Monday, July 31, 2017

JULY 31, 2017

“Be true to yourself.
Make each day your masterpiece.
Help others.
Drink deeply from good books.
Make friendship a fine art.
Build a shelter against a rainy day.
Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.” 

― John Wooden

PSALM 62-64

1Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
2Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.(62:1-2)

ROMANS 1

 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

JOURNAL 

The essence and existence of God is all around. It is in the beauty and perfection of the earth. From sunrise to sunset, God's power and love are evident. To not see it and accept it is to arrogantly miss the immensity of the creator. 

To miss the essence of God is ultimately to miss our purpose and to fail to become all that we were created to be. My greatest accomplishment is to do the best with the day that I am given...to make it my masterpiece as my offering to God. 

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you,” declares the Lord

JEREMIAH 29:11-14

Sunday, July 30, 2017

JULY 30, 2017

“Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.” 
― John Wooden

PSALM 59-61

16But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.(59:16)

ACTS 28:16-31

23They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
26“ ‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’a
28“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” [29]b
30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

JOURNAL 

We never really know God's plans.  This is so evident in the life of Paul. He never really saw any of this coming and yet he just goes with the flow and keeps on giving the best of himself. Whether it is in freedom or chains or in being stoned or in being hailed as a God. Paul doesn't change...he just keeps on preaching and teaching and obeying God. 

I really think 99.9% of the time...the path God has for us is never really the path we imagined or hoped for. Yes there are some things that God promises that we see to completion, however some of the greatest moments in our lives are those we never really saw coming. 


11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you,” declares the Lord

JEREMIAH 29:11-14

Saturday, July 29, 2017

JULY 29, 2017

“Who you are tomorrow begins with what you do today.” 
― Tim Fargo

PSALM 56-58

 10In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?
12I am under vows to you, my God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.
13For you have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before Godin the light of life.(56:10-13)

ACTS 28:1-15

1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

JOURNAL 

Again here is Paul doing his best in the moment where he is. It does not matter that he is a prisoner, it does not matter that he is heading to trial. It does not matter that they just survived a shipwreck...he is living out his mission in obedience to God regardless of the circumstances. 

As a result miracles happened and God was glorified.. 

4Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.a 5Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

DEUTERONOMY 6:4-9

Friday, July 28, 2017

JULY 28, 2017

“‎Today is a new day. It's a day you have never seen before and will never see again. Stop telling yourself the 'same crap, different day' lie! How many days has that lie stolen from you? Seize the wonder and uniqueness of today! Recognize that throughout this beautiful day, you have an incredible amount of opportunities to move your life into the direction you want it to go.” 
― Steve MaraboliUnapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

PSALM 53-55

1Save me, O God, by your name;
vindicate me by your might.
2Hear my prayer, O God;
listen to the words of my mouth.
3Arrogant foes are attacking me;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
people without regard for God.c
4Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.(54:1-4)

ACTS 27:26-44

33Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
39When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
42The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.

JOURNAL 

Paul is absolutely making the most of the moment. What a moment it is and never anything he saw coming or predicted. He is encouraging his captors and the prisoners to eat and to have community in the midst of a raging storm and a disintegrating ship. What a force of humanity, what a powerful man of God. 

When I read this I realize how often I don't make the most of the moment. I realize how often my head and heart are somewhere else. Either reminiscing about the past or playing out the future. In doing so I miss the life and opportunities that are right in front of me.  Trusting in God is the antidote to this blundering mindset. Because to truly trust in God is to accept the present as a gift from God...no matter how hard or unfair or difficult. It is seeing every circumstance as an opportunity to share the power and love of God. It is seeing every moment as an opportunity to use my talents and give my best as an offering of service to God. 

This mindset does not seek or wish for an easier path...this mindset simply accepts what is and makes the most of it. It is in these moments that this truth is so clear to me...but this truth can fade from my heart and mind if I don't seek to keep it fresh and present. If I don't hold onto it and protect it and nurture it...it will fade and I will go right back to wishing and hoping for a better day, better circumstances and being pissed and bitter when I don't get them.

Thank you Father for this life, thank you for my talents, my opportunities and thank you for your word that counsels me and guides me to your presence, power and love. 


31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’


MATTHEW 25:31-46

Thursday, July 27, 2017

JULY 27, 2017

“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape.” 
― Charles DickensGreat Expectations

PSALM 50-52

 10Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvationand grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.(46:1-3)

ACTS 27:1-25

21After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

JOURNAL 

Paul is a prisoner on a boat headed for Rome where he will stand trial and a storm comes up and threatens to destroy the boat. Paul encourages those on the ship. Here I see Paul, not bemoaning his fate or looking for a way out but rather accepting God's path and being willing to endure the storm. 

Paul a prisoner, is encouraging those keeping him captive. Man o man...scripture really hits me right between the eyes any time I want to feel sorry for myself. This whole idea of joyful suffering is so foreign in our world...yet it is what we are called to do. It is easier and much harder than it seems. Easier in respect to the fact that once you accept it...you get encouragement and energy to keep going in ways you never imagined. Yet it is harder sometimes to trust that God will keep sustaining. The fear of the unknown and how things will play out is a monster that is hard to sometimes face. 

Also accepting the fact that God may allow things to get harder. I see it throughout scripture...when someone is at their breaking point...sometimes things get even more difficult, yet if they cling to God..they ultimately get the courage to keep going. 

 There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were put to death by stoning;e they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

HEBREWS 11:36-40

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

JULY 26, 2017

“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito.” 
― C.S. Lewis

PSALM 44-49

1God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.c(46:1-3)

ACTS 25-26

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. (26:15-20)

JOURNAL 

Today is a gift. There were people who this day never came, yesterday was their very last. There are people whom this day will be the last and there are people who this day will mark their entrance into this world and their journey of life will begin. Most often I don't think of how fragile and precious life truly is. Most often I operate as if the days, months and years of the future are guaranteed. Yet there is no such guarantee.

Father, I desire to live this day fully honoring your gift of life. I am so grateful for the gift and I want to honor it by giving the best of me in service of you. Thank you for all the days I have had up till now. Thank you for protecting me and giving me talents and family and community. I am so blessed! 

 6And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

2 JOHN 1:6

Monday, July 24, 2017

JULY 24, 2017


“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” 
― C.S. LewisLetters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer

PSALM 41-43

5Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.(43:5)

ACTS 24

22Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
24Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
27When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

JOURNAL 

Emotions are emotions. They are a blessing...yet at times they can feel like a curse, especially when they are of sorrow or fear. Yet they are what make us human and they are a gift of God, no matter how uncomfortable at times they are. 

David speaks to his own soul and emotions with the remedy being to put his hope and trust in God. For when my own hope and faith wander from the presence of God, I find anxiety, dissatisfaction, boredom and a whole host of unwelcome emotions. Yet when I stay faithful in seeking the presence of God. When I stay faithful in seeking God first in pursuing greatness, then I find peace, joy and a contentment that is far beyond any circumstance. 

The key is to seek God simply for the purpose of being a light in this world and representing God in all that I do. How this plays out day to day is not for me to decide. That is the trust and faith I put in God. Give my best, seek God in all things and trust that he will use it for his purposes and HE will not fail to care for me in the process. 

25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

JAMES 1:25