Consider it Joy - Called to the Storm

One thing that catches me off guard is James 1. I think when we view it and consider it in the midst of a hardship, it could cause bitterness to rise up. It could cause us to question God, or even to say you want nothing to do with Him. But if we truly believe His word is true, and we truly strive to see the pieces of it fall into place in our lives, we need to take James 1 with the package:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sister, whenever you face trials of many kinds," - James 1:2

As I have walked the line of unknowns, trials, tests, burdens, feeling like a burden all my life, (don't we all feel like we walk this line?) I find this verse intriguing. And over the last several years it has actually been the one that pops into my head most on any given day. That is why I have considered this to be my next "series" in this blog, and furthermore, the topic most likely to become my book someday, as it is one that continues to affect all of us. So without further ado...

Last week was a hard week for the Ruhlig bank account. I get text alerts when our bank account is low and I woke up every morning to a "warning" that we were at $4.91 all week. Talk about anxiety every morning. Sunday - Thursday. The best part is we didn't touch it. The number stayed above 0 all week despite auto bills and forgotten checks. That happens occasionally for us. We end up diving into reserves in the freezer and living on Ramen Noodles, but we always come out the other side. I can't say we're always proud of those moments, but it's a reality we fall into from time to time when the license plates ended up costing way more than we thought, or the gas to get to the appointment was a little unexpected, or that appliance/car/sink/house broke again, or there was a gift to pitch in for and shame didn't allow us to say "can't right now". The bills were paid, but we didn't go nuts last week. Sometimes we're short because of unexpected things, sometimes because we simply didn't think ahead well enough, but we try to learn each time. This is just one of those trials in life we occasionally face that we keep trying to grow from and plan better for. Sometimes inevitable, other times we just make a dumb choice and get forgetful about an expense. 

We can learn from our trials, whether we bring them upon ourselves or not. 

Aside from considering trials joys in James 1:2, the next thing we have to notice is that word "whenever". This insinuate they will happen to all of us. If you're living life, breathing air, dealing with other humans, failing body parts, and fickle finances, trials are gonna happen, y'all. This series is going to get personal because truth is we all deal with storms. So what if I challenge your thinking a little bit today in stating that perhaps the trials we are facing are ones we may be "called" to? Hang with me a second. 

Every single one of us comes with a unique set of gifts, skills, achievements, etc. But every single one of us also comes with brokenness, failures, struggles, weaknesses, etc. Am I depressing you yet? Keep with me. 

So with this reasoning, we can't help but know that our trials, hardships, struggles, etc. are brought about by our own set of unique traits. Some seem unfair and never asked for. Some we bring upon ourselves when we make terrible decisions. Either way, they are considered our trials. But our trials make us who we are. And later on as we continue to talk about them in this series, I'll point out just how we can respond in healthy and not so healthy ways, but consider today that whether you brought upon the hardships you face this very moment yourself, or if they are ones you never asked for, perhaps there is a reason. 

Perhaps you are called to the trials you face. Let me say it a different way...

Perhaps you are meant to face this storm for a reason much greater than you. 

Because down the road, perhaps years from now, someone else will face it too, and need you to show them they will make it through. 

Because down the road, perhaps years from now, you will look back and be able to see so clearly how God's hand was all over you in the midst of that storm, and that realization itself brings about a powerful feeling that your God is so incredibly sovereign. 

Because down the road, perhaps years from now, you will see the reason, even if now you can't. Even if you don't see it until you're standing face to face with your Creator. 

What if we started owning our trials? Not intentionally sinning and falling into the trials of our choices, but what if we took our terrible situations and look for the Real, Powerful, Silver Lining that is actually the Light of our Savior? This may sound naive if you are walking the difficult road of something hard right now, but trust me here. Trust HIM here. What if you are called to be at rock bottom? Not to be tormented, but to actually see Who the Rock is? Because I think as humans, we will search every tangible option we can before reaching out in faith to the only One Who can actually be Our Rock. 

"You call me out upon the waters, the great unknown where feet may fail..." - Oceans (Hillsong)

What if it is true He does call us out into the waves and wind where we have no idea what's going to happen? Aren't these the best times to grow though? For me, those were oddly the golden times of growth, and I pray that they continue to be times of growth with every twist, turn, frustration, and annoyance of the storms I face. I pray I can draw close to Him in the midst of current storms and future storms, because that is the position I need to take to live up to the calling of my storms. May we fulfill the calling well. 

Read:

Mark 14:22-33, James 1:2-4

Ask:

When was a time you felt rock bottom? Do you recall feeling God's presence in that time?

How might we be called to a storm in life? 

What happens when we try to walk through a storm by our own power or other peoples' power? What happens when we actually reach out to God's power?

Teachings of Jesus - The Lost Son

There is a deep love for (in my opinion) junky cars among males, and some females I know in our community. I can't even grasp how someone can tow a "hunk of junk" (again, my opinion) and find value in it. Maybe it's been in a wreck, or rusted out so bad that there's hardly anything left, or it's missing so many pieces. But every August, I drive around and see the "hunks of junk" sitting in peoples' yards, in places they show them off, with derby painting and signs on them, ready to go out and battle at our county fair. I also see restored vehicles that are no where near what they were, and I am blown away by the work put in. It's incredible how people can take those "hunks of junk" and actually make it a beautiful, moving, purposeful vehicle again. These vehicles had been given purpose again.

It's something to be considered. No matter how far we have fallen into a pile of purposeless life, squandering our lives and finding ourselves bound for the dead end of life, we can remember that we have a God Who will restore us, giving us life once again. In fact, Jesus shares a story about this.

How much disrespect was there displayed when a son asks his father to give him is inheritance before his father has passed? Never is there more love than when a father actually gives it to him. Jesus uses the story of the lost son in Luke 15 to display His love for us. Even though we are selfish people, wanting to gain all we can for our own purposes, Jesus is always waiting, like that father to take us back. There is much to be learned from this little story, that holds great meaning:

We all choose to run away sometimes. I don't think there is a single person living that has obeyed, followed and trusted God 100% of the time. We have all at one point said, Lord, give me what's mine and we ran the other way. Maybe we don't ever give our talents, resources and credits to God. Maybe we claim our own fames before giving God any credit for getting us there. Whatever it is, we fall and will fall at some point.

It takes rock bottom to "come to our senses". As we read about the lost son, at the bottom of life, working with the pigs after burning through his money, that was when he realized he had chosen completely wrong. Sometimes we need to be at the absolute bottom of our lives to realize we need to step back and chose differently.

The Father is always watching for us. "While he was still a long ways off, the father saw him and was filled with compassion for him." No matter how deep we are in life, or how far we have placed ourselves away from God, He is always watching, waiting, and ready for us to come back. Don't ever think you are too far away to go back, or that you have to get cleaned up completely before you go back. Simply know you need Him and you need to change. Let Him do His perfect work in you.

