Blessed to be a blessing Day 14 January 19

“Lord, as I thank You for all that You have provided me, as I ask for Your will first in my life, I also ask that You would continue to provide for my basic needs. Beyond that, Lord I ask that You would bless me in the way that You blessed Abraham (that he would be ‘blessed to be a blessing’ to others Genesis 12:2).”

• I will trust You with all my heart. I will not rely on my understanding. In all my ways, I will acknowledge You and You will direct my paths. Proverbs 3:5-7
• I ask, in prayer, believing, and I know I will receive. Matthew 21:22
• As I diligently obey the voice of the Lord, all these blessings shall come upon me and overtake me. I will be blessed in the city, in the country, when I come in, and as I go out. The Lord will command a blessing on my savings and in all to which I set my hand, and He will bless me in the land which He is giving me. Deuteronomy 28:1-8
• God is able to make all grace abound toward me, that always saving all sufficiency in all things, I may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
• I will give and it will be given unto me, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured on me. With the same measure that I give, it will be measured back to me. Luke 6:38
• It is God who gives me the ability to earn a living, savings, and more than enough to give away, that He may establish His covenant with me. Deuteronomy 8:18

“Lord, I thank you for the way in which you have already provided for me. Please help me to be a good steward of all that you have given me. Help me be responsible. Help me make good decisions. Help me choose to be generous with my time, energy, and money in a way that is courageous and reflects my belief that You are my Provider.”

“Lord, please help me to be ‘blessed to be a blessing’ in my: personal life, family, business, church and relationships with others.”

January 19 Bible reading

Each day of the year I’ll post verses to read, with the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us, expressed through Jesus.

Please read the verses below, prayerfully consider them, and then my comments may be helpful after those moments.

January 19  Psalm 11  Matthew 13:36-58  Genesis 38; 39

What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?

Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?

What should you do about that truth?

Psalm 11  On ordinary days and days when things are falling apart our God is alive, aware, able, and active. This is the faith statement sung by David when chaos and violence seem unchecked. “What should I do?” David sings. David believes that God is in control. We can choose to trust God. Turning to God we will see His face. He has an attentive focus on each human.

Matthew 13:36-58  Jesus taught His disciples that the Kingdom of God transcends everything in our natural world. We would be wise to recognize the priority of the Kingdom of God. Jesus called people to receive new spiritual life and repent of their self-oriented ways. Jesus predicted a day when all will be made right and our decision to follow Him will be rewarded. Jesus told us that the Kingdom of Heaven is more valuable than anything on earth. Jesus taught these things repeatedly and plainly. Jesus only did a few miracles in His hometown where they did not believe in Him as Savior.

Genesis 38; 39  Israel’s son Judah had been influential in selling his brother Joseph into slavery. Judah chooses sexual sin over God’s ways. Judah’s sons are wicked. Judah remains caught up in the customs of this world and sinful decisions. God is always aware of what is going on and brings consequences. Joseph’s master Potiphar recognizes the favor of God on him and puts him in charge of his resources. Joseph resists the temptation of sexual sin. Falsely accused, Joseph is put in prison where God continues to show him favor. God brings redemption to messed up human relationships. God can show His faithful love even when we are falsely accused and wrongfully punished.

Conversation Day 13 January 18

“Lord, please search me oh God in general, and search me in particular with regard to the quality of my conversation, my words, my heart, and what comes out of my mouth.”

• I will not use foul or abusive language. I will let everything I say be good and helpful so that my words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29
• I will be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. James 1:19
• Death and life are in the power of my tongue. Proverbs 18:21
• Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. Psalms 141:3
• May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14

‘Lord, please forgive me for the times when I have said the wrong thing and the times when I have not said the right thing. Please forgive me for allowing my heart to be unhealthy. Please forgive me for allowing my heart to be anything other than worshipping You and overflowing with gratitude to You. Please forgive me for the times when my heart has overflowed with words that do not glorify You. Please help me to learn to control my tongue in a way that gives You thanks. Please help me learn how to control my words to speak life (faith statements) and not death (wrong perspective).”

January 18 Bible reading

Each day of the year I’ll post verses to read, with the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us, expressed through Jesus.

Please read the verses below, prayerfully consider them, and then my comments may be helpful after those moments.

January 18  Psalm 10:12-18  Matthew 13:18-35  Genesis 36; 37

What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?

Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?

What should you do about that truth?

Psalm 10:12-18  The Psalm prays for the helpless, troubled, grieving, fatherless, homeless, and oppressed. God knows their hope and will bring justice. Psalm 10 calls God into action against violent criminals who hurt the poor while scoffing at God. The song asks God to help people who have been wronged and can no longer provide for themselves. It’s a prayer for God to make right the wrongs and bring peace to people who have none.

