40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 46 - Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

You made it through all the devotionals! Special props to those of you who read one for every single day of Lent even the Sundays!

I have no devotional for today. However, I will link you to the story of Jesus' return in John 20!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020&version=NIV

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 45 - Saturday of Waiting

I turned to my wife and I asked, "Is there a name for the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday?" She turned to me and said "Sadderday." (here is the video clip) She was referencing an Easter video we shared with the students a while ago. I couldn't help but giggle but at the same time I had to stop and think about how that is so true. This is by far, one of the saddest days in all of existence! The curtain was torn so God was no longer in the temple with us and Jesus had also passed. I'll let that sink in for a moment...

We know that Jesus conquers death but for those who has lost their Rabbi, their friend, their Lord, their son, this weekend was truly painful. Fortunately for us, we know that Christ returns. We know He abolishes sin and builds the best relationship we will ever have, the relationship with God our creator, our provider, our Father.

This is a wonderful chance for us to focus on the sacrifice, the salvation in our lives, our families, our friends, and our relationship with the Creator.

Day 40

Scripture

Psalm 27: 13-14

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
13 I remain confident of this:
   I will see the goodness of the LORD
   in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.
Wisdom

-    Pondering really hard on what to write about and think about on this special Saturday I was encouraged by David’s word in the Psalms. We need to learn to wait on the Lord. We have a huge benefit over the disciples. We actually know that Christ returned after His death. There wasn’t a period of mourning for us; we weren’t there on Saturday, sitting and waiting to see what was going to happen. In their minds Jesus was gone forever after he died. I can only imagine how they felt. For those of you who have lost a close friend or relative you know how it feels. But for us, we know that he returned. I‘m sure seeing Jesus for the first time after he died was the most amazing thing the disciples have ever witnessed.
-    I encourage you to think about what Christ has done for you while you wait for Easter Sunday to come. Instead of mourning His death, rejoice in knowing that He is coming back after defeating all the sin in your life. Sin that separates you from God. But thanks to Jesus, we are no longer separated.

Apply

-    Today, reflect on the times in your life where you felt the Lord may not have been there for you. Find traces of Him in all aspects of your life.
-    Take the time to think about people you will tell your story of faith to.
-    Can you think of at least 2 friends or family who don’t know about Jesus? Use your story of faith to start a conversation with them about Christ.

Prayer

-    Praise Jesus for His sacrifice. Thank him for taking all of your sin with Him and defeating it. Ask Him for the strength to wait on Him in your life. Now pray for the people in your life that you know don’t have a relationship with God. Ask Jesus to soften their hearts so that you can share the gospel with them.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 44 - Good Friday

Good Friday.

I am saddened and happy. It is by far, the most conflicted day for me spiritually. I don't want my Lord to die, but I know that He must in order for me to be with the Father. I know it is my fault He is there. He didn't just die for all of us, He died for one of us. He died for you. He died for me. Thank God He Loves us so much!

Day 44

Scripture

Mark 15:33-41

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-     33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
-     35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”
-     36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
-     37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
-     38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
-     40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

Wisdom

-    It is time to reflect on the sacrifice of Christ for us. The passion that God has for us is so amazing that He sent His Son to die for us.
-    I didn’t use the entire scripture of Jesus’ passing but just the very last section of Jesus’ last breath. As He died it is believed that as He cried out to God and as He finished breathing that all sin; past, present, and future came upon him. And then He died.
-    Then the curtain in the temple; the one that separated God from the people, was torn apart. To symbolize that now Jesus is our direct connection with God and that God Himself is no longer in the temples; the Holy Spirit is.
-    I love what happened to the roman centurion here. As he watched as Jesus took His last breath the centurion realized that Jesus was the Son of God. Because who can possibly ignore the skies darkening (remember it is 3 in the afternoon) and the earth shaking the moment Jesus died. I can only imagine what those who were present were feeling when they witnessed everything that happened. The guilt of those that nailed and crucified Him, the regret of those who condemned Him, the sorrow of those who loved Him, the fear of those who didn’t believe Him.
-    Focus on why this is called Good Friday. It may have been an amazingly sad day in human history; we killed the King of Kings. It is also the day we were given entrance back into the Kingdom of God.

Apply

-    Who do you connect with; the centurion who just realized that Jesus was the Son of God or His close friends that were watching?
-    Take some time and do this; close your eyes and imagine you are there. Watching as Jesus cries out to His father and He takes His last breath. Watch as the sky darkens in the middle of the afternoon and hear a loud boom in the sky, feel the rocks below your feet tremble and watch the ground split in places, listen to the people run out of the temple screaming as their most holy cloth was torn in two pieces before their very eyes. As you open your eyes, take some time and pray for what Jesus just experienced. If there is pain, sorrow, guilt, shame, anything that needs to rest on Him, give it up.
-    Give it up. Feel the freedom that can only come from knowing Christ Jesus.


Prayer

-    Pray and thank Jesus for what He has done for you and for everyone. Praise Him for His mercy and salvation He has given us. Ask Jesus now to come into your life and guide your steps and watch over you so that His sacrifice would not be wasted. Spend time thinking about what He has done for you. 

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 43 - Holy Thursday

No blog today. Time to focus on the message and contemplate over the next few days.

Day 43

Scripture

John 13:1-17

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-    It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
-    2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
-    6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
-    7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
-    8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
-    Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
-    9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
-    10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
-    12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Wisdom

-    Time to really dive deep into the last few devotionals. These will be challenging moments. As they should be since they were Jesus’ last moments. Reflect on what these passages mean to you and how they test your commitment and the Grace given to you.
-    This is by far one of the most difficult passages for some folks. Sure we are with the Holy Jesus who casts demons out and heals the blind. We are with the buddy Jesus who is our friend and turns water into wine. We are with the Rabbi Jesus who teaches us and is our mentor. We are with the loving Jesus who keeps His calm when Pharisees test Him and He still loves Peter after His denial. But servant Jesus? The one who gets down on His hands and knees and washes the feet of His disciples, even the one who betrays Him. He does so with a humble and open heart.
-    This is a difficult Jesus to mirror. Humbleness is tough in our culture. We find it difficult to forgive and love those who betray us. We find it difficult to clean and wash dirty things when we don’t have to. This is a selfless act. A compassionate act. This is how we must be.
-    If we are to be Christ for others, we have to be willing to not see them as sinners, but as Children of God who need love. If we are to be leaders for Jesus, we need to be able to wash the feet of our friends and family who need God’s love. Figuratively speaking, what does that mean to you? How can you portray Jesus?

Apply

-    Can we love and serve others the way Jesus loves and serves?
-    Can you put aside your pride and serve those who are not close to you or respect you?
-    Can you be faithful to Christ even when life is tough or the temptation is deep?