We may become bitter of someone else's gain. The older brother completely missed the point, as we often do in this story. We can do everything right and know we'll earn because of it in the end, but unless we actually have a heart change and appreciate the love of our Father, we will lose out in the main celebration. The goal is to seek and bring home the lost, not work on our own means.

Where do you relate with this story? Perhaps you are a father, waiting for a loved one to come to their senses. Or you have been the lost son, squandering all you have been given from God for your own gain, at the bottom of life. Or your the eldest brother, doing you, waiting until you get your piece without a heart for the mission. Where ever you are, find hope today. The Heavenly Father is waiting patiently for your return, to restore you and give you purpose again. 

Scripture to Read:
Luke 15, Ephesians 2:8-9

Questions to Ponder:
Where you do you relate in the story? Why?
How does Ephesians 2:8-9 tie into this story? What about from the eldest brother's perspective?
How do you view salvation? Something you have to work for or something done for you?

Day 122: Dangers of 'What If'

Day 122
Judges 1-3; 1 Corinthians 7

How often do you entertain an idea that starts out with "what if..."? The phrase in it of itself is not a bad one. In fact, you need to ask "what if" sometimes to set goals and dream. But saying "what if" in the mindset of falling into temptation and truly thinking the grass is greener elsewhere than with God is a dangerous road indeed. Another phrase that can stand as a dangerous one is "if only". We'll see the dangers, and even some benefits, of these phrases play out in today's reading.

As the Israelites continued to fight and try to drive out the other nations that were in the Promised Land after Joshua's death, we read that they weren't so successful anymore in totally driving out the people. The reason is unknown as to why they couldn't successfully drive them all out, but there could be many reasons - tired, would rather compromise than fight, didn't have a solid leader anymore, etc. The Lord was still with them, however, and they were able to live with the people rather than lose the battle completely. Not fully completing the work God leaves for you can be something that causes you to ask "what if" and say "if only." He intends good for you, yet you also need to work for it.

We see the generation of Joshua die out and the people growing up forget what God had done for their ancestors and begin to find other means of happiness outside of God. Speaking in terms of "if only" or "what if" can lead us down some dangerous roads. We can be like these people who forget what God has done for us in the past and start exploring more exciting ways to experience life. While those things may seem exciting at the time, they lead to devastating circumstances. Because of our "what if" we can fall into the trap of what this world says makes us happy and forget what truly makes us holy and ultimately happy.

Many people play the "if only" game when it comes to their relationship status. Paul devotes an entire chapter of 1 Corinthians on this. It is an issue for many now, as it was an issue then. His advice - stay single. As a married woman, I can say I am very happy God placed a husband in my life. However, there is this delusion that many young people (I'm guessing mostly women) don't see through until they are married. They think marriage will solve all of their problems, when in reality there comes a whole new slew of more complicated problems. This is fine and all, but if you marry before you realize only God can fulfill that loneliness, you are in for rocky road ahead in your marriage, and you'll be more miserable than you were when you were single.

The good news is if we fall into the "what if" trap, God will deliver us if we cry out to Him and turn away from the things we thought were better than Him. As promised in Deuteronomy, God comes back to the people when they cry out for deliverance. Despite us betraying Him and putting other things first, like a spouse, child, or other idols, we can give God His spot in our lives back, and He'll come open to us and give you grace. He delivered Israel through the judges He sent in Othniel and Ehud to get Israel back on track. Even though Israel continued to turn away, in the time of those judges, they were on the right track because those judges respected God. Keep God first, and all else will fall into place.

Beware of the traps that come with the "what if" and "if only" statements we make. Those are statements that cause us to be discontent, regretful, and questioning God's place in our lives. Put God first in your life and all else will fall into their spots. Even if you turn away and forget God's place in your life, He is there waiting for you to come back.

Day 120: When Emotions Fly

Day 120
Joshua 19-21; 1 Corinthians 5

Things seem so gray today, as we decide what is right and wrong. We do things because it feels good, or because our heart tells us to, or because we are so angry, emotions take over. Today, we'll read about how we need to stand up to our emotions and hearts sometimes and follow what is right in God's eyes.

Sometimes, we can get so angry at someone that we jump to conclusions about the situation before we hear the entire story. This is why cities of refuge were created. When someone does something offensive to us, whether it's something as serious as murdering a loved one, or standing on the wrong side of the political arena in someone's opinion, emotions tend to fly. Rants are posted on Facebook. People want revenge. They call names. It's messy in general if someone can't handle emotions. The same was true when someone accidentally killed someone in Old Testament times. In order for the person who accidentally killed someone to be protected, there were the cities of refuge they could hide out at until it was all settled.

Sometimes our hearts and minds tell us to seek revenge and hurt someone like they have hurt us. When people face judgment and need to state their case, it is important to create space for them to do that without someone talking over them or someone who is too on the warpath to listen. Sometimes it's time to back away and let the other side cool down. If it's an argument that you know you will never win, perhaps it's time to back away for good from that conversation and call it an area you don't agree on. Don't ever allow emotions to get in the way of common sense. Emotions will get you into trouble. Your heart and it's "feelings" will get you into trouble, whether those feelings are good or bad. Listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and rely on God's leading - not yours.

1 Corinthians today talks about a different viewpoint of emotions and allowing them to rule you over God's ruling. We walk through this world thinking we deserve it. We deserve to find love with that person, no matter how moral it is. We deserve to be "happy". We deserve what our heart wants right now, no matter how against it God speaks on it. Then we twist His words to say it the way we want it said so we are fulfilled and not ridden with guilt. "Since God loves me, He means to say..." We put ourselves ahead of God because we think this world will fall apart without those things we want, that person we want, that lifestyle WE want. But the God who created you and knows your heart and what can fulfill it is shoved out for what you think you need. This is a harsh topic - I get it. We can twist words all we want to make it fit our life.

Paul is quite clear here. If a person living in sin has no intention of turning, they need to be removed from the protection of the church. They are still welcome in the church, but their sin will not be endorsed, no matter how "right" they think it is. As harsh as this idea sounds, it's in the Word. God wants all to ultimately come to Him. A church family is not to applaud the sin and accept the open-mindedness, then pat themselves on the back for being so accepting. They are to be loving, but not supportive of the sin. We are to encourage each other to live with pure lives, repenting for the sake of our eternity with Christ and living in a testimony to the power He has in our lives. We are not to come to church, living the way WE want, by OUR rules, not seeing anything wrong with it, and insisting we get a say in how the church is run. We need to see our need for a Savior. We can claim we WANT Him in our lives, but we need to also recognize our NEED for Him in it, and strive daily to put Him there.

The other side of the coin here is we need to be open to the correction of trusted friends in our church family. Don't deny the sin in your life, then call others judgmental when they lovingly try to steer you. God is the ultimate judge, and your friends will warn you, but God can make that final call and surely will. Be open, humble and in tune with God's direction - not yours.

