April 30

Ruth 1:16 ..."But Ruth said, 'Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God …'”

Ruth was an outsider, a foreigner.  She was not part of the “chosen race”.  Yet she saw something in her adopted family.  That something made her follow her mother-in-law to a strange place and a different God.  What are you doing that would make others want to follow you to your God?

April 29

Judges 21:25 ..."In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes..."

Before there was a king in Israel, everyone did what they thought was right.  There was no one to hold anyone accountable.  Are we any different today?  Is everyone still doing what is right in their own eyes, rather than what’s right in God’s eyes?  

April 28

Matthew 25:40 …“Truly, I say to you, as you did to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me...”

We are called to help our brethren, not hurt them.  Regardless of whether we are helping or hurting, when we deal with one another, we are dealing with God.  What are you doing for your brethren?

April 27

Malachi 3:1 ...“Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me…”

God has sent a messenger to prepare the way for Him.  In fact, God sends many messengers.  They are all around us, preparing His way.  Has God sent you to be His messenger to prepare the way?

April 26

Isaiah 40:3 ..."A voice cries:  “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God...”

Sometimes my life seems like a wilderness.  I get confused.  I get lost.  But God is preparing the way in my wilderness.  He is preparing a way for me to get back to him.  What are you doing to prepare a way for Him in your wilderness?

April 25

Job 42:2 ...“I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted..."

God can do all things.  His will, ultimately, will be done.  What do you need to do to get your will in line with His will?

April 24

Esther 5:3 ..."And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom...”

Queen Esther was in a tight spot.  If she did not go in to see the king, her people were set to be killed.  If she did go in and he did not respond to her, she would be killed.  What did Queen Esther do?  She boldly took her request and went before the king.  What did the king do?  He responded and asked her what she wanted, even half of his kingdom.  Do you have any bold requests you need to take before your heavenly King?

April 23

Genesis 1:1 ..."In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..."

What a great statement of faith!  Regardless of whether you believe in creationism, evolution, intelligent design or some other approach, we start with God.  As “A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada” says, “who has created and is creating”.  How are you responding to the God of heaven and earth?

April 22

1 Peter 2:9 ..."But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light..."

Just think, you are chosen to be a royal priest, part of a holy nation.  God selected you as His own.  You do not have to seek out others to get to God.  He will listen directly to you.  Are you acting like one of God’s chosen people?  Is there something you need to talk to God about?

April 21

Hebrews 11:1 ..."Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen..."

One of my favorite Christmas movies is “Miracle on 34^th Street”.  When the child in the story, Susan, does not get her Christmas wish, her mother tells her that she has to keep believing in Santa Claus and that “Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.”  All the way home from the party the child sits in the back seat of the car saying to herself “I believe, I believe, I know it’s silly but I believe.”  Is there something in your life that you need to keep believing in?

April 20

2 Timothy 4:7 ..."I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith..."

Life can be tough at times.  Sometimes life seems like a fight or a marathon where you have hit the wall.  God does not call on us to win the fight or the race.  Rather, He calls upon us to keep the faith, play by the rules, and do the things we should be doing.  Are there things you should be doing to keep the faith?

April 19

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 ..."Rejoice always, pray constantly…"

How do you rejoice always?  How do you pray constantly?  We all have times when it is difficult to pray and almost impossible to rejoice, yet we are instructed to do so.  Do you have something in your life for which you can always be thankful and express that joy to God?

April 18

2 Corinthians 9:7 ..."Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver..."

That seems easier said than done.  We can all think of other uses for our time and resources.  Sometimes it seems like it is a “have to” not a “want to”.  Maybe a better way to think about it is not as a giver but as an investor.  I think we all like to invest our resources, time, and talent in things we like.  It is much easier to invest than to give.  To give implies you don’t get anything back.  I think we all know that the return you get when you invest in God is more than you can possibly imagine.  How are you investing in God?

April 17

Hebrews 12:1 ..."Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…"

I have been blessed in my life to have people who have gone before me to show me the way.  Some I know, and some I don’t.  There have been family, teachers, professionals and members of the church.  We are here today because of what previous generations have done for us.  What are you doing to be a witness for future generations?

April 16

John 13:34 ...“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another...”

God loves us!  What joy we have from that knowledge.  With His love, we cannot help but respond and love others.  How are you sharing God’s love?

April 15

Matthew 7:7…“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you...”

Life wasn’t just given to you so you could sit back and do nothing.  It requires action.  God has done His part, and it’s now up to you.   You have to ask, seek, and knock.  If you do, God will be faithful and respond.  What actions are you taking to seek God’s will for your life?

April 14

Ecclesiastes 3:1 …"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…”

In Oklahoma we are lucky enough to experience all of the weather seasons.  However, there are all types of seasons, not just winter, spring, summer, and fall.   People can experience periods (or seasons) of emotional droughts or floods, physical exhilaration or exhaustion, loneliness or camaraderie.   It’s natural to move from one season to another.   Are you stuck in one season?  What can you do to move on to the next season?

April 13

John 14:2 ...In my Father’s house are many rooms…

Why are there many rooms in our Father’s house? When my family gets together, we all seem to end up in one area talking and sharing, even though there are many rooms in the house. Could it be that there are many places that our Father is reserving for us to share with others? What are you doing to share in your Father’s earthly house?

April 12

Luke 18:16 ... Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. ...

How do we “let the children come” to God in our church? What are we doing to provide for future generations that will come through our doors? What are we doing to be good stewards with the faith and resources that have been given to us by earlier generations?

April 11

Luke 12:24…Everyone to whom much is given, of him will much be required…

This is my favorite verse from the Bible. I have been so blessed in my life, with resources, family, career and many other ways too numerous to mention. But with those blessings comes a requirement. Out of what I have been given, I believe I am required to pass those blessings on to others. The verse doesn’t say I am required to give what I don’t have, just to share what I do have. Have you been given joy? Then, share your joy. Have you been given resources? Then, share your resources. Have you been given love? Then share your love. What ways have you been blessed that you can share?