When was the last time you read an entire chapter in your Bible?
When was the last time you memorized an entire chapter of your Bible? Well, if it has been a while since you accomplished either of those 2 questions, today is your day!! You can read an entire chapter and memorize it today!
If you open your Bible and turn to the exact center, you will find Psalm 117. This is the shortest of all Psalms, and the shortest chapter in the entire Bible.
Praise the Lord, all nations! Praise him, all peoples! His love for us is strong, and his faithfulness is eternal. Praise the Lord! Psalm 117:1-2
The beginning of this chapter and the ending of this chapter command us to Praise the Lord! This is what we should do all of our days. But, it is the middle of the chapter that has the best reminder for us.
No matter what we are facing in our day, the Lord’s love and promises for us will never change. His love is strong, faithful and eternal. His love will endure no matter what crisis we are facing. No matter what confusion is ahead of us.
The Lord’s love and faith endures, because Christ endured. He endured death on a cross for you and for me. We can praise the Lord because He endured. Begin and end your day with Praise the Lord, and then remember all throughout the day that no matter what you face, His love for you is strong and His faithfulness towards you is eternal.
Grace begets grace. It means that if I give grace, I will also receive grace. That sounds nice. But is it true?
I’ve been struggling with someone recently. I’ve been insulted, cheated, and slandered. My response to this aggression has been only grace. What does that look like? It looks like kindness. Despite the evil dished upon me, I have been kind. Grace also extends hope. Hope for a peaceful and productive relationship. My heart says that if I give grace, grace will be returned. Thus the phrase, grace begets grace.
But, the problem persists. My generosity has been rejected. My kindness has been returned with malice and outright hostility. Why would I continue? At what point do I stop extending grace?
In frustration, I cry out to God. “What shall I do? How can I make someone understand that I am for them, not against them? How will they see that my love is real?”
God’s response was perfect. “Exactly,” He said.
As He turns my thoughts toward the grace He has given me, my heart sinks. My will is strong. I have been rebellious. At times, I have been hostile.
If grace begets grace, what does a graceful response to Jesus look like? Surrender, humility, praise, and worship, and of course service.
Understanding others is a difficult thing. As individuals, we have opinions, preferences, life experiences, and beliefs that dictate how we react to various situations. Emotions dictate how we process challenging relationships, challenging people and circumstances that may be difficult or maybe even impossible to understand.
In fact, our emotions many times dictate entirely how we react.
Are you hurt? Are you sad? Are you angry? Are you disappointed? Are you tired of (fill in the blank)?
Factoring in emotions, we then layer on the type of person that we are having trouble with.
Are they family? Are they your spouse? Are they your co-worker? Are they your boss? Are they your neighbor?
Our reaction to be upset or mad may differ depending on our relationship with the individual(s). Friends can sometimes be just like family. Family can sometimes feel like they don’t know or understand you, or perhaps never tried to. Bosses put you in a nearly impossible situation as your livelihood may depend on maintaining or preserving your relationship. And nothing speaks to being more uncomfortable than when you must see your neighbor every day at the mailbox or retrieving their trash cans. Envy, jealously, resentment, rage, hurt…. all emotions that produce a person’s reaction.
Romans 15:5 says, “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be likeminded toward one another, according to Jesus Christ.”
The wonderful thing about our faith in Jesus Christ is that through the scriptures and His example, we can model our lives after Jesus, who was the only perfect person to live on earth. We can know that Jesus walked this earth and experienced emotions like pain, suffering, sadness, temptation, disappointment, and yes, even anger. Through all this, Jesus still loved everyone that He encountered, and He witnessed to the worst of the thieves, tax collectors, and prostitutes to save them from a life of sin and sadness.
Proverbs 16:18-19 says, 18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”
So back to understanding others. The truth is we may never know why a friend or family member is so unhappy. We all react or respond differently to pain and adversity. Sometimes with anger and rage, sometimes with humility and reverence. What can we control? What can we not control?
Let us react to others with humility and a kind heart. Set pride aside. Let us address the sin and haste of others with empathy rather than rage and be patient rather than vengeful. Let us love one another unconditionally, admonishing the sin and not the sinner. Let us lead with humility and forgiveness and be cautious of pride.
“Pride is the mother hen under which all other sins are hatched,” – CS Lewis.
