Light – God's story through my life from 2005 to eternity…

Looking ahead requires that we have light to see where we are going…

As today begins and a new stage of life is about to begin, my hope and trust are in God as He takes my oldest into a new world. He is taking her into a new and exciting adventure where she will get to be trained and led to be able to save lives. With her background and degree in Pastor Ministries along with all the leadership and life experiences of mission trips and getting to be a representative on the church’s missions board, God is setting her up to be right where He needs her to be to change lives and glorify Him. So I decide today to lean in on God both for my oldest as well as for my wife and other kids. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness! Today will be an emotional day and yet I am so proud of her and excited for all God is going to do in and through her. 2022 is just the beginning of what is yet to come!

Verse of the Day:

‘Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. ‘
Psalms 119:105

Are you ready for 2022 and how God is about to do something new? Would you consider fasting and prayer over the first week of the year to help you draw closer to Him and receive His wisdom and direction for what is yet to come? Are you ready to walk out this year in His light? Are you ready to walk out this year within the beam of His lamp? Are you ready to be a part of something new?

Today’s post from Be The Dads is: Day 2 – Loving Your Family the Way God Loves You

Dad Tired and Loving It – Day2

So are you ready for the light? Are you in need of the light like Paul formerly known as Saul did? Are you aware that you need the light and are you ready to step into it? Could today be the start of something incredible?

Let’s pray:

Dear God
I admit I am a sinner and need your forgiveness; I believe that Jesus Christ died in my place paying the penalty for my sins. I am willing right now to turn from my sin and accept Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord. I commit myself to you and ask you to send the Holy Spirit into my life, to fill me and take control, and help me become the kind of person you want me to be. Thank you Father for loving me. In Jesus' name.
Amen

As we step into our today, let’s pray:

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us . And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

Why such division when we are so closely related?

What’s going on in this world that is causing such division instead of unity? What’s going on in this world that is causing so much separation and disconnectedness instead of connections? What would it take for people to align? What would it take for people to unite? What would it take for people to agree?

As I considered the origin, the beginning, and if it could be shown that everyone goes back to a single mother, I came across this article: Science confirms how we all really are descended from ‘Eve’. From the Bible, we read that it all started with Adam and Eve and as such we should be one big happy family. Unfortunately, like many of the dysfunctional families in the Bible, we find in society we run into human nature and selfish desires. We can see how even the family tree that led to Jesus had troubles too. The thing we can learn from and through Jesus though is that we don’t have to be defined or limited by our heritage. We can be different and make a difference no matter what our family tree looks like. Could it just be that families are messy and that we just need to come together in love to patch things up?

Let’s check out Jesus’s family tree for a moment:

‘The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son (descendant) of David, the son (descendant) of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers [who became the twelve tribes of Israel]. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Aminadab, Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David the king. D avid was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa. Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jeconiah [also called Coniah and Jehoiachin] and his brothers, at the time of the deportation (exile) to Babylon. After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah (Christ). So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen; from David to the Babylonian deportation (exile), fourteen generations; and from the Babylonian deportation to the Messiah, fourteen generations. ‘
Matthew 1:1-17

Through Jesus’s lineage we find dysfunction although not all of it from a bad perspective:

Abraham unfairly banished Ishmael
Hagar rationlized that God favours some people over others
Jacob stole his brother Esau’s birthright through scheming and dishonesty
David committed adultery, had the husband of his mistress murdered, and married her to try and cover up a pregnancy
Tamar seduced her father-in-law so that she could have a child
Rahab who was a prostitute
Ruth who had a good reputation even though her people didn’t

Just as Jesus didn’t hide the dysfunction, as we get to read about it in the Word of God, Jesus didn’t hide skeletons in His closet but instead, He shone the light on it for the truth is what sets us free! Jesus’s lineage had broken people and wanted to make sure we know we aren’t alone, He is God with us! We all have a choice to receive Jesus into our hearts and lives! We all have a choice to allow the past to hold us back or to shine a light on it and break free of the strongholds and soul ties. We all get to choose if the past will hold us from becoming who God created us to be or if we will become the fullness of who God created us to be. We all have free will and we all get to choose for ourselves if we will be transformed and spend eternity with God or apart from God! It’s a choice! It’s a decision! It’s personal! So you get to decide your final destination and if you will bring Jesus into your life to help you get there or not.

So are you ready? Are you willing? Do you realize how close it is? It’s not out there somewhere but rather it is close enough for you to reach out and grab it!

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for November 7^th

Always Within Reach

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:

‘And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; ‘
Acts 17:26-27

Let’s grab the surrounding context and use the Amplified version for additional details too:

‘So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I observe [with every turn I make throughout the city] that you are very religious and devout in all respects. Now as I was going along and carefully looking at your objects of worship, I came to an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you already worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who created the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, because it is He who gives to all [people] life and breath and all things. And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands and territories. This was so that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grasp for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist [that is, in Him we actually have our being], as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ So then, being God’s children, we should not think that the Divine Nature (deity) is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination or skill of man. Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives], because He has set a day when He will judge the inhabited world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed and destined for that task, and He has provided credible proof to everyone by raising Him from the dead.” Now when they heard [the term] resurrection from the dead, some mocked and sneered; but others said, “We will hear from you again about this matter.” So Paul left them. But some men joined him and believed; among them were Dionysius, [a judge] of the Council of Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.’
Acts 17:22-34 (Sermon on Mars Hill)

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

Do you realize that you have to connect with others before you can share the Good News of Jesus?
Do you realize that you have to have a relationship with others before they will allow you to speak into their lives?
Do you realize that you have to understand others before you can speak the hope of Jesus into their lives?
Through conversion, connections, relationships, and understanding, we will be able to find common ground and areas in which to share and discuss the truth of God!
We need to love people with God’s unconditional love!
Do you realize that God is in control? He always has been, is, and will be!
Do you realize God’s plans for people isn’t about governments?
Do you realize God’s plans for people isn’t about rulers?
Do you realize God’s plans for people isn’t about philosophies?
Do you realize God’s plan for people is all about salvation?
Have you noticed how through history, God uses grace to get people’s attention?
Have you noticed how through time, God uses grace to prepare their hearts to receive the Good News, the message of love and hope, the message of Christ?
Your role may be to till the soil of people’s hearts. Your role may be to water or plant seeds into the hearts of people. Realize that whatever your role, it is all to share God’s grace in preparation for them to be ready to hear and embrace God’s message of Jesus and forgiveness!
Do you realize how many people are out there? Do you realize they are in your family? Do you realize they are in your neighborhood? Do you realize they are amongst your friends? Do you realize that this is so that nobody is ever too far away or out of reach? We are always within reach of those with seeking hearts!
So let’s be ready!
Let’s study people!
Let’s ask discovery questions!
Let’s keep an eye out for those sprinkles of grace we can grab onto and connect them to God through!
Through those moments of grace, we are able to share the story of how we found Jesus and how He transformed our life.
He isn’t out there somewhere! He is Immanuel, God with us! He’s never too far from each person we know!

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

What are some glimpses of God’s grace in people’s lives around you?
What are some questions you can ask and topics you can discuss to connect them with God’s grace?

QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

“Many times people complain that God is not using them. God cannot do much through us until He gets in us.”
— Confessions of a Happy Christian By Ziglar, Zig

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

Nehemiah 4 – don’t give up because of the rejection or resistance of others. Don’t allow your fear of man to outweigh your faith in God! Invite God into your situation.
Nehemiah 5 – choose to live your life in a way that won’t give room for reproach to your enemies.
Nehemiah 6 – Stand strong in the faith! Fear Not, Just Believe!

So where are you today? Are you dealing with a messy family tree? Are you dealing with division and discord? Are you dealing with struggles and challenges? Are you dealing with division and distrust? Are you dealing with disconnects and aloneness? Are you ready for a change? Are you ready to turn to God and invite Him into your situation? Are you ready to invite Jesus into your heart and allow true transformation to take place? Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father
I come to you in prayer asking for the
forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my
mouth and believe with my heart that
Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the
Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven.
and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of
Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose
from the dead and I ask you right now to
come in to my life and be my personal
Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and
will Worship you all the day's of my Life!
Because your word is truth, I confess with
my mouth that I am Born Again and
Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus
Name, Amen — Heavenly Father
I come to you in prayer asking for the
forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my
mouth and believe with my heart that
Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the
Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven.
and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of
Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose
from the dead and I ask you right now to
come in to my life and be my personal
Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and
will Worship you all the day’s of my Life!
Because your word is truth, I confess with
my mouth that I am Born Again and
Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus
Name, Amen

Did you pray with me?
Would you be willing to leave me a com m ent so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision?
Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?

The Power of light!

Ever been in a dark room with a little candle? Ever lit that little candle, keeping it low and seen what it shows or reveals? Ever lit that little candle, lifting high and noticing how much more you can see? That little light source can penetrate all that darkness and help you to see. Ever been in a situation where there are others with that same little candle? Ever seen the room light up when everyone is willing and lifts up their candles too? Light over darkness!

If you are interested in seeing what this experience is like (found this picture from back in 2017)

So what do you do when you are faced with darkness? How do you respond when you encounter darkness? Are you prepared? Do you have a light source? How are you going to respond? What if the darkness you face isn’t in the physical realm but is darkness in the spiritual realm? Are you prepared in that case too? Do you have a light source?

Do you realize when you are in the darkness? Have your eyes adjusted to the point where you don’t remember what it is like or was like to walk in the light? Do you realize how far you are able to see or not see as the case may be? Do you stumble in the darkness? Do you have to go slower and take smaller steps in the darkness? Do you have to be more cautious since you aren’t able to see what is around you? How will you respond? What can you do?

In the physical world do you have an emergency kit or plan so you can have or get light? In the spiritual world do you have an emergency kit or plan so that you can have or get light?

Let’s grab hold of this truth from God’s Word which is light:

Amplified translation says it like this: ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. ‘ Psalms 119:105

When it is dark, will you worship? Would you consider calling to God and praising Him in the midst of it all? Let’s pause before we get into today’s devotional and listen to a song together:

Amy Grant – Thy Word (Lyric Video)

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for October 24^th

Stumbling in Darkness

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:

‘Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me.’
Micah 7:8

Let’s grab some extra context and details using additional verses and the Amplified version:

‘But as for me, I will look expectantly for the Lord and with confidence in Him I will keep watch; I will wait [with confident expectation] for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me [amid my tragedies], O my enemy! Though I fall, I will rise; Though I sit in the darkness [of distress], the Lord is a light for me. I will bear the indignation and wrath of the Lord Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light, And I will behold His [amazing] righteousness and His remarkable deliverance. Then my enemy [all the pagan nations] shall see it, And shame [for despising the Lord ] will cover her who said to me, “Where is the Lord your God?” My eyes will look on her [with satisfaction at her judgment]; Now she (unbelievers) will be trampled down Like mud of the streets. It shall be a day for building your walls, On that day the boundary [of Israel] shall be [greatly] extended. It shall be a day when the Gentiles will come to you From Assyria and from the cities of Egypt, And from Egypt even to the river Euphrates, From sea to sea and from mountain to mountain. Yet the earth [beyond the land of Israel] shall become desolate because of those who dwell in it, Because of the fruit of their deeds. Shepherd and rule Your people with Your scepter [of blessing], The flock of Your inheritance and Your possession Which dwells alone [separate and secure from attack] in the forest, In the midst of a garden land. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead As in the days of old [the days of Moses and Elijah]. “As in the days when you came out from the land of Egypt, I shall show you marvelous and miraculous things.” The [pagan] nations shall see [God’s omnipotence in delivering Israel] and be ashamed Of all their might [which cannot be compared to His]. They shall put their hand on their mouth [in silent astonishment]; Their ears shall be deaf. They shall lick the dust like a serpent; Like crawling things of the earth They shall come trembling out of their fortresses and hiding places. They shall turn and come with fear and dread to the Lord our God And they shall be afraid and stand in awe before You [O Lord ]. Who is a God like You, who forgives wickedness And passes over the rebellious acts of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He [constantly] delights in mercy and lovingkindness. He shall again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our wickedness [destroying sin’s power]. Yes, You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. You shall give truth to Jacob And lovingkindness and mercy to Abraham, As You have sworn to our forefathers From the days of old.’
Micah 7:7-20

