Anything but Ordinary

MATTHEW 9:1-17

(January 12)

There are some people who have special gifts. Because of these gifts, they are considered to be unique and special. It could be that they do great things with their gifts that make a huge difference for others.

When we see these extraordinary things happening, or when they happen to us, we can begin to look at these people with different eyes, almost in a worshipful way. They gain a spot of high priority in our lives because of the impact they are making.

We must always be cautious to not let anyone become a "god" in our lives. Priority should always be given to our Father, and no one else should ever have that place of importance in our hearts.

Some of the Jewish teachers were getting angry with all the healing Jesus was doing, saying, "That's blasphemy! Does he think he's God?" Here we have a man playing "god" who actually IS God. This is much different than others who try to take on this role. But these teachers couldn't quite accept that Jesus actually WAS God in the flesh.

This was no ordinary man.

Who else could say to a paralyzed man, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!" and have it actually happen?

Who, besides, Jesus, would have such high authority, yet consider himself low enough to eat with the tax collectors and other people of bad reputation?

That's just what he did when he met Matthew, the tax collector. Matthew had been appointed by the Romans to collect the taxes for their area. Tac collectors typically received a commission on all they collected from the citizens and the merchants. It was widely known that most tax collectors took more commission than they were owed, and they supported Rome, so most Jews hated them and called them cheaters.

Jesus has no problem dining with Matthew and his friends. The Pharisees couldn't believe he would stoop so low and said to the disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?"

Jesus lets them know that it is the people who are hurting, sinning, and sick that need him most, not the healthy ones.

Once again, he does what the ordinary man would not. Jesus was not out to impress the righteous, or those who thought they were righteous. He was out to help the sinners find a way out of their sin and a way into glory.

Aren't you glad he wasn't an ordinary man?

The Blessing

One-Year Bible: 01/12/2023

Genesis 26:17-27:46

The Blessing

We live in a democracy that chooses our future leaders based on elections. A faulty election sets everyone’s “teeth on edge,” no matter what side of the fence you are on. The words “stolen election” have created quite “A Buzz”... then and now!

What if I told you today that God is still sovereign even over “Trickery and Deception”? What would you say about that? Today’s story tells us just that!

Sometimes God allows his people to be disciplined while in their sin by handing them over to the evil they have been seeking. We see this side of the coin throughout the Old Testament, and sometimes he looks at the heart and picks the better person with a heart for God. God uses both good and evil as He is above all!

“From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine. May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed.” (27:28-29)

What do we know about Esau, who would be the leader? “But Esau’s wives made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah.” (Gen. 26:35)

You see, Esau was connected to the godless nations around them, and they influenced him and made life miserable for his parents. Rebekah saw this and “Went around the situation.” Did she do it the right way?

No, Rebekah “cooked up” a scheme that involved deception, deceit, and delicious food.

While Esau was out hunting for the animal to fix a delicious meal for his father, Rebekah was covering Jacob'’s smooth arms with the animal hair and dressing her son in Esau’s clothes.

Jacob beat his brother to his father, Isaac’s bedside in just a short time. His father “smelled the smell” of his brother’s “earthiness,” ate the delicious meal, and blessed his second son, Jacob.

The good news was that Jacob got TWO DELICIOUS MEALS while TWO NATIONS DECLARED WAR!

As Tess, from “Touched by an Angel,” would say, “God holds time in his hands like a ball of string--yesterday, today, tomorrow, now, and forever, right here where he can see it, all at once. But for everyone else, he stretches time out. He lays it along a golden thread so that humans can imagine it in a straight line.” (Tess from Touched by an Angel)

Here is the mystery explained. In the womb, God already knew and declared there would be two nations and that they would be at war. He is not surprised, and His foreknowledge “holds time in his hands like a ball of string… yesterday, today, and tomorrow.”

God’s blessing to Abraham was continued through his son Isaac. And now it will be continued through his son Jacob. But first, Jacob will wrestle with God.

He will be BROKEN and then BLESSED…That, we will see, is often a recurring theme throughout the New Testament.

If your life and family seem a bit on the imperfect side, welcome to the club!

The entire Old Testament reads like an episode from “Nashville.” However, we are heading to Bethlehem, and “The Blessing” leads us there.

“May God pass on to you and your descendants the blessings he promised to Abraham.” (Genisis 28:4)

Unstoppable

MATTHEW 8:18-34

(January 11)

Imagine if you were just your ordinary self, living your ordinary life, in the days when Jesus walked and preached. Consider what you might think if you were witness to some of his miracles. Would you be bewildered by seeing a leper instantly cured or watching water turn into wine?

The disciples must have been amazed. And they were eager to continue this journey with him, so when he told them to get in the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, they did so. Even the disciple who needed to go home to bury his father chose to stay with Jesus.

And then the storm came, and it raged around them while Jesus slept peacefully. They were terrified of drowning as they watched the water leaking into the boat. They woke him up and he rebuked them for their lack of faith.

Then they witnessed yet another miracle. The wind stopped howling and the waves ceased their rolling, and all was calm. This was done by the mere sound of his voice.

This man was unstoppable.

When they got to the other side of the lake, they were approached by two demon-possessed men. These men were angry that Jesus was in their area, and they yelled at him.

The two men challenged him to cast the demonic spirits out of them and into the herd of pigs. At his command, that is exactly what happened. Then the whole herd plunged to their death down a steep hill and into the water below.

This man is unstoppable.