Don't ever follow your heart or emotions. Those tend to cover your ears, your judgment, and your eyes to God's Word. Don't twist His Word to fit your heart. Do the hard things of making necessary changes in your life so that God is put at the front of your decisions - not your feelings. This is hard and harsh, but remember what is possible with the power of God.

Day 116: Forgetting God

Day 116
Psalms 49-51

We can forget many things throughout a day. Our keys, appointments, names, tasks... Yet one thing we tend to forget that has greater ramifications in our life is God. It is so easy to get caught up in day to day living, that we forget to acknowledge and honor Him. Today, as we pick up Psalms again, we'll discover some things that we tend to forget when it comes to God.

We forget that every possession in this world won't matter and ultimately, we need God in our lives. Money buys a lot of things in this world, but it does not buy the redemption that only Christ gives us. Wisdom dies, wealth is left behind, and lives without Christ ultimately die and only rot in the grave. Those who have put their trust in the Lord will be snatched from death and will experience the ultimate wealth of His Kingdom. We are to boast in God alone, as boasting in wealth and success only lasts a short time. What are things you boast about on this earth that will not matter in eternity? How can you boast in God?

We forget that He is in control and that everything is His. We read that He owns all the cattle, the animals in the wild, and all that is given to us on this earth. He would not even tell us if He is hungry because He owns it all. He does not even need us, yet He chooses to use us in His plan. He cares that much for you that He wants you. What is something in your life that you feel you have no control over? Remember that He is in control of it all. This entire universe (and beyond) belongs to Him.

We forget to praise Him for our blessings and when life is going well. Life gets to be stress free during certain seasons, and it can become really easy to forget God in those times because we simply feel like we don't need Him to solve a crisis. The reality is that we need to praise Him for those blessings He has given to us and for those seasons we have to catch our breath and not worry as much about the stresses of life. He wants us to acknowledge Him in all times, and give Him glory in all times. Thank Him. Praise Him.

We forget that we need to be cleansed when we sin. I truly believe that so many things are done flippantly in our culture, and so many sins have become the "norm". Because of this looseness of our words, our actions, our hearts - we pass it off and continually offend because we are "entitled". God expects more from His people, however. He expects us to honor Him with our words, our actions and our hearts. When we wrong Him in those things, we are to approach Him, asking for forgiveness, and then striving to do better so we may glorify His name. We read about David's struggle with sin in chapter 51, and the sorrow he pours out to God, asking for cleansing and being made right in Him. What are somethings in your life that you do or say that you need to keep in check?

We forget that we have victory in Christ, and to praise Him for it. On the flip side, we can forget to move on from our sin and spend too much time wallowing in it. David states in his cry out to God, "Oh, give me back my joy again, you have broken me - now let me rejoice." We can find joy in the victory of God's forgiveness and unconditional love. David not only was selfish and stole someone else's wife, but he caused murder in the midst of it. Yet God brought him through it and used him still in His plan. We can experience victory when we say yes to Christ and allow Him to rule in our lives. He brings us joy and can right our hearts. Don't feel like you have no chance of being redeemed because He has redeemed you. Rejoice in Him and boast in His love and grace.

In the midst of living this life, don't forget the bottom line. Don't forget what you'll end up with in the end. Don't forget that He is in control. Don't forget to praise Him when life is going well. Don't forget that you need to be cleansed in Him no matter what this culture calls the "norm". Most importantly, don't forget the victory you have or could have in Christ as you pursue Him in this life, and celebrate the life to come that He has enabled us to have if we accept it. Don't forget about God in your life, no matter what season you are in.

Day 110: The Chaos of Disobedience

Day 110
Deuteronomy 28-29; Mark 13

The readings for today may feel like jumping into the scene of a horror movie. We see the consequences of not following God and His commands, and the blessings of following Him and His commands. We also see what it means to be His follower as this world continues on and gets closer to His coming back. Hold on to Him and the hope of His promise to you.

At first, reading the section in Deuteronomy may make you wonder how a loving God can do such things to a group of people. The sad thing, however, is when we disobey Him, we fall into our own consequences. God knows what will happen if you follow other gods, or put something ahead of Him, or get into a relationship we should stay away from, or act on selfishness. He warns us of what will happen, yet we do it anyways. We disobey and then we blame God for the horrible things that happen to us. At this point, we need to stop, take inventory of our lives and how it matches up with what God wants us to do - which is put Him first.

I think it is a common occurrence to push our boundaries. We are a lot like toddlers. We want something, so we start to inch closer to it, until it becomes something "we just do", or something "everyone is doing anyways". We forget Who we belong to, and fall into the arms of the world, rather than a God Who created us and has unfailing love for us. As parents, you warn your kids what will happen if they stay out too late, touch the stove, fail to complete chores, etc. Yet kids who disobey get angry at their parents because they think it's unfair. The truth of the matter is as parents, you want your kid to grow up responsible, safe, independent, respectful, and most importantly putting God ahead of everything else. We do the same thing to God Who wants the same for us. Yet when we disobey, we fall into the consequences of being reckless, dangerous, dependent, disrespectful, and the worst of all, apart from God.

If you have experienced misery before, or if you are right now, consider a few things. How is God using it to grow you? Is there an area of your life you need to give over to Him? Are you serving Him wholeheartedly with your life? Remember that God doesn't cause these bad things, but He'll allow them to refine you and to make you stronger in Him. He'll allow them because He has given us freewill, and because of that freewill, we will probably cause our own pain at times, or someone else's freewill cause you pain at times. We read in chapter 29 that that we shouldn't ever think we're safe, just because we know the warnings, but follow our own stubborn hearts anyways. We are still pursuing something other than God, and for that God will have no pardon. However, we don't always know why bad things happen, we also read in chapter 29, "the Lord has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that He has revealed to us..." Stay alert, stay informed, and stay close to your God so you don't fall into the chaos of disobedience.

As the second coming of Christ draws nearer, we will experience hardships throughout the world. We are warned as followers numerous times throughout this chapter to "watch out" and to "be on your guard". To truly be alert, you need to know what Christ looks like, sounds like, feels like, etc. Without ever opening your Bible and knowing Him, and recognizing His role in your life, how will you ever know His voice? There will be deception, persecution, and misery. Be assured that God is in control, if you are His people. His people will be rescued and will be taken home. Don't lose heart in the midst of these miseries, for we read in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Do you trust that? More importantly, are you willing to live that out?


There is no doubt that in this world, we will experience some miseries. Much of it comes from direct disobedience from God, as we pursue our own freewill and desires more than Him and His desires for us, despite the warnings He lays out for us in His Word. Other instances are because of other people exercising their freewill and their actions ripple through your life too. Some, we'll never know the answer to until we can ask Him. Just stay alert, stay informed in His Word, and stay close to God so you can continue to grow through those hardships and be changed by His unfailing love. 

Day 107: The Wide Lens

Day 107
Deuteronomy 22-24; Mark 12:1-27

Every situation we encounter in life has something we can take away from it. Every situation we face also affects us based on the perspective we take on it. Read more on what this looks like with me today.

