Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 7:1-8:40 ESV, Acts 27:1-20 ESV, Psalm 7:1-17 ESV, Proverbs 18:22 ESV

Daily Verse: “And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.” (Acts 27:2 ESV)

EPIBAINO (1910): “from 1909 and the base of 939; to walk upon, i.e., mount, ascend, embark, arrive: as a verb means “sitting upon.”[i]

Walk upon.

Life’s journey requires moving forward and walking upon God’s path for you.  Created to love God and others, we all have a particular purpose.  The people God surrounds you with represent those He wants you to love, even the mean, nasty ones.  Loving happens in many ways, sometimes from afar, sometimes up close and personal.

Paul walked upon a ship to continue his missionary journey.  Sometimes, God calls us to walk across the room to begin ours.  Because of his love for people, Paul endured hardship to share the good news of Christ.  Laying aside his pride, Paul humbled himself for the sake of others, just like Jesus.

Keep moving.

Often, we get stuck on the journey.  A moment happens in our life, changing it forever, leading us on a path we thought we would never take, and we get stuck in it.  Instead of moving through the event, we lavish in it.

When my father died, I got stuck in the moment for three decades.  Carrying a chip on my shoulder, I felt like God, and the world owed me for what they did to me, taking my dad away.  Then one night, my husband lovingly showed me the chip, and for the first time in over thirty years, I began to move forward from my dad’s death.

On the other hand, we can get stuck in the good moments.  One of the life-changing events for me happened when I met my husband.  Married ten years in August of 2022, we’ve shared many moments since then, but it still ranks as one of the top five.  We can’t stay in those minutes; we must keep moving forward; life doesn’t give us a choice.

Appreciating life means living in the current moment, good or bad; both will pass.  Whether we want to or not, we must take the next step.  Each day, we embark further along the path as we pursue God passionately, trusting His plan, even if we don’t understand 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. 95) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81 ESV, Acts 26:1-32 ESV, Psalm 6:1-10 ESV, Proverbs 18:20-21 ESV

Daily Verse: “So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:” (Acts 26:1 ESV)

EPITREPO (2010): “as a verb, lit. denotes “to turn to” (epi, “upon, to,” trepo, “to turn”), and so “to permit, give leave, send,” “to entrust,” signifies “to permit,” Acts 26:1.”[i]

Give leave.

Standing in front of King Agrippa, Paul has permission to speak freely.  So, Paul does, telling the king his life story.  Growing up in Jewish culture, becoming a Pharisee, devout in his beliefs, Paul persecuted and killed followers of “The Way.”  But then, one day, an encounter with Jesus on a dusty road changes his life forever.

When someone gives you leave to talk freely about Jesus, take the opportunity to tell your story.   Like Paul, share how you came to know Christ.  Remember the moment Jesus changed your life forever; recall the feelings of falling in love with Christ.

Permit love.

One of my most complex struggles remains the same, receiving love.  My insecurities convince me of my unworthiness of affection.  Believing God thought so much of me; He sent Jesus to offer me salvation seems impossible.  Yet God did.  Jesus paid the price for my sin, creating an unbreakable bond between God and me.

Receive the love God has for you.  Allow yourself to accept Jesus’ divine affection.  Christ’s calling card reads, “Unconditional love to all who believe and trust in Me.”  To receive God’s love, you must believe in its truth.  Despite your flaws, Jesus loves you.  Every mistake you make or will make, God knows and still loves you.

Once you accept God’s love and tangibly encounter Jesus, you will have a story to tell.  Pursuing a relationship with God changes you from the inside out.  Your worldview changes when you look at it through the lens of scripture.

You realize quickly, God deems you worthy of love; permit yourself to accept it.  Then share what you have found with the world.

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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. 100) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17 ESV, Acts 25:1-27 ESV, Psalm 5:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 18:19 ESV

Daily Verse: “So, said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.” (Acts 25:1-27 ESV)

TOUTO (5129) & ATOPOS (824): Touto: “to (in, with or by) this (person or thing). Atopos: Out of place, i.e., improper, injurious, wicked.  This word means lit, “out of place” and denotes unbecoming, not befitting.”[i]

Out of place.

Paul, appealing to Festus, asks what he’s done wrong. Whoever thinks Paul has done something out of place must accuse him.  But they can’t because Paul hasn’t gone against Jewish laws or Caesar.  So Festus decides to send Paul to Caesar. 

