Honest Reflections

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

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24 ESV, Luke 13:22-14:6 ESV, Psalm 79:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 12:26 ESV

Daily Verse: “He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.” (Luke 13:22 ESV) 

POREIA (4197) & POIEO (4160): “Poreia: to a purposeful journey, Lk 13:22 and describes the purposeful ways a rich man lives his life.” [i] Poieo: “to make, to do” and is used of the bringing forth of fruit.” [ii]

Purposeful journey.

Everywhere Jesus went, He had a purpose. Telling parables along the way, Jesus revolutionized the world with His teachings on love, grace, and mercy. Jesus wasted no movements, doing everything with intentionality.

When I first became a tennis coach, one of my trainers told the class to “Make every motion count.” At first, I didn’t know what he meant. But as I’ve coached over the last seven years, I now understand. Whether the student’s tossing a ball, warming up for class, or playing a point, everything works towards improving their game.

Intentional movement.

Adopting an attitude of intentional movement in coaching means everything I teach has a purpose. When five-year-olds learn how to bounce a ball, they will progress to hitting it, then moving to hit it, etc. Every motion becomes coachable.

Walking with intention with Christ means understanding; every word you say, every action you take, matters to God and the Kingdom. Building people up instead of tearing them down results in Kingdom work. Every obstacle you overcome helps you become a better servant to the Master.  God wastes nothing, every motion matters.

Ask yourself this question:  Do people know you as an encourager or a discourager? You can cheer people on to victory or tear them down. The words you use and your actions make a difference in someone else’s life. Please don’t underestimate the power you have to spur someone on to great things or tear them down. 

God gave us a purpose: love Him and others entirely and unconditionally. Becoming intentional on your journey means making every moment matter. Move forward intentionally, taking every opportunity to share God’s love with those you meet.

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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. 207) Thomas Nelson

[ii] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 205) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 33:1-29 ESV, Luke 13:1-21 ESV, Psalm 78:65-72 ESV, Proverbs 12:25 ESV

Daily Verse: ^“No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5 ESV)

METANOEO (3340): “To think differently or afterward, i.e., reconsider.  Always, in the NT involving a change for the better, an amendment, and always except in Lk 17:3, 4 of ‘repentance’ from sin.”[i]

Make a U-turn

Repent means changing your mind.  Instead of believing one thing, now you think another.  One day you believe Christ didn’t die on the cross, then you believe He did.  Deciding to follow Jesus means you changed your mind.  Instead of making yourself the center of the world, Jesus becomes your core.

Every time I take a step of faith, I’m saying no to self, yes to God.  When I confess to my husband, “Honey, I’m over budget,” I do it because of God.  I consider the Big Guy my boss.  God’s guidelines on marriage haven’t changed: husbands, love like Jesus, wives submit to hubby.  When a man loves you like Jesus, you have no problem submitting.  Ron loves me like Jesus.  But I still have to say no to myself.

Control the choice.

Ron and I ride our bikes to church; two possible routes to the destination exist. We decided which way we would take on our first Sunday before we left.  When we crossed the road, I went right, Ron left.  Immediately, Ron realized he had gone the wrong way, so he turned around.  That’s all it takes to repent.  Stop, turn and go the other way.

When you place your faith in Jesus, you make a U-turn.  First, determine your direction, then decide if you like what you see.  I left being a Flight Attendant because I saw its toll on the body.  Looking at the senior Flight Attendants gave me insight into my future.  I didn’t like what I saw, so I left.  I made a decision and turned my life in a different direction. Now, looking back, I see God’s hand clearly, but I didn’t realize it.

Change your mind today.  Turn around and follow Jesus.  Let the worry go; give it to the Lord.  Rest in Him today.  In God, you can trust.

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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. 162) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 32:28-52 ESV, Luke 12:35-59 ESV, Psalm 78:56-64 ESV, Proverbs 12:24 ESV

Daily Verse: “But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.” (Luke 12:39 ESV)

KLEPTES (2812): “Metaphorically of ‘false teachers’ Figuratively of the personal coming of Christ, in a warning to a local church with most of its members possessed of mere outward profess and defiled by the world. There is no reference to the time of the coming, only to the manner of it.  The use of the present tense instead of the future emphasizes the certainty of the coming.  The unexpectedness of the coming of the thief, and the unpreparedness of those to whom He comes.”[i]

Thieves exist.

Wayward thoughts lead to wrong paths.  When we head down self-paved roads, we miss Jesus. 

Today’s verse refers to the second coming of Christ, the day of judgment we will all face; none of us knows when.  But missing Jesus today means not enjoying His peace that surpasses all understanding, His calm in the storm, His strength in weakness.  Thieves lead us away from Jesus.

False teachers, false thoughts.