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

Ever noticed all the bad things that are taking place around you and around the world?
Ever compared them to what the prophet Micah was condemning God’s people of and for?
Sins like:
- murdering members of their own family
- practicing bribery
- corruptions in politics
- oppressing the poor
- defying their parents
We can check that out in the verses prior to the ones we reviewed above:
- ‘Woe is me (judgment is coming)! For I am Like one who gathers the summer fruits, like one who gleans the vintage grapes. There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, No first-ripe fig which my appetite craves. The godly person [who is faithful and loyal to God] has perished from the earth, And there is no upright person [one with good character and moral integrity] among men. They all lie in wait to shed blood; Each hunts the other with a net. Concerning evil, both of their hands pursue it and do it diligently and thoroughly; The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe, And a great man speaks the [evil] desire of his soul. So they twist the course of justice between them. The best of them is [injurious] like a briar; The most upright is [prickly] like a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen [that is, the time predicted by the prophets] And your punishment comes; Now shall be their confusion. Do not trust in a neighbor [because of the moral corruption in the land]; Do not have confidence in a friend. Guard the doors of your mouth From her who lies in your bosom. For the son dishonors the father and treats him contemptuously, The daughter rises up [in hostility] against her mother, The daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— A man’s enemies are the men (members) of his own household. ‘
  — Micah 7:1-6
Do you realize what such a time of sin can do and cause to the society as a whole?
Do you realize the darkness that can come out of this?
How do you think the people today will, have, or are going to respond?
Do you think the people of today can receive this message and turn back to God?
Do you think the people of today, God’s people, can respond with humility and courageous faith?
Do you think the people of today, God’s people, will admit and confess they stumbled in their self-made darkness and turn back to God in faith believing His promises to forgive, restore, and give them light again?
We find in Micah’s time they did.
Are you stuck in sin? Are you ready to be like these people and turn back to God?
Have you gone down the wrong road for a long time?
Are those destructive habits feeling comfortable to you?
How will you respond to the need for change? Will you see it as threatening?
Are you ready to step out of the darkness into the light or will you keep looking for excuses to stay in the darkness? in your darkness?
Are you ready to step into God’s light and have the darkness flee or are you going to complain that nobody understands?
Are you ready to step into God’s light and have the darkness flee or are you going to complain that change is too hard?
Are you ready to step into God’s light and have the darkness flee or are you going to complain that you’ll just fail again so why bother trying?
Are you ready to step into God’s light with boldness and courage rather than avoiding it because of self-pity?
A quote from from today’s devotional goes like this:

An alcoholic explained that she felt more comfortable with the destruction of her addiction than the prospect of change: “It may be hell, but at least I know the names of the streets.”
— Stumbling in Darkness – Oct 24th – The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard

Let’s choose to be like God’s people and not use excuses!
Let’s choose to be like God’s people and express our faith in God’s mercy!
Let’s choose to be like God’s people and take action to step out of the darkness and into the light!
Let’s be bold and courageous so that we can get out of that situation that wounded us!
Let’s be bold and courageous so that we can get out of that situation that sin or addition that got us stuck!

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

In what ways is staying in darkness easier and more attractive than taking positive steps towards change?
How can a person overcome feelings of self-pity and take steps forward?

QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
― Maya Angelou

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

So where are you at today? Are you needing some increased visibility with some light? Are you ready to invite Jesus into your heart as the light of the world? Are you ready to start spending time in God’s Word so that you have His light and lamp to help you move forward? Are you ready to take the step of change that will change your eternal destiny? Let’s pray:

In the darkness can you spot the light? Sins vs Repentance! Mistakes vs Forgiveness! Destiny!

Are you aware of the mistakes you have made? Are you aware of where or when you went off the straight path? Are you able to tell when you walked out of the light and into the darkness? Are you ready to face it and bring it into the light? Are you ready to confess to your mistakes and missteps? Are you ready to overcome hate with love? Are you ready to overcome darkness with light? Are you ready to overcome mistakes with forgiveness?

Do you realize that in the beginning there was darkness and God turned on the lights? Do you realize that Jesus came to help intensify and reveal His light to the world? Do you realize that ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ‘? So are you ready to face the reality that there are many who prefer the darkness to the light? Are you ready to take on the fact that there are people who love darkness over light in order to avoid having their sins exposed? Are you ready to draw closer to God who is light and has no darkness in Him? Are you ready to have clear sight and allow the light to enter through them in order to fill your entire body with light? Let’s decide to turn from our own wicked ways, stop taking pleasure in doing wrong, and stop enjoying living twisted evil ways! Let’s step out of the ignorance of walking in the dark and grab a hold of wisdom and truth by stepping in the light! Let’s choose to live with God in the light! Let’s choose to walk in the light in order to know where we are going and avoid stumbling around and getting lost in the darkness! Don’t be fooled by the wicked who are in and trying to draw you into the darkness and trip you up, causing you to stumble! Let’s choose LOVE so that the light will shine brightly into the world around us! Let’s choose to love God and love one another so that the light will be amplified! Even like the moon in the dark sky reflecting the light of the sun, let’s be light in this dark world by reflecting the light of the Son, Jesus Christ! Are you ready to expose the fruitless deeds by shining light on them? Are you ready for Jesus to return and in preparing getting rid of and taking off the old self, the dark deeds, and putting on the shiny armor of God which is right living? Are you ready to start living your life in righteousness? Let’s choose God’s wisdom which is like walking in the light over walking and stumbling in the dark! So let’s choose salvation through Jesus Christ so that there will be light and joy and hope and love in and through our lives! Let’s make the decision to repent and trust in Jesus Christ! Let’s make the decision to turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Let’s decide our final destination! For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation.

Turn on the light! Step into the light! Step out of the darkness! Be transformed!

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for October 9th

Embrace The Darkness

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:

‘And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.’
Exodus 20:20-21

Reading this makes me curious about the context and more details and so let me find a bit more detail and incorporate the Amplified translation. It is interesting to see the giving of the 10 commandments and how people responded to God’s presence.

‘Now all the people witnessed the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the smoking mountain; and as they looked, the people were afraid, and they trembled [and moved backward] and stood at a [safe] distance. Then they said to Moses, “You speak to us and we will listen, but do not let God speak to us or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him [that is, a profound reverence for Him] will remain with you, so that you do not sin.” So the people stood at a [safe] distance, but Moses approached the thick cloud where God was. ‘
Exodus 20:18-21

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

Are you in a time of darkness?
Have you been in a time of darkness recently?
Was it through tragedy?
Was it through loss?
Was it through confusion?
Was it through failure?
Was it through rejection?
Was it through spiritual emptiness?
How did you respond?
Were you so filled with light and love that you were able to take it head on?
Were you able to turn to God, cry out to God, lean on God, draw closer to God?
Were you able to walk it out with God?
Imagine getting the 10 Commandments from God and being Moses.
Imagine being the people who waited at the bottom of the mountain and are experiencing the sun blocked out by the smoke from the mountain, the trumpets blared, thunder boomed, lightning struck.
Consider the state of mind, their emotions and how they could be different based on their experiences.
The people were filled with fear because of the incredible and terrifying display of God’s majesty!
Can you imagine how they would rather hear from Moses as less intimidating and more on their level?
Imagine the fear of death from hearing God’s voice.
Moses has had past experiences and encounters with God and as such he wasn’t filled with fear.
Imagine having gotten to have the burning bush experience, the meeting with God and getting the 10 Commandments, his dealings with pharaoh, the parting of the Red Sea, the water from the rock, the manna from heaven, the quail from the sky, and so many more things that had built up and strengthen his faith and trust in God!
He knew that God was faithful no matter what!
When we are filled with faith, even when others step away from the challenge or the thread of darkness, we like Moses can move towards it, trusting in God!
He trust God was there!
When we face darkness our response speaks to our current faith levels.
If we step back or we step forward, it indicates the state of our faith and if it is weak and needs to be strengthened or strong and ready to go!
So let’s move in faith! Let’s allow God to strengthen us through our live experiences!
Let’s not lose hope! Let’s not fear! Let’s trust in God!
Let’s allow our experiences of seeing God’s faithfulness, grace, and power empower us to keep going!

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

How do you usually respond in times of confusion and darkness?
What do you need to do to strengthen your faith so that you move toward God in times of darkness?

QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

“Anxiety is not only a pain which we must ask God to assuage but also a weakness we must ask Him to pardon; for He’s told us to take no care for the morrow.”
— (Clive Staples) C. S. Lewis
Into The Wardrobe

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

So where are you at today? Are you ready to walk into the light? Are you ready to step out of the darkness? Are you ready to cast your cares on God because He cares for you? Are you ready to ask God to forgive you? Are you ready to stop worrying about tomorrow and focusing on today? Let’s pray:

Let your light shine!

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

How about you?

Will you let your light shine?

As you prepare for your day today, will you let your light shine in this dark world? Are you prepared to let your light shine even if it is currently but a little light? Do you realize the impact that light has in darkness? Ever been in a dark room with a candle and then raised it up and see how much it lights up the room? So today, let’s let our lights shine so that the world will see it and glorify our Father in Heaven and people will be directed to the source of light!

Have you ever grasped at the reality that there is no darkness in God?

‘This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ‘
— 1 John 1:5

So as we invite Jesus into our hearts we can allow that light in us to shine through us and from us into the world around us that others may get to see the love of God and find hope!

The One Year Daily Insights
with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for June 15th

Like Neon Signs

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:

‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.’
Matthew 5:16

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

When people see your light what do they see?
If we compare ourselves to the signs lit up at night, we can consider what it is our light is selling or telling others.
Is your light bright or barely flickering?
Is your light big and bold or more subdued?
Either way, your light is speaking, saying, advertising something.
As you step into this dark world, what message are you looking to communicate?
As you step into this dark world, what will people notice when they spot your light? your neon sign of life?
What design are you giving to your life sign?
How have you decided to let it or make it shine for others to see?
Do you realize the impact of your design for your light on the world around you?
Are you advertising God’s grace?
Are you advertising God’s mercy?
Are you advertising God’s kindness?
Are you advertising God’s forgiveness?
Are you advertising God’s purposes?
Does your sign need some tweaking?
Does your sign need some updating?
Has your life caused your sign to look one way but God needs you to update it for His purposes?
When you need to, you have the ability and the opportunity to update and change your sign!
God’s grace can transform our hearts and in so doing allows us to change our sign!
God’s grace can transform our heart and so we can similarly change our sign to better reflect and represent who He is in and through our lives!
Where are you at today? Does your light sign need a redesign?
Where are you at today? Does your light sign need some bulbs replaced?
Where are you at today? Does your light sign need some brighter or bigger lights?
Where are you at today? What are you advertising?
Where are you at today? What do you want your sign to say?

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

Describe what your sign has looked like for the last couple of months.
What changes need to happen so that your sign points people to the grace and truth of your Father in heaven?

QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

“Every sin is the distortion of an energy breathed into us – an energy which, if not thus distorted, would have blossomed into one of those holy acts whereof ‘God did it’ and ‘I did it’ are both true descriptions.”
— C. S. Lewis

“Man was designed for accomplishment, engineered for success and endowed with the seeds of greatness.”
— Zig Ziglar

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

So do you have enough fuel in you from God to let your light shine bright? Do you have the right fuel in you from God so that when your light shines it is pointing people to God? Do you need some of that fuel today to help you step up and step out and step into this dark world? Let’s pray

Can you see the light through the darkness?

On a clear night with a full moon there are times when you wouldn’t know night time, you may even see a shadow. On a cloudy night there are times where it is so dark you can barely see anything, but our eyes find any light they can grab a hold of. But what happens when you close your eyes in those times? What happens when you don’t know what you are walking out into? Can you see the light through the darkness?

