Genesis 2:2 - Sweet rest

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.

We go through different phases in our lives. There are times when we are super busy and times when we are not. Right now I am in a busy season and I have this morning off...and I am so thankful to be able to rest. It reminded me of the verse above. God gave us this incredible example of rest. Our bodies require some down time and this morning I am happy to comply.

Lord, thank you for giving us this example of rest. Please help us to enjoy our rest and not feel guilty about taking this time, Amen.

Romans 10:14 - Preach!

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

This passage is a reminder that if we are a follower of God, we must teach others about him.

Lord, thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn about you. Please help us to give others the same opportunity. Amen.

Romans 10:8-13 - Begin your faith journey

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

If you or someone you know are ready to begin their faith journey, start here.

Lord, thank you for giving us Jesus, who died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Please help those who are beginning their faith journey. Amen.

Romans 9:33 - What is your stumbling block?

As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

The stumbling block for the Jews was their reliance on works and rules. We all have a stumbling block (or blocks) in our lives. It had not occurred to me that maybe it was put there by God. If we did not stumble, we would not need to rely on God.

Lord, thank you for being there for us when we fall and even creating the fall when necessary. Please help us to not give up hope, but to know that you are in control of all things, Amen,

Romans 9:8 - Searching for you

In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.

God loves everyone. There is no special race or group you need to belong to to become his child. The Jews were at one time God;s chosen people, but Jesus came to open the doors to all. God wants every single one of us to come to him. Search for him, he is already searching for you.

Lord, thank you for loving us first. Help us to love you and follow you in return. Amen.

Matthew 13:23 - What does it mean to be good?

But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

In my study on goodness, we discussed what good means by looking at the good soil in the parable of the sower. The good soil or Christian is:

• Productive - produces a crop, uses talents and abilities, shares the good news
• Prepared - receptive, hears, understands, tilled, is rich in nutrients, has enough water, spiritual knowledge and depth
• Unencumbered - free of weeds and rocks, unshackled by life's concerns
• Valuable - is useful to the kingdom and adds value to it

On the opposite side, the good soil or good Christian is not:

Lord, thank you for giving us an excellent example of what "good" is. Please help us to live up to this example and be useful in your kingdom. Amen.

2 Peter 1:5-7 -The virtue of goodness

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

The word goodness can mean a few different things. In this passage the original Greek word is referring to virtue. Morality is absolutely something we are called to. In the fruit of the Spirit list in Galatians 5:22-23, goodness is referring to being useful or valuable.

Lord, thank you for giving us your Spirit to help us live like your people. Please help us to allow the work of the Spirit to be evident in our lives. Amen.

Ephesians 5:8-10 - Fruit of the light

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

Fruit of the light...we have regularly heard of the fruit of the Spirit, but fruit of the light was something I had not noticed before. As children of the light and bearers of the Spirit we are called to live like it.

Lord, thank you for making us your children and giving us your spirit. Please help us to live like we are and please you. Amen.

Psalm 23:6 - God's Goodness

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

This week I am teaching a lesson on goodness, one of the fruit of the Spirit. Before God calls us to goodness, He demonstrates his goodness toward us over and over. God is good in so many senses, but one primary concept is that of value and usefulness. God is good to us. He provides for us. He is there when we need him.

Lord, thank you for your goodness. Please help us to see your goodness working in our lives. Amen.

Isaiah 40:29 - Lord, give me strength

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

I am in the mist of a very busy week and I needed a verse to help me make it through.

Lord, thank you for being a source of strength, Please help me to get through this busy week. Amen.

Ephesians 4:32 - Kindness

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Last night in our study of the fruit of the Spirit, we discussed kindness. I had an ah-ha moment when I realized kindness is active. Being a sweet, gentle person does not mean you are being kind. If we live in our bubble and keep our focus internalized, even if we are not hurting anyone, we are not being kind. Kindness requires us to get outside of our bubble and go above and beyond. It requires us to act on opportunities to serve others in small and large ways.

Lord, thank you for your kindness to us. Please help us to share that kindness with others in tangible ways. Amen.

Luke 8:47 - Moved to tears

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.

I was thinking about this passage yesterday and was moved to tears. Can you imagine being this woman, touching Jesus garment and feeling his power course through your body, healing you? I think I would just fall down with overwhelming tears of relief and gratefulness,

Lord, thank you for healing us from our sin sick souls. Please help us to be forever grateful. Amen.

Romans 8:37-39 - Live like a winner

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither 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.

