Devotional Rewind for Week Ending 5/28/16

This week I was still doing the "Our Daily Bread" devotional on the Bible app. I have to say, I have really enjoyed this one and I may look into getting this one for the future. Well done, Our Daily Bread!

Sunday 5/22/16
(Ephesians 3:14-4:3)
Do I have the right stuff to cling closer to God when the going gets tough? I think I do. Usually, when I’ve fallen away, it’s been when things were easy. But would I be able to face devastation and not blame God? I would like to think so, but this is one of those things that I’d still rather not have to find out.
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.                          - Ephesians 3:19

Monday 5/23/16
(Acts 17:24-31)
God wants us to find Him, but He wants us to put forth the effort. We always appreciate a thing more when we’ve had to struggle to get it, why wouldn’t our relationship with God be the same way? It’s not easy, but if it were we probably wouldn’t care about it all that much. So make yourself a king and search Him out (Proverbs 25:2).
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 17:27

Tuesday 5/24/16
(Psalms 42)
Brokenness and anguish can come to us all. The best way to get through it is to give it to God. Don’t let your sorrow control you; let God have it. He will be your hope.
Deep is calling to deep
at the thunder of your waterfalls.
All your breakers and your waves
Have passed over me.
(Psalm 42:7)

Wednesday 5/25/16
(Isaiah 1:11-18)
Things go wrong. It happens all the time. Nothing gets fixed by focusing on what’s going wrong, we need to focus on how to fix it. What is right? Dwelling on the negative doesn’t breed the positive.
“Come now, and let us ague,” says Yahweh.
“Even though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white like snow;
even though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

Thursday 5/26/16
(1 Corinthians 15:42-49)
We must always keep in mind that the terrible situation we’re in, the lowly life we’re living, or the poor house that we’re living in are not who we are. God has given us a situation which best promotes our growth. Our job is just to take each opportunity or growth we find.
It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.
– 1 Corinthians 15:43

Friday 5/27/16
(Ephesians 1:15-23)
Very often we rely solely on our own power to accomplish things. When we can’t quite make it, we push even harder with our own strength. Why do we not ask God for help? I once read a quote that said something along the lines of this, “if we really believed that prayer worked, we would do it a lot more often.” This is so true, to me. I get convicted when I think about this. The Most High God of the universe has said that He wants to help me, and yet I consistently try to do everything on my own. Do I really believe that He means what He says?
and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty strength which He has worked in Christ, raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
-Ephesians 1:19-20

Saturday 5/28/16
(Matthew 15:21-28)
Don’t be scared to make a fool out of yourself for Jesus. Afterall, you’re really only a fool if you don’t go all in for Jesus. In today’s society we’ve made it so easy to rely on ourselves and technology; what if we actually allowed ourselves to be reliant on Jesus? What would you ask for if you weren’t encumbered by what is and isn’t possible?
So she said, “Yes, Lord, for even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you want.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.
-Matthew 15:27-28

What Should We Do When We Disagree?

(John 13:34-35, Matthew 7:3-5, John 8:7, Galatians 6:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Romans 12:17-21, Matthew 7:12, Hosea 4:6, 1 John 4:8, Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 4:8)

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (Jhn 13:34-35 NKJV)

We have an issue. I’d like to be able to say that it’s the fault of the internet, but saying that would be allowing myself to be part of the problem. And I’m part of the problem enough, without adding to it by casting blame, once again.

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. (Mat 7:3-5 NKJV)

I know that this verse doesn’t necessarily mean that, as Christians, we can’t judge others. We just need to make sure that we’re more concerned about whether, or not, we have something that we should be worrying about. But what if you have your life all straightened out? What if you really are without sin, is it okay, then, to cast the first stone (John 8:7)? (And, yes, I understand that the context of that verse is sexual sin, and Jesus was probably alluding to the fact that you needed 2-3 witnesses in order to convict someone and so if there was a witness there then they were probably involved in the act of adultery with the woman, but the overall mindset is still a good lesson to learn.)

