Buckets or Fountains

Today’s Reading: John 7

John 7 is another glorious invitation that Jesus provides to the people. There was probably not a single day that went by where Jesus didn’t invite people to salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life.  If you go back to John 4, He invites the woman at the well.   “ The water that I give you is eternal or living water. Drink of this water, and you will never thirst again.”  Chapter 6 Lynden talked about the “bread of life.” 

As I read about the importance of small things from Lynden yesterday, I love how he highlighted the importance of bread.  Today we are going to talk about the simplicity and necessity of water.   Did you know that over 60% of your body is water?  That over 70% of your brain and heart is made up of water.  As adults, it is recommended that we drink 2.7 – 3.7 liters of water daily.  How much are you drinking? 

 

John 7: 37-39 reads, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture said, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’  

Are you thirsty? Have you ever been dehydrated? Research shows how madness can set in when you have not had water after some time.  I connect this with not having Jesus in our lives as not having water.  Think of where you might be?

Three verbs stick out in this invite.  When you think about evangelism, it makes sense.  

  • Thirst – Recognizing your condition.  Realizing that you are apart from God, you will always want something to drink. 
  • Come – trust in Him, abandon sin and turn towards God. 
  • Drink – live with Him each day. Surrender daily. 

The last awesome part that convicts me in this scripture is the last line that reminds us that from our innermost being will flow rivers of living water. 

This is where my picture connects.  There are many days that I’m just like the bucket taking it all in and just sitting there—just getting my fill.  Jesus wants us to be a river sharing the living water with others just like He did every day.  

Who will you share with the Living Water with today? 

Have a blessed day!

 

The Small Things

Today’s Reading : John 6

This past weekend we celebrated the life of my uncle. He was my father‘s oldest brother. My relationship with my Uncle Charles really developed when I went to college. He and my Aunt Jackie lived literally down the street from my undergraduate college. There were many days and nights and weekends that I would be at their house. He was the one who showed me how to work on cars and how to grow into a young man. He was very influential in helping me become the man that I am today. He passed away on last Wednesday morning. We spoke together three days before his departure to Heaven. Our conversation was about five minutes in total. We spoke about his current prognosis of his terminal diagnosis. And the last thing we say to each other was “I love you”.
It’s the small things in life that we cherish that means so much in our lives. The conversation that we had, the final conversation that we had together was a brief moment in the day. It meant a lot for me to have this conversation especially when I found out he had passed away only days after this conversation. I just found out that this conversation also meant a lot to him because on his burial day, my aunt told me that he informed her he spoke to me. This verified for me that the true essence I was unaware of those small moments in our life, day, and conversation meant a lot to him as well.
Some of the “small moments” that I cherish in my life are when I’m leaving the house and I forget to say goodbye to one of my children. The child will come running to me “don’t leave daddy” and they come give me a hug and a kiss. That hug and kiss means the world to me every time. But it might even be more to my child.
In John chapter 6, John delivers some amazing things that may seem small but have major impacts in our lives. In this particular chapter we are presented with the miracle of the 5000 being fed, the miracle of Christ in the water with the disciples, and the realization of bread of life.
John introduces and closes the chapter with the bread of life. When we were introduced about the bread it is a side note and a point of contention John 6:5-8

5-6 When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread to feed these people?” He said this to stretch Philip’s faith. He already knew what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered, “Two hundred silver pieces wouldn’t be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece.”

8-9 One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.”

The bread that Christ blesses for the 5000 is received from child from his lunch. Five loaves of bread and two fish.
We often prepare our children’s lunches and you asked them “ what do you want for lunch “? This task may seem like a small task but it’s a huge part of the children’s day. When we prepare their lunch they are anticipating something amazing later in their day. This can break or make the entire day. So Jesus uses this opportunity from the lunch of a child to create an amazing miracle. But Christ also set up his next revelation.
In the end of the chapter Christ reminds the individuals that are listening about the bread that he gave them the day before. But he also reminds the crowd about the manna from heaven that Moses gave the ancestors. He says that the bread that they get from Moses and the bread they receive from Christ the day before we’re not enough to fill them but only for a moment in time. But the living bread that he has come to give is the bread of the life: the living spirit, God the Spirit. Jesus is speaking of the spirit of renewal that he brings to the world. That his presence is the awakening of their nutrition of spiritual awakening with the Holy Spirit. With his life he brings new life to each individual.
We can sometimes miss the small things in life. We can sometimes gloss over those small items that are essential for us. I’m reminded of the Lord’s prayer “Give us this day our daily bread”. In the time of Christ the actual literal bread was hard to find for individuals. The figurative brand of the spirit was also in limited supply. We today sometimes take granted our physical bread and our spiritual bread. But let’s not lose sight of this beautiful morsel of nourishment. Let us not forget daily to be thankful for our physical needs that God had provided and also our spiritual needs that God provides.
From the beginning examples that both parties receive great joy and meaningful from the small interactions. God also receives great satisfaction when we are given our physical bread and our spiritual bread and we acknowledge that he has given it to us.
Have a blessed week