Do you realize there are times in life where it can feel that way too? When someone speaks going through some dark times it usually means it was a time of despair, sadness, and without hope. When you can’t see the light in those dark times, it makes it really hard to move forward. Without the hope you might even give up trying or moving forward. Times when you just don’t think you can go on. Times when you don’t think the hurt will go away. Times when we couldn’t find any rhyme or reason to what was going on. So what do you do? Will you be willing to turn to someone in order for the light to get turned back on in this darkness?

Will you turn to someone you know? Will you turn to God and put your trust in Him that in the right time He will make a way even when we don’t see it and can’t find it? Will you invite God into the situation to be your light and your hope? Will you allow fellow believers into your situation in order for them to speak love and life and hope? Will you trust God for the answers?

Don’t put all your trust in money instead of God! God is love and there is no darkness in Him! The love of money is the root of all evil! Money can’t buy you love! God is offering it to you for free! Do you realize how much God loves you? God loves you so much that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. God didn’t send Jesus to the world to cause more doom and gloom not even to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. The thing is will we trust Him and invite Him into the situation. I know that 2020 was a dark time for me and many others. In my case it required leaning in on God a lot and trusting Him for wisdom and direction and that in the right time He would make a way. I didn’t make sense. It wasn’t easy. I depended on Him through His Word, His Spirit, and His people. Instead of falling into despair or depression, I fell into God’s hands and trust Him to get me through it. I would ask if it was time for a change or to move on but He never said yes. I would ask Him what should I do or what could I do and He kept saying to love and to forgive. In the midst of the darkness He wanted me to be light. In the midst of so many lives being impacted He wanted me to be salt in order to season people’s lives for His glory. So I had to press in and I had to press on through the troubles because I could take heart because Jesus has overcome the world! (See John 16:33 and 1 John 5:4) I had to press in and press on, considering it pure joy when I face trials of many kinds. James 1 continued to remind me:

‘ Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.’
James 1:2-4

So I made it and so can you. Let’s build up our endurance in faith. Let’s build up our steadfastness and patience in faith. Let’s allow them to be strengthened and fully developed so that we can become such faith filled people and receive all that God has prepared and planned for us so that we can join Him being complete and lacking nothing!

If it feels like it is going from dark to darker to darkest, remember that it is always darkest before the dawn!

Let’s be willing to turn to God and hear from God and then do what He says. Imagine being the widow that Elisha told to go and get vessels to pour her jug of oil into. How many vessels would you get? How much would you trust God and as such how many vessels would you go and get to be filled? Would you get your family involved to be a part of the miracle? Imagine how the darkness of that day brightened up. Imagine how that experience changed the perspective and faith of her kids. Let’s help them to see God’s hand at work in and through us!

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for May 4th

Even in the dark

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:

‘If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.’
Psalms 139:11-12

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

Consider all the dark times David went through
Consider the times when it looked like the light of hope wouldn’t shine again
Consider the attacks
Consider the betrayals
Consider the threats
Consider when he betrayed by having an affair with Bathsheba
Consider when he betrayed by trying to cover up the affair
Consider when he betrayed by having her husband, one of his soldiers killed
Do you remember a time when you had to deal with pitch darkness in your spiritual life?
Do you remember having no visibility and thinking that nobody else would be able to see too?
Do you remember the hopelessness?
Do you remember the fear, worry, and doubts?
Be willing to hear and listen to what God is telling you!
Be willing to invite God into the situation!
I remember the downward spiral of not being willing to forgive
I remember the darkness and loneliness in those times
Remember that in our darkest moments God can still see clearly!
Take hold of that in order to allow that hope to help you keep going!
Just because we can’t see light, we can have hope like David did because we know that God can see through it all!
God sees us! He sees us when we are in the pit! He sees us when it is pitch dark! He sees all things clearly!
So no matter what it is or what we are going through, let’s hold onto the confidence that comes from our God!

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

Describe a time when you felt in the dark spiritually and emotionally.

Check out the video description on YouTube by searching godaddy story slam forgiveness – you will find a video titled GoDaddy Story Slam Phil Davidson. Feel free to pause here and watch and hear my story. It is a story I have been able to share and seen many other people’s lives touched because they decided to forgive. I have been approached to talk with people by divine appointment so that I could share this story to help them in their dark time. (wanted to make sure to provide this information for those listening to a podcast as I am embedding the video below)

How does it affect you to realize God see clearly even when you can’t see at all?

It helped me get through 2020, never giving up, always getting back up, and thanking God through it all
It helped me connect more with my wife and allowed us more time to share and to pray together
It helped me get more time with my kids and allowed us more time to share over meals.
It kept me going and provided me with a revelation towards the end of 2020 as the new door opened filled with God’s incredible blessings – on top of the ones He gave me through 2020 at home.

QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

“There are seldom, if ever, any hopeless situations, but there are many people who lose hope in the face of some situations.“
– Zig Ziglar

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

Will you let a little light into the darkness? Will you be the light in the darkness? Will you invite God into the darkness? How will you handle those dark days? How will you transform them with the light and hope of God? How will you allow Jesus to transform your life and the life of those He has put around you?

Where are you at today? Are you looking for guidance? Are you wondering where to turn? Are you at the end of your rope and needing help? Are you ready for some help? Are you ready to turn to God and ask? seek? knock? Let’s pray together:

How large of a sign would it take to get your attention?

Would a meteor shower do the trick? What about an alignment in the sky to create a Christmas star? What if you could have the sky light up and show you both of them? What if there was a lunar eclipse? What if there was a solar eclipse? What if there were both within a month? What if the sky then went dark like the end of a movie? What if it were something everyone could see? What if it were something everyone could see at the exact same time? Would it have to happen during the day time or night time? Would timing be a factor in getting your attention through a sign? How big would it have to be? Would it need to take over every media station to get your attention? Would it require some type of an alarm to go off to get your attention? How large of a sign would it take to get your attention?

What if it was on a day when A Comet, A Meteor Shower And A Total Eclipse Of The Sun?

What would be your response to seeing the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth and the sky receded like a scroll being rolled up? Would that be enough to get your attention?

When Jesus first came as a baby, it was a significant enough sign that wise men travelled from far off to come and find him. When Jesus first came as a baby, it was significant enough that the shepherds were not only informed by angels but also went to find him. Are you ready for when Jesus comes back?

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘ She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Savior], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God].’
— Matthew 1:21

Do you realize why you need Jesus? Do you realize what you need to be saved from? Do you realize how you have missed the mark and how Jesus can restore and reconcile you back? Do you realize the plan God has for you? Are you willing to give up your selfish desires in order to pursue His plan and purpose for your life in order to achieve and arrive at the true end and scope of life? Do you want to spend eternity with God or apart from God? Do you want to spend eternity where there is no more sorrow and no more pain or would you rather spend eternity where there will be gnashing of teeth?

Jesus came with the gift of love. Jesus came with the gift of grace. It is up to us if we will choose to accept it and receive it for ourselves.

✨MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU✨

The Weary World Rejoices: A 2020 Advent Devotional

The Advent season typically brings joy and Christmas carols, but maybe this year has been hard for you. In this 5-day plan, you’ll discover how those present at the nativity scene responded to God in the midst of their circumstances, and how their stories can give you hope.
— The Weary World Rejoices: A 2020 Advent Devotional

So today’s focus as we read from God’s Word are (Day 4):

Read: Luke 2:13-14
Day 5 speaks to Angels and how they can be terrifying as the first words angels say to humans is usually “Don’t be afraid” (Lk. 1:13, 30; 2:10, etc.).
We know angels are spiritual beings who serve a variety of roles from warriors to guardians to heralds used by God to deliver His messages.
In the Christmas story we see them as messengers:
- to Zechariah
- to Mary
- to Joseph
- to shepherds
The angels were joyful because they knew the king was arriving to mankind.
The angels knew what the weary world didn’t, that hope was coming.
The angels were ready to tell the shepherds the best news ever
The shepherds didn’t get to experience one angel but a vast number which gives a prelude of the heavenly community that will be praising God before His throne like in Rev 7:9.
Angelic joy was contagious and the shepherds received it and started to share and spread it too
Angelic light illuminated the darkness and the light spread as the shepherds shared the good news.
Are you feeling weary? Are you feeling like it is hard to shine bright? Are you feeling like it is hard to find words to express joy and hope within yourself?
Don’t go it alone! We were never meant to go it alone! Going it alone makes us susceptible to the lies and deception of the devil. Reach out to other believers, in God’s community! Allow them to speak encouragement to you and over you by declaring God’s promises to and over you.
Just like how Mary, Joseph, and Mary were having to deal with life and probably wouldn’t and couldn’t have imagined the roles they were playing in the foundation of Christianity.
When nothing seems to be making sense, we need to do like they did and cling onto the promises of God and put our trust in His goodness!
When everything is feeling hopeless and you are feeling weary, cling onto the promises of God and put our trust in His goodness!
And in the midst of it all then share that with others so that your little light will spread and hope will be available to others when all of a sudden this weary world will rejoice too.
Today’s devotional gives us 3 questions to reflect on: (feel free to read the scripture below and come back to reflect on these questions)

My Notes:

‘ Then suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven (a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor].’
— Luke 2:13-14
Ever considered or reflected on the reality of angels? I know I have, ever since that first Easter play when I got to be the angel at the tomb. I receive the revelation of how frightening the angels would and could be to someone. I also looked at various angelic encounters in the Bible and how many of them started with “don’t be afraid” right before the person screamed. There are angelic visitations in both the old and new testaments. There are angelic visitations like the one where they were recognizable to Lot and Abraham encountered. There are angelic visitations in dreams like Joseph’s encounter and revelation of Jesus as well as when he was to escape to Egypt. There are angelic visitations in visions like we see with Ezekiel and and John. There were the encounters where Balaam’s donkey could see the angel but he couldn’t till the third time. There are the angelic visitations like the ones the shepherds had when they learned about the birth of Jesus.
Angels can be frightening and we read in God’s Word how they tell the people to not be afraid:
- Daniel 10:8-19 – ¹²Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. ¹³But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. ¹⁴Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
- Genesis 21:1-21 – ¹¹The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. ¹²But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring^[b] will be reckoned. ¹³I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”
- Luke 2:1-12 – ⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
- Matthew 28:1-10 – ⁵The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
- Acts 27:1-26 – ²¹After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. ²²But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. ²³Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me ²⁴and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ ²⁵So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. ²⁶Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

Where are you at today? Are you feeling weary? Are you looking for support and encouragement? Are you wanting to get your journey with God started? Let’s pray together.

Advent

What is advent you might ask.

As I start today and consider the synonyms for advent, I consider arrival. Could it be a coincidence that today is the day chosen to reflect on the word advent? As I start today and consider the synonyms for advent, I consider appearance. Could it be a coincidence what arrived and appeared yesterday for my consideration? With other synonyms like development and approach or nearing and advance, what does it say about where I find myself today? When I consider the antonyms of departure or disappearance, and the implication this would have based on the decision it makes me wonder God’s plan and purpose during this time as 2020 is coming to a close.

As I consider and reflect on Jesus and how the word advent applies to Him, it causes me to consider the advent which brought Him into the world as a baby. As my devotional to read the bible in a year was closing it brought me into the book of Revelation where it speaks of the second advent when Jesus is coming back as the victor to wrap things up. Jesus came the first time that I could be saved. Jesus is coming the second time to draw those who have decided to receive Him as their Lord and Savior into the presence of God for the rest of eternity and to take care of the evil once and for all by casting it into the lake of fire. The peace that comes from knowing my name is in the lambs book of life helps me know that this life here is temporary but eternity will be spend with God.

So as I hear someone knocking on the door with a new opportunity, where this time it is being presented to me as a development opportunity, an advancement, a rise, and an emergence from what has taken place over this past year. When the conversation started it reminded me of a previous time when a new opportunity came up and great new and exciting experiences were had. It reminded me of conversations over 20 years ago, conversations 16 years ago, and unlike some of the things that happened more recently these thoughts felt very positive and like a good opportunity.

