Honest Reflections

Two-minute read.

Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox. 

Proverbs 14:4 

In our first year of marriage, Ron and I attended a financial management event based on the book, “I Was Broke, Now I’m Not,” by Joseph Sangl.  Using the Biblical imagery of oxen pulling a plow and doing the work for the farmer, Joseph taught about investing, allowing your money to make money for you.  Several years later, Ron and I still search for more oxen to put into our stable.  Empty barns lead to empty bank accounts.  

In today’s world, financial oxen take many forms: retirement accounts, savings accounts, rental properties, insurance policies, stocks, bonds, etc.  Filling your stable with oxen means diversifying the money God gives.  The more oxen you have working for you, the more victory you will have over your finances. 

You can build wealth on spare change, no matter how much money you have. Many banks offer a “round up” savings plan.  When you make purchases, the bank automatically rounds up to the nearest dollar, investing spare change into a savings account.  Over time, the small deposits grow and, with compound interest, multiply.  

Acorns¹, a financial app, allows you to do the same thing.  Connecting your bank account to the app lets you round up small change for big rewards.  Over time, the acorn investments grow into an oak tree of savings.  Before you know it, you have an ox making money for you.  Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University² also teaches sound Biblical financial management.  Fill your barn with oxen, and you will discover a lot of revenue. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for teaching us sound financial strategies in Your word. Please help us find ways to fill our barns with oxen and reap the rewards of their work. Give us the tools necessary to follow Your money management plan. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully. 

Proverbs 10:5 

“When opportunity knocks, we gotta be ready to go,”  I told a friend while playing tennis. An unexpected issue at Ron’s work meant we had to take a trip to the beach at the last minute. Everything happened quickly; in less than 24 hours, we pointed the car toward the ocean. Taking advantage of opportunities equals gathering in the summer. We must expect God’s blessings and prepare for them in advance.  

When a farmer plants seeds, he expects them to grow and produce a harvest. Only a fool sleeps through the gathering time, not preparing for the eventual outcome. While the seeds grow, the diligent person prepares his barns for the harvest, which takes work. Then, when the time comes, the farmer reaps his reward as he brings in the crops, fills the storehouse to the rooftop, and provides for himself during the lean times ahead when the fields remain dormant.  

In an industrialized world, we must keep our storehouses clean and our bodies healthy so that when the Lord calls, we can go. You never know when God will interrupt your daily routine with an unexpected blessing, but you can stay ever ready and vigilant for when He does. Then, at a moment’s notice, you can harvest the crop and reap the reward of your diligent effort, not sleeping through the harvest and missing out on the blessing but enjoying it thoroughly. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for honoring our diligence with abundant harvests. Please help us stay focused and obedient during the growing period, allowing us to prepare for Your blessings and receive our just rewards. Let us not sleep through the harvest but gather wisely in the summer. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. 

Psalm 126:5-6 

Currently, in a season of mourning, today’s verse turns my thoughts to the loss of a precious young lady from an unfortunate accident just months ago. Her mother’s tears as she faces the harsh reality of life without her daughter make my heart ache. Each day, as this new normal begins to take shape, I pray for the Lord’s guidance and direction. And amid heartache, I continue to plant seeds of love and joy to the best of my ability as I seek God for comfort.  

After my nephew’s death, I remember reading today’s verses for the first time. Only months after his passing, it did bring comfort to my heart and make me feel God’s presence in that season of mourning. When we experience life’s hardships, staying focused on the Lord helps us persevere and strive to do His will despite our pain.  

“O Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.” Jonah 1:14b  

God allows storms into our lives, and only He knows the reason. Trusting the Lord in our struggles takes faith and intention. Grieving can cause doubt and challenge our beliefs, sometimes only holding on to our faith with a thread. But the Lord weeps with us, and He will give us the strength we need to persevere. One day, our mourning will bring shouts of joy when God reveals His glory to us. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for comforting us in our heartache and turning our tears into shouts of joy. Please help us hold on when doubts plague our minds and we can’t see the glory that awaits us because of our grief. Please give us the strength to persevere, sowing in tears and reaping joyfully. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

‘When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien. I am the Lord your God.’” 

Leviticus 23:22 

God provides for the needy. Poverty exists, and as followers of Christ, we must help those less fortunate than ourselves. The Levitical law instructed workers not to harvest all the wheat, allowing the poor to come through after them, collecting the left-over stalks to nourish them. The book of Ruth illustrates how the Lord’s law provided for the widowed women and eventually led to the Moabite’s marriage to Boaz, placing her in the lineage of Christ. Dutifully, day after day, Ruth gathered grain from Boaz’s fields, working hard and gaining the attention of her kinsman redeemer.   

