Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 32:13-34:31 ESV, Matthew 11:7-30 ESV, Psalm 14:1-7 ESV, Proverbs 3:19-20 ESV

Daily Verse: “This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ (Matthew 11:10 ESV)

ANGELOS (32): “A messenger sent by God or; by man or by Satan. The word most frequently refers to an order of created beings. Angels are spirits, not having material bodies as men are either human in form, or can assume the human form when necessary.: [i]

God sends messengers.

Jesus refers to John as a messenger. The original Greek word means “a messenger sent by God or by man or by Satan.” Most often referring to spirits, in this instance, John fulfills the role of God’s messenger, preparing the way for Jesus. 

Pastors are God’s messengers. People of God who study His word, then teach it to others share the good news of Jesus. In some way or another, we are all a messenger for God. We can talk about what Jesus does for us. Telling others about the life transformation which happens when we follow Jesus shares His message, drawing others to Him.

Tell your story.

I met Jesus in Sunday school. Gert Guthrie was my teacher. Sitting at the table in the basement of Tidal Presbyterian church, I remember the felt figures sticking to the board as she shared stories from the Bible with us. Meeting Jesus at a young age helped me develop a Biblical worldview. As I grew into adulthood and began facing life’s challenges, I viewed everything from the lens of scriptures taught to me long ago.

As years slipped by and I placed more and more faith in Jesus, my relationship with Him grew, continuing to grow today. Now I write devotionals to share my story and how Jesus works in my life. The more time I spend getting to know the Savior, the more I want to share His message with the world.

Become a messenger today. Tell people how Jesus transformed your life. Introduce others to the One who will change their lives in ways they never imagined.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (p. 2) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 31:17-32:12 ESV, Matthew 10:24-11:6 ESV, Psalm 13:1-6 ESV, Proverbs 3:16-18 ESV

 Daily Verse: “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.” (Matthew 10:24 ESV)

MATHETES (3101): “A learner (from manthano, “to learn,” indicating thought accompanied by an endeavor). Of all who manifest that they are His “disciples” by abiding in His Word. A “disciple” was not only a pupil but an adherent; hence, they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher.”[i]

                            Imitate the Teacher.

Becoming a disciple means imitating the teacher. Doing what others do helps us learn and grow.

On vacation in Florida, I watched a father teach his son to fish with a net. Dad carefully spread the small, round meshwork on the boards of the dock. Then, picking the net up quickly, he spun it into the water. The circular web landed on top of the water with grace, sinking beneath the surface. After several demonstrations, the son did his best to imitate his father. The young boy’s first attempts failed, obviously a skill that needs practice.   But the more the lad tried, the better he did.

Keep practicing.

Loving people like Jesus requires practice. For some, forgiving others comes more naturally than it does for others. Letting go of past offenses challenges me, but the more I follow Jesus, the better I become at forgiving. As I grow in Christ, I recognize, unforgiveness hurts me more than anyone else. When we refuse to forgive others, we create negative thoughts in our minds, which keep us from living life to the fullest.

But if we imitate Christ, who forgave us our sins, we must forgive others. One prayer I pray, “Lord, help me see them through Your eyes.” Lifting those words to God helps me get out of my perspective and into God’s. Jesus died for everyone, His gesture of love for a sinful world.

Our relationship with Jesus starts with forgiveness. Laying our sins at His feet, Jesus answers with grace. Imitating Christ means leading with love. 

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (p. 155) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 30:1-31:16 ESV, Matthew 10:1-23 ESV, Psalm 12:1-8 ESV, Proverbs 3:13-15 ESV

Daily Verse: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.” (Matthew 10:8 ESV)

THERAPEUO (2323): “To wait upon menially, i.e. (fig.) to adore (God), or (spec.) to relieve (of disease):-cure (5x), heal (38x), worship (1x). To care for the sick, to treat, cure, heal.”[i]

Become a healer.

No medical bill comes with Jesus’ healing. When He hung on the Cross, Jesus paid it in full. Matthew records the mission statement for the disciples. Jesus sends them out into the world to share the good news through action and deed. God gave them the power to accomplish their task freely; they shared it with others the same way.

Part of healing means to “wait upon menially.” Serving others heals them. Sharing our stories with family and friends helps them learn and grow. As followers of Christ, part of our task when loving others, helping them to heal. Healing happens when we open our lives up to each other.

Share the struggle.

Loving hurting people means walking with them on the journey. Helping them when we can, listening to their heartache, sometimes, just sitting silently with them, letting them know they aren’t alone. Look for ways to connect with those in pain. Meet them in the pit. Ask God for ways you can minister to them. 