Every single one of us has listened to and believed a false teacher.  In today’s world, deceptive leaders abound, and the internet helps them multiply.  Deciphering truth from lies seems impossible.  But with Jesus, all things become possible.

“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:37 ESV)

Apocalypse means to uncover, disclose, reveal in its original Greek form, meaning a cataclysmic event over time. [ii] Jesus reveals truth in our lives, His purpose on earth.  Applying Christ’s teaching to our lives reveals a truth we can see no other way.

When I stopped having premarital sex, I discovered a peace I’d never known before.  I learned quickly which men only had one thing in mind and which ones didn’t.  My broken heart healed from self-inflicted pain as I followed Jesus, one day at a time.  And eventually, God led me to Ron, the love of my life, a man worth the wait and the work.  Becoming healthy does take work; following Jesus will lead you to good health.

Don’t let the thieves in your life make you miss Jesus.  Make Christ the center of your life.  Let Him lead you to places you never thought you would go.  Enjoy life to the fullest following the Creator.

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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. 139) Thomas Nelson

[ii] https://dnews.com/opinion/his-view-apocalypse-now-lets-explore-its-true-meaning/article_becac39c-6de4-11ea-9044-832fa09381b6.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CApocalypse%E2%80%9D%20comes%20from%20Greek%2C,a%20cataclysmic%20event%E2%80%9D%20is%20modern.

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27 ESV, Luke 12:8-34 ESV, Psalm 78:32-55 ESV, Proverbs 12:21-23 ESV

Daily Verse: “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Luke 12:10 ESV) 

BLASPHEMEO (987): “This word means to use speech to bring down another’s value, honor, due-respect; to injure another’s reputation in the eyes of others.  Blaspheme, as a verb, means “to blaspheme, rail a rot revile.” Of those who speak contemptuously of God or of sacred things.”[i]

Bring down another’s value.

Blaspheming God means devaluing Him.  If you don’t believe God exists, you give Him no value.  In ways, we all value some parts of God and not others.

“You only do the parts of the Bible you believe.” Rick Warren

Whenever we choose to do the opposite of what we know God wants, we devalue Him.  When my brother caught me smoking, and I lied to him, I didn’t do what God wanted.  However, when I called and confessed the truth later, I did. My brother didn’t care whether I smoked or not, but he did care about my character, and so did God.

God forgives.

People will blaspheme the Holy Spirit, choosing to reject God.  But for those of us who place our trust in Jesus, nothing can separate us from God’s love.  Like my brother forgave me for lying, God forgives you when you’ve devalued Him.

Jesus came in the flesh so we could relate to Him.  God understands our sinful nature because He created us.  Instead of following our desires, Jesus shows us a different way, the path to victory.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)

Jesus gives us the gift of peace.  Through Him, life eternal begins.  Placing faith in Jesus means acknowledging something exists beyond the world we live in today.  Believing in the spiritual world challenges the logical mind, becoming faith in the unseen.

Explore the possibility God exists put His word into practice in your life.  Love Him and others; see how your world changes.

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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. 55) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20 ESV, Luke 11:37-12:7 ESV, Psalm 78:1-31 ESV, Proverbs 12:19-20 ESV

Daily Verse: “And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.” (Luke 11:46 ESV)

NOMIKOS (3544): “An adjective, ‘learned in the law.’ They devoted themselves mainly, but by no means exclusively, to the study of the law.  They became jurists rather than theologians and received names which of themselves called attention to that fact.”[I]

Became jurists.

Lawyers, during Biblical times, dedicated their lives to learning the Levitical law.  At first, the scribes studied the scriptures, but then they became primarily devoted to understanding the law, becoming “jurists rather than theologians,” as described above.  For whatever reason, the lawyers gravitated towards the law more than any other part of scripture.

Some personalities prefer a clear-cut path to take.  With 613 Levitical laws in the Old Testament, they covered much ground.  No one on earth can keep the Ten Commandments.  Only Jesus lived without sin.  Which means not becoming a jurist.

Become a theologian.

When I think of ‘lawyers’ in church, memories of broken relationships, deep hurts, and open wounds come to mind.  People who cared more about judging others than loving them.  If your theology centers around Jesus, you love first and foremost.  Jesus didn’t call us to judge; He called us to love.

“And one of the scribes…asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered…And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31 ESV)

Don’t become a lawyer, enforcing the Levitical law.  Become a theologian, follow Christ, fulfill the Greatest Commandment, love God and others.

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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. 172) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 28:1-68 ESV, Luke 11:14-36 ESV, Psalm 77:1-20 ESV, Proverbs 12:18 ESV

Daily Verse: “But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.” (Luke 11:17 ESV) 

DIANOEMA (1270): “From a compound of 1223 and 3539; something thought through, i.e., a sentiment. Used 1 time.”[I]

Thought through.

