NOVEMBER 5, 2024

  “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” 

― Winston S. Churchill

JEREMIAH 40-42

 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition, says: 10‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I have relented concerning the disaster I have inflicted on you. 11Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the Lord, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands. 12I will show you compassion so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your land.’(42:9-12) 

HEBREWS 2

10In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.^g

JOURNAL 

To think that we are considered brothers and sisters with Christ is really pretty overwhelmg. Yet this is also the affirmation and confirmation we need to be able to pray to God as our Father without shame or embarrassment. Scripture assures us that we will be accepted, loved and cherished just as Christ is cherished, loved and accepted by God. By accepting this we free ourselves of all shame, insecurity, anxiety and fear. For the God of all creation is our Father. 

With this knowledge we can then persist in life with gratitude and perseverance. For we can be grateful in all things, knowing that God loves us, cares for us and will lead and guide us in all ways that are part of the greater plan. In this we can trust and seek God always...this is our salvation, this is our hope and this is our purpose. 

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^k neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

ROMANS 8: 37-39

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

 

“The more you pray, the less you'll panic. The more you worship, the less you worry. You'll feel more patient and less pressured.” 
― Rick Warren, The Purpose of Christmas

JEREMIAH 38-39

15While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him: 16“Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city—words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. 17But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. 18I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.’ ”(33:1-3) 

HEBREWS 1

1In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

JOURNAL 

Being obedient to God is such a logical choice.  Yet time and time again people in the Bible refuse to obey. Here I sit reading the text and it seems so simple. God tells them a certain path to follow and they refuse. Yet it is much easier said than done. The reason is that when I sit and watch a movie or read a book or the Bible, I am in a calm, comfortable place. Emotionally, physically etc. It is easy to make wise logical choices when I am in this state of being. 

Scientifically it has been proven that stress and anxiety actually cause the logical, reasonable parts of our brain to shut down. Stress causes our vessels to shrink and our blood doesn't flow to certain parts of our brain thereby flooding the ones that control our physical movements. We become restless and ready to run or fight. It is not only in stressful situations that this happens, it can and does happen in the normal every day flow of life and I find that this is exactly what happens in my own mind. I also see it in my students. 

As a result we don't think well...we are in survival mode. What is amazing about this is that it actually is possible to hit a pause button. God actually gives us the ability to override this automatic response system.  When we do so...the vessels relax, blood flows back in normal amounts to our full brain and we can then think calmly and make better decisions. 

The more I engage in meditative prayer and spend time reading and understanding God...the better I get at pausing the automatic responses and seeking his wisdom. By doing so I am able to remain calm in situations that feel threatening and actually can learn to be calm and trust God. This is amazing, but so incredibly true to scripture and modern psychology.  The fact that we can actually step outside of our circumstances in our minds and calm down the body and the mind is proof that there is another dimension to our brains and bodies that is beyond the physical...it is the spiritual.

13Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the duty of all mankind.

ECCLESIASTES 12:1

NOVEMBER 3, 2024

     “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow.” 

― Thomas Paine

JEREMIAH 36-37

 31I will punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness; I will bring on them and those living in Jerusalem and the people of Judah every disaster I pronounced against them, because they have not listened.’ ”(36:31) 

PHILEMON

14I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

JOURNAL 

One of the benefits of doing this over the last few years is that I get to go back and read my past devotions...many of them I repost because the words are worth repeating. They connect and re-engage me. This one is a special one because every single time it gets me and reminds me of some really important principles.  It is amazing how easy we can forget moments and bursts of inspiration. I am thankful for our ability to record these and revisit them. This post was from November 3, 2017

Last night I stayed up and watched the Cubs win the World Series. I was absolutely into it...I felt the emotion, the tension the elation after the final out. I caught myself singing "Go Cubs Go"...I felt completely a part of the win and the celebration. Why??? I'm not a big Cubs fan, I have a 12 year old Cubs shirt which I dug out of the dirty clothes to wear last night. I have never played for the team, have absolutely zero family connection or history and yet there I sat on the edge of my seat emotionally engaged. What in the world is that all about?