As you have read through the story of the Israelites so far, you have probably noticed by now that it is riddled with commands and consequences laid out by the Lord to the people in order to keep the community in order and the people close to God. This portion of Deuteronomy is no different, as more regulations are laid out and consequences explained. God wants us to be set apart from this world. Not necessarily by following these specific rules, as they were for that culture and time, but by simply doing things that show our love for Christ. When we make poor decisions, a consequence usually follows. Do you think ahead enough to consider what the consequences of your actions might be and how it may not only affect you, but the others around you? Having this perspective can surely save you some heart ache. However, it is hard to keep the ripples from other peoples' actions from impacting your life. This is why we must be careful and consider what is ahead when we make the decisions we make.

We will all make a poor decision at some point or another. I know I make probably one a day, simply because I don't always think things through as thoroughly as I should. God continually reminds the people to remember where they once were and how He delivered them. He does this because it is so important to remember what God has done for you, and act as compassionately towards others who are in the boat you were once in. We aren't to dwell on the past and our mistakes, but we are to always remember God's power in our lives, and apply it as we continue forward. Learn from your mistakes, and more on from them, striving not to repeat it, and helping others who have been put in that same boat.

If you are truly a Christ-follower, seeking Christ daily, and striving to fulfill the mission He has set you out too, it is important to view everything from an eternal perspective. The religious leaders who continued to try and nail Jesus to the cross didn't see the bigger picture. They couldn't see past the rules, regulations, and traditions that they have learned so well. Jesus, being a game changer, caused them to fear Him and His ideas. When we don't see things through the point of view of eternity and what will truly matter in this life, we too can fear like these leaders did.

It is entirely easy to worry about money, health, life situations, relationship statuses, etc, But when you can think of those things through the wide angle of the bigger picture to come, or the perspective of what God is trying to do or how He will use it, the intensity can be lessened. Everything in this world is temporary - which can be good if you are heading for heaven, or depressing if you're heading the other way. Nothing in this world belongs to us, including money and spouses as Jesus points out in today's reading. When we can see Jesus for Who He is, and what He did, and apply it to who we are (sinful, deserving eternal separation) and what we can do (nothing apart from Christ), it changes everything. You can lay those worries in the hands of the One Who created you and is laying out the life to come before you. Give to this world what belongs to it. Don't worry about what you are losing, but focus on what you gain in trusting Christ.

Walk this world with a wide perspective of what you've experienced through consequences of poor decisions, remembering what Christ has done for you, and most importantly with the perspective of His Kingdom and plan. Set your worries into His hands and allow Him to take care of what is His (everything). Use every opportunity to point the way to Him and show others how to cast their cares, worries and eternity on the One Who created them.

Day 103: How We Love Christ

Day 103
Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 9:30-50

As parents, we feel most loved when our kids listen and obey us. Good parents want what is best for their kids, even if our kids can't see why they need to follow the rules immediately. Truth is, the rules are made so that they will be safe and grow into a life that has good foundation. We read today how God is like a parent for us. In fact, God is the ultimate parent to us, not because of the rules He makes, but because of the care He has for us. He knows us better than even our own parents know us. When we choose to commit ourselves to Him, the rules come naturally as we strive to please Him and do right by Him.

We read that the Lord requires us to to do some simple things to show our allegiance to Him: To respect Him and His authority in our lives. To live according to His will for us. To love Him. To worship Him. To obey Him. It's so easy to complicate faith with the man-made legalism. We never have to jump through hoops to meet God. He is open to us 24/7, no matter how messed up we are, or how ashamed we are. He has already taken care of us through the sacrifice on the cross. We only need to acknowledge and accept it.

When we are most tempted to to disobey God, it is because we don't trust that He has the best plan for us. Trust that God will still provide for you if you give to Him. Trust that He will bring you exactly what you need in this moment. I think we get fearful to defend the outcasts and love those who are on the outside, yet God calls us to love them, specifically the outsiders, the orphans, and the widows. Learn to trust Him as you strive to serve Him. Start small. You aren't called to go big, but to simply love, even if it's one life.

There is great blessing in obedience. We may feel restricted at times by obeying, but in the bigger picture, you will see the blessing that comes from obedience. We are called to teach our children these commands, and permeate our lives with them. When we follow the commands that God gives us, we save ourselves a world of hurt and cleaning up in the end. We end up weighed down by our guilt and shame. However, in obedience, we are told in verse 8 of chapter 11 that we will experience strength.

As we read into Mark chapter 9 today, we learn about some of the characteristics it takes to be holy as we strive to obey God's commands and show our love for Him. One of the things Jesus teaches His disciples is when they were arguing who was the greatest. Jesus explains that to be first, you must be last. In other words, a heart of humility is a huge part of having a heart purified for Christ. When we make humility priority, we stop thinking about our situations, what we want, what we think is best, what we deserve, etc, and we begin to put Christ and others ahead in our minds. Because of humility, we'll stop asking ourselves the question "if I help that person, what can I get back from them?" Jesus shows this by placing a child in His arms and says how welcomed they are. Our love for those who are lesser will also purify our hearts.

The disciples also told Jesus that they had told someone to stop trying to cast out demons because he wasn't apart of "their group". Does this sound familiar somewhere in your life? Jesus says however, that if someone isn't against them, they are for them. Don't stop people from trying to find their faith and trust in Jesus. Obey Christ and allow others to as well.

Finally, in Mark 9, we read about cutting things out of our lives that drag us down. Jesus uses our body parts, like hands, eyes, feet as pictures of getting rid of the toxic things in our lives. We may have people in our lives that continually cause us to sin or question who we are as a child of the King. Those people need to be cut out. We may continually turn to something that we know is keep us from growing in our Savior. Those things also must go. Jesus doesn't want you to actually cut off a body part, but He is displaying how serious of a matter it is to cut those things out that cause you to stumble. Make sure that you are not one to cause others to stumble as well.

Showing our love for Christ comes with obedience to Him. We will fall many times and stumble over things, but we must continually strive to follow His commands and humble ourselves to be open to His leading in our lives. What is something in your life that needs to go? What is causing you to stumble and question who you are in Christ? Get rid of it. Show you trust that God's plan is better than yours by trusting Him with whatever He brings you. He truly knows what you need most and will equip you to face what is coming. Love Him by showing your trust and obedience to Him.

Day 73: Standards

Day 73
Leviticus 17-18; Matthew 26:1-35

As we pick up our reading in Leviticus, we read many things that seem to go against our culture today. There are so many "hot-button" issues read here in today's world. It is easy to set our standards to the people around us, the news on the television, or to the "norm" of today. However, God has asked us to be set apart. He has made us to be set apart, as we stand in alignment with His standard, rather than try to continually mold to the ever-changing standard of the world around us.

