesus into your home, all of it.  Open your heart to Him, and allow Christ to enter every room.  Don’t shut Jesus out of your pain; invite Him into it.  Let God comfort your hurts as He takes up residency inside your heart.  With Him, we become whole.

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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. 176) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 5:1-6:38 ESV, Acts 7:1-29 ESV, Psalm 127:1-5 ESV, Proverbs 16:28-30 ESV

Daily Verse: “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him” (Acts 7:9 ESV)

ZELOO (2206): “Have warmth of feeling for or against; zealously affect, move with envy, envy, covet, desire, covet earnestly.”[i]

Zealously affect.

Desiring what someone else has causes problems.  Especially if you let the situation consume you.  Joseph’s brothers, patriarchs of the Old Testament, allow their jealousy to control their actions.  At first, they wanted to kill Joseph but sold him into slavery.  God never left Joseph.

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20 ESV)

Jealousy makes us do evil things if we let it.  But God uses all things for the good of those who believe and trust in Him (Romans 8:28 ESV).  What Joseph’s brothers meant as evil, God used to save them.  Because Joseph went to Egypt, He became second in command under Pharoah.  When famine came, Joseph saved his family.

Overcome jealousy.

As a person who struggles with jealousy, I’ve found one way to combat it.  Celebrate their win. 

Playing nine holes with a couple of ladies, I had the highest score, meaning I lost.  Their experience and ability far outweighed mine.  Throughout the two-hour round, jealousy reared its ugly head often.  Cheering their wins defeats the beast.

Jealousy impacts relationships, separating them as it did the brothers.  I had jealousy issues over my college roommate’s beauty, husband, kids, and big house during my single years.  As a result, we lost touch.  When we reunited, I learned jealousy skewed my vision of her heartache-filled life.  Less than six months after reconnecting, she passed away.  I missed years of a relationship with her because my jealousy consumed me.

Don’t let jealousy get you off track.  When you feel the ugly monster rear its head, put the emotion in its place. Celebrate the win for the other person.  You’ll have your day sometime; let them have theirs.

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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. 109) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 3:3-4:34 ESV, Acts 6:1-15 ESV, Psalm 126:1-6 ESV, Proverbs 16:26-27 ESV

Daily Verse: “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7 ESV)

PLETHUNO (4129): “To increase, abound, multiply.  Used transitively, denotes “to cause to increase, to multiply,” “(iniquity) shall abound” intransitively it denotes “to be multiplying,” Acts 6:1, “was multiplied.”[I]

Shall abound.

When God gets involved, things multiply.  Allowing the good Lord’s grace to fill your heart makes you more graceful and loving.  Becoming nicer multiplies your relationships; people want to surround themselves with people who make them feel loved and accepted.  Created for community, we all want to belong, with Jesus, everyone’s welcome.

Daily reading God’s word will change your life.  Letting the scriptures take root in your heart will expose the darkness, allowing light to lead your way.  As you grow closer to Jesus, He will impact your life positively, helping you realize how much He values you.  God doesn’t make junk; He makes treasure.

Multiply the treasure.

Share God’s love with the world.  Accept God’s promises as truth, then share them with everyone.  Watch in amazement as the good news spread and people begin to believe.  Overcome the heartache of this world with one act of love at a time.

Actions speak louder than words.  Jesus’ activity spread His message the most.  Healing the blind man, raising Lazarus from the dead, and exercising demons had people gasping in astonishment.  Christ mastered the unexpected, never doing what people thought He would do.  And we shouldn’t either.

When persecuted, respond in love.  In life’s imperfect moments, don’t take out your problems on someone else.  Monitor your words; if they don’t uplift and encourage, don’t say them.   Become a multiplier by imitating Jesus and acting with love.

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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. 203) Thomas Nelson