I take so much comfort in this passage. There is power in knowing the battle has already been won. We are to live like winners!

Lord, thank you for your power and assurance. Please help us to live like conquerors. Amen.

Acts 15:39-41 - Opportunity comes from the strangest places

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cypress, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Last night I heard a message from Keith Ball. He spoke about the need to pray and keep our eyes open for opportunities to share Christ and grow the church. Opportunity can come in some strange ways: persecution. personal conflicts, church problems, imprisonment...all Biblical examples where the word was spread. In the example above, a personal conflict caused a split which doubled their efforts. God can use anything to his glory.

Lord, thank you for taking earthly messes and using them for your purposes. Please help us to keep our eyes open for opportunities. Amen.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - The purpose of our comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

God is so gracious to us and comforts us in our trials and suffering. We have to remember the reason we are comforted is so that we can pass that comfort on to others who need it.

Lord, thank you for your comfort. Please help us to comfort other.  Amen.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10 - Patience in the face of trials

We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Patience in the face of trials and suffering is one area where reliance on the Spirit for this fruit is required. It can be impossible to get through times of difficulty without relying on a higher power, knowing you have a higher purpose and looking forward to the Lord's return. 

Lord, thank you for giving examples of your people persevering through trials. Help us to do the same and keep our focus on you and being with you for eternity. Amen.

2 Peter 3:8-9 - God is patient

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 

Have you ever thought about the patience of God? Sometimes we think God is taking to long to do something in our lives, when really he is just waiting on us. We don't and can't understand God's timing, but we can rest assured, he has it all worked out.

Lord, thank you for being patient with us. Help us to be patient as well. Amen.

Proverbs 14:29; 19:1 - Knowledge equals patience

Whoever is patient has great understanding,

but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.

A person’s wisdom yields patience;

it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

I think one of the most important keys to unlocking the fruit of patience is knowledge. I call this Managed Expectations. People are going to do things we don't expect. Situations are going to not be the way we want them to be. The Spirit can produce patience if we will manage our expectations with knowledge.

Have you ever had to wait forever for a doctor appointment? How frustrated did you get? By managing our expectations, we can gain patience and save ourselves a great deal of anger. Healthcare is a difficult industry full of unexpected emergencies. If we prepare ourselves for a possible long wait at the doctor office, then when it is only 15 or 30 minutes we will be pleased.

When dealing with people, managed expectations come in to play even more. We can't expect our 2 year old to not get tired and grumpy after being out all day. We can't expect our 14 year old to “act like an adult” because their brains are still being formed. If someone is acting unreasonable, there is a reason. We may not know what it is, but we can be patient and deescalate the situation.

Lord, thank you for giving us patience as a fruit of the Spirit living in us. Please give us knowledge so that we will understand and be patient. Amen.

Revelation 4:8b - Prayer, going into the presence of God

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.

In Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4, the authors were given a glimpse of heaven, but for most, entering the “presence” of God is basically prayer. One way to construct our prayers is with the following four, key elements. First praise God. One might quote, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” You may also sing praise songs, repeat phrases of praise you have heard or compose words of praise. Next ask for forgiveness from sins citing any recent offenses or areas of temptation. 1 John 1:9 states “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Third is a time of thanksgiving. Thank God for all he has given, for specific things, and especially for sending his Son deliver us. Last is an opportunity to come to God with requests. When we make requests of God, we must do so in the name of Jesus Christ. John 16:23b-24 states, “Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” Going into the presence of God is a humbling experience, but time could not be spent in any better way.

Lord, thank you for allowing us to come into your presence. Please help us to speak to you in a worthy manner. Amen.

Acts 5:20 - Tell the news

“Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”

We are so blessed and feel so thankful to God for giving us a new life, we want to tell others about it. We aren't sharing our faith to make other people feel bad about their choices or because we think we are superior. We share because we are commanded to and because we love people and want them to experience the new life we have found.

Lord, thank you for giving us a new life. Please help us to tell others about this new life. Amen.

Revelation 21:4-5a - The ultimate renewal

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

This is what we have to look forward to. This is the ultimate renewal, when all of our earthly cares and desires will be gone. We bring glory to God to say thank you for this amazing gift.

Lord, thank you for the hope of heaven. Please help us to live now as the new creation we will be. Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - New!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

This is a new year, Today is a new day. Now is a new minute. Every second of every day we have the opportunity to start over. If we are in Christ, we can ask God for forgiveness and receive it, then start anew as unblemished.

Lord, thank you for this new year and opportunities to start over and over. Amen.