It seems absurd...it seems absolutely psychotic that I would be emotionally engaged...yet I was...and so were millions of other people all over the world. I read peoples comments on social media...other people who were not fans either yet were overcome with joy, celebration and emotion over a 10 inning baseball game. It seems so silly and yet it isn't. It is far deeper than anything on the surface. 

The human race is designed for relationship and to bond together to solve problems and care for each other. We are designed to want to be a part of a collective effort that overcomes heartache, difficulty and seeks the collective above the individual. It did not matter that many of those players never experienced the heartache of the past. It did not matter that several of them even played for opposing teams during this year. What mattered is that in this moment at this time they were brothers together, bonding and willing to fight to do something no other Cubs team has done in 108 years. Just as it didn't matter that many people cheering never experienced the disappointment  as fans...because regardless of our relationship with the Cubs...we all have experienced heartache and failure and dissapointment.  We all have been affected somewhere along the way by broken dreams and hard work and sacrifices that don't pay off.

It is why we connect and why we cheer and why we feel a part. It is the same reason that when I read scripture, I connect emotionally. These are words written 2000+ years ago that I have absolutely no physical connection to...yet they speak to me, they connect because we all connect to the heartache, the joys, the love, the brotherhood. We connect because we do truly have a creator that connects us all. God blesses us with this bond, this ability to connect. It is what draws us together and makes us weep and hug strangers and help our brothers and sisters regardless of race, color, nationality.  It is the beauty and the power of God within us and among us.  

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the authora and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

- Hebrews 12:1-3

NOVEMBER 2, 2024

  “We are always falling in love or quarreling, looking for jobs or fearing to lose them, getting ill and recovering, following public affairs. If we let ourselves, we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other to end before we can really get down to our work. The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come.” 

― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

JEREMIAH 33-35

1While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time: 2“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: 3‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ (33:1-3) 

TITUS 3

1Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

9But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned...14Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

JOURNAL 

It is so easy to become distracted, it is so easy to concern myself with things that I have no part in doing anything about. I think that is the gist of Paul's letter in this last chapter. We are saved and we are to take joy in that salvation. God has affirmed and we have accepted that he loves us and that we have a specific place, and purpose in this world. We are here to do good...not to be caught up in useless arguments and quarrels. 

Often these are just ways to distract myself from the opportunities and problems in my own life...it's somewhat relieving to debate and discuss things that I cannot change, there is a strange comfort in that.  Yet it does nothing for me or anyone else. The realities of life sometimes are difficult to accept and embrace, it is in those moments that instead of finding distractions to occupy my mind, I need to lean into God's love and grace. 

By doing so I affirm that he wants me here, in this moment, with these problems. I affirm that he has endowed me with abilities and talents that will serve me well in this moment. I then am able to authentically be myself and love others in ways that are healthy and good. This really is the joy and goal of this life, anything else is a distraction that threatens to pull me away from my purpose. 

13Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the duty of all mankind.

14For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil.

ECCLESIASTES 12:13-14

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

  “The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You trade in your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask. There can't be any large-scale revolution until there's a personal revolution, on an individual level. It's got to happen inside first.” 

― Jim Morrison

JEREMIAH 31-32

 38They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. (32:38-39)

TITUS 2

11For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

JOURNAL 

Amidst all the "trick or treaters" last night...I had a thought. What if Halloween flipped and instead of putting on a costume...everyone revealed their true selves, thoughts, ambitions etc. Question is...how different would that be from real life?

The question ultimately comes down to how much of our lives have we surrendered to God? That's a tough one because it's easy to just show up, or give lip service, what's really hard is to obey and follow when obedience seems insignificant. When devotion to God doesn't seem to really matter, or when obedience seems to be in direct conflict with acceptance, success etc. 

This verse in Jeremiah couldn't be more clear..."singleness of heart and action", to do so requires surrender and sacrifice. Yet the ultimate purpose is that we would follow God completely, so that we would pursue him and honor him in every endeavor, in every success, in every failure, in every promotion, in every rejection...for in doing so we are promised that we will obtain a freedom, peace and joy that is the core of our desire, we will become truly free. 

31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

JOHN 8:31-32