In and around my house I have lots of different succulents and cactuses. I like succulents; they are hearty, easy to care for, and transplant well. Aesthetically, they have so many wildly unique features that make them endearingly cool. If provided the right circumstances for their health and growth, they will pretty much live indefinitely as living testaments to God’s creativity.

“Spiny Boi” is a columnar shaped, Easter Lily Cactus (Echinopsis Oxygona) that shares a pot with some French Lavendar and Aloe Vera along the path leading up to my front door. Over the years, this dude has had some nice, vertical growth, and he doesn’t obstruct the pathway and for most of the year I don’t pay much attention to him as his needs are minimal. This inattention has led me to brushing against or backing up into his spines which dutifully deliver a painful reminder that he is there, and I should be mindful of his space. Apart from the occasional brush up, the only other time I pay him significant attention is when it is time for him to flower. Once a year, usually in the beginning of summer, he will produce one, sometimes two, large, magnificent pink lilies. For those of you who know, these lilies look similar to Easter Lilies (hence the name), and they will stop you dead in your tracks if you are fortunate enough to encounter them.  Easter Lily Cactus typically blooms at night through early morning before closing. They also only bloom for few days before withering. If you aren’t paying attention, you will miss the show and you will have to wait a full year to catch them in their full glory again.

This past winter tragedy stuck.  Someone, presumably one of the many daily package delivery drivers who come to my residence, struck this cactus, causing a severe break of the body which left the plant looking like it had been broken in two. I provided what care I could and waited to see if he would pull through. Over time the break in his outer carapace healed over, although his shape changed from a vertical “I” to a downward facing “L”.
In the first week of June, I was greeted by two large pink flowers as I left for work. I rejoiced as it appeared that he pulled through and made some flowers for me to enjoy. The following week he grew two more flowers. Two more in the third week, and finally, his last two of the year which bloomed on July 4th (Happy Birthday America). Initially I was pleased by Spiny Boi’s overproduction of flowers, and I researched if there was a cause. What I discovered was bittersweet – a healthy Easter Lily Cactus will only produce a few flowers in a season, a severely damaged or dying one produces as many flowers as it can to spread its seed. The bonus flowers come with a steep cost as the plant shifts its energy from growth to reproduction.  

Isn’t this the same truth for all of those you follow Jesus. His one life, for the life of all mankind. This payment is bittersweet, like the lilies on my cactus. To be effective proclaimers of Christ’s sacrifice, death must occur within us. The of our death of our pride, anger, jealousy, rage, selfishness, and self-righteousness. When our eyes are turned from darkness to light, we can see the afflicted, persecuted, and the suffering. When we ourselves suffer our own affliction, persecution, suffering, we can empathize with fellow sufferers, and we can respond to our position with life! If we choose to respond in the ways that lead to death, we squander the high position (James 1:9) God has placed us in. Responding with humility, gentleness, kindness, joy, and love are like fragrant flowers, radiantly spreading beauty and cheer, glorifying the Creator, at the cost of their own life.  

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion 'Your God reigns!'"
Isaiah 52:7
 

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

In June of 1980, my family and I moved to Montana.  Little did we know what great adventure and ministry were waiting for us there.  After getting settled in, on a beautiful Montana summer day, we drove with friends to Glacier Park.  The Park became a special place to us and was one of the places that our family loved to go camping.  On those quiet evenings in Two Medicine Campground, Lynette and I would sit around the campfire and talk.  It was a good time to think seriously about our lives together and to contemplate God's design/purposes for us.  I remember many evenings sitting looking into the flames and wrestling with the issues of what I saw to be God's shaping of my life and ministry.  I came to realize that true fulfillment and meaning in life could only be realized through accepting and living according to God's sovereign design for me.

Over the next years, God continued to shape me which caused me to deal with areas of brokeness in my life.  He wanted to bring healing to the wounds that I tried to ineffectively stuff down.  Through the next years I began to deal with the brokeness I experienced in the death of my older brother.  I also began the process of working through what I felt to be a distant relationship with my father.  God encouraged and strengthened me to face these issues head on.  That was the only way true healing could come.
 
As you read about the life of the Apostle Paul, he allowed God’s love and grace to heal the deep wounds in his life.  He did not allow these areas of brokenness to hold him back but accepted God’s healing that came through Jesus Christ.

Today all of us have areas of brokeness in our lives.  We might even say that our lives cannot be different this side of heaven because of the hurts we have experienced.  As a result we stay bound up with activities and ways of thinking that make us momentarily feel better as we try to self medicate our hurts.  This is exactly what our enemy wants us to do.  But we do not have to stay chained to those thought patterns and activities.  We can experience true freedom in Jesus Christ who came to set us free.
 
One day when Jesus was in the synagoge, He stood and read from the Prophet Isaiah.  He stated that this scripture was on that day fulfilled in Him.  It is recorded for us in Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed…”  Jesus today wants to set us free.

We often go through life covering our brokenness so others cannot see it.  We are medicating our deep wounds with activities or substances that make us feel better for the moment.  It becomes our coping mechanism.  We feel it is not safe to share our woundedness for fear that others will reject/abandon us or be critical in some way.  In many cases we have retreated into our own private worlds where we feel safe.  We often are afraid to share due to shame or pride.  As a result our Christianity is only surface deep and we struggle to keep up the front before others.

Often we have forgotten how much God loves us.  He desires for us to deal with our brokenness that we might be free.  Free from the chains that keep us in shame and free to experience God in a real and life changing way.  Christ is inviting us to come to Him with our brokenness.  His love is not only demonstrated to us in salvation, but also as he relates to us each day.
 
The Apostle Paul is an example to us as we honestly evaluate our lives.  He had to look at the brokenness of his own life.  He thought he could please God through his human accomplishments.  As God lovingly met with him, Paul realized he had to give up all his human efforts and count them as worthless in order to find healing in Christ.  (Philippians 3:4-9)

Paul is encouraging us today to do the same.  He wants us to recognize those areas that need to change and to allow God’s power to bring healing.  We need to stop clinging to the methods we have turned to in the past to make ourselves feel better.  Those methods are only a quick fix and do not bring true healing.  We need to turn to Christ and allow him to heal us from the inside out.

Prayer:  “Lord, as I look deeply into my life, help me to see and know your great love for me.  There is nothing in my life that You, Jesus, haven’t already paid for at the cross.  Thank you Jesus for your forgiveness, cleansing and healing.  Lord, I want to live today in the freedom and forgiveness that You have given me as Your child.”  Amen

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

When was the last time you took a moment and wondered at all the creation around you. It is really easy to get micro focused in our busy lives and just go about our day to day without ever taking time to think and contemplate the world around us. We live here, we’ve never left here, and we can easily take it for granted. But if you stop and allow yourself the time to take in all that is around you it is really easy to be struck by just how big and complicated it all is. How seamlessly it works together, and therefore just how big God must be.

I’ve always been struck by how everything has to work so perfectly with each other for various animals and ecosystems to exist. They really are delicate but yet they perfectly exist, at least until we come in and think we can manage it better. The more I study the relationships between the various elements in nature the more I am convinced that there is a God that has organized everything and set it in motion. But more so than just His existence, I am reminded of how small I am and how big He is.
 