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. (Gal 6:1-6 NKJV) (Emphasis mine)

I know Jesus overturned the tables of the moneychangers in the temple (Matthew 12, John 2) but you’re not Jesus and the person who believes in a spherical/flat earth isn’t selling the ability to attain God’s righteousness in the Temple of Yahweh. We need to approach each other in gentleness. We need to truly adhere to words of Jesus, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” All of us, as Christians, need to be mindful of this; if the world looks at us and doesn’t see us loving one another, we may not actually be disciples of Jesus. And just in case someone is preparing their defense, saying that they are correcting their fellow Christians in love (you weren't correcting, you were fighting, let's be honest) I will leave this:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1Co 13:4-7 ESV)

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been arrogant or rude when trying to prove my point. But that doesn’t make it right. I think someone else said this better at one point…

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but [rather] give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:17-21 NKJV)

If we’re going to disagree (and we are), let’s do it in love. If you believe in a Pre-Tribulation rapture of the Church, I promise to still love you. Even if I’m not sure how you got there. We can reason it out in love, without calling each other names.

If you eat bacon, ham and pork for every meal of the day, we can still praise God together, even if we’d have a hard time getting lunch when we’re done.

Speaking of “The Law”, Jesus once told us what the entirety of the Law and the Prophets boiled down to, and I think the Torah observer and the Antinomian can both agree that this is a good thing:

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Mat 7:12 NKJV)

So let’s focus on Jesus, and let’s Praise the Lord, and let’s not get into any arguments that we won’t be able to hug it out when we’re done. Let's build up our brothers and sisters, and let's seek the understanding of God's knowledge.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. (Hos 4:6 ESV)

We judge our knowledge so highly, and we use it as a weapon to beat our brothers and sisters down. If those are the fruits of our “love”, maybe our knowledge isn’t the kind of thing God views as knowledge. After all, God is love (1 John 4:8) and the list of the fruits of the Spirit doesn’t normally include arrogance and bullying (Galatians 5:22-23).

I’ll leave you with this; when, the arguments get heated, and vitriol is flying heavily through the air, take a step back (maybe walk out of the room altogether) and pay attention to the words Paul wrote to people in Philippi:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phl 4:8 KJV)

Devotional Rewind for Week Ending 5/21/16

This past week was the third week of this current "Our Daily Bread" devotional plan. I've always seen the Our Daily Bread devotionals around and I'm really enjoying this one. I may look into these in the future.

Sunday 5/15/16
(John 16:5-16)
Much like yesterday, we’re dealing with God being the answer to our handicap. Just like a blind person accepting a seeing eye dog, and accepting that they need someone who has vision, the Holy Spirit can be our seeing eye dog, and lead us to the right paths, we just have to admit that we’re blind and that we need Him.
But when he – the Spirit of truth – comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak from Himself, but whatever He hear He will speak, and He will proclaim to you the things to come.
- John 15:13

Monday 5/16/16
(1 Chronicles 22)
When we do things, sometimes we can get away with running at 90%. But we should always be doing everything as if we were doing these thing for God, and God always knows when we’re not giving 100%. This is really convicting for me because there are definitely times where I think, “that’s good enough.” But the truth is that there’s more that I could do. And the truth is that God can see my accepting a subpar performance from myself and others (Col 3:23).
Then you will prosper if you take care to do the statutes and judgments which Yahweh commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and be courageous; fear not and do not be dismayed.   -1 Chron 22:13

Tuesday 5/17/16
(Psalms 130)
Forgiveness is powerful and it takes a powerful person to forgive. With so much sin in the hearts and minds of most people, how powerful must God be to have forgiven us, if we just accept His forgiveness? Do we have the proper fear of the Lord, or do we see His forgiveness as weakness? I’m asking this honestly. Oftentimes we view forgiveness as weakness. Search your heart and make sure you’re not looking at it this way because, if you are, you may be viewing it as weakness for God, too.
If you, O Yah, should keep track of iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.     -Psalms 130:3-4

Wednesday 5/18/16
(John 10:14-30)
The Bible tells us that we are like sheep, but how much like sheep are we? Do we follow the sheep around us or do we listen patiently for our Shepherd’s voice? How well do we know our Shepherd’s voice? Have we spent time listening to it so that, in times of trouble, we know instantly which is the voice of the Shepherd and which is the voice of the wolf?
I am the good shepherd, and I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.                         -John 10:14-15

Thursday 5/19/16
(Matthew 6:9-13)
Sometimes I’m struck by how uninspired my prayer life is, compared to what it should be. How often do I even say a prayer of thanksgiving for the food that I eat? Growing up we said a prayer before every meal but as I’ve gotten older this practice has gone away. Is it that I now work for my money and the food that it buys so I am not thankful for the food I have because I feel that I’ve earned it? I want to make a concerted effort to give thanks for my food over the coming days.
Give us today our daily bread                      -Matthew 6:11

