Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 10 GW; Proverbs 3 GW; Psalms 37 GW

Evil people don’t last.

When someone is living an intentionally evil life, it won’t last for long.  That type of lifestyle doesn’t promote longevity.  Rock bottom comes sooner than later when you’re on the wrong path.  But from your perspective, they may appear to have a charmed life.

Why do people get away with it? That’s a common question I receive.  Someone has hurt them, and while they’re suffering, the other person is thriving.  In my own life, I have people who have hurt me yet are oblivious to my pain.  More than likely, I’ve hurt someone in ways that I’m unaware.  Each of us is the villain in someone’s story.

In essence, you envy the person who hurt you because they don’t appear broken.  You’re isolated in your pain because they don’t share it with you.  But you don’t know what another person is going through.  Unless you’re walking in their shoes, you don’t see the pain they are carrying.  Don’t envy people; pray for them.

God overcomes evil.

Prayer is the antidote to envy AND evil.  Both of them need Godly transformation.  When we envy anyone, we’re telling God, what we have isn’t enough.  Instead of appreciating what is before us, we envy what isn’t.  Andy Stanley taught me this phrase years ago, “Must be nice.”  In a message he gave on the topic of envy, those three words are an indicator.  If you find yourself saying, “Must be nice” about someone or situation, it indicates you’re envious.  Envy wastes your time and diverts your attention from the present.

God will take care of the evil.  Trust Him for justice.  He knows the rest of the story; you only see a part of it.

Don’t waste time envying others.  Live in the moment.  Trust God to take care of the rest.

Lord, thank You for giving us another day.  How grateful we are for the air we breathe.  Forgive us, Lord, for not living in the present.  Forgive us for envying others instead of enjoying what we have.  Help us remember,  looks are deceiving.  We only know in part, You know in whole.  Remove the envy from our hearts, fill them instead with love and mercy.  To You goes the glory.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Have you said, “Must be nice” lately?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 5-9 GW; Proverbs 1-2 GW

Respect God’s authority, learn God’s ways. 

Proverbs is considered one of the wisdom books.  Written by Solomon, a man who gained his knowledge from God, it is full of practical advice.  The wisest thing you can do is respect God’s role in your life.  The fear Solomon is talking about isn’t that of a tyrant.  Instead, healthy fear is awe and respect for your Creator, which leads to obedience.  Recognizing, like Solomon did, that God is the wisest means, we know where to go for knowledge.  We gain God’s wisdom by being obedient.

Fools, on the other hand, refuse to obey.  Instead, they dig in their heels, letting stubbornness keep them from learning.  If they refuse to submit to God’s authority, they’ll never understand.  God isn’t someone to play games with in life; the Creator knows every thought and action we do.  You can’t hide from the Creator.  God gives us free will to live our lives however we want.  He also lets us suffer the consequences of the decisions we make.  Stupid is as stupid does.

Fear motivates obedience.

When trouble comes, people pray.  One study found three-in-ten adults in America say the pandemic of 2020 strengthened their faith.  Facing situations we can’t control causes us to turn to the one who is in control. 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2 NIV)

Prayer is a conversation with God that transforms our hearts and minds.  As our hearts align with God’s, we gain His wisdom.  We’ll begin to understand; obedience is key to growth.  Fear of the Lord is the first step to gaining His knowledge.

Lord, we are in awe of You.  Your ways amaze us; the air we breathe is because of You.  Forgive us for our stubbornness.   Lord, protect us from ourselves.  Remove our strongholds from us; let us follow You in complete obedience.  Give us Your wisdom, Your knowledge, Your heart.  Life isn’t about us; it’s about You.  With You, we have all we need.  Without You, we are stubborn fools.  All glory is Yours.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What are of your life are you being stubborn?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 4 GW; John 21 GW

God’s work is personal.

One of my favorite pastimes is listening to people talk about God.  Everyone is a theologist; your belief about God is your theology.  Because we are like snowflakes, no two alike, we all have different perspectives on God.  What is important is how you relate to God and His interaction with you.  Our problem isn’t God working in our lives; we forget the work He has already done.

Moses is speaking to the Israelites in today’s scripture.  He’s once again reminding the Israelites of all God did for them in the past.  Moses must constantly remind his flock that God is working daily in their lives.  Our memories grow shorter with each new technological advance.  Our phones serve as an external brain.  We rely on the palm-sized computer to remember everything for us, meaning if we don’t write it down, we forget.

Short pencils beat long memories.

Write down your God moments.  Find someplace where you can record when God answers your prayers.  I have a “Prayer Board” that I post my continuing prayers.  When God moves, I store them in a basket.  Now and then, I read back through them.  Since Moses isn’t here to remind me, I have to remind myself.