In our own world our problems seem to be the biggest and how could anything else matter compared to what I am going through. But our place in creation should remind us that we are but a small piece and compared to God our problems, our worries, our trials, are nothing. And yet God does care about them, and us, specifically. How amazing that such a huge God, so big that if we really try to think about it we still cannot comprehend, cares so much about us, about our hopes and fears. He loves us so much that He suffered on the cross to rescue us from ourselves, from our sin.

So think about that today, you are really small, and insignificant, but God still loves you, the God who made all this, and even stuff you cannot see. He loves you. How amazing is that!

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

“Do you think Adam would have sinned if God had never created Eve?” asked one of my students a few Sundays ago. In some sense, it may be an unhelpful question: to quote Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia, “no one is ever told what would have happened.” This student may be on to something, however: a deep dive into Scripture will show some aspects to the story of the Fall that we may not have considered before.

In 1 Timothy 2:14, Paul implies that in eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve sinned for different reasons. “Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived.” When we look at Genesis 3:1-6, we see the serpent direct his temptation to Eve specifically (“he said to the woman,” v. 2, 4). The serpent’s lie is just enough to cause Eve to question what God has told her. Eve chooses to eat the fruit because “the tree was good for food... a delight to the eyes... and desired to make one wise.” In other words, Eve let the allure of the fruit and the words of the serpent make her distrust what she had heard from God. Eve disobeyed because she was deceived into thinking she knew better than God about the benefits of eating the forbidden fruit. This substitution of our judgment for God’s is ultimately a form of idolatry.

Did Adam disobey for the same reasons? Consider one of the most famous literary depictions of the scene, John Milton’s Paradise Lost. In Milton’s rendering, Eve comes to Adam, half-eaten fruit in hand, and invites her to join him. Adam is initially horrified, knowing Eve is now under the curse of “you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) But rather than lose Eve, Adam chooses to join her in sin:

How can I live without thee…
Should God create another Eve, and I
Another rib afford, yet loss of thee
Would never from my heart.

It’s possible that Adam chose to follow Eve into sin out of misplaced love for her. But Milton’s depiction misses a feature of the text. Genesis 3:7 says that Eve “gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” In other words, Adam heard the serpent’s entire temptation, and yet 1 Timothy tells us “he was not deceived.” Yes, Adam’s love for Eve may have influenced his decision, but in the end he ate the fruit eyes wide open, knowing fully well the consequences. If idolatry was Eve’s sin, Adam’s was rebellion. He chose to live in a world of his making, not God’s: “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.”

Consider this from another angle: twice in this passage Adam abdicates his God-given responsibility. God put Adam in the Garden of Eden to “work it and keep it” (Gen 3:15). Keep here has the idea of guard or watch. When Adam heard the serpent begin to cause his wife to question God’s truth and goodness, he should have moved to protect his family and his kingdom. I think Adam would have been perfectly justified to reach into the tree, grab the snake by the tail, and curb-stomp him in the head. But Adam failed to become the Snake Crusher.

Second, Adam failed in his responsibility to save Eve. At the moment when Eve eats the fruit, she becomes a sinner, subject to a death curse. What is Adam to do? Does he go to God and offer himself in Eve’s place, the sinless dying in place of the sinner? No. Adam fails to become the perfect sacrifice.

In the aftermath of Adam and Eve’s idolatry and rebellion, however, God makes a promise. Someone will succeed where Adam failed. A Snake Crusher is coming: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). This verse, sometimes called the protoevangelion (first gospel) may be the first indication of God’s grand story of redemption, but it’s not the only one in this passage. Remember God told Adam that “in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die”? But Adam and Eve didn’t die immediately. How? The text says that God “made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them” (v. 21). Last I checked, animals don’t give up their skins willingly. An innocent sacrifice died in Adam and Eve’s place on that day. Here in the earliest chapters of the Bible, an indication is given of how the Snake Crusher will undo the curse of sin—through substitutionary, sinless sacrifice.

Jesus, the “last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45) did what Adam could not. Faced with the same situation – a bride (the Church) guilty of sin and under a death curse, Jesus willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice to pay the penalty and redeem His bride. “God made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Then He rose from the dead, triumphing over the forces of sin, Satan, and death (Hebrews 2:14). Jesus is our Snake Crusher and our Sinless Sacrifice... truly the last Adam.

Today, take a moment to thank Jesus for His work of redemption on our behalf... a work that was foreshadowed all the way back in Genesis 3!

"English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers."

Have you ever had one of those weeks that have been a roller coaster of emotions?  Anger, frustration, grief, trust. This was one of those for me. That's why when I read this I felt such great love and assurance from the Lord. All of those emotions stemmed from areas in my heart that he wanted to test my faith in and to grow His attributes in me. As I was wrestling through the situations that were bringing out all these emotions I saw that He wanted me to seek Him. He wanted to break up the ground in my heart that was lying untilled. He wanted me to be more merciful and let Him sow His righteousness in me.

No matter how long I have been a believer and been coming to His Word, I am still a sinner saved by grace… like I was the first time I prayed for Him to come into my life.

I can usually find someone to compare myself with and feel pretty good about myself. But my comparisons are based on my own sense or righteousness. The Lord isn't satisfied with mediocrity. When comparing myself to Him I always come up short. And because He cares for me, He will continue to prune me so that it is His fruit of righteousness that gets produced.

Some day, we will be with the Lord with new bodies that will be pure and completely righteous. But until then we will continue dealing with the battle between our old and new natures. That's why we need to keep seeking Him daily and believing Him.

Have you heard His Word today? Just encouraging you to eat His bread for yourself; otherwise you are living on regurgitated food. We need to eat regular meals to live a healthy physical life. We must eat from the Bread of Life to live a spiritual life that will grow spiritual fruit pleasing to the Lord!

Titus 3:5 – "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us…"
 
Isaiah 64:6 – "But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
 
Ephesians 2:8-9 – "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
 
John 6:32-35 – "Then Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.'...And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."
 
John 14:36 – "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Bible provides many reassuring verses confirming that God hears and answers the prayers of His people. 1 John 5:14 highlights a profound truth: you can have complete confidence that God is listening whenever you speak to Him. This verse emphasizes a beautiful partnership in prayer, noting that He hears us when we ask "according to His will." It shows that prayer isn't about changing God's mind, but about aligning our hearts with His perfect plans and trusting that He always desires what is best for us. These verses also remind me and help cement the compassion our God has in hearing and answering our prayers.

Psalm 34:17 — “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles.”
Psalm 18:6 — “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears.”
Psalm 65:2 — “You who hear prayer, to You all mankind comes.”
Psalm 66:19–20 — “But God has heard; He has given attention to the sound of my prayer. Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer nor His favor from me.”
Psalm 116:1–2 — “I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my pleas. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.”
Psalm 145:18–19 — “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry for help and save them.”
Proverbs 15:29 — “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Isaiah 65:24 — “It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will listen.”
Jeremiah 29:12–13 — “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 33:3 — “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
Matthew 7:7–11 — “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or what person is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? So, if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
John 15:7 — “If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
John 16:23–24 — “And on that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”
James 5:16 — “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.”
1 Peter 3:12 — “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against evildoers.”