God set up the laws for the Israelites so they may represent who they truly stand for. As the Israelites were tempted to take on the behaviors of the world around them, God reminded them "you must keep MY decrees and MY laws." (Leviticus 18:4) These laws weren't meant to be a "buzzkill" but serve as guidelines and protection for your heart. A heart for Christ is one that is set apart from the rest of this world's temptations, and we are truly surrounded by those. We can tie these Old Testament laws right in with the New Testament command: "Do not conform to the patterns of this world." (Romans 12:2)

What about grace? The beauty of our giving in to temptations is that God offers grace to those who ask for it. As we read in Matthew, while the "religious leaders" were plotting to kill Jesus at a time that made them look good, Jesus was showing compassion and grace to a woman who was truly displaying her allegiance to Him. This woman, in the same manner of what Christ did for us, gave all she had to Him by breaking her jar for Him. This jar represented her future, her status, her wealth, all she had. She gave Him her all. While the disciples were condemning her, and the religious leaders were plotting to kill Jesus, Jesus blessed this woman. Are you setting your own standards as you criticize and judge, or are you truly offering your all to Jesus, striving to live for Him by His Words?

The Last Supper is a symbol of Christ's grace to us yet today, as we celebrate communion, remembering what He has done for us. As the disciples sit around the table with Him, we can see how standards come into play. Judas, who has just accepted money to sell Jesus out. Peter, who will deny Him. A slew of humans who will or have screwed up, even though they spent time with Jesus and doing His work. Yet, Christ's body was broken for us. Yet, Christ's blood was spilled for us. What do we do in remembrance of Him daily?

Living by the standards of this world is a very easy thing to do. We look at our neighbor and say "at least we're not that bad". We watch as the world shifts into modern customs and culture encourages things that are unacceptable to God, and get more open about where we set our allegiances. If your standard is looking at your neighbor or at the media, it's time to set a new standard. A three-year old can draw a very curvy line on a paper, and you can draw yours next to theirs and say "mine is WAY straighter". Yet God can make the perfect line and your line will then look imperfect. Grace has leveled that line for us. Just know who's standards you are living by.

Day 68 - All-Knowing

Day 68
Psalm 31-32

You may feel ignored by the people around you, or even the people who are close to you, but you should know that God always sees you and hears you. He keeps tabs on you and knows your heart. He will protect you and provide for you in the just the right ways. He will place you in just the right situations to help you grow and be more faithful to Him. He knows your desires and what you long for. He knows.

On the flip side, He also knows all of our bad thoughts. He knows about the person we lied to, the things we thought about that girl's dress or hair. He knows what we do when we are alone. He knows when our motives are not good.

However, we are living for a forgiving and compassionate God Who longs for us to come to Him. When we mess up and need to ask for His hand, He will give it to us. Holding in our sin and downfalls can create a guilt that is bubbling over to near-insanity. Letting those go to God and allowing Him to forgive you will take the burden away from you. He knows your situation, why not be open about it from your point of view to Him.

He knows all! He knows what we do when we are alone. He knows our thoughts and our motives. Come to Him with confession and be free from your guilt and from the pains that drive you down. He will offer you His hand and forgiveness if you just confess and ask! He knows what you need right now.

Day 65 - Shutting the Back Door

Day 65
Leviticus 4-5, Matthew 21:1-22

It is so easy to pass a sin off as a "mistake". It is so easy to say "I swear" to do something when all you have to say is "I'll do it." Christ could have easily gotten out of the suffering He was about to face, but He jumped in with no return, as we read today.

We read about compensating for sins that weren't known were committed. I think it is fair to say that as we grow, there are some things we don't realize are sins until after we commit them. Perhaps you've hurt someone you didn't realize you hurt. It is important to listen to God's Word and the Holy Spirit in the proddings of our hearts. When we call a sin a simple "mistake" we can have the tendency to "mistaken" again. But when we own it as a sin, we have to face it head on.

Making a foolish vow to someone, and not realizing it was dumb until later seems to happen from time to time (at least to me). It is usually at that point I'm left doing something that I never wanted to do, or I'm bailing and hurting others in the process. God tells us to own our vows and simply say yes or no, telling the truth each time. Saying "yes" to someone, when really we know we don't have time, is telling a lie to that person. Consider your words before saying them.

In Matthew, we read about Christ's entry into the city on Palm Sunday. My pastor actually taught on this a couple of Sundays ago, and it wasn't until I heard his message that I realized the significance in Christ's timing here. Once Jesus rode into the city, He had begun the process of shutting the backdoor to escaping from the cross. People shouted praise and slander at Him as He rode in. This was the busiest time in the city, as it was Passover, so people from all over had come and witnessed Jesus riding in. For His entire ministry, Jesus had said "My time has not yet come", and told people to keep quiet about His miracles. But now, He put Himself out there for all to see. There was no going back as He rode into His final week on earth.

I encourage you to take a listen to the sermon Pastor Todd taught on this passage. It is great and helped me realize how much deeper this section of the Gospel goes.

We can put a backdoor on everything in our lives. Our marriages, our jobs...Jesus could have put a backdoor on going to the cross for us. We can call a sin a mistake, rather than owning it. We can make a vow to someone, then just ditch it. But we are commanded to own what we say and do. Be a stronger person and own it!  

Day 64 - Count the Cost

Day 64
Leviticus 1-3, Matthew 20

There is a cost for our sins that we don't realize too often in this world. It is so easy to pass off the "bad things" in our lives because "everyone does it". But as we read about the different rituals of sacrifice in the beginning of Leviticus, we can get a better idea of what the people used to go through to be cleansed.

Today, we have Jesus, Who died as our ultimate sacrifice for our sins, so we no longer needed to offer sacrifices. He has made it very possible and easy to come to Him now as opposed to Moses' time. This can cause us to forget what He has done for us though, as we go about life. We'll continue to read about the different sacrifices over the next day or two, but there were many of them that meant different things at that time. Each one covered a different type of sin or profession to God. Jesus did all of that for us, however.

Jesus goes into what the value of the Kingdom of Heaven is like, as He compares it to workers who get a day of pay no matter what time they started. I don't know about you, but I'm sure I would have raised an eyebrow if I worked from 9-5 and was paid the same amount as someone who worked 4-5. But we learn from this that the Kingdom is open to all who put their trust in Christ, whether it be at the beginning of life or at the end. We never know when this life will end, but if you trust in Christ, you will be rewarded the Kingdom!

As the mother of James and John asks if her sons could sit at Christ's left and right in the Kingdom, Jesus reminds her of the bitter cup He will have to partake to gain the Kingdom. The definition of a leader in heaven is so much different than ones here on earth. While here on earth, leaders have lots of success, get honored everywhere they go, have people working for them, and get what is first at all times, in Christ's definition they are humble and go last, serving others and act as slaves. Jesus is our example of this. "For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many."