You can imagine the relief of these two men to be free of these demonic spirits. How liberating that must have felt. Imagine what the men herding the sheep were thinking? What an incredible sight they had just seen, even though it didn't end favorably for their herd. Maybe they were just a bit frightened by what they saw?

Those herdsmen went running to town to tell others what they had just witnessed. The whole town came out to meet Jesus and ask him to go away.

They couldn't understand this man. They worshipped pagan gods and couldn't comprehend this man who could not be controlled or contained. His power caused them fear because they had never seen anything like it.

And his power had caused them to lose an entire herd of pigs, which upset them. They were more upset about losing their herd than they were amazed about the deliverance of the demon-possessed men. They wanted this powerful man out of their area.

Because he was unstoppable. And people like to be in control. Don't you? I know I do.

It is only when we can let go of control and let Jesus do his work that we see these amazing things happening in our lives and around us. We may be limited by this world for now, but our Jesus was, is, and always will be UNSTOPPABLE.

Time in His Hands

One-Year Bible: 01/11/2023

Genesis 24:52-26:16

TIME IN HIS HANDS

Tess: (To Monica) “God holds time in his hands like a ball of string--yesterday, today, tomorrow, now, and forever, right here where he can see it, all at once. But for everyone else, he stretches time out. He lays it along a golden thread so that humans can imagine it in a straight line.” (Touched by an Angel, New Years' Eve Episode ‘Millennium’)

Here we are at the beginning of a brand new year with all kinds of decisions to make in the coming days. Each decision will lead us down a unique path that will alter our destiny. We sometimes worry about what lies ahead as we make difficult decisions. We wonder, “Where is God in the midst of struggle?”

Today’s passage is about a big struggle… The struggle of TWO NATIONS.

Why did God choose Abraham over Lot? Why are the two babies fighting in Rebekah’s womb before their birth? Why did he allow Jacob to trick his father Isaac into getting the blessing that was to belong to Esau?

Today we get an “inside peak”... inside the womb, that is!

We know that Lot did not have a strong faith in God, but Abraham was known as “a friend of God.” Even when he made mistakes, he always talked with God. He lived 175 years and died at a ripe old age.

God is now transferring His blessing to Isaac, who was forty years old and now married to Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, Abraham’s relative. Isaac pleaded with the LORD on behalf of his wife because she could not have children. The LORD answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. There were no ultrasounds in that day, so how did she know she was having twins?

“But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So, she went to ask the LORD about it. ‘Why is this happening to me?” she asked.

The Lord answered her question, “The sons in your womb will become TWO NATIONS. From the beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other, and your older son will serve your younger son.” (Gen. 25: 23)

Isaac would love Esau, the rugged, redheaded outdoorsman, but Rebekah would love Jacob, the man at her side cooking stew.

Who did God love more? He loved us more!

Although He loved Abraham and his descendants, His choices were based on creating a nation to bring the Messiah through a holy nation.

I can hear the voice of Tess from the series “Touched by an Angel” trying to explain this to us from the eyes of an angel…. “God holds time in his hands like a ball of string--yesterday, today, tomorrow, now, and forever, right here where he can see it, all at once. But for everyone else, he stretches time out. He lays it along a golden thread so that humans can imagine it in a straight line.” (Tess from Touched by an Angel)

As you approach your new year, be sure to ask of God as he “holds time in his hands like a ball of string… yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” He alone knows the answers to all your longings and questions.

I loved Tess's message to people seeking God because it was “right on” biblically. She would say, “Baby, God loves you.”

And that, my friends, answers all of your “Why” questions.

The one who “HOLDS TIME IN HIS HANDS” holds your hand too!

Are You Willing?

MATTHEW 8:1-17

(January 10)

My prayer every day includes a few sentences that are important to me.

"Lord, give me eyes to see those that I can help in some way, and let me be of service to them. Don't let me miss an opportunity to serve you."

I say that because I WANT to serve, and I WANT to make a difference in the life of whoever God puts in my path. It doesn't have to be some giant act of service. The little things we can do to make someone's day better go a long way.

The key is you have to be willing. You need to have that desire within you to do something. The beautiful thing about Jesus is that he was willing ... to do what his father requested of him ... even to death.

When the leper approached him on the mountain and asked for healing, Jesus said, "I am willing." And this man was healed of his leprosy. This disease put fear in everyone because there was no cure. (But Jesus.) Some forms were contagious, so you can imagine the ostracization that happened if you became afflicted. Lepers had to leave their homes and live in a community with other lepers, usually until death.

But Jesus did not fear this man. He reached out and touched him with his hand. We will read later in Matthew where he actually spent his last days in the house of a leper.

Jesus sent the leper on to see a priest because that was what the law required. Jesus knew this would give the leper the opportunity to tell the priest first-hand what he had just experienced. This public testimony would allow him to return home to his family.

Later, Jesus is back in Capernaum when a Roman officer pleads for him to heal his young servant, who is paralyzed and in terrible pain. Once again, Jesus was willing.

This officer didn't feel worthy to have Jesus in his home, so he requested that he just speak the healing from where he was. The faith of this Roman soldier amazed Jesus ... that he would believe that Jesus could speak healing over someone that far away. Because of the soldier's faith, he was rewarded. Jesus told him to go home where he would find the servant healed.

Upon arriving at Peter's house, Jesus found out Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a high fever. Just by touching her hand, she was healed. The same thing happened later in the evening when many demon-possessed people were brought to him for healing.

The key to all of this is WILLINGNESS. Jesus was willing to do these acts of service for these people, most of whom he didn't even know. He was there to fulfill a prophecy with a willing heart.