I know that our God hears our prayers but the most difficult thing for me is when will He answer them. We have a number of friends and family that have been through and are still going through difficult situations in which we have all been praying. As sinful human beings, we want the prayers answered now God; but we wait patiently. It is so hard to wait on His perfect timing.

Sometimes it is Now
Sometimes it is Wait
Sometimes it is Never

God’s perfect timing is the quiet anchor behind 1 John 5:14. While the verse guarantees that He hears us the very moment we pray, scripture shows that His answers unfold according to the Master’s schedule as opposed to our schedule. When we sync our prayers to His will, we also sync our expectations to His calendar. Waiting on God's timing is not a sign of His absence, but a testament to His orchestration. He prepares us for the answer just as He prepares the answer for us. Lauren Daigle’s song “When God Says Not Yet” helps me understand this process.
“It’s not never. God is working while I wait.”
Lord, help me to always align my will with Yours





Lauren Daigle “When God Says Not Yet”

I prayed until the night was gone. Still waiting for the morning.
I asked You for a way ahead, but You gave me only silence.
I thought by now I’d see the change. I thought this storm would disappear.
But maybe you’re doing something deeper and waiting right here.
I don’t know what you’re preparing. I can’t see beyond today.
But I’ve learned that Your silence doesn’t mean You have walked away.
When God says not yet, it doesn’t mean never.
A delayed promise is still held by forever.
When I can’t see the answer, I remember what You said.
If You told me to keep waiting, then my hope is not dead. Not yet.
It’s not never. God is working while I wait.
Joseph dreamed beneath the stars before the prison and the pain.
David waited for the promise while hiding from his enemies.
Abraham held onto Your word. When the years kept passing by, they couldn’t see the ending but You were faithful every time.
Oh, I won’t measure Your goodness by how quickly prayers are answered. You see the road beyond my eyes and Your time and sees much farther. So, I’ll stop fighting and waiting. I’ll stop asking why so long. Maybe the place I call a delay is where you’re making my faith strong. When God says not yet, it doesn’t mean never. A delayed promise is still held by forever.
Oh, and I can’t see the answer.
I remember what You said. If You told me to keep waiting, then my hope is not dead. Not yet.
Oh, it’s not never. God is working while I wait.
What if the waiting has a purpose? What if the tears are watering faith?
What if the door I kept demanding would have taken me the wrong way? So, I surrender my tomorrow.
I surrender my win. If You’re asking me to wait, Lord. I’ll trust You again.
When God says not yet, it doesn’t mean never.  He is writing something greater than the future I remember.
I may not see the answer, but I know the One who speaks.
And if God says, “Wait, my child, I will wait on my knees. Not yet
He’s not never not forgotten, not forsaken.
God is working while I wait. So, I’ll wait
Not because I understand but because I trust You.
And when Your perfect moment comes, I know. You were working all along.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

If you haven’t heard by now, I love movies. Action/adventure films like Indiana Jones or Jumanji are filled with dangerous terrain and daring escapes, but beneath the surface, they reveal one foundational reality: the characters are bound together and must rely on each other to survive. Even the secular world understands that our companions shape who we are. Ultimately, our choice of friends is not merely a casual preference; it is a profound matter of spiritual stewardship. Every person we allow into our inner circle will influence us. They quietly mold our language, impact our character, shape our Sunday habits, and directly affect our walk with the Lord. Scripture warns us plainly that a companion of fools will suffer harm.

When I think about the early church expanding, I often view its growth strictly through the lens of great sermons or miraculous signs and wonders. Yet, I believe God also deeply values the local church community and intentional, Christ-centered friendships to accomplish His work. In the book of Acts, a godly couple named Aquila and Priscilla connected with the Apostle Paul through their shared trade of tentmaking. They labored together, shared meals, lived out their faith in the daily grind, and sharpened one another. Later, they brought a fervent believer named Apollos into their circle, privately discipling him to understand the way of God more perfectly. This committed, gospel-centered community helped insulate them against a corrupt world. Our circles carry that exact same weight: they will either protect us from compromise or slowly cause us to drift away from righteousness. We must choose our associations with prayerful discernment.

If you have time today, take a moment to evaluate your circle of influence and consider implementing one of the following application steps:

• ADD: Intentionally invite mature, Bible-believing believers into your closest circle—those who respect God's Word, exhibit spiritual fruit, and encourage you to walk closer to Jesus.
• SUBTRACT: Recognize when an ungodly relationship is pulling you down. If an association constantly feeds your flesh rather than your spirit, dare to step back and limit their influence.
• MULTIPLY: Do not isolate in a comfortable bubble. Link arms with Spirit-filled companions to jointly serve the Lord and fulfill the Great Commission, using your unified testimony to reach the lost.

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

I started out in vocational ministry as a Youth Pastor. I ran what I call a “competition model of youth ministry”. Wednesday night was our outreach night. I wanted every student to find a non-Christian friend and get them to Wednesday night. We were divided into teams. There was a team competition every Wednesday. Volleyball, soccer, relay races, etc. When you brought a friend, they would go to your team. So everybody was inviting athletes from their schools because they wanted to win. And we saw many students come to Christ. 

Well, in Youth Ministry, with all the activity and games, I could eat whatever I wanted and keep weight off. I was flying around all over the place. I would wear sneakers to work every day for the expressed purpose of “A basketball game might break out and I want to be ready.”

After being in Youth Ministry ten years, the church I was serving had a pastoral opening in Adult Ministry and offered it to me. After Jenn and I prayed about it, we decided to accept. It was hard to give up Youth Ministry, but I was ready for a new challenge. I had a blast evaluating what we were doing well in adult small groups and making changes where needed. I faced challenge after challenge, and God used me to make a difference. 

But one challenge I didn’t expect was the inactivity of being an Adult Ministries Pastor versus a Youth Pastor. In youth ministry I ate whatever I wanted and never gained a pound. Now in Adult ministry, not only was I less active, but I got invited over to people’s houses all the time for these get-to-know-you meetings. And with every meeting, people fussed, made pies, cakes, cookies, and pastries. They’d say, “Here, pastor, try this fresh apple pie, hot out of the oven.” Or “Here pastor, eat one of these chocolate chip cookies. They’re heavenly.” How can I turn that down? It would be insulting. So while I enjoyed all the great bakery items, I started to gain weight. 

I remember the day I refused to buy the next size bigger pants to make room for my growing…well, you know…size. I said, “enough is enough…I’m going to start eating better. And  remembered the verse…

“Whether, then, you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

When Paul the apostle wrote these words, he was talking about the choices we make every single day in a complex culture. The context here involves eating meat offered to idols. But the principle can have a broader meeting: Even the most basic physical acts, like eating and drinking, can be done to the glory of God.

So often we separate our “spiritual life” from our “physical life” Yet the Bible reminds us that our bodies are gifts and vessels for His work. Eating nourishing food is not about meeting some worldly appearance standard, or following some ‘joyless set of rigid rules’ for the sake of discipline. Instead it’s about saying thanks to the Giver of all good gifts. When we choose wholesome foods to promote health and strength, we are saying, “God, thanks so much for giving me this physical body. Help me take care of it so I can serve You for the long haul. 