So is it a time for an advent in my life? Let’s consider words that include advent:

adventurousness – which is an adjective meaning Inclined to undertake new and daring enterprises or Requiring or characterized by boldness or daring; hazardous; risky
adventitiously – which is an adjective meaning Arising from an external cause or factor; not inherent
adventuresome – which is an adjective meaning Inclined to engage in risky activities or enterprises

and there are many more like:

Interestingly what comes to my mind is faith over fear, trust over worry, truth over lies, love over hate, and light over darkness.

Today’s Verse of the Day comes from the book of John:

‘ Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life.’
— John 8:12

So let’s not walk in darkness but walk in the light! Let’s not hold back out of worry or fear but rather let’s step up and step out in faith believing and trusting God!

As I consider this and consider Jesus in the garden right before He was going to be crucified and considering the alternatives available to Him, He spoke the words to the Father:

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
— Luke 22:42

And so the key is to ask God, seek God, and knock. Make the plan and allow God to direct your steps. If it is right then God open the door so wide that I can’t miss it. If it isn’t then God please keep it closed so nobody can open it. My prayer is to accomplish Your will. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Help me Lord with provision of wisdom and discernment on how to proceed. Lord, forgive me for dragging myself through this year as Lord, I forgive all those who have shaken up my world this year to the point of feeling like I was walking on eggshells for a large portion of it. Forgiveness is such an important key as without it the bitter root can take hold and impact every other part of your life. Forgiveness opens up the door to be able to live a James 1:2-4 and John 16:33 type of days filled with joy and hope. Help me to not be tempted or deceived by the lies of the devil and his plans for evil. I ask all this Lord so that You will receive the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Where are you at today? Have you received Jesus into your heart and life? Are you prepared for the celebration of the first advent of Jesus this Christmas season? Are you prepared for the return of Jesus as part of the second advent? Do you want to be sure of your final destination? Why not receive the gift of grace through love and pray with me today?

Did you pray this with me? Would you like to connect and discuss it with me? Would you like to make time to start your walk with Jesus? Do you have questions? Please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.

A decision is better than indecision.

Do you realize that inaction is an action? Do you realize indecision is a decision? Do you realize that a decision is better than indecision? It’s today, the first day of the rest of your life and you will be faced with needing to decide something. Indecision is an option, it just may not be the best one for your current situation. As my day begins it is interesting that a quote was near the beginning of one of my social feeds and it says “Decisiveness Is A Characteristic Of High-Performing Men And Women. Almost Any Decision Is Better Than No Decision At All.” and it comes from Brian Tracy. Yesterday as I was getting back to my reading in the book Chase The Lion by Mark Batterson, a few takeaway notes I captured include comments about how inaction is an action and indecision is a decision. It brought up the interesting question and consideration of how people today are asking if things will ever go back to normal. But is normal where we really want to go? Should we be digging in to see how God would use us and want to us to live? Should we be focusing more on pressing in and pressing on to accomplish the Father’s work or business? As we consider the big picture we need to consider how to process our current situation. Are we at what some might call a tipping point? Are we at a moment in time that would be considered a decisive moment? What is it that God would have us do? Perfect love overcomes fear. There is no need to worry or fear when the Lord is leading us and directing our steps. It calls out how our actions and inactions have eternal ramifications. It calls out how inaction is forfeiting the future. It even called out the quote “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” which has been attributed to Edmond Burke since the 1920s. It spoke of how history has been broken in half by the birth of Jesus and calls us to stop living like we are living in the times B.C. and how rereading the book of Revelation which conveniently is where we find ourselves in our reading plan The 49-Week Challenge, reminds us how love wins and hate loses, how faith wins and fear loses. So as I woke up early this morning and begin blogging and considering God’s will in and through my life, I take hold of these truths as well as some words of wisdom from my reading yesterday that pointed to to fight. We need to fight darkness with light! We need to fight fear with faith! We need to fight hate with hope! We need to take hold of the victory that Jesus has already won as we read yesterday in Revelation 1 that Jesus who was dead is alive forever and holds the keys of death and Hades. So as we begin today we need not fear! So as we begin today we need to remember that with Jesus having already won the victory that we don’t have to worry because the gates of hale can’t and won’t prevail against us!

So let’s grab hold of the truth of Matthew 16:18-19 which says: ¹⁸And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Let’s grab hold of the truth of 1 John 5:4 which says: ⁴for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

So as we begin our today, let’s lean in on the truth of the Word of God and the promises of God for our lives!

Today’s verse of the Day: Isaiah 60:3

‘ And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. [Isa. 2:2, 3; Jer. 3:17.]’
— Isaiah 60:3 AMPC

Let’s turn to God’s Word and hear what it is saying to us and how we must live out these days of our lives!

Some say that hindsight is 2020. So what can we learn from that hindsight to ensure we don’t repeat the troubles or mistakes of the past and move forward pursuing God’s will in our lives? How can we make today count for the glory of the kingdom of God? How can we live out today and be decisive? How can we live out today shining our light to overcome the darkness? How can we live out our today with hope over hate? How can we live out our today with faith to overcome the lies of the devil who comes to rob, kill, and destroy and reject the fear he is trying to create and generate?

The 49 week challenge
Day 314

Want to join me in the challenge? Click Day 314 link to join me and sign up. It is never too late. The 49 week challenge has 6 days in which to notice a promise to trust, a command to obey, a truth to embrace, a warning to heed, or an encouragement to rest in and 1 day to reflect on what you’re learning and to share it with others, to think back over the week’s readings, to see connections between the various passages of the week. Each day we have time to talk to God and contemplate what is being said through His Word, and even more so on the 7th day.

How interested are you in what will happen today? How interested are you in what will be required of you today? How interested are you in what decisions you will need to make today? How interested are you in hearing from God today? How interested are you in accomplishing what God is calling you to do today? What if it were life and death decision? What if it were everlasting life and everlasting death decision? What if the decision that you make today will determine how you will spend the rest of eternity? Would it make a difference?

If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.

Today’s reading
from GOD’S WORD–THE BIBLE:

My Notes:

Repent and return to your first love with the passion you once had
Don’t give up through the trials and troubles and suffering
Live as the new creation God has created you to be with a new name
Don’t fall into the unacceptable practices of society
Reject false doctrines and hold fast to what God has spoken through His Word
Reflect on the lessons of the churches

‘ “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’ To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’ —just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
— Revelation 2:1-29
‘Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu son of Hanani concerning Baasha: “I lifted you up from the dust and appointed you ruler over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins. So I am about to wipe out Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat. Dogs will eat those belonging to Baasha who die in the city, and birds will feed on those who die in the country.” As for the other events of Baasha’s reign, what he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? Baasha rested with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah. And Elah his son succeeded him as king. Moreover, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani to Baasha and his house, because of all the evil he had done in the eyes of the Lord , arousing his anger by the things he did, becoming like the house of Jeroboam—and also because he destroyed it.
In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years. Zimri, one of his officials, who had command of half his chariots, plotted against him. Elah was in Tirzah at the time, getting drunk in the home of Arza, the palace administrator at Tirzah. Zimri came in, struck him down and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah. Then he succeeded him as king. As soon as he began to reign and was seated on the throne, he killed off Baasha’s whole family. He did not spare a single male, whether relative or friend. So Zimri destroyed the whole family of Baasha, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken against Baasha through the prophet Jehu— because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed and had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the Lord , the God of Israel, by their worthless idols. As for the other events of Elah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned in Tirzah seven days. The army was encamped near Gibbethon, a Philistine town. When the Israelites in the camp heard that Zimri had plotted against the king and murdered him, they proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that very day there in the camp. Then Omri and all the Israelites with him withdrew from Gibbethon and laid siege to Tirzah. When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he died, because of the sins he had committed, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord and following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit. As for the other events of Zimri’s reign, and the rebellion he carried out, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
Then the people of Israel were split into two factions; half supported Tibni son of Ginath for king, and the other half supported Omri. But Omri’s followers proved stronger than those of Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king. In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver and built a city on the hill, calling it Samaria, after Shemer, the name of the former owner of the hill. But Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him. He followed completely the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the Lord , the God of Israel, by their worthless idols. As for the other events of Omri’s reign, what he did and the things he achieved, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? Omri rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Ahab his son succeeded him as king.
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord , the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him. In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.’
— 1 Kings 16:1-34
‘The prophet Elisha summoned a man from the company of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of olive oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead. When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room. Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run; don’t delay!” So the young prophet went to Ramoth Gilead. When he arrived, he found the army officers sitting together. “I have a message for you, commander,” he said. “For which of us?” asked Jehu. “For you, commander,” he replied. Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on Jehu’s head and declared, “This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the Lord ’s people Israel. You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the Lord ’s servants shed by Jezebel. The whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah. As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her.’ ” Then he opened the door and ran. When Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this maniac come to you?” “You know the man and the sort of things he says,” Jehu replied. “That’s not true!” they said. “Tell us.” Jehu said, “Here is what he told me: ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ ” They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”
So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. (Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth Gilead against Hazael king of Aram, but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds the Arameans had inflicted on him in the battle with Hazael king of Aram.) Jehu said, “If you desire to make me king, don’t let anyone slip out of the city to go and tell the news in Jezreel.” Then he got into his chariot and rode to Jezreel, because Joram was resting there and Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him. When the lookout standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, he called out, “I see some troops coming.” “Get a horseman,” Joram ordered. “Send him to meet them and ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’ ” The horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king says: ‘Do you come in peace?’ ” “What do you have to do with peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” The lookout reported, “The messenger has reached them, but he isn’t coming back.” So the king sent out a second horseman. When he came to them he said, “This is what the king says: ‘Do you come in peace?’ ” Jehu replied, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.” The lookout reported, “He has reached them, but he isn’t coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a maniac.” “Hitch up my chariot,” Joram ordered. And when it was hitched up, Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah rode out, each in his own chariot, to meet Jehu. They met him at the plot of ground that had belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?” “How can there be peace,” Jehu replied, “as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?” Joram turned about and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, “Treachery, Ahaziah!” Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart and he slumped down in his chariot. Jehu said to Bidkar, his chariot officer, “Pick him up and throw him on the field that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember how you and I were riding together in chariots behind Ahab his father when the Lord spoke this prophecy against him: ‘Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, declares the Lord , and I will surely make you pay for it on this plot of ground, declares the Lord .’ Now then, pick him up and throw him on that plot, in accordance with the word of the Lord .” When Ahaziah king of Judah saw what had happened, he fled up the road to Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him, shouting, “Kill him too!” They wounded him in his chariot on the way up to Gur near Ibleam, but he escaped to Megiddo and died there. His servants took him by chariot to Jerusalem and buried him with his ancestors in his tomb in the City of David. (In the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab, Ahaziah had become king of Judah.)
Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window. As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?” He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. “Throw her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot. Jehu went in and ate and drank. “Take care of that cursed woman,” he said, “and bury her, for she was a king’s daughter.” But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands. They went back and told Jehu, who said, “This is the word of the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh. Jezebel’s body will be like dung on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, ‘This is Jezebel.’ ”’
— 2 Kings 9:1-37
‘You have searched me, Lord , and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord , know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you. If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord , and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’
— Psalms 139:1-24
‘“Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the Lord , “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge. But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame, Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace. Though they have officials in Zoan and their envoys have arrived in Hanes, everyone will be put to shame because of a people useless to them, who bring neither help nor advantage, but only shame and disgrace.” A prophecy concerning the animals of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lions and lionesses, of adders and darting snakes, the envoys carry their riches on donkeys’ backs, their treasures on the humps of camels, to that unprofitable nation, to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless. Therefore I call her Rahab the Do-Nothing. Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness. For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord ’s instruction. They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant. It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern.” This is what the Sovereign Lord , the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ Therefore you will flee! You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift! A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.” Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!” He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows. The oxen and donkeys that work the soil will eat fodder and mash, spread out with fork and shovel. In the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall, streams of water will flow on every high mountain and every lofty hill. The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted. See, the Name of the Lord comes from afar, with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is a consuming fire. His breath is like a rushing torrent, rising up to the neck. He shakes the nations in the sieve of destruction; he places in the jaws of the peoples a bit that leads them astray. And you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival; your hearts will rejoice as when people playing pipes go up to the mountain of the Lord , to the Rock of Israel. The Lord will cause people to hear his majestic voice and will make them see his arm coming down with raging anger and consuming fire, with cloudburst, thunderstorm and hail. The voice of the Lord will shatter Assyria; with his rod he will strike them down. Every stroke the Lord lays on them with his punishing club will be to the music of timbrels and harps, as he fights them in battle with the blows of his arm. Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its fire pit has been made deep and wide, with an abundance of fire and wood; the breath of the Lord , like a stream of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.’
— Isaiah 30:1-33

As day 314 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision today and the blessing to get to live out the rest of the year in that power and that truth and that hope.