Share Your Story

Can you think of anyone you know that has an “ugly” past or is living differently than you would approve of?  Maybe they were involved in something that you think is offensive?  Maybe someone who has not conducted themselves as you think right in their marriage?  Maybe they have even gone to jail for something?  Does anyone come to mind?  We are all fully aware of what we think is morally acceptable and not acceptable, and as hard as we try, we probably cast negative feelings towards others for what they have done.  Some of us may even go to the extent of avoiding any contact with such person.  

But not Jesus!

Today we are looking at John chapters 4 and 5, but focusing on a what we can learn from the Samaritan woman.

Who was the Samaritan woman?  The Samaritan’s were a race of people that the Jews utterly despised as having no claim on their God.  This woman, who is not directly named, walks to Jacob’s Well to fill her water jar.  She comes alone at a time when she knew others would not be around.  She chose this time because she did not feel comfortable being around others, for they looked down on her.  She was ostracized and labeled as immoral because she was an unmarried woman living openly with a man (her 6th man to live with).  People avoided her and treated her unkindly because she did not live up to their standards.

Jesus and his disciples are traveling from Jerusalem in the south to Galilee in the north.  To make their journey shorter, they take a quick route through Samaria.  Jesus, being tired and thirsty sat by Jacob’s well while his disciples went to a nearby village to get food.  At this same time, around noon and the hottest part of  the day, the Samaritan woman came to draw her water.

The shocking part of this story is that Jesus spoke to her, breaking 3 Jewish customs.  First, he spoke to her despite her being a woman.  Second, she was a Samaritan woman, and the Jews traditionally despised Samaritans.  And, third, he asked her to get him a drink of water, which using her jar would have made him ceremonially unclean.  

I am sure the Samaritan woman was shocked that this man was speaking to her.  But then, Jesus begins to tell her that he could give her “living water” as a gift from God so that she would never thirst again.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.  It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

John 4:13-14

Once again, the Samaritan woman had to be shocked that Jesus was telling her about this “living water” and then Jesus started telling her about her own life!  What?!?!  Even though he had never met her before, Jesus told her that he knew she’d had five husbands and was now living with a man who was not her husband.  She had to be astonished.

“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet.”  

John 4:19

Jesus and the woman continued their discussion and the woman began to understand who she was talking to.  Jesus revealed to her that He was the Messiah.

The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ).  The he comes, he will tell us all the things.”  Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

John 4:25-26

In her shock at realizing Who she was speaking with, the disciples returned to the well.  The disciples were socked to find Jesus speaking to a woman.  Leaving her water jar behind, the woman returned to her town, inviting the people to “Come see a man who told me all that I ever did.”  John 4:29

This woman who was shunned by other woman for her immorality ran back to the town to tell others about Jesus.  She was so excited she even forgot her water jar at the well.  All of these people she had been avoiding, she now was running to them to tell them about Jesus.

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “he told me all that I ever did.”  So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed tow days.  And many more believed because of his word.

John 4:39-41

This woman’s excitement caused her to be bold and face all the people who called her an outcast.  She was full of hope and she wanted everyone to know.  

A woman who is a brand new believer, who is still living with a man outside of marriage, who has no background in theology and no training in how to share her faith brings many villagers to Jesus.  And Jesus does the rest!  

And many more believed because of his word.  They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

John 4:41-42

The Samaritan woman’s words had power!  It is because she ran back to tell the people that they came and had the opportunity to meet Jesus.  This is the lesson for us.  We can not forget what Jesus has done for us.  Get excited about it and use your words to share with others.  Our responsibility is to share what Jesus has done, just as the Samaritan woman did, and He will do the rest.