On the other hand, when our appetite dominates our thoughts and goes unchecked, we can eat unwholesome foods that serve nothing more than giving us ‘temporary comfort’. And by doing so we miss the opportunity to honor our Creator by eating foods that keep our body healthy. 

I want to ‘eat to the glory of God’, keeping my body healthy, and regularly thanking God for His provision. And I’m going to pray that God will give me the discipline to treat my body as the temple where His Holy Spirit resides, so I can give Him glory in even the most basic things.

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Growing up, one of the biggest questions I wrestled with was, “Why are we all here?” I grew up in a Christian home, but the pain and suffering I saw in the world—and experienced in my own life—sometimes made me question the point of it all. Did God truly care enough to create me and send His Son to die for me so that I could have a relationship with Him? I am thankful that Scripture answers yes. God did not create us because He was lonely or needed something from us. He created us out of the abundance of who He is: God is love.

The Bible begins with a simple but powerful statement: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Before anything else existed, God was already there. The story of creation—and the story of our lives—begins with Him.

Throughout Genesis 1, several phrases are repeated: “And God said,” “and it was so,” and “God saw that it was good.” These words show us that God created everything with authority, order, and goodness. He did not make the world carelessly or randomly. He intentionally prepared a place where life could flourish.

Again and again, God looked at what He had made and called it good. After creating humanity, He declared everything “very good.” Although sin would later bring pain and brokenness into the world, Genesis reminds us that evil was not part of God’s original design. God created a good world because He is a good God.

The greatest part of creation was humanity. Genesis 1:27 tells us, “So God created man in his own image.” (ESV) Being made in God’s image does not mean that we physically look like God. It means that human beings were uniquely created to know Him, represent Him, relate to others, and care for His creation.

This gives every person incredible value. Our worth does not come from our intelligence, popularity, appearance, abilities, or what others think about us. It comes from the God who created us. Every person bears His image—including the person who feels invisible, the person who looks different from us, and even the person who frustrates us.

Being made in God’s image also gives us responsibility. God calls us to care for what He has made and represent His character in the way we live. That affects how we speak, treat our families, respond to hurting people, and handle the responsibilities He gives us.

Sin damaged our relationship with God, but He did not abandon us. Jesus came, died for our sins, and rose again so that everyone who trusts in Him can be forgiven and welcomed into God’s family. The cross is the clearest demonstration that the God who created us also loves us and desires for us to know Him.

Genesis 1 teaches us that we are not random, forgotten, or without purpose. We were created to know God, represent Him, care for what He has made, and share His goodness with others. Whenever we question our worth or wonder why we are here, we can return to this truth: Our lives make the most sense when God is at the center.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

If you could be any animal you wanted to be, which one would you choose?

I’ve always thought it would be fun to be a dolphin.  They seem happy and playful.  Plus I love the ocean.  But if I could be any animal, I might have to go with an eagle.

In 1782, the bald eagle was chosen as the national emblem of the United States because of its majestic appearance. It is a powerful symbol of freedom and strength.

Typically eagles fly about 30 mph, but they can dive at speeds of 100mph.  They can fly 125 miles without landing, and they can glide at altitudes up to 10,000 feet!

That’s why Isaiah 40:29-31 is such an amazing promise.
 
God says when we feel tired, weak and weary, he is able to give us strength, so we can fly farther and faster than we ever thought possible. When we stumble and fall, he is able to pick us up and make us soar on wings like eagles. When the problems of life are dragging us down to the dust, we can climb to 10,000 feet and circle above them.  We can gain a heavenly altitude and see our circumstances with the clarity of eagle-eyes.

But that doesn’t just happen automatically.  There’s one condition here.

To renew our strength, we must hope in the Lord.  We must look to him as our only source of sufficiency. He alone gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Why?  Because he alone does not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom (verse 28).
 
So is anyone feeling tired today?  Or weak or weary?  Did anyone stumble and fall?  Hope in the goodness of the Lord, in his wisdom, grace and might. Hang onto this promise.  Write it down and put it on your mirror.  Slip it into your pocket and don’t forget it.

Hope in the Lord, and he will give you strength.

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Philippians 2:3-5 is my least favorite scripture. Why? Because of the first 2 words, DO NOTHING. Every time I read  this passage, I am convicted of some specific recent time in which I have ignored this command. 

I don’t mind reading passages about salvation, or prayer, or evangelism. But I can’t get past DO NOTHING without realizing that I can’t make excuses. I can’t  take credit for somebody else’s work. I can’t volunteer or help out around church with even a hint of desire to be noticed for my spirituality or wisdom.

I have to give up the desire to win every argument, and I definitely have to stop looking at traffic as if it’s a race where I can’t let someone pass me or  get my parking spot.

Paul doesn't give me even the smallest amount of wiggle room. Not only can I DO NOTHING for my own interest by steering discussions back to myself, holding  grudges, or demanding my rights; but I have to actively listen to other people, care about what they’re interested in, and consider how my choice of finances and time affect someone other than me and my family. 

I’m telling you, these are awful verses. If I had been Thomas Jefferson, I wouldn't have cut the verses out of the Bible that dealt with Jesus's divinity. I  would've cut these verses out so that I wouldn't always have to be really humble like Jesus.

Of course, instead of picking up my scissors, I could pick up what Jesus said in John 15:5, “apart from Me you can DO NOTHING.” I could DO NOTHING but abide  in Him and let His Spirit make me truly humble.

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Each day God desires for us to press on toward His goals for our life.  The word “press” expresses an intense endeavor.  We are to move intently toward God’s desires for our lives and make this a pattern of how we live.  “This one thing I do” emphasizes the importance of focus.  We are encouraged to devote ourselves to running the race of life well.  Typically, an athlete does not become a winner by doing everything, but he wins by specializing.  Few athletes are good at several sports unless they are an exception.  With this in mind, we need to focus our eyes on one goal and not let anything distract us.  We should live for what matters most and pursue God’s purpose for us.

For an athlete to win, he must get into the game.  One cannot excel at a sport by listening to lectures, watching movies, reading books, or cheering at the game.  So, we too must get involved by training, practicing, and determining to win.  We need to ask ourselves, “How much effort are we putting into winning spiritually?”  As we apply ourselves to spiritual things, God continues the process of maturing us.  He strengthens us to run the race that is planned for our life.  Paul tells Timothy, “Exercise yourself toward godliness…” (1 Timothy 4:7 NKJV) Without spiritual exercise we begin to atrophy.

To keep us from spiritual atrophy, Paul encourages us to “forget those things which are behind.”   People often are controlled by their past.  As Christians, we need to be controlled by the future.  To actively move toward the future, we must forget the past.  A runner will not win the race by always looking over his shoulder to see who is coming up from behind.  If we focus on the past, we will live in the past.  The past has shaped much of what we are today, but we cannot live there, we must leave it behind.  We often use the order…past, present, and future.  Paul is encouraging us to view time as flowing from the future into the present and then into the past.  We need a future orientation.  When Paul talks about “forgetting the past,” he is not talking about somehow failing to remember the events of the past.  Biblically he is telling us to no longer be influenced or affected by the past.

