Category: Uncategorized

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:21 ESV, John 5:1-23 ESV, Psalm 105:37-45 ESV, Proverbs 14:28-29 ESV

Daily Verse: “After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.” (John 5:1 ESV)

HEORTE (1859): “A feast or festival” is used especially of those of the Jews, and particularly of the Passover; the word is found mostly in John’s gospel (seventeen times); apart from the Gospels, it is used in this way only in Acts 18:21; in a more general in Col 2:16, ‘holy day.’”[I]

Festive feast.

The Jewish people celebrated three significant feasts: Passover in the spring, Pentecost 50 days later, and Tabernacles’ feast in the fall.  Which banquet Jesus attended at this time, we don’t know.  Jesus, arriving in Jerusalem, heals an invalid who suffered for 38 years.  Healing the lame man on the Sabbath caused the religious leaders to get their panties in a bunch, causing them to begin persecuting Jesus.

Instead of rejoicing that the invalid could walk, the religious leaders focused on the law.  According to the 10 Commandments, the Sabbath must remain a rest day, with no work allowed.  Yet Jesus heals people on the holy day.  Talk about missing the forest for the trees.  Instead of rejoicing, the religious zealots complained.

Enjoy the feast.

When God does a mighty work, celebrate it.  God never does things the way we think He will do it.  God makes a way when none exists.  He parted the Red Sea, made the sun stand still for Joshua, and healed an invalid by the pool in Bethesda, all the same God.

Instead of critiquing how God works, we should celebrate when He does.  We will never understand God’s reasoning:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV)

Leave behind your plan for God.  Instead, search for God’s work in your life and join Him on the journey.  Enjoy God’s blessing as you feast on His good works.

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[i]  Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 93) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ruth 2:1-4:22 ESV, John 4:43-54 ESV, Psalm 105:16-36 ESV, Proverbs 14:26-27 ESV

Daily Verse: “(For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.)” (John 4:44 ESV) 

MARTUREO (3140): “As a verb, denotes “to be a marus (3144), or “to bear witness to,” sometimes rendered “to testify”: It means to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration. It is used of the witness of God the Father to Christ.” [I]

Bear Witness

Testifying means telling others what you know. Jesus knew people who know us best struggle to see the change in us. The people of Jesus’ hometown didn’t believe in Him. His neighbors couldn’t see Jesus as anything but a carpenter. Those we know best remember us most for our mistakes, not thinking we can change.

The Gospels represent the written testimonies of those who knew and experienced life with Jesus. People agreed the events occurred. Faith in Jesus grounds itself in the truth of His existence on earth. People told what they knew; the story never changed through the ages.

Tell everyone

Honor Jesus by telling people what you know about Him.  Share how Christ works in your life. When you look for Jesus, you will find Him in unique ways.

Raised in a Christian home, I’ve known Jesus all my life. However, I turned my back on Him for over a decade. As an adult, choosing to follow Jesus became the best decision I’ve ever made. With a sinful past, His open arms gave me a second chance, one I didn’t think I deserved.

Everyone needs a second chance, and a third, and a fourth…Jesus waits with open arms. Reminding people of Christ’s love for them gives them a place to turn to in their darkest moments. You never know what God will do with the seeds you plant, but nothing grows if we don’t plant seeds. God multiplies our acts of love far beyond our wildest imagination.

Some people will struggle more than others; keep loving them. Don’t take offense or abuse. As my husband loves to say, recognize the situations “above my pay grade.” In other words, some people need professional help. God didn’t call us to save the world; He calls us to love it. Healthy, loving relationships require boundaries; how close the line depends on the relationship and the person.

Testify the truth of Jesus. Tell people what you know.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 157) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22 ESV, John 4:4-42 ESV, Psalm 105:1-15 ESV, Proverbs 14:25 ESV

Daily Verse: “Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.” (John 4:6 ESV)

KOPIAO (2872): “This word means to grow weary, tired, exhausted with toil or burdens or grief and to labour with wearisome effort, bodily labour, toiling and is translated: “bestow labour.””[i]

Grow weary.

Exhaustion builds over time; the longer we toil, the more it grows.  Jesus, tired from walking, sat at one of my favorite wells, the one in Samaria, the land of all things evil.  Jewish people disapproved of the Samaritan’s lifestyle, so they didn’t hang out with them.  Yet we find Jesus, the Jew, hanging out with a sinful Samaritan woman.