For God So Loved the World

This last Sunday, a family of missionaries visiting home stationed in southern Asia spoke at our church. One woman shared a personal witness: after their offices opened up after months of strict restrictions, she was having a friendly conversation with a cleaning lady as she scrubbed the floor. Within sentences, this woman broke down, telling through tears of how her mother passed away recently, she was taking care of her daughter alone without help, and barely wanted to be alive anymore, only hanging on for her daughter. In the face of this display of desperate hopelessness, the missionary told this lady about Jesus, and the hope she had found in Him. She describes the resulting change in this woman as miraculous: as she put it, “she had been changed. This woman’s situation was still the same, but now she had hope in Jesus.”

That tale of a transformative hope has been in my mind as I’ve considered this passage this week, and John 3:16 especially, in its popular evangelical context. To millions of people who haven’t heard the Gospel, learning the truth of God’s gift of salvation is entirely life-changing. What was once darkness and despair becomes light and joy. For us who’ve been believers and surrounded in this truth for many years, it can be dangerously easy to grow too comfortable in this knowledge. But there’s a reason that passage has been shared time and time again: it summarizes the greatest act of mercy and gifting of the most everlasting gift we didn’t deserve but received nonetheless; a love and deliverance from evil that could only come from the Most High God. A hope, not in the shifting and temporary distractions of this world, but a hope in something eternal, constant, and genuinely worthwhile. Hope not in the works of our own hands which is sure to fade away, but the work God has accomplished through His faithfulness. For people who haven’t heard the Gospel yet, John 3:16 changes life itself. When I hear & experience others experiencing that discovery for the first time, I am thankful for the reminder of how indispensable to a joyous, meaningful life He truly is

Romans 15 describes what the gift of Jesus should do for us: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Paul goes on to describe his ambition to preach the word to others, quoting Isaiah 52:15: “For that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.” The hope we abound in is not to be kept to ourselves: It is through the joy of Christ in us that we share His name and His work with all the people of the world who haven’t heard, both near and far. All that they may see, understand, and know this hope as we do. Today I say a prayer of thanks for an indispensable hope in Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior, and would pray this for you all as well; that we may help those who have not seen God’s light or heard His word make that discovery today, by joyfully sharing the hope found in Christ with those who need it.

King of My Heart?

Today’s reading is John 2. This chapter of John includes well known Scriptures about Jesus’ first public miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana and turning over the money tables in the temple. However, we are going to focus on the last 2 verses.

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

John 2:23-25

In full transparency, much of my writing today is based off notes written in my Bible from a past sermon which was likely by Pastor Mike Baker from Eastview Christian Church. We must ask ourselves, what is the condition of my heart? As we read here in John 2:23-25, Jesus knows. There are 3 questions we can take a step back and objectively as ourselves to examine our heart.

  1. Where is my money going?

Matthew 6:21 clearly tells us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” It’s been said that you can tell a person’s priorities by looking at their bank account or credit card transactions and their calendar.

  1. What fruit am I bearing?

Matthew 13:23 says, “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the Word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Another way to examine this may be from my calendar question above or whether or not those around me in my family, business, or teams/organizations are yielding good fruit and impacting the world positively through the help of my leadership and guidance.

 

  1. What am I speaking? I would also add, what am I watching?

Matthew 15:18 says, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” I’m sad to admit my temper often gets the best of me or my desire to crack a joke or make a comment in an attempt to make others laugh which may hurt someone else or include language I know God would not like.

These are humbling questions for us to ask, and no matter where we are on our walk with the Lord, we all have opportunities to grow and shape our heart to look more like His.

Here 5 are ways to help us grow and help change and shape our hearts.

  1. Pray

David prays in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” David is asking for God to examine him so he knows if he is going in the right way and then to redirect him towards God’s will if he’s going astray.

  1. Yield to God’s Spirit and Heart

Again, David gives a good example of how…ask God to help you do so!

