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What is God speaking to you through your daily reading of His Word? Send us an email and we will post your journal entry on this page. Please include your name and the scripture reading in each email.

Name: Devan Calvert
Scripture: Jeremiah 42-44, Psalm 48, Revelation 13
I have a habit when I read scripture.  While reading I simultaneously listen to what the Holy Spirit might be whispering to my heart during the reading and I try to take note of my own response to that.  In other words, I try to listen to what's happening inside as I read.

Today the scripture reading was heart-breaking, for it chronicled a people and a time that wasn't so different from today, and some of the saddest words I've ever read popped up - as if in 3-D - into my eyes and my heart.  In Jeremiah chapter 44:27 God said "The good is gone for good."  We're told in James 1:17 that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning." (ASV - 1901).  So when He says "The good is gone for good" it has an impact on the people like no other possible decree could.  When you're cut off at the source there is no other recourse.  There's no Plan-B to go to.  When God says there's no help...there's no help anywhere.  The hardness of their hearts brought about the finality of their fate, and the conclusion of their choosing to continue in sin ended in a final judgment from God in this world.  And I'm not just talking about their physical death - as terrible as that was.

I've known desperate times and taken desperate measures.  But, whether someone was shooting at me, or I just had a bill that was overdue, I always knew I had God to turn to for His instruction, help, and shelter.  To date He has always provided those things.  I expect I shall always have them even if the shelter provided is heaven upon my death.  For, unlike the world's death, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints"  (Psalms 116:15).  We're not without His presence even in the most dire of circumstances.

I'm not saying Christians will always be protected in this world.  That would be foolish as it's the opposite of what Christ Himself said and taught.  There are circumstances every day, in which people who are far more spiritual than I, and who give more each day are called to be martyrs in the cause of Christ.  People who, like Paul, do their part to "...fill up the cup of the suffering of Christ".  Jesus warned us at every step that to be His follower was to an enemy of the world, and that we would experience division in our families, trouble in the world, frequent persecution, and often - martyrdom.  So when I say He has sheltered and protected me I don't mean to imply that "protection in this world" is His only means of provision.  Look at Jesus himself.  He didn't withhold anything from His Father and prayed "If possible, take this cup from me."  But the cup wasn't taken from Him because it was what we needed and the purpose of His incarnation.  We too, need to have the attitude that Job had "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15).  Jeremiah the prophet, who brought this word, was reported to have been killed by being sawn in two.  My point is that death and destruction can come upon us even if we're in the place where God wants us (read the book "Through the Gates of Splendor").  But in Jeremiah 42-44 we're confronted with a death and destruction in which there was no effective turning to God for help and a looking forward to meeting with Him when they die.  He was the source of their death - and that due to their own hardness of heart at refusing His instruction.  I can't imagine anything more terrible or sad.

Such sadness brought out from my heart a response that said "Lord!  Search my heart and tell me specifically where my life has those tendencies to become hard.  Show me any idols or practices that I've set up that may seem "practical" but which are not from You and are really based in falsehood.  Forgive me and help me to see clearly, even as You do.  Give me the perspective that I need to follow You and lay down my selfishness in service.  Provide me Your strength to speak of who You are and to be who You created me to become.  Let the example of these people become a testament to Your love and Your desire for that love to be returned...but also to Your faithfulness in judgment - if they/we/I will not respond to Your love.  I know You didn't want to do that to them...but their hearts wouldn't allow anything else.  Help those who name Your name today to learn and respond to the lessons written down for our example.  Teach us to be honest and not dissimulate when we hear something from You that we didn't expect, and to follow through with our promises to obey.  Teach us to truly love beyond the words.

Our world and our country is under a great deal of stress.  I believe that we are rapidly moving towards the time of Revelation 13 and finally, that day when Christ will return.  It's time for us who say we are "Christian" to turn from other forms of "help" no matter what form that may be...self-help books, government & politics, or playing ostrich, and turn to God.  Listen for His word and obey what He says to us in our hearts.  I don't mean to say that we should disengage from those other things (especially if God has called you to them), but that we turn from them as our primary resource of dealing with evil - both in the world and in our own lives.  If the people of Judah had meant what they said to Jeremiah when they asked him to inquire of the Lord for them...their outcome would have been so different.  But instead, they accused Jeremiah of not hearing the voice of the Lord and of lying to them, so they could justify following their own plans and ways heedless of God's instructions.  They made their choice.  We...now in this day...have ours.

