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11-04-23 SATURDAY’S READING - ENCOURAGEMENT

PSALM 40:1-4

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. PSALM 40:2.

GOD’s RESCUE

A compassionate volunteer was called a “guardian angel” for his heroic efforts. Jake Manna was installing solar panels at a job site when he joined an urgent search to find a missing five-year old girl. While neighbors searched their garages and yards, Manna took a path that led him into a wooded area where he spotted the girl waist-Deep in a marsh. He waded carefully into the sticky mud to pull her out of her predicament and return her damp but unharmed to he grateful mother.

Like that little girl, David also experienced deliverance. The singer “waited patiently” for God to respond to his heartfelt cries for mercy (PSALM 40:1). And He did, God leaned in, paid close attention to his cry for help and responded by rescuing him from the “mud and more” of his circumstances (V.2) - providing sure footing for David’s life. The past rescues from the muddy marsh of life reinforced his desire to sing songs of praise, to make Hod his trust in future circumstances and to share his story with other (VV. 3-4).

When we find ourselves in life challenges such as financial difficulties, marital turmoil, and feelings of inadequacy, let’s cry out to God and patiently wait for Him to respond (V.1). He’s there ready to help us in our time of need and give us a firm place to stand. -❤️-

“OUR DAILY BREAD” by “MARVIN WILLIAMS.”

09-17-23 SUNDAY’S READING - ENCOURAGEMENT

LUKE 18:35-43.

What do want want me to do for you? LUKE 18:41.

ANY QUESTIONS?

Ann was meeting with her oral surgeon for a preliminary exam - a physician she’d known for many years. He asked her, “do you have any questions?” She said, “yes. Did you go to church last Sunday?” Her question wasn’t intended to be judgmental, but simply to initiate a conversation about faith.

The surgeon had a less-than positive church experience growing up, and he hadn’t gone back. Because of Ann’s question and their conversation, he reconsidered the role of Jesus and church in his life. When Ann later gave him a Bible with his name imprinted on it, he received it with tears.

Sometimes we fear confrontation or don’t want to seem too aggressive in sharing our faith. But there can be a winsome way to witness about Jesus - ask questions.

For a man who was God and knew everything, Jesus sure asked a lot of questions. While we don’t know His purposes, it’s clear His questions prompted others to respond. He asked his disciple Andrew. “What do you want? (John 1:38). He asked blind Bartimaeus, “what do you want me to do for you!” (MARK 10:51; LUKE 18:41). He asked the paralyzed man, “do you want to get well?” (JOHN 5:6). Transformation happened for each of these individuals after Jesus’ initial question.

Is there someone you want to approach about matters of faith? Ask Hod to give you the right questions to ask. -♥️-

“OUR DAILY BREAD” by “DAVE BRANNON.”

08-31-23 THURSDAY’S READING - ENCOURAGEMENT

ISAIAH 26:1-13

You, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth ISAIAH 26:7.

FREEDOM ON THE PATH

In Beep Baseball, the players who are blind listen for a beeping ball or buzzing base to know what to do and where to go. The blindfolded batter (to account for various degrees of blindness) and sighted pitcher are on the same team. When a batter swings the bat and hits the bleeping ball, he or she runs toward the buzzing base. The batter is out if a fielder “smothers” the ball before the batter makes it to the base, otherwise, the batter scores a run. One player remarked that the best part is that he feels “great freedom in running” because he knows there’s a clear path and direction.

The book of Isaiah tells us that God, “the Upright One, make[s] the way of the righteous smooth” (26:7). When this was written, the path for the Israelites looked anything but smooth; they were experiencing divine judgment for their disobedience, Isaiah exhorted them to walk in faith and obedience - the often difficult but smooth path. Being concerned for God’s “name and renown” (V. 8) was to be their hearts focus.

As believers in Jesus, we come to know more about God and build our trust in His faithful character as we follow His ways in obedience. Our path in life may not always look or feel smooth, but we can be assured as we trust in Him that God us alongside us and making a way. We too can feel freedom as we run in obedience on God’s best path for us.
-♥️-

08-31-23 THURSDAY’S READING - ENCOURAGEMENT

PSALM 142.

