Honest Reflections

1 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, Proverbs 1:10-19

Daily Verse: “Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.” Proverbs 1:19

In the scriptures before today’s verse, Solomon talks about people laying traps for others but getting caught in their schemes.  In other words, people looking for trouble will find it, just not how they planned.

We think of our worst enemies as other people, but often we create the problems in our lives; no one else does.  Someone else can’t get you into debt. People don’t regulate the food you put in your mouth, nor the words that come from it.  And when someone decides to have an affair, that’s their mistake, no one else’s.

Often, we lay traps for others because they’ve hurt us.  But those plans will never succeed and only cause you more pain.  Place your faith in Jesus, seek His guidance and direction, and trust His judgment.

Become wiser by following Jesus.  Which means He makes the plans, not you.  God’s ways genuinely have your best interest at heart, even if you don’t understand.

Lord, forgive us for our scheming ways.  Open our eyes to Your will; help us submit to it.  Keep our hearts soft towards others, no matter the hurt.  Help us love as You love us.  IJNIP. Amen

1 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2:1-12, Proverbs 1:7-9

Daily Verse: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  Proverbs 1:7

Fear, in its original Hebrew, means reverence.  When Solomon talks about “fear of the Lord,” he means acknowledging God’s power and sovereignty.  God rules all things; we control nothing, and the Lord controls everything.

Knowing the truth enables us to let go and let God.

Showing reverence to God means admitting we don’t know everything.  Convincing narratives doesn’t equal truth.  Unless present, we don’t know what other people think and speak.  We can’t possibly see the condition or motives of other people’s hearts.  Therefore, we can’t know everything.  But God does.

With God, we don’t need to know all the facts; we can trust in Him.

Foolish people think they know everything, their actions revealing their thoughts.  Wise people recognize their limited perspective and submit to God in awe of His sovereignty.  Tapping into the Lord’s divine knowledge helps us become wise.

Lord, let Your wisdom reign in us as we submit our lives to Your sovereignty.  Forgive us our foolish ways; help us always turn to You.  Let our fear of You lead us to Your divine knowledge.  IJNIP. Amen

1 minute read.

Daily Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:25, Matthew 1:1-2:12, Psalm 1:1-6, Proverbs 1:1-6

Daily Verse: “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.” Proverbs 1:5-6 ESV

Understanding comes from the Lord.  To understand the wise sayings of Solomon, we must ask God for eyes to see and ears to hear.  Without divine assistance, we remain blind to the things of the Lord.

God guides us when we ask for His direction, opening and closing doors to maneuver us into His will.  The journey becomes more accessible when we go willingly, but the more we refuse to submit to God, the more complex the journey becomes.

Solving the riddles of life and understanding Proverbs happens when we acknowledge God as Lord, understanding His ways differ from ours.  When we submit our will to Him, God directs our paths and gives us the divine understanding we can find no other way.

Obtain divine guidance by focusing your eyes on Jesus.  Ask Him to illuminate your path, guiding you in all your ways.  God’s truth becomes evident with eyes to see and ears to hear.

Lord, open our eyes and ears to receive Your understanding.  Help us persevere when everything seems chaotic in our lives.  As we move through our day, please give us the grace we need to handle any situation.  IJNIP.  Amen

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Malachi 3:1-4:6 ESV, Revelation 22:1-21 ESV, Psalm 150:1-6 ESV, Proverbs 31:25-31 ESV

Daily Verse: “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Revelation 22:17 ESV)

THELO (2309): “This word stresses to will, to wish, implying volition and purpose, frequently a determination, have I mind, intend, to be resolved or determine: usually rendered “to will.”[1]

To will.

Fitting the year ends, discussing desires, ours versus God’s.  We all have things we want in life, and we must choose what we will spend our time and energy achieving.  Do we chase after the things of this world, or do we drink the water of life God offers for free?

Every day, the battle of desires rages onward.  Spending time with God, filling ourselves with His word, and applying it to our lives happens with intention.  So does building our resume, adding to our bank account, and climbing the corporate ladder.  Whatever we feed grows.

Choose Jesus.

Each morning, choose Christ.  Put God first in your life, and all other things will come.  But if we chase after the temporary things of this world, we’ll miss out on the gift Jesus offers, everlasting peace, and eternal life.

My prayer for us remains the same, each day, we will draw closer to Jesus, giving Him full reign over our lives.  As we face the tribulations of this world, we will do so with a heart set on things of God.

May all our desires come in line with God’s.  As we begin a new year, may we forgive quickly, love passionately, and give glory to the Creator in all things.

As we lay our burdens at the foot of the Cross, may we find the peace that surpasses all understanding as we move boldly forward, trusting God’s plan for our lives and our loved ones.

