Day 23, Luke 6,

Today we got an intense glimse into what it must have been like to follow Christ. I imagine that he was teaching constantly. I believe we learn a lot when we look at the parables that Christ taught in. We know that Christ could have been a tyrant who enforced the law but instead we saw a man who taught the theory behind the law.

Christ taught that we should be a people that understood good from evil and the best way to do that was know God the Father. Christ taught that we should know love and know what it was to love Him. Then we should show that love to others. This humbleing of ourselves was the best chance we had to show Christ to others. Of course we must know the law, but we must understand the love behind the law in order to apply it to our lives. This is why Christ used parables.

Tomorrow is Day 24, Luke 15.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 22, Psalm 103,

I often wonder about passages like this one. Why is our God the way he is? I know everyone asks that question. I know everyone wonders why God allows things to happen etc...But what I understand the least about God is grace. Why is he so willing to forgive? If I wronged someone as often as I wronged God, I would be an enemy, not a friend. This idea of forgivness can literally make me ill. My issue is not believing he forgives as much as he says. I understand chapter 103 to be true and clear that God wipes all the blemishes in my life away and that he forgets as soon as he forgives. I have to believe that because it is part of the glue that holds our relationship with Christ solid. But what I can't understand, what I can't get out of my head, is that time after time, he continues to forgive. What keeps him from giving up on me? What kind of love must that be? And is that love attainable in my own life as I show Christ to others?

I pray for an understanding of grace. I pray that I better appreciate it and better extend it to others.

Tomorrow is Day 23, Luke 6.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 21, Proverbs 3,

Proverbs 3 tells it like it is. This is a blunt reminder of the way we should be and can be living. The text begins poeticly with a description of loving our God. Then it continues with reminders of how we should be following Christ and obeying his commands. We can be assured that God provides for us and promises to take care of us.

The text concludes with a reminder of wisdom and the blessing that it is from from God. Chapter 3 is one that we could read everyday and remind ourselves of the God we serve. The text really does a great job of explaining the God we serve.

I pray I remind myself of the greatness of God everyday.

Tomorrow is Day 22, Psalm 103.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 20, 1 John 5,

The entire book of 1 John is wrapped up exactly how we would expect in chapter 5. John does a great job of explaining the work that God has done on our behalf by coming to earth and being full man. John explains in great detail so that we understand it was a man who lived a perfect life and not only the Christ. He suffered and was tempted, being born just the same as you or myself, and sustained perfection while being the perfect example.

John has carried a theme through the book that we are saved by Christ alone from the sin we had in our life. As we develop we should continue to flee from sin, this is the sin that wont take our life he explains. He also talks about praying for friends to understand their fallen nature or understand the sin in there life so they will have the opportunity to turn to Christ. This mindset of sin is different than we are used to hearing. We understand the poisen in can be when we hear John explain it this way.

I pray I battle the sin in my life and let Christ prevail. I also want to help others who have seen fault in their lives find hope in Christ who forgives them freely.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 19, 1 John 4,

Chapter 4 is the best chapter of John thus far. We are fortunate to serve a Lord that allows us to challenge and promises he will persevere as our God. As we challenge our faith through the study of scripture and with a searching heart, we begin to understand God's love for us. A love that is ultimate and above comprehension. But rather than hold that understanding of love in a high esteem, we are to allow it to overflow from us into the world.

If we understand such love, the God of all creation is living in each and everyone of us. With power like that in me, nothing can hold us back. John explains that the power of the love of God living within us will hold fast so strongly that it will conquer all possibilities of fear. Without fear you will see followers of Christ flood the world with the truth. A truth that God lives for them and in them. The opportunity is theres for the taking just as it was ours and no one has been made exempt.

I pray this truth pours out of me and into the lives of others. I pray that I understand the love of Christ in a way that I cannot be bound by fear any longer. I pray the world sees the truth through the work Christ is doing in my life.

Tomorrow is Day 20, chapter 5.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 18, 1 John 3,

Better late than never applies I suppose. I feel very guilty this morning. I woke up and the first thing that came to my mind was that I had slipped up. Today will have two blog entries, one this morning and one this evening. Thank goodness we are reading the apostle of John and can be encouraged because I feel aweful for letting yesterday slip away without following through with my commitment.

When reading chapter three today, I began to see the difference in writing styles from a lot of Paul's work that we have already read in comparison to John. I love the hope that John taught with. The picture of encountering Christ upon his return for us is beautiful. I love verse 2, when we are told "what we will be has not yet been made known." For a lot of us we can't remove our minds from life on this earth. Age begins to have an old feel with an end in sight description. I wonder what John was talking about in verse 2. Might his faith have been deep enough that he had an understanding of what being made new in eternity would look like. I like to dwell on thoughts like that, when we will look back and see this life as a dirty speck. The next life will be beautiful.

