Sunday Rest

At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:1-2) Read: Genesis 35:1-36:43, Matthew…

Matthew 10:38-39 (The Esqualine Gate)

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. (Matthew 10:38-39) Read: Genesis 31:17-32:12, Matthew 10:24-11:6, Psalm 13:1-6, Proverbs 3:16-18   Relate: The Esqualine Gate was…

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…