The blind men didn't care what others thought of them as they shouted for Christ from the side of the road. They wanted Christ. We should be like those men, shouting and yearning for Him, no matter what others in this world think of us. You can count the cost of your sin, of what it means to follow Him, and what it looks like to be a ruler for Him. Is it worth it to you? Do you want Christ bad enough that you are willing to sacrifice life for His direction? Count the cost, and find that He is worth it all.

Day 17 - Contentment

Day 17
Genesis 36-38, John 15

What happens when we aren't content with where we are in life? We tend to sin and/or take life into our own hands. That is precisely the points that are made throughout our readings today.

God continues to prove His faithfulness to the line of Abraham as we read about Jacob and Joseph. The descendants that are now in Abraham's line are quite numerous, and we can see the great things that God is doing through them, despite the mess ups that keep happening. Jealousy rages in Joseph's older brothers as he is favored in his father's eyes. Discontent in this, they plot to kill him and he ends up being sold into slavery. Reuben, who wanted to prevent his own feelings of guilt, sees that his plan to save Joseph falls through, and the first thing he asks is "what about my reputation?" (vs. 30) Later, we'll see how God works through Joseph's situation, but for now, we can see how discontentment and jealousy can surely raise sin in our lives.

As we move into Judah's story, we definitely see a matter of demanding of one's way, as Judah's son, refuses to have a child who won't be his own heir. As custom would have it, these brothers didn't want to honor their older, deceased brother in giving him an heir. Tamar becomes discontent. Judah becomes discontent, and they end up having a child together through their individual discontentment. Judah, failing to keep his promise to Tamar, and Tamar taking matters into her own hands raises more drama. But Judah, steps up and takes responsibility for his actions, knowing full well the position Tamar was in.

In John, we are told to abide in Christ, for He is our True Vine. This ties in with contentment. Being content in Christ is abiding in Him, and abiding in Him means joy forever. We are warned that this world will hate us for our faith, but Jesus encourages us to abide and remain strong in His Father, as He will send us an advocate. When we find our contentment in Christ, we will be full and can be fruitful for Him. When we worry about being content in other ways, we try to be fruitful for ourselves, rather than for Him.

What is making you discontent at the moment? Remember to have faith that God has a plan, because acting on your own can lead to more chaos and sin. Are you jealous of someone else, wishing you could have what they have? How about you look at what you have, and what you are and be fully content today, remembering that abiding in Christ will lead you to joy. Don't let this world sway you any other way. Remember what you are here for and the work He is doing in and through you!

Day 8 - Your Judgement

Day 8
Genesis 18-19, John 7

 We see a definite pattern of judgement pan out as we read through today's passages. God's judgement, our judgement, "religious" peoples' judgement..
In the world of Sodom and Gomorrah, there is evil indeed, as we read about the conversation between Abraham and God. Abraham asking God to spare the land for 10 righteous people shows us that it was a corrupt land, as it was destroyed. However, God showed good judgement towards Lot and his family and sent angels to rescue them.
There is reward in doing what is right and following in God's footsteps, but to stand strong is a hard thing indeed. Lot fails to be a light to this community he is abiding in, and starts to blend in with the rest. When have you ever resorted to "blending in" to avoid conflict or embarrassment? Have you ever just gone with the crowd so you could get by easier? I know I have.
Poor judgement continues for Lot's family as his wife looks back, as the angels warned against, and later his daughters decide to "carry on the family" using their father.

In John, we continue to read about the comments made about Jesus. His own brothers are concerned about His fame, over what His message is. Jesus faces accusation from the people at the temple as they call Him possessed and false. Others who do agree with Jesus' words say nothing out of fear of the Jewish leaders. Jesus flat out tells the leaders to look beneath the surface of the law of Moses so they discern correctly what is right.
The talk continues to happen among the people of the city. They are divided and many don't believe.
The most important thing to remember is to stay in the scriptures and know what is right! We live in a world that blurs lines and twists words for their gain. Knowing the Word well is what will carry us through. Jesus tells us this in this passage to look beyond the surface and dig deep into His Word.

We are not the ones to ever judge. We all come with a list of our own flaws, problems, pasts, messes, and guilts. We have no right to judge others, as God makes this very clear that this is His job. We aren't to hate, but to love. We aren't to conform to the ways of this world, but be transformed by Him. He directed with humility and love. Truth and Grace. Stand strong, but don't be a lame Christian. 

Day 4: Woes of the Wicked

Day 4

Psalms 1-5

We are surrounded by enemies. Whether it be people who manipulate to meet their agendas, those who talk down on us, or the situations in life that beat us to the pit. We read in the very beginning of Psalms, however, that when we turn to the word of God, rather than the advice of the wicked, we will find greater joy in the long run. It is very evident that staying on the good side of God is the best place to be, not only because God crushes the wicked, but because He has the backs of all of His followers, and because of this, we needn't worry about anything in this life taking us down.

I get caught up in the little worries of life. I worry about bills, housework, work-work, my child, my husband, my friends, EVERYTHING! If you just ask my husband, I am one of those women who has the brain that goes everywhere in 30 seconds flat. He can't keep up and I get exhausted worrying about everything all the time.
One thing God really taught me when I faced such great and dramatic hardship a couple years ago was that He has this. As long as I strive to be in line with Him and follow His Word, I have nothing worth worry about. He has it. David faced great struggles, as we'll read throughout the Old Testament. He portrays his feelings throughout Psalms, which shows us how human and real David was, as well as how much faith he carried with him when crying out to God.
"In peace I will lie down and sleep, (surrounded by enemies in pursuit of him), for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe." (Psalm 4:8)
My dad used to say this verse to us each night before bed. As I grew up, I knew it meant God has my safety, but as life got real and I had to start making more choices, this verse was ever comforting to me.

Nothing, nothing, nothing can touch me if I have a heart for God. Those who follow in His ways are sure of this. Those who contradict His path and cause destruction in this world will feel an angry wrath that only God can produce. I never liked this picture of God (the wrathful, angry, scary one), but as I experience Him more and more, and the injustices and craziness that runs in this world, I can respect God's feelings towards it. Hang with God and you have nothing to fear. Nothing can separate you from that love.

Day 2 - The Downfall of Human Nature

Day 2

Genesis 4-6,  John 2

Human nature is what separates us from God. We just read of the first instances of human nature taking place in very dark ways. Cain killing Abel out of jealousy is a prime example of how we allow grudges and jealousy to invade us. God even warned Cain that sin would be lurking around the corner if he didn't just do things right in the first place. 

How many times do we try to make our lives easier by taking the quick way out? Or act on our emotions too quickly, as Cain did? Do it right by God, and sin won't overtake you.

We actually continue reading through Genesis how the world continues to spiral out of control until God actually feels sorry He created the world. This shows that our sin hurts God. I think we picture God as a stern, resilient judge and we forget He has feelings too. We were created in His image, and the way we feel is a taste of God's feelings. 