Prayer

-    It is time to really prepare our hearts for Jesus’ sacrifice. Pray to the God who laid down His life willingly for you. Ask Him for a heart that bleeds and serves like His. Ask God to show you the opportunities in your life to serve those who need it in your friends and family. Ask Him to remove pride and selfishness in your life and put love and acceptance first.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 43

As the Rolling Stones taught us, "You can't always get what you want." But with our God, you can get what you need.
I have been praying and thinking a lot about direction lately. Obviously with the new addition to the family I am seeking God's guidance in so many things. That has been a tough task. I have been running on auto-pilot for quite some time. I am enjoying that having a baby is challenging my faith in a good way!
I want a lot of things; A happy life, a happy wife, a healthy baby girl, financial security, a house that doesn't need repairs, a ministry that runs smoothly, cars that don't need fixing, a body that can maintain itself, peace of mind for my friends and family.
I know that God will give me what I need. I just have to go out there and get it.

Day 43

Scripture

Matthew 7:7-8

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-    7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Wisdom

-    This is a classic scripture. There are songs written about it, there are countless poems, positive paintings, quotes, and many, many lessons based on it. Jesus talks about something very simple here. But isn’t Faith within itself, a simple concept. Such a simple concept that even a child can understand it.
-    Doesn’t a child have faith that its parents will take care of it? In the same way shouldn’t we as adults have the same Faith with our Father?
-    Then why is it that we don’t have that kind of faith with God? Did you always get what you wanted as a child? Do you give everything to children? No, sometimes you don’t, to help them learn that not all can be gotten just by asking. Sometimes you have to work for it, earn it, or find it. Sometimes you don’t deserve it. Does the child get upset because of your answer? Of course, the same way we get angry when our heavenly Father gives us the same answer.
-    However, Jesus teaches us that we shouldn’t stop trying. We should keep going. Have the Faith that God will give you not what you want, but what you need in this life. And so very much more!

Apply

-    Go back and read the scripture again 3 times. Almost like a mantra. Meditate on the scripture.
-    What do these promises tell you about our Father?
-    What specific things in your life do you need to ask the father about?
-    What are seeking God’s will for?

Prayer

-    Pray to the Father that His will may be done in your life. Ask Him for guidance, direction and discipline. Pray just as Jesus prayed in the Garden, knowing that the will of God is better than your own will. Ask God for what is good in your life now, in the future, and eternally.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 42

Love all you readers out there! Got any particular subject or topic you want to hear or study about? Hit me up!

Day 42

Scripture

2 Peter 2:1-3

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-    1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

Wisdom

-    I cannot stand when people use the scriptures for their own good. It literally boils my blood when folks read the words of the Lord incorrectly for personal gain. In scripture it tells us to understand the scripture and hold it close to our heart so that is can be a shield from this world and from people that attempt to lead us in the wrong direction.
-    In our time there are plenty of people who twist the scriptures in order to serve their own purposes or to prove their own points. This has been happening since we have had God’s word. Now it’s not that God doesn’t have control of His word, it is just that we have the freedom to interpret how we will. It is designed to help us get closer to our creator, but it can do the exact opposite if we want it to.
-    Have you ever witnessed when people are mean to each other in the church? Or other Christians acting inappropriately? People taking sides and destroying relationships, people not appreciating help, looking out for only themselves, exploiting other people. Don’t these things happening in the House of God make a horrible witness to the outside world?
-    Like the unity of God in the Trinity, we are supposed to be many people as one unit; functioning for His glory. It is time to be ready to call these things out before they become destructive. If you see your brothers and sisters in Christ causing problems, be ready to hold them accountable; using scripture and spiritual elders as your guide and help.

Apply

-    Have you ever watched as something bad happened around you? What did you do?
-    How do you think people lie about who God is in their witness?
-    Are you comfortable enough in your faith to challenge others?

Prayer

-    Pray to the Lord that he protects you and your church body from destruction; whether it be from within or outside. Ask God to give you the strength and wisdom to follow through on His commands.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 41

No, it is not a mistake! Remember, I include all days of Lent, not just the 40 weekdays of Lent but also the Sunday Sabbath days.

Day 41

Scripture

Mark 12:28-34

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-     28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”    29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[b] 31 the second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”  32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”  34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

Wisdom

-    I love Mark’s version of the Great Commandment passage. Same setup and all but Jesus’ response to the teacher was pretty interesting. He says that he isn’t far from the kingdom of God. He didn’t say, you are close to getting it right, or you have found the answer, he actually put the man in closeness to God’s Kingdom. Think about that for a minute!
-    If we understand that Loving God with all our heart and strength and loving neighbors as ourselves is more important than offerings or sacrifices we will be close to the Kingdom of God. So many people have asked, and here is the answer. What do Christians do? Well here is what we are supposed to do. Jesus just gave us the “Big Picture.”

Apply

-    Imagine you were the person talking to Jesus. You ask Him this question with a thought in your mind that you need a big question answered. What is the big question in your mind? Right now what is the largest issue in your head? Does Jesus’ answer help you?
-    Don’t take this passage as a cut-down or a scolding. Take it as the wisest thing you have ever heard and apply it.


Prayer

-    Ask the Lord to help you love Him with “with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Take this to the next step. Find someone in your heart that is difficult to love. Ask the Lord to do the same with that person for you. That you may love others like you love yourself. Now praise Him for these gifts and abilities and for His Grace.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 40

Hiyo! Exhausted from Confirmation Retreat! But devotional is here!

I learned a valuable lesson. Try not to be the last adult up on an overnight retreat. I am a bit rusty. Most of the overnight retreats our ministry has done has been sleep-away camps. We haven't done a lock-in on campus for a while. The students just didn't want to sleep. Thank goodness I was overwhelmed with spiritual happiness, because my earthly patience was in short supply. Guess it is good practice for an infant!

Must. Stop. Giving. Teenagers. Sugar. Before. Bed!

Day 37

Scripture

Mark 10:17-22

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-     17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
-       18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.”
-     20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
-     21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
-     22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Wisdom

-    Jesus did not take it easy on the rich guy. Here he comes saying “what can I do to get to heaven?” and Jesus tells him to sell all of his possessions and follow him. Harsh? I don’t think so. Look at what Jesus is really asking? Jesus isn’t saying that giving up everything will get you to Heaven. What He is saying is that nothing should be holding you back from getting closer to the Father.
-    The rich man, though morally good was attached to his worldly possessions as I am sure many of us are. Can we live without our cars, computers, and cell phones? Can we live without nice things? Sure we could, but would you want to? It could even be something deeper; a relationship, a job, a commitment, an activity, anything that you haven’t given up to God.
-    Christ asks us to sacrifice everything for Him. Keep in mind, He may not ask you to ever do that, He just wants to know if you are willing and able for Him.

Apply

-    What strings are attached to your heart holding you back from getting closer to God?
-    Take an inventory of your heart and look at things you cannot live without? Is it a person, a thing, an activity?