Name: Chris Lyon
Scripture: 1 Peter 2
What do you embrace and what do you toss aside? Do you cherish friends, things, family or any combination? I bet I can tell by looking at your bank statement. Where we put our money is a good sign on where we put our interest. But this isn't about money, that's a whole other lesson. What I read today in 1 Peter 2 is about living and suffering for the perfect cornerstone. You may ask, the cornerstone to what? Well, everything actually. The cornerstone to your life, your relationships, your job and everything else. This cornerstone representing Christ Jesus. I accept this cornerstone in my life, but unfortunately I haven't in all areas of my life. Without saying anything or doing anything, I have denied that cornerstone by not speaking up and accepting it. It is something I want as a foundation in all areas of my life. I want to fall into the group of people written about when 1 Peter says, "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame. Now to you who believe, this stone is precious." This is living for that cornerstone, accepting Christ Jesus in your life as your foundation. In the second half of 1 Peter 2, it moves more into suffering for that cornerstone, Christ Jesus. A very good question is raised, is it commendable to endure suffering for doing wrong? No it isn't, cause you are getting a just punishment. But to suffer unjustly as a believer in that cornerstone, that is commendable before God. Now to live and suffer for this perfect cornerstone, is going to require us to become aliens and strangers to this world who have greatly rejected the capstone. When reading this, I seriously got excited at that idea. I am so worn out with this world, that I'm totally ready to be different. I hope we start to build our own world upon this perfect cornerstone amongst this world that has no foundation. My prayer, "Father, send some guidance and wisdom, lead us to build our lives and our very selves upon this perfect foundation. Help me be more accepting of Your cornerstone at all times. Mold me into a stranger of this world and teach me to suffer for You. In your precious name, Christ Jesus. Amen."

Name: Sarah Lyon
Scripture: Hosea 6:1-6
When I read this paragraph it really reminded me of how life works a lot, and sadly how repeated this process is. It voices that the way we live life tears us into pieces. But it tells us that if we acknowledge Jesus, he will appear. Once we are torn and once we have hit rock bottom, the Lord will always be there as surely as the sun will rise to heal and restore us so that we may live in the presence of Jesus Christ.
There have been times where I've been in this spot! Where it feels like there is just no tomorrow for you because you are so wounded from things of this earth. But always, once I accept that 1. Life is just a blink of an eye, and the eternity of Heaven will come and we will dance on roads made of gold... and 2. I must acknowledge God, and once I do I can literally feel the love and healing of my soul! What an amazing, amazing feeling!

My prayer is that I selfishly ask that both my husband and I be spared from having to hit rock bottom any time soon, and to always remember that praying and knowing the greatness of our God is something so important and awesome to know and do! Lord I ask you to heal and acknowledge our friends and family members who are truly suffering and in need of you! Please Lord, my mother especially needs your love and healing!

Name: Chris Lyon
Scripture: Hebrews 5
After it going into the calling of church leaders just as Jesus was called by His Father, it goes into the same concept we just learned at church. That is, growing up enough in our faith to feed ourselves. It states that someone who constantly needs to be re-taught the most basic teachings of Christ is like an infant. And that those people do not know the teachings of righteousness. I feel like I just came through that point since listening to Pastor Vaughn's sermon. For the first time in a long time I'm taking action in feeding myself God's word, slowly working my way into the solid food. I recently bought my wife and me life journals and it helped give me a foundation. Then all that was needed was for me to do it. We have the motivation to grow in Christ but sometimes lack the foundation or maybe just something to make it personal and fun. This blog has really helped me get excited about my devotions. Since I've started this, I've not only read more, but I've spent more time on each reading, giving it more time to speak to me. I don’t do this every day, but it has been a huge growth in my life. That is what is being taught here in Hebrews, that an idle faith that is not growing in knowledge is not ready for righteousness. We must mature and learn to feed ourselves so we can then feed others. We need to go from students to teachers. That’s a move I am so ready for. My prayer, "Oh Father, keep leading me towards a mature faith, helping me soak up everything I read from Your Word so that I may become a teacher to my fellow believers and all who need it. Give me the knowledge and wisdom needed to be a true believer, to easily discern between good and evil. Thank You for all Your blessings. In Your precious Name, Jesus Christ, Amen!"