But he wasn't the only one who was willing. The leper, the soldier, Peter, and those who brought the demon-possessed were also willing. They were willing to step out in faith and ask for a miraculous and unheard-of healing. They were willing to risk being rejected, in order to ask for help.

How many times do we resist the urge to ask for help? We think we can handle a situation all by ourselves. Sometimes we can, sometimes we can't.

We never have to do anything on our own. As long as we are willing to seek help. Jesus is right there, waiting for us to ask. In James 4:2, we get this nugget of wisdom, "You do not have because you do not ask God."

The people in today's reading were not afraid to ask. They were willing to step out in the hope that Jesus would be willing to do what only he can do.

I will leave you with this question ... are you willing? Are you willing to ask Jesus for what you need and are you willing to ask him to show you what someone might need from you?

Unfailing Love

One-Year Bible: 01/10/2023

Genesis 23:1-24:51

Unfailing Love

When Sarah was 127 years old, she died in the land of Canaan, and Abraham wept for her. They had no homeland, so he searched for a family burial place.

Perhaps you may remember that Abraham told important kings twice that Sarah was his sister so they wouldn’t kill him. The second event was in yesterday’s passage found in Genesis 20 when Abraham told Abimelech, “She is my sister.”

You can read commentaries that tell you how Abraham lied, but if you read the passage carefully, you will know “the behind-the-scenes plot,” “She really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her.” (Gen. 20:11-12) So, there’s that little fact…

However, he certainly didn’t tell the complete truth, “This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.” (20:11)

At 90 years of age, she was still so attractive that the king viewed her beauty and wanted her. (It makes you want to buy some of her beauty products, Doesn’t it?)

Right when God was “opening her womb” to give her the long-awaited son, she was in the palace of a pagan king. So, God closed the wombs of their entire household. God protected his servant, Abraham, and his “Sister Wife,” Sarah. Not only that, but Abraham prayed for Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants because they were all infertile due to Abraham.

Now, Abraham’s wife is gone, and he is a man without a country and without his beautiful wife, but he is not alone nor forgotten.

The word “unfailing love” is used throughout this passage. Over and over, God continues to show his unfailing love to his friend, Abraham.

“Abraham was now a very old man, and the LORD had BLESSED him in every way.” (24:1)

Abraham is now concerned for his son, Isaac, to have a wife, and he does not want him to marry a Canaanite woman. So, he sends his servant on an outing. It’s like “Christianmingle.com,” but he doesn’t need technology to do the work for him. Abraham lets his servant know that an angel will guide him to the woman for Isaac.

Here is what Abraham tells his servant, “For the LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his ANGEL ahead of you, and he will see that you find a wife there for my son.” (24:7)

Now listen to the servant's prayer, “O LORD, God of my master, Abraham, please give me success today, and show UNFAILING LOVE to my master, Abraham.” (24:12)

The servant then goes on to pray and request how he will know of God’s UNFAILING LOVE. The woman that comes to greet him will not only offer him water but offer water to his camels as well.

Her name was Rebekah, and she was the daughter of Bethuel, a relative of Abraham. This was in keeping with their prayers. Not only did the angel guide him, but Rebekah responded in the manner of the servant’s prayer.

Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The LORD has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say. Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has directed.” (24:50)

God kept his covenant through all of Abraham's ups and downs and showered Abraham and his descendants with UNFAILING LOVE.

That is the God that we pray to… His UNFAILING LOVE is mindful of life, death, and everything in between.

Where Will You Build Your House?

MATTHEW 7:15-29

(January 9)

When my youngest was in her early elementary years, she had the greatest skill. She could lie better than anyone I knew. This innocent looking little girl would stare you straight in the eye and tell a whopper without ever even blinking.

It was a lot of prayer and diligence that finally helped her break this habit. Had we not worked on this, she would have continued to share her "false truths" as she got older, and probably would have gotten even better at it.

She could have become a pro at telling these false truths. She looks so sweet and innocent, but ...

The false prophets who were disguising themselves as believers also looked innocent at first glance. It was only after you watched them for a while and took inventory of the fruit they were producing that you could see the truth behind their disguise.

Have you ever heard, "Actions speak louder than words"? Our actions really do reveal who we are and what we believe. That is how the false prophets got "found out", because their actions didn't match their words and their lives were not producing the good fruit they should have.

They were really good at saying what people wanted to hear and calling it a message from God. These are the crafty and immoral people that we read about in scripture, but also see today on this earth. Their motivation is not a life for Christ, but money, power or fame. Instead of glorifying God, the place the glory on themselves, which is a good way to distinguish them from the truth.

More importantly, God knows their hearts, just as he knows every heart. While the words may sound good enough to get you into heaven, it is the heart that is judged. So many who "talk the talk" will not "walk the walk" on streets of gold.

It is those who truly listen to God and study his word, letting it penetrate into their hearts, that will stroll those streets one day. They are the ones who find wisdom and knowledge from God and let it direct their lives, instead of following the worldly pack.

These are the people who build their houses upon the rock ... the firm foundation of Christ. They are firm and solid in their faith, and it is evident by the fruit they produce.

Those who build their house upon the sand face destruction. That house might look nice for a while, but the first big storm is going to wash it away. If we aren't firm in our faith, but merely straddling the fence between the word and the world, we will find ourselves tossed about in the storms, with no anchor to hold on to.

This was true in biblical times, and it is true today. Each of us must choose where we want to build our house (our faith). Do we build it on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, who will help us weather any storm that comes our way? Or do we build it on the sinking sand that looks like it is right, but cannot withstand any trouble?