Prayer

-    Pray that the Lord frees you from the strings that bind you to worldly possessions. Pray; if your heart is ready, that you could be like the disciples who dropped everything to follow Jesus. Thank God for the Grace he gives to you. Ask Him to make a connection with him that is unbreakable.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 39

There will not be a devotional today. Well not much of one.

I am at the Confirmation retreat. Sleeping over in our church fellowship hall with 16 teenagers who refuse to sleep. All the adults are asleep. :-/

Here is a thought for today however.

-----
John 13:1-17

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them
-------

When you think about Jesus being so humble as to wash his disciples feet what comes to mind? He even washed the feet of Judas! Wow! Knowing that His friend was going to betray Him, he still felt Judas was worthy of forgiveness before the act.
Can we have forgiveness and humility like that?
On the servant aspect; where do you fall as a servant? Is it something that comes naturally to you?
Also, if Jesus was washing your feet and sending you out, what do you think he would call you to do? Is there a place in this world He wants you to serve or bring His love and direction to?

Pray for guidance and direction. Ask the Spirit to show you what God is calling you to do with your life and mission. Whom do we need to serve? Whose feet do we need to wash?

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 38

Some of you are probably thinking that Easter is a bit over a week away and we are almost out of 40 days. The reality is that the 40 days of Lent don't include Sundays. I actually post a devotional for every day between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Which is more than 40 days. This is way for those of you, like myself, who try to focus on the whole time as reflection on your faith, you can do so.
I would like for anyone who reads this blog entry to be praying for my wife and I. The whole baby perpetration is starting to become a little over whelming. I'm not sure which emotions my wife is feeling or how she is dealing completely. There is so much to do. Between youth preparation, home preparation, budgeting, and mental toughening, we are a bit stressed. It is a lot more than we would thought it would be. I'm sure many of you who are parents already know all of these feelings.
Welcome to the hood, parenthood.

Day 38

Scripture

Colossians 4:2-6

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-    2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Wisdom

-    In this passage by Paul we read of 4 distinct values that he puts upon the church and its people. 1. He is asking us to devote our time in prayer and communication with God. 2. He asks us to pray for others to be able to stay strong disciples and spread the word of Christ. 3. Watch yourself as you act with folks who aren’t church-goers. Take advantage of meeting people who aren’t Christians as ways to spread the words of Christ through your actions and words. 4. Watch what you say, being mindful of what is coming out of your mouth and who is listening. This way no one can question you.
-    Take some time and read through this passage a few times. Think about what you do well out of these 4 values and where you need work. Pray about that.


Apply

-    Has this season of Lent helped you become stronger in prayer and commitment?
-    Do you see yourself continuing devoting time to the Lord daily even after Lent is over?

Prayer

-    Pray that the Lord helps you grow in your faith. Ask the Lord to give you the strength of the Spirit to watch your words, actions, and overall witness to others. Now stop and pray for other Christian friends. Ask that the Lord give them the strength and courage to spread the words of Christ and stay devoted to Him.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 37

So I was thinking about what to write tonight for some insight. I really have to write about the small group that our group experienced tonight. We did a lesson on the power of words. Some of the students came up to me over the last few weeks and told me they had been hurt or had hurt others by their words. In fact, it was so bad, students were gossiping to me about other students! When you are done reading this part, think about how the devotional for today, plays a part in your life through your words.
We talked about the impact of our words. We all have people that frustrate us or irritate us. But when we express those negative feelings in hurtful ways, in essence we express those feelings towards the creator of that person. So how can we praise God with the same mouth we curse His creation with. So when you decide to curse someone for hurting you, you curse God. When you give the finger to the guy who cut you off in traffic, you give the finger to God. When you gossip about the flaws in someone behind their back, you are telling God he is flawed. When you feel hatred for one of God's children; your family, friend, enemy, or stranger on the street, pretty much every human ever, you express hatred towards God. You get the point, at least I hope you do.
In order for our students to understand the point, we broke bread together (well, its youth group, so we had cupcakes... Oh My GOODNESS! Communion Cupcakes! We would be the most attended church EVER!). But in order for a student to take a cupcake (or in Lizzie's case, apples and caramel since she gave up dessert for Lent) they had to make a positive comment to 7 people in the room. By the end of the sharing time, which went overboard, we were about 15 minutes late leaving small group (Sorry Parents, I love you and your patience!) each person had received at least 2 compliments that made them smile, brightened their day, or in some cases, brought them to tears. There were amazing positive emotions. There were hugs in the end, hearts were mended, smiles for everyone, and everyone was happy with one another.
I have been doing small group since I was 18, this has been one of my favorites. I was honored to be a part of such an amazing moment of Love that was shared. This was a God thing. I was just happy to be along for the ride. Thanks Jesus!

Day 37

Scripture

1 Corinthians 13:1-8
-     1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.  4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Wisdom

-    We are visiting the passage of love once again to examine what Paul wrote about this important topic. He talks about how love is more important than being generous, than understanding everything, even from a strong faith. He then goes on to describe how important love is.
-    But it is hard for us to love like this. Think about when you didn’t keep track of the times people hurt you? Think about when you always trusted or hoped in God. Were you always patient and kind? Have you dishonored your parents of family? These things are really tough! Pure Christian love is putting the interest of others before our own. Helping someone else, even someone we may not like, is love.
-    It is easy for us to not like or love people that don’t like us. We don’t want to love someone that doesn’t love us. But the scriptures challenge us to love even when we are not. It is easy to point out when someone is being mean or evil, but it is difficult to see it in ourselves.
-    We are called to love God and others. Experiencing God’s love and then sharing it with others should be two of the greatest joys you will ever feel.

Apply

-    Who can you share God’s love with today? Is there someone that really needs a healing touch or forgiving hand?
-    Is there someone in your life that you need to express love to so that you can repair your relationship with them?

Prayer

-    Praise God for the love He has and the love he shares with us. Pray for His love to pour into your heart so that you can pour into others. Ask the Lord to show you the people in our life that you need to pour more love into. Ask Him to help you be more loving. Pray that His love be shared with everyone.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 36

I recently had a conversation with someone about social media. As many of you know, I am a fan. A huge fan! This person was talking to me about the dangers of the web and how they don't want their kids on any social media at all because of the dangers of pictures and that teens don't know how to healthily express themselves and all the other dangers associated with the internet.
It is an argument that I have heard from a lot of people. Being that I am young (32 is still young right? Isn't it!?) I tend to err on the side of positive benefits from social media. I look at teens a bit differently I guess. Since I work with them daily and use many of them in leadership and teaching roles I have a lot of confidence in them. I also know that as teens, we all stumbled in our pride, arrogance, and stupidity. Heck, we still do that as adults! I don't think not letting students on social media will protect them from themselves, as much as I don't think home schooling is better than public schooling. It is all a user experience. You get what you make of it. If you want to live a double life online, you will. If you want to wear a "mask" in public and pretend to be different for the sake of protecting the real you, you will. I also believe people can just be natural. They can learn to be themselves in all facets of life.
Here is a reality check if you haven't realized it yet. The internet is here to stay. Social media has become a new fabric of our current generations like the telephone was for older ones. It is a new way to communicate. Learn to use it for the positives. Excel at it, and you can do the world a whole lot of good! Sure you can make yourself look dumb. But I've learned in life that you don't need anything to look dumb, you can do that with absolutely nothing at all.
On a daddy note, I know these are thoughts I will have to wrestle with as my daughter gets older. I remember pretty well when I was a teen, probably because my students help me do that. I hope I can use that experience to remember how my daughter is feeling at those ages. I will do my best to raise her in a protected environment. But I know that most of that protection comes from God. I will be constantly be praying for her.