Go forth and love God and others to the best of your ability.  Give your all for God, and watch in amazement as He moves mountains for you.  Place your trust in the living Lord, drink deeply of the life-giving water He offers, and live life to the fullest, one day at a time.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 114) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Malachi 1:1-2:17 ESV, Revelation 21:1-27 ESV, Psalm 149:1-9 ESV, Proverbs 31:10-24 ESV

Daily Verse: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” (Revelation 21:1 ESV)

PARERCHOMAI (3928): “To come or go, denotes “to pass away, to perish,”[1]

Pass away.

Things come, and things go.  Once a coveted possession, the hand-me-down green ten-speed inherited from my brother no longer exists—the moments I had with my treasure now only memories.  One day, the earth will perish, and a redeemed one will take its place.

On the day of judgment, when God separates the harvest, some will spend eternity in hell, while others enjoy the benefits of heaven.  Which way they go relies on the individual’s choice during their time on earth.  The mysteries of the heart to complex for me to understand.

But I do know those who believe in Jesus have the promise of a better tomorrow.  The party’s just starting in heaven when life on earth passes away.

Connect spiritually.

We become connected to God’s network when we share faith in Christ with others.  Even far apart, we remain connected with our brothers and sisters worldwide.

During the pastor’s sermon one Sunday, I learned his daughter had ailments.  Sending a note of encouragement, I included a scripture God placed on my heart.  Imagine my surprise weeks later when the pastor relayed the following story.

Praying for his daughter’s illness, the family found a scripture to lift to God and ask Him to fulfill the promise.  When things appeared dim, my card came in the mail, carrying the same scripture the family chose months before, encouraging them in the storm. 

Whether on earth or in heaven, we remain connected to God’s network.  A new one awaits when this world passes away—one with no tears, pain, or heartache.  In God, we can trust.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 193) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 14:1-21 ESV, Revelation 20:1-15 ESV, Psalm 148:1-14 ESV, Proverbs 31:8-9 ESV

Daily Verse: “and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10 ESV)

PLANAO (4105): “To go astray, wander, frequently active, “to deceive, by leading into error, to seduce.”[1]

Go astray.

Deception leads the way when the devil comes to town; his number one weapon lies.  But guess what?  All lies get exposed, and Satan’s permanent address includes “Lake of Fire and Sulfur,” not a fun place to spend eternity.

But while the truth comes to light, lies can exhaust us.  The false tales we tell ourselves about ourselves, self-rejection, insecurity, and feelings of worthlessness can cripple us.

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.” Corrie Ten Boom

Look at God.

Keeping a steady gaze upon Jesus will keep the devil’s lies at bay.  God quickly helps us discern truth when facing the world’s false tales.  Nothing new happens under the sun; our human condition naturally inclined to sinful ways.

“God only knows,” I often say when discussing things of this world.  Why do tragedies occur, natural disasters happen, and unexpected troubles attack us? I don’t have an answer.  Only the Lord knows how the story unfolds; our lives part of a grander tale.

“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 ESV)

Our place in history didn’t happen by chance.  Like Esther, God placed us in this time and place for a purpose.  Only by seeking Jesus diligently and loving God and people as He did will we fulfill our calling.

Deception runs ragged over the world, lies spinning in all directions. One day, God will reveal the truth, but until then, the Lord helps us discern truth in our lives.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 202) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 12:1-13:9 ESV, Revelation 19:1-21 ESV, Psalm 147:1-20 ESV, Proverbs 31:1-7 ESV

Daily Verse: “And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” (Revelation 19:5 ESV)

AINEO (134): “Means to speak I praise of, to praise and is always used of praise to God by angels and men.”[1]

Speak praise.

Every opportunity we have to praise the King, we should.  One day we will know everything, including God’s works in our lives we never noticed.

We studied the Lord’s Prayer in our small group and discussed God giving us our daily bread.

“What do you need each day from God?” Our group leader asked us to write our answers down on paper.

At first, I had no answer, but then I wrote, “Air to breathe, direction, grace, compassion.”  Not a day goes by; I don’t need God to provide my daily bread for me.  From the mountain tops, I sing the Lord’s praises.  God does so much for us, yet we rarely praise Him.

Thank God.

Nothing introduces God into a conversation faster than praising Him.  The simple act of thanking God for what He does daily brings up the Big Guy.  No one deserves more praise than the Lord.

“Thank God,” I often say in all kinds of situations.  Sick in bed with a cold, I thank God for my tennis partner who can handle lessons without me for one day.  Too tired to get dressed and get medicine, praise God for my husband who went for me.  Thank God I got sick on Wednesday, the easiest day to cancel.

We won’t run out when we look for reasons to thank God.  Once we start counting blessings, we engage our reticular activating system, the recognition part of the brain.  If you buy a red car, you see red cars everywhere; if you start counting blessings, they will abound.