John continues with a blunt truth that reminds us if we are living with the Spirit of God in our lives than there is going to be conviction in our hearts for the sin we have in us. If this is the case then we need to constantly be working on removing the power that sin has over us. If we really are seeking the Spirit of God, then our desire to be near God will far outweigh our desire of sin. I pray that we find that love John speaks of for one another and that we seek out truth in our lives apart from sin.

This afternoon is Day 19, 1 John 4.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 17, 1 John 2,

In chapter two we can tell by the language John is using that he very much cares about the reader of this letter and therefore wants the best for them. Because he wants the best for them, he warns us to be careful not to be lead back into a life of sin. Beyond just being careful, the text is challenging us to stand for what we believe in and even goes so far as to question our where are faith was if we were not living apart from sin.

John very much understands we will still make mistakes, but he also believed we should be a people that were constantly improving in our obedience to Christ. He also warns us to be causious around temptation. Satin is creative and will distract us into a life of sin in whatever way he can. We are warned to avoid these situations at all cost while still being a light in the world.

I pray that I become more of an example to people around me who are not following Christ and that I set my actions apart from theirs.

Tomorrow is 1 John 3

God Bless,
Nick

Day 16, 1 John 1

Today is FIRST John instead of just John. I hope this doesn't through to many of you off. Chapter 1 was a short chapter but it was fascinating if you look beyond the words into the history of the text. This was a historical first hand account that the Son of God, Christ, lived and died on our behalf and was in fact real. All of the prophecies were coming true in His name and on top of the fact that he lived, died, and was raised from the dead, they confirmed that Christ was in fact the light from heaven they had been awaiting on.

This was encouraging to the reader because the Messiah had finally came. With Him came redemtion and the darkness could no longer be feared. John instructs us that we must be living with the truth in our hearts of the grace through Christ. We are still a fallen people but we have now been redeemed and we should show the world this new found saving grace.

I pray that my heart is one that overflows with the love and grace that John was reminding us of. He was God made man and he did walk among us. It is an honor to know him and I should live each day with that mentality.

Tomorrow is 1 John 2.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 15, Psalm 96,

It was a refreshing day to get into the Psalms today. I really enjoy all of Paul's letters aod the there importance but I needed the Psalms today. Chapter 96 was an uplifting chapter today. It was a short chapter but it was a chapter that praised God from start to finish.

I have always enjoyed art but have never appreciated it like my wife has. But what I understand of art is that someone can have a piece that is completely unique to my interests, but remain incredible pieces of art. I think that worship is like that. I think that there are ways of describing God and worshiping him that I would never have thought of. Every method of praising our God and everything that brings him glory is beautiful. Todays Psalm reminded me of the beauty of praising our God.

I pray I find knew ways to worship God everyday. I pray I appreciate how other people praise God and join them in that.

Tomorrow is John 1.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 14, Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6 is an interesting way of concluding the chapter. The older I get, the more I feel indipendant from my parents. I know I don't always give them the respect they deserve. I believe it has a lot to do with humbling myself.

As I get older I want to continue to grow in my faith. I believe that the growing of our faith happens when we are arming ourselves in the way the text explains. I think it is interesting that Paul is wrapping up the letter in this way. His passions must have been for the readers of the original letter to stand strong no matter what the situation. He wanted them to be motivated beyond all things to stand for their faith.

I pray I focus as much as Paul wanted the people of Ephesus to. I want to focus on my faith and drawing my relationship closer to him. I am fortunate to have my wife who supports me and is willing to be on this journey by my side.

Tomorrow is Psalm 96.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 13, Ephesian 5

Ephesians 5 is a harsh reminder from Paul of the lives we should be living. When we fellowship together, it can easy slip back into an old lifestyle. We must remember we are new creations in Christ, the old has gone and the knew has come. This is not said to discourage us or to bind us with rules to follow. Instead we are instructed to live this way with the promise of drawing closer to our Lord.

Many times we put our faith in other people around us. We hold them up to be an example to us, so when they fail, we are crushed. "Be imitators of Christ" is more than an instruction or a guide line. We are asked to imitate the greatest man to ever live. We must understand that being more like Christ is an opportunity. An opportunity to be great. As followers of Christ, we are a fortunate people and have the chance to encounter joy like no one could understand. Change of heart must be reflected in our actions.

I pray chapter haunts me. I pray it follows me and disciplines me to seek and make my God the highest importance in my life. We are capable of more, we simply must live like it.

Tomorrow is Ephesians 6.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 12, Ephesians 4

Chapter 4 begins speaking directly to the individual reader about the calling that God has placed on there life. I like to be reminded that God created me with a purpose. Paul makes it sound like we are called to something beyond purpose, however. As if, in each of us lies the potential for greatness. I say this as humble as I can because the distance is great, but I really believe Ephesians 4 reminds us that we each have an opportunity to do great things. So great that God's Kingdom could forever be different because of our purpose being fulfilled.