If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?

Today’s devotional that I am following is The 49-Week Challenge comes from Life.Church. For more information, please visit www.life.church — Thank you Life.Church for sharing this reading plan through Bible.com

Imagine living somewhere that the light is so bright that there are no shadows…

Imagine getting to spend eternity with God who is light and there is no darkness in Him. Consider how every good and perfect gift comes our Heavenly Father of all light and how there is no variation, no rising and no setting, and as such there is no shadows when He turns which is so different from the sun and the moon and how in those natural things there are times when darkness comes thru events like eclipses. We are to be that same type of a light to this world. We are to be like a lighthouse, a city lit up on a hill. We are to not hide the light but lift it up that others may also come the reality and realization of who God is.

So what are we supposed to do and how are we supposed to live? We need to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to take offense and become angry. Our anger doesn’t promote the righteousness of God. So let’s get rid of those things that are getting in the way, things that are unclean and rampant outgrowth of wickedness. Let’s instead be taking hold and allowing to grow roots in our hearts the power of God which saves souls by humbly, with gentleness and modesty allowing our spirit to plant and nurture the Word of God to take root in our hearts. To do this we be to go beyond being hearer of the Word and start being doers of the Word. Start to do and live out God’s Word rather than being stuck analyzing and feeling wise and superior, live it out that God’s Spirit will be revealed in and through you. By becoming an active doer of the Word, we will live in obedience to God. So we need to be aware of what the thoughts are going through our minds so that we filter every word against and through the Word of God so that we don’t speak in ways that go against everything we are doing and believing. So let’s take hold and remember what true religion is supposed to look like, religion that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God is this: “to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.”

So today is July 4th, in a season of COVID-19, a season of protests and riots, a time that is so different from any time most have us have experienced in our life times, so what are you going to do with your today so as to bring God the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’s name?

June is in the rear view mirror — Hindsight is 2020 – clarity of vision for the future…

The 49 week challenge – Day 186

Want to join me in the challenge? Click Day 186 link to join me and sign up.

With June in the rear view mirror, let’s share our takeaways from today’s reading! Did you catch and promises to trust? Did you catch any commands to obey? Did you catch any truths to embrace? Did you catch any warnings to heed? Did you catch any encouragement to rest in? What did you learn about God? What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about the world? What verse stood out most to you today?

If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.

Today’s reading from God’s Word – the Bible comes to us from:

My Notes:

Are you hoping in hopes of getting to reap?
Are you working in hopes of getting to share in the harvest?
How will you use your freedom?
Will you choose to self-discipline?
Run to win this race and receive the prize from Jesus.
Live with your body under control rather than flailing and swinging at air.
Let’s live to receive the crown of righteousness from Jesus
Start by offering peace
Start with love love God and love your neighbor
We must have honest and accurate measurements.
We should treat everyone equally for God loves everyone.
We should treat everyone equally based on what they have done, not showing prejudice, be it to bring them celebrations of good work or to bring discipline for having done evil or wickedness.

As day 186 of 2020 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision this early into 2020 and the blessing to get to live out the rest of 2020 in that power and that truth and that hope.

If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?

Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?

What to do when you don’t know what to do? Turn to God and His Word for wisdom and direction.

One answer was clarified – the who will be my boss. The what is in progress – the what will the new charter look like with the updated team structure and org operating model. Thank You Lord for bringing light into the situation so that I could see what used to be hidden. Thank You Lord for being my peace and strength through the times of darkness and lack of clarity. Thank You Lord for allowing Your joy to be my strength.

Would you consider the joining in starting with day 3 of a 3 day challenge in order to be ready to accomplish the plans of God who put you right here and right now for such a day and such a time as this? What if it meant giving up something for today? What if it meant you had to give them up starting today? Would it have to be significant for you to even consider it? Would it have to be person for you to do it?

Day 8: 2020 Hindsight
— The 49-Week Challenge – Day 8 —

Want to join me in the challenge? Click Day 8 link above or want to join link here to join me and sign up.

Let’s share our takeaways from today’s reading! Did you catch and promises to trust? Did you catch any commands to obey? Did you catch any truths to embrace? Did you catch any warnings to heed? Did you catch any encouragement to rest in? What did you learn about God? What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about the world? What verse stood out most to you today?

If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.

Today’s reading from God’s Word – the Bible comes to us from: (I have chosen to use NIV translation, but feel free to choose whichever version you feel more comfortable with)

My Notes:

Ever considered where you came from? What your genealogy is? Who they were? What they were like? Ever reflected on the family tree of Jesus and how God was able to work through it all?
Ever noticed the number 14 in the generational lineage of Jesus?
Will you remember the past and live out your today in a way pleasing or evil in the eyes of God?
When you don’t know what to do will you turn back to God? Will you ask God for wisdom in the very situation you are in?
Will you trust God for provision even if you won’t see where it came from?
God’s ways aren’t our ways, they are better.
Will you remove the evil things in order to bring everyone back to God?
Will you trust God? Will you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness?
Will you be obedient to God’s instruction for you and your life? Will you be a leader who will lead and guide others in alignment with God’s will in order for God’s anointing to overflow into their lives? Will you allow God’s plan and purpose to lead and guide you?
Will you depend on the Lord? Will you trust in the Lord?
Who are you depending on? Who are you against?
Will you choose life or death? Will you choose eternal life or eternal death? Man can cause death but if we aren’t aligned with God and we come to the judgement seat of God and are cast into the eternal death, it is finished. Yet, if we choose eternal life through Jesus Christ, even if we die we will get to live out the rest of eternity with God.
Turn to God and understand His instruction rather than fearing the threats of man.
Trust in God and allow your faith in Him to overcome fear.
Don’t be fooled by the folly of man. Trust in God.
Will you follow God and allow your obedience in Him to bring God the praise, the honor, and the glory? Will you live a life so that the world will know that the Lord is the only God?
Will you allow the fruit of the spirit to flourish and grow from and through your life?
We need to walk by faith and not by sight. We need to not allow fear of man to keep us from doing what is good and what is right but rather allow our faith to overcome the fear and walk out God’s instruction so that in and through it all He will receive the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’s name. Amen.

As day 8 of 2020 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision this early into 2020 and the blessing to get to live out the rest of 2020 in that power and that truth and that hope.

If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?

Today’s devotional comes from Life.Church. For more information, please visit www.life.church — Thank you Life.Church for sharing this reading plan through Bible.com

Will you take up the calling put on your life.

Would you consider the 3 day challenge in order to be ready to accomplish the plans of God who put you right here and right now for such a day and such a time as this?

Day 4: 2020 Hindsight
— The 49-Week Challenge – Day 4 —

Want to join me in the challenge? Click Day 4 link above or want to join link here to join me and sign up.

If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.

Today’s reading from God’s Word – the Bible comes to us from: (I have chosen to use NIV translation, but feel free to choose whichever version you feel more comfortable with)

My Notes:

God has always been. God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit.
God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were apart of creation.
God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit brought life.
God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit brought light.
Even in a dark world, the light cannot be overcome by darkness. Will you let your light shine? Will you lift it up so that its brightness will extend?
God sent John to prepare the way for Jesus. God sent John through Elizabeth and Zechariah. God sent Jesus through Mary as the virgin mother with the support of Joseph.
God sent John to bring the truth to the people and to testify about the light that was coming who is Jesus so that through him all might believe. John was not the light of the world but rather he came as a witness to the light.
Although Jesus is the true light and gives light to everyone, He was in the world and He created the world, yet the world did not recognize Him!
To become children of God, we need to receive Jesus.
To become children of God, we need to believe in Jesus’s name.
To become children of God, we need to be born again, not a natural birth, but being born again as a spiritual birth, born of God.
The Word is referring to Jesus and He gave up being in heaven, became flesh humbly through birth as a child in order to make his dwelling among us.
Jesus came that we could witness His glory, His glory as the one and only Son of God, who came from the loving Father, that loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son that whosoever would believe on Him would not perish but would receive everlasting life.
Jesus came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Do you realize because people had forgotten or started to feel too comfortable over time, they strayed from God and His will and His way and required a messenger to point them back, like a voice crying out in the wilderness?
Do you realize because people had become to proud and self-sufficient over time, they strayed from God and tried to go it their own way?
Do you realize that when people stray from God they fail to act wisely or do good?
Do you realize that when people stray from God they tend to commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong?
But God is love!
God’s love reaches to the heavens.
God’s faithfulness reaches to the skies.
God’s righteousness is like the highest mountains.
God’s justice is like the great deep.
God preserves both people and animals.
God’s faithful love endures forever!
God’s faithful love is priceless!
We can take refuge in the shadow of His wings
We feast on the abundance of God’s house, receiving drinks from His river of delights.
Jesus is the fountain of life so that once we have received it we will never again become thirsty.
Jesus is the light of the world and He allows us to see the light.
God’s love continues to those who know Him.
God’s righteousness continues to the upright in heart.
Let’s stick close to God so that the proud won’t come against us.
Let’s stick close to God so that the wicked won’t drive us away.
Don’t lose hope or be focused on the past. Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Remember how God’s ways are not our ways but rather that His ways are higher than our ways and His ways are better than our ways. Remember that life happens to bring Him glory for His plans are for good and not for evil!
Learn from the past and put all your hope and trust in God!
There is a reason and a purpose for what is going on right now!
Why not allow God’s Word to be precious to you?
Why not listen to God’s Word with expectations?
Why not allow God’s Word to fall gently on your ears to give you wisdom and discernment, hope and peace, love and joy?
God has given us instructions on how to live life. He even provided a visual and an example through Jesus to help us better understand.
Let’s consecrate ourselves as living sacrifices to God!
Let’s finish the work that God has given us to accomplish!
Let’s do the good works that God has prepared in advance for us to accomplish!
I am here for such a day and such a time as this, because God has prepared in advance the good works He has for me to accomplish.

Questions to consider:

What do you learn about God, about yourself, or about the world?
Is there one verse or thought that stands out to you today?

As day 4 of 2020 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision this early into 2020 and the blessing to get to live out the rest of 2020 in that power and that truth and that hope.

If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?

Today’s devotional comes from Life.Church. For more information, please visit www.life.church — Thank you Life.Church for sharing this reading plan through Bible.com

Let your light shine!

We are to be salt and light! We are to be light of the world shining from the hilltop! We are to not hide our light under a bushel but put it high for others to see! We are to let our light shine before people!

Don’t allow fear to creep around in the dark robing others of the joy they could have by living in the light of Jesus! Don’t allow fears to overwhelm you, instead compare them to how great and big God is so that the reality of how small they are so that you can shine bright! Don’t be afraid! Fear Not Just Believe! Stand tall and shine bright! So let’s show everyone how we aren’t afraid by letting our lights shine! Don’t be scared! Let your light shine!

Why not start today with some joy by listening to this short video?

So as we start this day will you be a conduit of light into this dark world around us? Will you let your light shine in and through everything you do in life? Will your light shine so bright that people will notice?

Will you allow God to bring calm to the storm? Will you allow God to bring peace in the midst of the trials? Will you allow God’s light to shine on you in the midst of the darkness? Will you allow God’s love to fill your heart to overflowing? Will you allow God into your heart that He will be with you to lead and guide, direct and correct? Will you put your hope and trust in God and then walk out your steps following His narrow path and into His presence? Let His light shine down on you! Fear not the darkness but rather receive Jesus and allow His light to shine down on you!