  1. Yield to His teaching in the Word by reading our Bible.

A friend of mine who is what I would call a newer believer was commenting the other day that the more he reads the Bible, the more he is convinced other leadership and self-help books he previously read for years are just saying what the Bible has already told us in a different way and are teaching us to live and lead like Jesus did. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of the soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” We also discussed how crazy it is when we read our Bible and whatever we are reading that day speaks to us right in the way we need it to based on what is going on in our lives and minds. This verse in Hebrews reminds us this is not a coincidence. The Bible is the Living Word.

  1. Walk with God’s people

I love the quote, “Who you will be in 10 years is a result of the books you read and the people you surround yourself with.” Just like reading the Bible above, who you spend time with will influence you. I still have a lot of growing to do in my walk and to live more like Him (this is a gross understatement), but I can tell you I would not be where I am today not only because of the foundation of faith my parents laid, but also because of the professional mentors with my company I spent much time with who I looked up to and who loved the Lord and His Word. This lit a spark in me to want to get into His Word more. I thank God for putting me in that environment with those people. In more recent years, our small group has helped us walk with His people and grow.

  1. Serve His Church

Jesus gave us maybe the greatest example of serving His people and church when He washed the disciples’ feet the night before He was killed, even when He knew they would run, deny, and abandon Him.

So, let us ask ourselves, “Is He the King of my Heart?”

We can examine ourselves through these 3 questions above and no matter where we are in our walk with Him, improve the condition of our heart through these 5 ways. We will also learn tomorrow in John 3 how much He loves no matter where we are in our journey.

Check out this awesome song.

 

 

Light

 

John 1

Is the dimness of this world weighing heavily on your mind? Is the darkness of politics and injustices filling you with fear and anxiety? Do the unfairnesses you see worry you for the future? Are our circumstances surrounding the virus at this point in time seeming never ending? I had a discussion with one of my kids last weekend and they were asking me if I have ever lived through a darker time in my life than what we are currently facing. The question made me evaluate and think on some pretty heavy topics. I didn’t expect to still be thinking on the question days later so as I prepped for this post and read the first 18 verses of John 1, I unexpectedly experienced peace and calm wash over my troubled spirit.

 

“In the beginning the Word (Jesus) already existed. Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God. Jesus gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

So Jesus became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.”

 

God has always existed. He knows everything from before the beginning of the world. I can’t even make sense of that statement. I can’t grasp that God was before time. Any shred of understanding I can try to apply floods me with relief from the trouble of this world. He was here, He is still here and He will be here in the future. He has seen it all and His life brought light to everyone. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” Our world cannot rid itself of God. Do you feel the comfort and relief that vs 5 speaks into our lives? It is hope! We are not abandoned or alone. He is with us. He understands our fears and anxiety. The One who is with us gives blessing after blessing from His abundance. Our world’s darkness can never extinguish His light. He prevails! I don’t know about you, but I need to be reminded of this daily!! (Especially if I watch the evening news!) I need to cling to the fact that Jesus shines in the darkness of our world. I need for my kids to know the hope that in the end Jesus prevails. This definitely does not mean that all will go smoothly for us and that our worries are over. Actually I think our world will get much darker than it currently is in the future. But Light shines in the darkness. He is our hope.

Talk It Out

Luke 24

I am an external processor.  What does that mean?  It means I like to talk.  Well, that’s part of it.  You see I like to talk about thoughts and ideas that I have not fully formulated.  As I do, I gain clarity find direction.  There is another benefit.  I also get to hear your thoughts.  Sometimes, I find that my direction is completely off and the conversation reels me back in.  No matter the outcome, I am always encouraged and emboldened by the people that are willing to engage in these conversations.

Today, in Luke 23, we see the disciples engaging in a similar conversation.  They are recounting the last couple of days up to and including Jesus’ death.  It’s a grim conversation, to be sure.  Even so, the conversation helps them process.  Through it, they will gain clarity about how it happened and what is next.

Follow the story now as a curious stranger joins the conversation.  I can picture the disciples getting all worked up at this man’s ignorance.  No, they are not annoyed, they are provoked.  “What things?”  That is all the man asked, but it is enough.  They spend the next several minutes telling, in detail, the events of the last few days and how they unfolded.  It would be like telling someone about last night’s game.  Whether your team won or lost, the story is filled with passion and emotion.

Of course, for the disciples on this walk, hope was lost.  They are filled with sadness.  They are filled with defeat.  Jesus knew that and he was disappointed.  How many times had he told them?  How many times had he forecast his own death?  How many times had he shared that these events would bring boundless joy?  Until at once, he couldn’t hold back any longer.  “You foolish people,” he cries! (verse 25).

