Essentials

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20) Read: Genesis 24:52-26:16, Matthew 8:18-34, Psalm 10:1-15, Proverbs 3:7-8 Relate: I have both read and heard a story of a bunch of radical college students who took on a crazy mission, but it has…

Who Are Your Mentors?

Follow the steps of good men instead, and stay on the paths of the righteous. (Proverbs 2:20) Read: Genesis 20:1-22:24, Matthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9:1-12, Proverbs 2:16-22 Relate: One of the first “real” books I read after I got out of college was Christ and Culture by Richard Niebuhr. It forced me to evaluate how I view the interaction between God…

Chill

So don’t worry. Don’t say, ‘What will we eat?’ Or, ‘What will we drink?’ Or, ‘What will we wear?’ People who are ungodly run after all those things. Your Father who is in heaven knows that you need them. But put God’s kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all those things will…

Tough Love

But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your coat is taken from you, give your shirt, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. (Matthew…

He Settled

One day Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai (his son Abram’s wife), and his grandson Lot (his son Haran’s child) and moved away from Ur of the Chaldeans. He was headed for the land of Canaan, but they stopped at Haran and settled there. (Genesis 11:31) Read: Genesis 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 5:1-12, Proverbs 1:24-28 Relate: The history…

Build A Boat

So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him. (Genesis 7:5) Read: Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, Proverbs 1:10-19 Relate: “Build a boat.” “But God, I don’t want to move. My family is pretty settled here and the coast is an awful long way off. They don’t even speak the same language down there.” “I didn’t tell you to…

Ask Bigger

Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. (Psalm 2:8) Read: Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2:1-12, Proverbs 1:7-9 Relate: I don’t often get interrupted when I am praying. Even if someone else in my hearing might not be in “agreement” with what I am praying, I honestly can’t remember…

And It Was Good

And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:12, 18, 21, 25) Read: Genesis 1:1-2:25, Matthew 1:1-2:12, Psalm 1:1-6, Proverbs 1:1-6 Relate: This is the time of year when those new, New Year’s Resolutions come into effect. Maybe that’s a big thing for you. Maybe not. For me its huge. I love the ability to start new. I love the…

Starting Small

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. (Zechariah 4:10) Read: Zechariah 4:1-5:11, Revelation 14:1-20, Psalm 142:1-7, Proverbs 30:21-23 Relate: Small beginnings. Zechariah is talking about the beginning of the rebuilding of the Temple when God makes that prophesy through him. Those old enough were able to remember the former Temple. Those too young to…

Among You… Crazy As That Sounds

 The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem,  for I am coming to live among you. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts sent me to you. (Zechariah 2:10-11)…