Matthew 13:18-35  Jesus explains the parable of seeds warning us about the importance of understanding spiritual perspective, the need to resist our enemy, and the danger of allowing the worries of this life to choke out our response to God. Through it, Jesus calls His followers to become more focused on God’s truth than anything in this life. Drawing strength from God’s truth for life we will see fruit every season. Jesus brings perspective about the Kingdom of God, and how God can bring supernatural results out of that which looks like not enough. God loves us. God has a plan for us. The kingdom of God transcends the natural world we see.

Genesis 36; 37  Esau’s families are the original people of Edom. They multiplied and branched out into new territory. Israel loved Joseph more than any of his eleven other sons. Joseph is betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. We will yet see the will of God at work above and beyond the brokenness of these human relationships. In Joseph, we see that when God gives us a glimpse of His plan it is incredibly helpful to have hope.

Your Love Gives Day 12 January 17

“Lord please help me better understand the way that You love me and the way in which you want me to love others.”

Agape Love: a God kind of love that gives – to have a love for someone or something, based on sincere appreciation and high regard. To love, to regard with affection, loving concern. Describes attitude of God to His Son and the human race. To convey His will to His children concerning their attitude one to another. To express the essential nature of God.

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT

“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Philippians 2:1-11

“Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my followers.” John 13:34-35

“God showed us how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love – not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” 1 John 4:7-12

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. Let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John 3:16, 18

“Lord, today I receive Your love for me in all its purity, faithfulness, grace, and mercy. Please help me to grow in my understanding of just how deep and wide Your love for me is. Thank you! In response to Your love, I say Thank You, and I make a fresh commitment to show Your love to those whom you have placed in my life. Please help me to see others the way that You do! Help me see exactly what You want me to do, how to listen, what to say, and how to reflect Your love for them.”

January 17 Bible reading

Each day of the year I’ll post verses to read, with the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.

Reading the Bible is helpful in taking next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us, expressed through Jesus.

Please read the verses below, prayerfully consider them, and then my comments may be helpful after those moments.

January 17  Psalm 10:1-11  Matthew 12:46-50; 13:1-17  Genesis 34; 35

What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?

Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?

What should you do about that truth?

Psalm 10:1-11  People may not believe that God is aware of them and the harm they are causing, but He is. There are people who take advantage of the poor and yet believe that there will be no consequences for their actions. They live like God doesn’t exist. They lie, cheat, steal, and murder. Psalm 10 calls God into action.

Matthew 12:46-50; 13:1-17  Anyone who responds to Yahweh in faithful obedience is part of the family of Jesus. Some of Jesus’ teaching came in the form of stories. The parable of the sower helps us understand that God has initiated a relationship through truth and each person has an opportunity to respond. When a person responds to Jesus faithfully the seed that God provided is found fruitful. Sadly not everyone will respond. Some will ignore Jesus. Some will allow the things of this life to distract them. Those who respond to Jesus by hearing what He has said will find joy. Following Jesus will help us see our spiritual family and our priorities in relationships. Some people will have a hard heart and not respond to Jesus. The few people who hear Jesus and respond with staying power will see results that are multiplied.

Genesis 34; 35  Jacob’s sons avenge the rape of their sister. God sees sins committed in unhealthy relationships and calls Jacob back to Bethel, a place of worship. Jacob calls his whole family to rid themselves of idols and worship only God who had revealed Himself as “Almighty”. God speaks purpose to them and promises them land. Jacob and his family respond to God in obedience. Again God renames Jacob as Israel. God reveals Himself as El Shaddai the Almighty God.

Your Kingdom Come Day 11 January 16

“Lord, I ask that your kingdom would come, that your will would be done in me, my relationships, my faith, my vocation, my home, my neighborhood, my city, my state, my nation, and this world. Lord, I submit to you. I will pursue the discovery of and the implementation of your desires and plan. Lord, please establish your righteousness, (healthy right standing relationships with you and others) your peace, and your joy in me and this your world.” Luke 11:1-4

“Lord, please have your way in my:

• Personal life Luke 9:23
• Family 1 Timothy 5:8 Matthew 5:9; 6:14
• Vocation Matthew 6:33 Colossians 3:23
• Church Ephesians 3:10-11
• Relationships 1 Timothy 2:4 2 Peter 3:9
• Baltimore City Jeremiah 29:7

“Lord, please help me to see the future, that you prefer, in each of these areas. Please do miracles. Please let our enemy, his agents, their works, and effects be bound in the name of Jesus. Please let the efforts of any who are not working in alignment with Your will be confounded. Please bring me and all of your followers into alignment with your will. Have Your way oh Mighty God!”