While the rebuke was stern, it was necessary.  Now with their attention, the curious stranger was able to reel in the conversation.  He reminds them of the prophets, the predictions and the scriptures that point to the Messiah.  He reminds them of the suffering that would occur and also of the ensuing glory.

Now, we know how the story ends.  We know that soon after this walk, Jesus would reveal himself.  But, before then, as they shared with each other, their hearts were warmed.  More than that, their hearts burned (v32).  This is different than the sadness and defeat they experienced just moments before.  Don’t you feel their excitement, exuberance even?  That’s what I want!  Don’t you?

As I reflect upon how they went from sadness to exuberance, one thing is clear.  Jesus.  It was not his presence, though, it was his story.  You see, the disciples found life in recounting the events.  Then, they experienced true joy when Jesus connected the events to hope.  Don’t you know that he does the exact same thing for us?  We would do well to talk out the gospel message the same way more often.

The Guilt of Getting Away With Something

Around a month ago, I wrote about Matthew 27, the trial and conviction of Jesus with Pontius Pilate.

Today we read Luke 23, which was Luke’s version of the same events, Jesus’ trial, and sentence to death.

As I read Luke’s version, the person that stood out to me was Barabbas.   Luke 23:19 tells us Barabbas “who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.” Several times through Luke 23, Pontius Pilate declared that both he and Herod had found no wrongdoing of Jesus. Pilate was prepared to “chastise Him and release Him (Jesus).”  The crowd would not have it.  They declared in verse 18, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas.” Pilate pleaded with the crowd to release Jesus, but the crowd shouted in version 21, “Crucify Him, crucify Him.”  Pilate pleaded with the crowd a third and final time, and they wanted Jesus to die.  As we know, Pilate relented and allowed the greatest human being to ever walk the earth to be murdered.

What is on my heart today is Barabbas.  What was going through his mind during the trial of Jesus when no attention was directed to his crimes? Was he guilty?  Why was the crowd letting him off the hook? Did he feel remorse while an innocent man was taking his place to be put to death?

If no one finds out that we did something that was wrong, do we feel guilty about it?  Perhaps it was stealing, hitting another person’s car, and not admitting to it, lying, or gossiping about a person and spreading false rumors, or maybe even injuring someone physically and not admitting to our guilt.

Our conscience is a fascinating and wonderful thing.  It is that certain little something that tells us the right thing to do, when perhaps we don’t know if we can or should.  Or maybe that “voice in our head” convinces us to do what is right, even though it might be to our detriment.  If I admit to wrongdoing, it might cost me financially, it might damage my reputation, or I might even be charged with a crime.

Faith in Jesus Christ provides me the moral compass to do the right thing even when no one else is watching.  To be clear, I am a sinner and FAR from perfect.  I make my share of daily mistakes that I am embarrassed about and many times regret.  But I am committed to telling the truth even if it hurts me.  Yes, I have hit someone’s parked car.  Yes, they were not there.  Yes, I could have left and not told anyone.  No, I could not bring myself to do it.  I left a handwritten note with my name and number and that admission cost me several hundred dollars to repair the persons vehicle.  I would do it over again.

Back to Barabbas.  It gets me to wonder what the rest of his life was like, carrying the guilt that an innocent man was put to death in place of him. The Bible says in Luke 23:44-45, describing when Jesus died, “Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.”  From the very day Barabbas was set free, the earth experienced a scary and unimaginable event.  Do you think Barabbas’ conscience kicked in that day and he was scared and perhaps regretted getting away with his crimes?

We are all sinners.  We all make mistakes.  We all say and do bad things.  The awesome part of our faith is that Barabbas had the same opportunity to be saved and spend eternity in Heaven, just like you and I do.  If we truly believe, and profess with our mouths, that Jesus died on the cross to save our sins, we will spend eternity with Him in Heaven.  I hope Barabbas fell to his knees and asked for forgiveness.  The greatest thing about Jesus, our Savior, is that He would have forgiven Barabbas and welcomed him into Heaven with open arms.