In Hebrews 10:17 (NKJV), the writer tells us something amazing about God, “Their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more.”  The writer of Hebrews is not saying that God will conveniently have a bad memory or a “senior moment.”  This would be impossible for God.  What he is conveying is that God will no longer hold our sins against us.  God will not let our sin effect our standing with Him or influence His attitude toward us.

We break the power of the past by living for the future.  We cannot change the past, but we can change its effect on our lives.  Paul had things that could have weighed him down, but instead he made them events that moved him ahead.  The events did not change but his understanding of them changed.  An example of this is Joseph who looked at the events of his life from God’s perspective.  “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20 NKJV) Today we need to see the things of our past with the eyes of the Lord.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for your forgiveness.  Help me to deal with the things of my past so that I can move forward and focus on the future I have with You.  Amen

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

These days it is not uncommon to hear the christian walk being touted as nothing but a prosperous one. God is love and wants the best for you so everything will always be ok. If you are really walking with God you will be rich and prosperous because He loves you and will give you all that you ask. And while there are bits of truth in all of these statements, they end up painting a picture of christianity that is simply not Biblical, and for us in America that have a pretty good standard of living compared to the rest of the world it can be a trap easily fallen into.

Let’s be clear, God is a loving God and does want the best for us. But just like a parent training their children, what is best for us, and what we want or think is best for us are often two different things. Correction is an essential part of growth and maturity both in life and in our spiritual walk. In Hebrews 12:11 it says “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” No one likes to be corrected or disciplined, however it is a good thing for us, it’s for the best.
 
Psalms reminds us that while God does love us and wants to bless us, there will be hard and difficult times. It may be due to our sin and needing correction, it may be testing and trials to grow us spiritually but that ultimately God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, as found in Romans 8:28. Pain, sufferings, and trials are temporary but His favor is forever! We don’t know how long the pain will last, sometimes it’s short, sometimes long, but it is temporary.

As part of our sanctification we are called to endure pains and trials with Christ’s help and for His glory. May we view the hard and difficult times as opportunities to grow, to repent, to deepen our need for and faith in Christ and remembering that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

I went to school at Hillsdale College, a school of about 1500 students in southern Michigan. (I don’t miss the Michigan winters.) All students at Hillsdale sign a statement called the “Honor Code” when they matriculate their freshman year. It reads:

“A Hillsdale College student is honorable in conduct, honest in word and deed, dutiful in study and service, and respectful of the rights of others. Through education the student rises to self-government.”
 
To an outside observer, the Honor Code was extremely effective. My fellow students at Hillsdale were some of the most principled, diligent, and virtuous people that I’ve ever known. We regularly left backpacks, phones, and laptops in public places because theft was never an issue.

The idea of becoming a better, more moral person through education ran through all our studies at Hillsdale. It goes back centuries to thinkers like Plato and Aristotle. It was certainly appealing to me, who wanted to go to college not for skill training or knowledge acquisition, but for human formation. But was it biblical?

One day, a pastor friend of mine made an offhanded comment that contrasted “through education the student rises to self-government” and “the fruit of the spirit is... self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). This contrast fascinated me. Is education able to replicate self-control, which Paul thinks of as evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit? Or does it merely counterfeit it? Was the classical education philosophy of Hillsdale compatible with God’s Word? After much thought, I came to the conclusion that “classical” and “Christian” thought share similar goals, but build on different foundations.

What is a human being? Classical education, drawing on a philosophical tradition dating back to Aristotle, defines man as a “rational animal.” He is also a “political animal,” designed to contribute to the larger community or polis. The Bible, however, teaches that human beings are created in the image of God. Our true purpose is to “glorify God and enjoy him forever...” which does result in moral living and civic duty. But to discuss “virtue” in a context outside of relationship with God is totally foreign to the Bible’s thought. The book most concerned with ethical living in Scripture, Proverbs, begins with the statement “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). The Bible and classical education may overlap in their descriptions of what human flourishing looks like, but their foundational understanding of what it looks like to be truly human are different.

What is wrong with the world? From Hillsdale’s Honor Code, we could deduce that the problem is a lack of “self-government.” In Aristotle’s thought, vice (the opposite of virtue) arises when humans are ruled by their appetites and not their intellect. The root of our “bad behavior,” ultimately, is ignorance. Scripture, however, says our “bad behavior” is sin, the result of our broken relationship with God. According to Paul in Romans, sin produces ignorance, not the other way around: “although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:22-23).

How do we fix it? The classical worldview says that education can train people to become more virtuous: “through education the student rises to self-government.” Filling our minds with truth, dwelling on goodness, and showing the beauty of virtue will make us better people. The Bible, however, says that fixing our sin problem is not about what we can do, but what God has done for us through Jesus: “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Even as born-again believers, Scripture does not give us a program of self-improvement or behavior modification, but a call for dependence on the Holy Spirit: “be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Trying hard to be good is foreign to the gospel: Jesus says “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5)

Consider an analogy: a man has a terminal disease that is weakening his muscles. The man begins a vigorous workout regime, carefully crafts his diet, and to outward appearances grows stronger. But that disease will sap his strength from the inside out. In the same way, education can produce kind, moral, law-abiding people, but it cannot solve the problem at the root of the human heart. At its worst, education divorced from Scripture produces the hypocrisy that Jesus saw so plainly in the Pharisees: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean” (Matthew 23:25-26).

So what? A full biblical philosophy of education is a topic for another devotional, and I’ve taken enough of your time, dear reader, with my philosophical ramblings. Consider all this an exhortation to think biblically. Even well-intentioned statements can hide unbiblical assumptions (“through education the student rises to self-government”) when not filtered through the lens of Scripture. This week, let’s ask God to reveal if we’ve developed any assumptions or patterns of thinking that run contrary to His Word.

"English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers."

Every time I read this passage my mind goes to Genesis 2:7, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." There is nothing besides the breath of God that can create life.

About 40 years ago I was encouraged to read through the Bible cover to cover because "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16  And His word is what would produce His life in me.

The more I read God's Word the more I began to understand this; The manna in Genesis was the bread that came down from heaven and sustained God's people in the wilderness. And Deuteronomy 8:3 taught me that it's purpose was, "to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.'
 
Although I had been a believer for what seemed like my whole life, when I got to John 1:1 and read "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." and John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…," I think I understood for the first time that Jesus was the utterance of God. All the "I am" verses in John began to become practical to me…"I am the light of the world" (6:3), I am the bread of life" (8:12) "I am the door" (10:7), I am the good shepherd" (10:11), I am the resurrection and the life" (11:25) "I am the way, the truth and the life"(14:6), I am the true vine" (15:1).  Knowing that because Jesus was all these, I knew His Word would produce all of them in me.

Like Ezekiel speaking the word of the Lord over the dry, dead bones and creating life…and even more…like God breathing into the nostrils of man and creating a living being…His word would produce His life in me and that's how I would walk in the Spirit.