When my sister was dying from cancer, she had a small appetite. Canned peaches were the only thing she found tasty. Her husband bought a case of them; it was one thing he could do for her. Finding ways to connect with people means tuning into their actions and word. Pay attention to them; do it when you discover a way to serve them. Acts of love heal in ways nothing else can.

Become a healer today. Tap into the power of Jesus. Follow God’s leading to minister to those around you. When the Holy Spirit prompts you into action, do it.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (p. 115) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 28:1-29:35 ESV, Matthew 9:18-38 ESV, Psalm 11:1-7 ESV, Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV

Daily Verse: “…for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” (Matthew 9:21 ESV)

SOZO (4982): “To save,” i.e., deliver or protect of material and temporal deliverance, from danger, suffering, etc., from sickness. Of the spiritual and eternal salvation granted immediately by Go to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”[i]

Wellness comes from Jesus.

Most and foremost, Jesus offers salvation from our sins. The moment we confess our mess, Jesus forgives. Instantaneously, we are new creatures in Christ. Cleansed white as snow from our past, granted a future full of hope for better things. Instead of staying stuck in poor decisions from the past, we can let them go. Learning from them as we follow Jesus on the path, He has for us.

“Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” (Matthew 9:22 ESV)

Faith heals. The bleeding women’s trust in Jesus healed her suffering of the physical ailment. Sometimes, it doesn’t happen when we’re praying for miraculous healing. Faith gives us hope; even though we didn’t get the answer we wanted; God has our best interest at heart. 

Faith, not Fear.

No matter our physical circumstances, we must have faith, God’s at work. God doesn’t tell us the whole story; we can only see in part. When anxiety and fear begin to overtake us, pray ‘Faith, not Fear.” Reach out for Jesus, touch His robe, trust, He will heal you. Believe in the Healer for ultimate healing.

When my nephew died at 20 years old from Type 1 diabetes, I questioned God. Why didn’t God heal him here on earth? Friends asked me how I reconciled his death with my faith. God’s answer to my prayer wasn’t what I wanted, but I realized, He did heal Cody. Wholly and completely, Cody received a new body when he entered heaven. No longer would he have to worry about blood sugar levels and insulin shots. Healing came with a move to the heavenly realm. One day, God will reunite us in what will only seem like the blink of an eye.

Faith does heal, one way or the other. God doesn’t always answer the way we want, but He does answer. In Him, we can find peace; without Him, we can’t.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (p. 245) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 26:17-27:46 ESV, Matthew 9:1-17 ESV, Psalm 10:16-18 ESV, Proverbs 3:9-10 ESV

Daily Verse: “As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.” (Matthew 9:9 ESV)

AKOLOUTHEO (190): “To be in the same way with, i.e., to accompany. Frequently in the literal sense (Mt. 4:25), metaphorically, of “discipleship” (Mk. 8:34, 9:38, 10:21). It is used 77 times in the Gospels, of “following” Christ and only once otherwise (Mk 14:13). [i]

Rise and follow.

Walking with Jesus means accompanying Him in the direction He’s going. The Gospels authors use the word seventy-seven times, telling us to “follow Jesus.” Since Jesus walked everywhere, we can’t use the excuse He’s going too fast. The problem we all have, we don’t want to travel in the same direction as our Savior.

Jesus leads with grace. First and foremost, God loves and forgives, no matter the sin. I don’t always want to lead with grace; I’m sure you don’t either. Forgiving doesn’t seem possible when we suffer because of someone else’s actions.   The only way we can forgive, follow Jesus. 

Walk this way.

Accompanying God’s Son means doing what He did. When faced with betrayal, Jesus forgave. Hanging on the Cross, barely breathing, His words tell the story:

“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34 ESV)

When I quit my job as District Manager, it wasn’t in my plans. Facing company changes that compromised my principles, I had a choice to make. With respect, I gave my two weeks’ notice. Walking down the headquarters’ sidewalk, overcome with hurt, I remembered Jesus’s words, “Forgive them; they know not what they do.” Peace began to settle over me as I walked Jesus’ way.

Follow Jesus daily by connecting with Him through the Gospels. Get to know God in the flesh as you read about His travels. Journeying with Jesus will take you to unexpected places. Experiencing God’s presence in your life as you actively pursue Him will change you. The closer you follow, the more you will experience.