As Christ’s followers, we must continually search our hearts and ensure we help those less fortunate than us. For us, supporting local missions that help the homeless and international organizations that care for people in third-world countries through financial donations ensures our contributions reach those who need them. In my daily life, when I see a need, I try to meet the need if possible. Overtipping servers allows me to leave stalks in the field for others. Maintaining a soft heart and remaining sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting helps me assist those less fortunate.  

Often, we focus on what we don’t have instead of what we do have. Acknowledging the blessings the Lord gives us helps us share them with others. The things of this world will pass away; we should hold them loosely and not get too attached. Instead, remembering those less fortunate and finding ways to assist them will help us keep things in perspective. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for the blessings in our lives; help us share them willingly with others, leaving stalks behind for those less fortunate. Make us sensitive to the needs of others and give us opportunities to assist them when possible.  

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

“You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest. 

Exodus 34:21 

In the Mosaic Law, God commands us to take a Sabbath “to rest or cease from work.”  Morally, the commandment requires us to dedicate time to the Lord and ceremonially set aside the seventh day. In other words, God has put time with Him on our weekly calendar as a command He expects us to follow.  

Attending church each Sunday, whether at home or traveling, starts our week on the right foot. As an international prayer team member, I don’t take the freedom we have to worship for granted freely. Each week, our prayer team prays for those who face persecution, up to and including death, just for believing in Jesus. Resting from work, Sundays represent a day for family and friends, as we spend time together on the Lord’s Day.  

“We’ve found employees perform better if they take their day off,” said my District Manager while training me for my first managerial role.  

I’ve never forgotten her words. Although she didn’t base her conclusion on Biblical commandments, God already knew what the study proved: We need a day off. Observing the Sabbath honors the Lord and also prepares us for the week to come. Take the needed rest. God will handle the world’s problems while you rest in Him. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for knowing our needs even more than we do. Please help us keep the fourth commandment, observing a day of rest as we dedicate the time to You.  Let us enjoy the benefits of the Sabbath as we implement it into our lives.  

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

The Lord has sworn by His right hand and by His strong arm, “I will never again give your grain as food for your enemies; Nor will foreigners drink your new wine for which you have labored.” But those who garner it will eat it and praise the Lord; And those who gather it will drink it in the courts of My sanctuary. 

Isaiah 62:8-9 

Reassuring Zion’s prayer watchmen, the Lord gives a solemn oath that they won’t endure their previous sufferings. Under constant attack from the enemy, God promises salvation. With grace, God makes Zion righteous, and He does the same for us. We can’t save ourselves from our sins; only the Lord can make us new.  

Not too long ago, a friend called me a good person.  Immediately, I thought, “That’s not true.”  I’m a sinner from the pit of hell.  Nothing I can do will change my human nature; only God can save me from my sins.  Everyone faces the same temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness: lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life (Matthew 4:1-11).  Unfortunately, where Christ succeeded, humans typically fail.  And so, Jesus died on the cross for our sins, giving us access to eternal life with Him.  

Our just rewards come through God’s grace. We can’t earn the Lord’s mercy; we can only accept it humbly and understand our needs. With His strong arm, God protects us from the enemy and ushers us into new life with Him. As we enjoy the benefits of becoming a child of the Creator, we can’t help but praise Him. We will drink in His courts when we accept the divine gift Jesus offers.  

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for Your saving grace, which makes us righteous.  Please help us stay on the straight and narrow as we strive to follow You.  Give us eyes to see and ears to hear the steps You want us to take.  

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

And sow fields and plant vineyards, And gather a fruitful harvest. 

Psalm 107:37 

God takes deserts and turns them into vineyards, producing fruitful harvests. Transformation comes when we allow the Lord to fill our hearts with His love, grace, and mercy, giving us overflowing springs that flood the world around us. Replacing the bitterness, hatred, jealousy, and resentment that make a heart desert land, God gives us a spiritual transplant when we place our faith in Him. The more time we spend with the Creator, the more transformed our life will become.

Since I started seeking the Lord with my whole heart, mind, body, and soul, He’s changed me completely and continues the transformation. Where once jealousy destroyed relationships, I now rejoice at someone else’s blessings. God replaced hatred with love by showing me the negative emotion and helping me overcome it with His commands. Instead of becoming bitter at the struggles in life, the Lord helped me become better, and resentment becomes joy when we make God the center of our life.