I am so grateful for the encouragement given to me so many years ago. As I have continued placing my bookmark where I left off and reading His Word cover to cover every day (I'm not perfect, I do miss once in a while) He teaches me how all of His Word connects. I don't understand some things but  He continues to teach me new mysteries because different things are happening in my life each time I'm reading through it and His Word will come alive more because of that. Deuteronomy 29:29 tells us that " The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the works of this law."
 

I Know Whom I Have Believed
Daniel Webster Whittle
 
Chorus
But I know whom I have believed
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I've committed
Unto Him against that day

Verse 1
I know not why God's wondrous grace
To me He hath made known
Nor why unworthy Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own

Verse 2
I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart
Nor how believing in His word
Wrought peace within my heart

Verse 3
I know not how the Spirit moves
Convincing men of sin
Revealing Jesus through the Word
Creating faith in Him

Verse 4
I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me
Of weary ways or golden days
Before His face I see

Verse 5
I know not when my Lord may come
At night or noonday fair
Nor if I'll walk the vale with Him
Or meet Him in the air
 

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

In my role as a site pastor and a coach, I get a front-row seat to the modern identity crisis. I see it in the youth that I coach as well as the adults that I shepherd. No matter how old you are, there seems to be this constant, exhausting struggle to figure out who we are. Every day we’re bombarded with a never-ending source of noise. It comes from culture, advertisements, and worse - the unyielding algorithms of our social media feeds that are tailor-made to tell us who we are, what to think, and how to feel. We’re bombarded with digital megaphones telling us who we should be, how we should look, and how our lives would be so much better if we just had (insert your latest purchase here). I think it makes sense to look to the people around us to help us find our footing; the problem is that human perception is fickle and frankly inaccurate. We need a reliable, unchanging source to tell us who we are.

In the verse above, God says to Jesus, “You are my beloved Son.” What an enduring title that communicates so much. First, we see God as Father, Provider, and Protector. Then we see Jesus as a beloved, created, image-bearing son of the Father. And perhaps the most encouraging is that this title is bestowed upon Jesus before His earthly ministry begins, before He “does” anything. His identity as a beloved Son was not based on what He produced; it was securely locked in before He “did” anything. Elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus encourages His followers to “pray to the Father who knows our need” (Matthew 6:8), proving that we, too, are adopted as sons and daughters of the Most High God.

With my players, I love to see them perform well and work hard. But as a pastor, I have to remind them of a truth that I remind us of today as well, and that is that your value to God is detached from your performance. God’s voice pushes past the places where we feel awkward, insecure, or burnt out. He looks at us and says, “You are my child. I love you, and am pleased with you right now.” When the world tries to tell you who you should be, remember that the Coach of heaven has already spoken to your soul. God's word is the only source that matters, and it is where we discover exactly who we are.

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

A few years ago Jenn and I went to a marriage conference at Hume Lake. One of the activities offered was dance lessons. Jenn loves to dance and she is very good at it. I stink. So I said, “Hon, why don’t we go take some dance lessons.” She said, “Really? You’d do that for me?” I said, “Absolutely. I just need you to be patient with me because I have a lot to learn.”

We learned the ‘box step’, a ‘waltz’, and a ‘line dance’. In the ‘box step’, I started out pretty awkward and missed a lot of steps. But as we practiced, I started to grow in gracefulness. As we moved around the floor I would say things like ‘slow, slow, quick, quick…one, two, three…side-to-side. As I was learning the steps, more than once I got out of rhythm and stepped on Jenn’s foot. But she was patient with me. And as I got more practice, I got the steps in my head, and I started to get it. Needless to say, I scored major points with my wife that day.

As I thought through the ‘dance steps’, I thought of the rhythms found in James 1:19.

James 1:19b But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.

Quick, slow, slow…Quick, slow, slow. If I want to align with others in communication, I have to follow the rhythm of James 1:19: Quick, slow, slow. But as with learning to dance, I sometimes get out of rhythm. I’m slow to listen to the people I love the most. I jump in with my answer before I’ve heard them out. I get frustrated at what they’re saying and answer quickly out of anger and impatience. And I end up stepping on their toes, rather than gliding gracefully through the conversation.

Let’s take a closer look at each step:

1. Quick to Listen
This means valuing what others have to say over your own words or desires. It means taking the time to understand what’s going on. When my son is expressing frustration at me for something I did, I don’t stop him from sharing what he’s feeling, I let him get it out. When Jenn is venting about something going on at school, I let her get it all out before I say anything. And even after she’s done, I’ve learned that she appreciates me listening more than trying to fix it. If she wants my counsel, I wait for her to ask for it.

2. Slow to speak
I don’t say the first thing that pops into my mind. I wait…and wait. I practice allowing silence. If someone shares an opinion I disagree with, I don’t respond immediately. I think and pray about what words I should use. And whether or not it is worth sharing my own opinion at all. I’ve found that when I share the gospel with someone, and they disagree, I will just ask questions about what they believe, and listen intently. Slow to speak. And then see if God opens a window of opportunity where they ask me what I believe. There’s the platform, and I go for it!

3. Slow to become angry
I’m not an angry person, but impatience is often my response when I’m frustrated. And that makes people feel like I’m angry. To guard myself against anger, I sometimes take a mental, even literal, step back from the person or situation. If someone in my family had a bad day, I don’t let their ‘shortness with me’ or ‘defensiveness’ store up in me. I let them calm down. I pray for words to bring peace into the situation, reminding them I am for them.

Of course none of this is possible without the power of the Holy Spirit within us. To grow in the ‘steps’ quick, slow, slow…quick, slow, slow…it takes prayer, and it takes practice. I’m still not a good dancer, but I’m better. If Jenn and I danced more, I’d get even better. When it comes to the ‘dance’ of aligning with others in communication, keep the rhythm of quick, slow, slow in mind. Quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, and watch your relationships grow.

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

In 2018, I had the opportunity to go on an exposure trip to share the gospel. With this opportunity, we had missionaries who could translate for us, and every day during this exposure trip we would head into the city to go talk to people about faith and the gospel. This was a scary time in my life, having to trust God to talk to people I did not know, in a country I did not live in. I remember the first day of going out to a town we went around asking people questions about faith, and I was so nervous; one of the things that helped me all throughout the trip was that I wasn’t alone, but that I was with another person as part of the team, and we had a translator with us.

One of the days I remember most was when we went to a park in the city where we were staying, and we had an hour to go out and evangelize to someone. Going on this trip, I thought that God could never use my story or my experiences to help someone come to faith all the way in another country. It was me, the college pastor of the church, and a translator who started talking to these three college-aged gentlemen, and the college pastor presented the gospel to them. They then asked why we personally believe, and the college pastor asked me to share my testimony with these three men, so I told them.

We then asked them if they wanted to believe in Jesus after I shared my testimony, and then the three men said yes. We then led them in guided prayer to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and for them to have a restored relationship with God through the gospel. It was an uncomfortable experience to share my testimony, but God doesn’t call us to be comfortable; He calls us to be faithful unto Him, to see Him as the one who causes the growth.