Get close to Jesus today. Follow Him wherever He wants to take you. One step at a time, live life to the fullest following Jesus.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (p. 12) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 24:52-26:16 ESV, Matthew 8:18-34 ESV, Psalm 10:1-15 ESV, Proverbs 3:7-8 ESV

Daily Verse: “And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” (Matthew 8:26 ESV) 

OLIGOPISTOS (3640): “Literally, this word means little of faith and is used only by the Lord as a tender rebuke for anxiety (Mt, 6:30, Lk 12:28; or for fear (Mt. 8:26, 14:31, 16:8).”[I]

Jesus rebukes tenderly.

Storm raging, waves slapping, wind howling, the familiar scene of Jesus napping amid chaos, a well-known Bible story, preached often. When the disciples waken the Lord, He rebuked them gently. Why were they fearful when Jesus was with them? In the flesh, on the boat, Jesus was present, yet they feared.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)

God asks us to believe what we can’t see, assured of Jesus’ presence always. The disciples believed in Jesus because they witnessed the miracles He performed. When turbulence happened, they panicked.   Even with Jesus physically present, their faith wavered. The next time you doubt, give yourself grace, even the disciples questioned.

Give Jesus your anxiety.

When panicked, the disciples knew what to do, wake Jesus. “Pray, not Panic,” a prayer in my book, “Three Word Prayers for Everyday Living,” are the words I use to wake Jesus up in my life. 

Teaching the last class of kid’s tennis of the year, we combined the beginner and intermediate classes for games. In the beginning, chaos ensued. Having just published the book, my assistant asked me what we should pray. My mind went blank; I couldn’t think of a single prayer, then “Pray, not Panic” came to mind, followed quickly by, “Lord, help us.” Within minutes, the class quieted down; all had fun.

Faith means knowing where to turn when life nosedives. Jesus’ presence always remains close:

“For he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 ESV)

Jesus travels with you, whatever the mode of transportation. Just like He was in the boat with the disciples, Jesus journeys with you. If the storm’s raging around you, wake up Jesus. Remember, He has the power to calm the storm or else give you strength to survive it. But if you don’t tap into God’s strength, you won’t access His power.

Choose faith. Pray, not panic. Find God’s calm.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (p. 177) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 23:1-24:51 ESV, Matthew 8:1-17 ESV, Psalm 9:13-20 ESV, Proverbs 3:1-6 ESV

 Daily Verse: “And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” (Matthew 8:2 ESV)

KATHARIZO (2511): “Make clean, to cleanse physical stains and dirt. In a moral sense, from the defilement of sin.” [i]

Jesus cleanses

My husband has put spot cleaner in my stocking at Christmas for the past two years. Last year, I received Shout wipes and an Oxy Clean spot pen. Added to the collection this year, a wine spot cleaning pen. Inevitably, if I drink a glass of wine, red my favorite, I manage to spill it on my shirt. My ability to miss my mouth has become a joke between us. I can erase the spot as if it never existed with a simple application.

Jesus does the same for us. When we present our “spots” to Him, He cleanses us. Erasing our sins, we’re made white as snow. In the leper’s case, a societal outcast, Jesus healed him of a physical ailment. Today, medical intervention can heal leprosy, but during Jesus’ day, it was uncurable, causing the person permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs, and eye.

Become clean with Jesus.

“And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”(Matthew 8:3 ESV)

Jesus’s healing comes in many ways. Like the spot pen removes my mishaps, Jesus cleanses our blemishes. Placing our faith in Jesus means believing He can rescue us from our troubles. When the leper approached Jesus, he already believed, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Without faith, healing can’t occur.

Whatever mess you need Jesus to clean for you today, approach Him with faith. Know, God’s Son has the answer you need. When we give the Lord our sins, He washes them away.

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18 ESV)

Become white as snow; let Jesus clean your crimson stains. No blemish can withstand God’s grace and mercy. All things are new when we place our faith in Jesus.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The NewStrong’ss expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (p. 124) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 20:1-22:24 ESV, Matthew 7:15-29 ESV, Psalm 9:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 2:16-22 ESV

 Daily Verse: “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:16 ESV)

TRIBOLOS: “A crowed foot (three-pronged obstruction in war), i.e., by a thorny plant. Thistle is the plant which produces briers.”[i]

Fruit reveals truth.

What kind of fruit you produce tells who you are following. Thistles grow briers, prickly plants creating spiked fruit that causes pain. 

Some people are mean. My husband and I listened to “The Inn” by James Patterson and Candice Fox on a recent road trip. The criminal in the story thought the opposite of the heroes. He saw misery as pleasurable, loving to cause as much of it as possible. Being kind to another human being never entered his mind—a thistle producing briers intentionally.

Create a legacy.

Have you ever thought about how you want people to remember you when you’re gone? With a mortality rate of 100%, none of us will avoid the inevitable. But we can decide how we want people to think about us when we’re gone. 