"On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."

Where will you build your house?

How Could He?

One-Year Bible: 01/09/2023

Genesis 20:1-22:24

How Could He?

If you have read the story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice his one and only long-awaited son and asked, “How could God ask Abraham to do such a thing?” or “How could a father ask a son to make such a sacrifice?”, then you are on the right track…

That is exactly what this biblical story is all about.

The entire Old Testament points us to the New Testament fulfillment. We want to read it with eyes wide open, looking at New Testament scriptures that point us to what “was concealed” but is now “revealed” to us in Christ.

Have you ever noticed how much Isaac and Christ have in common?

Both fathers offer their “Only,” “Special,” and “Begotten” sons that were so loved. Isaac and Jesus were “Offered up” as sacrificial lambs as burnt offerings. Jesus was to take the place of all the sacrificial lambs in the Temple throughout the Old Testament sacrifices.

On their way to sacrifice, both were accompanied by TWO MEN, carrying the wood for their sacrifices. Jesus’ carrying of the wood involved a rugged cross.

Both of these beloved sons were submissive to their Father’s will and showed absolute faith and trust in their fathers.

Both men were in their early 30’s…They were so young with their lives ahead of them but were willing to lay them down on the altar of faith.

The similarities are numerous and were placed there for us to stop and take note of them. Isaac is seen as a “type” of Jesus.

There is a vast difference; however, Isaac’s death was replaced by an animal sacrifice. Jesus replaced the animal sacrifice, which could never permanently remove sin from mankind.

Only a perfect lamb, a human sacrifice, could do that…

The place where Isaac was to be sacrificed was called “Yahweh-Yireh,” which means “The Lord will provide.”

Mt. Moriah was the location of Abraham and Isaac’s sacrifice experience and where the “True Provision” for sins was applied when Jesus Christ was sacrificed.

On the third day, Abraham reached his destination in order to sacrifice his only son, but an angel intervened and raised his arm from harming his son.

Jesus rose from the dead on the third day with the angels guarding his tomb. He was raised from death to life.

So, if you ask yourself, “How in the world could God ask something like that of Abraham and Isaac?” then you are on the right track…

How could the God of the universe give us his only son, perfect, long-awaited, loved, and begotten?

How Could He?

“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” --John 3:16

Don’t Worry

MATTHEW 6:25-7:14

(January 8 )

Oh, how I worry about things! It is one of my greatest struggles in life. Are you are worrier?

I mostly worry about my kids. And now that I have grandkids, I worry about them. I can say that I get it honestly ... my sweet Granny worried about all of us all the time.

Do you remember that song ... "Don't worry, be happy!"? It might just be a silly song, but the truth is that it is what God wants from us.

How many minutes in a day do we waste worrying about things we cannot do anything about? We worry about having enough provisions, affording our homes and cars, college funds, vacations, illnesses, keeping up with the Mr. & Mrs. Jones, and so much more.

If we could all be like the new song on country radio by Kelsey Ballerini and "be happy with what I have."

God provides. He meets our needs, even the ones we don't know we have. He does that for even the smallest of creatures, so why wouldn't he do it for his chosen people?

We need to learn to trust in him for that which we cannot see, knowing he goes before us as our provider.

This goes for worrying about what other people are doing, as well. We do not need to be making judgments on anyone else, because I am 99.9% sure we have some things in our own lives that need fixing.

Is all this difficult to do? Sure! But if we keep asking God for an increase in faith and less worry, he will give it. If we ask for less judgmental hearts, he will provide. Ask and he will answer. Seek and you will find.

Inconvenient Truths

One-Year Bible: 01/08/2023

Genesis 18:16-19:38

Inconvenient Truths

“You do you, and I’ll do me.”

This is a popular slogan in our day. We live in an age where we want everything to be okay, yet most people don’t feel okay.

It is okay to “do as they feel” except when “the way they feel” physically, emotionally, and mentally hurt another person. That is the “rub” of this popular slogan. Isn’t it?

I can remember driving through the San Deigo, CA, area after protests that went wrong. It started in the morning with protestors holding signs, “Know Justice know Peace.” They formed a line across all four northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway. We had a friend on this freeway in that exact location on that exact morning; he feared for his life!

By evening, the " Peaceful protestors destroyed banks and other buildings.” They wanted Justice… just not for themselves! They were not JUST!

Sadly, that is the story of fallen humanity.

It is an inconvenient truth to many that “all roads don’t lead to Heaven” and “everything isn’t okay.” We long for mercy, but justice is another matter.

Who gets to decide what is “JUST”?

Today’s passage presents inconvenient truths as we learn what went wrong for Lot and his family in Sodom and Gomorrah.

Abraham and Sarah were at their tent when “three men” were noticed standing nearby. We are then told that “The Lord appeared” to Abraham again near an oak grove. Abraham immediately welcomes them and asks Sarah to “put on a spread of the best bread”...

Here comes the big reveal, “I will return to you about this time next year! And your wife Sarah will have a son.” (18:10)

Sarah is “eavesdropping” from inside the tent, and she laughs. “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master--my husband--is so old?” she comments. (18:12)

“Is Anything too hard for the LORD?” (18:14) Sarah almost missed the glory because she did not understand this principle.

Inconvenient Truth #1: God Decides What is Just and Right!

God and the two angels are visiting Abraham because they have “heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah because their sin is so flagrant. I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.” (18:20-21)

Abraham bargains with God because of his love for his nephew, Lot.

50-40-30-20-10! It’s like the New Year’s Eve countdown, only to preserve Lot, his family, and town. God agrees to spare the city if ten righteous people can be found!