Knowing my past and the Samaritan woman have similarities, I relate to her.  Although I didn’t have five husbands, I have past relationships that broke my heart into pieces and caused me pain—forgiving myself for my past mistakes something I have yet to do. So, when Jesus sits at the well, I feel like He’s sitting with me.

Receive the gift.

Jesus sees you, He loves you, and no matter what you might think, Jesus forgives you.  Christ didn’t accidentally find that well; He walked there intentionally.  By the time Jesus sat, He needed a drink.  Accepting the water the woman offered meant Jesus accepted her. 

At life’s lowest moments, remember that Jesus walks with you.  The Samaritan woman went to the well in the middle of the day because she would avoid other people.  In the general public’s opinion, no one should associate with her; in today’s world, we call it canceled.   But Jesus doesn’t cancel anyone.

Receive the water Christ offers.  Give Him your weary soul, receive eternal life.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 143) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 19:1-20:48 ESV, John 3:22-4:3 ESV, Psalm 104:24-35 ESV, Proverbs 14:22-23 ESV

Daily Verse: “After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.” (John 3:22 ESV)

BAPTIZO (907): “To make overwhelmed (i.e., fully wet); used only in the N.T. of ceremonial ablution, espec. Of the ordinance of Chr. Baptism. Means to baptize and is used of washing oneself (Lk 11:38); the rite performed by John the Baptist who called upon the people to repent that they might receive remission of sins. Those who obeyed came confessing their sins, thus acknowledging their unfitness to be in the Messiah’s coming kingdom. A baptism to be undergone by believers, thus witnessing to the identification with Him in death, burial and resurrection.” [i]

Make overwhelmed

Baptism means making something overwhelmed in its original form. Experiencing the public proclamation of faith in my thirties overwhelmed me. Attending a Baptist church, I struggled with the issue, not understanding why I needed to do it. Raised in the Presbyterian church, the pastor sprinkled my head with water, signifying my parents’ dedication of me to Jesus. So why did I need to do it again?

When I questioned the pastor, he showed me scriptures like the one from today. Public baptism shows your dedication to Christ. The symbolism of going beneath the water means leaving your old life behind, accepting new life from Jesus.

Immerse yourself.

Experiencing baptism did change my life. I did feel different coming up out of the water, lighter, freer. The joy I felt surprised me, almost euphoric, hard to describe—a spiritual moment marking the beginning of my current journey. Instead of my parents dedicating my life to Jesus, I decided to do it.

Going all-in with Jesus and letting Him overwhelm you with His presence in your life does bring unspeakable joy. Dipping below the water signifies dying to self; rising from it means Jesus first in all things. We leave our past sins behind, forgiven and free.

Yes, we will still sin; humanity doesn’t change. But now we have the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us. From within, we’ll receive promptings if we head in the wrong direction. Instead of lying, we’ll tell the truth. When we commit, we keep it. We don’t make fun of people; we love them. We strive to become more like Jesus with every day He gives us.

Immerse yourself in Jesus. Let Him overwhelm your life with joy.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 50) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 17:1-18:31 ESV, John 3:1-21 ESV, Psalm 104:1-24 ESV, Proverbs 14:20-21 ESV

Daily Verse: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17 ESV)

KRINO (2919): “As a verb, means ‘to distinguish, choose, give an opinion upon, judge’ Sometimes denotes to condemn.  To separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose, hence, to approve, esteem, to prefer.  To pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong.”[i]

Pronounce an opinion.

Sadly, the church has a reputation for condemnation.  Instead of people recognizing Christ-followers by their love, they identify them by their judgments.  Jesus didn’t come to condemn; He came to save.  Our assignment doesn’t include condemning others; we have one task when it comes to loving people: love others as ourselves.

When we condemn others, we create an unhealthy space in the relationship.  Striving to understand leads to healthy relationships.

For instance, mental illness impacts how people react to situations.   According to a study completed in 2019, 51% of Americans live with undiagnosed mental conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.[i]  One out of two people has untreated issues impacting their relationships in America.  Maybe instead of condemning, we should work on understanding.

Chase grace.

Chasing grace means examining the possibilities, not only of their behavior but also mine, which then helps me love.  Questions I ask myself:

• Why do their actions cause such an emotional response in me?
• What motivates their actions (personal history, issues, mental or otherwise, etc.)?
• What area of my life needs help? 
• How can I love them best?

When someone has cancer, you naturally have more grace for them.  If you realize someone has distorted thinking caused by undiagnosed mental illness, you can forgive instead of condemn.  Unfortunately, seeing physical ailments makes empathy easier; we struggle with what we can’t see.