Still Paul returns to unity and the importance of having it. None of us will ever fill the shoes of Christ, but instead will work together as the body of Christ to advance the Kingdom. I like the idea of not being alone in anything I do for Christ. I know God is with me, so who could be against me. But the language used to describe us that descibes us as the body of Christ leaves us with a remarkable responsibility. There is so much strength when believers in Christ committ to have unity in areas of there life as simple as Bible reading. I believe this was the unity Paul was talking about and I am excited to be a part of it.

I pray I continue to stay focused on the readings and meditate on them more. I pray I better understand the importance of unity in the church and in thhe body of Christ so that we can continue to move forward.

My Mom told me today that she perticularly enjoy vs. 10 because of the desciption of Christ assending above the heavens. She explained that if Christ was just above the heavens and He is looking down on us as well as looking down on heaven, that we must not be as far below heaven and we sometimes think. What an encouraging thought that is, thanks Mom.

Tomorrows reading is Ephesians 5.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 11, Ephesians 3,

After reading chapter three today, I feel like the benefits of this daily devotional are really starting to become relevant. Paul does such a good job of reminding us of the incredible power that is Christ in our life. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to read and understand a text that was written 2000 years ago and still understand the importance of it's application today. God is doing a work in each of us that has the potential to be as world changing as the church the disciples started. I firmly believe it is through disciplines like this that we draw more near to our Lord and more in line with his calling on our lives.

Paul reminds us to understand that we will never fully understand the depth of the love of Christ. But the more understanding we do gain, the more we will see him at work in us. I pray that we approach each day knowing the power of the living God is within us. No temptation is too strong, no weakness is too great for us to overcome with the love of Christ inside us. Personal life change is going to yield world change.

Tomorrow is Day 12, Ephesians 4.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 10, Ephesian 2,

Alive in Christ is a great place to be. For a lot of us, we might remember finding Christ as a list of rules we signed up to follow. For many, the idea of becoming "religious" paints a picture of a boaring life that no one enjoys. Instead we are reminded in chapter 2 of Ephesians that the life we had before Christ was dead. The lie that sin tells us makes us believe we will never experience the same joy as when were living in sin. Christ promises that new life through Him will in fact be the most freeing experience for anyone that chooses to follow him. It is a humbling thought to know that the God of the universe is the one who saves us and there is no action we could begin to earn such love and grace. We are reminded what a wonderful gift we have recieved from God through his son Jesus. I can't imagine anyone reading this today and not thinking it was incredible. Hope everyone is enjoying this as much as I am.

Tomorrow is Day 11, Ephesians 3.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 9, Ephesians 1,

We are reminded in chapter one of the great power in the love of our God. In Him we were created, through His son we are forgiven, and in His presence we will forever live. He knows us intimately reminds me of the importance of knowing my heavenly Father more. We should remain constantly thankful for our salvation. We must also remember that we are representing Christ who's mark has been made on our hearts.

Near the end of the chapter, Paul reminds me that Christ must stay the center of the church. As we grow closer as a body of believers, we must concentrate on being Christ centered in our church as much as we are personally. Our purpose is to serve Him and there can be great joy found in that moment. I pray I always remember Christ being first in my life as well as first in our church. I also pray for everyone who is following Christ along side of me. I pray that we support and love one another the way Paul did for the believers in Ephasis.

Tomorrow's reading is Ephesians 2.

God Bless,
Nick

Day 8, Psalm 34,

What a great first week this has been! I have found a lot of comfort in reading and hearing of people following along with the blog. The reading this week has been a great experience so far. I really enjoy that we are reading such a small portion that it is never overwhelming. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for our hearts as we go forward with this.

Yet, I still find myself nervously awaiting something discouraging. Almost as if I expect some part of life to get in the way of the time we are spending meditating on God's word. Then I read Psalm 34. For many, we carry around scars expecting them to reopen and cause us to experience pain all over again. We have been distracted from Christ so many times before that we expect it to happen again. Verse 2 is a great reminder for us all, "My soul will boast in the Lord, let the afflicted hear and rejoice!"

Even though we have trained ourselves to expect hard times, we know we can rejoice it the Lord. His eyes are on us. He hears our cry and restores are brokeness. As we spend more time with God, I firmly believe in the spiritual warfare continuing over our attention. What me must remember from this passage is that it is not our battle to fight. Our only responsibility is to draw near to Christ and allow Him to fight our battles for us.

My prayer is that I can begin to let go of the things that I know are keeping me from drawing near to Christ. I pray that I remember the only place I ever need to be is directly in the center of His will for my life. I want to boast in the Lord in a way that the afflicted recognize my joy in Christ and find themselves made complete in His grace.

Keep it up everyone. Tomorrow we read Ephesians 1.

God Bless,
Nick