Will you let your light shine? Will you let God’s light shine thru you?

Today’s reading from God’s Word:

(Day 309 of 312)

Ever been faced with a challenge or threat?

Ever been faced with an awkward moment where if you didn’t do something there was going to be trouble?

Ever been faced with a situation where you had to come out and share something personal about yourself?

How did you do it? How did you get the courage? How did you know it was the right thing to do? How did you know it was the right time to do it?

Would you be able to come out and tell people that you are a Christian?

Would you be able to come out and tell people that you are a follower of the one true God?

Would you be able to shine so bright that others will know that Jesus is your Lord and Savior?

Imagine the pressure on Esther. Imagine the potential outcome of inaction. Imagine the position she was in and the impact and influence that could yield. Imagine the risk of sharing who she was to her life and the lives of those she cared for. Imagine what it would take to build up the faith, the courage, and the boldness to go through with it.

Would you consider fasting about it?

Would you consider asking your trusted friends to pray with you about it?

Would you step up and step out to do it?

Wold you let your light shine so brightly that it could let everyone know what you believe in?

Do you realize that if you don’t answer the call you have been given that you will miss the window and God will raise up someone else to get it done. How would you respond to the message that you will be … or you will be nothing? I know it didn’t sit well with me when it happened. We see in today’s reading that Esther didn’t like the other option either and called for a 3 day prayer and fasting in preparation of stepping out and letting her light shine before the king.

You don’t want others to be lost or left behind right? So let your light shine and point them in the right way back to God!

You don’t want others to be lead astray right? So let your light shine so that people will know the truth and the truth will set them free!

You want people to hear of Jesus before it is too late and that they will receive Him so that when He returns they won’t be left behind, have to deal with the trials and tribulations, or even worse end up being thrown into the fiery pit right where they will be mourning and screaming and spend eternity apart from God right?

You don’t anyone to be loss right? So help them to know the spiritual food they need to eat in order to not die.

Consider Paul’s situation and how he wanted to save the people’s lives:

‘About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near. They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep. At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight. Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat— all 276 of us who were on board. After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.’
— Acts of the Apostles 27:27-38

Let’s let the light of God shine through us that nobody would be in the darkness but would know there is light and love and hope.

Let’s let our light shine and praise God!

Let’s let our light shine and reach out to the brokenhearted!

Let’s let our light shine in the darkness just light the stars bring light into the night darknes!

Let’s shine the light of God by sharing God’s Word and God’s love with the world around us!

Let’s make it happen before it is too late!

So where are you at today? My hope and prayer is that You will ask Jesus into your heart so that I will get to spend eternity in God’s presence with you. Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a re commitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.

Let’s pray:

What do you do when it feels cold and dark?

What if it is outside? What if it is inside? What if it is in your mind? What if it is in your heart? Is your response difference? Are you sure that it is for real? Do you know how long it will last? Do you know that the sun will rise? Do you know if the clouds will clear? Do you know how to replace it in your mind?

Do you have something else to fill your mind and your thoughts with that will bring warmth and light? Do you have something that you can fill your heart with that will bring warmth and light?

Do you realize that there is something that can turn the dark and cold into hope and life? Do you realize that you were never meant to try and go through this life alone? Do you realize that a way was made even though it doesn’t feel like there is a way in the moment? Do you realize that some call it THE WAY? Do you realize there are ways to add warmth and bring light into the situation?

Do you realize there are others around you who are feeling the cold and living in the dark? Do you realize that even when you are doing OK that you may need to be speaking truth and life in love to the people around you? Do you realize that you have been put in such a time and such a place as this in order to make a difference to those around you? Do you realize they see you and wonder how you can be that way? Do you realize they are watching you and wonder how you can feel that way? Do you realize they are observing you and hoping or wondering if it is possible for them to have it too?

Don’t hoard the warm fuzzies, share them them and find that you get them back. Don’t trade warm fuzzies for cold pricklies and hurt those around you.

What do you do when it feels cold and dark?

Will you share your warmth and your light with others? Will you share that hope that is within you with others? Will you share the truth with others? Will you share love with others?

Today’s reading from God’s Word:

Nehemiah 3
Ezekiel 44
Acts 23:12-22
Revelation 16:17-21
Psalms 136

Look at the broken and help build them up. Look at the injured and help them to heal through love and forgiveness.

Don’t go it alone! Support one another. Encourage one another. Love one another. Help one another. We each have a part to do!

Let’s help others have a heart for God and allow them to invite Jesus into their hearts and be transformed. Let’s help them to receive the Holy Spirit into their lives as their comforter and their guide to help them to live.

We need to share the truth of God’s plan that we will have a hope and a future. We need to share the truth of God’s plan that we are to have life and life more abundantly. We need to share the truth of God’s plan that He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine. We need to share the truth of God who loves us more than we can ever understand,

16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
— Ephesians 16-19

Even when there are trials and troubles, we can take hope for Jesus has overcome the world and we can consider it pure joy because we know that when our faith is tested, our endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when our endurance is fully developed, we will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

If we see something wrong, we need to speak up and speak out.

If we hear something wrong, we need to speak up and speak out.

We need to ensure that we allow the truth to set us free.

Jesus is the finishing of God’s plan. First when He paid the ultimate price of dying on the cross to make a way when there didn’t seem to be a way for us to be reconciled back unto God. Finally when He will return and usher us into heaven and the eternal presence of God.

So let’s allow God’s faithful love that endures forever to cause us to give thanks!

So where are you at today? Are you ready for forgiveness and peace? Are you ready for a hope and a future? Are you ready for a transformation where the old is gone and the new has come? Are you ready to being the journey of knowing right from wrong? Then let’s pray together to invite Jesus into your heart and your life so that His peace which surpasses all understanding can guide you and comfort you, protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. If this is the first time you have prayed to invite Jesus into your heart, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If this is a recommitment to Jesus, leave me a comment so that I can rejoice with the angels in Heaven. If you are still questioning or seeking, don’t go it alone, feel free to leave me a comment so we can discuss it.

Let’s pray:

Will you allow the light to shine thru and warm up the situation?

What to do when it is so dark and hard to see?

Don’t lose hope! Don’t give in! Don’t give up! It’s time to persevere! Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds! Take hope when you face the troubles of this world! Allow the joy of the Lord to be your strength! Let your light shine! Just because the situation changed, it doesn’t mean the hope is gone! Just because the location changed, it doesn’t mean the love it gone! Just because you don’t know what to say, it doesn’t mean it is over!

As I was walking through the San Diego airport and heading to my gate a sign showed up that caught my attention. It made me think of David and his dancing as the ark was coming back into the city. It made me think of the incredible wedding I had gotten to be a part of just a few days earlier and the celebration that took place among family and friends. This was the sign I saw at the bottom of the escalator that I had to stop and take a picture of:

How do we get back to it when the enemy comes and tries to break things up? How do we clarity misunderstandings that cause conversation to clam up? How do we reset something that was going so well just moments before and then felt like the wheels fell off moments after landing? How do we put things back on track when life shows up again and starts pulling at you?

What to do when it is so dark and hard to see?

Today’s reading in God’s Word comes from:

Nehemiah 1
Nehemiah 2
Ezekiel 43
Acts 22:30
Acts 23:1-11
Revelation 16:1-16
Psalms 135

Do you realize it is OK to weep and mourn it? Do you realize it is OK to fast and pray about it? Do you realize it is OK to lift it up and trust God for it? Do you realize that you can trust God to rescue the situation? Do you realize that you can trust God to restore the situation? Will you list to God’s direction and obey His instructions? Pray that you will find success today and find favor!

Will you put on a mask to hide the reality? Will you try to pretend like everything is OK, even when it isn’t? Will you allow fear to rule your responses today or will you trust God to help you in and through the moment? Will you take a pause before giving answers in order to give a good answer that comes from God to heal the situation? Will you take a pause and pray for wisdom into how to answer?

Consider the words of God about asking…

7Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
— Matthew 7:7-8

God won’t send you alone even though He has given you His Word.

Are you willing to check it out for yourself so that you know the situation? Are you willing to check it out for yourself so that you can understand the situation? Are you willing to do something about it rather than only going based on emotions and feelings? Will you absorb what God has told you and shown you before you open up and take action? Will you trust God to help you succeed? Will you start to rebuild now that you are home?

Will you trust that in the midst of the darkness that God’s light will shine? Will you trust that in the midst of the darkness that God’s glory will shine?

While on vacation do you realize the battle hadn’t stopped? While on vacation do you realize that there is still a spiritual war taking place for the souls of the people around you? Do you realize that by coming back to your land, you have stepped back into the spiritual war zone you had left? Do you realize you may have come back filled and renewed that the enemy of your soul is looking for a way to tear it down, rob it from you, and destroy as much of it as possible?

We need to come back together and make it whole. We need to talk through the misunderstanding in order to restore and renew and refresh the truth, the love, and the relationship.

Will you stand your ground and stand for what you believe in? Even in the midst of the trouble?

Are you able to see the division or reason in the situation? Are you able to bring God’s Word into that situation in order to restore and bring things back under the cover of the Lord?

Receive today’s message from the Lord to Be encouraged! to Preach the Good News!

So let’s praise the Lord! Let’s praise those who serve the Lord! Let’s praise the Lord for He is good! Let’s praise the Lord for He is great! Let’s praise the Lord who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine! Let’s praise the Lord who endures forever! Let’s praise the Lord who is known in every generation! Let’s praise the Lord who gives justice to His people! Let’s praise the Lord who has compassion on His servants!

Let’s pray:

Don’t lose hope! Don’t be afraid! God will make a way!

Are things looking tough? Are things feeling rough? Are things feeling overwhelming? Are things feeling tense? Are things feeling uncertain?

How are you responding? You can’t control what comes your way but you can control how you respond. Are you being light in the midst of the darkness? Are you being encouragement in the midst of despair? Are you being love in the midst of hate? Are you being unifying in the midst of division? Are you being a peacemaker in the midst of quarrel? Are you being a solver in the midst of problems? Are you being wisdom in the midst of confusion? Are you being a provider in the midst of lack? How are you responding so that others can see Jesus through you? How is God calling you to respond in order to glorify Him?

What is your role? What is your purpose? What is your part? What will you do about it?

Remember, even when you feel alone, you are not alone, there are others.