Day 36

Scripture

James 4:7-10

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-    13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
-     17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Wisdom

-    There are so many passages on prayer and how to pray and what to pray about, but this passage in James strikes me hard. It isn’t just a how to guide. It is telling you about what prayer does. It tells you that if you believe in your prayers the Lord will respond. To go along with what we ended our study with yesterday, I want to talk about believing in your prayers.
-    This is a controversial passage. Many denominations use it for different purposes to support different ideas behind prayer but in the end it is a passage about Faith. Do you believe that God listens to your prayers and do you believe He answers them? I love the example James gives of Elijah the prophet. Elijah prayed for rain to stop, and it did. Then he prayed for it to rain, and it did. The faith of Elijah was so strong in his faith that he was able to control rain! Stop and think about that for a moment? Controlled the weather! That is amazing! I never doubt anyone that says they believe prayer to the Lord can accomplish amazing things. Because it can, if you have Faith that it can.

Apply

-    Do you believe that the Lord will listen to your prayers like that?
-    Where in your life are you sick and hurting? Where do you need forgiveness? Where do you need to rejoice in your life?

Prayer

-    Pray about all the things you just answered in the questions. Pray that the Lord strengthens your Faith daily. Take time to appreciate His listening ear for you. Ask Him to help you focus on your life to strengthen your belief in His work in your life.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 35

In a hurry! Do not have much to write today because I do not have the time to! Kelli and I have a doctor's appointment. More testing. Oh boy, Fun Fun! Be praying for us. Obviously this has not been an easy go for us with the pregnancy. On the bright side, I keep feeling the little girl kick and squirm in her mommy's belly. Makes me smile every time. :-)

Day 35

Scripture

James 4:7-10

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-    7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Wisdom

-    This is a great passage in James. A passage of contrasts. It asks us to submit our lives to the Lord and it asks us to resist the devil. To laugh and mourn and then be happy and sad. Why would the scriptures ask us to do that?
-    I think the scripture is actually asking us to take the devil seriously. Sometimes we joke about him. The media glamorizes him; music sings about him, writers try to define him, TV and movies joke about him.  But the scripture warns us to take him very seriously. Sometimes we don’t give Satan enough credit and other times we blame him for all work in the world. I think both are wrong. We need to recognize that the devil actually does work in our world. To fight him shout a loud “No” to him and whisper “Yes” to the Lord. Remember the power the Lord has given you. Live confidently that in Christ we always win, we don’t have to afraid.
-    We probably don’t talk about evil enough. We always talk about God being good and us trying to make our lives better and connect with Him. The reality is, evil is real, the battle is real. We are not Christ’s soldiers because there isn’t a battle. There absolutely is. The devil wants us, but Christ has us. Turn to the Holy Spirit in your struggles.
- This is a great skit by the Skit Guys explaining Baggage in our lives and how God frees us from it if we turn to Him. Baggage by The Skit Guys

Apply

-    Are you tempted to sin? Verbally fight temptation; say “no” to Satan and let the Holy Spirit help you.
-    In what ways has Satan worked destructively in your life or those around you?
-    Recognize in your life how sneaky the devil can be. Be aware of evil around you. Turn to the Holy Spirit in the challenges.

Prayer

-    Pray out loud to have The Spirit help you fight off Satan. Pray the Lord puts a shield around you to help you get through your daily life. Pray that He help you understand the scriptures so that you can learn more about what God has in store with you.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 34

I've been struggling with a concept lately. Many of you may be familiar with the concept of Confirmation in the church. Ours is a little bit different than the Catholic practice but some of the elements are the same. It is a spiritual journey that a student goes through involving classes, activities, worship services, and small groups. At the end the student gets a chance to become baptized and accept Jesus as their savior. They also became members of the church. It is a great process and most christian denominations have something similar. I really enjoy that the students become full members of the body of Christ because they actually understand what that means.
My struggle is that I look at the verse in 1 Corinthians 12 and see how we are all a body of Christ and then look at how we carry the weight for each other. If I were to take these scriptures and digest them that means that those who work hard in God's kingdom help do the work for those who don't carry their weight. The 80/20 rule, 20% of the people do 80% of the work. As a ministry worker, this can be frustrating to watch. I would love to accept this figure and say it is just normal. But Christ didn't call us to be normal! He calls us to step up and go beyond. So my questions is, if so many people are reading the same Bible I am, then how come so many people aren't moved to serve in the world around them? It's actually quite perplexing. This is something I have been praying about for quite some time. I know there are simple answers to this, but I don't accept those. There has to be a deeper reason.
As you read the devotional for today, think about that. Think about how you take in the scripture. If your faith is a critical part of your life, how are you responding to the scriptures and its guidance?

Day 34
Scripture

2 Timothy 3: 12-17

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-    12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Wisdom

-    Paul is assuring Timothy that he will be protected from the evils of this world if he keeps the word close to his heart. Earlier in this chapter Paul tells Timothy that people will be proud, lovers of themselves, abusive, disobedient to their parents, lovers of money, lovers of pleasure, unholy, and without love. I broke the list down a bit because Paul uses a lot more adjectives. But Paul tells Timothy that everyone who wants to live a Godly life will be persecuted, and to protect yourself from that you must use the scriptures.
-    I love verse 16. It is so important to our faith. Read it again. It reminds us that we must use the Bible for all that we do; to teach, to hold each other accountable, to fix our ways, and to grow closer to God.
-    Do you know what God Breathed means? It’s not just a way to say that the words on the pages are from God, but also a way to say that God speaks to you through the word! Imagine living in a world where we can have a one-on-one interaction with God. How awesome would it be to have the creator of the universe as your confidant and best friend? Well the scriptures are the closest thing we have to that.
-    Though the concept is controversial to some people, I believe the scriptures are completely true and given to us by God. It is just that we, with our imperfect minds, misinterpret much of the love and guidance on the pages. Studying scripture doesn’t mean just reading it and quickly applying it, you have to study it, look up context, see who God is talking to, and then see how it applies to us today. These can be tough concepts, but hey, this is our Faith, it is the most important aspect of our lives! We have to work hard at it!

Apply

-    Do you believe that all scripture is God Breathed? Meaning it is all accurate and true?
-    Can you imagine God speaking to you through the scriptures? Giving you firm but loving advice?