 Choose grace today, stop condemning, and seek to understand first.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 145) Thomas Nelson

[i] https://www.constellationbehavioralhealth.com/blog/the-real-cost-of-untreated-mental-illness-in-america/#:~:text=Mental%20Illness%20Policy%20Org%20estimates,a%20one%2Dyear%20study%20period.

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 15:1-16:31 ESV, John 2:1-25 ESV, Psalm 103:1-22 ESV, Proverbs 14:17-19 ESV

Daily Verse: “Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.” (John 2:7 ESV)

HUDOR (5204): “Whence Eng. Prefix, ‘hydro,” is used of the natural element, frequently in the Gospels.”[I]

Natural Elements.

Because of the insistence of His mother, Jesus turned water into wine, keeping the wedding feast alive. When Jesus asked the servants to fill the jars with water, He used natural elements to create a miracle. 

Miracles come from the ordinary.  Water becomes tasty wine when God gets involved.

“Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” (John 2:10 ESV)

The host immediately noticed the difference in taste, as I imagine anyone would—no better wine than that made by Jesus.

Taste perfection.

Jesus makes perfect wine.  When we experience a miracle, we taste His perfection.  Using our ordinary, everyday circumstances, Jesus creates a fine wine with our life.  Blending the events, helping us become a new creation. As we become like Christ, the more pleasant our aroma becomes.

Wine has an aroma that draws in the senses—the more refined the wine, the better the smell.  As Jesus turns the water of our lives into wine, His light in us will become a magnet.  People want to know your secrets.  When they ask, give Jesus credit.

Remember, they trample the grapes to make the wine.  When life stomps on you, just remind yourself how they prepare the fruit.  Without the pummelling, the grapes couldn’t become wine. 

Each day, pursue Jesus, as He takes the ordinary and makes it miraculous.  Let His light flow through you, creating a fabulous bouquet that tantalizes the senses, glorifying God.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 255) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 13:1-14:20 ESV, John 1:29-51 ESV, Psalm 102:1-28 ESV, Proverbs 14:15-16 ESV

Daily Verse:  “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 ESV) 

AMNOS (286): “A lamb, is used figuratively of Christ: Jn 1:29, 36, with the article, pointing Him out as the expected One, the One to be well known the personal fulfillment and embodiment of all that had been indicated I the OT, the One by whose sacrifice deliverance from divine judgment was to be obtained.”[i]

Christ the Lamb.

Referring to someone as a sacrificial lamb means blaming an individual for something they didn’t do to protect someone else.[i]  Jesus willingly took on the role for us. 

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7 ESV)

Jesus endured agony to bring salvation to the world.  Without uttering a word, He persevered through the pain, knowing we couldn’t find life without His death.  Yet we cringe at the thought of having to sacrifice anything.

Holy Sacrifice

Writing on the Monday of Holy Week, the pastor’s words from the Sunday message impact me:

“What would you do if you knew in six days you were going to be murdered?” Mike Cooke

Jesus ate dinner at Lazarus’ house, enjoying time with His friends.  Martha busied herself serving everyone while Mary anointed Jesus with pure nard, preparing Jesus for His burial (John 12:1 ESV).  God’s Son knew Dad’s plan.  Instead of worrying, Jesus enjoyed the moment, not fretting about His coming sacrifice.

The Lamb of God lived life to the fullest, then sacrificed His so we could.  Placing our faith in Jesus means letting go of our past, embracing a future full of hope.  When we lay our burdens at the foot of the Cross, we receive Christ’s mercy.  We can trust the Savior for tomorrow, forgiven and free, living in the moment, enjoying today.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 17) Thomas Nelson

[i]https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/sacrificiallamb#:~:text=If%20you%20refer%20to%20someone,a%20system%20that%20destroyed%20him.

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 11:1-12:15 ESV, John 1:1-28 ESV, Psalm 101:1-8 ESV, Proverbs 14:13-14 ESV

Daily Verse: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 ESV)

LOGOS (3056): “Denotes ‘the expression of thought,’ not the mere name of an object-as embodying a conception or idea—Divine Expression (i.e., Christ). Of a direct revelation given by Christ, in this respect, it is the message from the Lord, delivered with His authority and made effective by His power.  The Personal Word, a title of the Son of God’ this identification is substantiated by the statements of doctrine in Jn 1:1-18.”[i]

Expression of thought.

Reading the inspired word of God written by men who devoted their lives to the pursuit of the unknown means tapping into God’s thoughts—tuning their hearts to His revealed classic truths that stand the test of time.  The oldest book in the world remains the best one over the ages.