When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. PSALM 142:3

UNKNOWN ROUTE

Perhaps I shouldn’t have agreed to join Brian on a run. I was in a foreign country, and I had no idea where or how far we would go or what the terrain would be like. Plus, he was a fast runner. Would I twist an ankle trying to keep up with him? As we started, I got even more worried. The trail was rough, winding through a thick forest on uneven ground. Thankfully, Brian kept turning around to check on me and warn me of rough patches ahead.

Perhaps this was how some of the people in Bible times felt while entering unfamiliar territory - Abraham in Canaan, the Israelites in the wilderness, and Jesus’ disciples on their mission to share the good news. They had no clue what the journey would be like, except that it would surely be tough. But they had someone leading them who knew the way ahead. They had to trust that God would give them strength to cope and that He would take care of them. They could follow Him because He knew exactly lay ahead. This assurance comforted David when he was on the run. Despite great uncertainty, he said to God: “when my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way” (PSALM 142:3). There will be times in life when we fear what lies ahead. But we know this: our God, who walks with us, knows the way. -♥️-

“OUR DAILY BREAD” by “LESLIE KOH.”

05-20-23 SATURDAY’S READING - ENCOURAGEMENT

MATTHEW 6:5-9

Pray to your Father. MATTHEW 6:6.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Madeleine L’Engle made it a habit to call he mother once a week. As her mother moved into her later years, the beloved spiritual writer called more frequently, “just to keep in touch.” In the same way, Madeleine liked her children to call and maintain that connection. Sometimes it was a lengthy conversation filled with significant questions and answers. Other times a call simply making sure the number was still valid was sufficient. As she wrote in her book walking on Water, “it is good for the children to keep in touch. It is good for all of us children to keep in touch with our Father.”

Most of us are familiar with the LORD’S Prayer in MATTHEW 6:9-13. But the verses that precede it are just as important, for they set the tone for what follows. Our prayers aren’t to be showy, “to be seen by others” (V.5). And while there’s no limit on how long our prayers need to be, “many words” (V.7) doesn’t automatically equate to quality prayer. The emphasis seems to be on maintaining regular contact with our Father who knows our need “before [we] ask him” (V. 8). Jesus stresses how good it is for us to keep in touch with our Father. Then instructs us: “This, then, is how you should pray” (V.9).

Prayer is a good, vital choice for it keeps us in touch with the God and Father of us all. -♥️-

“OUR DAILY BREAD” by “JOHN BLASÉ.”

05-08-23 MONDAY’S READING - ENCOURAGEMENT

LUKE 1:1-4

[Having] carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you. LUKE 1:3.

TRUTH SEEKERS

A women once told me about a disagreement that was tearing her church apart. “What’s the disagreement about? I asked. “Whether the earth is flat,” she said. A few months later, News broke of a Christian man who’d burst into a restaurant, armed, to rescue children supposedly being abused in it’s back room. There was no back room, and the man was arrested. In both cases, the people involved were acting on conspiracy theories they’d read on the internet.

Believers in Jesus are called to be good citizens (ROMANS 13:1-7), and good citizens don’t spread misinformation. In Luke’s day, numerous stories circulated about Jesus (LUKE1:1), some of them were inaccurate. Instead of passing on everything he heard, LUKE essentially became an investigative journalist, talking to eyewitnesses (V. 2), researching “everything from the beginning” (V 3), and writing his findings into a gospel that contains names, quotes, and historical facts based on people with firsthand knowledge, not unverified claims.

We can do the same. Since false information can split churches and put lives at risk, checking facts is an act of loving our neighbor (10:27). When a sensational story comes our way, we can verify it’s claims with qualified, accountable experts, being truth seekers - error spreaders.
Such an act brings credibility to the gospel. After all, we worship the One who’s full of truth (JOHN 1:14). -♥️-

“OUR DAILY BREAD” by “SHERIDAN VOYSEY.”

Meat Lovers Lasagna very good!👍😊