Hello beloved friends and family!
I hope the new year has had a strong, positive start for you all. I have been spending time with my family (much needed) and I’m gearing up to begin this year’s run of Verse of the Day posts.
If any of you have additional ideas for content or what you might like to see in conjunction with the Verse of the Day posts, just let me know.
May God’s grace and hope overflow and fill us beyond our imaginations.
"She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
Matthew 1:21 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: Matthew is helping to make the connections and promoting the bigger picture by giving an account of the birth of Christ. As he is doing so, he is quoting the words of God to the prophet Isaiah. The baby boy’s name is to be Jesus, or Yeshua. The current name would be Joshua. What is the meaning of Yeshua? Yahweh is salvation. Fitting, isn’t it. Jesus was God in the flesh and he was sent to earth to redeem us from our sins. If you’ll permit the slight stretch, you could say that with the arrival of Jesus, he is saying "I am your salvation." I’m so very thankful for this gift from God to our world. There is a song from Chris Rice called "Welcome to our World" that really sums up this verse.
Prayer for today: Today, I pray that we would intentionally take time to reflect on what this time of year represents. The lowly savior being born on this earth for the purpose of redeeming us from our sins even though he didn’t have to stand in the gap for us. That we would praise and worship the King of Kings for His love and goodness. I pray that we would be a reflection of the hope that can be found in God.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
God’s grace on you…
"Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: In a similar way as is mentioned in Genesis, we were not created to journey through this thing called life all alone. We are created in the image of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), just as they are always in community with each other, we are called to do the same. Living in community can be costly as we have to let our guard down and be vulnerable with each other. Bearing one another’s burdens means we are constantly encouraged to live our lives in truth and transparency, helping others on the journey toward Christlikeness.
Prayer for today: Today, I pray that we would be aware of the burdens of others. That we would reach out to those who are hurting or struggling, no matter what they are facing. I pray that God would use us to further build up the people of God so that we can stand unified in Christ and boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
God’s grace on you…
"the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."
Jeremiah 31:3 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: These are words from our God to His people. He is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah and telling His people that He will rebuild them to be a worshipful, devoted people. Even though we, as humankind, have constantly fallen short and have treated God like a ragdoll, He still holds out hope for us. He still chases after us with reckless abandon. Though we have not remained faithful, His faithfulness continues. What if we chased after God like He chases after us? What would the result be? How much more would those around us be able to see Christ in us? What if we loved our families in this way? Wow! That could be the beginning of a change in legacy for a lot of people.
Prayer for today: Today, I pray that we will rise to the challenge of living out the love and hope of God. That we would chase after Him with such devotion that there would be no question as to our intentions or purpose in life. I pray that we would be encouraged, especially during this time, that each of us has a heavenly Father who not only always with you, but is actively in love with you.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
God’s grace on you…
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."
Isaiah 43:2 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: God has been speaking through the prophet Isaiah and is about to remind them (again) that He alone is God and savior of His people. God has brought them through the waters (crossing the Red Sea during the exit from Egypt), and through the fire (just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego). What an amazing comfort this verse can be. In our most difficult and trying times, God is right there with us, leading us through whatever we might be facing. I know that I have encountered plenty of times where I felt like I was facing difficulty alone. For example, my wife and I have had three miscarriages. There was a LOT of grief and it was overwhelming. It didn’t feel like God was near during those times, but He was. Did He cause these things to happen? Absolutely NOT! But has He used the pain that He helped me endure to better understand grief in order to help others? Yes, He has. Though I didn’t see it at the time, God was holding me steady and lifting my head. Our heavenly Father was right there with me and I’m sure He was weeping alongside me as He knows what it is like for His child to die (Jesus). He knows what that separation is like. But the great news is that He is also with us when life is going very well and wants to rejoice and celebrate with us.
Prayer for today: Today, I pray that we would open ourselves to the presence of God. That we would invite Him into the good, the bad, and the inbetween. He longs to encourage you, celebrate with you, and teach you more about His peace and joy.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
God’s grace on you…
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no one may boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: This verse has been the source of much discussion over the years depending on the denomination with which each of us align. Are you saved by grace or by works? If we are saved by grace, are works even needed? Based on the overarching themes of the New Testament, I tend to align with works being a byproduct of grace. When I consider the extent of the forgiveness I have received through faith in Jesus Christ, where God found me, and how far He has brought me, I cannot help but be thankful and extend good works toward others for His name’s sake. The great part about it is that I cannot and would not care to take any credit for any good works because it is just a result of the goodness and grace of God Almighty. I simply want to praise my heavenly Father and thank Him for all He has done for me through His gift of grace. Could I be wrong? Of course, but when grace and peace fill our hearts, if we are truly living a life for the King of Kings, should we desire to gain anything? We have all that we need. I’d be more than happy to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Prayer for today: I pray that we would be a people that is focused on the heart of God, so much so that all that we do is not for our own sake, but for the name sake of God. That we allow the forgiveness, grace, and peace that we receive from our heavenly Father to urge us to live lives of worship to Him through good works. I pray that God would be glorified in our daily lives, in all that we do as we live for the King of Kings.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
God’s grace on you…
"Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’"
Hebrews 13:5 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: Be content. Unfortunately "being content" is the opposite direction of the "American Dream." Perhaps this is why it is not possible to serve two masters. The priorities of God are flipped upside down from the world’s priorities. But as the verse says, God will never leave us or forsake us. If we are devoted believers of Jesus Christ, knowing that God will never leave or forsake us gives us a peace of mind that you cannot find in the world’s view. As we are on the right here at the holiday season, may we be mindful of our contentedness and focus on the source of our joy, hope, and peace. The love of our heavenly Father, the example of Jesus Christ, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is far greater than any other gifts we might receive. Consider the example of Mary, the mother of our Savior. She was content to give birth to a King in a stable and lay Him in a food trough. She was still grateful for all that God has done through her obedience.