Friday 5/20/16
(Joshua 2:1-14)
In Jericho, Rahab was in awe of the great power of Yahweh because of the stories of His greatness that she had heard. And because of that God was able to win a victory over one of the most fortified cities in the Levant. Have you told any stories of God’s greatness today? You just may be the person who helps break down a wall in a person’s world.
For we have heard how Yahweh dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you went out from Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, Sihon and Og, who you utterly destroyed, We heard this, and our hearts melted, and no courage was left in anyone because of your presence. For Yahweh your God is God in the heavens above and the earth below.
- Joshua 2:10-11

Saturday 5/21/16
(Luke 23:32-43)
How much do we believe in Jesus? Are we willing to die with Him? The truth is that as soon as we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, we were supposed to let our self die and live from that moment forward as a new creation, created by the only one who has every created new creations (Galatians 2:20).
And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”

The Good Shepherd

John 10:14-15, John 1:14, Psalm 119:105

"I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. (John 10:14-15 NASB)

This is a fairly well known verse, so most of us know it or, at least, know the beginning of it. Or could at least paraphrase the first part of it. But how many of us actually pay attention to what it means? Jesus knows His own, but do we know Him?

Just so nobody is surprised in a couple days, this subject will be showing up as one of days of this week’s devotions. But it struck me as something which needs further explanation. And it struck me like that because I personally got convicted. I call myself a Christian but how much time do I genuinely spend reading the words of Jesus?

Over the past few years my thirst to study God’s Word has grown immensely. I still find myself struggling to just read the Bible. And, yes, there is a difference between reading the Bible and studying the Bible. I’ve done more study over the past 5 years than I had done in the previous 33 years combined, but I still struggle to sit down and just read. You know, like you’d read a James Patterson book, or something else as equally mind numbing.

Studying the Bible is kind of like doing a research paper on a person. You get to know the facts about that person, and you get to know things they’ve done in the past. Reading the Bible is more like spending time with the person and getting to know their character. You can study a person all you want but that won’t help you to know the person. That’s why we need to spend time with reading the Bible, so we can actually know Jesus, who is the Word of God (John 1:14).

While it makes me feel not-so-bad it’s also kind of disturbing to know that I’m not alone in this one. There are over 2 billion Christians in world, how many of those would you guess actually read the Bible like it’s the bestseller from the bookstore? I found a study that concluded that only 19% of professing Christians actually read the Bible every day. I do read the Bible every day, and I think that’s not really enough. What about the 81% of Christians who don’t read the Bible every day? Twenty-two percent of those say that they read the Bible about once a month or a few times per month. Eighteen percent of those people say that they “rarely or never” read the Bible. If we don’t spend any time with Jesus, how are we supposed to know His voice?

I have no answers here, just concerns. What are we going to do if we’re in a tough spot and our Lord and Savior is out there trying to tell us how to get through it, and since we don’t know what His voice sounds like we just think that He’s another voice in the crowd (Psalm 119:105)? And, even more importantly, have we really given our life to Jesus as our Lord if won’t even bother to get to know what He wants us to do? Or, have we just accepted His salvation and decided that’s good enough, we can figure it out from here?

So what do we do from here? I wish I had all the answers. But, I do know who has the answers. I guess that’s just another thing I’ll have to study. Until I figure it out, it seems like the best thing to do is to find a reading plan. Find a plan to read the whole Bible. Or maybe a plan to read the Gospels. Or you could find a plan to read the Torah. Read the whole New Testament. Read the whole Old Testament. Start small if you have to. Pledge to read a chapter each day, or pledge to read a book each day. No matter what you pledge to read, just read.

That’s my answer.

What Is Truth?

(John 18:38, John 14:6, Psalm 119:142)

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?"

What IS truth?

Maybe a better question is this: Is there truth? Is there absolute truth? Is anything objective? Or, is everything subjective?

These questions used to be simple. When someone would ask you if you woke up this morning the obvious answer would be ‘yes’. But that’s not the case anymore. Now, if someone were to pose this question, it might be an acceptable answer to say, “does anyone ever really wake up?”

As a culture we are obsessed with contrarianism. We are so impressed with our own intellect that we see it as our duty to prove that we are smart enough to invalidate any question which might be posed.

What is truth?