In today’s world, false accusations happen regularly.  Thanks to social media, lies can travel the world faster than ever.  When truth becomes apparent, people don’t recognize it.  No matter how we share the message, one thing remains the same: Jesus.

Eternal truth.

Paul’s accusers don’t have a case.  But because they tried, Paul spoke in front of kings and queens about Jesus.  To gain the audience of royalty, Paul suffered false accusations.  Following Jesus takes us places we never thought we would go and gives us opportunities we didn’t know we would have.

Jesus never said we would have an easy life.  Christ offers eternal life to those who place their faith in Him.  On this earth, we will suffer in a myriad of ways.  Our reward awaits in the peace of heaven.

The next time you experience false accusations, remember Paul’s story.  God has a plan, one that has eternal consequences.  Follow Him closely, and God will use in miraculous ways.

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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 (pp. 47 & 252) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4 ESV, Acts 24:1-27 ESV, Psalm 4:1-8 ESV, Proverbs 18:16-18 ESV

Daily Verse: “But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.” (Acts 24:4 ESV)

Epielkeia (1932): “This word suggests “sweet reasonableness”, is translated “clemency” in Acts 24:4; elsewhere, in 2 Cor. 10:1, of the gentleness of Christ.  It refers to the sort of moderation that recognizes that it is impossible for formal laws to anticipate and provide for all possible cases.  It rectifies and redresses the injustices of justice; a correction of the law where law falls short on account of generalities.  God remember we are but dust and deals with us accordingly.”[i]

Sweet reasonableness.

Appealing to the good nature of the governor, Tertullus took advantage of the situation to turn the people against Paul.  But what man plans for evil, God uses for His benefit.  In this case, Paul had the opportunity to share the gospel with all in attendance.  Only God knows how Paul’s words impacted those in the crowd.

People taking advantage of others’ sweet reasonableness happens all the time.   God blessed me with a kind husband.  I must consciously work at not taking advantage of him, and I fail miserably.  Naturally, kind people struggle to say no to others and get taken advantage of quickly. 

Become kinder.

All of us can become kinder.  Protecting others from their weaknesses exemplifies kindness.  If you know someone who struggles with saying no, don’t ask.  Listen to what others say.  Ask God to help you see them through His eyes.  When you do, becoming kinder happens naturally.

When we see people through God’s lens, their heartache becomes visible.  Instead of seeing them through our eyes, God gives us spiritual sight.  Jealousy fades away in the face of pain.  No one envies heartache. 

And even when we falter, God will bless our effort.  Like God maneuvered Paul’s journey in unexpected ways, He does the same for us.  Short-sightedness makes us miss the big picture.  God’s plan unfolds in crazy ways, and reading Paul’s story exemplifies this fact.

Whichever way God takes you, respond in kindness.  Jesus operated with sweet reasonableness to all He met.  If we want to imitate the Lord, we must do so with kindness.

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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. 96) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 1:1-2:17 ESV, Acts 23:11-35 ESV, Psalm 3:1-8 ESV, Proverbs 18:14-15 ESV

Daily Verse: “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (Acts 23:11 ESV)

THARSEO (2293): “This word means “to be of good courage, of good cheer” (tharsos, “courage, confidence”) and is only used in the imperative mood.

Good cheer.

Jesus encourages Paul on his journey.  After testifying in front of an angry mob, Paul’s journey continues to Rome.    The disciple’s first challenge meant defeating a plot to kill him.  Only God knows what lies ahead in our path; with Jesus, we can overcome any obstacle.

People miss God’s encouragement when they don’t spend time with Him.  Paul devoted his life to Christ, pursuing a relationship with the Lord with all his might.  Understanding the Jewish scriptures inside and out, Paul knew everyone needs Jesus.  Now, Paul’s task shows how the Old Testament points to Jesus.

Paul’s diligence in his task came from his intimate relationship with Jesus.  One so close, Paul felt Jesus’ presence and heard His words.

Courageous Jesus.

Christ strengthens those who follow Him.  Just as Jesus whispered in Paul’s ear, He will encourage us.  Often, by reading the stories of Jesus written by people who knew Him, you will find what you need.  Within the scriptures, you will find Jesus cheering you onward, praying for you on the journey.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:20-21 ESV)   

Jesus holds a pep rally for you.  Praying to the Father, He has your best interests at heart.  Leading the way, Christ connects us with God as no one else can.  Through Jesus, we find eternal life, now and forever.