Servanthood

Luke 22 starts right before Passover with the chief priests and scribes wanting to have Jesus put to death, but they were afraid of doing it in front of the people. They needed an inside source to help them do it secretively at the right moment and Judas was there to provide the information they needed. Judas’ focus was obviously not on servanthood, but on what he could get out of each situation.

There was a very specific outline for the Passover dinner which had been practiced by the Israelites for centuries, Jesus changed it. Jesus had a very clear focus and heart of servanthood that was never shaken even to the point of a brutal beating and death.

Other Gospels discussed the controversy of the change, but Luke does not get into those details. The details he focuses on is that when Jesus professed someone was going to betray him, the disciples argued about who that person would be, V 23 and in V 24 they’re arguing who should be considered the greatest among them. Their focus didn’t seem to be on being servants. At that time society basically exalted the leader who would sit at the head of the table and not have to really do anything but enjoy himself. Jesus’ teaching was that if you want to be the leader, you are the number one servant, just as He had been.

Jesus’ teaching of how the first should be last was so important throughout his ministry and yet even the disciples continued to miss the importance of servanthood. Makes me wonder how often I truly miss being the servant in my life. Do I have a heart that truly wants to serve others, or am I just trying to get through each day providing what I need to help me “finish the day well”? If I get through the day, and haven’t served anyone, did I finish the day well? I do things every week for family, my Church, friends, clients and occasionally for people I really don’t even know. How many of these things would  truly be considered serving rather than fulfilling my obligations and just being helpful? I believe overall, I’m probably doing pretty good. I’m sure the disciples thought the same thing, and yet it seems like they were so far off. They might’ve manipulated themselves to think they were doing better than they really were, which fueled they’re petty arguments.

One of my main prayers every morning is that I don’t deceive myself, that God would enlighten me to the truth about myself, so I don’t hide my sin from me. So, I don’t hide my selfishness from me. The day races by so quickly each and every day. I have discovered it’s easy as I race through each day that maybe I lose my focus sometimes. I am continually praying throughout each and every day for God to help me keep my focus on Him which will help me recognize the opportunities of serving that I should not miss. I hope I not only see those opportunities but that I also be the servant God desires me to be in those moments when they arrive. I’m sure I’m also like the disciples were, completely missing what others may see as obvious.

Overindulgence

What do you like to do to rest and recharge? What were your most special moments of the summer? What do you like to do when you want a break from the cares of life?

We’ve been on a family vacation for the last week. Our vacation mode is typically focused on trying to do as little as possible; being intentional about leaving the phones locked and turned off in a safe (although we need to do this more). While we love to travel, we aren’t much for tours and cramming in a lot of activities. We’re all about beaches, playing in the waves, games on the beach, reading “paper” books, eating fun food, late nights, sleeping in, enjoying drinks at beach bars, etc.

Regarding drinks: If you know me well you know that I enjoy wine, IPAs, margaritas, Negronis, old fashioneds, etc. Hopefully it isn’t offensive on a Christian web site, I’ll say it because it is true, I like alcohol.

Today’s reading (Luke 20-21)

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. (Luke 21:34)

Wanting to avoid that verse as a theme today made me realize even more that it should be raised as a topic as I stand convicted. While Jesus is calling out specific sins that many of us have been guilty of (such as dissipation or “overindulgence” and drunkenness), my takeaway is that we have choices and reaching the “sin” point usually starts with not doing the thing we should do.

Jesus is first saying to “watch ourselves” before saying not to get drunk or overindulge. He’s helping us avoid sin in the first place. Watching ourselves starts with sincere, frequent prayer as we seek to draw nearer to Him. I pray that this site blesses our readers to help all of us watch ourselves on a daily basis through the reading of scripture and vulnerability from our authors.

Also in Luke 21:34 is the phrase “cares of this life” (and there are many). While writing this journal today my heart is heavy for so many on our prayer list. There are people suffering from various illnesses (physical, emotional, mental), brokenness due to divorce and/or other relationships, and concerns about the future. I want to remind you that there is a God who knows you by name, who seeks a relationship with you, who showed perfect love by paying the ultimate price for you.

Thank you Jesus for being trustworthy. For loving us first, for your words, for your example and instructions as you teach us what is best for our lives. Forgive me for my sins as they are many. Will you draw nearer to me today? Will you speak to me? Will you do miraculous works in the lives of our readers? For your glory alone God. I put my trust in you today. Amen.