Today’s reading gets us started in 1 Kings 19, so let’s see what we can hear and learn through God’s Word in today’s reading…

‘When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord ,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.
But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet. Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”
So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.” So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.’
— 1 Kings 19

‘“Now then, I will reveal the truth to you. Three more Persian kings will reign, to be succeeded by a fourth, far richer than the others. He will use his wealth to stir up everyone to fight against the kingdom of Greece. “Then a mighty king will rise to power who will rule with great authority and accomplish everything he sets out to do. But at the height of his power, his kingdom will be broken apart and divided into four parts. It will not be ruled by the king’s descendants, nor will the kingdom hold the authority it once had. For his empire will be uprooted and given to others. “The king of the south will increase in power, but one of his own officials will become more powerful than he and will rule his kingdom with great strength. “Some years later an alliance will be formed between the king of the north and the king of the south. The daughter of the king of the south will be given in marriage to the king of the north to secure the alliance, but she will lose her influence over him, and so will her father. She will be abandoned along with her supporters. But when one of her relatives becomes king of the south, he will raise an army and enter the fortress of the king of the north and defeat him. When he returns to Egypt, he will carry back their idols with him, along with priceless articles of gold and silver. For some years afterward he will leave the king of the north alone. “Later the king of the north will invade the realm of the king of the south but will soon return to his own land. However, the sons of the king of the north will assemble a mighty army that will advance like a flood and carry the battle as far as the enemy’s fortress. “Then, in a rage, the king of the south will rally against the vast forces assembled by the king of the north and will defeat them. After the enemy army is swept away, the king of the south will be filled with pride and will execute many thousands of his enemies. But his success will be short lived. “A few years later the king of the north will return with a fully equipped army far greater than before. At that time there will be a general uprising against the king of the south. Violent men among your own people will join them in fulfillment of this vision, but they will not succeed. Then the king of the north will come and lay siege to a fortified city and capture it. The best troops of the south will not be able to stand in the face of the onslaught. “The king of the north will march onward unopposed; none will be able to stop him. He will pause in the glorious land of Israel, intent on destroying it. He will make plans to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will form an alliance with the king of the south. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom from within, but his plan will fail. “After this, he will turn his attention to the coastland and conquer many cities. But a commander from another land will put an end to his insolence and cause him to retreat in shame. He will take refuge in his own fortresses but will stumble and fall and be seen no more. “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. But after a very brief reign, he will die, though not from anger or in battle. “The next to come to power will be a despicable man who is not in line for royal succession. He will slip in when least expected and take over the kingdom by flattery and intrigue. Before him great armies will be swept away, including a covenant prince. With deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. He will become strong despite having only a handful of followers. Without warning he will enter the richest areas of the land. Then he will distribute among his followers the plunder and wealth of the rich—something his predecessors had never done. He will plot the overthrow of strongholds, but this will last for only a short while. “Then he will stir up his courage and raise a great army against the king of the south. The king of the south will go to battle with a mighty army, but to no avail, for there will be plots against him. His own household will cause his downfall. His army will be swept away, and many will be killed. Seeking nothing but each other’s harm, these kings will plot against each other at the conference table, attempting to deceive each other. But it will make no difference, for the end will come at the appointed time. “The king of the north will then return home with great riches. On the way he will set himself against the people of the holy covenant, doing much damage before continuing his journey. “Then at the appointed time he will once again invade the south, but this time the result will be different. For warships from western coastlands will scare him off, and he will withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the people of the holy covenant and reward those who forsake the covenant. “His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration. He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him. “Wise leaders will give instruction to many, but these teachers will die by fire and sword, or they will be jailed and robbed. During these persecutions, little help will arrive, and many who join them will not be sincere. And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come. “The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god, even blaspheming the God of gods. He will succeed, but only until the time of wrath is completed. For what has been determined will surely take place. He will have no respect for the gods of his ancestors, or for the god loved by women, or for any other god, for he will boast that he is greater than them all. Instead of these, he will worship the god of fortresses—a god his ancestors never knew—and lavish on him gold, silver, precious stones, and expensive gifts. Claiming this foreign god’s help, he will attack the strongest fortresses. He will honor those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority and dividing the land among them as their reward. “Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack the king of the north. The king of the north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood. He will enter the glorious land of Israel, and many nations will fall, but Moab, Edom, and the best part of Ammon will escape. He will conquer many countries, and even Egypt will not escape. He will gain control over the gold, silver, and treasures of Egypt, and the Libyans and Ethiopians will be his servants. “But then news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in great anger to destroy and obliterate many. He will stop between the glorious holy mountain and the sea and will pitch his royal tents. But while he is there, his time will suddenly run out, and no one will help him.’
–– Daniel 11

‘As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” “You can,” Philip answered, “if you believe with all your heart.” And the eunuch replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.’
–– Acts 8:26-40

‘Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.’
–– 1 John 4:7-21

‘Let all that I am praise the Lord . O Lord my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty. You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens; you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind. The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants. You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved. You clothed the earth with floods of water, water that covered even the mountains. At your command, the water fled; at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away. Mountains rose and valleys sank to the levels you decreed. Then you set a firm boundary for the seas, so they would never again cover the earth. You make springs pour water into the ravines, so streams gush down from the mountains. They provide water for all the animals, and the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds nest beside the streams and sing among the branches of the trees. You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home, and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor. You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use. You allow them to produce food from the earth— wine to make them glad, olive oil to soothe their skin, and bread to give them strength. The trees of the Lord are well cared for— the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds make their nests, and the storks make their homes in the cypresses. High in the mountains live the wild goats, and the rocks form a refuge for the hyraxes. You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set. You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about. Then the young lions roar for their prey, stalking the food provided by God. At dawn they slink back into their dens to rest. Then people go off to their work, where they labor until evening. O Lord , what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small. See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea. They all depend on you to give them food as they need it. When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied. But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust. When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the Lord continue forever! The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made! The earth trembles at his glance; the mountains smoke at his touch. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord . Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth; let the wicked disappear forever. Let all that I am praise the Lord . Praise the Lord !’
— Psalms 104

Do you know Jesus and are looking for a reason or a plan or a purpose for how to step out today? Do you know Jesus and wonder how you can make a difference in the world around you? Some get called to go out around the world to share the hope and love of Jesus. Some get called into the workplace where they can share the hope and love of Jesus. God’s Word shows us that the commission of Jesus isn’t any greater or less based on distance from home, just that we each have a role to play whether it is local (Jerusalem), in the near by places we go like your city and country (Judea and Samaria), or to the far off places (the uttermost parts of the earth). So when we receive Jesus and we receive His power, we are to go and do His will. So will you pick up the call and be Jesus with skin on to the world around you? Your home? Your neighborhood? Your city or town? Your workplace? Your state or province? Your country? The world?

If you haven’t invited Jesus into your heart yet and started this incredible relationship and journey with Him, is today your day? Let’s pray together and invite Him in.

If you prayed this and asked Jesus into your heart, would you be willing to leave me a note so that I can keep you in my prayers? If you want to talk then please leave a comment to and we can discuss.

If you are going or considering going into the world and would like to chat, leave me a comment so we can chat/discuss.

God has great plans for each of us, so let’s not walk in fear but rather our faith and trust in Him!

YALE UNIVERSITY SEAL AND MOTTO …(The Bible’s Impact on the Academy – Education) [Sept 3]

Ever consider where education got started? Ever considered the original intent of why schools from elementary up to college and university levels were setup? Ever considered where they are now in comparison? Ever considered what was supposed to be in them versus what has now been removed? Ever considered what things we need versus what things we want? Ever considered what things are beneficial versus what things are a detriment to both the student and society? Ever considered what things are necessary to make a school, an education, a student successful in life? What things bring clarity? What things bring confusion? What things bring truth? What things create deception? What is the priority? What should be the priority? What things should be included? What things should be excluded? What things should be added? What things should be removed?

Well today’s reading comes to us from Leviticus 8…

Consecration of Aaron and His Sons

1The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2″Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread. 3And assemble all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” 4And Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
5And Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded to be done.” 6And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. 7And he put the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band. 8And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. 9And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord commanded Moses.
10Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. 11And he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them. 12And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him. 13And Moses brought Aaron’s sons and clothed them with coats and tied sashes around their waists and bound caps on them, as the Lord commanded Moses.
14Then he brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. 15And he killed it, and Moses took the blood, and with his finger put it on the horns of the altar around it and purified the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it to make atonement for it. 16And he took all the fat that was on the entrails and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat, and Moses burned them on the altar. 17But the bull and its skin and its flesh and its dung he burned up with fire outside the camp, as the Lord commanded Moses.
18Then he presented the ram of the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 19And he killed it, and Moses threw the blood against the sides of the altar. 20He cut the ram into pieces, and Moses burned the head and the pieces and the fat. 21He washed the entrails and the legs with water, and Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering with a pleasing aroma, a food offering for the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.
22Then he presented the other ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 23And he killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 24Then he presented Aaron’s sons, and Moses put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses threw the blood against the sides of the altar. 25Then he took the fat and the fat tail and all the fat that was on the entrails and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat and the right thigh, 26and out of the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord he took one unleavened loaf and one loaf of bread with oil and one wafer and placed them on the pieces of fat and on the right thigh. 27And he put all these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons and waved them as a wave offering before the Lord. 28Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an ordination offering with a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. 29And Moses took the breast and waved it for a wave offering before the Lord. It was Moses’ portion of the ram of ordination, as the Lord commanded Moses.
30Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and also on his sons and his sons’ garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, and his sons and his sons’ garments with him.
31And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, “Boil the flesh at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and there eat it and the bread that is in the basket of ordination offerings, as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’ 32And what remains of the flesh and the bread you shall burn up with fire. 33And you shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for it will take seven days to ordain you. 34As has been done today, the Lord has commanded to be done to make atonement for you. 35At the entrance of the tent of meeting you shall remain day and night for seven days, performing what the Lord has charged, so that you do not die, for so I have been commanded.” 36And Aaron and his sons did all the things that the Lord commanded by Moses.

–from Leviticus 8

Today’s devotional from The Global Impact Bible on the theme of the Bible’s impact on the Academy or Education brings us the topic of the Yale University Seal and Motto. We learn about Yale’s ranking as one of the top universities in the world. We learn about its origin and how back in 1701 it was founded to train ministers in theology and ancient biblical languages. We also learn how it eventually expanded to include the sciences and humanities. They also have the notoriety of becoming the first university in the United States to award a doctorate. Today’s devotional points us to the Yale University Seal and Motto and their biblical inspiration. We see the book in the center of the seal that contains 2 Hebrew words: אוּרִים (Urim) and וְתֻמִּים (Thummim). These were put into the priest breastplate as we see from today’s reading with the purpose of helping them to stay connected to God with wisdom about questions and situations as well as receiving discernment of the will of God. The exact meaning of “Urim and Thummim” is unknown, however, today’s devotional provides us with suggestions for possible interpretations as “guilty and not guilty”, “cursed and innocent”, and “light and truth”. Today’s devotional also includes the school motto which is in Latin and is the phrase “Lux et Veritas” which means “Light and Truth”. We see how the two hebrew words comes out of today’s reading from Leviticus 8:8:

‘And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. ‘ —Leviticus 8:8

It’s amazing all you can find looking up the words, the meanings, the original intent, the purpose, and the history of Yale.

So what do you believe? Have you had a divine encounter? Have you been seeking your purpose? Have you been pursuing the plan for your life? We each pick a way or choose a path which gives us instruction and direction. Will you invite the Holy Spirit into the situation so that you can find grace, receive instruction and allow God to guide your path?

Let’s pray…

For those who prayed this for the first time or as a recommitment to God, I celebrate with the angels in heaven that you made the greatest decision of your life. Will you leave a comment so that I know and pray for you? Will you leave a comment or question so we can have a conversation? Look for a local church that is a Bible believing, Bible preaching church that will be able to come alongside you and help you in this journey called life.

Heavenly Father,
I thank You Lord for this new day and for everything that will be in it. Help me Lord with wisdom and discernment for every situation so that I may bring You praise, honor, and glory in and through it all, in Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

COPERNICUS ON GOD’S CREATION…(The Bible’s Impact on Scientific Discovery [July 14])

Are you glad? Are you happy? Are you content? At work I have drawn a rainbow on my window which can be seen outside but is more for a backdrop when I am in meetings as right inside the arch are the words “Happy Today!!”. I put under that two assumptions for it being “Happy Today!!” – First assumption is “no matter what happens” and the Second assumption is “you are alive”. Based on these two things every day – 7 days a week – I can say “Happy Today!!” – Happy Monday, Happy Tuesday, Happy Wednesday, Happy Thursday, Happy Friday, Happy Saturday, Happy Sunday. It has become contagious. How many place have you ever been where you here people saying “Happy Monday” – I am blessed and at GoDaddy it is happening. Some people have even started picking up advanced “Happy Today” techniques like saying “Happy Friday-eve” on Thursdays. 🙂 I don’t limit this to the office but the building, the elevator, Starbucks, and most everywhere I go. How about you? Are you letting your light shine? Are you being a being of hope, optimism, truth, and love? Are you letting your light shine in this world where things can seem to dark and gloomy to everyone?

Today’s reading comes to us from Psalms 92 and it says…

How Great Are Your Works

A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath.