Someone recently said to me, “The heart hasn’t changed over history.”  Our desperation for the Creator might come from different times and places, but the emotion remains the same.  When we praise God with our hearts, even David can’t compete.  And we weep; Jesus weeps with us.  In God’s Word, we find life.

Divine message.

Text messages come and go, but words from above last forever.  Imagining God texting makes me smile.  I immediately imagine Him with reading glasses perched on His nose, one finger typing because He can barely see.  But then again, God’s not me.

When the authors of the Bible wrote their prose, they did so with divine inspiration.  God understands the human heart better than we do.  Connecting our hearts with the Creator gives us access to His wisdom.  Receiving God’s divine messages for our lives will change them. 

Make God’s word the first text message you read each day.  Download YouVersion. Pick a plan and experience life change.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 152) Thomas Nelson

[i] https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 9:22-10:18 ESV, Luke 24:13-53 ESV, Psalm 100:1-5 ESV, Proverbs 14:11-12 ESV

Daily Verse: “And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him And he vanished from their sight.” “Luke 24:31 ESV)

GINOMAI (1096) + APHANTOS (855): “Ginomai: “to become” Aphantos, means literally, ‘to cause to disappear, put out of sight.”[i]

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (pp. 48, 59)) Thomas Nelson

Out of sight.

After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to Cleopas and a friend on the road to Emmaus. However, the men didn’t recognize Jesus at the time. As they traveled along the road, Jesus revealed all the Scriptures concerning Himself. When they sat down for dinner together that night, God opened their eyes, the men recognized Jesus, and He vanished.

In the moment of recognition, not only did they recognize Jesus, but the men realized Jesus overcame death. Within the hour, Cleopas and his friend left to tell the disciples of the miraculous events, spreading the news of Jesus’ resurrection.

Heart eyes.

Before Jesus opened the men’s physical eyes, He first opened their spiritual eyes. By teaching them the scriptures as they walked, Jesus reinvigorated their faith. At the time, Cleopas grieved because Jesus didn’t fulfill his expectations, But Christ showed Cleopas through the scriptures that He had. They already believed by the time God opened their eyes to Jesus’ physical presence.

Faith comes without seeing Jesus knew we would live life on earth without His physical presence. Contemporary followers of Christ rely on God’s “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV) Word to “light [our] path” (Psalm 119:105 ESV). The scriptures don’t fail us; in them, we discover Jesus.

Just because we can’t see Jesus beside us doesn’t mean He’s not present Cleopas, and his friend couldn’t see Jesus, but He walked with them for hours Trust in Jesus; He promises never to leave you. Jesus keeps His Word; look in the scriptures, you’ll see.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010) The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (pp. 48, 59)) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 8:18-9:21 ESV, Luke 23:44-24:12 ESV, Psalm 99:1-9 ESV, Proverbs 14:9-10 ESV

Daily Verse: “Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” (Luke 23:47 ESV)

HEKATONTARCHES (1543): “The captain of one hundred men-centurion.”[i]

Captain of men.

Many times, the Bible mentions Centurions.  Soldiers with 100 men under their command.  Not raised in the military, one of my walking buddies spent her life serving our country.  Retired Navy, she tells me about life on the ship with hundreds of other sailors when we walk.  Everyone understood their place and the need to follow orders.  Centurions gave the orders, expecting them to follow.

Each day, Centurions carried the weight of their men’s lives on their shoulders.  When a commander sends his troops into battle, more than likely, not all of them will return alive.  What they believe determines what they do.  For the Centurion in today’s verse, witnessing the death of Jesus changes his opinion.  When the leader’s opinion changes, so do his actions.

Accept change.

When the Centurion realized Jesus’ innocence, his worldview changed.  Luke doesn’t say what happened next, other than they grieved deeply, disturbed by Jesus’ death.  Undoubtedly, life change occurred for all who witnessed Jesus’ resurrection.

Encountering Jesus in your life will change it in ways you can’t imagine.  As you pursue life to the fullest with Christ, you will become a new creation, fulfilling your God-given purpose.  As you blossom, others will notice and want what you have.  They will seek you out, asking questions about what they see.

Even if you’re not the captain of 100 men, you have a circle of influence.  Family and friends witness more than you think. You never know how a kind word or gesture will draw someone to the Savior.  Introducing others to Jesus encourages them to join the journey of pursuing Him and finding life like never before.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.79) Thomas Nelson