Sing God’s praises every chance you get.  Give the Lord credit for the work He does for you.  In Him, we experience life to the fullest.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 8) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 10:1-11:17 ESV, Revelation 18:1-24 ESV, Psalm 146:1-10 ESV, Proverbs 30:33 ESV

Daily Verse: “After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory.” (Revelation 18:1 ESV)

PHOTIZO (5461): “From phos, “light,” used intransitively, signifies “to shine, give light,” in the passive voices, Rev 18:1.”[1]

Give light

God’s glory will light the earth with a brightness never seen.  No sunrise has ever illuminated the sky like Jesus will one day do.  The Creator’s majesty overwhelms our souls with His presence, and we will fall to our knees in praise.  One day, all will come full circle, the world earth redeemed.

One day, God will remove all our heartaches and pain.  No longer will we suffer, our struggles gone as we enter our heavenly home; only God knows when.  Hope eternal burns brightly as we follow the Lord.

Our final move to heaven will give us a celestial address.  Singing with the angels in the presence of the Lord, our souls exploding with joy; we will live in Christ’s presence, sharing His inheritance.

Trust Jesus.

Place your faith in the one you can trust, Jesus.  No other god compares to what we have in Christ.  Freedom from condemnation leads the way to eternal hope.  All things made new when we submit them to Christ.

From lowly sinner to beloved saint, Jesus cleanses us from sin and gives us a new identity grounded in Him.  Christ calls us beloved, His love for us unending.  God’s children, united by Jesus.

Let your life become a bright beacon for Jesus.  Clothe yourself in the white robes Christ offers, letting go of your past, embracing the future God has for you.

God gives us His light to guide our way in a dark world.  Often we can only see a few feet ahead, but we can trust God knows the future and has a plan.  Nothing we do escapes the Creator; He knows our needs before we do and provides.

Jesus lights our world with His grace and mercy.  Just like candles share flames to light each other’s wick, the more we share God’s love, the brighter His light becomes.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 268) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 9:1-17 ESV, Revelation 17:1-18 ESV, Psalm 145:1-21 ESV, Proverbs 30:32 ESV

Daily Verse: “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14 ESV)

BASILEUS (935): “As a noun, means “a king” of Christ, as the “King of kings,” Rev. 17:14.”[1]

King of kings.

No one reigns higher than Jesus, Son of God.  Understanding how God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together requires faith.  Hard for me to put in words, but marriage helps me understand some.

Since Ron and I married, we’ve become one with each other and God.  Centering our lives around Christ’s teachings bonds Ron and me closer together than anything else, yet at the same time, we still have separate lives.

Each of us has different roles to play.  We grow together as we allow our lives to mesh, Ron’s strengths, my weaknesses, and vice versa.  God’s sovereignty blends us as we follow His commands.

Obedience matters.

Putting the King of kings first means doing what He commands, loving God and others.  Applying those principles to our life creates healthier relationships and draws people to Christ.  Disobedience leads to chaos.

Jesus leads us on a path to righteousness as we follow Him.  Each day, Christ gives us the grace we need to love the world and ourselves.  Without God’s Son, we couldn’t bond with God as intimately as we do.  When Jesus left the earth, His Spirit remained behind to reside within us, guiding our ways. 

Loving as God calls us to do, especially in marriage, a relationship like none other, we will gain a glimpse of how the triune God works.  But even then, we can’t fully grasp the wonders of the Creator.

King of kings, Lord of all, Jesus died for you.  In His embrace, grace and mercy reside, helping us to let go of the past and move forward into the future, knowing God has a magnificent plan for us.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 52) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 8:1-23 ESV, Revelation 16:1-21 ESV, Psalm 144:1-15 ESV, Proverbs 30:29-31 ESV

Daily Verse: “And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!” (Revelation 16:7 ESV)

PANTOKRATOR (3841): “Almighty, or ruler of all” (pas, “all,” krateo, “to hold, or to have strength”) is used of God only.”[1]

Ruler of all.

God’s sovereignty reigns over all creation; He alone judges the earth.  Understanding our sinful nature, God clothes us in righteousness when we believe in Jesus, giving us new life in Christ.  Sin’s punishment, death, ended with Jesus rising again, overcoming its sting.

Understanding the ever-reaching, never missing, all-encompassing power of God baffles me.  Trying to make sense of a chaotic world full of heartache and tragedy does no good.  Persevering and trusting the Lord’s promises helps us keep moving forward when the load seems too heavy to keep going.

One day, God will make all things new, eliminating the suffering of our world.  But until then, Jesus calls us to follow and obey.

Believe the Almighty.

Whether we understand all of God’s workings or not doesn’t matter as much as trusting what He says.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22 ESV)

God will sustain us.  Each day, when we ask for our daily bread from above, God renews our spirit and spurs us forward.  Life will bring many difficulties, but with Jesus, we can overcome them.

When an unexpected wave knocks you off your feet, employ forward-thinking instead of focusing on the pain.  Ask God, “How can I overcome this?”  Think about what you can control now and re-center yourself as you wait for God’s answer, knowing He has one.

Almighty Father in heaven, the sustainer of life, adores you.  In Him, you can trust.  Wherever God guides, He provides, never does the Lord leave you alone.

Sovereign over all creation; the Almighty reigns forever.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 188) Thomas Nelson