But God sees the good too. He sees Noah, and He tells Noah His plan to destroy the world. Noah has been chosen to carry it on after. I couldn't even imagine standing there, listening to God's plan and orders. I think I would be quite overwhelmed in building a boat big enough to hold all of those animals and supplies! But here, we see how God turns what seems impossible in our lives to possible. He makes a way if it is in His plan. We can count on that still today. 

In John, we read of Jesus' first miracle, performed at a wedding in providing wine out of water. Again, impossible made possible. This is what confirmed the disciples' belief in Him. 

Many times we overlook God's miracles today. He pulls us through some rough stuff, but many bat an eyelash let alone thank Him. 

Jesus again, shows that emotions are real when He is angered by the "human nature" of the merchants in the temple. This is where He gives the first mention of His dying and returning again in three days. 

Our human nature can be very stupid at times. We hold grudges, get jealous, lust, use God for our gain... But we have also read that God's glory prevails in the midst of our human nature. He has the power to change hearts and make Himself very known in intimate and mighty ways. Keep your human nature in check, and seek His glory daily!

Day 48: Wisdom in Right and Wrong

Reading: Proverbs 5:1-14

There is a good reason we are told to strive to get wisdom. Knowing the ways of the Lord will help us to live a life free of regret and falling into temptation. We read about the temptations that lurk around every corner in this section. We are told to be aware and to prepare for it. When we can guard our hearts against the enticing things of the world, we'll be able to walk a better path in life. Letting our guards down and not caring about what happens with our lives will leave us looking back later and wondering what we were thinking. When we have the wisdom to decipher between what is right and wrong for our lives, we can truly walk closer to God.

What kinds of things tempt you?



How do you guard yourself from those things?




Reading: Mark 2:18-3:30

There were many opinions floating around about who Jesus was, and there still are today. Even Christians can mix up what is right and wrong in the church and when it comes to the Sabbath. Jesus was all about becoming new and doing what was right, whether it was the Sabbath or not. Today, we can fall into this trap of putting things and rituals of the church ahead of what is truly important. Jesus made a point to tell the crowds, and especially those who were plotting against Him what is most important in following Him. We can't let the rules and rituals get in the way of what Jesus' ministry is really about.
This concept still drives people crazy. We can get busy focusing on the look of a church, rather than on the people who need to be there. We can get so wrapped up in the style of music and what version of the Bible is being used that caring about those around us becomes low priority. Ultimately, these are the type of people who led Jesus to His death. The rules and rituals got in the way of the love and relationship. Jesus taught and went about ministry with truth and grace, and we need to do the same when we reach out.
Make your mind up about Jesus. You can either do as He did, or do what you want.

What rules and rituals in the church can get in the way of what church is really about?



How do the rules get in the way of reaching out to others who have never even stepped foot in a church?




Reading: Exodus 21:1-22:31

Here we read a series of scenarios and rules that seem bizarre and out of place, but this was how the culture dealt with issues that arose. These rules were guidelines for judges when sentencing people. Many of these rules actually still apply today in different ways. God set these rules before the Israelites to keep chaos at bay and to promote loving your neighbor. Though the rules are different today, we still need to keep close to what God want of us in order to promote good and prevent evil. God cares deeply that we get along and love one another, and He cares deeply that we care for those in need, like the widows and orphans. When we can successfully follow through with His desire, we can live lives in harmony and be great examples for those around us in showing His love.

What rules have you found strange in the Bible? Why do you think God had rules like that?




What rules do we have today that promote loving each other?




Going through life, trying to do what is right and keeping ourselves in line with the wisdom God gives us can help us get through some sticky situations in life. When we simply strive to do what Jesus did in our churches and personal lives, we can share His love to those around us in great ways. Consider what it looks like to promote good and prevent evil in the world around you, then strive to live a life that does that. 

Day 34: Dealing with Defeat

Reading: Psalm 18:16-24

Some days just leave you feeling defeated and broken. David faced many of these days as he took on enemy after enemy, not knowing when his life would see freedom again. When we cry out to God though, we can count on Him to show up and rescue us. When we are innocent before Him and strive to follow Him, He will deliver us from the darkness we face. Though His timing may be different from ours, we need to remember that He will not leave us or forsake us. There will be days you feel like the world doesn't care and that you need to solve all of its problems, but remember that God has already overcome the world and its problems. He can show us a way out of our defeat and lead us to a victorious end.

What is a battle you face or have faced that you feel or felt like you couldn't get through?




Who do you know that is facing pit after pit in their life? How can you pray for them and encourage them?




Reading: Matthew 22:15-46

Dealing with the tricks of life and people who try to trap us can be frustrating. We see Jesus deal with these situations brilliantly though. When life seems to be confusing to us, we can follow His example here.
Give to the world what belongs there. Jesus says to "give to Caesar what is Caesar's." As Christians, we have priority to God first, always, but we also have a duty to obey laws and pay taxes. Jesus cleverly answers the religious leaders in baffling them by not allowing Him to be arrested for it, nor make people angry with Him.
We also read how Jesus handles a debate on marriage in heaven, telling the leaders that they are missing the point completely. He calls out their tricks and explains His Father's power to do the impossible. He also points out that this life is not the end all.
Finally we read how Jesus lays out the greatest commandment - love. With this, the leaders stop asking questions and go their own way.
Taking on life with the wisdom of God's Word is important. We may face challenges similar to the ones Jesus faces in this reading, but we can overcome those with knowing the Bible's stance on it. We probably won't know the answer to everyone's questions, but when we have the bottom line, that is all that matters.

Where has life confused you? Where did you turn for answers?



How are you keeping yourself full of wisdom and of God's Word?




Reading: Job 30:1-32:22

We can feel defeated when we face all the struggles of life like Job has and still have no comfort from friends or family. Job is left, blamed for sin by his friends, yet he pleads his case and is blameless before God.
We see Job lay out many things about his life to his friends to prove his innocence before God. Job was pure in heart. Not to say he never sinned, but he confessed them and went through the proper procedure to cleanse himself and his loved ones for that matter.
We need to be sure we are standing upright with God. Life will throw us curve balls and hardship, but Job proves that not all struggles are linked to our sin. Staying right with God helps you to see His light through those tough times though.
Job didn't care about material things. He was not tempted by the ways of the world or by what it had to offer. He stayed in close community with God and walked with Him. We also need to make sure we're not basing our lives around material things and the various temptations the world has to offer.
Job loved his enemies. He never pointed and laughed at them when they faced troubles themselves, but Job kept his mouth shut and didn't gloat. We live in a culture that seeks revenge, yet we have a God that tells us to do otherwise.
And Job gave to the poor and needy. He didn't withhold from them, and worked to help them. God calls us to reach out to the poor many times throughout His Word. He even tells us that what we do for the least of these, we do for Him. Helping others in need sure adds a little significance to your life too.

What does your life look like before God?



Do you have friends that build you up, or tear you down?



