This is a video post. For my e-mail subscribers who cannot see the video, click here.

This is a video post. For my e-mail subscribers who can’t see the video, click here.

Continue Reading »

Mark 1-2 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Mark 1:1-2:28.

“And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners’” (Mark 2:17).

Can you imagine going to the doctor because you are not feeling well, but covering up the festering wound that is the heart of the infection because it embarrasses you to actually be sick? That would be ridiculous. And yet, that is exactly what I want to do with Jesus.

I need to rethink the advice I hear from my constant internal image consultant. That little inner voice tells me I need to cover up my sinfulness. I need to hide it. I need to present myself as righteous. I need to demonstrate that I’m good enough. Then Christ will want me. But that is not at all what He says. He wants sinners.

That is great. That means He is calling me. I can run to Him. I can show Him my sins and He will work on them. I can let Him in to see the real me. More than that, I can let me see the real me. I can pull off my blinders, take a long hard look at what I need to hand over to Jesus to clean up.

He is not asking for the few, the proud, the righteous. He is calling those who will admit they are sinners in need of a Savior.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click here to add your input.

——————————————-

*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Philippians 1-2 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Philippians 1:1-2:30.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

This passage just smacked me this morning. Who is Paul convinced will complete this good work in the Philippians? He doesn’t say, “And I am sure of this, that you who began this good work will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” Instead, he is convinced God will do it.

What freedom. What comfort. What joy. What peace. I don’t have to put my confidence in me to complete this good work, which only leads me to despair. I can put my confidence in God to complete it, which leads to peace and hope. That sets me free to quit worrying about where I’ll be at my death or when Christ returns. All I have to focus on today is doing the next right thing. God is working on the outcomes. He will bring this good work in me to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. No need to despair when God is the one who is at work within me both to will and to work for His good pleasure (cf. Philippians 2:13).

Praise God!

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click here to add your input.

PPS. Thanks to all of you for the positive comments you gave me here, on Facebook, via e-mail, and person to person about this blog. That was very encouraging and uplifting.

——————————————-

*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Romans 11-12 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Romans 11:1-12:21.

“But what is God’s reply to him? ‘I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’ So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace” (Romans 11:4-5).

Have you ever noticed that God’s remnant is chosen by God’s grace? Wow! That is an eye-opener for me. Despite knowing intellectually about God’s grace, I have a tendency to see the remnant as those who have worked really hard and shown themselves to be worthy of remnanthood.

Not so. The remnant is so because of God’s grace. That means I’m not alone. I need God’s grace. I once heard a great line about what sin does to us. As we look around, our insides never measure up to the outsides of others. Because I get to see my insides, but only ever see your outsides, I can begin to feel alone, isolated, disconnected. I can begin to imagine that I’m the only one who is as messed up and in need of grace as I am. I can begin to think that you are part of the remnant because you are so good, but I can’t ever be part of the remnant because I am so bad.

Paul gives me comfort in this passage. Hopefully, he’s giving you comfort as well. Do you need grace? Don’t be ashamed of that. Instead, embrace it and through grace (not your hard work) become a part of Christ’s remnant.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can add your input by clicking here.

——————————————-

*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Romans 7-8 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Romans 7:1-8:39.

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32).

For some reason, I keep thinking I need to save myself. I want the reins of my life. I want to be the one in control. I need to get it all fixed and then bring it to God to show how pleased He can be with me. And I wonder why I continue to be covered up with stress, anxiety, and then wander back into sin. It’s like I want to be able to say to God, “What then shall you say to these things? If I’m for You, God, does it matter who else is against You?” I need to see that this is getting everything backwards.

Instead, God is for me. Who can be against me? Satan wants me to believe that my mistakes mean God is against me. He’s not. He is for me. He is so for me, He sent Jesus to die for me. If He did that, how will He not give me all I need to overcome? I simply have to let go of my control and grant Him control. I have to trust Him. When I do, then I start to have peace and joy.

I have a choice today. I can either focus on how bad I mess things up or I can focus on how powerful God is to fix things? The first leads to despair and sin; the second leads to peace and victory. Today, I want to focus on God and His power to fix things. How about you?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. The struggle with these two chapters is they are my two favorites, jam-packed with all kinds of helpful stuff to me. I return to these chapters over and over again. It was hard to pick just one thing to talk about . So, what struck you in today’s reading? I know something had to impact you on than what I mentioned. You can add your input by clicking here.