The grace and peace of our Lord knows no boundaries. The worst of relationships and bad situations have proven to be overcome through faith in Jesus Christ. The unimaginable is achieved. Let us lean on our faith and purpose to forgive others and help them through their pain, not letting it impact us as well. The true peace and mercy that comes over us in transgressions of others can only be granted and given by God.
As I observed our oldest son’s high school graduation this weekend, I was filled with pure joy (and some tears) for the experiences that have come throughout this journey. What a ride it has been! Reflecting on the ceremony I have some thoughts to share which can be applied to a literal and metaphorical graduation:
Be intentional in everything you do, don’t take anything for granted, relentlessly pursue your purpose, and stay positive. You don’t want to look at that graduation stage filled with regret about what you could have or should have done with your time here. Consider also the “graduation stage” as a metaphor for that final grand stage when we meet our maker. What thoughts will race through our minds as we reflect on what could have, or should have been?
For the Scriptures say,
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’”
Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. (Romans 14:11-12)
It is less than ninety days until Peyton leaves our home to attend college far away. Like a bird leaving the nest for the first time, this is a natural progression. He was never meant to remain at home with us forever. Our job was to raise him correctly in a God-honoring way, to love him unconditionally, and to then let him leave, ultimately trusting God’s plan for all of us in this transition.
I wish I could say I was the best dad and for it to be true. What I can say is how much of a difference our faith makes during this time. With the mourning and some sense of loss, there is indescribable comfort and joy that comes from knowing God knew this time was coming, he has a plan, he loves us, and he holds us in his hands.
In a world that feels out of control, one of the most important (and few) assets we have in our control is our attitude so there’s a choice: Worry and wallow in sadness or choose joy, and put all of my hope and trust in the God who has never let me down.
Whatever you’re going through right now consider:
First off, God knows our pain and he knows our hearts. He is not far from our pain as Jesus experienced more pain than we could ever know. He felt it firsthand, so he understands it.
Even Death and Destruction hold no secrets from the Lord.
How much more does he know the human heart! (Proverbs 15:11)
Our attitude, our choice. Will we choose gladness and a happy heart?
For the despondent, every day brings trouble;
for the happy heart, life is a continual feast. (Proverbs 15:15)
Instead of focusing on our own troubles, we can better serve God by focusing on others as our attitudes are contagious!
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart;
good news makes for good health. (Proverbs 15:30)
Pray for someone to cross your path today who needs a cheerful look and be ready… Graduation day is coming.
Do you remember the teacher that introduced you to the acrostic KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid? I honestly don’t remember who taught it to me, but I use it with my staff often. In my world, keeping it simple means focusing on what the audience wants to know rather than what my staff wants to tell them (hint, hint…they usually don’t care how you negotiated the price down, just that you saved them 20%)!
Our text in Romans is a great example of keeping it simple. In chapter 12 and 13 of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he provides godly direction on a number of subjects – serving others in the church, practicing hospitality, living in peace and harmony with others, submitting to governing authorities and paying taxes. Mid-way through chapter 13 he pulls out the KISS card and boils everything down to one simple principle – love your neighbor as yourself.
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:9-10).
Wow, this was simple. Was it new theology with Paul? Of course not. Paul was just summarizing Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 22. If you truly love God and love people, everything else falls into place. Keep it simple stupid.
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40).
Reading today’s scriptures, I contemplated Paul’s challenge to transform and renew our minds. Several years ago, Shelly wrote the following post about changing our minds. I want to share it again.
I like to listen to Podcasts. Especially motivational speakers like Tony Robbins, Hal Elrod with The Miracle Morning, or Mel Robins with her 5-second rule. After listening to them, I am energetic and motivated to get moving and conquer my day…….at least for 10 minutes or so. And then what do I do? I listen to another podcast until I have binged an entire day of motivational speakers, only to realize I have been a listener and not a doer!! Even though I feel like I was an active participant, I am no different than before I listened. There is no real life change. That can only come through Jesus. He is the only way I have been able to combat my thoughts. I struggle with worry and feeling “not good enough.” It is only when I go to Jesus that I can take my thoughts captive to Him. The enemy wants me stuck in my house listening to other people share their “recipe for life” instead of me being in the world using my God-given gifts and talents. The battle is in my mind, and when left without guidance, I find myself anxious, nervous, fretting, and cowering. Motivational speakers talk a lot about changing your thoughts and your actions to make you a happier and more productive person but to what end? For more income? For more power? None of that will last and it is never fully achieved. There is always more money to be had, a better house to live in, a newer this or that. But when God is the goal there is an amazing thing that happens in our lives………peace. The absence of worry and fretting. Because we know and trust the one who holds our future. This is great news! We don’t have to keep thinking about the things that keep us stuck. We can choose differently. And the result is peace in the midst of trial and difficulty. It truly is a peace that surpasses all understanding. The difficulty and struggles of life will not go away, but I choose to trust Jesus in all of it. He will never leave me or forsake me. My choice to follow him will result in peace. And that is my testimony to the world. Jesus has made the difference in my life… He is the best motivational speaker I know, and he loves you and me. The following verses are ones I go to when my mind is starting to believe the lies the world is telling me, and I find myself anxious and out of step with who I am in Christ. Today, choose to allow God to change your thoughts to reflect your true identity in Him.
Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Philippians 4:6-9 “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the PEACE of GOD, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is TRUE, whatever is HONORABLE, whatever is JUST, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is COMMENDABLE – if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – DWELL ON THESE THINGS. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of PEACE will be with you.”
Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Timothy 2:7 “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”.
It has been a blessing to be a part of this Bible Journal Community. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Did you know the phrase “Apple of My Eye” comes from the Hebrew expression “little man of the eye”? It refers to the reflection of yourself that you can see in another person’s pupil. To be the apple of someone’s eye means you are entirely focused on that person in front of you. Today I looked into my kids and wife’s eyes to the point I could see my reflection. I tried to have them see their reflection too. While we shared a laugh at the request, the focus and proximity helped me draw close to this scripture.
Keep my commandments and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Proverbs 7:2
How do you approach your time with scripture? As a duty just to be completed as quickly as possible, or as an incredible opportunity to get to know God more? I pray to be more like David (from the Bible) “Oh, how I love Your law!” Psalm 119:97
We live in an eye-appealing world. A place that keeps us focused on entertainment, technology, or busyness. In a dark place where it can all be about us, turn our eyes to God. Without becoming familiar with God’s Word and learning to shine a light on our problems, we will surely stumble in the dark.
The transition of a loved one to heaven can be hard. The sorrow, the grief, and the pain sometimes can be unbearable. But the celebration of the life of that person and all that they have given you throughout your life is immeasurable. I’ve recently had to celebrate the life of a dear person in my life, my godmother. The joy and the happiness and the contentment that everybody had for her is truly amazing.
This is a testament to her legacy. She was kind, loving, and always giving. The words and the actions that she bestowed upon me throughout my life will always be remembered. I can still hear her voice giving me advice and giving me love.
In today’s readings, Solomon and Paul are giving words of wisdom to the next generation. They are given their legacy. The words that they’re giving are from their own experiences and from their own mentor’s words to them.
“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
“Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.”
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”
In the passages from Solomon, at the beginning of each chapter, he is instructing his sons and his descendants, how to live a good life. He has shown them how to live a good life, but he’s also giving them instructions on how to live the life after he has transitioned to heaven and has given them the wisdom. Many times we are given words and insights into what we supposed to do, but sometimes we need the instructions to be written out.
In Romans, Paul is asking the question of the people of Israel and the Christians if they have understood what they have been given to by word of mouth and written word. He is also asking them if they are working with the gifts that they have been given.
Many times in our lives we are given instruction, both verbally and written. It is in the nature in which we use the instructions and wisdom that will produce good fruit. I have been granted many mentors throughout my life that have imparted wisdom to me. I have received many words of wisdom from my mother, my father, my uncles, and my aunts. I have listened to their words, but sometimes I have done my own things. But the things that I’ve done have not been without understanding their wisdom. Sometimes we do things that are aligned with wisdom, and sometimes we do things that are counter to the wisdom. But in the end, we will all receive wisdom. Then it’s our responsibility to relay this wisdom onto the next generation.
Legacy is not all about the words that you use, but the actions that match the words that have been given to you throughout your life. Legacy is also the reflection of your total person and how it will be manifested in others. Legacy is a shadow of all of our attributes that we have together.
So what is the legacy that we are giving to the next generation? What is the direction or legacy that we are being examples of? If we give instruction with God’s grace and God‘s wisdom and gods mercy, then the legacy that we will give will be for God‘s glory.
Today’s readings are 1 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalm 42, and Romans 8.