Inconvenient Truth #2: Love and Judgment walk hand-in-hand.

God heard Abraham’s prayer and acknowledged his request. Yet, judgment came. God judges the world out of His love to spare the world's complete destruction. Although God loved Abraham and personally spent time talking with him, He chose the “greater good” and saw the “complete picture" of Lot’s life choices.

Inconvenient Truth #3: You can’t turn a blind eye to sin without sin causing you blindness to sin.

Lot offered his own virgin daughters to be raped by the evil men of his city in place of the angels. His wife turned back and gazed again upon her evil homeland after being warned not to do this by the angels. The daughters both went in and slept with their father to get pregnant without his knowledge or consent. They had dwelled in the midst of evil for so long that they became part of that mindset. God rescued “barely one righteous person,” and Lot was spared for Abraham’s sake.

It may seem that God’s justice and mercy are incompatible, but scripture assures us they are not. Just ask Abraham.

“But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15)

Don’t Be a Hypocrite

MATTHEW 6:1-24

(January 7)

Something that really bothers me is a "fake" person, someone who pretends to be humble but is really only seeking the spotlight. They do good for others, but for the wrong reasons.

We are called by God to do good works, not for the sake of applause or blowing trumpets, but for the sake of those in need. When a person seeks attention for their acts of charity, their heart is not in the right place. The applause and attention they receive will be ALL the reward they get. Because God will not honor their works.

It is the same for praying. Some people want to pray out loud because they want to use the big, fluffy words that speak eloquence into our ears. But what are those words speaking into our hearts? This, too, is done for the sake of attention and recognition instead of earnestly from the heart.

The best prayers we can pray are the ones we do in secret when it is just between us and God. I do my best praying all alone in my car, just me and God having a conversation. I have no need for anyone else to hear. I have a friend who is terrified of praying in public. She thinks she will "mess up" the prayer. I have heard this said many times. I always remind them that there is no right or wrong way to pray, just have a sincere conversation with God and tell him what is on your heart.

In Matthew, we are even given an example of a simple prayer to God:

"Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation but rescue us from the evil one." (Vs 9-13)

When we pray that, or any prayer, asking forgiveness, we have to remember that those who seek forgiveness from God must be willing to give it to those who hurt them. If you can't forgive others, God will not forgive you. Why should we think it would be okay to ask for something we aren't willing to give?

The same goes for the fasting that accompanies prayer. You don't have to let everyone know you are fasting. Just do it in secret. Your Father will know, and he will reward you.

As for all the treasures we store up for ourselves, there is a saying an old pastor friend of mine used to say, "You don't see a hearse with a U-haul on the back." What he was trying to say is that we can't take the treasures of this earth with us to heaven, so why store them up? Instead, concentrate on storing up your treasures IN heaven so that you can enjoy eternity ... such treasures as the kindness you show others, the good works you do ... those will have lasting reward if you do them in humility.

We can get caught up in those worldly treasures, caring about money and the things money can buy. That is idolatry at its finest. You cannot serve both riches and God. You must choose who you will serve. One gets you eternity with God, the other gets you riches on earth and much suffering in death.

These are things we should always be cautious of. They can creep up on us without much warning. By being watchful, we can keep ourselves humble and focused on God, instead of being hypocrites, saying it is for God when it is really for our own glory.

He Knows My Name

One-Year Bible: 01/07/2023

Genesis 16:1-18:15

He Knows My Name

“He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls and hears me when I call.” (He Knows My Name, Tommy Walker)

Despite the mess Abram and Sarai made in running ahead of God, God never ran on without them!

God came to Abram in a vision and said, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”

Abram replied, “O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?” (15:1-2)

Despite the mess Abram and Sarai had made, we are told that “Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

That is an essential lesson for all of us. It is not the perfect execution of our faith, but where we place our trust! God sees Abram amid all his doubts, fears, and mistakes. He sees his barren wife, Sarai, also.

Even more stunning in this message today is that God also sees the handmaiden, Hagar, who Abram slept with, in agreement with Sarai’s proposal. From a Biblical perspective, we could say that Hagar was “The Mistake.” Not only did Abram sleep with her, but she bore a son named Ishmael for him. His name means “God will hear.”

Sarai’s proposal has now turned to regret, hatred, and rage!

Abram did what his wife proposed, but now her “contempt” is spilling onto him. The plan has backfired!

Sometimes taking things into “our own hands” doesn’t make us happy. Listen to Sarai’s words, “This is all YOUR FAULT! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant, she treats me with contempt. The LORD will show who’s wrong-- you or me!” (16:5)

Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she ran away. It was Abram and Sarai’s mess, but God intervened with a message of hope. He sent an angel to find Hagar beside a water spring in the wilderness.

Listen to Hagar’s words about the God that found her in the wilderness when she had nothing but death ahead of her, “You are the God who sees me. Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” (16:13)

Her son would never be the one God sent to them as the promised son who would bring about the lineage promised to Abraham. No, He was conceived out of man’s fallen plan. But God still cared, came, and comforted her in her distress.

God has a way of changing our brokenness into a blessing, which is exactly what He did for Abram, Sarai, and Hagar.

He changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai to “Sarah.” He would be the “Father of a great multitude,” and she would be the “Mother of Nations.”

They were circumcised in accordance with this covenant. God told them of their son, who would come to Abraham at the age of 100.

When Abraham heard all of this from God, “he bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief.” (17:16)

His name was to be “Issac,” meaning “One Who Laughs” or “One Who Rejoices.”