——————————————-

*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Luke 11-12 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Luke 11:1-12:59.

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before god. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7).

Look in the mirror today and say, “I am worth something. I am valuable.”

Isn’t that what we are all searching for? Significance. Value. Worth. Meaning. We want to know that our existence has a point. We want to know that we are more than a waste of space. Sadly, if you are like me, you have searched for it in all the wrong places. Perhaps if you have a great GPA and graduate at the top of your class. Maybe if you follow your parents occupational dreams for you. Maybe if you were the star quarterback. Maybe if you dated and married the right person. Maybe if you accomplished some goal for which man proclaimed your greatness. If you made it on radio or TV, if you became the American Idol, or the Nashville Star, then you would be worthy. If your name became a household word synonymous with greatness, then perhaps you would have value.

Or you codependently strive to make yourself invaluable in someone’s life. Enmeshing yourself in their problems so that at least one person has to learn that they can’t live without you. Then you feel you have value. But, the problem is you aren’t the ones invaluable here, the other one is. If the other person ever learned to live on her own, you would go back to being worthless. And you know it, at least subconsciously.

But for most of us, the dreams are never realized, the codependency never fulfilling, and we squander our existence in anonymity and misery, feeling abandoned by all. We place no value on ourselves and can’t imagine that anyone else does either.

But here is the good news. You are valuable. Not because of your accomplishments. Not because of your grades. Not because of your looks. Not because of your fame. You are valuable because God values you. God, the most powerful being in existence, values you. He values you so much He has numbered the hairs of your head. He values you so much, He sent His Son to die for you so you could be set free from all that enslaves you.

Today, don’t worry what your family thinks of you, don’t worry what your friends think of you, don’t worry what the world thinks of you. Today, take comfort that God notices you. God values you. God said you are worthy. You are valuable because you are God’s creation and God’s love.

Look in the mirror today and say, “I am worth something. I am valuable.” But don’t just say it. Believe it.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

———————————–

*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Today’s reading is 1 John 2:1-3:24.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1).

What more needs to be said? God has called me His son. Considering all I’ve done wrong, all the mistakes and sins, all the weaknesses, all the rebellion, He still looks at me and says I’m His child. He loves me.

Today, I’m going to lean on that love in order to love Him in return. Why would I do otherwise?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Mark 1:1-2:28.

I was struck pretty early in today’s reading. When the Jews were going out to see John the Baptist, they were being baptized and confessing their sins.

I recognize, of course, that the confession that is part of becoming God’s child is not the confession of sin, but the confession of faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10). However, this confession caught my attention. Perhaps it caught my attention because of something a friend said to me recently.

“I didn’t really grasp God’s grace, until I actually started confessing my sins.” It was when he began to list out what he was forgiven for that he began to realize exactly how much God had done for him and exactly how much God must love him.

By the way, notice they did more than simply confess that they were sinners. They confessed their sins. Let’s not argue about how necessary this is in order to be saved. Instead, let’s simply recognize how beneficial it is to see God’s love and forgiveness. I’m going to spend some time today considering what God has done for me, what God has forgiven me and be reminded of how much He loves me.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Acts 11:1-12:25.

I don’t have much to say today. However, I’m extremely motivated by the story of Peter’s release. I simply cannot help but learn from this if God could deliver Peter from the hands of Herod and the evil intent of the Jews against him, He can deliver me from Satan and sin. If God can unbind the shackles, walk past the guards, and open the gates for Peter as he walked out of the prison, the God can unbind my shackles of sin and guilt, march me past Satan, and open the gates to the kingdom of heaven for me.

Some days I find it hard to believe this. That is why I’m glad this story is here. It is a reminder to me that I serve a powerful God who in His time and in His way will set me free, providing me progressive victory over sin and Satan. Sometimes there are victories and I sit there like Peter saying, “Wow, I can now see how God delivered me.” It really is amazing to see God work in our lives, setting us free. 

No matter what you are facing today, rely on God. He is the only one who can set you free.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?