Do we even accept the premise of the question? Do we accept, anymore, that there is such a thing as truth? Is this accurate: 2+2=4? I’m a bit old, and maybe a bit more out of touch, but to me that is definitely a true statement. But, is this accurate: 103-28=75? Again, I would say that the answer would definitely be 75. For real, I got the calculator out and it told me so. But then, this…

I know the arguments in favor of Common Core math. I know that it’s supposed to teach our children to think bigger so when they get to more advanced maths it won’t be such a difficult paradigm shift. But who’s buying that? Is there something bigger at play? Are we, possibly, trying teach our children that there’s no such thing as an absolute? In this culture of post-modern relativism we are being taught to believe that everything is subjective to the viewer's perspective. We are obsessed with it!

We’re pushed to feel guilty if we believe that our individual (or group) morals should be used to hold others accountable. After all, who are we to tell somebody else what ‘good’ is? But is there a difference between me saying that I think that the New England Patriots are evil and so should everyone else, and that I think that murder is evil and so should everyone else? Most people would agree that murder is evil (though, not all people) but slightly less people would agree that the New England Patriots are evil (admittedly, there is still a rather large group of people who would agree that the Patriots are evil and this may have been a not-so-good comparison). But isn’t murder evil? Or, are there circumstances which we should believe that murder is good?

Is evil relative? And, if evil is relative, is there really such a thing as evil?

Can the same thing be said for truth? The very concept of truth would dictate that it would have to be absolute, but have we found a way to make it subjective? When 103 minus 28 no longer equals 75, is any truth absolute?

It wasn’t that long ago that if a person was born with male anatomy and that person decided that the feel like they’re a female and not a male, they would be seen as delusional and not a woman. If I said that I identified as a nuclear physicist (even though I have no training whatsoever) would I have the right to claim that the nuclear power plant who wouldn’t hire me had no grounds to do so? Could I say that they were discriminating against me because of my background? After all, I identify as a nuclear physicist.

I don’t have a problem with men who think they’re women. Actually, out of love, I want them to get all of the help that they need. Just like I would hope that someone would get me help if I told them that I wholeheartedly believed that I was a nuclear physicist, despite the lack of any corresponding proof.

In the end we have to finish where we started, “What is truth?”

I will offer the following as my proof:

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.

And

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Devotional Rewind For Week Ending 5/14/16

Our Daily Bread

Sunday 5/8/16
(1 Peter 1:3-12)
Something that, for some reason, we take for granted, the angels in heaven look at in amazement and wonder at how it was done. We had the problem of sin, but God destroyed it and allowed us access into His presence by the sacrifice of Jesus. The angels are still marveling at this but how many of us even think about it once per day? I know I’m guilty of accepting it as a given, but it wasn’t as easy as we oftentimes make it out to be. God, Himself, had to come down and live with us (in the middle of all of our dirt and grime). That alone is almost impossible to comprehend. The same God of the Old Testament who you weren’t even allowed to wear sandals around because the ground was so holy, put on His own sandals and accepted us, and loved us to death. And that’s only part of it. How much do we think about that?
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His Great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you.  -Peter 1:3-4

Monday 5/9/16
(Deuteronomy 28:58-63)
When studying the Word of God we need to be sure that we’re paying attention to the context, not just the words on the page. We oftentimes try to pull out a sentence in the middle of a paragraph, redress it as something totally different, and then pass it off as the thing it was before. Remember, we didn’t write the Bible, God did. So don’t rewrite it for Him. I’m including an example of how some have done this in the verse below. The portion in bold is sometimes the only portion of the verse quoted. When you see the entire verse it has an entirely differently meaning.
Just as the LORD has found great pleasure in causing you to prosper and multiply, the LORD will find pleasure in destroying you. You will be torn from the land you are about to enter and occupy. 
-Deut 28:63

Tuesday 5/10/16
(Galatians 6:11-18)
How serious are we about Jesus? Paul was willing to love Jesus, and teach the meaning of the crucifixion of Messiah, even if he was killed for doing it. Do we love Jesus like that? Or are we so caught up in trying to be accepting to the world (even if the reason we want to be accepted is so that we make Christianity look “better”) that we give away some of the meaning of His death on the cross? Sadly, too often we water down the message in order to make it more palatable and less offensive. But the truth is that message of Jesus, while loving, is offensively not accepting of sin.
But as for me, may it never be that I boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  -Galatians 6:14

Wednesday 5/11/16
(Philemon 1:8-19)
God is able to do such great works in us. So often we think that we’re too flawed to be able to accomplish anything. Or, at least, we’re too flawed in a certain area. Those are the areas that God is going to use us in (2 Cor 12:9-11).
Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful to you and to me              -Philemon 1:12