If you find yourself in a “desert of sorts,” perhaps you might want to fall to your knees and laugh as well because…

HE KNOWS YOUR NAME!

Acting as True Children

MATTHEW 5:27-48

(January 6)

Sometimes we have to be willing to open our minds to something different than what we previously heard or believed, or at least be willing to expand on it.

When it comes to God's word, we have to be cautious that we get to the meaning of the words, according to the writer's interpretation from God, instead of our own.

When it comes to the subject of adultery, our minds might consider the actual act of adultery to be the sin. This is absolutely correct. But God's word also says that even the mere intention is a sin. We are to be faithful to our spouse not only with our body, but also with our mind. Lusting after another person is sinful.

Matthew tells us, "So if your eye - even your good eye - causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away." He says the same about your hand. Does he intend for us to dismember our body?

No, Matthew is speaking figuratively when he says this. But he is inferring that it would be better to get to heaven without an eye or hand than to spend eternity in hell with your body in tact, which would be the cost of your sin.

And what about harm someone does to us? Haven't we heard "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth"? According to what Matthew is saying, we are not to retaliate but to turn the other cheek. Oooh, that can be hard to do!

We are to give to those who take from us and show love to the ones that hate us. This goes against everything the world is teaching. That is why it is so important that we get our instruction from the word of God, not this world.

Only when we follow these principles, and live in obedience to these instructions, do we become true children of God.

Trust & Obey

One-Year Bible: 01/06/2023

Genesis 13:5-15:21

Trust and Obey

Life is full of “Steps” and “Missteps”... Ask Abram and Sarai.

We know them as Abraham and Sarah, as God changed their name and destiny, but it didn’t start out that way.

God called Abram, at the age of 75, to leave his home country after his father passed away. Abram’s name meant “Exalted Father.” That must have been a humiliating name, as his wife was barren, and they had no children. Sarai’s name meant “Princess,” which fits as she was used to “calling the shots.”

In renewing the covenant and giving a sign for the future of all mankind, God also gave Abram and Sarai NEW NAMES. Both name changes signified a NEW IDENTITY and a NEW REALITY.

First, God CALLED them, and then He ENABLED them.

We remember Abraham and Sarah, but what do you know of Abram and Sarai?

Abram and Sarai made some “Big Missteps” while growing into their new names, new calling, and new reality…

Abram immediately left his home to follow God’s calling, but he had not yet learned to “follow God” by seeking him in all his decisions. Some of Abraham’s decisions “cost him” big time!

First, Abram arrived in Egypt and noticed everyone staring at Sarai’s beauty. When the palace officials saw her, they “sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace. (12:10ff)

Abram was so afraid that they would kill him so that they could take his wife that he had asked Sarai to lie and say that she was his sister. This lie resulted in Pharaoh and his household being sent terrible plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.

In essence, God was saying, “Keep your hands off!”

This was MISSTEP #1, and it was a Doozy!

Next, Sarai came up with a plan to help God along with His promise to make Abram “An Exalted Father.”

“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So, Saria said to Abram, ‘The LORD has PREVENTED me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant/ Perhaps I can have children through her.’ And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.” (Gen. 16:1-2)

Abram’s second misstep was when he agreed with this FLAWED plan!

Had God given them a promise but then PREVENTED her from having children?

Like many of us, Abram WALKED ahead of God when he encountered his fears.

Both Abram and Sarai had lots of missteps, and there were some pretty huge consequences for Sarai’s rush to seek an alternative to having a son rather than waiting on God.

But, in spite of everything, God would fulfill His promise. Even in spite of them.

There is an old hymn that I often hear in my head and heart when I try to make hard decisions, “When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word. What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.” (Trust and Obey, Daniel B. Towner)

Abram and Sarai left their home through faith but walked “Ahead of God” through their fears.

May we instead choose to “Trust and Obey”.

From Suffering to Blessing

MATTHEW 5:1-26

(January 5)

Most of us don't like to suffer. In fact, we will do whatever we can to keep suffering at a distance. Are we immune to it? No. But we sure like to avoid it when we can.

This chapter of Matthew might make us give a second thought to the idea of suffering. According to this, those of us who suffering will receive blessings.

Those of us who are poor, are mourning, and exchange pride for humility will be blessed and comforted with the Kingdom of Heaven.

Those of us who seek justice and show mercy will be satisfied with the mercy they are shown.

Those of us with pure hearts and peaceful spirits will be called children of God. And when we are persecuted for doing what is right, the Kingdom of Heaven is ours.

That sounds like a lot of persecution, but is also sounds like a tremendous blessing. So while it may be difficult in this life in earth, with people mocking and lying and speaking evil of you, the reward will be great in Heaven.

Matthew says we are the salt. I use a lot of salt in my food, probably more than I should. But it turns bland food into a flavorful experience. We have the ability to be that example to others. For them to see the difference between their bland lives and our lives full of flavor.

Matthew says we are the light of the world. How bright is your bulb? Or has it burned out? Our light shines through the good deeds we do in the name of Jesus.

Jesus didn't come to this earth to strip the land of the laws off Moses or the writings of the prophets. He simply came to see their words be fulfilled. There is no commandment you can ignore. They are all significant.

Not only should we not break the commandments, but we should also not be angry, resentful, jealous or malicious toward others. If we are, we are sure to face the judgment.

We are not to offer our prayers to God when we have an issue with someone, until we have gone to that person and settled our differences.

It’s not just about following the rules of the law, it is about our moral code being set to a standard that mimics Christ.