Prayer

-    Pray to God as if He was your best friend sitting right next to you. Have a conversation with Him. Thank Him for giving you the opportunity to daily talk to Him. Ask Him to guide you in your reading of the Word. Pray the He protects you from everything in this world that can hurt you.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 33

I'm not going to say much today. The devotional is a fairly deep one. Plus, I am exhausted from another day of baby registry stuff! I know all about bottles, diapers, strollers and car seats! Anyone need any help? I'm a minor expert now! Why are baby clothes more expensive than my clothes? How am I supposed to save money for the kids college fund if I spend it all in clothes? Geez!

Anyhow, the devotional today is very challenging and introspective. I hope it hits home for many of us. The point is to look inward and reflect on our salvation before we practice our faith. Sometimes the sword of truth can be unnecessarily painful.

Day 33

Scripture

Ezekiel 36: 25-27

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-    1 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Wisdom

-    As I read this passage in Ezekiel I can’t help but think of a caterpillar that comes out of a cocoon and has new life. It feels like that first time when we first accept Jesus’ Salvation into our lives gives us that same feeling. We are “born again” with a new life. A life that is forgiven, follows Christ, and upholds and respects His word. Our whole life God prepares us to be more like Jesus. This process, known as sanctification, is a journey that lasts until we get to Heaven.
-    What is important to note that in order to follow the scripture from yesterday is that we have to always keep our Salvation in mind. We have to remember that we must remain in Christ in order to serve Him and His people. I would recommend that if you see trouble in the faith, not just our church, you check your heart first. Just jumping the gun and forgetting that we are all cleansed by His blood is not only bad for you, but it is bad for the body of Christ.
-    I would make it a 3 point to remember process. 1. Be in your scripture and know the truth. 2. Check your call. Be praying constantly. Make sure what you have set out to do is the work of the Lord. 3. Seek spiritual guidance from elders such as Pastors and spiritual leaders. Check in regularly to make sure you haven’t strayed from the course.
-    If you remember these 3 things and remember that we are all saved, you will have better direction in all that you do in Christ. You won’t go mindlessly challenging people but you will pray and check yourself before stepping forward. Remember, it is not your responsibility to just call people out. It is our responsibility to hold our brothers and sisters accountable. You can only do that through relationships.
-    Our lives with Him are a lifelong process. Though the Lord sees you and me as followers we still have the ability to Sin. Thankfully the Spirit is here to guide and direct us to be more like Jesus.

Apply

-    Do you still remember the time when you gave your life to Christ?
-    Believing in His grace takes personal action; are you working for Him, studying his word, and talking to Him regularly?
-    Have you spent time building better relationships with the people in your church?

Prayer

-    Stop and think of the time when you first came to know Christ. Even if you have known your whole life there has to be a time where you accepted His Salvation into your life. Thank the Lord for what He has done for you. Ask Him to be with you daily in your walk. Pray that the Spirit stay with you, always reminding you of your new life in Christ.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 32

I am helpless in helping my wife through this difficult time :-( She has had an upset tummy and been sick quite a bit for the last few days. She has had this off and on throughout the pregnancy. Everyone says that it may get better. It is now into month 5 and yet things haven't really gotten too much better. I feel helpless in the situation. As a guy, I want to fix it, as the cliche goes. But those who know me know that for me it is not about fixing, it is about comfort. I know the sacrifice and commitment my wife made when we decided to have kids. I just want the struggle to go away for such a loving act. All I can do is hug her and provide for her. Hopefully the "ick" will pass. Pray that it does.

I cannot stand it when there is bickering amongst people over nothing. Usually the problems can be solved with good communication and loving actions.
Lately, I have noticed some people having issues. I have listened to different people share their side of the story. It is actually kind of interesting. Neither side is "right", which is usually the case. However each person thinks they know whats going on and who is the main problem. Here is the kicker, no one has really talked to each other. They just keep causing more problems, makings cliques, and hurting feelings. It will explode soon if it isn't fixed.
The sad part is, they are all friends. Hence the devotional.

Day 30

Scripture

Galatians 6:1-5

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-    Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load.

Wisdom

-    Have you ever witnessed when people are mean to each other in the church? Or other Christians acting inappropriately? People taking sides and destroying relationships, people not appreciating help, looking out for only themselves, exploiting other people. Don’t these things happening in the House of God make a horrible witness to the outside world?
-    People leave the church or youth group constantly. I would argue that most of the times it is because of lack of good communication amongst the people. Someone’s feelings were hurt, someone didn’t like a teaching, and someone was doing something they shouldn’t. All these things and so much more were happening, but no one ever discussed these things in love. That is the key, in love! Paul says to the church to do it gently.
-    I’m sure everyone can think of a time in their own life where a relationship was destroyed because no one did anything to fix it. They just let the arguments happen, things got bad, and people went their separate ways. This is not God’s design.
-    Like the unity of God in the Trinity, we are supposed to be many people as one unit; functioning for His glory. It is time to be ready to call these things out before they become destructive. If you see your brothers and sisters in Christ causing problems, be ready to hold them accountable; using scripture and spiritual elders as your guide and help.

Apply

-    Have you ever watched as something bad happened around you? What did you do?
-    Are their problems amongst your friends or family that need to be settled and resolved?
-    Are you comfortable enough in your faith to challenge others using people you trust?

Prayer

-    Pray to the Lord that he protects you and the people in your world from destruction; whether it be from within or outside. Ask God to give you the strength and wisdom to follow through on His commands. Ask the Lord to give you guidance on how to resolve issues in your relationships.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 31

No, we do not have a baby name yet. At this point in the pregnancy, everyone I know is asking if we have a name picked out yet. Then someone comes to me today and tells me a story of how one of their friends (isn't always a "friend?") found out it was a baby, registered for pink things, painted a pink room, bought pink dresses, had a girls name picked out, only to have a boy!
Now I hope God is going to play such a cruel joke on me. Don't get me wrong, I probably deserve it. I don't think playing a prank on us is above God, He needs to laugh too. He invented the art so why can't He also prank us? Yet, I still hope something like that doesn't happen. I would be a little mad.
I will tell you this though. I am tired of making decisions on all these life choices! I know I have to push on and keep going, but it is so hard! It is mentally draining! I was absolutely exhausted today; both mentally and physically. On top of that there is drama in different parts of my life that I wish would just go away. People tend to make problems when there aren't any. Why do we love to wallow in our sin? I am definitely giving this one to God. I don't need drama in my life. I am having a baby girl, I will have enough of that in due time!

Day 31
Scripture

Matthew 11:28-30

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-    “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Wisdom

-    I love how Jesus is speaking to us personally in this passage. It almost feels like he was talking to us individually. Read the passage, thinking about the words that speak to you personally. Which ones are they; “Come to me,” “I will give you rest,” “learn from me,” “I am gentle, “my yoke is easy and burden is light.”
-    So many can apply to where we may be in different parts of our lives. Jesus is just asking us to hang out with Him. Spend some time being with Him.
-    I want you to walk with Jesus. Literally. Stand up, and walk with Jesus in your mind. Repeating these words, “I will give you rest, I am gentle.” Do this for a few minutes.
-    Don’t you feel relieved?

