Word of the day: 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. Psalm 103:13 ESV
Discussion Board: Many children do not have fathers or a father figure in their lives. Not having a dad in your child’s development and have its downfalls. There is something about a dad’s compassion that means the world to your child, especially towards their daughter. Dads that are involved in their child’s life overall have an impact on social and emotional well-being. Children that live with their dad do better in school. That’s just a couple of things on how fathers can impact children’s life: there is more on this in the reference section. God can have the same impact on your life as an adult or a child. You may not be able to do all the physical things you can do with your earthly father, but with your heavenly father, he will never abandon you. God knows you more than your earthly father. You can receive God’s love by the holy spirit. Many people face single moms raising you; God can be an addition to the family. God will deal with your earthly father when it is time.
Prayer: Father, thank you for being a dad to many of us who didn’t have a father figure raising during our childhood. I ask when we don’t have father figures to remember that you are just as reliable as an earthly father. Thank you for your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Word of the day: 1 Joash began to rule over Judah in the seventh year of King Jehu’s reign in Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba. 2 All his life Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 2 Kings 12:1-2 NLT
Discussion Board: If you are not familiar with the disciple, it means a personal follower of Jesus during his life, especially one of the twelve Apostles. A follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher. In my definition, these are students who are willing to learn from a wise leader or teacher to gain wisdom and listen. In today’s verse, Joash did what he did in the eyes of the Lord. He didn’t do enough to remove sin from the nation. Rome took a lot of time to build, but it didn’t happen in one day. You may have questions about your actions. You may feel you did not do enough to help, or your sins are unresolved. Ask yourself these questions. Does the Bible expressly prohibit this action? The ten commandments are a good start if you are not sure. Does your behavior take God away from loving, worshiping, or serving him? Are your actions to the slave? Does your response bring the worst or the best out of you? And does your efforts benefit other believers?
Prayer: Father, we have times of doubt. We may not know where to go with our answers. I pray that we can get our solutions from the word with meditation. I pray the right people to come in and encourage us. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Word of the day: 7 Many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city. Acts 8:7-8 ESV
Discussion Board: If you read the first half of the scripture, it reads, for unclean spirits, crying out loud, came out of many who had them. Let’s look into this—Jesus, during the A.D., times drove many demons during his ministry days. I think about the government and the things that are going on there. The beasts of the world are real. The evil spirit can cause people to have hardened hearts, blindness, deafness, and insane attitudes. In these verses, Phillip performed acts that most people were not used to seeing. When people saw that, they made sure to pay attention. This act by Phillip resulted in joy, and people healed who were paralyzed or lame.
We have an awkward moment in our times of racism, all kinds of racism. We have the power to listen and perform acts most people never saw. There are many protests around the world that most people are happy that all people of all races are using their voices. There are still evil people that are trying to stop it by threatening those who speak. I challenge you to read Revelations 20:10 and Psalm 34. Use these to correct the behavior to help others and bring them down. People who are the oppressor will suffer.
Prayer: Father, let us focus on you. Today’s world comes with hate in a lot of people’s hearts. The devil has come and stole their souls. I pray that we can change hardened hearts to soften hearts and bring people where they belong, to you, God. Thank you for your work with us. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Word of the day: 17 He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas. Psalm 102:17 NLT
Meditate: Pray over destitute.
Discussion Board: Let’s talk about destitute. The meaning without the necessities of life. What are the needs of life? Dave Ramsey likes to call this the four walls. Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. The Psalmist is writing to everyone telling us that God listens to the prayers of our needs. No food? Pray about it. No shelter? Pray. No clothing? Pray. Are you struggling to get transportation? Pray. The needs of our life are important to God. If you read the parables in the Bible, you will realize that most people that struggled with their needs of life, God answered through prayer. Job lost everything. It is still a mystery to why he lost everything, but God eventually gave back to Job. The government may reject your needs, but God always finds a community of people who will lend a hand to help. What is your role? The answer is to pray.
Prayer: Father, someone is struggling. They need you faster than we can pray. I pray that the people that are struggling to get needs. Give them blessings with their needs. There are people in life living in greed, while others are having a hard time. I pray for your connections to others that can help. Thank you for all you do. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Word of the day: 1-2 God, listen! Listen to my prayer; listen to the pain in my cries. Don’t turn your back on me just when I need you so desperately. Pay attention! This is a cry for help! And hurry—this can’t wait! Psalm 102:1-2 MSG
Discussion Board: Did the Psalmist believe God would turn his back on him? Probably not. Did the Psalmist write this passage as a song with no purpose? Maybe. Is anyone prayers something like this? You are desperate, but you decide to make your decisions without him? God does not turn his back on us. He has been there with us the whole time. God tells us when to go on his timing and not on ours. God is quiet during a test. Otherwise, we will continue to feel abandoned until we pass. Rushing God during our time, we need quick decisions that undermine the ability for him to work for you. Ask for his help, but being patient is the key to your turn around.
Prayer: Father, a lot of us continue to struggle with patience. When the test comes, I pray that we can pass and not fail based on our decision-making. Let our prayers be meaningful to display patience for an answer out of you. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Word of the day: 14 [Naaman] went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. 2 Kings 5:14 NIV
Discussion Board: Leprosy is a skin disease. There are questions about if it is contagious or not. According to the CDC, someone can get the disease by droplets from coughing and sneezing. Here is a fact about Leprosy; nobody want to be around you. Why did Naaman go down to the Jordan river and dip himself seven times? God told him to. It is a magical number. Naaman had faith and did what God asked of him. Leprosy disease is considered unclean. When he dipped himself seven times, he was clean. Jesus paid the price for us with no restrictions, love, and forgiveness. This act that God did reminds us of why we trust his love and grace.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the reminder of why we trust and love you with grace. I pray that we can continue to read and understand your miracles’ parables to help us be better in our faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Word of the day: 5 For the Lord is right; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5 ESV
Meditation: Think about the word steadfast. It is the keyword in today’s verse. In what way can you use steadfast?