Sometimes it can be hard. I know that first-hand, as I'm sure to do also. But hard doesn't translate to impossible. And life has taught me that the tough things are often the most rewarding.

Bold Steps of Faith

One-Year Bible: 01/05/2023

Genesis 11:1-13:4

Bold Steps of Faith

“Father Abraham had many sons. Many sons had Father Abraham. I am one of them, and so are you. So, let’s just praise the Lord.”

(Father Abraham by Cedarmont Kids)

As a child in Sunday School, I remember singing and doing the actions to this song. His story was probably on flannelgraph, too. But he didn’t start out as a father or with many sons. In fact, it was quite the opposite!

Before the Lord speaks to Abraham, we read this introduction about his family, “But Sarai was unable to become pregnant and had no children.”

Why did God choose and “call” Abraham to be the father of many nations?

Abraham grew up an unbeliever in an idolatrous society. The prophet Isaiah refers to Abraham as “the rock from which you were hewn” and “the quarry from which you were dug.” (Isaiah 51:1-2)

We are not told why Abraham was “called” by God, but we do know that he was “seen by God.” His wife was unable to conceive a child.

So, he was the perfect candidate to be used by God, as only God could do what man could not accomplish.

I marvel at how this principle is true throughout the Bible.

Abraham was referred to as a Hebrew but was not a Jew nor an Israelite. That day would come through his lineage. Abraham was the blank slate on which God would write.

Genesis 11 begins with “The Tower of Babel.” God did not like their pride or arrogance. The word “Babel” means confusion, which God brought to them to confound their arrogant plans.

God is looking for humility and obedience, and He sees the plight of “a fatherless man” and calls him to become “The father of a great nation.”

“Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

We should note that God’s plan for Abraham is only partially revealed here. Abraham did not grow up knowing “about God” or as a follower of God. But, when God made himself known to him, Abraham followed.

He left his country, his relatives, his father’s house, and his way of life.

He left all that he “KNEW” to follow an “UNKNOWN” God.

But, God KNEW him and would continue to make himself KNOWN to Abraham.

“By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8)

God looked and saw the “Broken area” of Abraham’s life, and He chose to intervene in his life. He asked Abraham to leave all of that behind and follow HIM. God would do the rest…

A Big God. A Bold Step of Faith.

Follow Me

MATTHEW 4:12-25

(January 4)

John gets arrested. Jesus leaves Judea to return to Galilee. And so it begins…

This is when Jesus begins his three-year tenure as teacher. His main message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven us near.”

Why did Matthew describe it as the “Kingdom of Heaven”, instead of saying “The Kingdom of God” like Mark and Luke? Was he referring to the same place?

Yes, he was. But he had a reason for changing the last word from God to Heaven. He is writing this book to the Jews. Jewish people, out of reverence and respect, did not pronounce God’s name. He wanted to honor that custom yet still make his point.

It is at this point in time that Jesus becomes a fisher of men. He first encounters Peter and Andrew, who threw down their fishing nets to follow him upon his request.

Just a little further up the shore, brothers James and John were boating with their father, Zebedee. Jesus called for them to come too, and they left their father in the boat and followed him.

I try to imagine that. How it must have been to leave all that was known and familiar, and follow a complete stranger into the unknown. Leaving family must have been hard. I know it would be for me.

Have you ever picked up and moved away from your family? I have done that, in an effort to be with other family. It was hard to leave the family that would be left behind, and hard to leave friends that are dear to my heart.

What trust these men must have had in Jesus! If they only knew all that they were about to learn and witness in the next few years!

They followed him throughout Galilee as he taught in synagogues and shared the gospel. He healed sicknesses and diseases, and it wasn't long before his reputation was preceding him. People with sickness began to flock to him. For many, he was the last hope in a near hopeless situation.

Wherever he went, the masses followed. His following grew as his teaching spread. Peter, Andrew, John and James witnessed amazing things … all because of their obedience when Jesus said, “Follow me.”

How about you?

Rise & Shine

One-Year Bible: 01/04/2023

Genesis 8:1-10:32

Rise And Shine

“When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” (Genesis 9:16)

The rainbow of the Bible is not about PRIDE but PROMISES.

Perhaps you have heard the phrase “Promises Promises” from someone who is very skeptical about the stated intention or outcome.

Hebrews 11:7 gives us a New Testament view of Noah, “By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”

Can you imagine the looks and jeering that Noah received during the one hundred years that he and his sons faithfully worked on building an ark for the coming flood? Oh, by the way, what was a flood anyway in a land without rain?

Then there were the gigantic stares as they loaded up the ark with animals that paraded on two-by-two. They must have “stuck out” like a dry-docked cruise ship in the desert. Nonetheless, they faithfully followed all God told them to do.

Finally, they were on the boat and sat there for SEVEN LONG DAYS!

Do we think it was easy for Noah to be faithful?

The man was humiliated, “Hangry,” and just plain OLD! As in 500 years old when asked to build the ark and 600 years old when the waters came.

God’s deliverance for Noah and humanity didn’t mean “No Troubles.” Instead, it meant a “Way Out,” “Way Through,” and “Way Home.”

Noah’s lesson to us is that God does not always deliver us from trouble but in the midst of it. Noah was selected because he was a “righteous man,” not a perfect man. He obeyed God and offered a sacrifice on an altar to God when they were safely on dry land.

Chapter 8 begins with, “But, God REMEMBERED Noah…”

As we look at Genesis 8:21-22, we see THREE PROMISES God makes to Noah. First, He will never again curse the ground. Secondly, He will never again destroy every living thing through a flood. Thirdly, God promises that the seasons, night, and day will continue as long as the earth remains.