We all need reminders of what God has done for us.  When today’s pressures close in on us, we quickly forget the times God has provided in the past.  Remembering what God did helps you have faith in what God will do.  In effect, we remind ourselves of this fact: God is with us.  God was present in the last disaster; He’s in this one too.

Write down five things God has done for you in the past.  Post the list somewhere you will see it often.  Remind yourself daily; God did it before. He’ll do it again.

Lord, You are the God of provision.  No matter what the situation, You have an answer.  Forgive us for forgetting so quickly how you have provided for us in the past.  Today, remind us of your sovereignty in our lives.  Whatever we face today, help us have faith. You are already at work.  In You, we have all we need.  You did it for us before, Lord; please do it again today.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What are five things God has done for you in the past?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 3 GW; Psalms 133 GW; John 20 GW

Harmonious life, pleasant life.

Creating harmony in your relationships is up to you.  Learning how to navigate healthy relationships takes time and effort.  Following Jesus helps in the quest for unity with others.  God’s recipe for living peacefully with others includes these ingredients:

• Pray for one another (James 5:16 GW)
• Love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12 GW)
• Serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13 GW)
• Esteem others higher than yourself (Phil. 2:3 GW)
• Husbands love your wife like Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25 GW)
• Wives respect your husband (quickly done if he loves you like Christ) (Ephesians 5:33)
• Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7:12 GW)

All of these ingredients have one thing in common, others before self.  In each of these instances, God asks us to stop thinking about ourselves; instead, think of those around us.  Following Christ helps us find the proper focus.

Look at Jesus

Living a pleasant life has nothing to do with creature comforts.   Co-habitating peacefully with the people in your life brings joy.  We interact with people all day long.  From sun-up to sun-down, our relationships with family, friends, and co-workers impact our day.  If a relationship is in turmoil, life isn’t pleasant.  Where we place our focus is critical:

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed.  If you look within, you’ll be depressed.  But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.”  Rick Warren

Jesus brings rest to our weary souls.  Through Him, we live in harmony with our brothers and sisters.  Follow His commands, find peace.  Harmonious relationships have Christ at the center of them.

Praise You, God, for Your glorious ways.  Forgive us for our lack of obedience.  Help us today put into practice what You have commanded.  Today, let us pray for one another, bringing You into our relationships.  When we have an opportunity to serve someone, let us take it.  As Christ put us before His needs, let us do the same with others.  Let the golden rule lead our day as we do unto others as we would have done unto us.  With You, Lord, we can find harmony in our relationships.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What relationship do you need to pray for today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 2 GW; John 19 GW; Psalms 22 GW

God’s silence causes us to believe our lies.

Think about the last time you sat in silence.  No T.V. playing, no radio, complete silence, what happens to you?  When nothing is distracting us, we create space to think.  Thoughts have the power to mislead us down rabbit trails.  When we don’t think God is listening to us, the places our mind goes typically isn’t good.  We have to learn to ground ourselves in reality instead of getting lost in our heads.

Just because you may feel alone doesn’t mean you are alone.  Everyone you know and love is with you, even if not physically present. Spiritual connection exists outside the physical existence.  I’ve learned, even those who have gone to heaven are still part of my life.  Everywhere I go, I carry them with me.  God doesn’t abandon us; He is always with us.  

Wherever you are, so is God.

On my first business trip to New York City years ago, I felt abandoned.  For some reason, I couldn’t imagine God in NYC.  I’ll never forget standing in the aisle of the airplane, waiting to deplane.  My cell phone rang, the caller I.D. showed, “Frank Shirley,” the church’s assistant pastor.  He knew my angst at traveling.  When I answered, I’ll never forget his words. 

“Beth, I just wanted to call and remind you, God is in New York too.”  

God is wherever you are.  Don’t let silence make you believe a lie.  God will never abandon you.  Connection exists through Jesus.

Praise Jesus; You are with us.  Wherever we are, so are You.  Forgive us for believing the lies our minds tell us.  In all things, let us see the truth.  Remind us when we’re feeling alone that we aren’t.  Just because people are living their lives doesn’t mean they’ve abandoned us.  Today Lord, remind us of how loved we are.  How You will never leave us, You are always with us.  All glory is Yours.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

How have you felt abandoned lately?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading:  Deuteronomy 1 GW; John 18 GW

Fear stops us from receiving.