Thursday 5/12/16
(Philippians 4:10-19)
We don’t wake up on our first day of being a Christian and have it all down. The common analogy is that this is a race that we run, but it’s more than that. We will have races throughout our life but the races are few and far between; the truth is that each day is a practice for the race and we are just conditioning ourselves to be able to run the race without growing weary.
In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to have an abundance and to go without. I am able to do all things by the one who strengthens me.
- Philippians 4:12-13

Friday 5/13/16
(Luke 6:41-45)
It's so easy to see the failings of somebody else, but how often do we seek out our own failings? Even when a person is hypercritical of themselves they rarely are critical and want to fix what’s wrong with themselves. We need to be able to look inward and see what we’re doing wrong. We need to be able to assess ourselves and move to fix it.
The good person out of the good treasury of his heart brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heat his mouth speaks.  -Luke 6:45

Saturday 5/14/16
(Psalms 141)
The Bible is kind of like our corrective lenses. I wear glasses and I can’t really see without them. When I take my glasses off the world looks blurry. When I view the world through a Biblical worldview, it all comes into focus a lot more. The Bible is the coke bottle lenses we need to make sense of it all.
Set a guard, O Yahweh, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips   - Psalm 141:3

Devotional Rewind for week ending 5/7/16

This past week I started the "Our Daily Bread" devotional plan on the Bible app. It's kind of refreshing how much scripture it actually incorporates into the daily readings. This one is an oldie but a goodie. It's a 30 plan so it looks like this one will be going throughout the month of May.

Sunday 5/1/16
(Matthew 4:12-17)
We get so caught up in the next big experience that we oftentimes fail to catch the lessons which can come from the mundane. Sometimes God speaks through the thunder, but sometimes He speaks in a whisper. We need to never forget this.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near.”  -Matthew 4:17

Monday 5/2/16
(Daniel 9:3-19)
In today’s society Christians worry about the encroaching humanism and the potential persecution of the Church. Daniel dealt with all of these things, and yet he got down on his knees and prayed to God. He knew that it was against the law but he wouldn’t sacrifice his love for God just so he could be politically correct. This should be a lesson to us.
Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, pay heed and act! You must not delay for your sake, my God; because your city and your people are called by your name.” -Daniel 9:19

Tuesday 5/3/16
(Hebrews 13:5-8)
Bad things happen to good people. It’s true. That doesn’t mean that God isn’t there. He’s there in the people who come to your aid. He’s there in the still, small voice that speaks to you when you’re watching something on TV. He’s there inside of you, waiting to be talked to.
So then, we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man to do me?”              -Hebrews 13:6

Wednesday 5/4/16
(Philippians 1:21-27)
What am I doing in my life that shows the people around me that I am a follower of Christ? Do I read the Bible in public? Do I do anything letting the world know that I am a Christian? Am I happy and exuding the joy of the Lord? Why would anyone want to be like me if I don’t seem to want to be like me?
For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  – Philippians 1:21

Thursday 5/5/16
(Genesis 15:1-6)
Sometimes it feels like we’re being forced to wait forever for God to answer our prayers. How long is ‘forever’? Abraham had God physically visit him and tell him that he was going to have a child (and a nation, on top of that), but he had to wait 25 years before this came to pass. Abraham doubted, but God still showed up and came through with that child (even after Abraham though he knew better and Ishmael came along). How long have you waited? Remain faithful and hopeful, God is coming.
And He brought him outside and said, “look toward the heavens and count the stars if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” – Genesis 15:5

Friday 5/6/16
(Proverbs 15:13-33)
It’s better to live well than it is to live long. What can we do each day to choose to be happy instead of miserable? If we are to show Jesus in the way that we live, how do we expect people to see Him when we’re moping and disdainful?
A heart of gladness will make good countenance, but in sorrow of heart a spirit is broken.
– Proverbs 15:33

Saturday 5/7/16
(Job 6:1-14)
It's often difficult to know what to say when you’re at a funeral home (or something like that) and you’re trying to ‘be there’ for a friend. After Job’s ‘friends’ had told him that it all must’ve been his fault for sinning Job made them aware of what it was he needed from them: reasons to continue hoping (6:11), kindness (6:14), and words that do not presume guilt (6:29-30). Frankly, whether you’re mourning or not, having a reason to continue hoping is the most important thing in the world. Thankfully, we have Jesus.
O that my request may come, and that God may grant my hope… What is my strength that I should wait? And what is my end that I should hold out?    - Job 6:8,11