Discussion Board: Merriam-Webster dictionary defines steadfast as firm in belief, determination, or adherence. I think of friendships, marriages, churches, family, projects, entrepreneurship—courage to do the things that aline with Christ. The stuff on your bucket list may not line up with Jesus’ goals for you. That is looking out for yourself. You probably didn’t realize that Jesus has his bucket list for you. Recognizing your strengths, weakness, and how you can serve better through your powers are good examples of where Christ can show up for you. These are what is in the bucket list Jesus made for you. It is up to you to gather that information and get going on those goals. Your actions based on Christ’s list show your steadfast love for him, meaning your belief, determination, and adherence in your works show everything.
Prayer: Father, I pray for our ability to see the bucket list you have for us. It is not comfortable with distractions to do that. I pray for focus on you and that the determination that it is a lot easier than painful. Give us the wisdom to recognize the bucket list when you display it. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Word of the day: 17 You will see neither wind nor rain, says the Lord, but this valley will be filled with water. You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals. 18 But this is only a simple thing for the Lord, for he will make you victorious over the Moab’s army! 2 Kings 3:17-18 NLT
Discussion Board: During the time Israel’s soldiers were marching through the desert, they became weak with thirst. No rain or wind because the Lord said they camped in the area. But God made sure they have plenty of water to drink in their time of need. Today, you may feel you don’t have everything you need and feel abandoned. Today’s verse should encourage you when you don’t have enough; God will provide. When your situation feels complex and can’t solve it, give it to God to help you through it. Romans 8:28 reminds us that in all things, God works for the good who love him, which is according to his purpose. This verse made me think of a conversation I had with my sister last night. Do not let others dictate your life; you have no control over. Instead, keep with God, and control what you can control. Are you going to let others dictate you with your life, or trust Him with your life, and know he will supply you?
Prayer: Father, we can see that we temporarily let others dictate our lives because of the negativity that comes with it. I pray that you provide us with pure water in our times of struggles. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
I put this post on my personal Facebook page. I want to share it here to share my heart on some things that’s bothering me.
I’m not surprised. Trust me when I say there will be a billion excuses behind this behavior. Black man speaks up, he get a warning to shut up and race. That’s what a noose means. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Black people been protesting about racism and police brutality. No, no, no. It’s not police brutality, it is black on black crime. Solve the black on black crime first. Ok, major distraction. What we are protesting is not black on black crime. Pay attention. POLICE BRUTALITY and RACISM. We have to stand up for our police officers. They protect and serve. What news articles have you been reading lately that shows otherwise? Every time an article is posted about Police brutality or an officer being fired, I see a million comments like they are experts. Here is an article clearly showing racism, crickets. Not a word. Again, let’s pay attention. Let’s try to understand the differences before speaking.
There is a big racial division right now, but we all suppose to love each other. Ok. All good. But there is a problem. How? There is so much denial that it is PATHETIC. What’s the root cause? Let’s see, you have racism, that is creatively reformed by acts like this.Racism, systematic racism, racial profiling, Police brutality are examples we are protesting. This article shows racism. What we can do to understand racism?
3. LISTEN! This is very important. When we have an issue, I call it “the elephant in the room,” listening is the heart of everything. Talking about other issues that have nothing to do with the issue in front of us is causing more conflicting and counterproductive conversations.
4. Meditate on if you are the “oppress” or the “oppressor” Exodus 3:9-10 in the NKJV says: “Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.””Exodus 3:9-10 NKJVhttps://www.bible.com/114/exo.3.9-10.nkjv
The questions to ask yourself is do you see what I see? Do I see the oppression and do I know the oppressor? Will you support what matters? Or will you continue to charm what is happening? I am supporting what matters. Racism, systematic racism, racial profiling, Police brutality. God tells us to challenge the powers of people and not charm them.Do not come to the conversation or to the table to charm, but challenge the obvious issue.
Are you tired of seeing negativity every day? Think about how a black person feels when seeing an article below or experiencing racism every day.
Word of the day: 36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 4:36-37 NKJV
Discussion Board: Joses, known as Barnabas, is introduced by Luke. Some people didn’t believe in Barnabas because he killed Christians and had them put in prison. He did come a long way after what he did. He sold his possessions to help the Christians Jerusalem. Joses was the first to travel with Paul as a missionary team. He was an encourager and the most quietly influential people in the early days of Christianity. Joses was called an apostle, but not one of the original 12. apostles. He learned that encouragement is one of the most effective ways to help. He understood that faithful obedience to God would involve risk. Joses learned that someone always needs support. God used Joses to help others. God also uses us to encourage others in a way that no one can. People who have addictions help others with habits. God strategically places people in our lives because someone experienced the same things you experience and can encourage you. Some people can’t assist others that don’t understand the addictions or problems you may have.
Prayer: Father, someone is struggling. I pray that you can place that person in their life to help them overcome their struggle. You put people in the right position at the right time, and I pray that happens to someone so they can live life knowing they are not alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
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