I feel really comfortable praying for you and for me to be laborers of the Harvest rather than actually going out to labor in the harvest. Praying seems easy, and I feel great praying for people to come to faith. Matthew 9:37-38 is a great reminder to pray for more laborers, but it is also a reminder that God has called us to be laborers in the harvest. For this Each One Win One campaign to help unbelievers become believers, we are calling on each of us to pray. Sometimes we can be the answer to our own prayer by sharing the gospel with our unbelieving family member, friend, or coworker. We have to remember it is God who causes the growth.

One of the things that has stuck with me from that moment is that the translator told us it is hard in this country for them to follow up with those they have evangelized who have become nonbelievers, because those people are sometimes visitors to the city. Sometimes they will see the people again, but find that their faith is home. Part of the reason I’m in vocational ministry is those who have discipled me, but it wasn’t they who caused the growth; it was God. All we are told to do is be obedient in this season of Each Win One, and to trust that if we share the gospel, God will cause the growth. I hope and pray that those three men remain faithful believers in the gospel.

Never stop praying that God may answer your prayer that the person you want to come to know Christ may come to know Christ. We expect results quickly in America, but sometimes it takes faithful prayers for a long time to see the abundant results of what God can do. All we’re asking, as we’re in this final season of Each One Win One, is that we all stay obedient to where God has called each of us to share our faith and disciple another. Don’t lose hope; continue to pray and share.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

In the Old Covenant, the temple in Jerusalem had a veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place – the Holy of Holies.  I always thought the veil simply represented the holiness of God.  He is absolutely set apart.  He is utterly removed from sinful man, and no sinner can enter his presence. “Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil…” (Hab 1:13).

But the author of Hebrews opened my eyes.  Yes, the veil represents the barrier between the Holy God and sinful man. But that barrier is more than symbolic.  That barrier is the distance Jesus traveled to save us.  It’s the unfathomable breach between heaven and earth: “we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God…” (v. 14).
 
Not only did Jesus pass through the heavens to come to earth (the incarnation), he passed through the heavens to return to the Father (the ascension).

The role of a High Priest is to function as the Mediator between God and man.  That’s why Jesus is the Great High Priest.  As a man, he is able to sympathize with our weaknesses.  As a man, he was temped in every way, just as we are – yet without sin.  As God, he is able to forgive us, cleanse us of guilt and shame, and bring us into his holy presence: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (v. 16).

Today, meditate on the fact that we have such a Great High Priest!  Think about the distance he traveled and the depths to which he stooped to save us.  Think also about his victory – his resurrection, ascension, and High Priestly ministry in heaven.  At this very moment, he is interceding for you (Heb 7:25).  And because of him, the veil has been torn and we can come boldly into the presence of the Holy God.  What a privilege!  Let’s not waste it.

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

One of the books that is often neglected in the Old Testament is Haggai – named after the prophet who lived in the sixth century B.C.  Haggai ministered in the period after the Babylonian exile, when the Jewish captives had returned to Jerusalem.
 
In the year 536 B.C., the Jews laid the foundation for a new temple on their beloved Mt. Zion, but abandoned the work because of pressure from surrounding enemies.

At that point the word of the Lord came to Haggai, and he said in essence: “Why are you spending all your time, effort and money building up your own houses, while the house of the Lord lies in ruins?  Which house is more important to you?”

Today I’d like to ask you the same question: “which house is more important to you… God’s house or your own house?”
Of course, in the church age the old covenant temple has been replaced by the new covenant temple, made up of the bodies of all believers who are indwelt by the Spirit of God, fit together like living stones (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 2:5).

But the principle remains the same.  Who occupies first place in your list of priorities?  And who gets the firstfruits from your labor?
 
In Haggai’s time it wasn’t God, and the people were suffering for it.

In verse 6, he explains: “You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

Do you ever feel that way?  No matter how hard you work, or how much money you make, it never seems to be enough.  Maybe your purse has a hole in it because you’re not giving your firstfruits to the Lord.  You’re building up your own house rather than investing in God’s house.

If that’s the case, the response is clear. God calls us to trust him with our finances… even more than that – our very lives.  And he promises to bless us (Haggai 2:15-19).
 
So no matter how tight your finances are, or how fearful you may be to give up control of your checking account, will you give God your firstfruits?

Remember the old saying.  We can never out give God.  

The Berean Bible (www.Berean.Bible) Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2020 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved.

The last five Psalms of the Book of Psalms are glorious worship hymns that exhort us to praise our God.  They bring into focus the reality that our lives are to bring glory to God, and that we should enjoy a growing relationship with Him.  The Book of Psalms takes us on a journey as the writers share with us their grief, shame, sins, doubts, and fears.  The people of God are seen in their defeats, victories and ups and downs in life.  James M. Boice writes in his commentary on the Psalms, “Praise is where all true religious contemplation should end.”  The writers share openly their struggles with faith but now, despite all the difficulties, they want to move us toward praising God.

The Hebrew word hallelujah, “Halel” means to praise or tell someone they are very great. Hallelujah is an imperative, an exhortation to praise the Lord, Who has created the world and everything in it.  He is the Lord of lords.  He is the One the Psalmist encourages us to praise.

Jehovah (Yahweh) or the shortened form Jah (Yah), is introduced in the Psalm as the One Who made heaven and earth and keeps truth forever.  He is the covenant keeping God of Jacob.  In this Psalm, the name Jehovah (LORD) is used 11 times and the name God (Elohim) is used 4 times.

The Psalm begins by the Psalmist exhorting the Jewish people, who have returned to Jerusalem following the captivity, to praise the Lord.  There are lessons we can learn about praising God in our everyday life.

The Psalmist not only begins the Psalm in praise of God but fills his life with God’s praise.  He begins the Psalm by exhorting people (plural) to praise the Lord and then he immediately praises the Lord on an individual level.  “While I have being” is literally “in my continuance” and may be expressed, for example, as “while I still exist,” “as long as I am here,” “as long as I have breath,” or “throughout my whole life.”  Today I need to praise the Lord every day of my life.
 
Someday when this life is over, I will be able to praise the Lord better.  I will enter heaven and will be in a much better place to worship God.  No longer will sin influence me or hinder me.  I will be in God’s presence with a glorified body.  I will be able to praise the Lord in ways I could never do this side of heaven.  One of the joys of heaven is that I will be able to praise my God for eternity.  Eternity is forever and each one of us who is there will engage in true worship.  As we learn new truth about our Lord, we will respond in worship for truly He is worthy of all our praise.

Today we live in an entertainment culture.  Everything is to be fun and effortless.  Sadly, this view of life has in some ways entered the modern church to the point we come to church with the idea that we should be entertained.  Often, we have become lazy about our faith and worship.  We become spectators instead of engaging in true worship of our Lord.  Praising God is not something we can do in an apathetic and passive way.  We need to fully engage in worship.  We need to discover the truth and blessing of real worship of our great God.

We cannot enter true worship of a God that we do not know.  We need to have a lifelong desire to know God more, so that we can engage in greater worship of Him.  God has revealed Himself in creation and through the Bible.  The Psalmist encourages us to worship God in a context of teaching truth about God and desires us to reflect on who God is, what He is like and what He has done.

We need to ask ourselves, “How well do I know God?”  To worship Him, we must know who God is.  God has revealed Himself in Scripture and that is why studying the Scriptures is so important.  Through our study, we develop an understanding of God that encourages us to know Him and relate to Him on a personal level.  That is why teaching of the Bible needs to be central in our worship.  Our worship is a response of what we know of God.