Apply

-    What would it feel like to walk and work with Jesus?
-    Do you fear that working for Jesus may make heavier burdens on you?
-    Do you walk with Jesus in your daily life?
-    How can you give all your cares and burdens to Jesus?
-    Try this; take a moment and talk to Jesus as if He was sitting across from you having a cup of coffee with you. Talk to Him about life, love, stress, joys, praises, stress, complain, and thank Him.

Prayer

-    Ask the Lord to help you walk with him daily. Talk to Him one on one, like if He was sitting right in front of you. What do you need to unload on Him? What can you tell your best friend today about your life? Nothing is too big or too small for him to listen to.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 30

I am exhausted! Have I said that before? I feel like I have. I have had a busy week driving to and from the Youth Pastor Summit. I will write thoughts about that later. I had a lot of catching up to do in the office. I still do. Hence why the devotional for today didn't get up. So here is a one for you!

Day 30
Scripture

John 5:1-9

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-    1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4]  5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”  7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”  8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,

Wisdom

-    Sometimes, even when we aren’t sick, we feel like we aren’t complete. That we are not all there. Perhaps there is a part of your life where you don’t feel complete. Reading this passage, think about that. Read the passage again thinking about some aspects of your life that need fulfillment. Why would the Holy Spirit bring these things to your attention? Jesus is asking, “Do you not want to be made well of your problem?”
-    Jesus healed the man immediately even though he complained and said that no one was willing to help him. Don’t you think Jesus will help you if you have the faith that He can? Really think about where your life is and what part of it needs to be complete. Perhaps you need to let go of something in your life to allow healing to happen. Perhaps it’s the idea that you are victim, or that no one is helping you, or that you don’t have the ability. The reality is God works above and beyond all of those limitations.

Apply

-    Are there times in your life where you are just getting in your own way; complaining, suffering, holding yourself back? How can you motivate yourself to a place of Faith?
-    Do you have the faith to give your illnesses; physical, mental, emotional or social, to Jesus so that He can heal them?

Prayer

-    Praise Jesus for helping us daily. Ask Him to heal your problems and illnesses; physical, mental, and emotional. Ask Jesus to reveal to you what is holding you back to have the faith to have Him heal everything in your life. Ask the Lord for patience to let Him heal you in his time. 

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 29

There may or may not be a blog entry today. This is being written in the past (isn't the internet trippy, I am writing to the future!!). I am returning from the Youth Pastor Summit in Orlando and will more than likely be needing some rest. Yes I rest. So sue me....Ok, don't sue me, I'm having a baby, I need money for her.

But I still gave you a devotional, aren't I great!

It is a fantastic devotional. It is about the Holy Spirit. If you would like to talk more about it, please do not hesitate to contact me in any way possible. The Spirit is the most neglected concept in our Faith. I say this because we should be far more aware of it then we really are.

Day 29

Scripture

John 14: 15-17

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the Spirit to guide you in the reading:
-     “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you.

Wisdom

-    The Holy Spirit is the most neglected person in the trinity. But He might be the most important person for us today. Jesus said that He is leaving us with a friend to guide us now that He is going to Heaven to be with the Father. That friend is the Spirit. The Spirit will help us in everything that we do. He will help us understand scripture, He will help us lead people to Christ, He will help us in our daily walks, He will protect us from the devil, and He will Help us stay committed to Christ,
-    As you walk, drive, study, work, and interact with people, stay especially mindful of your Friend, the Spirit. Call on Him for guidance in everything; the words you speak and the decisions you make.
-    I cannot function without the recognition of the Holy Spirit in my life. That doesn't make me weak to admit that. It makes me powerful. I know that I need the Holy Spirit to do the work of God, but more importantly, I need the Holy Spirit to perform the Love of God. I love the gifts He gives me. I hate the challenges he puts in front of me at times. I know that all He does for me makes me a better man, and a man of God.

Apply

-    Is it hard for you to imagine the Holy Spirit as a friend? Why or why not?
-    What does it mean to you to have the Holy Spirit guide you? Is it comforting? Frustrating? Annoying? Amazing?
-    How can you grow in awareness that God has sent His Spirit to be with you?

Prayer

-    Ask the Holy Spirit, your Friend, to make Himself obvious in your life. Ask Him to be with you daily in your walk. Pray to the Lord and ask Him to help you remember and understand the ways of the Spirit and the words he told the Disciples in the scriptures. Pray that you rely on the Spirit more.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 28

I have been challenged by myself a lot in life. I tend to hold myself to a really high standard, spiritually speaking. However I see myself fail, and gloriously fail. For some reason I cannot live up to my own standards. I was beginning to start feeling guilty and let down by it.
I stopped, pondered, and realized. I do this because I can never repay Jesus for what He has done for me. I can't feed every homeless person, I can't help every teen through a breakup or a family/social disaster, I can't tell every single person about Jesus (I felt guilty writing that last one). I have limitations. I realize this though. The limitations are there for a reason. It is because God does want me to have a life outside of ministry. I do have to build quality relationships with my friends and family, I do need to spend quality time by myself, I do need to spend quality time with God Himself. If I am constantly a minister for God, I cannot spend time enjoying God sometime. I literally busy and burden myself with doing good. Sometimes it is okay to stop and just pray and reflect, smell the roses, or take a vacation.
It doesn't stop me from seeing the people around me. I realized that when I take time for myself, my family and friends, and for God, I saw people around me as people of God. I was able to have fresh eyes, and see where my talents and skills were really meant to be used. It's actually pretty awesome! You should definitely try it!

Day 28

Scripture

Matthew 25:31-40

-    Before Reading the scripture today; Pray and ask the spirit to guide you in the reading:
-    31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
-       34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
-       37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
-       40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Wisdom

-    If there ever was a reason to help others, this is it. It clearly states that Jesus, in His return, will separate the sheep (His followers) from the goats (non-believers) according to their willingness to serve His people. I have always believed that believing in salvation can’t just be ignored. It is hard to think about what Jesus has done for us and not want to return the favor. And what better way to do that then to help and serve everyone; the very people Jesus came to save.
-    Being a Christian means to follow Jesus. Doing that means to do what He did. As you go and serve the people who have been overlooked and ignored, be mindful of the presence of Jesus.

Apply

-    Who are the overlooked and ignored in your life?
-    In what ways is God asking you to give someone food, drink, a place to sleep, shelter, perhaps a visit to someone sick or hurting?
-    Are you willing to serve?

