JULY 31, 2023

  “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. Acknowledging the existence of something greater than ourselves puts us in a place of rightness. It keeps us from becoming overly consumed with ourselves and our circumstances. We then realize that we have a part to play but it's just a part. God is the existence of all that matters and we simply play a role. A small part in his epic story...

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. That's all I have control over...my thoughts, my feelings, my words and my actions. I can change my thoughts, which change my feelings, which influence my words which precipitate my actions. The more I seek to honor God in pursuing things that are unselfish, honest, pure and loving...then I fulfill my purpose in becoming a change agent in this world. That is my offering and if I give it fully and consistently then my life will be a life of joy, hope and love. 

It all starts with his word and getting my thoughts and emotions centered on his truth...

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

JULY 30, 2023

  “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 persists 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. In doing so Paul changes the environment and ultimately changes the world. Transformation happens because Paul is not changed by the circumstances but rather the Power, love and discipline of God flows out of him.

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. But our ability to hold fast to all that God creates us to be can transform our environment into an outpost of Heaven. 

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

JULY 29, 2023

  “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 God in 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 

Be an echo of Jesus, build an outpost of Heaven

Talk about embracing the moment. To read this sounds like some kind of superhero...not a man who has been rejected by his own people who want him dead. 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.  He has every right to be somber and feel sorry for his condition...yet here he is performing miracle after miracle all while still being a prisoner of Rome.  Paul is not waxing and waning about his release, he is not self-absorbed in his fate. He is acting in power and love right where he is.

Often I struggle with the "when I get to this point...then I'll be obedient, then I'll be generous, then I'll be loving, then I'll be courageous" mindset. Here in these verses Paul's actions dismantle this thinking. Each moment I am alive is a moment to be grateful for life, the opportunities God has given, and to live it passionately serving God in whatever circumstance I find myself. Today is as good as it gets, because today is what I have. So I am to embrace it, be grateful for it, enjoy it, indulge in God's love and he will make it great. 

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

JULY 28, 2023

  “‎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 Maraboli

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

JULY 27, 2023

  “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 Dickens, Great Expectations

“Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four Cs. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.” ― Walt Disney 

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 salvation and 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. 

JOURNAL 

The difference between guilt and shame is seen clearly in David's prayer. He understands his wrong and his sin yet he asks God to "restore to me the joy of your salvation". David understands that God loves him. David understands that he has done something horrible, yet David trusts in God's restoration.

Paul a prisoner, is encouraging those keeping him captive. What a scene and what an example of God's spirit and how we are to live our lives. 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. It is hard because we have this innate fear of rejection. Thousands of years ago...rejection meant certain death, but human rejection is not eternal. The fear of that rejection is also a projection, not a certainty or fact. 

That is why it is so crucial to trust God in facing today and today only. Tomorrow is out of my control. My tomorrow's are in God's hands, the joy of my salvation is found in today. I can make plans and have goals, yet these are only guide's that ultimately are in the hands of God. Taking confidence in this and trust in God is what ultimately gives me peace. It is what ultimately gives me joy to face today fully, completely and without reservation. 

20He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

  MATTHEW 17:20

JULY 26, 2023

 “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

“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.”  

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

PSALM 47-49

 12People, despite their wealth, do not endure;they are like the beasts that perish.13This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,and of their followers, who approve their sayings.^d14They are like sheep and are destined to die;death will be their shepherd(but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).Their forms will decay in the grave,far from their princely mansions.

ACTS 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. 

JOURNAL 

Paul recounts his conversion to Festus...This appointing of Paul as a servant is really what salvation is all about. We are restored as servants of God rather than as shamed, rebellious men and women seeking to be God instead of serving him. This is what the verses in Psalm 49 are all about. Trying to be our own God through building wealth is pointless and destructive in the end.

I don't think this is saying that we are to be lazy and not use our brains. It is not necessarily the actions but the reason for the actions that matters. If my objective for work is so that I can puff myself up in an effort to become more than simply what I am (a human servant of God), then my efforts will be pointless and futile. I will never find true satisfaction and peace...I will simply find anguish and insecurity and fleeting moments of happiness. 

If however I work daily to serve God in obedience, being content to be all he created me to be. Then I find contentment and satisfaction in my abilities and my efforts without shame. Then I can live a life of peace no matter the circumstance...rich or poor, in sickness or in health, in good times and in bad.  This is the hope and the joy of living life as a servant to God.

 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

JULY 25, 2023

  “The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it. ” 

― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

PSALM 44-46

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

ACTS 25

8Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”9Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”10Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”12After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

JOURNAL 

Paul is steadfast in his defense and displays a confidence that he will die if he has done anything deserving of death. It is at this point that I begin to see the shrewdness and intellect of Paul. He knows his arguments and knows how the powers of government work.

Paul is working the system and working within his ability. He is obedient to God but still uses his own talents and opportunities. This verse juxtaposed with Psalm 46 begins to paint a clearer picture of faith in God. It's not about being something you are not...it's about being what you are but embracing it fully, passionately and doing it to serve God and man. 

It is letting the world fall around me and still steadfastly standing up in the storm and delivering the best of what I am. It is in this trust of God that I am to find confidence, joy, peace and a clear purpose. It is in this faith that I leave tomorrow to God and focus only on today. It is in this trust that I bury the past and cease to take confidence nor shame in. 

This is the brilliance of Jesus' word which was focused on today and giving the best of ourselves today...this moment. Not tomorrow or next week or next month or next year. Today and today only. A life consumed with my best "todays" will be a life that truly glorifies God. And a life that glorifies God is the best life I can live.

24“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

 MATTHEW 25:24-27