This weekend my 10-year-old son Deklin and I attended DADCAMP which is a camp for Dads to bring their son or daughter from 1st grade up through high school. It was an amazing experience I won’t forget, and hope Deklin won’t either. DADCAMP is a Christ-centered. biblical organization with a focus on inspiring Dads to be the best Dad they can be. Check out https://www.dadcamp.info/our-story.html for more info.
At DADCAMP they spoke about how 80% of those incarcerated have an absent father. Younger generations are leaving the church and their faith at the largest rates ever, yet when a Dad follows Jesus, 93% of the time so will his children.
I’m always amazed at how when we dig into God’s Word, He speaks to us directly related to what is going on in our lives. 1 Kings 3:3 says…
“Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statues of David his father…”
We know not only did Solomon follow God, but he ultimately showed his level of commitment by building a temple to honor Him. We see right here in the Word where David followed God, and as a result, so did his son Solomon. This still holds true today.
At DADCAMP we covered a book called, Father God:Daring to Draw Near by Dave Patty. This book discusses how there are 2 conversations recorded with God the Father and Jesus in Matthew 3:16-17 and Matthew 17:5. In these verses, we find God the Father communicates 4 things to Jesus, His Son.
Identity – “This is my Son.”
Love – “Whom I love”
Pleasure – “With Him I am well pleased”
Place – “Listen to Him!”
The author Dave Patty says the following…
Identity gives value
Love brings security
Pleasure gives motivation
Place brings honor
We see how God the Father felt about His Son. Not so ironically, Romans 8:12-17 tells us as a result of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we who believe are now children of God. In fact, those verses in my Bible are under the heading “Heirs with Christ.”
12 So then, brothers,[a] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[b] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
You can read for yourself here where when you believe you are now seen in the same way as Jesus, as a child of God who is glorified with Him. This tells us we now have an identity which brings value, love which brings security, pleasure which gives us motivation, and place which brings us honor from our Heavenly Father.
Romans 8:37-39 expands on this to tell us we are victorious, and nothing will separate us from His love and the way God feels about us now that we are His children through Jesus.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Some reading this may not have had the best relationship with your own father, but we can all go forth and live life with confidence based on the relationship with have with our Heavenly Father through Jesus.
Up until the beginning of 2023 I had been a faithful subscriber to a meal delivery service. Every week I would choose 2 meals to make for my family. Tuesday afternoon would bring a box of food and precise instructions for me to follow. I have to admit, the step by step instructions and having every ingredient needed helped me produce a delicious meal for my family. Over the past 5 months as we became empty nesters, I decided that the meal delivery was not necessary as I have more time on my hands and only 2 mouths to feed. What I am surprised at is that I am much better at finding my own recipes and following directions now that I did it faithfully for 3 years. It is amazing when we put the time and effort in, results will follow.
In the book of 1 Kings we read about the end of David’s life. David has named his son, Solomon, as the next King. As David prepares him to take the throne, he has some instructions for his son. Words of wisdom that will be useful when he takes over the kingdom.
Be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord your God; to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgements, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn. I Kings 2:2-3
If I were to send you instructions on how to follow what David is stating here, I would say the following:
1- Be Strong – David truly understood what it would be like for Solomon ruling the kingdom. He knew he had to have a heart to follow God.
2 – Prove yourself a man – Solomon was still a young man. He did not have the experience of fighting battles that David had. He had so much to learn. David wanted his son to be courageous for God.
3 – Keep the charge of the Lord – David wanted Solomon to stay true to what the Lord had called him to do. Being the next king came with a huge responsibility.
4 – Walk in His ways – Israel (just like the world today) had a struggle with following what everyone else was doing and worshipping false gods.
5 – Keep God’s statutes, commandments, judgements, and testimonies – David had already learned these lessons and wanted his son to remember what happened every time Israel turned from God and did their own thing. He also wanted Solomon to remember the testimonies, all the wonderful things God had done for Israel, each time He had provided and protected the nation.
6 – That you may prosper in whatever you do and wherever you go – Of course David wanted his son to prosper. He knew that this would only happen if Solomon walked in obedience to all that God commanded.
What great instructions David gave to Solomon that we can use for ourselves. Just like following directions for a recipe, this is the recipe for our lives. The more we follow the directions the better we get. This does not mean that life will always turn out perfectly, I had and still have many dinners that have flopped, but overall I have fewer and fewer flops. When we follow the instructions of the Lord, blessings will follow.
Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice, who don’t live like sinners and who don’t join those who make fun of God. Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings and think about them day and night. Psalms 1: 2-3
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