Tag Archives: Relationship

2012 Day 299 – Hebrews 4

25 Thursday Oct 2012

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We need to take a more thoughtful approach to how we come before God. Too often I will come to the Father either meekly with my head hung low or flippantly without much thought to my conversation with Him. In verse 16 it says, Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. We need to come to God with reverence because He is our King, but we also need to come to Him with boldness and confidence because He is our friend and counselor. As we’ve discussed several times this year, it all comes down to our relationship with Him. If the only time I talk to God is when I need something, it is difficult to know His reaction to my request. However, once a relationship has been established, it is easier to know how Much He loves me and cares for me and wants what is best for me.

2012 Day 288 – Titus 1

14 Sunday Oct 2012

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In today’s reading we begin our first of three days in the small book of Titus. This letter was written approximately 64 AD to a Greek man named Titus who was in charge of supervising and organizing the churches on the Island of Crete. The letter is intended to be an instruction manual for how to do his job. Most of this first letter talks about what the leaders are supposed to be like. I can’t help but read the description and compare it to myself. I wonder if I am a man who is worthy to be called a leader in the church. Through God’s mercy and grace I am saved, but do have have the necessary character to lead others in the faith? This is a good question for me to ask myself daily and to constantly remind myself of the character that is expected of me as someone who is supposed to be leading others. God doesn’t expect perfection, but he does expect an authentic relationship and obedient heart for Him.

2012 Day 284 – 1 Timothy 6

10 Wednesday Oct 2012

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When I was in college a few friends of mine and I who used to say, “It’ll burn”, meaning whatever it is that we thought was so important to us will in the end of time burn into ashes. It was our way of distinguishing between what is important in life and what will not stand the test of time. Verses 6-8 says, 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Our biggest concerns in life should not be the things we attain, but the things we can take out of this world when we die. We don’t always need to be happy with what we have, but we should always be content. I may not love the car I drive, but I should be content that I at least have a car. Verse 7 is the one which sticks out the most to me because the absolute truth is that I brought absolutely nothing into this world and when I leave I will take none of it with me other than my relationship with God and the legacy I leave behind for my family.

2012 Day 281 – 1 Timothy 3

07 Sunday Oct 2012

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In today’s reading, Paul is talking about church leadership and who should, and should not, be leaders within the church. The verse that stood out to me today is verse 5, (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) It is important to have my own house in order before I can begin to help someone else with theirs. My family is one of the most important things in my life. I strive to make things right with them, but I am not perfect. God doesn’t ask for perfection, He asks us to lead with Him by our side. This is a good reminder to have Him at the center of my relationship with my wife and kids and in everything I do.

2012 Day 275 – Philippians 3

01 Monday Oct 2012

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After talking through all of his credentials as a Pharisee, Paul goes on in verse 8 to say how much of it is lost when compared to knowing and being saved by Christ; What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Paul learned long ago how little everything else matters when compared to Christ. My question to myself becomes, why do I work so hard to attain anything? Why don’t I just take Paul’s example and realize the only thing that really matters is the saving knowledge of Christ and helping others to find out the same things? It is my pride, greed, and selfishness that needs to be checked at the door of my life in order to fully enjoy a relationship with Him. Everyday I come closer to wanting nothing more than Him. May The Lord use me or take me home because everything else is rubbish.

2012 Day 273 – Philippians 1

29 Saturday Sep 2012

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I love reading Paul’s letters to the early church. There is so much to digest in almost every verse. Chapter 1, verses 23-24 shows how dedicated Paul was to the church and how much he loved Jesus, 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. While Paul loved the church and genuinely loved people, his greatest desire was to be with Jesus in heaven. I think this points to Paul’s maturity and I can relate to it. When I was younger I was afraid that God would take me from this earth too early and I would miss out on too many things. Now that I’m older, I know being with God can not compare to any experience I could ever have in heaven. While I look forward to the way God chooses to use me for the rest of my life, I know my life will pale in comparison to the eternity I will experience with Christ in heaven.

2012 Day 269 – Ephesians 5

25 Tuesday Sep 2012

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Verse 1 in chapter 5 summed up today’s reading for me, Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children. As a kid I always tried to be like my dad when I was growing up. I tried to talk like him, walk like him, act like him; in fact, I kinda wanted to be him. That is what we should be like when we are imitators of our Heavenly Father.

2012 Day 262 – Psalm 119:89-136

18 Tuesday Sep 2012

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Verse 105 speaks volumes to me, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. There is nothing like walking in the woods in the dark. It is intimidating when you can’t see the ground in front of you; you slow down, you are more cautious, and you can easily get disoriented with your direction. What is amazing is how little light you need to change everything. A simple little light can make all the difference in your confidence and your ability to speed up your progression. The same applies when it comes to walking with God and allowing Him to light your path. When you know He is with you and He is guiding you, you can move with confidence and know that the things that not in the light really don’t matter.

2012 Day 260 – Psalm 119:1-44

16 Sunday Sep 2012

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Over the next four days we will be tackling the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119. So far in the first 44 verses, the author (listed as ‘anonymous’ but some say it may have been Ezra) talks about obedience to God. One of the most effective ways to being obedient to God is to know His word and to have it close to us at all times. Verse 11 is a verse we have all heard before, I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. By studying and learning God’s word, we learn how He wants us to live our lives in order to honor Him. Scripture, along with the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, is what equips us to build a relationship with God and helps us to follow His perfect plan for our lives.

2012 Day 250 – Proverbs 20

06 Thursday Sep 2012

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At first glance, verse 9 is disconcerting, Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? I know I sin daily and I know that I am rarely without sin in my life. However, what is not said in this verse is we have a way to attain a pure heart. Jesus’ provided that way. Through the regular confession of sin we are continuously being cleansed. God provides forgiveness of our sin by his mercy when we ask for it. The thing I am missing from my life is the regular confession and repentance of sin as a part of my regular talks with God. It is through that process and continuous building of my relationship with God that I can rely on His moment by moment cleansing of my life.