Prayer

-    Stop and meditate on this scripture. Ask Jesus to make clear to you the people you need to serve or help. Ask Jesus to help you understand where you fit into His kingdom and how He sees you working for him. Pray on this for some time.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 27

I have been pondering a lot about relationships lately. I have been thinking about my friends and my own relationships with them. I am not very good at keeping contact with them. I really need to be better at it. If you are a friend, and you are reading this, I am sorry we don't talk or hang out more. I have a myriad of excuses, many of them really good. Still doesn't change the fact that our relationship could use more work.
A few days ago we watched God's Not Dead. There was an interesting dynamic in the story between a couple in the movie. They used each other in their relationship. Not in the typical way you would think. It wasn't about love or sex. It was about power, prestige, and companionship. What was interesting, the moment a crisis came into the relationship, it immediately fell apart. I mean instantly. It was actually a bit painful to watch.
I imagine that if we walk into any of our relationships in this way, specifically for some sort of personal gain, the relationship will eventually fizzle. I really pray that I can med the relationships with those around me. I truly believe it is the community that we build around ourselves that improves the world around us. I am a firm believer in the village mentality. People are not meant to be alone. We are God's Kingdom, a community of people. If we want the world to be a better place, we need to start making our relationships better. If each person brought joy to the individual hearts around them, the world would be a place of joy and beauty.

Day 27

Scripture

Romans 5: 1-5
-     1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Wisdom

-    The world that we live in is tough. Dealing with loss, crimes, problems, stress, even relationships can be hard. Let alone all the evil things that we witness. The problem with the wars oversees, religious intolerance, political craziness, even natural disasters all weigh you down if you let them. Even the thought that technology, something we depend on, runs circles around us; the thing that is current one moment is out dated the next. The world around is very dynamic and changing. It can be hard to deal with.
-    But as problems pile up around us we can become discouraged and let down. That is because we spend most of our time depending on man to solve our problems. We assume that our government will fix the economic crisis and the world around us. We think the President will solve unemployment. We think Teachers will do a better job educating students. We think parents will do a great job raising kids on their own.
-    What we forget is that this world is not meant to run without God in it. Man tends to look out for himself. We are sinful creatures that want what we want. Neither our intelligence nor talent will ever solve any of our problems without God’s involvement. The beauty of being a Christian is that we can rely on the creator of the universe to take care of us. The Holy Spirit will guide us, the Son saves us and keeps His promises, and the Father loves us and knows us by name.

Apply

-    Stop putting your faith in people and put your faith in God.
-    Do you let the problems of the world weigh you down? Let them go to God.
-    See that when the world around you is tough, turn to the Lord.
-    Is there an issue in your life you need God to handle that you or anyone you know can’t?

Prayer

-    Pray for our world around us. Ask the Lord to take care of it and protect us from all the evil things in it. Pray for your family and friends; that they may find peace comfort in the Lord, even if they don’t believe in Jesus. Ask the Lord to take your burdens away and focus on praising our Father.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 26

So I went to a friends party for their baby's first birthday today. I haven't been to very many baby birthday parties. It was interesting though. Mind you it was fun and entertaining enough, mostly because of the kids, and catching up with friends. I feel these kind of things will be a lot of my life in the future. A lot of the people were having conversations about babies and children. It is kind of hard to avoid, there are a lot of babies and children. Of course it even goes to the couple who doesn't have or is having a baby, "Are you having a baby?" That has to be a hard question. I got that question from everyone while Kelli and I were married and not expecting a baby. It was sort of the thing to do. It makes me wonder; is it okay for couples not to have kids? Is it still odd for folks to choose not to? Kelli and I debated on whether we wanted to adopt for a while. There are millions of children in countries all over the world who don't have a family, and we could be that family for them. On a side note, we still might do that, we are praying for guidance on that. We are happy as can be with the baby on the way. I suppose though, for some couples, that must be a hard question, whether to have a child or not. We figured, when God wanted it, it would happen. And we already thank Him for it!

I wrote this particular devotional last year and I kept it almost the same, word for word. I loved it. It is super challenging. I still find it really difficult to live up to, and it is straight out of the scripture.

Day 26

Scripture

1 Timothy 4:10-16
-     10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.  11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.  15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Wisdom

-    Paul talks to Timothy as a Father in these verses. Giving him wise instruction to be a model for Christ.
-    No matter how old we are we can learn from these words. What can you take away from this scripture?
-    Jesus never said that you will bring people to Him by force or persecution. He knew you would bring people to Him with love and kindness. You would bring people to Christ with a positive model of Him. If you call yourself a Christian do you model these traits? Use the 5 qualities mentioned here and see where you can improve; speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. How can you be a better teacher of all these things?

Apply

-    On a scale of 1-10 rate yourself. 1 being spiritual flabbiness and 10 being spiritually fit. Where do you fall? Why did you rate yourself that way?
-    Write down the 5 words; speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Now keep these with you to remind yourself to ask God daily to protect you and guide you in these areas.

Prayer

-    Pray to the Father for the 5 words in your life. Pray to Him daily for guidance and direction so that you can be a better model to your family and friends. Write on the same piece of paper your main areas of life (school, family, work, sports, clubs, groups) and ask the Lord to watch over you as a model for Him in all these places.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 25

Even the most tech savvy dude can have an off day! :-) I thought I hit publish on my blog but all I hit was save. So I spent the entire Saturday thinking I had a blog up, when I didn't. Well here it is!

I just watched God's not Dead. It is a seriously Christian movie. It is actually really good! I won't spoil it for anyone who has not seen it yet. I will post some of my thought on it though.
It is a fantastic movie. If you have been a church goer for any length of time you will recognize a lot of Christian mannerisms and cliches. It is seriously directed towards an audience that knows what the movie is about. I walked out of the movie, as a movie goer, wanting just a little bit more; more story finalization, more character development, less plot lines. However, as a Jesus Freak, I couldn't have been more proud. If you know me from my youth days you know that I wear my Jesus Freak flag with pride. I loved the DC Talk song and it became my anthem. I loved and still love Jesus. I have no shame in claiming His name. This movie definitely brought out the devoted follower in me. It made me feel pride for my faith. It didn't need any more character development because in life, everybody's characters aren't defined in an instance. It didn't need finished story lines or plot lines because the final product summarizes the whole thing. Jesus saves us all, He wins the war on death and Sin. Amen. Hallelujah. End of story. If you have been a Christian for a day or your whole life, this movie is worth seeing. Then when you have watched it, invite some friends over to watch the dvd. It should spark some defiite conversation.
And on a baby note, I hope my daughter loves Christ as much as the main character in the movie portrays.

Day 25

Scripture

Isaiah 41: 10-14

-     10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  11 “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. 12Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. 13 For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you. 14 Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.