Prayer for today: Today, I pray that we would be reminded of the sacrificial love of God. That He would stop at nothing to offer us the hope of redemption. I pray that we would have that type of mindset and heart that we would extend grace, hope, and love, to those who are so desperately seeking hope and peace.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
God’s grace on you…
"But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,"
John 1:12 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: Some time ago, my parents did one of those DNA tests to find out their lineage. Their findings were pretty interesting. Those tests can tell you where you came from, but thankfully cannot tell you where you are going and to whom we really belong. As today’s verse states, "To all who received him, who believe in his name, he gave power to become children of God." I can honestly say that my earthly parents were pretty amazing and were God-fearing people, but my Heavenly Father is so much more. For those who were raised by single parents or had no parents of all, this verse can be life changing. Remembering where God found us is healthy because we can see just how far He has brought us, and as we read His word, we can see just how far He desires for us to go. He has the utmost hope for us. Hope that we will pursue Him and be led by the Holy Spirit to do amazing things for His name’s sake. I challenge each person to reflect on how far He has brought you since you became a child of God. If you need some hope to continue the pursuit of the heart of God, you might just find some encouragement there.
Prayer for today: Today, I pray that each of us would remember who our true Father is. That we would rejoice in our redemption and praise Him for the work that He has done in our lives so far. Lastly, I pray that we would be encouraged to devote ourselves to a lifelong pursuit of the heart of our Heavenly Father, so He can lead us in the direction He has for us.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
God’s grace on you…
"So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ."
Romans 10:17 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: I’m sorry, what was that? As I get older, I find myself asking others to repeat themselves. Maybe this is due to playing electric guitar and standing a little too close to the amp/speaker. Nonetheless, what we hear has the ability to influence our hearts, minds, and motives. As we read God’s word, we can hear and learn SO much about the faith that Jesus has. Faith in the Father to complete His will through us. Faith that God has loved us from the beginning and has redeemed us from ourselves. Faith that will endure the test of time. For us, it begins with not being spiritually hard of hearing.
Prayer for today: Today, I pray that we would intentionally clean out the gunk in our spiritual ears, so we can truly hear and be reminded of the life-giving truth in God’s word. That we would be ready to hear what God may have to say to us through the Holy Spirit. I pray that we would not only be hearers of the word, but doers as well, being ready to act at the direction of the Holy One.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
God’s grace on you…
"May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy."
Psalms 126:5 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: Today marks the third Sunday of the Advent season which represents joy. In my house, we often use the word JOY as an acrostic for how to live in relation to others. The "J" stands for Jesus. The "O" stands for Others. The "Y" stands for Yourself last. This is what my wife and I are teaching our kids. No matter the action, this is how I hope my children will live. Serving Jesus first, then others, and ourselves. This also applies to the time we spend, how we focus our relationships, and so much more. I forget too often that it is very difficult to be so full of sorrow when I am serving others. It is easy to remember when I look at what I own that there are others who have needs greater than mine. More importantly, it is so easy for me to get so down and depressed about the past griefs or pains to lose hope when there are so many in this world that have no hope in Christ because I’ve been focused on myself and haven’t taken the time to tell them about Jesus. It is a wake up call. I’m not saying that grieving shouldn’t happen. Grieving is part of a healing process. In fact, if we allow Him to, God will show us the hope we need through any situation so we can come to shout for joy in the right time. Serving God can help lead us to being joyful. He will lift our heads and take the burden from us if we will invite Him into our life situations. Then, we will be free to serve.
Prayer for today: I pray that we would be a joyful people. That in our times of difficulty that we would invite God into the situation to shine His light and fill us with His joy. Joy that cannot be snuffed out like a flame. May we serve God by serving others. May we glorify God by encouraging others and I am sure that we would find that the very God we serve will encourage us and grow the joy in our hearts to continue to serve and encourage others.
If you need prayer, please reply and I will pray for you. If you would like to talk about this verse or have questions, I’m always open for your feedback.
God’s grace on you…
Prodigal Thinker 