Find courage knowing Jesus has your back.  Covering you in prayer, He asks you to continue the journey.  Jesus goes with you, wherever you go.  In Him, you will find the strength to keep going.

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 23:31-25:30 ESV, Acts 22:17-23:10 ESV, Psalm 2:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 18:13 ESV

Daily Verse: “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance.” (Acts 22:17 ESV)

EKSTASIS (1611): “Is, lit., a standing out and was said of any displacement, and especially, with reference to the mind, of that alteration of the normal condition by which the person is thrown into a state of surprise or fear, or both; or again, in which a person is so transported out of his natural state that he falls into a trance.”[i]

Transported out.

Paul, praying in the temple, falls into a trance.  Transported from his physical surroundings mentally, Paul’s connection to God at this moment transcends him into the spiritual realm.  Communing with God can do that sometimes.

We talked about finding wholeness in life by turning ordinary things into prayer in a recent prayer component meeting.  Practicing daily connection with God will draw you into a more profound relationship.  The small things in life become the big things as you discuss them with God, transporting life to another dimension.

Divine tasks.

In other words, including God in the mundane parts of our day creates continuous conversation and spiritual transformation.  For Paul, praying in the temple occurred regularly.  Devout in his beliefs both pre- and post-Christ, Paul felt comfortable within the building’s walls. But the regular practice led to Paul’s transformative relationship with Jesus.

 In today’s world, folding clothes becomes an opportunity to pray for the person who owns them.  Washing dishes becomes an act of worship, serving the ones you love.  Planning schedules becomes conversations with God about your time.  Turning ordinary into extraordinary happens when we include Jesus.

Begin a conversation with God today.  Include Jesus in the monotonous routines of life, turning them into an opportunity to connect with your Creator and others.  Praying transforms your life, transporting you out of the ordinary into the extraordinary.

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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. 82) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 22:3-23:30 ESV, Acts 21:37-22:16 ESV, Psalm 1:1-6 ESV, Proverbs 18:11-12 ESV

Daily Verse: “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” (Acts 22:1 ESV)

APOLGIA (627): “This does not mean saying, “I’m sorry, I apologize.” The root means to give a cogent explanation for one’s beliefs.  The word means” to talk one’s self off from” i.e. to explain one’s basis for operation, explain the basis upon which and from which one makes his decisions.  Making a defense is not to escape punishment nor trial but to explain forcefully and completely why one does what he does.”[I]

Cogent Explanation.

Paul, speaking to the crowd, shares his faith journey with them.  He doesn’t talk about Peter’s or John’s story; Paul tells his.  By doing so, Paul explains to the crowd his actions and why his life changed dramatically.  One day Paul killed Christ-followers, the next day, he became one.

Défense means telling others why you do what you do.  For instance, when someone asks me why I follow Jesus, I tell them about my faith journey.  I talk about growing up in the church, turning my back on God, experiencing hell on earth, and then finding my way back to Him as an adult.

Tell your story.

More than likely, your relationship with Jesus differs from mine.  We may share similarities, like growing up in church, but we each uniquely connect to God.  Some people feel most connected to God through music, others through nature, or perhaps writing.

Sharing with others about Jesus answers three questions:

• How did you meet Jesus?
• How do you connect with Jesus?
• How does following Jesus change your life?

Think about your story.  Explain to others why you do what you do.  Give Jesus the glory as you follow Him into a more intimate relationship by doing what He calls us to do: love God, and love 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.37) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 20:1-22:2 ESV, Acts 21:18-36 ESV, Psalm 150:1-6 ESV, Proverbs 18:9-10 ESV

Daily Verse: “Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.” (Acts 21:34 ESV)

GINOSKO (1097): “Signifies to be takin in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand, or to understand completely.”[i]

Taking in knowledge.

Different people shouting different things sounds like our world today.  In Paul’s case, he again finds himself amid turmoil as the crowd debates his actions.  The more the crowd shouted, the more violent they became, forcing the soldiers to carry Paul into the barracks to safety.

The leaders of the Jerusalem church think Paul brought Trophimus, a Gentile, into an area of the temple reserved only for Jews.  Because people witnessed Paul and Trophimus together in Ephesus, they assumed Paul committed the capital offense.  The crowd becomes inflamed, arguing over whether Paul broke the Jewish law.

Understand completely.

Knowing the facts means you understand the details. The people arguing over Paul’s guilt didn’t see him in the temple with Trophimus.  One witness could stop the chaos, but none comes forth because Paul didn’t do the crime.  Paul’s innocence incites the crowd further because no one can prove his guilt.

