The Challenge -- Day 123

Today's Scripture: Luke 21:20-38
(Click on the link to read today's verses.)

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." We've been reading for 123 days now. Investing time into something Jesus says will not pass away. I am reminded today of how important it is for us to be a people of the Word.

Let's praise God for His Word and the work it is doing in our lives!

I praise You, Father God, for the truth that You do speak to me.

I praise You for Jesus, the Word made flesh, who causes me to see Your love.

I praise You for providing a physical text for us to delve into

and for the Holy Spirit's counsel and guidance as I read Your Word.

Fill me with a hunger for Your Word and the discipline to carve 

out time to be in it each day.

And all the people would get up early in the morning

to listen to him in the temple.

Luke 21:38

The Challenge -- Day 122

Today's Scripture: Luke 21:1-19
(Click on the link for today's scripture.)

"By your endurance you will gain your souls." Webster's defines endurance as the ability to withstand something difficult for a long period of time.

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, 
consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith
produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect,
so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. 
James 1:1-4

Take a look at what happens when we let endurance fully effect us. We become mature... complete... lacking in nothing. This dear friends brings hope. Hope in all those circumstances we feel are pointless or even unnecessary. James encourages us to face even the tough stuff with joy. 

Today, when you face a challenge, find yourself enduring, consider it all joy.

Jesus, You say persecution and trials offer us opportunity to testify about You.

Change my perspective on how I view challenging circumstances of any kind.

Fill me with joy at the prospect of offering testimony of who You are,

even if the one I'm testifying to is myself.

The Challenge -- Day 121

Today's Scripture: Luke 20:27-47
(No bible handy? Just click on the link for today's verses.)

"For He is God of the living, not of the dead..."

Are you spending time on dead things? Maybe it is time to let those go. What is alive and vibrant in your life today? Pause and think on those things.

Lord, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life,

reveal the dead-end issues I dwell on that are eating up my life.

Lead me in the path of life.

There is a way that seems right to a man,

but in the end it leads to death.

Proverbs 14:12 NIV84

The Challenge -- Day 120

Today's Scripture: Luke 20:1-26
(Click on the link to read today's scripture.)

Authority was the issue in these verses. Who gave you authority? Whose authority should we come under? Do we have to pay taxes if we believe in God?

Webster's defines authority this way:

:the power to give orders or make decisions : the power or right to direct or control someone or something 

: the confident quality of someone who knows a lot about something or who is respected or obeyed by other people

I've experienced positive authority figures in my life and negative ones as well. I've had issues coming under authority at times. And goodness, who wouldn't want to decrease the amount they pay in taxes. The bigger issue is giving God the things that are God's. Unlike human authority, God will never demand His children to give Him what belongs to Him. He will never collect in any way that which leaves us broke or broken. Instead He gives us opportunities to offer back the blessings He bestows on us.

Have you made your offering today? I'm not just talking about money. What about time... energy... talents?

Lord, one day we will all be held accountable to You as the Ultimate Authority, 

bless me with the understanding of what that means now. 

Loosen my grip on the things of this world: money, time, energy. 

Help me to remember it is not mine, but simply a loan from You. 

Free me to live wholeheartedly under Your authority for the rest of my days. 

Everything I have and am is Yours.

"...Freely you have received, freely give. ..." ---Jesus

Matthew 10:8 NASB95

The Challenge -- Day 119

Today's Scripture: Luke19:28-48
(Click on the link to read today's scripture.)

It was a happy day. Palm branches waving... people shouting praise. The Pharisees wanted it to stop. Even tried to quiet the joyful group by asking Jesus to shut them up.

...if these were silent, the rocks would cry out.

I don't know about you but I don't want the rocks to take over what I'm called to do. Look what we might miss by refusing to praise.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.--Psalm 100:4

In January I was blessed to go to Italy. We walked the streets of Rome on our last days there and experienced the Vatican first hand. We passed through security and walked into the place where the Pope leads worship and I was stunned. There in the front (though still far off) was the altar. I couldn't help but begin to praise Him.

Each step of praise brought me closer to the altar. (I wish the picture could do it justice. I'm not sure any could.) This was the day the words of Psalm 100 came to life. Thanksgiving is the key to enter his gates, but praise brings us right into His courts... the Holy of Holies... His presence.

What in all the world is trying to silence your praise today? I say praise Him anyway!

Fill my mouth with praise today, Lord.

Open my eyes to Your glory that fills the earth.

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!"

Isiah 6:3 ESV