Only with the Holy Spirit can life transformation begin. Jesus, knowing we need help to become more like Him, left us His Spirit when He ascended into heaven. Placing faith in Christ gives us access to the Helper. Like subscribing to an app on our cell phones, the moment we say yes, all the features come to life. But when we turn our back on the Lord, we lose the connection and the transformation that comes with it. Each day, we must choose who we will follow. Then, minute by minute and hour by hour, we must continue to choose as life unfolds before us.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us Your Spirit to transform our lives and help us produce a fruitful harvest. Turn the deserts in our hearts into overflowing springs that bring light into the world. Let us share Your love freely with all we meet.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Indeed, the Lord will give what is good, And our land will yield its produce. 

Psalm 85:12 

God’s blessings extend to enjoying the land. Some people believe that the Lord doesn’t want us to enjoy life, suffering for the sake of the Kingdom. But as you get to know Jesus, you see a man who lived life fully. Yes, Christ chose to suffer for our sins on the cross, but He did that as an act of love so that we could experience the goodness of the Lord.  

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺.  

𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 10:10 

Do we endure suffering on Earth? Absolutely. Tragedies occur, heartache happens, and we walk through the valley of death. But Jesus overcame death when His crucifixion led to His resurrection, and He shares that victory with all who believe in Him. Therefore, we walk through the valley of death but we don’t stay in it. With Christ’s Spirit within us, we overcome the troubles of this world and live life fully in Him.  

Jesus, laughing and playing with children makes my heart smile. As I picture Him loving the disciples, enjoying Martha and Mary’s company, and dining with tax collectors and sinners, I see Him doing so with love and laughter. A wise friend once said, “No one wants to be around a sour puss.”  People flocked to the Savior because He exuded love and acceptance with a joyful heart. And as His followers, we can do the same. God gives us good land, and we yield fruitful produce. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for giving us good land that yields fruitful produce. Please help us maintain a strong connection with You, tapping into the strength of the Holy Spirit and letting Him lead us through our days, representing You well.   

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. 

Psalm 67:6 

Concluding his prayer, the psalmist asks for the Lord’s blessing. Highlighting hope in God’s sovereignty, the psalm anticipates the glory to come that the Jews and Gentiles will share when they enter the Creator’s presence. Through faith in Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit that gives us eyes to see and ears to hear the truth of the Lord. Without Jesus, people have no hope and can’t see the riches that He offers with love and grace.  

When I have conversations with people blinded by the world, I pray for God to give them eyes to see and ears to hear.   Asking the Lord to soften their hearts, I look for opportunities to plant seeds of divine truth in good soil that God will water and grow. As people develop a relationship with their heavenly Father, they produce fruit, understanding that the Lord’s blessing comes from connection with Him.  

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.  

Galatians 5:22-23  

God blesses us with the Holy Spirit, and we produce its fruit. Defining blessings by worldly standards doesn’t compare to living in the fruits of the Spirit. Blessings overflow from Christ’s followers as they share their gifts with others. God blesses us, and we experience the joy of blessing others. Praise the Lord for His work within us, giving us eyes to see and ears to hear His truth. We obey God’s commands and live in communion with Him. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for Your divine presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit, who guides and directs us. Let us produce the fruit of the Spirit, sharing it with everyone we meet. Help us become vessels of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

Indeed, your threshing will last for you until grape gathering, and grape gathering will last until sowing time. You will thus eat your food to the full and live securely in your land. 

Leviticus 26:5 

Leviticus 26:1-13 summarizes the conditions for God’s blessings: avoid idols, keep the Sabbath, and revere the sanctuary, in a broader context, obey the Lord’s commands.  Because the Creator exists outside the physical limits we understand, any material thing we put before Him counts as idolatry.  Raised in a home that honored the Sabbath, it ranks as my favorite day of the week.  Resting with family, enjoying corporate worship, and renewing my spirit with the Lord helps energize me for the other six days.  Recently, the Lord convicted me about taking better care of His temple, my body, revering my health, and becoming healthier to serve Him better.  

As a result of obeying the Lord, He brings the rain necessary for the crops to grow.  Without God’s provision, we wouldn’t have anything to harvest.  In our industrialized world, we don’t think about the necessity of rain as much as they did in ancient Palestine.  Often taken for granted, we couldn’t work without good health, producing a harvest that allows us to live.  Taking care of the divine gifts the Lord gives us will enable us to make fruitful bounties and live securely in our land.  

Despite what many think, we don’t live to please ourselves.  God gives us clear instructions on our purpose: love God and love others.  Harvesting blessings allows us to share our divine gifts with others.  Life doesn’t revolve around us; it revolves around the Creator and His will for our lives. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for giving us the rain we need to produce a bountiful harvest and share it with others.  Please help us keep our eyes focused on You, submitting our will to Yours.  Let us become more like Jesus as we seek You with all we have. 

IJNIP. Amen