Found only once in the Bible, dianoema means the people thought through the predicament.  Since Jesus cast out demons, He must do it with the help of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.  Jesus knew their thoughts; He understood their thinking and responded accordingly.

“But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Luke 11:20 ESV)

Once again, we find the people blind to the workings of God.  We do the same thing.  God moves in our lives, but we can’t see it.  Instead, we question, trying to find another explanation besides the obvious one. 

Keep a kingdom perspective.

Thoughts determine actions, as well as who we follow.  Jesus knows our thoughts; it says so in today’s verse, even more so, how we conclude from our human perspective. Double-minded means we can’t choose a side, like the people couldn’t decide who gave Jesus’ authority to cast out demons; the devil seemed like the obvious answer.

However, the people didn’t have a kingdom perspective.  In other words, they looked for anything but God.  If we want to start seeing God’s work in our life, we must begin looking for God.

Often, we don’t know God’s plan until it unfolds entirely.  When they eliminated my position in 2018, it devastated me.  However, the abrupt change of direction led me back to school and a Masters’s degree, something not on my plan at all, nor writing daily devotionals.  God moved in my life, leading me on a new path, a better one for me.

When something happens today, instead of trying to figure it out on your own accord, look at it from a different vantage point.  Ask God what He’s doing during the situation.  Keep your thoughts focused on Jesus; you’ll quickly realize, He’s always at work in your life, one way or another.

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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. 66) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26 ESV, Luke 10:38-11:13 ESV, Psalm 76:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 12:15-17 ESV

Daily Verse: “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” (Luke 10:40 ESV)

PERISPAO (4049): “To drag all around, i.e., to distract (with care).  Literally means to draw around, to draw away, to distract and is used in the passive voice in the sense of being over occupied about a thing; cumbered.”[i]

Draw away.

Missing the moment happens because of distraction.  Something draws us away from the present to somewhere else.  Martha’s distraction made her miss Christ, so obsessed with her sister she couldn’t see Jesus.  Instead of helping Martha serve, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, soaking in His teaching.  Martha missed the moment because her thoughts drew her away from the present.

Distraction’s subtlety makes it hard to recognize.  Martha didn’t intentionally focus her thoughts on Mary instead of Jesus.  No, something got her going on the rabbit trail. Ideas like “look at her over there, not doing a thing,” lead to “she never helps,” which leads to “I think she does it on purpose,” and on and on.  Our mind captures us in a narrative we made up, not even close to reality.

Develop an anchor.

My husband will tell you; I can go down some dark rabbit trails with my thoughts.  I have created narratives in my mind and believed lies as truth in the past.  Breaking down those walls happens with Jesus, my anchor.

When we view the world through Jesus’ eyes, we see the humanity in all of us. Instead of demonizing people, Jesus changes our perspective, giving us one that recognizes hurting people hurt people. Everyone on earth struggles with pain and suffering; unseen hurt exists in us. 

Maybe, if Martha listened to Jesus’ teaching instead of focusing on Mary’s failing, she might have learned a thing or two.  Instead of letting her mind spiral out of control, she could have enjoyed time at the Master’s feet.  Jesus told her, Mary had made the better choice.

“But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-41 ESV)

Let go of your narrative today; choose the good portion instead.  Make Jesus your anchor.

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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. 199) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19 ESV, Luke 10:13-37 ESV, Psalm 75:1-10 ESV, Proverbs 12:12-14 ESV

Daily Verse: “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.” (Luke 10:19 ESV) 

PATEO (3961): “To trample. Used intransitively and figuratively, of ‘treading’ upon serpents, Lk. 10:19. Transitively, of ‘treading’ on, down or under.”[i]

Trampling power.

My friend sent me a powerful video[i]that depicted how the devil attacks by whispering lies in our ears. Produced by the church youth group, different scenarios displayed the youth dealing with debilitating thoughts whispered in their ears.  A young baseball player convinced of his worthlessness, a teenage girl battling thoughts of suicide, another dealing with crippling self-image and abandonment issues, all leading them down dark paths because of lies.

But then Jesus intervenes, dispelling the lies and exposing the truth. 

“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 8:37 ESV)

Truth tramples lies.

Jesus’ presence in our lives helps us see the truth.  Instead of listening to the devil’s lies, we stop them before they take root.  God gives us the power to control our thoughts; we can change how we think by giving them to God.

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV)

Don’t fall for the enemy’s lies.  Instead, submit every thought to Jesus.  When you do, Christ will expose the lies you believe.  God’s love for you never ends; victory comes through Christ.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39 ESV)

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[i]https://www.facebook.com/smbc.page.5/videos/532271667229260

[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 199) Thomas Nelson