Wisdom

-    When times are easy and things are going smooth we tend to forget that God is watching over us. I won’t lie, I do it too. I mean it is not like I forget that he is there, I just don’t acknowledge Him. But let a dark cloud come or an angry person and the whole world changes. I definitely urn to the Lord them. Don’t we all?
-    Hard times draw us close to our Father more than anything else. When someone dies, when life has an unfortunate setback, when a relationship ends, when a job is lost, when depression sets in we tend to turn to Him. Hopefully these things trigger us wanting to get closer to Him.
-    Paul speaks encouraging word to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
-    Where is your faith right now? Are you relying on God regularly in everything you do? Are you doing what The Lord has asked you to do? Will you be able to say what Paul said at the end of it all?

Apply

-    How close are you to the Father? Do you rely on him in everything that you do? Challenge yourself to do that!
-    Are you in a happy time or a tough place right now? How do you see the Lord in this situation?

Prayer

-    Pray to God for the Peace that only He can bring. Praise Him for the daily blessings and challenges He gives us. Pray for the perseverance and commitment to stay with Him through tough and easy times.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 24

As I wait patiently for my little girl to be born I am also preparing. I wonder if the 9 months God fives us between conception and birth isn't just time for the baby to "cook" (bun in the oven, LOL), but also for the parents to prepare themselves. Not prepare the baby room or have baby showers, I mean prepare emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Some of you already followed that I am attempting to prepare physically (and failing at it), but I notice opportunities to prepare emotionally and spiritually. I recently was thinking about how just recently I was pondering on the lesson of the Prodigal son. There are three roles in that parable; the son, the brother, and the father. I have played the son and the brother. Recently, I have been playing the role of the father. The sad part is, I don't think I am playing the role very well. The Father was loving and accepting and was joyous when His son returned. I fear I was sad like the father, but I quickly went into a stage of bitterness and resentment. I wonder if the Father felt this way at all? I am actually quite saddened by the whole thing. Regardless. I hope I can get to a place of love and acceptance. I know that Christ calls me to do that, but when it is a situation that is near to your heart, it is difficult. I am seeking the Spirit of the Lord. The Spirit of forgiveness, for me, so that I can forgive as well.
This is great practice for my future daughter. It is amazing how ministering to other parents children, is raising me as a parent. I never saw that as a benefit, until now. I pray that I will be loving and accepting at all times, just like how my heavenly father was to me.
It is interesting, as I write this devotion, I can already feel my heart moving towards mending.

Day 24

Scripture

John 13 : 34-35

-     34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Wisdom

-    So what does it mean to love one another? I mean that is a tough thing to do isn’t it? Jesus even tells us to love our enemies not just our family and friends. Because He says even evil people love their family.
-    Love goes beyond just saying you love somebody. We all have said that we “Love” ice cream, chocolate, a certain TV show, or a movie. The English language really waters down the word “love.” But loving a person, truly loving someone means so much more. I wrote in an earlier devotional that true love is laying your life down for another. I would say that love is a verb! It is an action!
-    We love each other by showing each other how Jesus loves us; by serving others, by helping someone out when you probably are sacrificing something of your own, by giving of your time to a person when you don’t have it. All things that Jesus has done for us. If we love Jesus we will do as He asks. We show we love Him by loving others, by carrying on His legacy.
-    So go beyond saying you love someone; show them you love them. Send your mom or dad a card in the mail even if you live with them. Clean the house or do the dishes without being asked. Treat people with respect even when they may not earn it. Talk to a friend when they are hurting or struggling. Call an old friend or forgotten family member just to see how they are doing.
-    Remember, you can say “I Love You” a thousand times, but if you never follow it up with action, the words mean nothing. I tell you this, “Truly loving others, is bringing them to Christ.” You can quote me.

Apply

-    Who can you show love to? How will you do that in the next week?
-    Practice regularly loving others by respecting others.
-    Is there someone in your life that you know that needs love? How can you bring the Love of Christ to them?

Prayer

-    Pray that Jesus fills your heart with His love so that you can show others. Ask Him to show you someone that you know that really needs His love. Let Him give you the courage and guidance to show love to that person. Pray that your friends and family are shown the love of Christ through you.

40 Day Devotionals 2014 Day 23

So I was surprised last night as I was at the office just doing some computer repair on the church presentation computer. One of my students just wanted to come by and give me some banana chocolate chip mini muffins. I'm not sure whether she knew I was having a bad day or if it was just coincidence. I would rather choose to believe that God knew I was going to have a rough day and had this preplanned. It ended my day on a positive note. Needless to say, I immediately popped in 5 mini muffins without blinking. Those things are amazing!!!
For those of you who have been following my writings here, you have realized a tone that I may not have been in the best of moods over the last few weeks. Yes, there is a bundle of joy coming. But the stress of that joy is overwhelming. Just writing that statement made it sound weird. The "stress" of the joy? What is awesome, is that I have seen God give me small victories and joys along the way. I just have to notice them more than I have before. I believe that is how it is with the Holy Spirit. He is gentle and silent, and always working. We have to be willing to respond to His silent call. By responding to the urge to bring me a treat, Erika made my day (and a couple days after, these things are fantastic!). You never know when you will have the chance to brighten someone's day, lift someones spirit, let them experience the Love of God, or open their eyes to happiness. Whether it be a treat for a loved one, a crying shoulder to a family member, a hug for a classmate or forgiveness for an estranged friend.

This was a full bowl, they were massacred in 24 hours. The challenge is not eating them.

Day 23

Scripture

Titus 3: 5-8

-    5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Wisdom

-    Let me ask you a tough question. When you see an opportunity to serve Jesus in some way how do you react? What is your response?
-    I can tell you some popular ones:
o    I can’t or I don’t know how
o    I am too busy or this just doesn’t fit into my schedule
o    I don’t like uncomfortable situations or I don’t like confrontation
o    I’m too young or I’m too old
o    I’m just a regular person; not a pastor or spiritual leader.
-    Wow, how many times have we all aid some of those things!
-    But did you notice a common theme there? It’s all about the “I” in those situations. It’s all about us. Have you ever thought of yourself as an “Idol?” You know how the commandment says, “You shall not worship any false idols.” Well guess what you made yourself?
-    Serving the Lord isn’t same grand work like mission or teaching! It is simple; being a Godly and caring parent that leads the home spiritually, an office worker that isn’t afraid to share the Gospel at work or comfort a co-worker during a difficult situation, the student who is willing to talk about their faith to a friend or respect a teacher even when they think they don’t deserve it, or a friend that listens to another when they are hurting.
-    Don’t shut the door on God’s will for your life before you see what He has in store for you. Laying down our excuses is the smartest thing we can do to serve the Lord. He will continue to bring you opportunity, He hopes you say yes.

Apply

-    Think of a time where you “shut the door” on an opportunity. How would that situation or relationship be different if you had done what God wanted?
-    Do you actively look for places you can serve the Lord?
-    Challenge yourself to be more aware of the opportunities in your life to be “God’s Love” for someone.

Prayer

-    Open your heart to the will of God. Pray that He continues to bring you new opportunities to serve Him. Ask Him to show you places where you can be His light in this world. Ask Him for strength and direction to stay focused on Him. Pray for your family and God’s will in it.