Today’s scripture is Moses speaking to the Israelites.  He’s reminding them of past events.  Moses sent 12 representatives into the promised land; all had the same report:

“The land that the Lord our God is giving us is good.” (Deuteronomy 1:25 GW)

Do you know what the Israelites did?  They sat in their tents and refused to go (Deut. 1:26-28 GW).  God is giving them a gift; their fear stops them from receiving it.  Why?:

“You didn’t trust the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 1:32 GW)

Lack of trust creates fear.  Because the Israelites didn’t trust God, even after all they’d been through, they were fearful.  Moving into an unknown situation is difficult for anyone, not just the Israelites.  Age doesn’t help.  Unexpected hurts cause us to mistrust even more.  After you experience a few flat tires in life, traveling becomes less attractive.

To possess the promised land, the Israelites had to overcome their fear.  For us to live our lives to the fullest, we must do the same thing.

Trust trumps fear.

God is trustworthy.  Life is ever-changing.  None of us knows what the day will bring.  But God is unchanging.  Our earth-shattering moments in life don’t shatter God.  

“I am the A and the Z, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13 GW)

God is present from beginning to end.  Our idea of time and God’s definition are different.  In our humanness, we can’t understand God’s timetable, but we can trust it.  Faith steps are trust steps.  God is leading you to your promised land.  But first, you have to trust Him, allowing your faith in Him to overcome any fear you have.

Today is the day.  Take possession of the promised land God is offering.  Place your trust in Him.  Let Him lead you where He wants you to go.

Thank You, God, for Your navigation!  Lord, forgive us for fearing where You might lead us.  Give us today an extra measure of faith to place our trust in You.  As we move forward through this day, let us do so boldly and confidently.  Don’t let fear stop us from grasping the life you intend for us.  Let us start today living our life to the fullest in You.  Praise You, Lord, for Your guidance.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

How is fear stopping you from moving forward today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Numbers 35-36 GW; John 17 GW

Jesus finished well.

No one can argue, Jesus was obedient to His mission.  Dying a torturous death on the cross to prove God’s love for us, that’s a good finish.  Jesus overcoming death started the next chapter of life for us.  Eternity is available because of what Jesus did.  Through Him, we grasp the extent of our Creator’s love for us, without Him, death; with Him, life.  Thank God Jesus didn’t quit. 

Jesus knew the importance of working out His notice.  Transitions are a part of life.  Moving forward in life means ending one chapter before beginning another.  Like Jesus, we need to finish well.  When we leave this earth, we’ll leave loved ones behind.  We want them to join us in heaven.  The life we live here could determine whether or not meeting again happens.

Lead like Jesus.

Jesus ended well so that we could do the same.  God’s purpose for Jesus was to connect us with Him.  Love is the connection Jesus modeled for us.  While on earth, He loved His heavenly Father, as well as His earthly flock.   Jesus showed genuine fondness for everyone He met.  His emotions show the depth of His caring.  He wept with those who wept, rejoiced with those who rejoiced.  In all things, Jesus loved.

No one knows how long God will give them on this earth.  Today is your opportunity to love like Jesus.  Every day God gives you, become more like Jesus.  Loving like Jesus will draw people to you and your heavenly Father.  When You finish well on this earth, you’re loved ones will follow.

Whatever chapter you’re finishing in life, finish well.  Do the next right thing, one step at a time.  Practice loving like Jesus.  You’re guaranteed to end well.

Jesus, how grateful we are You finished well.  Forgive us the times in our life that we haven’t ended well because we haven’t loved.  Help us today to love like You.  Whoever we meet, show us how we can extend Your love to them.  Whether kind word or deed, let our actions encourage and uplift all we meet.  Our hope is in You.  Because You finished well, we can too.  All things are made new in You.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What do you need to finish well?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Numbers 34 GW; John 16 GW

Questioning is part of faith.

Jesus’s disciples didn’t understand Him.  While Jesus was on earth, they were with Him. Guys who listened to His teachings firsthand didn’t get it.  At the time, comprehending Jesus’s death and resurrection was incomprehensible.  Jesus wasn’t angry that they questioned. He understood it.  If Jesus didn’t get mad at them, why would He get mad at us?

Only through questioning can we find understanding.  When you look back over the history of the church, people wondering about faith wasn’t encouraged.  But that just doesn’t work. The days of belief without investigation no longer exist.   We all have questions.  To move forward in our relationship with Jesus, we must ask what we don’t know.

Answers aren’t immediate.

Jesus tried to explain to the disciples what He meant when He said, “In a little while, they wouldn’t see Him.” The answer brought more questions:

“I can guarantee this truth: You will cry because you are sad, but the world will be happy. You will feel pain, but your pain will turn to happiness.” (John 16:20 GW)  

Jesus knew the only way the disciples would genuinely understand was in time.  After they experienced what was to come, then they would find the answer.