If we want people to know us by the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, then we need to follow Jesus (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV). Only by giving Him our life can we begin to produce good fruit. When we do, people will know us by our crops.

Each morning, you get to choose what kind of fruit you produce. Act prickly; you’ll make prickles. Upheaval, distrust, and conflict will become your calling card. But if you choose Jesus, obeying His command to love God, love others, people will know you by your love.

God loves you; He wants you to love others. The fruit God wants you to produce can only happen when we follow Jesus. God’s Spirit within us will guide us through our days. When we are unsure of our direction, the Spirit prompts us which way to go. We don’t need to know the whole story, just the next step in our journey.

Decide the type of fruit you want to produce. Choose Jesus today. When faced with a difficult situation, ask God what you should do. Follow the promptings of God’s Spirit as you maneuver through your day.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (p. 253) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 18:16-19:38 ESV, Matthew 6:25-7:14 ESV, Psalm 8:1-9 ESV, Proverbs 2:6-15 ESV

 Daily Verse: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV)

DIKAIOSUNE (1343): “character or quality of being right or just. The sum total of the requirements of God (Matt. 6:33). Whereby all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are brought into right relationship with God.”[i]

Jesus creates right relationships.

Righteousness, a word often heard in church language, comes through Jesus. Placing faith in God’s Son means submitting your life to Him. 

Simply saying, “My way ain’t working, God. I’m going to try your way,” begins a journey you will never regret. 

Pursuing the life of Jesus means getting to know Him through Scripture. Learn how Jesus handled life’s difficult situations. Imitate what the Master did the best you can. Don’t expect perfection from yourself. Give yourself grace, knowing God’s already forgiven you.

Grace, not grief.

Instead of forgiving myself, I give myself grief. Judging myself as an idiot because of whatever flub I’ve done, natural. Thinking negatively about ourselves, something we all do. But God doesn’t. When we take our foibles to God, He forgives us completely. We’re the ones who struggle to let ourselves off the hook.

Becoming right with God means accepting our imperfections, laying them at the foot of the Cross. God takes what we perceive as weaknesses and turns them into strengths, making us righteous.

Sharing my struggle to forgive myself with my Pastor, he made an excellent point. When we confess our sins to others, we create an opportunity to connect. Since all of us struggle to forgive ourselves somehow, we can relate to the battle. We give others freedom to do the same by talking about our skirmishes. Vulnerability breeds vulnerability.

Become right with God today; believe in Jesus. Then get to know Jesus through the scriptures. Imitate the Son, embrace His righteousness.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. (p. 69) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 16:1-18:15 ESV, Matthew 6:1-24 ESV, Psalm 7:1-17 ESV, Proverbs 2:1-5 ESV

Daily Verse: “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9 ESV)

HAGIAZO (37): “to make holy” (from hagios, “holy”), signifies to set apart for God, to sanctify, to make a person or thing the opposite of koinos, “common”; it is translated “Hallowed,” with reference to the name of God the Father in the Lord’s Prayer, Matt. 6:9; Luke 11:2.[i]

God deserves honor.

Raised in the church, I’ve never known life without God. Sunday services, community activities at the church, Bible studies are familiar to me. Taking God for granted or treating Him as less than ordinary, possible in the routine of life. Becoming busy with “church activities” doesn’t make us holier or mean we’re honoring God. When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He started by recognizing God’s power and sovereignty.

My pastor gave his first message to his youth group when he was 16. Now in his late 60’s, he’s persevered through more difficulties than anyone I know, including the murder of his son. Through life’s trials, his reverence for God hasn’t changed.

Revel in God.

“God is God. He can do whatever He wants to do,” says my pastor often. Honoring God means accepting His will for your life. “Hallowed be your name” sets God apart, denoting His sovereignty over life. Without God, we can do nothing. With God, we can do everything.

Seventeen missionaries became victims of kidnappers in Haiti in October of 2021.[ii]  Using Gideon’s fleece (Judges 6:36-40 ESV) as an example, the group prayed for specific signs to know when they should try their escape. If God didn’t provide the signal, they didn’t go. Finally, early in December, God answered their prayers. Sensing God’s leading, they found a way to open the blocked door, escaping and following the chosen path through thorns and briars, in complete silence, to reach safety. God led them to safety but honoring Him required waiting.

God is God. Honor Him today. When you spend time with your Maker today, revel in who God is. Our heavenly Father deserves our highest accolades.   Recognize God’s holiness as you include Him in your day.

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[i] Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Word Study) (p. 2991). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

[ii] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59736726