God makes an everlasting covenant to “all succeeding generations.”

God not only gives them a promise, but He also gives them a command. “Anyone who murders a fellow human must die. If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in HIS OWN IMAGE.” (9:5-6)

The Everlasting Covenant between God and man is a “two-way street.”

We are to be IMAGE BEARERS of the God who created us, rescued us, and placed His rainbow in the sky as a reminder.

Can you imagine that thousands of years from the event of the flood there would be nursery decorations of the ark, animals, and rainbows?

Little children would grow up singing songs about Noah and the Arky Arky, “Rise and shine, and give God the glory, glory children of the Lord.”

Promises, Promises…You can count on them; even when the rains come, sin overwhelms, and rainbows appear.

So, Rise and Shine, friend!

Temptation

Matthew 3:7-4:11

(January 3)

My mom is always talking about what she would do if she ever won the lottery. She has big plans, let me tell ya'! We laugh about how many "relatives" would come out of the woodwork when word got out. Everybody wants a "piece of the pie."

That is exactly what the Pharisees and the Sadducees did when John started baptizing in the Jordan River. They wanted "a piece of the pie" of what the others were receiving.

John wasn't letting them get away with it.

"Prove by the way you live that you have repented if your sins and turned to God."

They couldn't just take the prize because they we're descendants of Abraham. They needed to back up their claim with a lifestyle change and some fruit needed to be visible in their lives.

John reminded them that while he was baptizing with water, the one who was greater would be coming after him to baptize them with the Holy Spirit. He would weed out the good from the bad and the bad would be burned in eternal fire.

Soon after, Jesus came to John to be baptized. John didn't feel worthy of performing such an act. (Would you? I know I wouldn't!) But Jesus convinced him it should be done and so John had the privilege of baptizing Jesus. (Talk about winning the lottery!) When Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens opened up and the Spirit of God settled on him, resembling a white dove. It is then that a voice from heaven is heard saying, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy."

Here we have the Trinity. God the Father speaks in this event. God the Sin receives baptism. God the Holy Spirit comes upon Jesus. God is one but he is three at the same time.

It is after his baptism that Jesus faces the 40 days and forty nights of temptation in the wilderness. Satan is really trying to break him. Time and time again, Satan comes at him, but Jesus stands firm.

The devil offers him so much, but did he have the power to actually make good on those offers? Perhaps. His idea was for Jesus to take over the world as a political leader. God's plan was for Jesus to save the world from sun. Satan hoped to tempt Jesus with the offer of great worldly power, but Jesus stood strong against that temptation , knowing his purpose was to fulfill God's plan.

Two Offerings

One-Year Bible: 01/03/2023

Genesis 5:1-7:24

Two Offerings

New Beginnings have turned into Tragic Endings!

Adam and Eve were exiled from the garden due to their sin and a curse on mankind. The wages of sin were death, separating them from the God they walked within the garden. Shame covered them, and they gave birth to two sons born in their likeness.

The two sons, Cain and Abel, offered gifts to the Lord. Cain’s gift, which was aligned with the curse, was not received by the Lord. On the other hand, Abel sacrificed true worship and was accepted. Cain became furious with God and murdered his brother.

Two Brothers. Two Offerings. Two Destinies. Two Different Nations.

This is a sad but true tale of two brothers and Satan’s design to defeat God’s plan for the world to send salvation…

God’s perfect design is only four chapters long in the Bible, and we already see bloodshed and division due to the fall.

Chapter six tells us about this “Tale of the Two Offerings”...Cain’s murderous ways infected the bloodline, resulting in evil growing amongst God’s people.

The interpretation of Genesis 6:1-4 is both difficult and controversial. Who are the “Sons of God”? What has gone so terribly wrong that God has limited man’s lifespan to 120 years? God is willing to destroy all living creatures “for they have filled the earth with violence”...(6:11-12)

It is important for us to note what occurred BEFORE creation…

Before there was earth, God created angels along with heaven. They were living beings with the ability to think, feel, and make decisions. The word “angel” means messenger. They worshipped God and did his bidding.

Lucifer, the highest of angels, was an “anointed cherub”... He was a worship leader who chose to “lead worship of himself.” He was cast out of Heaven, which occurred before the creation of man and his temptation of mankind in the garden. His unbridled passion was to take God's place and rule all creation. (Check out Ezekiel 28:17 and Isaiah 14:12-15.)

Don’t think for a moment that he disappeared from the scene just because Adam and Eve were removed from the garden. Also, the Bible clarifies that Lucifer (Satan) has a following of demonic beings. The word “demonic” comes from “To Divide,”... which explains his earthly goal. The N.T. tells us that he comes “to steal, kill, and destroy.”

The oldest and most likely interpretation of the term “Sons of God” in Gen. 6:1-4 is that they are fallen angels or “demons.” Let’s look at the context of this passage to see what is going on here that is so severe that God wants to bring a worldwide flood…

We are told there are giant Nephilites that “lived on earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with the women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times.” (6:4)

Here is what God says about them, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh.” (6:3)

God lowered their lifespan to 120 years, and the passage tells of “consistent and total evil and depravity going on” because of this unholy union. The Nephilim were the hybrid offspring of the union between fallen angels and human women. Humanity was falling deeper and deeper into corruption and complete depravity. And so God said, “I am sorry I ever made them.”

But, Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord…All of creation was at a crossroads...

Two Offerings. Life or Death?