Drawing incorrect conclusions leads to chaos.  Deciding without researching never ends well.  People, including you and me, make wrong assumptions constantly.  The circumstances and events of our lives mold our thinking and decision-making.  Without realizing we judge, we judge, most of the time incorrectly.

Then we argue about our incorrect assumptions and judgments, determined to make others come to the same conclusion.  Following Christ means learning to accept not knowing.  Admitting you don’t have all the information stops the argument, especially when judging others.

Unless you’ve walked in someone else’s shoes, you have no right to judge them.  You may think you know, but you don’t.  Sinfulness comes with humanity; we all have it.  And we all have good in us as well.  Christ in us helps conquer our sinful nature, letting God’s light shine to the world.

Don’t judge unless you have all the facts.  Lead with grace and mercy, sharing them with all you meet.  Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you from within, tapping into God’s all-knowing Spirit.

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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. 60) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 18:13-19:37 ESV, Acts 21:1-17 ESV, Psalm 149:1-9 ESV, Proverbs 18:8 ESV

Daily Verse: “And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” (Acts 21:14 ESV)

PEITHO (3982): “In the active voice, signifies “to apply persuasion, to prevail upon or win over, to persuade, “bringing about a change of mind by the influence of reason or moral considerations.”[i]

Apply persuasion.

Paul, in Caesarea, received a warning from Agabus that the Gentiles would capture him if he went to Jerusalem.  Fearing for Paul’s life, those who heard the prophecy begged Paul not to go.

“What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13 ESV)

The crowd couldn’t persuade Paul not to go.  Knowing his mission, Paul went to Jerusalem, accompanied by some of the disciples from Caesarea.  When God called Paul into action, he went, not letting fear stop him.

Call to action.

Writing devotionals takes me out of my comfort zone.  At times, putting my heart on paper for the world to see petrifies me.   Yet I know God calls me to write.  I know this because I can’t help but write; the prompting from within overcomes any fears I have.  Considering God my boss, if I’m not writing, I’m not doing His work.

Paul couldn’t help but go to Jerusalem, despite the risks, because he knew God wanted him to go in his heart.  No one knows what lies in another person’s heart.  Our unique relationship with God makes our callings different. 

God calls each of us to action.  What divine tasks God assigns vary from person to person.  No one can fulfill God’s call on your life but you.  Aligning our hearts with Jesus’s will give us divine purpose.  No fears will stop us; no doubts discourage us as we live our lives for the applause of nail-scarred hands.

Whatever God wants you to do, do it.  Love Him and others to the best of your ability.  Go wherever God sends you; love who He places before you.  Respond to God’s call on your life as Paul did with all you got!

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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. 196) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 17:1-18:12 ESV, Acts 20:1-38 ESV, Psalm 148:1-14 ESV, Proverbs 18:6-7 ESV

Daily Verse: “After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.” (Acts 20:1 ESV)

THORUBOS (2351): “A disturbance. A noise, uproar, tumult.”[i]

Noisy uproar.

Paul spent two years in Ephesus on his third mission trip sharing the gospel.  Silversmiths who made idols of the goddess Diana sold them at the temple.  The riot started because they thought Paul and his disciples would hurt their lucrative business. 

The town clerk quieted the crowd by pointing out Paul’s message didn’t blaspheme their goddess nor disrespect her.  If Demetrius and the other artisans had a problem, they needed to take it up with the courts and stop the rioting, or the Romans would get involved.  No one wanted to face their wrath.

False gods.

One can only imagine how watching Diana’s worshiper’s riot impacted the disciples.  Preaching the gospel to people with hardened hearts can discourage anyone.  

Worshipping false gods happens all the time.  In our world, we might not worship Diana, but some may.  Anything can become an idol, relationships, sports, appearance, all things we can worship more than God.  Caught up in worldly things, people miss Jesus because He’s not of this world.

Repeatedly in Paul’s writings, he wrestles with the same challenges we do.  And yet, we find him always encouraging his fellow disciples and followers of Jesus.  The name of the false gods may change, but the mission never does, sharing Jesus with a fallen world.

Ask God to calm the uproar in your world.  Encourage your fellow believers, helping them continue their journey.  Recognize people will worship false gods, but you have the opportunity to introduce them to Jesus, the one true God.

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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. 117) Thomas Nelson