There are many times in life that we can walk away from a day feeling rather defeated and down. Whether we are pursued all day by enemies or things that we just hate to do, or if we are thrown some confusion in life and we try to reach out to those in need but can't seem to get the answers straight. Or maybe we have people in our lives that just don't help much when life is rough, we can always count on God to pull us through. He has made a way for us to take on those days that just reek of defeat. Rely on Him and His ways, and He can bring you to days of victory that only come from Him and Him alone.

Day 26: Trials Revisited

Reading: Psalm 16:1-11

So many times in life we will face struggles and hardships, and when those come, there can be a temptation to turn away from God and find another way to be gratified. Unfortunately, many don't realize that true gratification can't be found anywhere but in God. We read in this Psalm that David refuses to turn away from God, even in the midst of his endless struggles. He says he will not even speak the name of other gods, for following them brings on a whole other slew of problems and hardships in life.
We can apply this logic to the things of today's world too. When we turn to other things to grant us happiness in life, like drinking, drugs, sex, and other "pressures" that we encounter from others, we will always be left empty in the long run, seeking more. These things can also lead to greater hardship in life. Be careful where you turn when struggles come your way. It might come back to create more problems.

Where do you turn when troubles hit?




What do you do to feel happiness in your life? How does this help you in the long run?




Reading: Matthew 18:10-35

Though our hardship is never a direct link to punishment for our sin, we can sometimes find that we brought suffering upon ourselves. Jesus points out some examples in this reading.
Abusing our freedom. We are all gifted freedom from God. We have the freedom to decide for ourselves what we want to do with our lives and what we will do with different situations that arise. We read the parable of the lost sheep, and see that when the sheep wander, they lose the protection of the shepherd. When we wander from God, we lose His protection as well. When we wander and do things our own way, we run the risk of getting hurt and facing struggles. But we also get from this reading that God will seek us nonstop until we are found again.
We can also cause further hardship in our lives when we don't handle conflict well. Jesus tells us how we should handle conflict, but many times we abuse these words and instead gossip, avoid it, or blow up. All of these poor choices for handling conflict can cause us to face harder days in that relationship and in other relationships because we then carry a horrible reputation. Handle conflict well, and it can be something that is easily put aside.
Finally, Jesus gives us quite a lesson in forgiveness. Forgiveness is a huge topic in today's world, as it is something people don't like to practice very much. But Jesus warns us through this story that if we don't forgive others, He won't forgive us. How often do we abuse this gift of forgiveness by falling into the same sin over and over again, and always count on God's forgiveness to pick us up, but as soon as someone in our lives wrongs us over and over again, we can't even look at them anymore? Though it can be frustrating to deal with people like that, can you imagine God's frustration with you? Yet He loves you so much, He'll welcome you back every time. Forgive others if you want His forgiveness.

How have you brought hardship upon yourself in the past?




How do you handle conflict typically?   




Reading: Job 1:1-3:26

If anyone in the Bible had hardship, it was Job. He went from the good life to nothing in the blink of an eye. Job, who was blameless before God, still endured great suffering from Satan. And though Job faced trial and loss after trial and loss, he never once blamed God for it. In fact, he worshiped God in the same way as he has when he had his life together. Job says to his wife, who encourages him to curse God and die, "I accept good things from God, why can't we also accept bad things?" This act of faith may seem unrealistic to you, but it's to show that trials can come no matter how close to God you are. Satan is still out there, chipping away at the closest of followers. We need to realize that in times of struggles, we can't let Satan have his way, and we must hold on to the faith we have in Christ. He will deliver us in the end and we'll come out stronger. As Job's story unfolds, you'll see more and more the man he is and the support he has.

When have you felt your world crumble around you?




What was your reaction to the constant hardships you faced?




When trials come, they can be hard to understand. Sometimes, we may never understand. The question we must consider when we do encounter trials though, is where will we turn? There are so many things in this world that can sway us from God, but we will always end up empty in the long run, and some of the things we turn to can cause us further struggles. Being faithful to God and taking the good and bad to Him is what we need to remember when our world seems to crumble. Turn to Him and He will rescue you.

Day 25: Faith in Hardships

 Reading: Psalm 15:1-5

Many times we question the hardship in our lives and want to know why God lets them happen. Though hardships are not a pleasant time of life, there is much you can learn from them, if you allow them to grow you. When we allow our circumstances to grow us, we can find ourselves in the presence of God through our growth. We read in this psalm who can come into the Lord's presence, and these same principals can apply when we face hardships:
Acting right and blameless, being truthful, not gossiping, not hurting others, keeping your word, being generous, and being honest.
All seem to make sense, but in the midst of hardship, how many times do we want to lash out or lie? If we can control ourselves through the tough times, we can find ourselves growing and become stronger for the next time we experience those hardships. "Such people will stand firm forever."

When have you lashed out because of a hard time you were experiencing?



How can you remember that trials are a time of growth for your character the next time you are in that position?





Reading: Matthew 17:14-18:9

Sometimes we can never know what causes our suffering, and all we can do is cling to faith. We read about how the disciples failed to heal a boy from his seizures, and Jesus tells them it's because they didn't have enough faith. He says that even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. The man's faith heals the boy.
We also get to see what Jesus does to prevent suffering as He insists on paying the temple tax so no one is offended. I've learned on mission trips to other countries that you respect the culture in wearing proper attire, even if it's not comfortable to you back home. This allows you to witness to others without putting attention on yourself. As long as what you do doesn't cross lines in your faith, respecting other cultures and people can get you far in faith.
Finally Jesus stands up against suffering by warning anyone who causes temptation or to cause someone to fall will be punished greatly. He takes a very radical stand against sin, saying to get rid of anything that causes it immediately. This can apply in our lives to the people we surround ourselves with. If it causes you to sin, cast it off as soon as you can. Sin causes suffering, and unfortunately, we usually do it to ourselves in the decisions we make. Have faith that God will take care of you and follow His direction to a better life.

When have you needed more faith in your life?



What is causing you to sin? What must you do to wipe it out of your life?




Reading: Genesis 49:1-50:26

Even through Joseph's crazy life, he recognizes God's hand in everything that happened to him. He knows there was a reason for his suffering and he is grateful for it, as it put him in the position of great power and authority. Joseph had great faith when it came to trusting that God would take care of him and allow him to see his family again. When we reflect back to today's Psalm reading for today, we see that Joseph follows the characteristics well as he goes through what he did.
As Jacob lies on his deathbed, he says quite powerful things about Joseph compared to his other brothers, showing that Joseph led a wonderful legacy through the life he lived.
We can approach our struggles the same way Joseph did in giving in to faith instead of bitterness. Remember to let the hardships grow you.

What kind of legacy do you think you leave when you react to the hardships in your life?




What kind of faith do you have when struggles come your way?



Hardships and struggles are certainly inevitable in this life. We'll all see our fair share (or not so fair share) of them and react in different ways. But to react to hardships with faith can be a hard task within itself. When we allow our struggles to grow us, rather than to defeat us, we come out stronger and closer to God. How do you deal with life's struggles?