Question Jesus.  Ask Him directly in prayer about the things that don’t make sense to you.  Talk to those who profess to follow Him.  Don’t fear the conversation; embrace it. When we begin to ask questions, we’re heading in the right direction.  Seeking requires questioning.  And Jesus will answer, maybe not today or tomorrow, perhaps not in this lifetime, but eventually, you’ll know.

Life with Jesus is eternal.  Death is only a relocation.  Answers will come at the appropriate time.

Jesus, You rock! Thank You for paving the way for us to understand God’s unconditional love for us.  Thank You for encouraging our questions.  Forgive us for not asking whatever about what we don’t understand.  Help us to become bold in our questioning.  Let us come to You with confidence, knowing You will answer our questions.  As we wait for the response, let us do so with grace and love.  With each question, let our relationship become more intimate with You.  In all things, You get the glory.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What question do you have for Jesus today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Numbers 33 GW; John 15 GW

Pruning causes growth.

No one likes getting their branches clipped.  We want to hold on to those that have lost life.  But we must prune the dead limbs away to make room for new growth.  When the pruning is relationships, the pain is tangible.  But unhealthy relationships need trimming for healthy relationships to thrive.

When a relationship drains you, instead of building you up, it’s a sign of an unhealthy relationship.  When the other person is all take and no give, that’s not good.  If you can’t trust them, their unreliable and selfish, the relationship needs trimming.

The beauty of pruning, once cut, new growth begins.  Energy that the dead limbs used now can go into producing healthy fresh fruit.  Without death, we can’t have life.

Jesus modeled healthy relationships.

Jesus didn’t enable people.  God’s Son let people suffer the consequences of their own choices.  Our Savior knows He can’t save those who don’t want saving.  In Mark 10:17-27 NASB, the rich young ruler came to Jesus with a question. What must he do to receive eternal life?  Jesus told the prince to sell everything He had and give to the poor.  The ruler walked away sad; he didn’t want to sell his stuff.  Jesus let him go.

Sometimes, we have to let people walk away.  The saying, “You don’t know what you had until it’s gone,” is correct.   God prunes unhealthy relationships from our life when we follow Him.  Practicing His teachings will change how you interact with people.  Over time, you’ll begin to realize which relationships give you energy and which ones take it away.  

Let Jesus prune you.  Pray about your relationships.  Identify which ones to keep, which ones to let go.  Watch as you begin to produce healthier fruit in all of your relationships.

Dear Lord, how grateful we are You’re the Master Gardener.  Forgive us for not allowing You to prune us.  Help us let go of the unhealthy relationships in our lives.  Let new growth come from the new space created in our lives.  As we follow Jesus today, help us make wise decisions.  Let our branches produce good fruit, no matter what the task.  In all things, let us put You first today.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What unhealthy relationship does Jesus want to prune in your life?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Numbers 32 GW; John 14 GW

Accept God exists.

Belief is “a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing.”  Believing in God means having confidence in His existence.  

Alcohol is a physical addiction that ruins people’s lives. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a successful 12-step program to help people overcome disease.  Step one of Alcoholics Anonymous is admitting you have no control over alcohol.  Step Two is Find a Power Greater Than Yourself. Why, after realizing you need help, is belief second?

“This step gives you hope. You are not alone, and something higher than you can help you conquer your addiction and despair.” (Recovery.Org)

When we’re in trouble, we need help.  Jesus offers us the assistance that will lead to victory.  Believing in Jesus’s existence means you’re not alone.  A Power greater than you exists.  In Him, you can find peace, no matter what the storm.  But first, you have to believe.

You will have trouble.

One of my favorite characteristics of Jesus is His honesty.  In His earthly ministry, Jesus told the truth.  He didn’t pull punches.  John records Jesus’s words:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

Trouble isn’t something you can avoid; it’s a part of life.  Whatever crisis you’re facing, Jesus does have an answer.  In Him, you can find peace.  To receive Jesus’s calm, you must seek Him.  He’s waiting, arms wide open.  

Jesus is a gentleman; He doesn’t force His presence on you if you don’t want it.  To have, you must seek.

Lord, how thankful we are You exist.  You are our Higher Power.  Forgive us for not plugging into You more.  Help us believe today, Lord.  As prayers are lifted to You, answer them in a way, we’ll know You are real.  We ask for Your Presence in our lives, today and always.  With You, we can find the peace we crave; without You, we have none.  As we find Your peace in our own lives, help us spread it to those around us.  Together, we can overcome any obstacle.  In You, we find our strength.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What is holding you back from believing in God?