1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
3 to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
5 How great are your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep!
6 The stupid man cannot know;
the fool cannot understand this:
7 that though the wicked sprout like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
8 but you, O Lord, are on high forever.
9 For behold, your enemies, O Lord,
for behold, your enemies shall perish;
all evildoers shall be scattered.
10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
you have poured over me fresh oil.
11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.
12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the Lord is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

–from Psalms 92

Today’s devotional from The Global Impact Bible on the theme of the Bible’s impact on scientific discovery brings us the topic of Copernicus on God’s Creation. In today’s devotional, we learn about how Nicolaus Copernicus who was a Polish mathematician, astronomer, and Canon of Poland’s Frauenburg Cathedral revolutionized science by suggesting that the Sun rather than the Earth was at the center of the universe, contradicting the popular notion that everything rotated around the Earth. We learn how Copernicus ‘ view was an investigation of the mysteries of creation and its creator through the exploration of through scientific investigation. Today’s devotional closes on the subject of Copernicus reflecting on creation in his “On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres” which points to part of our reading from Psalm 92:4 which says…

‘ For you, O Lord , have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.’ — Psalms 92:4

Today’s devotional captures the following …

For who, after applying himself to things which he sees established in the best order and directed by divine ruling, would not through diligent contemplation of them and through a certain habituation be awakened to that which is best and would not wonder at the Artificer of all things, in Whom is all happiness and every good? For the divine Psalmist surely did not say gratuitously that he took pleasure in the workings of God and rejoiced in the works of His hands, unless by means of these things as by some sort of vehicle we are transported to the contemplation of the highest Good.

–from Nicolaus Copernicus, On The Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres: Book I

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and for everything that will be in it. I thank You Lord for this is the day that You have made so I will rejoice and be glad in it. Help me Lord to let my light shine in a way that will bring You all the praise, the honor, and the glory. Help me Lord to let others see Jesus in and through me. Help me Lord to live out my life not with fear or worry but with boldness, courage, and faith that You are with me and so all things are possible because I believe in You. Help me Lord to focus on those things which are beneficial. And Lord as I prepare for this day help me Lord to live it out in a way that will bring You the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.

THE SABBATH…(The Bible’s Impact on Trade and Taxes [June 26])

Do you realize the importance of rest? Do you realize the importance of taking time to stop and rest? Do you realize that we can wear ourselves out if we don’t make time to rest? Do you realize how hard it is to catch up on rest once you fall behind? Do you realize the impact it has on your health? your focus? your relationships? your work? your self-talk? your thoughts? Do you make time to rest? Do you take time to rest?

Is there ever a reason to not do good? Is there ever a reason to not help? Is there ever a reason why you can’t make a difference? Is there ever a reason to not love?

Do you realize that when you lose that reason and purpose and that mission then what is the point? If we are to be salt and light but we aren’t being salt and being seasoning, being a preservative, being a disinfectant then what good are we? If we are supposed to be reflecting the light of Jesus and shine into this dark world and we don’t, then what good are we? You remember what happens to salt once it has lost its taste right?

Today’s reading comes to us from Luke 14…

Healing of a Man on the Sabbath

1One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. 2And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. 3And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. 5And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?“ 6And they could not reply to these things.

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

7Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8″When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Parable of the Great Banquet

12He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
15When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

The Cost of Discipleship

25Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26″If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Salt Without Taste Is Worthless

34″Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

—from Luke 14

Today’s devotional from The Global Impact Bible on the topic of the impact of the Bible on Trade and Taxes speaks to us on the topic of The Sabbath and points us to Luke 14:1-5 which says…

‘One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” ‘

—from Luke 14:1-5

It teaches of how this was part of the Ten Commandments. It teaches us we are to set aside a day of rest. It also teaches us it is a matter of the heart and not just rules and routines. We see how in today’s reading from Luke people were more interested in the rules and rigger than the heart. We see how Jesus spotted that and confronted them on it. Will you do good or will you do evil? Will you live out grace or will you judge? judgement is the Lords! He is just! He is good! And without Jesus there is no reconciliation whereas with Jesus there is forgiveness of sin. So we need to be living out our lives knowing Jesus and being in relationship with Him. We also need to be making Him known in the world around us.

Today’s devotional also goes into the difference between which day of the week is considered the Sabbath for Christians and Jews. We learn about in AD 321, Constantine, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity proclaimed Sunday a legal day of rest instead of the longstanding Jewish Sabbath day on Saturday. He ordered all judges, city workers, and craftsmen to rest on that day. Around AD 363, another impact on trade and taxes took place when the Council of Laodicea declared that Christians must work on Saturday and honor Sunday as the Lord’s day.

We see the impact of this even today as many people set aside one day a week to rest from work.

How about you? Where does it stand when it comes to you getting rest? Where does it come when you consider being forgiven when you miss the mark or sin?

Let’s Pray…

Heavenly Father,
I thank You Lord for this new day and for everything that will be in it. I thank You Lord that with You all things are possible. I thank You that You sent Jesus to make up for the misses in my life and the lives of everyone. I thank You Lord for the gift to receive salvation and be transformed from the inside out. Help me Lord to be salt and light today. Help me to be like the moon that reflects the sun by reflecting the light of Your Son into the lives of all those around me that You bring into my life today. Help me Lord to have wisdom to reach out. Help me Lord to have wisdom to seek out. Help me Lord to see beyond myself and become more like Jesus today. Help me Lord to be love extended to the world around me. Help me Lord through every thought, word, and deed to bring You the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Do you walk around bumping into things in the dark?

In this dark world, how are you making your way? In this dark world, how are you staying on track? In this dark world, how are you seeing where to go? In this dark world, how are you knowing what is ahead of you? In this dark world, how are you knowing what your response will be? In this dark world, how are you preparing yourself for what is ahead of you?

I know when I think about when I am driving my car at night, I tend to turn on the headlights and when necessary even putting on the high beams in order to be able to see a bit further ahead. When it is dark and foggy then I need to use normal lights but also to slow down since visibility isn’t as good. In life we need a light that can be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path! In life we need to be able to let our light shine that others may see it and praise our Father in heaven. In life we need to lift up our light so that it will increase visibility – kind of like the high beams on a car.

Without the light we won’t know how to proceed when something comes across our path. Without the light we won’t know how to respond when something comes across our path. Without the light we won’t see what is coming across our path. Without light we won’t be able to know that we are staying on the path. So we need to make time to spend time with God and in His Word which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path so that we can stay on the path and be prepared for whatever may come across our path. We need to build our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus! We need to follow His example loving God and loving people! We need to be spending time with God so that we know Him and can then make Him known in the world around us!

How will you know what to do on the mountaintop? How will you know what to do when you are leaving the mountaintop for the next which requires first going down? How will you know what to do in the valley? How will you know what to do when you have to start going up from the valley? Be it at the top or at the bottom or somewhere in the middle, we need God’s lamp to help us stay on track and on the path He has for us to follow.

Let’s pour out our freewill offerings to God of praise daily! Let’s allow the joy of the Lord to be our strength!

Today’s reading from Psalm 119 speaks to this very point…

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!
4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.
8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!

Beth

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!
13 With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Gimel

17 Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.
22 Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

Daleth

25 My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!

He

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!

Waw

41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise;
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually, forever and ever,
45 and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.
46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

Zayin

49 Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
51 The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.
52 When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord.
53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.
55 I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law.
56 This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.

Heth

57 The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.
58 I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!

Teth

65 You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh

73 Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame!

Kaph

81 My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.
82 My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?
85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law.
86 All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
87 They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Lamedh

89 Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91 By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.
94 I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Mem

97 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.
101 I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.
102 I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Nun

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.
107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your rules.
109 I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.
111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

Samekh

113 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
117 Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!
118 You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin

121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me.
123 My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.
125 I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!
126 It is time for the Lord to act, for your law has been broken.
127 Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.

Pe

129 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.
133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts.
135 Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.

Tsadhe

137 Righteous are you, O Lord, and right are your rules.
138 You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.
139 My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words.
140 Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.
141 I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true.
143 Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.

Qoph

145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord! I will keep your statutes.
146 I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.
148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.
149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life.
150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law.
151 But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true.
152 Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.

Resh

153 Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.
156 Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies.
158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.
159 Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love.
160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

161 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.
162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.
165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
166 I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments.
167 My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you.

Taw

169 Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word!
170 Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.
171 My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.
172 My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
174 I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

–from Psalm 119

So let’s spend time in God’s Word which is a love letter to us. Let’s make God’s Word a priority so that we will have light in our hearts and it will overflow from our mouths. Let’s make God’s Word our core so that we will be light in this world to point people to Jesus! Let’s make God’s Word our center so that our eyes won’t grow dim and our vision unclear. Let’s put God first and His kingdom purposes and trust in Him! Let’s be the light we are called to be! Let’s be the light on a hilltop that cannot be hidden! Let’s be the light of the room not hidden under a bowl but held high so that the room brightens up! Let’s let our light shine so that others will see it and praise our heavenly Father!

Today’s devotional that is spoken of in the Global Impact Bible in relations to history and philosophy comes in the form of Aquinas emphasis on faith and reason. Let’s allow faith and reason to work in our lives too so that we can use them throughout our days pointing the truth and the reality of how we do or can live out our lives. Thomas Aquinas ranks among history’s most influential thinkers! Faith and reason are compatible even though may have thought the opposite – he spoke to how they were both gifts from God!

(I know my science and math background have helped me feel more clear about the miraculous – ex. miracles – when I consider that God is in a dimension higher than ours [how many TBD] and compare it to us being 3D and how we can perform miracles for a 2D person with a pencil and eraser, it makes sense to me that God and His miracles are real and can happen).

We see from today’s devotional how “Aquinas taught how that revelation could guide reason, while reason could clarify faith. He also argued that faith and reason could prove the existence of God. Aquinas was well versed in the Bible and often used it to support his points.” (The Global Impact Bible – displayed in Psalm 119)

Consider his impact on Walter Freeman and James Joyce…

Heavenly Father,
I lift up this day to You and ask Lord that You will lead me and guide me. Help my actions and my responses to be in alignment with Your will and Your purpose so that in all I say and all I do, Your light will shine as a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Help me to have clarity and increase my vision that I may dream bigger dreams and take hold of Your purpose and plans for me and my life and the generations to come. Lord, Your Word speaks to bringing us before kings and I pray God wisdom in those times. Lord, Your Word speaks to granting us favor and I pray that You will grant me wisdom in those times. Help me to make it more about You Lord so that in and through it all I will let my light shine and people will give You the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Verse of the Day:

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The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighardfor November 7th

Always Within Reach

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:

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DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

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The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighardfor October 24th

Stumbling in Darkness

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The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighardfor October 9th

Embrace The Darkness

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The One Year Daily Insightswith Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard for June 15th

Like Neon Signs

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QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

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The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard for May 4th

Even in the dark

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

Describe a time when you felt in the dark spiritually and emotionally.

How does it affect you to realize God see clearly even when you can’t see at all?

QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

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Today’s Verse of the Day:

✨MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU✨

The Weary World Rejoices: A 2020 Advent Devotional

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Today’s Verse of the Day comes from the book of John:

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Today’s verse of the Day: Isaiah 60:3

The 49 week challengeDay 314

Today’s readingfrom GOD’S WORD–THE BIBLE:

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The 49 week challenge – Day 186

Today’s reading from God’s Word – the Bible comes to us from:

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Day 8: 2020 Hindsight— The 49-Week Challenge – Day 8 —

Today’s reading from God’s Word – the Bible comes to us from: (I have chosen to use NIV translation, but feel free to choose whichever version you feel more comfortable with)

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Day 4: 2020 Hindsight— The 49-Week Challenge – Day 4 —

Today’s reading from God’s Word – the Bible comes to us from: (I have chosen to use NIV translation, but feel free to choose whichever version you feel more comfortable with)

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Questions to consider:

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Will you let your light shine? Will you let God’s light shine thru you?

Today’s reading from God’s Word:

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for November 7^th

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for October 24^th

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for October 9th

The One Year Daily Insights
with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for June 15th

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for May 4th

The 49 week challenge
Day 314

Today’s reading
from GOD’S WORD–THE BIBLE:

Day 8: 2020 Hindsight
— The 49-Week Challenge – Day 8 —

Day 4: 2020 Hindsight
— The 49-Week Challenge – Day 4 —