Even though we gather as a church to worship God, we must participate in that worship. No one can worship for us…not the choir, ministers, praise team or others.  We worship together in soul and spirit.  The Psalmist calls us as a group to praise God but immediately states his desire to worship the Lord himself.  His individual worship prepared his heart for the corporate times of worship.  Are you spending time in personal worship and praise throughout the week so that when we gather as a church you can unite your hearts with others in true worship of our Great God?

Prayer:  Lord, touch my heart with the truth of Who You are.  I want my heart to respond in worship and praise as I get to know You better.  Draw me to Yourself and may I be overwhelmed with your greatness.  Amen

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

As the world seems to descend further into darkness around us, I think it is timely to remember that we as christians were not guaranteed an easy or prosperous life here on earth. Rather we have actually been promised persecution for Jesus’ name’s sake. A little later on in Matthew 10:22 Jesus says “You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake.” He says you will, not you may, or there’s a chance, He says you will. As Christ followers we are called to be set apart, to be holy as Christ is holy, and the world will hate us and persecute us for it.

Now our persecution is not just so that we will have a miserable time on earth, we are the salt and light, we are to be a witness to the world of the Gospel. We are the representatives of Christ and we must always remember that, especially in the midst of difficulty and persecution. Jesus says in these verses that we will be brought before governors and kings as a testimony, therefore we must not harm that testimony by our behavior or reaction to persecution. We are called to be wise as serpents AND harmless as doves. Whenever we find ourselves being persecuted for our faith we need to stop and think how our reaction will be a witness and testimony for Christ in the midst of our circumstances.

So how should we react to when the world targets us, restricts us, silences us, or harms us? Well we should turn our eyes towards heaven and pray. Pray for God’s justice, pray for deliverance, pray that we ourselves would not give into the temptation to fight evil with evil, and pray for those who are persecuting us. God promises us that He will give us the words to say in the hour we need it. He will be there as our Defender and Shield and will be with us always. Remember in the hard times, when it matters the most to lean on Him and not on yourself so that your life can proclaim the Gospel until the end.

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

If you’ve spent any amount of time in church, you know there are lots of Bible stories we love. Noah’s Ark, David and Goliath, Jesus walking on water: these decorate our classroom walls and illustrate our sermons. But the Bible is full of stories that receive less attention. Some of them are... unusual. Balaam and his talking donkey, Ehud the left-handed assassin, or the two she-bears that mauled the boys who made fun of Elisha. Others, however, could be considered hidden gems.

One of my favorite “hidden gem” Bible stories is from 2 Samuel 9, during the height of David’s reign over Israel. In the midst of a well-earned peace, David remembers his promise to treat Jonathan and his house with kindness (1 Samuel 20:15-16) and asks if Jonathan has any living descendants. He discovers there is one, a young man and contender for strangest name in the Bible: “Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth, however, is a cripple, apparently because he was dropped as a child (2 Samuel 4:4).

When Mephibosheth is summoned to David’s presence, he falls on his face (2 Samuel 9:6). Mephibosheth is probably afraid for his life—in the ancient Near East, the common practice of monarchs was to eliminate all members of the previous dynasty to secure their power. (The evil queen Athaliah attempts this in 2 Kings 11.) David responds to Mephibosheth by calling his name: I imagine it was spoken softly, with deep care and compassion. What happens next probably exceeded Mephibosheth’s wildest dreams: not only does David “show [him] kindness” (2 Samuel 9:7), but Mephibosheth receives all the lands of Saul’s family and a seat at the royal table for as long as he lives. Mephibosheth responds with gratitude and abject humility: “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?” (2 Samuel 9:8).

It’s a short story, but a significant one. Within the narrative of 1-2 Samuel, this story demonstrates that David really is “a man after God’s own heart.” David is gracious, merciful, and compassionate, just as God is (Psalm 145:8-9). Other kings might have executed or exiled Mephibosheth, but David elevates him to a place of honor, at the same table with his own sons (2 Samuel 9:11). In this, David points forward to a future King of Israel, who also loved the lame and ate with those the world said were undeserving. One commentator called this passage “the greatest illustration of grace in all the Old Testament.”

In another sense, this interaction between David and Mephibosheth parallels God’s relationship to we who are undeserving sinners. Like Mephibosheth, we were fallen, broken, dwelling away from the king’s presence, and fearful of God’s wrath (which we deserve, Ephesians 2:3). But like David, God brought us near, showed us kindness, gave us an inheritance, brought us into his presence... and ultimately treats us as his children (Ephesians 2:5-7). Even now, as believers, we may sometimes hesitate to come into the presence of God, feeling overwhelmed by our own guilt, shame, or sense of unworthiness. But like that one word that fell from David’s lips... “Mephibosheth...” so God calls us into His presence by name. The author of Hebrews puts it this way: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” May the story of Mephibosheth encourage us to draw near to God, whose grace and compassion far exceed that of David.

"English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers."

For the most part I think I have a pretty good track record for not getting too riled up over unexpected problems. Between my husband Gary and I, I'm the one over his shoulder as he's trying to take care of an issue on the phone saying, "Don't get too irritated, 'A kind answer turns away wrath.'" But just as this last heat wave hit with a vengeance and 3 weeks before I was to leave for 10 days on a "sibling" vacation our air conditioner went out. The first 2 days we stuck it out and then our daughter and son-in-law graciously, and a little urgently, requested that we go stay with them.

This account isn't really about the events of the next 3 weeks as we tried to work out the details to get it fixed. It is really about the struggle that warred in my spirit. For some reason I couldn't rest in the Lord through the delays. I'd think I was giving my frustrations to Him and then another phone call would set me on edge again. Gary and I had switched roles. He was the one encouraging me, "Trust the Lord. God will work it out He will take care of us." I so wanted to not just believe that in my mind, but to feel that rest in my heart…the overwhelming anxiety just kept coming back.

Then our Pastor Gene's daily devotional notification showed on my phone screen. It was the day after it was posted but the title caught my attention…"Trustin God in the Storms of Life…" from August 13. The passage he was referring to was Luke 8:22-25 and he reminded us that Jesus was in the boat, asleep and unnerved as the disciples exhausted all their efforts before coming to Him. They had forgotten the Lord's initial promise to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." Jesus had told them from the beginning that they were going to get to the other side.

As I read that I was reminded of so many verses of comfort that Jesus would be with me in times of trouble. And really, with so many tragedies occurring around me…why was I having such a difficult time with a broken AC!!

I learned so many things about myself throughout the past month and am still learning. But when I saw this passage in Jeremiah 51:19-23 I was reminded that the Lord is a fighter of battles. He doesn't shirk from them, I can trust Him in the fight.

We are back in our home now, the AC is fixed. I can look back and see so many elements of how the Lord worked… in His timing and provision. I wish I had handled it with more grace and patience but it helps me to see life from that perspective. I make mistakes.. We are flawed people and need the drawing of His loving Spirit to teach us wisdom and right living. I'm so grateful He loves me like that!

Jesus Loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong

Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.